Governance

Committee for Annual Honors of the AAG. The Honors Committee shall submit to the Council nominations for awards at least two weeks before the council’s Fall meeting, accompanied by a statement indicating the contribution which forms the basis of the proposed award.

Nominating Committee for the AAG Election. The nominating committee shall make two or more nominations for Vice President, at least one nomination for President, at least two nominations for each National Councillor vacancy, and at least two nominations for the Student Councilor vacancy. The nominating committee shall submit its slate of candidates to the AAG office in accordance with the timetable designated by Council.

Archives and Association History Committee. The committee develops and supervises the Association’s archives; encourages each AAG Division to retain its own archive or to transmit its materials to the AAG archive; advises and assists the Geographers on Film series; and schedules at least one session devoted to the history of geography at each annual meeting.

Committee on AAG Annual Meeting Attendee Disciplinary Matters
The committee is charged with investigating all complaints referred to it by the Executive Director that relate to violations of the AAG’s Professional Conduct Policy for AAG Annual Meeting attendees. A determination by the committee that any such allegation is supported by the evidence shall warrant disciplinary action as determined in the discrection of the committee, which may include but need not be limited to, temporary or permanent loss of eligibility to attend future AAG Annual Meetings and/or suspension or temporary or permanent revocation of the membership and eligibility for membership in the Association.
Adopted unanimously by the AAG Council on August 18, 2017.

Membership Engagement Committee (formerly named “Committee on Committees”). The committee prepares slates of nominees for the honors committee and for the nominating committee from which the AAG Council selects those who stand for election by the membership; nominates candidates to fill vacancies on the Association’s committees, and as delegates to other organizations; prepares a pool of names from which the Executive Director selects the Nystrom Award Competition committee; and provides short biographies or rationales for nominees for committee vacancies filled by Council via mail ballot.

Committee on the Status of Women in Geography. The committee monitors and promotes enhanced status for women in the profession.

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Committee. The committee takes actions to facilitate ongoing AAG initiatives to enhance diversity in the discipline. Diversity in this sense is envisioned in its broadest demographic definition, indicating, ethnic, gender, disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. The committee also considers nominations and selects awardees of the Glenda Laws Award to recognize outstanding scholarly contributions to geographic research on social issues and provides nominations to the AAG Council for the AAG Diversity & Inclusion Award to honor those who have pioneered efforts toward or actively participated in efforts toward encouraging a more diverse discipline.

Finance Committee. The committee has overall responsibility for the Association’s investment portfolio; reviews and recommends the budget presented to the Council by the AAG Treasurer; advises the Council on the Association’s financial policies; and responds to Council queries regarding financial matters as requested.

Healthy Departments Committee. The Healthy Departments committee provides guidance and action to enhance the health and excellence of academic geography departments and responds to requests from departments for assistance.

International Research and Scholarly Exchange Committee. The committee encourages participation of geographers in interdisciplinary conferences and in meetings dealing with international issues; works with AAG Staff and others to encourage international membership in the AAG; informs the AAG Council on opportunities related to international outreach and scholarly exchange, highlighting major events, activities, and trends; provides assistance with respect to the AAG International Reception at the Annual Meeting; and provides additional services, generates feedback, and/or takes specific actions as may be requested by AAG Council and/or the AAG Executive Director.

Membership Committee. The committee advises the AAG Council on membership development, monitors trends in membership in the AAG and other academic associations, helps implement short and long term strategies to maintain and increase AAG membership, and coordinates its activities with the ongoing membership operations of the AAG.

Publications Committee. The committee advises the AAG council on policies regarding all official publications of AAG; provides support for these official publications by raising issues ranging from publication style and content to the various sources and levels of financial support; clarifies the purposes of the AAG publications for the membership; serves as a constructive critic for publication editors; serves as a research body for the editors and the Council on matters related to Association publications; and reviews the operation of AAG office publications annually.

AAG Awards Committee. The committee considers nominations and selects the recipients of selected AAG Awards. These include the Meredith F. Burrill Award established to recognize talented individuals and groups that have demonstrated excellence in advancing the creation of fundamental geographical concepts and in furthering their practical applications, especially in local, national, and international policy arenas; and the Ruby S. Miller Award established to recognize members of the Association who have made truly outstanding contributions to the geographic field due to their special competence in teaching or research.

William Garrison Award Committee. The committee selects recipient(s) of the William Garrison Award for Best Dissertation in Computational Geography. The committee reviews initial submissions and selects finalists for full packages, from which they select an awardee that will present at the AAG Annual Meeting.

