REGULATIONS OF THE CORE ACADEMY
[The International Core Academy of Sciences and Humanities]
Contents
I: Nature, Purpose and Mission
II: Membership
III: Ordinary Fellows
IV: Honorary Members
V: Patrons
VI: Affiliated Members
VII: The President
VIII: The Vice Presidents
IX: The Treasurer
X: The Board
XI: The Council
XII: The Executive Director
XIII: General Meetings
XIV: Elections
XV: Expulsion of members
XVI: Assets of the Academy
XVII: Interpretation
XVIII: Language
Chapter I: Nature, Purpose and Mission
1. The International Core Academy of Sciences and Humanities (hereinafter referred to as “the Academy”) is an independent, academic, and not-for-profit organization.
2. The Academy’s purpose is to support international, cutting-edge, and interdisciplinary research across all fields of knowledge; to recognize excellence in science and education; and to promote scientific advancement and global academic cooperation for the benefit of humanity.
3. The Academy is committed to:
(a) Honoring and recognizing outstanding academic contributions that advance knowledge across all disciplines;
(b) Encouraging the highest standards of excellence in academia, education, and research;
(c) Fostering international, interdisciplinary, and pioneering research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge;
(d) Promoting the global dissemination of knowledge and facilitating meaningful academic cooperation;
(e) Addressing real-world challenges through scholarly inquiry and practical solutions; and
(f) Providing a dynamic platform for the exchange of ideas, scholarly dialogue, and the dissemination of significant developments in the humanities and sciences.
4. To further its mission and purpose, the Academy may undertake any activities it deems appropriate, including (but not limited to):
(a) Offering medals, awards, and membership in the Academy (and its affiliated institutions) in recognition of excellence in scientific, scholarly, research-based, social, and/or artistic achievements;
(b) Organizing academic events and meetings to advance its goals and to foster academic exchange;
(c) Establishing scientific centers and knowledge hubs to support both theoretical and applied research;
(d) Providing scientific advice and expert knowledge to national governments, academic institutions, and international organizations on a broad range of real-world issues, contributing to the public good; and
(e) Publishing journals, reports, and other scholarly materials that communicate the results of original research and academic inquiry.
Chapter II: Membership
1. The Academy shall consist of members who are natural persons or organizations and shall be elected according to a defined procedure. They shall be assigned to a category of membership as determined from time to time by the membership. Categories of membership shall comprise Ordinary fellows, Affiliated members, Honorary members, and Patrons.
2. The Academy shall have a number of officers drawn from among the membership, including a President, a Treasurer, and such number of Council Members as may be determined in the manner provided herein.
3. There shall be a Board of Trustees (hereinafter referred to as “the Board”) vested with full executive powers. Its composition shall be as defined in this document.
4. There shall be a Council of the Academy (hereinafter referred to as “the Council”), acting as a subcommittee of the Board and representing the broader membership. The Council’s composition, responsibilities, and functions shall be determined by the Board from time to time.
5. The Academy shall establish academic divisions or other appropriate groupings to which members shall be assigned. Each division or grouping shall have its own Committee, composed of members as determined in accordance with procedures set forth herein.
6. Acceptance of an invitation to membership in any division or grouping of the Academy shall carry with it the obligation to pay a membership fee or subscription, in such manner and under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the membership.
Chapter III: Ordinary Fellows
1. The primary criterion for election as an Ordinary Fellow of the Academy shall be academic excellence of international standing that has been demonstrated and sustained, as recognized and evaluated by peers within the candidate’s field of scholarship.
2. Ordinary Fellows shall be elected in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter XIV of these Regulations.
3. Specially Elected Fellows shall be natural persons whose exceptional accomplishments have significantly contributed to advancing the mission and purpose of the Academy.
Chapter IV: Honorary Members
1. Any person who, through means other than individual scholarly achievement, has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the Academy’s objectives may be elected to Honorary Membership, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XIV of these Regulations.
