[Tentative] Expatriate Academics Advocacy Group
Chapter Application Letter Template
Subject: Application for Recognition – AAUP International Expatriate Chapter
Dear Members of the Committee A,
We, the undersigned faculty members, formally submit this request to establish an independent AAUP-aligned chapter, titled:
“AAUP International – Expatriate Chapter for Academic Freedom & Whistleblower Protection”
This chapter is being formed in response to growing violations of academic freedom, workplace retaliation, union-busting, and due process failures faced by American expatriate professors and global faculty operating under U.S. institutions in foreign territories—most notably within authoritarian host nations.
The founding of this chapter is anchored in AAUP’s 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, as well as the 2023 Recommended Institutional Regulations, and the guidance in “The Use and Abuse of Faculty Suspensions”.
Our Mission Includes:
- Defending U.S. academic standards and tenure protections abroad.
- Providing a legal and institutional response platform for whistleblowers.
- Documenting global academic labor violations involving U.S. entities.
- Promoting multilingual, inclusive, and equitable working conditions for global faculty.
- Ensuring the ethical operation of satellite campuses offering U.S. degrees.
We request affiliation, guidance, and recognition under the AAUP umbrella, with the understanding that this chapter will operate as a self-governing body committed to AAUP’s principles, while respecting local risks and conditions of faculty in non-democratic regimes.
Please find attached our proposed organizational chart, founding members list, and mission framework.
Thank you for your commitment to global academic justice.
Sincerely,
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🏛️ Bylaws of AAUP International – Expatriate Chapter
Adopted: [Insert Date]
Last Revised: [Insert Date]
Article I – Name and Affiliation
- The name of this organization shall be the AAUP International – Expatriate Chapter.
- The Chapter aligns with the principles and mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) but shall operate autonomously to reflect the specific needs of American and international faculty abroad.
Article II – Mission and Objectives
The mission of this Chapter is to:
- Defend academic freedom for expatriate and international professors working in foreign branches of American institutions.
- Protect whistleblowers and faculty members from retaliation, discrimination, and violations of due process.
- Promote transparency, fairness, and U.S.-standard governance practices in offshore educational institutions.
- Document, report, and respond to cases of academic suppression, union-busting, racial or national discrimination, and threats to physical and psychological safety.
Article III – Membership
- Eligibility: Membership is open to:
- U.S. citizens employed or formerly employed as faculty by U.S.-affiliated universities operating abroad.
- Non-U.S. citizens working at U.S.-affiliated institutions who uphold the Chapter’s principles.
- Confidentiality: Membership identities may be protected through pseudonyms and encryption for safety.
- Voting Rights: Voting members must be in good standing and attend at least 50% of Chapter meetings annually.
Article IV – Governance Structure
Section 1: Executive Committee
- Chairperson – Oversees Chapter strategy, advocacy, and external relations.
- Vice Chair – Legal Affairs – Coordinates legal responses and compliance with U.S. and international laws.
- Vice Chair – Advocacy and Whistleblower Protection – Supports members facing retaliation and oversees case documentation.
- Secretary – Manages internal records, meeting minutes, and Chapter archives.
- Membership Director – Leads recruitment and onboarding, ensures diversity and security.
- Digital Security & Communications Officer – Secures member communications and manages digital assets.
Article V – Meetings
- The Chapter shall hold at least four meetings annually, conducted via secure virtual platforms.
- Emergency sessions may be convened upon request of at least two Executive Officers or five voting members.
- Quorum: One-third of voting members must be present for official business to be conducted.
Article VI – Voting and Elections
- Elections shall be held annually in December, with terms beginning January 1.
- All officers are elected by a simple majority of voting members.
- Voting shall occur through encrypted, verifiable digital polling.
Article VII – Discipline and Protection
- The Chapter shall adopt zero tolerance for retaliation, discrimination, or suppression of whistleblower rights.
- Any member proven to endanger others (e.g., through leaks to hostile entities) may be suspended with a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee.
Article VIII – Affiliations and Partnerships
- The Chapter may affiliate with international advocacy groups such as Scholars at Risk, Education International, and Human Rights Watch.
- It may submit amicus briefs, reports, or case studies to U.S. congressional bodies or international rights organizations.
Article IX – Amendments
- Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of attending voting members, with at least 14 days’ notice and proposal circulation.
Article X – Dissolution
- The Chapter may be dissolved by a 3/4 vote of its membership.
- Upon dissolution, Chapter records shall be archived securely and legal responsibilities handled according to U.S. law.