AAG BA/MA Program Excellence Award Committee. The committee will award this annual prize (BA/BA programs in even years, MA programs in odd years) in recognition of excellence in Geography programs at US colleges and universities.

AAG Fellows Selection Committee The committee is charged with selecting the annual cohort of AAG Fellows from among AAG members.

AAG Harm de Blij Award Committee. The committee will award this annual prize to recognize outstanding achievement in teaching undergraduate Geography including the use of innovative teaching methods.

AAG Globe Book Award Committee. The committee awards the annual prize for a book that conveys most powerfully the nature and importance of geography to the non-academic world.

Harold M. Rose Award Committee. The committee considers nominations and provides a recommendation to the AAG Council for the Harold M. Rose Award for Anti-Racism in Research and Practice to honor geographers who have a demonstrated record of the type of research and active contributions to society that have marked Harold Rose’s career. The award will be given to those who have served to advance the discipline through their research, and who have also had on impact on anti-racist practice.

AAG Jackson Prize Committee. The committee awards the annual prize for a serious but popular book about the human geography of the contemporary United States written by a geographer.

AAG Meridian Book Award Committee. The committee awards the annual prize for a book that makes an unusually important contribution to advancing the science and art of geography.

Marble-Boyle Undergraduate Award. The committee selects recipient(s) of the AAG Marble-Boyle Undergraduate Achievement Awards in Geographic Science.  The committee reviews submissions and recommends up to three applications to the Marble Fund Trustees as winners, with final awards to be made by the Trustees of the AAG Marble Fund for Geographic Science.

Marcus Fund for Physical Geography Award Committee. The committee reviews submissions and selects recipient(s) of the Marcus Fund for Physical Geography Award.

J. Warren Nystrom Award Committee. The committee selects the winner of the annual J. Warren Nystrom Award established by former AAG Executive Director J. Warren Nystrom to recognize an outstanding paper based upon a recent dissertation in geography.

AAG Research Grants Committee. The committee considers applications and awards appropriate grants, depending upon the funds available, for General Research Grants, Ph.D. Dissertation Research Grants (the Robert D. Hodgson Memorial Fund, the Paul P. Vouras Fund, and the Otis Paul Starkey Fund), and the Anne U. White Fund.

AAG Student Awards and Scholarships Committee. The committee considers applications from and awards appropriate grants for college, undergraduate and graduate students, depending upon the funds available in AAG student awards and scholarships programs. These, include the Hoffman Award, the IGIF Grants, the AAG Hess Community College Scholarship, and other awards, scholarships, or travel grants as they may be available.

AAG Wilbanks Prize Committee. This Committee selects a recipient to be recognized for transformational research bridging geography, GIScience and society.

choAAG Atlas Award Committee. The committee selects the recipient of the AAG Atlas Award designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding accomplishments that advance world understanding in exceptional ways.

Advancing Geography Fund Committee. The committee is charged to develop a large-scale, long-term fundraising campaign, to formulate and implement the plan for such a campaign, to clearly communicate to AAG members the goals of fundraising efforts, and to develop a realistic timetable for achieving these objectives.

Annual Meeting Local Support Committee. The Committee assists the AAG office in planning field trips, workshops, and other local events at the annual meeting, the preparation of written and website materials about the meeting, and organizing the program for the annual meeting by forming sessions of individually-submitted papers.

World Geography Bowl Committee. The committee develops questions for the annual World Geography Bowl.

Below are the most recent studies, reports, or other special activities commissioned in recent years by the AAG Council. Researching these topics and developing these reports required time and service by many volunteers (both AAG members and non-members). The AAG wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers of these special committees and task forces for their dedication to the Association. We continue to improve and strengthen as a discipline and as an organization thanks to the efforts of our many, generous volunteers.

Please note that not all the recommendations in the reports have been carried out. The AAG Council, after reviewing the reports it commissioned, has the authority to decide which recommendations to implement.

• AAG COVID-19 Rapid Response Task Force [CURRENT WORK]
• AAG Climate Action Task Force [CURRENT WORK]  [2020 REPORT]  [2021 REPORT]
• AAG JEDI Committee [CURRENT WORK]
• AAG Geography and Military Study Committee [REPORT]
• AAG Harassment-Free Task Force [SURVEY REPORT]
• Mental Health Task Force [REPORT]
• Regional Divisions Taskforce [REPORT]

Please direct questions or comments about any of the reports posted here to taskforce@aag.org.

The name of the organization shall be the American Association of Geographers.