2. Honorary Members shall not be entitled to vote in any election or at any meeting, but they shall enjoy all other privileges accorded to Ordinary Fellows.
Chapter V: Patrons
1. Patrons may include organizations such as charitable foundations, funding bodies, learned societies, academies, professional associations, and other institutions or individuals who, through significant and substantive actions, have demonstrated genuine support for and significant commitment to the objectives of the Academy. Such entities may be invited by the Board to become Patrons of the Academy.
2. Patrons may participate in meetings of the general membership. Upon recommendation by the Board, they may also attend meetings of the Board and its committees in an observer capacity, subject to any conditions determined from time to time by the Board. Patrons may enjoy such additional privileges as may be granted at the discretion of the Board.
3. Patrons shall not be entitled to hold or exercise any executive powers; to vote in any election; or to stand for, hold, or otherwise assume any substantive office within the Academy. Nor shall they be entitled to vote in any committee of the Board.
4. Except as otherwise specified above, Patrons shall enjoy all other privileges accorded to Ordinary Fellows.
Chapter VI: Affiliated Members
1. Affiliated Membership is open to any individual or organization that supports the mission and objectives of the Academy and is willing to contribute to its work.
2. Affiliated Members shall be invited into membership by the Board.
3. The terms of membership applicable to Affiliate Members shall be as defined by the Board and may be varied from time to time by the Board.
Chapter VII: The President
1. The President shall ordinarily be elected from among the Ordinary Fellows of the Academy, in accordance with Chapter XIV of these Regulations, and shall serve a term of three years from the date of election. A retiring President shall be eligible for re-election upon the conclusion of their term, provided that no individual shall serve as President for more than six years in total.
2. Unless prevented by serious cause, the President shall act as Chair at the General Meeting of the Academy and at all meetings of the Board and the Council. The President shall also preside over other meetings of the Academy, unless the responsibility of Chair has been delegated to a Vice-President or another Member of the Academy.
3. In the event that the President should for any reason become permanently incapable of fulfilling the duties of his office, he shall be deemed to have resigned, and the duties of the President shall be discharged by the senior Vice-President (seniority being measured by reference to length of service as a Vice-President) until such time as a new President is elected.
4. The office of President shall be honorary and shall carry no stipend.
Chapter VIII: The Vice-Presidents
1. There shall be such number of Vice-Presidents, being not fewer than one, as may be determined from time to time by the Board.
2. The President may, following consultation with the Council and with the approval of the Board, co-opt members to the Board and/or designate such individuals—including serving Trustees—as “Vice-Presidents ex officio,” to assist in the discharge of presidential duties. The designation of Vice-President ex officio shall automatically cease at the end of the appointing President’s term and shall not be renewable. However, any ongoing co-option or appointment as Trustee shall continue until the expiration of its originally designated term. Specifically, in the case wherein a Division Chair designated as a Vice-President ex officio continues to serve beyond a change in Presidency, the Division Chair shall retain the Vice-President designation until the end of their mandate as Division Chair. Vice-Presidents (other than ex officio) shall be elected from among the Ordinary Members of the Academy in accordance with Chapter XIV of these Regulations and shall serve a term of three years. A retiring Vice-President (other than ex officio) shall be eligible for re-election, provided that no person shall serve as Vice-President continuously for more than six years.
3. Subject to Chapter VII of these Regulations, the duties of each Vice-President shall be determined by the Board from time to time.
4. In the event that a Vice-President should for any reason become permanently incapable of fulfilling the duties of his office, he shall be deemed to have resigned, and the Board shall appoint another member to fulfil his duties until such time as a new Vice-President is elected in accordance with the Regulations.
5. The office of Vice-President shall be honorary and shall carry no stipend.
Chapter IX: The Treasurer
1. The Treasurer shall ordinarily be elected from among the Ordinary Fellows of the Academy in accordance with Chapter XIV of these Regulations and shall serve a term of three years from the date of election. A retiring Treasurer shall be eligible for re-election upon completion of their term, provided that no individual shall serve as Treasurer for more than six years in total.
