SDKPA Research Team Policy 2023-2024

1. All members of the SDKPA Research Team must attend the annually scheduled orientation in August. The orientation attendance does not count toward the monthly research activity hour.
2. There will be nine monthly meetings from September to May in the following year. The monthly meetings happen online via Zoom by default. However, in-person meetings could happen if all research team members agree and are evaluated to be more effective.
3. All research members are encouraged to do their best in the assigned research activities, resource gathering, and maintaining online documents to keep records of helpful information to share with other student members in the SDKPA.
4. Research members embrace different perspectives and must be respectful to other fellow members, even when there is disagreement.
5. Members will take turns facilitating monthly meetings as an opportunity to practice organizational skills and public speaking.
6. A research topic for the next meeting is determined at the prior meeting by research team members. Members’ discretion and democratic process are encouraged in selecting highly relevant and impactful topics.
7. The due date of the monthly research report is 11:59 PM on the first calendar day of the following month of a research team meeting. A submission link with Google Forms will be provided at the annual orientation.
8. Members of the Research Team receive a volunteer certificate issued by the SDKPA in lieu of time members spent on research activities (article research, data collection, monthly meetings, etc.). The maximum number of volunteer hours is set at 10 hours per month.
9. Members must pay attention to the email communications sent by the SDKPA Research Team advisor.
10. If a member wants to withdraw from the Research Team, the member must provide a letter of resignation at least 30 days in advance.
11. Members are encouraged to contact the Research Team advisor at researchteam@sdkpa.org for any issues/challenges/problems arising when participating in the research team activities.
12. If a member reaches four violations as specified below, the member will be dismissed after the SDKPA management team reviews the case. Each violation equates to one penalty point.
    - Failure to submit a monthly after-meeting report by 11:59 PM of the first day in the following month of a meeting
    - Unexcused tardiness in attending a monthly research meeting for 30 or more minutes except for emergencies or prior notification
    - In case of a report filed against the research member concerning disruptive behavior or complaint, the case will be reviewed by the parent group and the decision will be made accordingly.
    - If a member receives expulsion from school or commits substance abuse, the member is dismissed from the research team immediately, regardless of cumulative penalty points being less than 4.
13. Members are responsible for paying non-refundable annual membership due on time.
14. Photos or videos may be taken during the research meetings and used in SDKPA promotional materials, such as Book Party Yearbook, SDKPA homepage, or fliers.
    Use of recordings: <<Photographs and recordings taken during the research meeting can be used in SDKPA promotional material such as the BOOK PARTY, the SDKPA Homepage, magazines, or other print material, etc.  (The photo/recordings may be used even if you withdraw from your leadership position) [Use of recordings]>>