University Libraries Section (ULS): About Our Committees

The Nominating Committee's charge is to choose, in accordance with the deadlines prescribed by the executive director of ACRL, a slate of nominees for the each of section's elected officers, vice-chair/chair-elect, secretary, and members-at-large. The work of the committee is confidential until the official slate is announced by ACRL.

The immediate past-chair of ULS is the chair of the Nominating Committee. Three additional ULS members serve on the Nominating Committee. Each member serves through one election cycle, which extends across two years. 

Unlike other committees, the Nominating Committee begins its work in the spring, before ALA Annual, so the Nominating Committee is appointed earlier than most other ULS Committees.

ACRL maintains two rosters, one for odd election years and another for even election years.

The Nominating Committee Chair is responsible for posting agendas, minutes, and committee documentation. Access to the committee's ALA Connect site will be granted once the appointment cycle begins. To access, sign into ALA Connect using your regular ALA web site username and password.

Work of the committee occurs outside the conference structure and meetings are held virtually. Attendance to the ALA Annual Conference is not required.

An ACRL staff liaison will contact the committee chair to confirm the list of vacancies and provide a document outlining procedures and the key deadlines. The committee chair then distributes the information provided by the ACRL staff liaison, schedules meetings of the group, and assures that deadlines are met.

Procedures for developing the slate include the following:

• Only two candidates should run for each vacant position. 
• If the office requires two candidates to be elected, only three candidates should run for the vacant positions. 
• Nominees much be members of the University Libraries Section to be on the election ballot.
• The committee identifies potential candidates via several avenues, including call out to the ULS email list and social media channels. Leadership experience can occur in many ways and experience on ULS committees is not required.
• The committee reaches out to potential nominees to verify interest.
• Once a nominee confirms interest, the chair sends the person's name to the ACRL staff liaison, who distributes any consent forms. Signed letters of consent are submitted by each candidate via a web form to ACRL.
• The position of the candidates on the ballot is determined by lots drawn by the Nominating Committee.
• As a courtesy, the committee should share the slate with the ULS Executive Committee before sending it to ACRL. The ULS Executive Committee does not approve slates.
• The slate designating candidate positions are submitted to ACRL by the deadline.
• The Nominating Committee proofs the ballot and sends any needed revisions or corrections to ACRL.

Committee members should follow these guidelines:

• Learn the roles and responsibilities of the vacant positions.
• Actively recruit candidates for office, including lists of qualified candidates not elected in recent balloting.
• Respond promptly to calls for meetings and offer feedback as requested.

Committees use the ULS Promotion Request Form for promotion of committee and discussion group activities via the ULS social media channels and on the web site.