The American Association of Geographers (AAG) furthers professional investigations in geography and encourages the application of geographic findings in education, government, and business. The Association promotes research and scientific explorations, encourages publication of scholarly studies, and promotes scholarly discourse to advance its members and the field of geography

Section 1: Membership
AAG shall have members. The Council, at its discretion, shall determine the types, classes or categories of membership, and the rights, privileges, and conditions of membership.

Section 2: Voting Rights
All current members, as evidenced by current dues payment, shall have full rights to nominate and vote for nominated candidates for Association office.

Section 3: Dues
All members shall pay an annual fee as set by Council.

Section 1: Annual Meetings
The Annual Meeting of the members of the Association shall be held at such time and place as the Council may designate with not less than thirty (30) days written or electronic notice to each regular member. The Council may arrange other meetings in addition to the Annual Meeting.

Section 2: Special Meetings
The Council may call a special meeting of the members. Members may call for a special meeting by petition of at least 10% of the members. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call, which shall be sent to all members at least three (3) days before the meeting.

Section 3: Quorum
At all member meetings, fifty (50) people at an in-person meeting shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4: Notice
Written notice must be given to all eligible members no fewer than thirty (30) days prior to a planned or special membership meeting. Notice will be given by mail. Notification by electronic means requires permission from the members in advance.

Section 5: Remote Participation
Meetings may be held by means of the Internet or other electronic communications technology in a fashion pursuant to which members have the opportunity to read or hear the proceedings substantially concurrently with their occurrence, vote on matters submitted to the members, pose questions, and make comments. In the case of virtual or hybrid meetings, minimum participation for a valid vote would be 5% of all eligible members.

Section 6: Meeting by Electronic Means
All members of the Association shall have a single vote to cast in all matters. Member voting shall be conducted in a format and manner determined by the Council and as set forth in these Bylaws, including but not limited to mailed or electronic ballot, or by any other means authorized under applicable District of Columbia law. Unless otherwise specifically provided by these bylaws, a majority vote of those current members present and voting shall govern. Members unable to vote by electronic means shall have the option by request to vote by other appropriate means. Minimum participation for a valid electronic election is 5 percent of all members eligible to vote.

Section 7: Proxy Voting
Proxy voting is not allowed.

Section 8: Action Without a Meeting
Action may be taken by the membership without a meeting, by the same quorum and voting requirements as would apply if the action were taken at a meeting, by ballot in accordance with District of Columbia law.

Section 1: Council
The Council consists of officers, six elected at-large members, one student and one international member elected by members of the Association. In addition, one member is elected from each regional division by members of the Association within that region.

Section 2: Council Terms and Term Limits
National and Regional Council members serve one three-year term with no consecutive term allowed. Student and International Councilors serve one two-year term. Former Council members must be off the Council for three years before being nominated to serve on the Council for another term.

Section 3: Resignation or Removal of Council Member
A Council member may resign at any time by delivering a signed notice in the form of a record to the President of the Council or to an officer of the Association. A resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective time.

The Council may vote to remove a member-elected Council member if the Council member:

• Has been declared of unsound mind by a final court order;
• Has been found by a two-thirds vote of the Council to have breached a duty as a Council member or to have violated the conduct standards established for Council members;
• Has missed more than one Council meeting in any twelve-month period without being excused; or
• No longer meets the qualifications for office set forth in the bylaws.

In instances where Council members are elected by some or all of the members, those members may vote to remove the council member with or without cause.

Section 4: Vacancy
The Council may appoint an individual to fill the unexpired term of the vacated Council position.

Section 5: Council Member Standards of Conduct
Council members must act in good faith and in a manner the Council member reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the AAG, consistent with the Council members’ fiduciary duties to the Association, and in accordance with the conduct policies adopted by the Association.

Section 6: Officers
The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and Past President. The President and Vice President shall be elected at-large by the members. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by Council from among its own members. The Executive Director shall serve as an ex officio, non-voting officer of the Council. All officers must act in accordance with the standards of conduct set by District of Columbia law and such rules and policies as are adopted by the Council.

The duties of the President, Vice President, and Treasurer shall be those normally pertaining to their posts. The Secretary shall serve as Secretary of the Council and of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the most recent Past President, with the Executive Director as an ex officio member invited to participate in any meetings that do not relate to the Executive Director position. The Executive Committee may invite other members to participate in discussion of matters within their special competence. The Executive Committee shall meet when necessary to facilitate the operations of the Association between Council meetings and prepare policy statements for consideration by Council, and it may act in lieu of the Council between scheduled Council meetings on matters requiring more immediate action. The members of the Council shall be notified of any actions taken by the Executive Committee, and actions of the Executive Committee shall be subject to later approval by the Council.

