Roles and Responsibilities

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
The chairperson guides the committee in its work as consistent with the Academy’s mission and strategic plan, as outlined by the Board of Directors.
 
The chairperson:

• With staff, develops a work plan that will allow the committee to effectively and efficiently discharge its responsibilities for the year.
• With staff, develops agendas and conducts committee meetings.
• Approves reports and pre-meeting materials before their distribution.
• Works with staff to ensure that the committee’s work is carried out between meetings.
• Approves cycle reports on committee activities, including requests to the Board of Directors for action items.
• Reports to the committee on Board of Directors or Executive Committee decisions that affect the committee’s work or activities.
• Recruits/approves new members to the committee and approves interested parties
• Ensures that members, observers and interested parties understand any confidentiality requirements of the committee. 
• Observes and follows the committee appointment guidelines adopted by the Board of Directors, facilitating new member appointments.
• Recommends to the Board of Directors a succeeding appointee to fill his or her chair slot.
• Where appropriate, makes policy recommendations to the Board of Directors.

 
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The committee member reports to the committee chairperson.  The member actively participates in the work of the committee, provides input on the deliberations of the committee, focuses on the best interests of the Academy and the committee rather than on personal or constituent interests, and works toward fulfilling the committee’s objectives.
 
The committee member:

• Reviews all relevant material before committee meetings.
• Makes contributions and voices objective opinions on issues.
• Attends committee meetings.
• Carries out individual assignments made by the committee chairperson.
• Works as part of the committee and staff team to ensure that the committee develops products and services that help Academy members and staff who are responsible for programs within the committee’s scope of interest.
• Represents the committee in meetings of other organizations representing actuaries.
• Promotes clarity within the committee on the committee’s role and how it supports and fits within the interests of the Academy.
• Assists in recruiting future Academy volunteers.
• Must acknowledge the conflict of interest policy
• Must adhere to any confidentiality requirements set by the chair
• Must meet the annual continuing education requirements as set forth in the U.S. Qualification Standards as provided at http://www.actuary.org/files/qualifation_standards.pdf [1]

 
STAFF LIAISONS
The staff liaison serves as a resource person to the chairperson and committee members. The staff liaison assists the chairperson in facilitating committee discussions and activities that address the committee’s charge and works with the chairperson to ensure that all committee work is consistent with the Academy’s mission and strategic plan.
 
The staff liaison:

• Works with the chairperson to develop a plan of work that will allow the committee to effectively and efficiently discharge its responsibilities for the year.
• Works with the chairperson to develop agendas and conduct effective committee meetings.
• Drafts reports of committee meetings for review and approval by the chairperson.
• Works with the committee chairperson, other committee members, and Academy staff to ensure that the committee’s work is carried forward between committee meetings.
• Facilitates communication of committee activities to staff supervisor.
• Reports to the committee chair on decisions of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, or other Academy committees that impact the committee’s activities.
• Assists the chair with the volunteer staffing of the committee.
• Where appropriate, assists the committee in proposing products and services that will further the mission and objectives of the Academy.

 
INTERESTED PARTIES
Some committee chairs may approve interested parties (IPs) to be added to their listserv.  IPs are those that have an interest in the committee work, but do not fit the requirements for committee membership.  Examples include members of Academy leadership, former chair of the committee, a person with subject matter expertise that has a perceived conflict, a junior actuary who wants to follow a committee’s activities before making the commitment to join the committee. 
 
The interested party:

• Must be approved by the chairperson.  Except for Academy leadership, the chairperson has final say for an IP to be added to the committee listserv.  Examples of appropriate reasons for rejecting an IP may include:
  • the work is highly confidential,
  • the work group is too far along for the project to be understood or appreciated by an IP;
  • the work requires regular attendance and a large time commitment outside the committee to appreciate/understand the issues involved;
  • it would be inappropriate and counterproductive to share discussion material with anyone not directly involved in the committee work;
  • the potential IP is expected to be a disruptive influence or will not respect the need for confidentiality. 
• May be a non-Academy member
• Must acknowledge or agree to (in the case of a non-Academy member) the conflict of interest policy
• Must adhere to any confidentiality requirements set by the chair
• Must announce they are an interested party when the meeting participants are introduced
• May participate in committee discussions only with the consent of the chairperson. 
• May not vote