Structure and Governance

ACLS is a carefully integrated assembly of scholars, educators, administrators, and member institutions that support the advancement of humanistic scholarship. Our structure and governance are defined in the ACLS Constitution.

The Council

The ACLS Constitution defines the Council as the Board of Directors and delegates representing each of the 80 member societies.

Board of Directors

Our board consists of up to 20 volunteer members elected at the ACLS Annual Meetings. The board meets quarterly and works closely with the president in establishing organizational direction and policies, allocating funds, overseeing investments, and general and fiscal oversight. Meet the ACLS Board of Directors.

Delegates

An ACLS Delegate is selected by each of the 80 member societies for a four-year term to represent their constituent society as part of the Council and at ACLS Annual Meetings. An elected, seven-member Executive Committee of the Delegates serves as the Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors on admissions of new societies and affiliates. The chair of the Executive Committee of the Delegates serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors.

Conference of Executive Officers

The principal administrator from each of the 80 member societies serves on the Conference of Executive Officers (CEO). The CEO elects a seven-member Executive Committee, whose chair also serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors. Meet the Conference of Executive Officers.

ACLS Member Institutions

ACLS member institutions represent thousands of of scholars, educators, and administrators around the world, all committed to the advancement of humanistic scholarship.

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80 scholarly organizations