Leadership Elections

AIR Leadership Elections FAQs

• Q: Who is eligible to serve?

  A: Candidates must be current AIR members with at least three years of prior membership (not necessarily consecutive) by November 1, 2026. Membership can be individual, organizational, or a combination. 

• Q: What does the Board do?

  A: The Board sets the direction of AIR by connecting with members and stakeholders, whose values and needs are incorporated into "Ends." The Board also provides governance oversight by adopting policies, monitoring organizational outcomes, overseeing financial stewardship and audits, and evaluating the CEO's performance to ensure AIR remains aligned with its mission.

• Q: What does the NEC do?

  A: The NEC recruits, screens, and builds slates of candidates for the Board and for the NEC, ensuring they are both qualified and representative of AIR's membership. The NEC transmits a duly qualified slate of candidates to the Board, which then presents it to the AIR membership for a vote. It also oversees the election process, certifies the election results, and communicates the results to the membership.

• Q: How much travel is required for the Board?

  A: Board members typically attend two face-to-face meetings per year (fall and spring) plus meetings at the annual AIR Forum. AIR covers travel and related expenses for meetings not at the AIR Forum and provides partial reimbursement for pre-AIR Forum Board-NEC training/meetings.

• Q: How long are the terms of service?

  A: Board members serve three-year terms and may be re-elected for one additional consecutive term. NEC members also serve three-year terms, with two members elected annually.

• Q: Approximately how many hours per month of service does the Board/NEC require?

  A: 

  • Board: ~4.5 hours/month for meetings, prep, and committee work, plus two multi-day meetings and time at the AIR Forum
  • NEC: ~3.5 hours/month during active months, plus slate preparation, orientation, and AIR Forum meetings
• Q: How does the Board govern?

  A: AIR uses the Carver Policy Governance® model, which emphasizes organizational purpose (“Ends”) over operational details (“Means”). AIR’s Board focuses on strategic direction and accountability, leaving operational decisions to the CEO.

• Q: What is the process for becoming a candidate on the election slate?

  A: Members of AIR are invited to nominate themselves or colleagues to be considered for AIR leadership. All nominees are invited to complete a questionnaire, which is then reviewed and evaluated by the NEC. The NEC focuses on the eligibility criteria and desired qualities as outlined in Board policies, as they identify candidates who will appear on the ballot.

• Q: In what ways does the NEC attempt to create a representative slate of candidates?

  A: By reaching broadly across the membership, the NEC strives to ensure the slate reflects the diversity of AIR's community, including different perspectives, professional roles, career stages, institution types, and geographic regions.

• Q: How many nominees are there typically? How many candidates make it onto the slate?

  A: 

  • Selection: The NEC carefully reviews nominations from all nominees that completed the requested questionnaire to determine who will appear on the ballot. There are usually more nominees than ballot slots. It is worth noting that many of our volunteer leaders have been nominated several times before being selected as a candidate.

     

  • Election: The NEC prepares a slate of at least two candidates for each open position on the NEC and a slate of at least two candidates for each open position on the Board. This means that at least half of the candidates on the ballot will not be elected. It is not at all unusual, however, for candidates who are not elected in one year to run again in a future election.
• Q: I was nominated previously but wasn’t elected. Should I try again?

  A: Yes. It is not at all unusual for candidates not elected in one year to run again in a future election.

• Q. Can I use AI to help edit my nomination responses?

  A: Yes. AI tools may be used for proofreading, grammar correction, formatting, and readability improvements. However, responses should remain your own work and reflect your authentic experiences, perspectives, and leadership philosophy. Any AI use beyond these limited editing functions must be disclosed within the questionnaire.

• Q. Are there guidelines for AI use in the nominations review process?

  A: The NEC may use AI tools to support the review process, such as summarizing or analyzing anonymized nominee responses for efficiency and consistency. Any AI use by the NEC will be conducted with attention to privacy and fairness and will not replace human judgment in evaluating nominees.

• Q: What should candidates know about conflicts of interest?

  A: Candidates should disclose during the nomination and election process any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could affect their service on the Board or NEC. If elected, members are expected to continue disclosing and appropriately managing conflicts throughout their term. Depending on the circumstances, a member may be asked to recuse themselves from a particular discussion or decision.

• Q: How much travel is required for the NEC, and who covers the cost?

  A: NEC members generally travel only to attend the AIR Forum, where orientation, training, and crossover meetings are held. Members are responsible for their usual AIR Forum expenses, including registration, travel, and lodging. When required NEC meetings or training are scheduled outside the regular Forum program, AIR provides reimbursement for eligible additional expenses, such as lodging and meals. The Board of Directors may also offer a limited number of small travel grants to help offset expenses for NEC members whose organizations do not provide travel support for the AIR Forum.