Bylaws

Duke AAUP Chapter Bylaws, Adopted March 31, 2026. 

Article I — Name and Affiliation

This organization shall be known as the Duke Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), hereafter referred to as the “Duke AAUP Chapter” or “Chapter.” It shall operate in accordance with the principles and constitution of the national AAUP.

Article II: Chapter Purposes

1. To support the policies and goals of the Association as set forth in Article 1 of the AAUP constitution, and in all matters act in harmony with the principles and procedures of national Association and its constitution;

2. To promote the welfare and interests of faculty, staff, and students at Duke University with a focus on our membership's top concerns: building labor power, transparency and faculty governance, and academic and intellectual freedom. 

3. To follow the national AAUP mission to defend and “advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good."

4. To encourage faculty, staff, and student collective participation in governance, setting priorities, and decision-making at Duke University.

To accomplish the purposes described above, but not in limitation thereof, the Chapter shall have power to conduct studies; to disseminate statistics and other information; to engage in appropriate fundraising activities; to educate, organize, and mobilize members of the Duke community; to develop and conduct programs and promotional activities in person, virtually, and using media; to hold such property as is necessary to accomplish its purposes; and to employ individuals. 

This nonprofit Chapter is organized and operated for the above-stated purposes. No part of its assets, income, or profits shall be distributable or inure to the benefit of any individual, except in consideration of services rendered.

Article III— Principles 

The AAUP Duke Chapter is a member-driven organization guided by the principles of democracy, transparency, and participation. All substantive decisions shall be made with and informed by members at general membership meetings, special meetings, or in electronic communications and polls. Officers and committees are accountable to the membership and act in accordance with this mandate. 

Article IV — Chapter Membership

Eligibility for membership in the Chapter shall extend to all Duke faculty (tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure track, full-time or part-time); graduate, professional, and medical students; postdoctoral and research associates and fellows; librarians; archivists; curators; medical residents; researchers; academic staff; and technicians who are members in good standing (currently paying dues members) of the American Association of University Professors.

Membership does not include Duke administrators (deans, provosts, and appointments in these offices), who may become affiliated with national AAUP as non-voting Associates.

All AAUP Chapter members at Duke may vote in Chapter matters.

Article V — Steering Committee Officers and Organization

1. The officers of this organization, serving on the “Steering Committee,” shall be the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and 1-2 at large members. 

2. The term of office shall be two years. 

3. An officer may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

4. An officer may run for a different position on the Steering Committee. If they win, they will be treated as a new steering committee officer with respect to #2 and #3 above. 

5. When an officer has resigned or is disqualified, the Steering Committee is empowered to fill vacancies as outlined in Article VI.

6. Officers shall also serve as Chapter delegates/alternates to AAUP meetings and any applicable AAUP state conference meetings in the order listed below. 

Officer Descriptions

President: The duties of the president shall include carrying out the policies of the Chapter, ensuring that the necessary committees are formed, exercising general supervision over activities of the Chapter, and presiding at meetings of the Chapter and Steering Committee.

Vice president: The duties of the vice president shall include those usually pertaining to the office and those delegated by the president. In the absence of the president, the vice president shall serve in the president's stead.

Secretary: The duties of the secretary shall include keeping a record of all proceedings and correspondence of the Chapter, certifying Chapter delegates to the Association's annual meeting, preparing or overseeing the preparation of newsletters for distribution to the members if such shall be desired; and maintaining official contact with the Association. It shall be the duty of the Chapter secretary to provide the secretary-treasurer of the Association the names of the officers of the Chapter and the Chapter bylaws and to conduct the correspondence of the Chapter with the national secretary-treasurer. In the absence of the Chapter president and vice president, the secretary shall preside at meetings of the Chapter.

Treasurer: The treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all funds received and disbursed. At the request of the Steering Committee, the treasurer shall prepare an annual Chapter budget and report of finances, and submit them for approval. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to remit to the Association and/or to the applicable state conference any dues collected on behalf of the Association and/or conference. In the absence of the president, vice president, and secretary, the treasurer shall preside at meetings of the Chapter.

At-Large Members: At-Large members shall participate and provide input in Steering Committee meetings and priorities, complete assigned or self-assigned tasks, and have full voting rights, including serving as chairs of standing or ad hoc committees.

Article VI — Steering Committee Elections 

1. Elections for all members of the Steering Committee shall be held when an officer or officers have completed their two year-term using a confidential ballot administered to Chapter members.

2. A call for candidates shall be issued 45 days prior to the known end of a term of office, or as soon as practicable.

3. Any dues-paying Chapter member in good standing may submit their name as a candidate or be nominated by another Chapter member. Candidates will only be on a ballot if they have agreed to run. 

4. Candidates must provide their name and a statement of their motivations and goals to a small Election Committee of non-candidates constituted for an election.

5. Following publication of the candidate list and statements on the Chapter listserv, an election shall be administered electronically and confidentially by the Election Committee for any position with more than one candidate. The voting period shall remain open fourteen (14) days.

6. For efficiency, an open seat does not require an election in situations where only one member in good standing expresses candidacy interest, submits a statement of candidacy motivations to be shared with the membership, and no other seat is open for election. This statement shall be published to the full membership on the listserv. The candidate in such situations may be acclaimed by the Steering Committee 14 days later instead of being elected by ballot unless members ask for an election.

