Task Force for Recruiting and Retaining New and Early Career Physics Educators
Charge:
Propose actions to address the specific needs and interests of new and early career physics educators, enhancing their experiences, professional development, and engagement within AAPT.
Goals and Objectives:
- Increase membership among new and early career physics educators.
- Enhance awareness of the benefits and value of membership.
- Improve member recruitment and retention rates.
The Task Force should take into consideration the following issues as they address the charge:
- What does early career mean for AAPT? Does it include students and postdoctoral fellows?
- What resources does AAPT already have that new and early career physics educators want? How can AAPT create marketing specific to new and early career physics educators that highlights those resources?
- What else can AAPT offer in terms of resources that provide enough return on investment to new and early career physics educators to entice them to become members?
- Should AAPT adopt an early career member type with lower dues?
The Task Force should consider various methods of gathering information from new and early career physics educators such as a brief survey or interviews to collect insights on their needs, challenges, and interests. The Task Force should leverage programming currently offered such as the Early Career Speed Networking and Early Career Meet Up that occur at national meetings to gather feedback on the proposed actions and recommendations.
Task Force Composition:
Co-chairs: Appoint an experienced member who can lead and facilitate the Task Force.
Members: Include representatives from early careers and new to the physics education profession diverse institutions and AAPT staff with relevant expertise (e.g., membership, marketing, professional development). The total membership of the committee should be 6 to 8 individuals.
Deliverables:
These deliverables will help guide and drive the efforts of the Task Force, providing a roadmap for action, clear goals, and measurable outcomes. They will also promote accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement in recruiting and retaining new and early career physics educators within AAPT. The Task Force should use the goals and strategies in the Strategic Plan as guiding principles for its work.
- Recruitment and Retention Actions and Initiatives: Develop recommendations for key initiatives and actions to recruit and retain new and early career physics educators over the next few years. These initiatives and actions should address the identified needs and challenges, taking into account the resources and capabilities of AAPT.
- Progress Metrics: Establish a set of metrics and indicators to track the progress and effectiveness of the implemented initiatives and actions.
- Feedback Mechanisms: Suggest mechanisms to obtain feedback from new and early career physics educators and staff to assess the effectiveness of the Task Force’s recommendations.
Timeline:
The Task Force should deliver a final report to the AAPT Board of Directors by the Fall 2024 Board meeting. An update of the Task Force’s activities should be shared with the Board at the 2024 Winter Meeting, Spring 2024 meeting, and 2024 Summer meeting.
Members:
Camille Coffie
Meghan DiBacco
Darsa Donelan, co-chair
Mike Florek
Justine Harren
Jolene Johnson
Elissa Levy
Kathryn McGill
Rachael Merritt
Chris Nakamura, co-chair
Tim Primes
Hunter Reaves
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