Definitions: Forums, Special Interest Groups, and Affinity Groups

I. NACUA Sponsored and Organized Groups
(Forums and Special Interest Groups)

Forums

• Replaced original sections and section meetings
• Scheduled once a year at the Annual Conference
• Allow participants to discuss current, substantive legal issues and topics related to a specific area of higher education law
• Topics vary from year to year, depending on interest

Examples:

Affirmative Action and Employment Athletics Law Campus Development/Town-Gown Issues Eleventh Amendment/Sovereign Immunity Employment Law

Intellectual Property and Computer Law Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining Research Activities and Technology Transfer Law Student Affairs Law Student Athlete Issues

Special Interest Groups (SIGS)

• Scheduled by NACUA once a year at the Annual Conference
• Provides an opportunity for certain categories of institutions or legal offices to discuss issues specific to their particular needs.
• Created and continued based on expressions and evidence of interest.

Examples:

Academic Health Centers and Medical Schools Church-Related Institutions Community Colleges General Counsel

Historically Black Institutions In-House Litigators Museums and Collections Single Lawyer Offices

II. Affinity Groups

• Self-organized and self-governing groups external to NACUA that meet based on a commonality of regional, institutional, or other interest
• Gather informally to discuss issues pertaining to their particular region, institutional type, or area of professional or personal interest

Examples:

African-American Members Dinner at AC Australian Society of University Lawyers Chicago-Area College and University Attorneys Christian Universities in California Council of Counsels (Florida Public Universities) DC Higher-Ed Lawyers Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Attorneys (QUA) Independent Colleges in Texas Kentucky Higher Education Lawyers

Maryland Higher Education Lawyers Nashville Lawyers New York City Area Higher Education Attorneys Pennsylvania NACUA lawyers Public Institutions in New England Texas Association of State Attorneys Utah Higher Education Association Virginia Higher Education Attorneys WACO

NACUA is able to assist Affinity Groups with finding a room or space to meet if desired at the Annual Conference, based on availability. If the meeting is to be included in any public announcement made by NACUA or by a member of the Affinity Group, it must be open for all members to attend.

Criteria for NACUA Recognition of Affinity Group Meetings:

• The group’s membership should consist of primarily NACUA members.
• The group’s meeting should be open to any and all NACUA members who wish to attend.