Theory and Criticism Focus Group Last Amended 08/2012
Theory and Criticism Focus Group By-Laws
Article I: Name
The name of this interest group shall be the Theory and Criticism Focus Group.
Article II: Mission and Purpose
1) to offer a space to examine some of the main theoretical lenses scholars and practitioners employ to analyze performance.
2) to encourage and participate in multidisciplinary dialogues across the fields of performance scholarship.
3) to sharpen the critical tools the Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) members use to conceptualize, evaluate, and pursue ATHE’s mission to explore, foster, and sustain new and better ways to think and do theatre.
4) to provide a network through which those engaged in theatre theory, criticism, practice, and scholarship can share work, theory, and support.
Article III: Membership and Voting
Membership is open to any member of ATHE interested in theatre and performance theory and criticism. All members attending the annual meeting are eligible to vote on all issues presented to the membership. [In the event of a tie, the Focus Group Representative may cast the deciding vote. The Officers may submit issues to the larger Membership through a ballot by email.]
Article IV: Organization and Offices
Organization
The Theory and Criticism Focus Group is an interest group formed within the
Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE). ATHE is structured through the use of
Focus Groups. More than twenty interest groups provide each member with an opportunity to meet and communicate with other members who share similar interests in specific discipline areas. During ATHE’s annual conference, the Theory and Criticism Focus Group will sponsor panel and/or performance presentations. The Officers, under the direction of the Conference

Theory and Criticism Focus Group Last Amended 08/2012
Planner, will receive submissions from any interested scholars and will rank and submit, according to ATHE’s guidelines, the most promising panels for presentation at the conference.
The Theory and Criticism Focus Group will also work with other Focus Groups to create joint panels and presentations of interest to the broader ATHE community. The Theory and Criticism
Focus Group may hold a pre-conference before the ATHE annual convention. The format of the pre-conference may take any form deemed appropriate, such as roundtables, invited speakers, paper presentations, workshops, or discussion groups.
Officers
1. Focus Group Representative (FGR): The FGR is responsible for directing and supervising
Theory and Criticism Focus Group activities, scheduling and conducting the annual meeting and any other meetings of the Officers, , and supervising any on-going projects. The FGR confers with the Conference Planner about the merit of conference and project proposals. The FGR participates in the ATHE organization by communicating with the ATHE Governing Council and ATHE administration, attending ATHE meetings, representing Theory and Criticism Focus
Group members' interests, and providing reports of those various meetings to Theory and
Criticism Focus Group.
2. Conference Planner : The Conference Planner is responsible for soliciting conference proposals and coordinating, with the FGR, the schedule of programs for the annual ATHE
Conference and, if applicable, the Theory and Criticism pre-conference. A separate Pre-
Conference Planner may be elected by the membership.
3. Secretary : The Secretary serves as recording and correspondence secretary and as an assistant to the Conference Planner and FGR as needed. The Secretary is responsible for maintaining
Theory and Criticism Focus Group’s records. The Secretary may work with the FGR and other
Officers in the planning of the annual conference and other Theory and Criticism Focus Group projects.
4. Graduate Student Representative (GSR): the GSR is responsible for communicating with and representing the graduate student members of the Theory and Criticism Focus Group. The

Theory and Criticism Focus Group Last Amended 08/2012
GSR coordinates and facilitates the annual graduate student paper competition. The GSR also represents Theory and Criticism Focus Group interests to ATHE’s Graduate Student Collective.
The GSR may work with the FGR and other Officers in the planning of the annual conference and other Theory and Criticism Focus Group projects.
5. Members-at-Large : the Member-at-Large is responsible for communicating with and representing all members of the Theory and Criticism Focus Group. The Member-at-Large may work with the FGR and other Officers in the planning of the annual conference and other Theory and Criticism Focus Group projects.
All Officers are elected to a two-year term, with the exception of Members-at-Larges who serve for one year. Any member may stand for election, either through nomination by another member or by self-nomination. There is no fixed limitation to the number of terms in office.
If any officer vacates their position during the year, the FGR has the discretion to appoint an interim officer until the next election.
If the FGR vacates their position during the year, the Conference Planner has the discretion to either assume the duties of FGR until the next election, or appoint an interim FGR until the next election.
Article V: Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting will be held at the Annual ATHE Conference. The Officers will be responsible for developing the agenda for this meeting. Those attending will constitute a quorum.
Article VI: Amendments to By-Laws
These by-laws may be amended by a vote of the majority of the members attending the
Annual Meeting.