Specialized Leadership for Complex Challenges
InCommon’s board structure reflects our commitment to addressing the diverse needs of our community through focused expertise. Each board operates with a specific charter, bringing together subject matter experts to tackle distinct aspects of federated identity management. Our boards work collaboratively with advisory committees and working groups to ensure that governance decisions are informed by practical experience and technical expertise. This multi-layered approach enables us to maintain both strategic vision and operational excellence.
The Foundation of Federation Trust
Strategic Direction Boards provide long-term vision and strategic guidance that shapes the evolution of InCommon services. They ensure our federation adapts to emerging technologies and changing institutional needs while maintaining stability and trust.
Community Representation Board members represent diverse perspectives from across research and education. This ensures that governance decisions reflect the real-world challenges and opportunities facing our community.
Our Current Boards
Each InCommon board focuses on specific aspects of federation governance, bringing deep expertise to critical areas of identity and access management.
Community Trust and Assurance Board (CTAB)
Establishing and maintaining trust frameworks that enable secure collaboration Overview: CTAB represents the InCommon community in all trust and assurance initiatives. This board shepherds the development of Baseline Expectations, facilitates community consensus on security standards, and leads dispute resolution processes.
Key Responsibilities:
- Baseline Expectations stewardship
- Security framework development
- Dispute resolution leadership
- Community consensus facilitation
Impact Highlight: Successfully achieved 100% community compliance with Baseline Expectations, improving security across 6,200+ registered entities
Meeting Schedule: Bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 1-2 PM ET
Expanding Governance as We Grow
As InCommon evolves to meet new challenges, we may establish additional boards to provide specialized governance in emerging areas. Future boards might address:
- Privacy and Ethics Board – Guiding privacy-preserving practices and ethical data use
- Innovation and Technology Board – Evaluating emerging technologies and their federation impact
- International Collaboration Board – Strengthening global research partnerships
These potential boards follow the same community-driven, transparent governance model that makes our current boards effective.
Interested in Proposing a New Board? Contact our governance team to discuss emerging needs that might benefit from dedicated board oversight.
Board Operations
Board Structure & Charters
Each InCommon board operates under a formal charter that defines its scope, authority, and responsibilities.
Common Elements:
- Clear Mission: Specific focus area and objectives
- Defined Scope: Boundaries of board authority
- Reporting Structure: Relationship to Steering Committee
- Operating Procedures: Meeting schedules and decision processes
Charter Development: Board charters are developed through community consultation and approved by the InCommon Steering Committee. They’re regularly reviewed to ensure continued alignment with community needs.
Board Membership
Board members bring diverse expertise and perspectives from across the research and education community.
Member Selection:
- Nominations: Open annual nomination process
- Qualifications: Subject matter expertise and community standing
- Terms: Typically 2-3 year terms with staggered rotation
- Diversity: Intentional inclusion of varied institutional perspectives
Member Responsibilities:
- Regular meeting participation
- Community consultation and engagement
- Document review and decision-making
- Public communication of board activities
Transparent Governance Processes
Our boards follow established processes that ensure transparency, fairness, and community input.
Key Processes:
- Open Meetings: Most board meetings include opportunities for community observation
- Public Documentation: Minutes and decisions are publicly available
- Consultation Periods: Major decisions include community feedback opportunities
- Consensus Building: Structured processes for reaching community agreement
- Regular Reporting: Boards report regularly to Steering Committee and community
Accountability to the Community
InCommon boards are accountable to the community they serve through multiple mechanisms.
Accountability Measures:
- Public Reporting: Regular updates on board activities and decisions
- Community Feedback: Multiple channels for community input
- Performance Reviews: Regular assessment of board effectiveness
- Charter Reviews: Periodic evaluation of board scope and purpose
Oversight Structure: All boards report to the InCommon Steering Committee, which provides oversight and ensures alignment with InCommon’s mission and values.
Accountability to the Community
InCommon boards are accountable to the community they serve through multiple mechanisms.
Accountability Measures:
- Public Reporting: Regular updates on board activities and decisions
- Community Feedback: Multiple channels for community input
- Performance Reviews: Regular assessment of board effectiveness
- Charter Reviews: Periodic evaluation of board scope and purpose
Oversight Structure: All boards report to the InCommon Steering Committee, which provides oversight and ensures alignment with InCommon’s mission and values.
Get Involved with InCommon Boards
There are multiple ways to engage with InCommon’s governance boards and contribute to their important work.
Participation Options:
✓ Attend Open Sessions: Join public board meetings as an observer
✓ Provide Input: Participate in consultation periods and feedback sessions
✓ Join a Board: Apply during annual nomination periods
✓ Propose Topics: Suggest issues for board consideration
✓ Review Documents: Comment on draft policies and standards
Time Commitment: Board membership typically requires 2-4 hours per month, including meeting time and document review. Observer participation can be as minimal or involved as your schedule allows.
Board Leadership Driving Real Results
InCommon boards have delivered measurable improvements in federation security, trust, and operational excellence.
Key Achievements:
- Established Baseline Expectations adopted by 100% of participants
- Developed trust frameworks enabling collaboration across 6,200+ entities
- Created dispute resolution processes, maintaining federation integrity
- Built community consensus on critical security standards
- Guided successful adoption of new technologies and practices
Looking Forward: Our boards continue to identify and address emerging challenges, ensuring InCommon remains at the forefront of secure identity management.
Board Resources & Documentation
Governance Documents
- Board Charters
- Operating Procedures
- Meeting Minutes Archives
- Annual Reports
Participation Resources
- Nomination Guidelines
- Member Handbook
- Observer Guidelines
- Contact Information