PURPOSE:
- To network people who have similar areas of interest and/or responsibility in JSEA member schools (e.g., Service Directors, Admissions Directors, Diversity Coordinators) on a regular basis for the purposes of sharing experiences, insights, programs and plans.
- To foster collaborative partnership and a spirit of colleagueship among JSEA members sharing similar areas of interest and responsibility.
- To cultivate and nurture the Ignatian vision and Jesuit mission of educational excellence in the formation of young men and women of competence, conscience and compassion.
- To support the development and enhancement of people’s ability to ministry to Jesuit high school constituencies – faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and friends.
- To further advance the educational and/or institutional mission by providing the opportunity for persons with a particular interest or responsibility to participate in a research project.
STRUCTURE:
Membership
Membership of a JSEA Conference is composed of people having similar areas of interest and responsibility in JSEA member schools. A Conference is established and exists under the auspices and direction of JSEA.
Meetings
National meetings of a JSEA Conference ordinarily held every four years and typically lasting two-three days, are scheduled through the JSEA office. A member of the JSEA Executive Staff attends and a place on the agenda is allotted for JSEA business. Regional Coordinators are encouraged to conduct a regional meeting of Conference members (Eastern, Midwest and Western regions) during the period intervening national meetings. Part of the agenda of the national meeting should include time to discuss possible times, places and agenda items for regional meetings.
Finances & Expenses
There is no fee for Conference membership beyond the regular assessment of JSEA member schools. Expenses for Conference meetings are borne by participating schools. Conference finances are usually handled by JSEA. JSEA provides a modest stipend for national chairs. JSEA pays the travel expenses and the program fee, which includes room and board, for the national chair to attend the national meeting. JSEA pays the program fee, which includes room and board, for regional coordinators attending the national meeting of the Conference.
Elections
Unless otherwise decided by the Conference membership, a JSEA Conference is headed by a chairperson. The National Conference Chair and regional Conference Coordinators are usually elected by Conference members for a term of four years (once renewable). Nomination and election of the Conference Chair normally take place at the national meeting of the Conference and are followed by the nomination and election of regional Conference Coordinators under the direction of the Chair.
Nominations for the Chair are usually submitted at the time of the national meeting to the Chair (if not standing for re-election) or to the President of JSEA or to a person delegated by the President of JSEA. The Chair, President or President’s delegate checks with the nominees to see if they are willing to stand for election. The Chair (if not standing for re-election), or the President of JSEA or the President’s delegate oversees the election of the Chair.
National Chair
The responsibilities of the Conference National Chair are:
- To serve as liaison to the JSEA national office and Conference members.
- To organize and facilitate national meetings of the Conference with the help of regional Coordinators. (Scheduling and physical arrangements of national meetings are coordinated with the JSEA national office; cf. “JSEA Conferences – National Meeting Planning Guide.”)
- To oversee and facilitate the nomination and election of regional Conference Coordinators (Eastern, Midwest and Western regions).
- To moderate the National Conference through the JSEA On-Line Community.
a. To help maintain online community - To maintain regular contact with the regional Conference Coordinators for the purposes of organizing regional Conference meetings and of facilitating networking among JSEA member schools in a particular region.
- After the national meeting of a conference, the national chair sets up a conference call with regional coordinators to schedule and coordinate regional meetings.
- The national chair informs JSEA of the dates for regional meetings and JSEA publishes the dates of regional meetings.
- The national chair may consult with JSEA on regional meetings.
- To write an article on the Conference national meeting for the JSEA-Bulletin.
Regional Conference Coordinators
Regional Conference Coordinators organize and facilitate regional communications and meetings of Conference members. They work with the national Chair on planning and preparation for the national meeting of the Conference.
- Regional coordinators may use the JSEA Forum Message Boards to communicate with regional membership in planning regional meetings.
- Regional coordinator writes a summary report of the regional meeting for the JSEA Bulletin.
- Regional meetings do not require JSEA staff.
- Regional meetings are usually one night and one day.
- The national chair is invited to the regional meetings.