INDEN: Aims and Procedures

Aims and Procedures of INDEN

Name

This Network shall be known as The International Network for Doctoral Education in Nursing (INDEN). INDEN is an independent group; it is free to enter into partnership and collaborative relationships with other scholarly and professional groups of its choice for specific purposes in pursuit of its aims. INDEN is a non-profit, educational group.

Aim

The aim of INDEN is to advance and promote high quality doctoral education in nursing through national/international collaboration and cooperation.

Objectives

In order to pursue the overall aim of advancing doctoral education, several specific objectives will be pursued by the Network:

Create a common vision for the future of doctoral education;
Develop quality indicators and guidelines for doctoral education that are relevant to different countries;
Pursue opportunities for exchange of ideas for substantive nursing knowledge development applicable globally, in view of societal needs and evolving socio-political structures;
Develop mechanisms to enable productive exchange of individuals and ideas across doctoral programs within and between countries;
Provide opportunities for dialogue and networking among doctoral educators to address issues of shared interest in different regions of the world;
Devise approaches for influencing policies relevant to doctoral education.

In order to support the achievement of the above objectives a variety of approaches will be utilized. The following are illustrative:

Recruit qualified individuals [as defined under "membership"] who will enrich the Network and further its aim;
Develop an Internet list of individuals with experience in doctoral nursing education and supervision who can serve as resource to colleagues;
Encourage doctoral student exchange across countries;
Form a data base of doctoral programs with regard to features such as mentoring methods, curriculum approaches;
Compile and share with members "best practices" in nursing doctoral education;
Publish an electronic newsletter.

Membership

Membership is open to all educators, administrators, postdoctoral fellows, students and others who are interested or involved in doctoral education in nursing.

Definitions:

Regular individual member: A faculty member, administrator, practitioner, researcher or postdoctoral fellow in an organization offering or preparing to offer a doctoral program in nursing.

Student member: Any nurse enrolled in a doctoral program, or other individuals studying in a nursing doctoral program.

Meetings

Meetings of INDEN will be held once every two years; they will be linked to either the ICN or Sigma Theta Tau International meetings/conferences, but will be independent of them. Meetings will be publicized widely around the world.

Board of Directors

In order to facilitate the conduct of the Network�s business, there will be a Board of Directors (Board) of nine (9) members representing regions or continents, considering the location pattern of doctoral programs. The Board members will be elected by the INDEN membership, and will include a chairperson, secretary and treasurer. Elections will be conducted either at the INDEN meetings or voting will occur electronically. The members will serve three (3) years, with staggered terms. Individuals will be sought for the slate who possess relevant skills for the particular office.

Members may be re-elected for a second three year term.

Functions of the Board of Directors
The Board is responsible for planning and implementing activities to achieve the Network objectives. Specifically, the Board will:

Transact business on behalf of INDEN between meetings;
Develop a plan to implement priority objectives of the Network for a given biennium;
Assume responsibility for planning the meetings of the Network at the frequency and location determined; this may be accomplished by appointing a program committee;
Appoint individuals to serve as nominating committee for election of the Board;
Involve the Network members in various projects as appropriate;
Set dues structure using a model similar to ICN;
Arrange for the collection of dues once every two years. The credit card method of payment will be made available as an option;
Arrange publicity and marketing of the Network and its work;
Develop a plan for financing the projects and priorities of INDEN.

The Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer will comprise the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors (EC). The EC will assume leadership in moving forward the work of INDEN. The frequency and location of meetings will be determined by the EC as indicated.

Conduct of Business

The majority of the work shall be conducted electronically; in-person, telephone, fax and other means will also be utilized as indicated.

A Website of INDEN will be maintained at two levels, if feasible; one level, open to all, is intended for publicity, the second level is intended for INDEN membership, to enable the conduct of business. An electronic group will also be maintained of all dues-paying members for ease of communication.

Ratification of this Document

A simple majority approval of members voting is required for ratification.

Amendments to this Document

Amendments may be initiated by any member who must obtain the signature of at least twenty members; the request is then sent in writing to the Board, with the names of the individuals who concur with the proposal. A full explanation and rationale should be provided. After deliberation, the Board may present the amendment for action to the full membership. Amendments may also be initiated by the Executive Committee and the Board who will present any proposed change to the membership for action. A two-thirds approval of those voting is required to approve an amendment.

October 1999