ACM Consortial Groups

For more than 65 years, ACM has leveraged the power of collaboration, peer learning, knowledge sharing, and community building across its member campuses to support faculty, staff, and students. The primary way that ACM provides this support is by facilitating the organization of consortial groups.

What is a consortial group?

Suppose you want to try out a new idea in student success, find out whether another campus has had a positive experience with a potential vendor, or just connect with your counterpart at another residential liberal arts campus. A consortial group allows you to connect with peers at other member institutions to discuss strategies and share experiences. The ACM also supports many of these groups with confidential, cooperative data sharing across key areas of practice such as admissions, finances, and human resources. Campus partners help identify emerging topics and shared challenges where a multi-campus perspective will add value. ACM is here to help make these connections happen.

How can we help?

ACM coordinates the activities of 20+ consortial groups. Most groups meet monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, annually, or as-needed. In addition, ACM maintains more than 50 email listservs to promote real-time networking and information sharing among campus roles and functions. Faculty and staff at member campuses can join one or more of these consortial groups by contacting acm@acm.edu (note, listserv membership is limited based on role/function).

See the ACM calendar for upcoming meetings.

Campus needs evolve over time. To respond to those needs, ACM periodically reviews the activities of consortial groups to ensure that organizational resources are being used appropriately. To this end, ACM suspends dormant groups and creates new ones. We always welcome suggestions for new consortial groups.

ACM provides support to consortial groups by facilitating listservs and by managing group meetings, whether virtual or online.

Activity	Purpose	ACM Responsibilities	Consortial Group Responsibilities
ACM Consortial Group Listservs	Networking Information Sharing Opportunity Dissemination	Provide the technological platform for listservs. Update the membership lists annually. Proactively share information about joining lists to ensure full participation. Review listserv activity to determine use and whether to sunset underused lists or create new lists.	Adhere to common standards of decency and conduct. Do not use the listserv for non-business purposes. Notify ACM of personnel changes.
Consortial Group Meetings: Virtual	Networking Information Sharing Professional Development	Manage logistics related to calendar, agenda, and other meeting arrangements. Work with members to identify a set standing day/time/frequency for the group meetings. Ensure that all notes or resources are shared.	Provide thought leadership and share topics, issues, or professional development needs for the group. Attend the sessions and engage in conversations. Groups may appoint a chair/leader to guide the group’s work.
Consortial Group Meetings: In-Person	Networking Information Sharing Professional Development	Manage logistics related to calendar, agenda, and other meeting arrangements. Provide $750 per fiscal year to underwrite meeting expenses when the following conditions are met: The meeting is in-person. All consortial group members/colleges are invited to participate. At least seven attendees commit to participate. Host meetings at ACM’s Chicago Offices or send an ACM staff representative to in-person meetings (when available).	Provide thought leadership and share topics, issues, or professional development items with ACM staff for the group to consider. For in-person meetings, the campus host leads the planning effort as described here.