Section 7: Resignation or Removal of an Officer
An officer may resign at any time by delivering a signed notice in the form of a record to the President of the Council or to another officer of the Association. A resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective time.

The Council may remove an officer elected by the members, by majority vote at a meeting of the Council at which a quorum is present, if the officer:

• Has been declared of unsound mind by a final court order;
• Has been found by a two-thirds vote of the Council to have breached a duty as a Council member or to have violated the conduct standards established for Council members;
• Has missed more than one meeting in any twelve-month period without being excused; or
• No longer meets the qualifications for office set forth in the bylaws.

The Council may remove an officer elected by the Council, with or without cause, by majority vote at a meeting of the Council at which a quorum is present. In instances where officers are elected by some or all of the members, those members may vote to remove the officer with or without cause in accordance with the standards for member votes.

Section 8: Vacancy
The Council may appoint an individual to fill the unexpired term of the vacated Officer position, except that the Vice President will automatically assume a vacancy in the President position.

Section 9: Council Authority
The Council may establish policies and procedures for eligibility for membership, election to the Council, and Committee appointment, for the conduct of members, volunteers, Committee members, officers, Council members, and participants in Association activities, and for disciplinary action, suspension, or revocation of membership, as well as removal of an officer, volunteer, Committee member, or Council member.

The Association by vote of the Council may establish Regional Divisions in specific areas and may contribute toward the operation of these divisions.

The Council of the Association shall from time-to-time designate standing or other committees, task forces, work groups, or other bodies to carry out the work of the organization. Committees made up exclusively of Council members may exercise Council authority as may be delegated by the Council; all other committees shall be advisory in nature. All Council committees shall operate in accordance with the same rules as for the Council, except where different rules are specified by or with the authorization of the Council. Each non-Council committee may adopt rules for its own governance not inconsistent with these Bylaws or with rules adopted by the Council, and in the event that no rule is adopted, the rule applicable to the Council will apply.

The Association shall not discriminate in the execution of its purpose on grounds unrelated to professional competence or to Association values.

The Bylaws may be amended by a majority of the Members of the Association by mail or by valid electronic vote.

The Association shall indemnify Council members, officers, employees, or volunteers of the Association who are made or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, proceeding or investigation relating to such person’s conduct as a Council member, officer, employee, or volunteer of the Association to the fullest extent permitted by law against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses, actually incurred by such Council member or person as a result of such action, suit, proceeding or investigation or threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation, except that the mandatory indemnification required by this sentence shall not apply (i) to a breach of such Council member’s, officer’s, employee’s, or volunteer’s duty of loyalty to the Association, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law, or (iii) for a transaction from which such Council members, officers, employees, or volunteers derived an improper personal benefit or against judgments, penalties, fines and settlements arising from any proceeding by or in the right of the Association, or against expenses in any such case where such Council member, officer, employee, or volunteer shall be adjudged liable to the Association.

Section 1. Appointment
The Council shall employ a salaried staff head who shall have the title of Executive Director, or such equivalent title as the Council shall adopt, and whose terms and conditions of employment shall be specified by the Council.

Section 2. Authority and Responsibility
The Executive Director shall manage and direct the work and activities of the Association as prescribed by the Council and shall be responsible to and subject to the supervision and direction of the Council. The Executive Director shall employ and may terminate the employment of staff members necessary to carry on the work of the Association and establish their titles and fix their compensations in compliance with Council policy. The Executive Director shall define the duties of the staff and supervise their performance. The Executive Director shall be an ex officio, non-voting member of the Council and of all Council Committees.

The AAG Executive Director, as an officer of the corporation, shall serve as the registered agent for the association or may engage a professional registered agent company to serve as the registered agent.

The Secretary and Treasurer shall cause all books and records to be held at the headquarters office of the Association and/or on the electronic data storage system of the Association.

Geography is a field of study that examines the relations among people, places, and the more-than-human world. Geographical scholarship ranges from quantitative analysis to humanistic research undertaken in many different social and environmental contexts. Thus, in our research, teaching, and professional life, geographers are confronted with a wide variety of ethical considerations, each requiring careful reflection and thoughtful action.

This Statement on Professional Ethics outlines core principles to inform the ethical conduct of members of the American Association of Geographers (AAG) and the geographical community more broadly. These principles provide general guidelines applicable to geographers working in diverse professional settings. AAG members, in particular, are urged to familiarize themselves with, reflect on, and act in accordance with these principles when working in a professional capacity. Members of the AAG are required to abide by AAG’s Professional Conduct Policy and Procedures, and many geographers must also conform to ethical requirements related to research with human subjects as interpreted and enforced by institutions and funders. Geographers also belong to multiple professional communities, each with its own ethical standards. This Statement should therefore be viewed in conjunction with these other codes, statements, and standards.