2. The duties of the Treasurer shall include overseeing the budgeting and financial control of the Academy; maintaining and supervising the accounts; and managing the receipt and expenditure of funds on behalf of the Academy. The Treasurer shall also perform any additional duties as may be assigned by the Board from time to time.
3. In the event that the Treasurer becomes permanently unable to fulfill the duties of the office, they shall be deemed to have resigned. The Board shall appoint another member to fulfill those duties on an interim basis until a new Treasurer is duly elected in accordance with these Regulations.
4. The Office of Treasurer shall be honorary and shall carry no stipend.
Chapter X: The Board
1. The Board shall consist of the elected officers of the Academy—namely, the President, Vice-President(s), and the Treasurer—along with not fewer than three and not more than twelve members of the Council. The Board shall determine the number of Council-appointed Trustees, ensuring fair representation of both the Academic Divisions and Independent Members. The Board may, at its discretion, co-opt additional members for specific purposes, provided that the total number of Trustees does not exceed the maximum allowed under the Articles of Association.
2. Recommendations for co-option shall be subject to approval by the Council, acting on behalf of the membership. The term of service for any co-opted member shall be confirmed by the membership in General Meeting.
3. Subject to paragraph 1 above, the Council shall establish its own process for selecting nominees to serve on the Board.
4. Each officer serving on the Board shall hold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-election, provided that no officer may serve continuously on the Board for more than six years.
5. The term of service for Council members serving on the Board shall be determined by the Council from time to time, but shall not exceed a single term of three years for any individual.
6. In the event that a Council member serving on the Board becomes permanently unable to fulfill the duties of office, they shall be deemed to have resigned. The Council shall appoint another of its members to serve on the Board in their place for the remainder of the original term.
7. The Board shall meet as necessary for the proper conduct of business, but at least twice annually; and shall function as the Executive Body of the Academy, acting on behalf of the membership.
8. Subject to the provisions of the Act and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Board shall have powers to make rules subsidiary to these Regulations for the conduct of its business, for the conduct of elections, and for the procedure for the expulsion of members. The Board shall have powers to propose the amendment of all or any of these Regulations, and to recommend to a General Meeting the creation of new Divisions and the revocation of existing Divisions; the General Meeting alone has the power to decide upon changes to these Regulations.
9. The Board may establish subcommittees to address specific areas of its business. Each subcommittee shall include at least one member of the Board.
Chapter XI: The Council
1. The Council shall consist of the elected officers (“officer members”); the chairs of the academic divisions (“division members”); and not less than five (5) and not more than thirty (30) independent members, who shall be elected from among the ordinary fellows and affiliated members of the Academy in accordance with Chapter XIV of these regulations. Not more than three (3) co-opted members may also be appointed. The number of Independent Members and Co-opted Members shall be determined from time to time by the membership in General Meeting.
2. Officer Members shall serve on the Council for the duration of their elected term. Division Members shall serve for the entirety of their tenure as Chair of their respective Division. Co-opted Members shall serve for a term to be determined annually. Independent Members shall serve for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-election, provided that no member shall serve as an elected Independent Member of the Council continuously for more than six years.
3. In the event that a Division Member becomes permanently unable to fulfill their duties, they shall be deemed to have resigned. The respective Division Committee shall appoint another Ordinary Fellow to serve on the Council for the remainder of the original term. In the case of a vacancy among the Independent Members, an election shall be held at the next available General Meeting.
4. Wherever practicable, and except where circumstances require otherwise, the Council shall conduct its business by means other than plenary meetings. The frequency of such plenary meetings shall be determined by the Board.
5. The Council shall undertake only such business and responsibilities as may be delegated to it by the Board.
Chapter XII: The Executive Director
1. The Board shall appoint an Executive Director on such terms as the Board may think fit in agreement with the person appointed. The person appointed to the office of Executive Director need not be an Ordinary Fellow or affiliated member of the Academy.
