Guidelines for Participating in Committees

Purpose of Committee Membership 

Committee participation provides opportunities for professional development, networking, and contributing to the mission of the Writing and Communication Program (WCP). Committee participation and personal reflections on the committee experience are useful both when WCP faculty compile materials for annual review, and for broader program efforts to assess the effectiveness of committees.

Responsibilities

Active Engagement

      • Attend all scheduled meetings and arrive prepared to discuss agenda items.
      • If you’re unable to attend a meeting due to illness or other reason, inform the committee chair and review the meeting minutes.
      • Contribute ideas, feedback, and expertise during discussions.
      • Respect differing viewpoints and collaborate constructively with fellow members.

Task Commitment

      • Volunteer for specific tasks or projects. You might select based on your individual strengths, interests, and/or equitable division of labor.
      • Complete assigned tasks within established deadlines and communicate proactively if challenges arise.

Feedback and Reflection

    • Offer constructive feedback on committee initiatives and practices.
    • Engage in mid-semester and end-of-year reflections to assess personal contributions and the committee’s effectiveness.
    • Articulate service contributions in committee work (meetings, tasks, deliverables, and outcomes) in annual review reporting.

End-of-Year Contributions

  • Participate in the preparation of the end-of-year report by providing input on:
    • Accomplishments and challenges faced.
    • Suggestions for future projects and improvements.
    • Personal reflections on the committee experience. These reflections may also be useful when writing your individual annual review.