Advance a Unique Interest with an ACVP Scientific Interest Group

Value: ACVP SIGs enrich the professional and learning environment of ACVP members by providing a forum to explore their specific area of scientific interest/knowledge, serve as a resource for education, and may evolve as new scientific trends emerge. SIGs may provide an avenue towards subspeciality education and training or may convene for a defined issue and then sunset once these issues are addressed.

Organization: To be considered an ACVP SIG, an application must be submitted to the Board of Directors (BOD) that includes the name and contact information of the group coordinator, a petition of interested member names, mission statement, and organizational structure.

• Once approved, SIGs must submit a renewal application every 3 years to maintain their status as an active SIG. As part of the 3-year renewal process, an executive summary report must be submitted to the BOD highlighting significant events or activities that produce educational benefits and/or solutions in the field of interest over the previous three years.
• The SIG organizational structure should include, at minimum, a coordinator (a member in good standing) who will serve as the primary ACVP contact. SIGs may develop individualized standard operating procedure (SOP) as the group’s needs develop.
• SIGs are expected to accept all interested ACVP members and to abide by the ACVP Bylaws and Code of Conduct. The ACVP retains the right and has the discretion to dissolve the SIG in the event of actions inconsistent with ACVP values and/or has the potential to negatively impact the ACVP’s reputation.

Role Within the ACVP:

• SIGs are not ACVP Standing Committees and are not assigned a BOD liaison but will communicate with the ACVP Executive Director and/or ACVP Chief Operations Officer (COO) for consideration of any needs or concerns.
• SIGs may request to meet or be requested to meet with the BOD through the ACVP COO.
• SIGs interested in proposing educational activities may make recommendations to the Executive Director to facilitate in coordination with the applicable ACVP Standing Committees (e.g., Annual Meeting Committee, Lifelong Learning Committee, Media Communication Committee). All proposed webinars and/or educational content must follow the submission guidance and timelines set forth by the ACVP standing committee to ensure proposals are reviewed in a timely manner. 
• SIGs may request to assemble at the ACVP Annual Meetings. The ACVP management company will provide support in securing venue space if available. 
• Unlike ACVP Standing Committees, SIGs do not receive charges from the BOD relating to the group’s mission and ACVP Strategic Plan, and are not required to submit Annual Reports, updated Standard Operating Procedures or annual budget request documents. 
• SIGs are not allotted financial support from the ACVP budget, or significant administrative support from the ACVP management company except in limited instances (e.g., special scientific webinars). In such limited cases, the SIG must submit a budget request through the annual ACVP budget review process for the BOD review and approval. 

SIGs are not permitted to independently fundraise. If the SIG members have potential fundraising leads or contacts, these activities should be coordinated with the ACVP COO and Executive Director to promote streamlined but prevent duplicated efforts

ACVP members are welcome to start a Scientific Interest Group (SIG). Please complete an interest form by logging into your account.