Charter for the REACH Working Groups

I. Purpose and Mission

Working Groups are comprised of volunteers who produce deliverables for the Research Evaluation & Analytics Capacity Hub (REACH) network. The mission of a working group is to create industry-standard guidance, tools, and other deliverables that result in scalable solutions, build expertise, and establish best practices in data analytics, responsible evaluation of research, and AI applications.

II. Scope and Responsibilities

Working Group Co-Leads will:

Plan agendas and facilitate meetings to keep the group focused, productive, and on schedule.
Foster participatory group dynamics that invite varied perspectives and shared contributions.
Coordinate the development of working group deliverables and, as needed, present drafts and recommendations to the REACH Community Advisory Board (CAB), Steering Committee, and PI, as appropriate.

Working Group Contributors will:

Participate consistently and actively in meetings and working group activities.
Share professional knowledge, experience, and insights to shape recommendations and produce outputs. Contributors will receive appropriate authorship or credit for their work on deliverables.
When feasible, represent REACH and share working group deliverables at relevant industry conferences. (Limited travel funds may be available but are not guaranteed.)
Join co-lead meetings with REACH CAB co-chairs and/or Steering Committee representatives to present progress and finalized deliverables.

III. Participation

A. Composition

Leadership: REACH Working Groups are co-led by one or more people from the REACH network and a REACH project team member. This ensures a community perspective and alignment with overall REACH objectives. Co-leads will be appointed by the PI, and the PI may also serve as a co-lead.
Size: There will be 6–10 participants per group, inclusive of co-leads.

B. Recruitment

Participants will be recruited through open calls to the REACH community, outreach to industry partners, and targeted invitations to subject-matter experts. This approach promotes broad participation, incorporates current industry best practices, and ensures that each working group includes relevant expertise.

C. Selection and Term

Selection: Prospective REACH Working Group participants will complete a brief application that captures their professional interest, experience, and expertise related to the topic. To review applicants, the REACH PI will convene a 3–5 person Working Group Review Committee, drawn from the Steering Committee and Community Advisory Board, to score applications against defined criteria. Using these recommendations, the REACH PI will make final appointments to ensure each group has appropriate expertise and balanced representation.
Term: REACH Working Groups will last from 6–12 months. Terms may be renewed with PI approval.

D. Onboarding

REACH Working Group Co-Leads will convene a short orientation session covering REACH’s overall objectives, the working group’s specific contribution to those aims, and establishing timelines. Working groups will receive a REACH Working Group Guide that outlines:

Roles and responsibilities.
Communication, collaboration, and project management tools.
Strategies for deliberation and decision-making.

IV. Meetings and Communication

REACH Working Groups will convene monthly, with the flexibility to schedule additional meetings or smaller task-focused sessions as needed.
Meetings will be held virtually via Zoom. REACH program staff will host the meetings and provide administrative support, including documenting notes and action items.
Between scheduled meetings, communication may occur via phone and email as needed to facilitate ongoing discussions and decision-making.
Materials may be circulated in advance of meetings for members to review and prepare thoughts and questions, as applicable.
Deliverables: Each REACH Working Group will identify the deliverable format(s) that best fit its topic, goals, and intended audiences. Deliverables are intended to advance first-of-their-kind community standards and practical resources for the field. Potential deliverables include:

Guidance Documents: To promote best practices, REACH will share a guidance-document template to ensure consistency and invite working groups to draft guidance documents; approved documents will be posted on the REACH website.
REACH Webinars: REACH has an established webinar series to share industry-relevant technical topics. Webinars will be broadcast and archived on Cassyni.
White Papers: In-depth publications that explore a key issue, synthesize community input, and offer actionable recommendations or standards. White papers will be featured on the REACH website.
Case Studies: Real-world examples that describe challenges, successes, and replicable approaches.
Documentation / Toolkits: Practical templates, frameworks, or resources designed for adoption by research offices, practitioners, or policy stakeholders.

Authorship and Contributor Recognition: Working group participants will be recognized for their contributions through authorship or contributor credit on deliverables, acknowledgment in REACH presentations, and public materials.
Other Optional Recognition: Upon request, working group participants may receive certificates of participation and letters of recognition.

V. Decision-Making and Reporting

Decision-Making Approach: REACH Working Groups are designed to incorporate a wide range of community perspectives. Co-Leads will facilitate inclusive, constructive dialogue that surfaces differing viewpoints and supports thoughtful exploration of the strengths, limitations, and tradeoffs among competing approaches. Robust participation will be encouraged as the group develops best practices, standards, and recommendations for its topic area. All decisions, draft products, and final deliverables will be documented and shared with the full Working Group for review prior to submission to the Steering Committee for consideration and to the PI for final approval.
Reporting: REACH Working Groups will present final products for review by the Steering Committee and final approval by PI. Others may be asked to review at the discretion of the PI.

VI. Charter Review

This charter will be reviewed annually by the REACH Steering Committee and program staff to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness, with amendments made as necessary.

REACH Working Group Charter

Version 1.1 | 09 Feb 2026

REACH is supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (Grant No. 2444978).

Program content does not reflect the opinions or views of the National Science Foundation.