2. The Executive Director shall be responsible for directing the administrative offices and managing the day-to-day operations of the Academy on behalf of the Board. The Executive Director shall serve as Secretary to the Board, to the Council of the Academy, and to any subcommittees established by the Board. Subject to the approval of the Board, the Executive Director shall have the authority to recruit, appoint, and determine the terms and conditions of employment of additional secretariat staff, as deemed necessary for the effective management and operation of the Academy’s affairs.
Chapter XIII: General Meetings
1. The agenda for each General Meeting shall include the items specified in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, as well as the following:
(a) A report by the President;
(b) A report by the Board, including plans and proposals for the Academy’s future activities;
(c) Proposals relating to the setting and levels of subscriptions;
(d) Proposals for the election of Members of the Council and of Officers of the Academy;
(e) Proposals to approve the appointment of co-opted members of the Board and the Council; and
(f) Proposals for the amendment of these Regulations.
2. An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Academy may be convened by the Board at its discretion. It shall also be convened if the Board receives a written requisition signed by not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of Ordinary Fellows, or fifty (50) such members, whichever is the lesser.
3. The General Meeting of Members shall be held for every three years. Notice of the time, date, and location of any General Meeting shall be given to all members of the Academy in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Any motion intended to be raised by an Ordinary Fellow must be submitted in writing to the Executive Director, to be received not less than fourteen (14) days before the scheduled date of the meeting.
4. Except as otherwise provided in the Memorandum and Articles of Association and these Regulations, decisions at any General Meeting shall be determined by a simple majority of those members present and voting.
Chapter XIV: Elections
1. Election of Ordinary Fellows and Honorary Members
(a) The Board shall appoint, from among the Fellowship, Affiliated Membership, and invited individuals, Academic Committees to advise on the selection of candidates with the strongest claims for election. Ordinary Fellows and Honorary Members shall be elected by ballot of the Board, whose decision shall be final.
(b) Nominations for candidates as Ordinary Fellows or Honorary Members may be made by any Ordinary Fellow, or by invited organizations or individuals, subject to the approval of the Board and in accordance with procedures the Board shall determine.
(c) The Board may proceed with the election of an Ordinary Fellow at any of its meetings, or it may defer the matter pending consultation with one or more membership advisory committees.
(d) For the purpose of obtaining advice on nominations, the Board may establish membership advisory committees with such terms of reference as it considers appropriate. The Executive Director is authorized to inform any Ordinary Fellow of the composition and remit of such committees.
2. Election of the President
(a) The President shall be elected by ballot of the Members at a General Meeting.
(b) The Board shall determine and oversee the procedure for the election.
(c) Not less than eighteen (18) months before the end of a President’s term, or immediately upon the resignation (actual or deemed) of the President under Chapter VII, the Executive Director shall notify all Ordinary Fellows of the forthcoming election, their right to nominate candidates, and the deadline for nominations.
(d) After the close of nominations, the Board shall review all submissions and propose a candidate for election at the next General Meeting.
(e) The result of the election shall be announced at the General Meeting and communicated to all members. The President-Elect shall assume office at the conclusion of the meeting.
(f) If an election follows the resignation of a President, the senior Vice-President shall assume the Presidency interim until the term’s expiry or until a new President is duly elected and approved, whichever is sooner.
3. Election of the Vice-President(s)
(a) Vice-President(s) shall be elected by ballot at a Council Meeting, subject to the approval of the Board.
(b) Not less than twelve (12) months before the end of a Vice-President’s term, or upon the resignation (actual or deemed) of a Vice-President under Chapter VIII, the Executive Director shall notify all Ordinary Fellows of the election, their right to nominate, and the closing date for nominations.
(c) The result of the election shall be communicated promptly to all members. The elected Vice-President shall enter into office thereafter.