7. Candidates are elected to office by a majority of the member votes cast. The quorum for steering committee member elections is 50 percent of Chapter members. Abstentions count toward determining quorum but do not count when determining the majority of votes cast for a candidate. 

8. Special elections are administered by non-candidates on the Steering Committee.

9. For regular elections: Steering Committee members who are not standing for reelection shall issue a call to the membership inviting volunteers to serve on the Ad-Hoc Elections Committee. The Elections Committee will be composed of non-candidate Steering Committee members and 1-3 other members of the organization who are not running for an elected position. This committee will oversee and administer the election process. 

10. In the event that every member of the Steering Committee is running for reelection, the Ad Hoc Elections Committee shall run the election with the assistance of the NC State Conference or National AAUP according to these bylaws.

11. Elections shall not be run by candidates.

12. Elections will abide by principles of fairness and equal access to all candidates.

Article VII — Steering Committee Responsibilities

The majority of the Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum for conduct of its business. The Steering Committee shall assume responsibility for the Chapter's continuing effective presence at the institution. 

The Steering Committee is responsible to:

1. Meet regularly;

2. Respond to chapter members seeking assistance;

3. Conduct the business of the chapter between meetings;

4. Keep members informed about decisions of the Steering Committee;

5. Regularly recruit members and encourage maintenance of membership;

6. Arrange to keep positions on the Steering Committee filled as vacancies occur, including making necessary acting appointments until a position if filled following Article VI;

7. Set the agenda with appropriate notice for Chapter meetings, informed by input from members;

8. Communicate with the administration or other bodies on priorities and matters of membership interest;

9. Respond to inquiries from the media.

Article VIII – Recall of Steering Committee Officers

1. Each officer on the Steering Committee is subject to recall by members of the Duke AAUP Chapter. 

2. A recall election must be initiated by a petition stating the major reasons for the proposed action with substantiation and signed by more than 50 percent of all chapter members as defined by Article IV. 

3. The organizers of the recall may determine the best way to conduct the petition and reach the membership, including by communicating with other members of the Steering Committee and National AAUP for assistance.

4. The Secretary shall, within 15 days of receipt of a petition demanding an officer be recalled, certify the authenticity and member status of each signer. 

5. The Secretary shall present the certified petition and its results (anonymized of signer names) to the full membership listserv and discussion listserv, irrespective of whether it meets the majority threshold, for the purposes of transparency. 

6. For reasons related to the academic year, these certifications cannot occur during breaks after December 15 of the fall term or April 15 of spring term. 

7. If the Secretary is the subject of the recall petition, petitioners are encouraged to seek the assistance of other members of the Steering Committee or the NC Conference of AAUP or National AAUP. 

8. Upon certification of majority support, the steering committee member subject to the recall shall step down immediately.

9. Members are encouraged to put their names forth for a special election to replace the recalled position as soon as possible by an ad hoc Elections Committee, usually within two weeks.

10. A special election may be combined with a regular election for other officers.

11. The process to replace a recalled position shall be conducted according to Article VI of these bylaws and additional published Processes and Procedures (Article X) applicable to Chapter elections.

Article IX — Standing and Ad Hoc Committees

Members may create standing or ad hoc committees as necessary to advance the work of the Chapter, including, for example, an Elections Committee to seek candidates to run for positions. Membership on these committees may be constituted by appointment of the Steering Committee or by members and announced to the Steering Committee. Any member of the chapter may suggest the creation of a committee of interest to the Steering Committee. Any member may create or join a chapter committee.

Article X — Processes and Procedures Document

To facilitate day-to-day operations, including on time-sensitive matters requiring agile yet transparent, accountable, and inclusive decision-making, the Steering Committee shall maintain a detailed Processes and Procedures document that follows the bylaws for elections, public statements, emergency actions, endorsements, working groups, and other operational matters as they emerge. This document shall be publicly accessible to all members and will be amended and expanded in ways that assure consistency and practicality in alignment with these bylaws. The Steering Committee will communicate any additions or changes on this document with membership, and receive feedback and suggestions from them about the same document at all-member meetings and by email.

Article XI — Meetings

1. The Chapter shall hold regular meetings at least four times each academic year.

2. Special meetings of the Chapter may be called by the president, a majority of the Steering Committee, or a petition signed by ten percent of the Chapter. Written notice of such meetings shall be provided to each member by the secretary of the Chapter at least five days in advance of the meeting date. 

3. The quorum required for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Chapter shall consist of 20 percent of members.

Article XII — Dissolution

Upon dissolution of the chapter, its assets shall be distributed to the National AAUP. 

Article XIII — Amendments

1. Any member of the Chapter may initiate an amendment to the bylaws.

2. The bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote of total members of the Chapter in a confidential ballot that is open for at least 14 days.

3. A notice setting forth the proposed amendment or amendments and an explanation thereof must have been sent to each member to allow 30 days of review and comment in advance of such a ballot.

4. Any revisions made and known objections that emerge from the member review process shall be communicated to the entire membership before administration of the confidential ballot.

Article XIV — Rules of Order

1. Detailed Processes and Procedures (Article X), collectively articulated over time, shall also assist in the transparent and consistent operations of the Chapter for matters not specified in the bylaws. 

2. Roberts Rules of Order Simplified shall be used as guidelines for the Chapter on matters not specified.

3. These bylaws shall be applicable immediately after they are approved by a majority of Chapter members according to Article XIII.

Enacted this 31st day of March in the year 2026.