AUSACE: The Arab-U.S. Association for Communication Educators
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AUSACE Bylaws

Arab-US Association for Communication Educators

Bylaws

Abstract

The AUSACE Charter, adopted in Arabic and English on May 4, 1995, established the association, under the governance of an Arab-U.S. board of Directors, as an international, non-governmental, professional, voluntary, nonprofit and non-political organization respectful of international law in conjunction with national laws and sovereignties of the countries involved. The Board of Directors consists of at least one representative form every Arab nation.

Detail

ARAB-U.S. ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNICATION EDUCATORS
Adopted On the 4th of May 1995 in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Reused On the 15th of November, 2000, in Amman, Jordan

Contents

  • Article 1. Establishment; name of the association; objectives; characteristics
  • Article 2. Language of the Charter
  • Article 3. The Headquarters
  • Article 4. Membership: Conditions, categories, voting rights, and cancellation
  • Article 5. Administrative Structure
  • Article 6. Voting Procedure
  • Article 7. Meetings
  • Article 8. Funding: Sources and Expenditures
  • Article 9. Amendments
  • Article 10. Founding Members

Article 1. Establishment; name of the association; objectives; characteristics

  • Section: 1- Name of the Association:

The Association shall be named the Arab-US. Association for Communication Educators (AUSACE).

  • Section 2. Characteristics of the Association:

The Arab-U.S. Association for Communication Educators is an international, non-governmental, professional, voluntary, non-profit and non-political organization respectful of international law in conjunction with national laws and sovereignties of the countries involved.

  • Section 3. Objectives of the Association:

The Association encourages the following goals:

    • 1. Cross-Cultural, intellectual, and scientific dialogues.
    • 2. Curriculum development and innovative teaching methodology.
    • 3. Exchange of experts, professors, and technical expertise.
    • 4. Co operation in the area of scientific research and publication.
    • 5. Exchange of research and information in print and broadcast.
    • 6. Internships and other exchanges with media practitioners.
    • 7. Organization of conferences and seminars on communication
    • 8. Student publications
    • 9. Transfer of communication technology
    • 10. Facilitation of publication and dissemination of communication research
    • 11. Advocacy of ethical practices in the teaching and practice of communic

 

Article 2. Language of the Charter

  • Section 1.

Arabic is the language of the Charter of the Association.

  • Section 2.

The Association relies Primarily upon the Arabic text in case of disputes or interpretation of the Charter.
Article 3. The Headquarters

The General Headquarters of the Association is that of the General international Co-coordinator, who is elected for a two-year term on the principal of alternation.

Article 4. Membership: Conditions, categories, voting rights, and cancellation

  • Section 1. Categories of Membership:

The membership of the Association is open to all faculty members in universities, centers, and institutes of communication in the Arab world and in the United States.

There are three categories of membership:

    • 1. The Founding members are automatic and permanent members of the Association. They comprise the international Board of Directors and also serve individually as national co-coordinators at their respective institutions.
    • 2. The AUSACE Board of Directors who also serve individually as national coordinators at their respective institutions.
    • 3. Professors who are members of teaching faculties in the fields of information and communication are eligible to be full members of the Association.
    • 4. Individuals and organizations who have intellectual output in the communication area in scientific research, public information services, or are practitioners in various information fields, including students of communication and media are eligible to be Associate members of the Association.
  • Section 2. Conditions:

A full member-candidate must meet the following conditions:

    • 1. A member-candidate must be on a teaching faculty in the area of media and communication
    • 2.A member-candidate must show scientific contributions in the area of media and communication, including publications.
  • Section 3. Voting rights:

The Board of Directors has the exclusive right to vote.

  • Section 4. Cancellation:

Membership is cancelled based on the absolute majority principle in the following cases:

    • 1. Violation of the Charter’s principles
    • 2. Plagiarism

Article 5. Administrative Structure

The Association is comprised of a Board of Directors, national branches, and working committees.

