I. Mission Statement
The Association of Chinese and Comparative Literature (hereafter ACCL) started out as a branch of the Chinese Comparative Literature Association in China in the early 1990s under the name American Chinese Comparative Literature Association (ACCLA). Since the late 1990s, it has operated under the name ACCL as an independent, non-profit, scholarly organization and is the only one outside Asia that is devoted to the study of, and exchange of ideas about, traditional and modern Chinese literature, Chinese film, and China-related comparative literature and cultural studies.
ACCL welcomes scholars from around the world to join the organization, supports diversity in all of its forms, upholds academic freedom, and refrains from opining on issues that fall outside the above-stated scholarly mission.
II. Membership
Faculty and graduate students at colleges and universities, as well as independent scholars, who engage in research on Chinese literary and cultural studies, comparative literature, East Asian studies, film studies, and other related fields are eligible for membership in ACCL.
There is no membership fee. The only requirement is that those who are interested must fill out the registration form on the ACCL website.
III. Organizational Structure
Primary Duties:
Term Limit: The President serves a two-year term, which is not renewable. Former presidents are not eligible to run again.
Emergency Procedures: In an emergency, the President may ask the Executive Committee to extend the President’s term by no more than twelve months. Further or additional extensions are not permissible.
Inability to Perform: If, for any reason, the current President cannot finish the two-year term, the Executive Committee may ask the candidate who received the second most votes in the presidential election to step in for the remainder of the term as Interim President. If this is not an option, a new election will be held following the below-stated nomination and election procedures. If the unfinished term is less than a year, the Interim President is eligible to be nominated for the next presidential election.
2. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee (EC) assists the President in running the organization and approves initiatives whose duration may extend beyond the current President’s term. The EC consists of five members: the President and four former presidents appointed by the president. EC members serve a two-year term and, with the exception of the President, may be reappointed for up to two more terms by incoming Presidents.
3. Treasurer
The Treasurer must be a current member, is responsible for managing the finances of the organization, and works with the President in related matters. Nominated by the President and confirmed by the Executive Committee, the Treasurer serves a two-year term and may be reappointed for up to two more terms by incoming Presidents.
4. Communications Director
The Communications Director (CD) must be a current member and have expertise in social media and website development and management. The CD will be appointed by the President for a two-year term and may be reappointed for up to two more terms by incoming Presidents.
IV. Rules of Nomination and Election of the President
V. Amendment of Constitution
Any Constitutional change must be submitted in writing to the President, with a statement of the rationale for the proposed change and the endorsements of at least ten current members. The President will then submit the proposal to the membership at large for a vote. The voting procedure should be similar to the one for the presidential election.
Last amendment: 23 Nov. 2021
The Association of Chinese and Comparative Literature (hereafter ACCL) started out as a branch of the Chinese Comparative Literature Association in China in the early 1990s under the name American Chinese Comparative Literature Association (ACCLA). Since the late 1990s, it has operated under the name ACCL as an independent, non-profit, scholarly organization and is the only one outside Asia that is devoted to the study of, and exchange of ideas about, traditional and modern Chinese literature, Chinese film, and China-related comparative literature and cultural studies.
ACCL welcomes scholars from around the world to join the organization, supports diversity in all of its forms, upholds academic freedom, and refrains from opining on issues that fall outside the above-stated scholarly mission.
II. Membership
Faculty and graduate students at colleges and universities, as well as independent scholars, who engage in research on Chinese literary and cultural studies, comparative literature, East Asian studies, film studies, and other related fields are eligible for membership in ACCL.
There is no membership fee. The only requirement is that those who are interested must fill out the registration form on the ACCL website.
III. Organizational Structure
- President
Primary Duties:
- working with other ACCL officials and the members at large;
- organizing the biennial conference;
- overseeing the next presidential election and ensuring a smooth transition;
- maintaining the official ACCL website and other social media;
- managing membership registration and recruiting new members;
- representing ACCL to sister organizations and the media.
Term Limit: The President serves a two-year term, which is not renewable. Former presidents are not eligible to run again.
Emergency Procedures: In an emergency, the President may ask the Executive Committee to extend the President’s term by no more than twelve months. Further or additional extensions are not permissible.
Inability to Perform: If, for any reason, the current President cannot finish the two-year term, the Executive Committee may ask the candidate who received the second most votes in the presidential election to step in for the remainder of the term as Interim President. If this is not an option, a new election will be held following the below-stated nomination and election procedures. If the unfinished term is less than a year, the Interim President is eligible to be nominated for the next presidential election.
2. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee (EC) assists the President in running the organization and approves initiatives whose duration may extend beyond the current President’s term. The EC consists of five members: the President and four former presidents appointed by the president. EC members serve a two-year term and, with the exception of the President, may be reappointed for up to two more terms by incoming Presidents.
3. Treasurer
The Treasurer must be a current member, is responsible for managing the finances of the organization, and works with the President in related matters. Nominated by the President and confirmed by the Executive Committee, the Treasurer serves a two-year term and may be reappointed for up to two more terms by incoming Presidents.
4. Communications Director
The Communications Director (CD) must be a current member and have expertise in social media and website development and management. The CD will be appointed by the President for a two-year term and may be reappointed for up to two more terms by incoming Presidents.
IV. Rules of Nomination and Election of the President
- Schedule: In the second half of the second year of the term, shortly after the biennial conference, the current President should send a call for nominations to all ACCL members. Any current member can submit nominations if the following terms are met: 1. the nominee agrees to be nominated and to serve, if elected; 2. each nominee will submit a Candidate’s Statement, which will be made available to all ACCL members; 3. each nomination must be endorsed by at least three members.
- Eligibility: Nominees must be current members of ACCL.
- Election Procedure: The President solicits the assistance of two members of the Executive Committee as Election Officials, who will be responsible for receiving electronic votes from ACCL members, tallying the votes, and reporting the votes to the President.
V. Amendment of Constitution
Any Constitutional change must be submitted in writing to the President, with a statement of the rationale for the proposed change and the endorsements of at least ten current members. The President will then submit the proposal to the membership at large for a vote. The voting procedure should be similar to the one for the presidential election.
Last amendment: 23 Nov. 2021