NSTA Standing Committees
Be Active in NSTA: Join a Committee
Being part of NSTA can mean so much more than reading journals and attending the meetings. Committee membership is a means by which you can interact with colleagues, gain insights into the complexity of issues, and have a positive impact on science education at the national level. We need your views and your expertise. Appointments will be announced at the end of February 2009 and assignments will begin June 1, 2009. However, NSTA Committees meet on the first day of each annual conference. If selected, your participation at the annual meeting is important.
To contact the standing committee chairs, see the Board of Directors page, where you will find e-mail addresses for each of NSTA’s 10 level standing committee chairs. (See also: NSTA Advisory Boards and Panels)
Level Committees
Committee on Preschool-Elementary Science Teaching
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to the teaching of elementary science and see that the interests of preschool and elementary teachers of science are served by the Association. The Committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K–16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Committee on Middle Level Science Teaching
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to the teaching of middle level science and see that the interests of teachers at that level are served by the Association. The Committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K-16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors. Committee on High School Science Teaching
Committee on High School Science Teaching
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to the teaching of high school science and see that the interests of high school teachers are served by the Association. The Committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K–16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Committee on College Science Teaching
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to the teaching of college science and see that the interests of college teachers of science are served by the Association. The Committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K-16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Function Committees
Committee on Coordination and Supervision of Science Teaching
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to the supervision and coordination of science teaching, and see that the interests of coordinators and supervisors of science are served by the Association. The Committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K–16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Committee on Informal Science
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to informal science education and see that the interests of informal science are served by the Association. The committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K–16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Committee on Multicultural/Equity in Science Education
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to multicultural and equity issues in science education. The Committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K-16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Committee on Preservice Teacher Preparation
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to the preparation of science teachers and see that the interests of preservice teacher educators are served by the Association. The Committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K-16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Committee on Professional Development in Science Education
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to professional development in science education and see that the interests of those involved in the professional development of science educators are served by the Association. The Committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K-16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Committee on Research in Science Teaching
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to research in science education and see that the interests of researchers in science education are served by the Association. The Committee shall work together with other Division Committees on K-16 coordination. Additional charges may be directed by the President, requested by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Task Committees
Committee on Awards and Recognition
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to awards and recognition. This committee shall: select the recipients of some corporate-sponsored awards, along with other awards or recognitions as approved by the Board of Directors and listed in the NSTA Handbook; review the selection process and recommend changes to the Board of Directors; study any proposals for the termination of existing awards or other recognitions, and make recommendations concerning those proposals to the Board of Directors; review any proposals for new awards or other recognitions, and make recommendations concerning those proposals to the Board of Directors. Additional charges may be directed by the President, recommended by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors
Committee on Budget and Finance
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to budget and finance. The committee shall review and recommend to the Board of Directors the annual budget, which will be prepared by the staff under the supervision of the Executive Director and with the advice and guidance of the Treasurer; study and recommend to the Board of Directors funds to be allocated to the various areas of activity of the Association; receive and review requests for funding new or unbudgeted items from the Executive Director, from officers, or a member of the Board of Directors; and then recommend approval or disapproval of such requests, identifying new sources of funds or items in the budget which are to be cut by these amounts, in event of approval; monitor all expenditures and revenues as they relate to the budget in order to identify emerging financial problems; study activities supported by the budget and recommend to the Board of Directors, as appropriate, order of priorities, including termination of support for budget lines, activities, or programs, based upon costs and effectiveness; recommend investment policies and procedures and monitor NSTA investments. Additional charges may be directed by the President, recommended by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Committee on Nominations
General Responsibilities: This committee shall review annually all NSTA policies, programs, and activities relating to nominations. This committee shall identify and nominate well-qualified candidates which include a diversity of nominees with regard to distribution of geography, gender, ethnicity, and racial background. Additional charges may be directed by the President, recommended by the Board of Directors, or initiated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall submit a semiannual report to the Council including recommendations for action by the Board of Directors.
Audit Committee
General Responsibilities: This committee is responsible for retaining and terminating the auditor; setting the auditor’s compensation; conferring with the auditor to satisfy themselves that the financial affairs of the Corporation are in order; and reviewing and approving the audit.