The Finance Committee is charged with the responsibility of developing the annual budget for the ACS Division of Chemical Education (“the Division”) and overseeing this budget and other financial concerns of the Division. This committee also sends recommendations to the Division Executive Committee on financial matters such as the budget, the investment policy, audit practices, ongoing and new expenses, and ongoing and new income-generating activities.
Since the last consent agenda, the Finance Committee met in person at the ACS meeting (with a virtual option) on March 20, and then had two virtual meetings on May 21 and July 13.
At the March 21 ExCom meeting, the following items submitted by the Finance Committee were approved:
- An updated Division Investment Policy.
- The Regional High School Teachers Award (RHSTA) be increased from $1000 per year per region to $1250 per year per region.
After our July 13 virtual meeting, four action items supported by the Finance Committee are ready to be forwarded to ExCom to be voted on at the Fall ACS DivCHED meeting. Those items are listed under "New Business".
- The Finance Committee will be meeting virtually in September.
- DivCHED will have a new Treasurer in 2027, and the Finance Committee, along with other related partners, will need to bring the new Treasurer "up to speed" in certain areas..
- The Finance Committee Operations Manual will be completed.
- A sub-committee of Finance Division members will meet to prepare suggested guidelines about alcohol reimbursement at ACS-related events.
Motions for ExCom to Consider at Fall 2026 ACS Meeting
- Motion 1: Adopt the proposed 2027 budget (Vote: 11-0; Approved to forward)
- Motion 2: Adopt the "Proposal for an Annual Allocation to the Restricted Reserve Fund" (Vote: 13-0, Approved to forward, Attached as document)
- Motion 3: Adopt a proposal to change the current “Travel Awards” program to a “Professional Development and Travel Awards” program. (Vote: 13-0, Approved to forward, Attached as document)
- Motion 4: Adopt a proposal to increase the typical limit for Passer Awards to $1500 (with exceptions approved by the DivCHED Treasurer) (Vote: 13-0, Approved to forward, Attached as document)