Purpose and Objectives

AIHA and ACGIH pride themselves on representing the industrial hygiene / occupational and environmental health and safety (IH/OEHS) academic community – the lifeblood of preparing students for what is hopefully a rewarding and prosperous career. In late 2019 the AIHA Board supported the creation of an Academic Advisory Group that is now serving to inform and recommend strategies to strengthen our academic community and, ultimately, the profession.

Over the past couple of years, the Academic Advisory Group has:

• Provided guidance to the AIHA Board on how we can better engage volunteers vis-à-vis the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Councils
• Provided reviewers for the annual AIHce student poster submissions
• Conducted an IH/OEHS academic program benchmarking survey
• Worked in collaboration with the AIHA Student & Early Career Professional Committee members to expand the scope of the original Golden Seed Award, now renamed the OEHS Career Champion Award
• Updated materials for STEM college student recruitment into the profession, available on www.OEHSCareers.org
• Initiated work on a repository of textbooks and other reference materials organized by academic degree type
• Launched a new academic portal that contains resources that address topics not typically taught in school but deemed important to the profession

Looking ahead the Advisory Group will continue to focus its attention on:

• Identifying ways in which AIHA/ACGIH can help our academic community be better positioned to respond to changes and opportunities
• Facilitating ways to boost student recruitment into IH/OEHS programs
• Identify and assist in the review of new educational materials that benefit students; this activity dovetails with work being done by a sub-team of the AIHA/ACGIH Improving Exposure Judgment Advisory Group

Academic Advisory Group Composition

The group is to be comprised of up to 12 members. Currently, all members work as either full-time professors or part-time adjunct professors. However, we are open to expanding membership to industry practitioners, in particular those who maintain close ties with a university (e.g., serving on their advisory board). This group does not have specified term limits or officer positions, although we would like new members to commit to serving one or two-year terms.

Academic Advisory Group Selection Process

The process of selecting new members begins with an open call for applications to the AIHA/ACGIH memberships. Applications are reviewed, and selections are made by the Academic Advisory Group. Selections are made to ensure that the committee maintains as broad a diversity of representation as is reasonably possible.

This open call is to fill multiple open seats.

Committee members must be current and active members of AIHA or ACGIH and are selected to provide a balanced representation of academia and industry practitioners who have a vested interest in advancing the priorities of the group as noted earlier.

Academic Advisory Group Responsibilities

Members are expected to:

• Attend virtual meetings throughout the year (typically every other month) and one in-person meeting scheduled at AIHce
• Conduct activities in accordance with relevant AIHA policies, procedures, and priorities
• Represent the interests of AIHA during collaborative efforts and interactions with internal and external stakeholders.

General Time Commitment

• Monthly or bi-monthly conference calls (each lasting 1 hour)
• One in-person meeting (usually at AIHce)
• Email correspondence as needed
• Other duties as assigned (based on identified project needs)

Accountability

• Accountable to the AIHA Board of Directors
• Agree to uphold and abide by the AIHA Bylaws, Conflict of Interest, and Code of Conduct policies

Interested parties should apply by the close of business on Friday, September 8.

The AAG will review all applications and select its new members. Our goal is to notify applicants within 3 weeks of the deadline stated above. In the event we do not receive a sufficient number of applicants, this open call may be extended. Should you have any questions about this opportunity please contact Larry Sloan (lsloan@aiha.org).

Thank you for your interest.