The Politics, Roles, and Future of Professional Societies

This article analyzes various issues related to a professional society's having greater influence on governmental, societal, and global issues. Analysis of association/society missions and goals, support for enhanced connections with other groups and collaboration to other disciplines through scholarly research projects, plus greater relevance and impact of scholarly inquiry on societal and global issues is presented. However, association/society influence is marginalized unless there is enhanced support by university leadership and faculty of a new or expanded view of scholarly inquiry. One possibility in gaining support or recognition by colleagues, government, community, and society is through a name change that reflects expanded mission and goals, plus a grants program which identifies with Boyer's model of expanded academic scholarship and impact.