Section Websites

Section Websites
Andrea K. Gerlak, Director of Academic Development
October 2006 Newsletter

ISA Sections use the web to communicate with section members and showcase upcoming events and activities.  Every ISA section has an individual website linked through ISA’s main website.  See http://www.isanet.org/sections for a look at section websites. 

Typically, a section’s website includes information regarding section leaders and contact information, section charters, minutes of past section business meetings, links of interest, current and archived section newsletters, information related to section awards, and announcements of upcoming events.  Several section websites, including Ethnicity, Nationalism and Migration Studies, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Communication, and Peace Studies provide links to related course syllabi.  Other sections, like Environmental Studies and International Political Economy offer links to colleges and universities with programs in their respective areas.  “Most importantly, a section’s website should provide the visitor with an overview of the section’s mission as well as current officer contact information,” according to Joel Davis, Internet Projects Coordinator at ISA Headquarters. 

Recently, several sections have expanded their websites to include new communication mechanisms like weblogs.  Blogs quickly allow sections to communicate information and better connect with colleagues engaged in similar research and teaching.  Some sections are finding blogs particularly helpful in organizing panels or workshops for ISA meetings.

Many sections have found that updating their website is a constant challenge as information quickly becomes outdated. We encourage sections to address webpage updates at least annually.    Immediately following your section’s annual business meeting at the ISA annual conference is a great time to update your webpage.  Typically, new section officers have been elected and this is a good time to build off the momentum and excitement of the ISA annual meeting.  We caution sections to keep it simple -- don’t try to be everything to everyone but rather decide what best serves your section.  Regularly poll your members to better learn how they use the webpage and what they value most.

ISA Headquarters can assist your section by linking to your independently hosted website or by providing web hosting services and a webpage template for sections to follow.  The new International Security Studies Section webpage provides an illustration.  Their webpage can be found at:  http://www.isanet.org/sections/iss/.  Please contact Joel Davis at ISA Headquarters to get started.