  • Section 1. President

The board of directors is comprised of members from Arab nations and the U.S. on 3 to 2 ratio from whom an administration is elected for a two-year term on the principle of alternation as follows:

    • 1. President
    • 2. Vice-President
    • 3. Financial officer
    • 4. Secretary
    • 5. Legal consultant
  • Section 2. National Branches

On the national level, the Association is comprised of branches managed and headed by a member of the Board of Directors who acts as coordinator. The coordinator enjoys full discretion in the selection of staff and management style.

  • Section 3. Working committees

The activities of the Association are run by twelve working committees headed by a coordinator selected from the Board of Directors. The committees are:

    • 1. Elections Committee
    • 2. Publications Committee
    • 3. The Newsletter Committee
    • 4. Scientific Research Committee
    • 5. Finance Committee
    • 6. Internship and Professional Training Committee
    • 7. Membership Committee
    • 8. Conferences Committee
    • 9. External and Community Relations Committee
    • 10. Technology Committee
    • 11. Student Publications
    • 12. Curriculum Committee

Article 6. Voting Procedure

  • Section 1.

The Association has adopted the absolute majority principle, which is 50 percent plus 1, in all its decision-making processes.

  • Section 2.

The Association has adopted the principle of alternation for the office of the President and all other administrative offices between its Arab and American Board of Directors in the following fashion: In case the President is of an Arab member country, the Vice-President must be, in accordance with the bylaws of the Charter, from the American members, and vice versa.  The same alternation principle is applicable to all other national administrative offices.

  • Section 3.

The general elections shall be held every two years except for the following circumstances:

    • 1. The resignation or dismissal of the President.
    • 2. The death of the President.
    • 3. Vote of no confidence in the President, based on the absolute majority principle established by the Founding Members.

This rule is applicable to all elected members of the international offices.

  • Section 4.

The Association has adopted the rule of secret balloting in the voting process. In case of a tie, the voting members will adopt the recommendation of the President.

Article 7. Meetings

The members of the international Board of Directors of the Association shall meet at least once a year and whenever it is deemed necessary. Under recommendation of a majority of the Board of Directors, a general meeting of the membership of the Association shall be held.
Article 8. Funding: Sources and Expenditures

  • Section 1. Sources of Funding

Funding sources of the Association are comprised of annual fees, grants, and contributions.

    • 1. Annual membership fees are set as follows:
      Full Member $20 or equivalent local currency
      Associate Member $10 or equivalent local currency
      Student Associate Member $10 or equivalent

Special status is granted in all categories to members who reside in Gaza and the West Bank: Full member, $15, Associate member $5, Student Associate member $2.

    • 2. Grants and Contributions shall be accepted by the majority of the Board of Directors.
  • Section 2. Expenditures

Ninety percent (90%) of the financial resources are reserved for expenditures at the national branches with priority on the annual international conference. The remaining ten percent (10%) is for use for the international headquarters of the Association.

Article 9. Amendments

The Charter of the Association can be amended upon request by a majority of the Board of Directors present at any of the annual meeting of the Association, on the condition that all members are notified in writing of the motion to amend and that this motion must be circulated to all members 60 days prior to the date of the meeting.
Article 10. Founding Members

The Founding members of the association gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, between April 2, 1995, and May 4, 1995, under the umbrella of Georgia State University, and participated in the formulation and implementation of this organization. Their names in alphabetical order are:

Nashat Aqtash  (Gaza)

Tayeb Boutbouqalt (Morocco)

 Carolyn Crimmins (U.S.A.)

Hammad Ibrahim Hamed (Egypt)

Taoufik Jdidi (Morocco)

Hanan El-Malki (Syria)

Abdelkader Rhaiem (Tunisia)

Leonard Teel (U.S.A.)

Khelifa Bouras (Algeria)

Mohamed-Fehri Chelbe (Tunisia)

Khalid El-Ghamry (Egypt)

Al Hester (U.S.A.)

Gregory Lisby (U.S.A.)

Issam Moussa (Jordan)

Samar Shunnar (West Bank)