One of the Societies’ greatest priorities is diversity and inclusion within communities and sections. We asked leaders how they are improving inclusivity in their sections and committees and developed this list of best practices.

Year-Round Engagement and Inclusion

• Recruit future leadership through personal interactions and encourage diversity in leadership positions.
• Recruit new members to join ASA with personal invitations to students.
• Involve the chair elect in CANVAS scheduling and planning.
• Communicate with members via circle discussion threads in the Member Hub. Encourage consistent and meaningful discussions among community members.
• Consider hot topics or issues in the news when developing session ideas to gain traction and interest.
• Hold virtual meetings for topical discussions, networking, and social hours.
• Encourage community members to nominate themselves or others for ASA, CSSA, and SSSA awards.
• Schedule an annual online community planning session or section business meeting, which offers opportunities for members to identify future leadership and develop activities for the coming year.

Involve Students

• Highlight student competition opportunities at CANVAS.
• Recognize contest winners at sessions and/or with monetary awards or certificates.
• Inform students directly about CANVAS social events.
• Invite graduate students to participate as session moderators.
• Ask other faculty and advisors to encourage students to participate in the meeting or specific sessions.
• Reach out to students you meet at CANVAS and invite them to participate in community sessions the following year.

CANVAS Ideas

• Work with other community members to identify and schedule moderators and presenters for all symposia, sessions, and panels.
• Announce events from your community or section in your community's Member Hub circle or through a CSA News article.