Preamble
International Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies (IAACS) is established to support a worldwide – but not uniform – field of curriculum studies. At this historical moment and for the foreseeable future, curriculum inquiry occurs within national borders, often informed by governmental policies and priorities, responsive to national situations. Curriculum study is, therefore, nationally distinctive. The founders of the IAACS do not dream of a worldwide field of curriculum studies mirroring the standardization and uniformity the larger phenomenon of globalization threatens. Nor are we unaware of the dangers of narrow nationalisms. Our hope, in establishing this organization, is to provide support for scholarly conversations within and across national and regional borders about the content, context, and process of education, the organizational and intellectual center of which is the curriculum.
Constitution
Article 1: Name
The name of the organization is the International Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies.
Article 2: Membership
Membership is open to both individuals and associations.
Individuals: Membership is open to any individuals interested in the advancement of curriculum studies as an academic and professional field of study, such as university faculty and students and other professional curriculum workers.
Associations: When a national or regional association for curriculum studies affiliates with the Association, all its members automatically become members of IAACS.
Article 3: Dues
Individuals: Due to currency exchange problems, individuals are encouraged but not required to pay dues (except indirectly through their affiliated organizations).
Associations: Associations are asked to pay an amount to be negotiated by the Coordinating Council each year, to be used to support the activities of the Association. Dues can be increased or decreased at the discretion of the Coordinating Council, in consultation with the General Assembly.
Article 4: Voting
A. All individual members, including officers of the Association and those inducted indirectly via affiliated associations, are eligible to vote.
B. Individual members will vote in elections for officers and representatives.
C. The General Assembly will be comprised of a representative from each nation or region. General Assembly members will vote on routine organizational matters and advise Coordinating Committee members as regards national, regional, and local issues and problems.
D. Voting and other Association business will be conducted, in general, electronically, via the internet, except when appropriate technology is not available to members or groups. The Secretary will be responsible for facilitating communication among members and committees, including members with non-internet connections.
E. Voting is limited to those members and General Assembly representatives who have attended at least one meeting per decade. Meetings will be held every three years.
F. When a candidate for an office fails to achieve a majority of votes, the two candidates with the most votes will stand in a “run-off” election to determine the elected official.
Article 5: Meetings
A. Meetings will be held every three years, organized by the Conference Committee, in consultation with the Coordinating Council and Representatives to the General Assembly.
B. Meetings of related organizations may be held concurrently.
C. Local affiliates are encouraged to meet annually.
Article 6: Governance Structure
A. Officers. There will be four officers elected by the general membership: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary. These four officials will constitute the Coordinating Council, to define and recommend policy to the General Assembly. All officers serve three-year terms and may be re-elected once. The President will chair Coordinating Council meetings and support the smooth and efficient functioning of the Association.
The Vice-President will chair the General Assembly and act as President in case of the President’s absence due to illness or resignation. The Treasurer will maintain records – accessible to all members – regarding the Association’s financial activities (if any). The Secretary will keep records of all Association business (membership list, minutes of all meetings, etc.), including an archive for an Association history, to be started immediately.
B. General Assembly. To encourage the organization of national and/or regional curriculum studies associations and promote the cause of curriculum studies in all nations, the General Assembly is chaired by the Vice-President. Each nation or region will elect one representative every three years; representatives are eligible for re-election once.
C. Standing Committees. All members are eligible to serve on standing committees. Standing Committee members serve three-year terms and may be reelected once. For the sake of efficient communication, committees will be limited to five members, elected by the general membership and chaired by the IAACS President or her/his designate.
D. Special appointments: The editor-in-chief of Transnational Curriculum Inquiry – the official journal of the Association – is appointed by the President in consultation with the Coordinating Council and may serve indefinitely. The website coordinator is also appointed by the President in consultation with the Coordinating Committee and may serve indefinitely. The President may make other special appointments in consultation with the Coordinating Council as circumstances suggest.
Membership Committee
Purpose: To encourage new members of IAACS and to address members’ concerns regarding organizational issues.
Nominations Committee
Purpose: To solicit nominations and conduct elections for officers and to calculate election results for officers and General Assembly seats.
Technological Support Committee
Purpose: To ensure technological support for Association business and members’ communication.
Conferences Committee
Purpose: To plan for upcoming conferences and to assist with conference planning and organization.
Affiliated Societies and Associations Committee
Purpose: To encourage and consider applications from affiliated societies and associations.
Publications Committee
Purpose: To oversee Association publications, including an IAACS scholarly journal and a “News and Notes” publication to keep members informed of Association and members’ activities and to encourage informal conversation among members.
Ad Hoc Committees
Purpose: To perform specific organizational tasks as deemed necessary by the Coordinating Council.
E. Election to Committees. Committee elections will be held every six years. Committee members may be re-elected once.
Article 6: Amendments
This Constitution may be amended by presenting a written amendment to the President, who will distribute it to the General Membership. The amendment will pass if it is agreed to by two-thirds of the voting members.
Article 7: Ratification
The constitution was ratified in April 2001.