Elections Process

AAR Members volunteer their time to further the work of the AAR, and to serve their fellow members, by standing for election as officers and members of the Board of Directors. While meeting its legal fiduciary obligations, the Board concerns itself with strategic direction of the Academy through strategic planning, policy development, assessment, and advocacy.

There are twelve members, all of whom are elected by the membership, and the AAR Executive Director, in a nonvoting role, who serve on the Board of Directors.

The composition of the Board of Directors is specified by "Article V. Board of Directors, Section 2. Composition" of the AAR Bylaws.

Board of Director members are elected during the annual election period. The rules governing the election procedures for the Board of Directors are specified by “Article V. Board of Directors, Section 9. Election” of the AAR Bylaws. 

AAR Board of Directors
Nomination and Election Process

The Governance and Leadership Development Committee is charged with forming slates of candidates for AAR Board of Directors elections. The Governance and Leadership Development Committee presents to the Board at least two candidates to run for each AAR Director position elected by vote of the membership. The criteria for nomination include distinction in scholarship, teaching, and service to the Academy. The Committee selects candidates so as to bring the rich diversity of the AAR membership to the Board of Directors.

• AAR Members may self-nominate or nominate others for open positions during the annual open call for nominations.
• The Chair of the Governance and Leadership Development Committee collects the names of the proposed candidates submitted by the AAR membership.
• The Governance and Leadership Development Committee meets to discuss all of the officer nominations submitted by the general membership, AAR Committees, Board of Directors, and Governance and Leadership Development Committee members.
• The Governance and Leadership Development Committee determines the slate of candidates for each position open for election that coming year.
• The Chair of the Governance and Leadership Development Committee works down the slate by contacting the candidates to see if they are willing to stand for election.
• Once two candidates agree to stand for each open position, the Chair sends the final slate to the AAR Executive Office for presentation to the Board of Directors.
• After the slate of candidates has been presented to the Board of Directors, the AAR Executive Office contacts the candidates to request election materials that include a photo, brief biographical sketch, and candidate statement.
• AAR Members receive an email message announcing the start of the election period, and are provided with a link to the election materials and ballot.
• The candidate materials are made available to view on the AAR website.
• The elections period varies from year to year, but it is held each year in the fall. 
• The day after the elections close, the AAR Office tallies the electronic and mailed ballots and reports the results to the AAR Executive Director.
• The AAR Executive Director first contacts both the winning and losing candidates, and then announces the election results to the Board via email.
• Once the candidates have been contacted and the Board informed, the election results are posted on the AAR website. A further announcement is made at the AAR Annual Business Meeting at the Annual Meeting.
• Elected candidates take up their positions at the close of the AAR Annual Business Meeting.

Board of Directors Job Descriptions

Vice President

Serves a one-year term. The current Vice President will automatically become President-Elect next year and President the following year without additional elections. During their tenure, the Vice President will have the opportunity to affect AAR policy in powerful ways; in particular, during the presidential year, the incumbent makes many of the appointments of members to openings on working groups. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, the Vice President also serves on the Executive, Audit, and Program Committees and is an ex officio member of the Committee on Professional Conduct..

Secretary

Serves a three-year term. The Secretary is responsible for recording and verifying the official records of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the Annual Business Meeting. The Secretary serves on the Executive Committee.

Treasurer

Serves a three-year term. The Treasurer is responsible for all aspects of the AAR finances, from operating budgets to investments. The Treasurer serves on the Executive Committee and chairs the Finance Committee.

At-Large Directors

Serves a three-year term. At-Large Directors have no particular brief, but may, as needed, be tasked by the Board of Directors with various duties. They are charged to represent the needs and interests of the general AAR membership to the Board of Directors. One At-Large Director serves on the Finance Committee, and one At-Large Director serves on the Program Committee. At-Large Directors may also assume special assignments as directed by the Board of Directors.

Contingent Faculty Director

Serves a three-year term. The Contingent Faculty Director must be teaching in a non-tenure-track position at the time of election. The Contingent Faculty Director represents the particular concerns and interests of contingent faculty to the Board of Directors, and helps to ensure equity, labor justice, and the common good in the Academy. The Contingent Faculty Director serves on the Academic Labor and Contingent Faculty Committee.

Program Unit Director

Serves a three-year term. The Program Unit Director must have prior experience as a Program Unit Chair. The Program Unit Director will represent the needs and interests of the Program Units to the Board of Directors. This person is also charged with keeping before the Board important matters regarding the Annual Meeting. The Program Unit Director serves as Chair of the Program Committee.

Regions Director

Serves a three-year term. The Regions Director must have prior experience in the leadership of an AAR region. The Regions Director will represent the needs and interests of the AAR’s ten regions to the Board of Directors. The Regions Director serves as Chair of the Regions Committee and as an ex officio member of the Committee on Professional Conduct.

Status Committee Director

Serves a three-year term. The Status Committee Director is a member of the Board of Directors, representing the particular concerns and issues of AAR’s “status of” groups, and helps to administer accountability and accessibility policies. The Status Committee Director serves on the Governance and Leadership Development Committee.

Student Director

Serves a two-year term. The Student Director is a member of the Board of Directors, representing the particular concerns and issues of AAR student members at large. The Student Director serves as Chair of the Graduate Student Committee.