(d) In the event that an election follows the expiry of a Vice-President’s normal term, the Board shall appoint an interim Vice-President until a formal election is conducted.
4. The Treasurer
(a) The Treasurer shall be elected by ballot of the members at a General Meeting.
(b) Not less than twelve (12) months before the end of the Treasurer’s term, or immediately upon the Treasurer’s resignation (actual or deemed) under Chapter IX, the Executive Director shall inform all Ordinary Fellows, issue a call for nominations, and communicate the nomination deadline.
(c) At the Board meeting following the close of nominations, the Board shall review the submissions and propose a candidate for election at the next General Meeting.
(d) The election result shall be announced and communicated to all members. The Treasurer-Elect shall assume office at the conclusion of the General Meeting.
(e) If the election follows the expiry of the Treasurer’s term, the Board shall appoint an interim Treasurer until a new Treasurer is elected in accordance with these Regulations.
4. Election of the Council
(a) Independent members of the Council shall be elected by ballot of the Members at a General Meeting.
(b) Any Ordinary Fellow or Affiliated Member may propose the name of another Member for election to the Council at any time.
(c) The Board shall prepare a slate of candidates for each General Meeting. The slate shall, if possible, include at least twice the number of candidates as there are vacancies. The Board shall seek to ensure an appropriate disciplinary and regional balance within the Council, with particular attention paid to the representation of European regions.
5. Division Committees
(a) Each Division Committee shall be representative of the membership of that Division. Members shall be elected from within the Division in a manner determined by the Board.
(b) Each Division Committee shall appoint a Chair from among its members, according to rules set by the Board.
(c) Division Chairs shall serve as members of the Council for a period not exceeding six years in total.
Chapter XV: Expulsion of members
1. A member of the Academy, in any category, may be deprived of membership if found guilty by the Board of a continuous or repeated course of conduct incompatible with the purposes and objectives of the Academy. If the person so deprived of membership holds at that time any office—such as President, Vice-President, Treasurer, member of the Council, or of any subcommittee of the Board—they shall immediately vacate such office.
2. The Board shall establish rules and procedures to be followed when a charge of misconduct is brought against a member. These rules shall include, but not be limited to, provisions:
(a) for the summary dismissal of any charge deemed frivolous or vexatious;
(b) for any charge not so dismissed to be formally submitted in writing to the member concerned, with a written response requested;
(c) for the summary dismissal of the charge in light of the member’s response;
(d) for a hearing before the Board, or a specially appointed committee thereof, regarding any charge not summarily dismissed. At such a hearing, evidence shall be received either orally or in writing, and the member shall be entitled to be heard in their own defense;
(e) for the right of representation at the hearing, if the member so desires, either by another member of the Academy or by any other person, whether legally qualified or not; and
(f) for the specification of the number of Board members’ votes in favor of a finding of guilt that shall be required for expulsion.
3. The Board shall also prescribe rules regarding the non-payment of subscriptions, which may form an independent basis for termination of membership.
Chapter XVI: Assets of the Academy
1. The assets of the Academy shall be employed exclusively in furtherance of its purposes and objectives, and for no other purpose, provided that nothing in these Regulations shall contravene the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Nor shall it prevent:
(a) the payment of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the Academy; and
(b) the reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with Academy activities by any member of the Academy or by the Executive Director.
2. The Academy shall open and maintain one or more bank accounts in its name. All withdrawals from such accounts shall be authorized by the signatures of any two of the following: members of the Board, a designated member of the Secretariat, the Executive Director, the Treasurer, the President, or a Vice-President.
3. The signatories of any such account shall operate it in accordance with the directives of the Board.
Chapter XVII: Interpretation
If any question arises in regard to any of these Regulations or their interpretation, it shall be decided by the Board.
Chapter XVIII: Language
These Regulations may be translated into any language other than English but the version in English shall be the only authentic version.
International Core Academy of Sciences and Humanities
December 2023
Amended November 2024