Association of University Centers on Disabilities

“The association of university centers on disabilities is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. Network members consist of: - university centers for excellence in developmental disabilities (ucedd), funded by the administration on intellectual and developmental disabilities (aidd) - leadership education in neurodevelopmental disabilities (lend) programs funded by the maternal and child health bureau (mchb) - intellectual and developmental disability research centers (iddrc), most of which are funded by the eunice kennedy shriver national institute for child health and development (nichd). These programs serve and are located in every u.s. State and territory and are all part of universities or medical centers. They serve as a bridge between the university and the community, bringing together the resources of both to achieve meaningful change. Members pay annual dues to aucd, which are determined by the total amount of core aidd, mchb, and nih funding they receive. Aucd supports this national network through: - leadership on major social problems affecting all people living with developmental or other disabilities or special health needs - advocacy with congress and executive branch agencies that fund and regulate programs used by people with disabilities - networking and partnering with other national organizations to advance the network's national agendas - promoting communication within the network and with other groups by collecting, organizing, and disseminating data on network activities and accomplishments - technical assistance provision on a broad range of topics. Aucd continues to implement the goals and priorities outlined in its strategic map in support of the association's vision and focus for the organization and network. Those activities include the creation of a new aucd video to support increasing visibility and reach, the launch of a diversity and inclusion toolkit for the network, the association and funders, diversifying our funding and strengthening the network through a leadership planning grant, and working with bipartisan leaders in congress to include important provisions for students with disabilities in the passage of the every student succeeds act.”

“The membership of the aucd elects the five at-large members of the aucd board of directors at the end of each at-large member's term, which is three years. These elections take place in the fall of the year as each board member's term ends. The elections take place via a secure online voting application. This process is outlined in the board by-laws.”

“The association's board finance and audit committee has the responsibility to review the 990 during one of its monthly conference calls. Following the review, the finance and audit committee votes to accept the 990 and recommends that it be presented to and accepted by the full board. A copy of the 990 was provided to aucd's governing body before it was filed.”

“Aucd has adopted a specific conflict of interest policy that all staff are required to complete and sign upon employment at aucd, as well as each year of employment thereafter. This policy is similar to the board of directors conflict of interest policy, which board members are required to sign upon joining the board and annually for each year of their term on the board. The aucd conflict of interest policy requires, among other things, that all aucd employees annually, as a part of their annual performance review (and at the time of the beginning of employment for all new aucd employees), complete and return to aucd the conflict of interest disclosure statement. Included in the conflict of interest statement is a listing of all outside employment by aucd employees. No employee may hold an outside position which is in conflict with his/her aucd employment or which utilizes aucd resources unless authorized in writing by the executive director. The board conflict of interest policy states that, in their capacity as directors, the members of the board of directors of aucd must act at all times in the best interests of aucd. The purpose of this policy is to help inform the board about what constitutes a conflict of interest, assist the board in identifying and disclosing actual and potential conflicts, and help ensure the avoidance of conflicts of interest where necessary.”

“The board, with input from the finance and audit committee, determines the executive director's salary, benefits, and annual increases. Aucd uses objective and comparability data to determine compensation. The board prepares a memo summarizing the executive director's compensation deliberations and decisions which is filed in his/her personnel file. Compensation is based on the roles and responsibilities of the position in addition to the educational level and type and length of experience of the individual. Also, aucd uses compensation data from other comparable nonprofit organizations to determine salary and benefits. It is important to note that many of aucd's positions are grant funded. Therefore, compensation is, in part, also dependent on the approved salary level in grant budgets. Aucd employees typically receive a cost-of-living (col) adjustment each year. In addition to the col adjustment, the executive director can recommend a performance-based increase for staff that have done exemplary work. Performance-based increases are based upon available funds and staff annual performance reviews. The cost-of-living adjustment and performance increases are reviewed and approved by the board of directors. The last compensation review of the executive director took place in june 2020.”

“Aucd's governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements (including annual audits) are available upon request.”