About
This page was created to clearly define terms for all things Institute. Please reference the terms below and feel free to reach out to Institute staff at iom@uschamber.com with any questions.
Terms
IOM: The recognition received upon program completion, plus the short form of the program name, Institute for Organization Management.
Fast Tracker: This term refers to an attendee who is attending more than one site within a calendar year and qualifies for our fast tracker enrollment incentive.
Class Level: Class level is where the attendee is in their Institute journey. There are four class levels in the program: first-year, second-year, third-year, & fourth-year. Class levels can be split depending on the size of the site, so it will show up as -2 (ex. 1-1 & 1-2).
-First-Year: A person attending their first Institute site.
-Second-Year: A person attending their second Institute site, following completion of their first year.
-Third-Year: A person attending their third Institute site, following completion of their second year.
-Fourth-Year: A person attending their fourth Institute site, following completion of their third year.
Volunteer Groups: Institute volunteers are graduates of the program and leaders in the association, chamber, and nonprofit industries. Volunteers act in an advisory capacity with the staff. They share their expertise with attendees and serve as mentors, both on-site and throughout the year.
–Class Advisors: Lead their assigned classes through the week’s activities, ensuring a quality educational and networking experience for all students. Class Advisors also serve as liaisons to Institute staff, faculty, and Board of Regents to help Institute run smoothly and effectively.
–Board of Regents: Responsible for program promotion and recruitment at their designated site, in addition to overseeing the implementation of the on-site Institute week and ensuring a smooth flow of events.
–Board of Trustees: Helps set the strategic direction of the Institute program. Trustees come from a wide variety of associations, chambers, and nonprofit organizations and often volunteer their time at the different Institute sites.
–Curriculum Committee: Ensures that the curriculum is tied to the CAE and CCE bodies of knowledge while maintaining relevance to today’s issues.
–DEI Council: Focuses on building capacity in the Association and Chamber industry through the intentional inclusion of diverse talent in all aspects of our program.
Elective vs. Core: All Institute courses are required. Attendees select three two-hour electives of their choosing during the week. Electives enable participants to delve deeper into specific areas of interest and choose courses tailed to their individual needs. Core classes are three hours each, and are assigned based on curriculum year. Core classes ensure that all facets of nonprofit management have been covered upon completion of the program.
Scholarships: A variety of Institute scholarships are offered to participants each year. Each scholarship is evaluated with the same criteria and is awarded based on an evaluation of an applicant’s financial need, involvement in industry professional organizations, community service, and professional background.
Kickoff: This is the first time for all Institute participants to be gathered together. Attendees will be welcomed by regent leadership, in addition to hearing a brief keynote from a select faculty member.
Graduation: This is the culmination of the Institute journey. Fourth-year participants will be recognized in front of all participants and will receive their IOM certificate.
Industry Consultations: This program provides the opportunity for participants to meet with a subject matter expert for a candid conversation on the topic of their choosing. Consultations are offered in-person on-site, as well as virtually year-round.