Interest Sections

EUSA Interest Section Policies

In response to strong support indicated by EUSA members who responded to our 1998 Tenth Anniversary Member Survey, the EUSA Executive Committee has decided to establish Association interest sections on any topic related to European Union affairs. As in other academic associations, the interest sections must reflect the diverse interests and energies of the membership and it is hoped that the sections will be a vibrant part of EUSA.

EUSA policies for the creation and activities of interest sections, adopted by the EUSA Executive Committee in January 2000, are as follows:

  • Interest section members must be current EUSA members.
  • Interest sections must have a minimum of 15 members.
  • Interest section members pay $5 dues per annum in addition to their EUSA membership dues. This amount is allocated to EUSA to help cover administrative costs relating to the interest sections.
  • Interest sections may decide to increase their membership fees, and will receive the difference between the two amounts in order to fund their special projects and activities.
  • EUSA will host dedicated Web page(s) for the interest sections as part of the EUSA Web site.
  • The EUSA office will set up and maintain an e-mail distribution list for each interest section.
  • Interest section members will appear in a separate set of listings in the biennial EUSA Membership Directory.
  • The EUSA office will generally commit to assisting interest sections in recruiting members and disseminating information about their activities.
  • Each interest section must elect a chair who will serve as the primary liaison with EUSA and is responsible for interest section financial matters. Interest sections members may decide to elect a separate officer as treasurer.
  • Interest sections are encouraged to submit panel proposals for the EUSA Conference.

In addition, in October 2001 the EUSA Executive Committee adopted the following set of policies to govern and guide the activities of EUSA Interest Sections, in light of the growing number of such Sections:

EUSA Interest Sections must:

  • Meet at each EUSA Conference
  • Carry out at least one added-value project each year (e.g., Web pages, newsletters, publications, colloquia or workshops, syllabi bank, or other form of information exchange)
  • Develop, within 12 months of establishment of the section, a democratic process of selecting section leadership and inform the EUSA board of that process
  • Make an annual report of activities to the EUSA board

In addition to meeting the above-mentioned guidelines, sections will be evaluated every three years by the EUSA board (and discontinued if not active or active but not meeting guidelines).

As general principles, interest sections should recruit new members to the Association and contribute to the greater welfare of the Association.

Interest Sections of the EUSA are subordinate bodies who shall not possess the legal authority to speak on behalf of the EUSA, obligate EUSA funds, or obligate or give the impression that they have the legal authority to commit the EUSA to any policy or position unless and until such action and/or conduct has been approved by the EUSA Executive Committee or by action in compliance with EUSA policy and procedures as contained within the EUSA Constitution and By-laws. The EUSA Constitution may be viewed on-line at EUSA Constitution.

 

Proposal Guidelines

Here's how to propose an EUSA Interest Section:

  • Any EUSA member may propose an interest section.
  • Proposal must be a 1-2 page formal letter (500 words maximum) on institutional letterhead including a rationale for the interest section topic and a brief statement of the proposer's qualifications for leading it (submit two copies of this letter).
  • Proposer must make a one-year commitment to leading the section.
  • Please include the short form of proposer's curriculum vitae (one copy).
  • Proposal must have at least ten brief letters of support from EUSA members (must be collected and submitted en toto by the proposer, not submitted individually to EUSA by the authors).
  • Deadline for proposals: ongoing.
  • Decisions on interest section topics and policies to be made by the EUSA Executive Committee and its appointed Sub-Committee, if any.

Please use regular mail (not electronic mail, courier, or fax) to submit your interest section proposal to the EUSA Administrative Office, 415 Bellefield Hall, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. For questions, please send an e-mail to eusa@pitt.edu.