Information on How to Become a Governor

Governors are an official, direct communications link between the Fellows of the College and the Board of Regents. Throughout their term(s), Governors are focused on attending, communicating, and participating in the following activities:

Governor Attendance

• Attend Clinical Congress in the fall.
• Attend the Spring Leadership & Advocacy Summit.
• Advocacy Summit participation is encouraged but not required.
• Attend chapter and/or specialty society meetings.
• Attend Regional Committee on Applicant meetings (Domestic Governors, if applicable).
• Attend interviews for international applicants who want to become ACS Fellows (International Governors).

Governor Communication

• Provide bidirectional communication between the Board of Governors and their constituents.
• Provide report(s) to Chapter or Specialty Society.
  Provide feedback to Board of Governor Workgroups and the Executive Committee.
• Promote American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellowship in local area and/or in specialty society.
• Welcome and engage new Fellows into the ACS from local area/organization.
• Be actively engaged in the Board of Governors/Board of Regents Online Community.

Governor Participation

• Actively participate in a Board of Governors workgroup.
• Participate in Board of Governor meetings at the Leadership and Advocacy Summit.
• Participate in the Board of Governors Annual Business Meeting at Clinical Congress.
• Participate in Convocation and the Annual Meeting of Members at Clinical Congress.
• Complete the Board of Governors Annual Survey.

ACS Governors must:

• Be active Fellows of the College in good standing
• Share interest in becoming an ACS Governor with their surgical specialty society and/or ACS chapter

• Chapter Presidents and the Chapter Executive Director or the Specialty Society Executive Director and Secretary will be notified via e-mail of a pending vacancy of Governor.
• The Chapter President/Executive Director or Specialty Society Executive Director acquires nominations for Governor to be presented to the Society's governing body.
• The governing body will select two individuals from the nominations—one nominee for Governor and an alternate.
• The alternate will only be called upon when the nominee (and subsequently approved Governor) is unable to complete their term if for any reason (for example, resignation or chapter relocation). In these cases, the alternate will assume the role of Governor, and complete the remainder of the term.
• The chapter/society completes the online nomination form (see instructions below).
• The nominee for Governor and an alternate, as well as the accompanying information are then presented to the Nominating Committee of the Fellows for review and approval.
• Final approval is granted for nominees at the Annual Meeting of Members during the Clinical Congress.
• Appointment notifications are sent to the Governor and chapter/society in November.

Considerations for Appointing a Governor

• Provide an open and deliberate advertised nomination to the chapter/society membership.
• Outline and address issues of diversity (gender, race, geographic, rural/urban, academic/private) to promote equal opportunity for qualified candidates.
• Review Governor expectations and duties.
  Nominees must be Fellows of the American College of Surgeons as well as members of your society.
• Guidelines approved by the Board of Regents for nominating representatives to the ACS Board of Governors should be noted when selecting nominees. These guidelines suggest that the selection of nominees for Governors be chosen from the most experienced and effective members within your leadership group and that elected Governors are members of your Executive Committee, either as regular or ex officio members.
• Special consideration of women and other underrepresented minorities is strongly encouraged.
• Individuals who are not in active surgical practice should not be considered for nomination.
• These guidelines reflect recognition by the Board of Regents and the Board of Governors of the important role that chapter/specialty society Governors play in linking their chapter/society to the American College of Surgeons.

Online Nomination Form

A link will be provided by Board of Governors staff.

• The chapter/society provides current contact information for the nominee and alternate.
• The chapter/society uploads a current CV for the nominee (a CV is not required for the alternate).
• The chapter/society provides a brief statement on why the nominee and alternate were chosen.