This Statement is written with the intent to encourage active, thoughtful engagement with ethical issues in relation to the various circumstances that geographers encounter in their professional lives. These principles address general circumstances, priorities, and relationships, and should therefore be seen as starting points for consideration of the ethical issues attendant to our activities as professional geographers. Each of us must be ready and willing to make, and be equipped to defend, ethical choices that also go beyond the principles laid out here.

An overarching ethical principle, serving as the basis for all academic and professional activities of geographers, is that we should do no harm. Our activities inevitably affect the people and places we study, societies, ecosystems, biodiversity, climate and landforms, our students, and those who help make our work possible. It is imperative that both prior to and during the performance of our professional work – ranging across human geography, physical geography, nature-society geography, and GIScience – each geographer should think through the possible ways that our activities might cause harm. Harms include those affecting the dignity, livelihood, and well-being of human and non-human lives as well as the resilience and sustainability of ecosystems and environments. Beyond direct harms, we should also consider long-term and indirect implications, and possible unintended consequences, being willing to step back from or terminate those activities when harm feels unavoidable. The obligation to do no harm should supersede other goals of seeking or communicating new knowledge.

In making assessments of potential harm, geographers must be sensitive to the unequal power relationships surrounding our activities. We frequently occupy powerful positions relative to our research participants, and it is all too easy for us to be unaware of, or to forget, the impact that these power imbalances can have on those affected by geographical research. Our activities and reflections require special care when the subject matter involves Indigenous peoples, racialized or ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable groups, including when research is conducted with and by members of those groups. Potential issues include physical and social threat and danger to participants both from outside and within such communities, violation of their intellectual property, and threats to the viability of a group and its territory. These can stem not only from published data, but also from the data collection process itself. Information thus should not be extracted from such communities without their consent. Benefits to the community must be recognized as such by the community, and it is particularly important for researchers to consider whether they are accepting funds from sources whose agendas are seen as inimical to such communities.

Geographers’ activities and reflections about potential harm also require that we take special care when engaging with non-human individuals, groups, species, and ecosystems. Where methods and activities may be invasive or potentially cause long-term alterations to environments, strong justification and appropriate safeguards are reasonable obligations. In such situations, the costs and benefits of the research should be weighed carefully in advance, not just once the work is underway, and be continually reassessed throughout the research process.

Actions that pose serious risks to the dignity and well-being of participants or other affected parties fall outside the boundaries of accepted geographical scholarship and have no place within the academic study and professional practice of geography. Geographical scholarship depends upon the right to academic freedom, but academic freedom cannot justify violating the well-being of human and non-human lives. It thus follows that geographers should eschew collaborating with or seeking funding from public or private organizations known to participate in warfare or similar acts of violence – such as those associated with the military, intelligence, security, or police – without adequate ethical safeguards, since such participation can create risks for both researchers and the researched. When such collaboration is deemed ethical, geographers are responsible for prominently and publicly reporting such relationships.

Geographers should respect people, places, and the more-than-human world in all aspects of our work as professional geographers. Respect for well-being underlies the principle of doing no harm, actively affirming the responsibility of geographers to use our work to enhance the well-being of others, especially for those who are most vulnerable to harm. The principle of respect acknowledges that all geographical knowledge is situated and should depend on building relationships informed by an ethics of care for the well-being of both human and non-human lives as well as the places and environments they call home. Geographers should therefore make reasonable efforts to treat those with whom we interact with dignity and respect, conducting ourselves with honesty and integrity when engaging in academic and professional activities.

An important sign of respect and care in geographical scholarship involving human subjects is conducting research with, rather than on, participants and avoiding exploitative or extractive research. Geographers must be accountable not only to our own professional communities but to all of the relations involved in the production and dissemination of geographical knowledge. Geographers should also carefully reflect upon how we represent ourselves, research participants, and places in our research, teaching, and professional life. Respectful geographical scholarship is based upon an appreciation for reciprocity with research participants in the co-production of geographical knowledge. Reciprocal relationships are built through active listening and an obligation to share the benefits of geographical research with those it directly affects.

The principle of respect also extends to the treatment of non-human individuals, groups, species, and ecosystems affected by geographical research. Geographers have an ethical obligation to develop geographical knowledge that aims to alleviate the harms caused by anthropogenic environmental change. Geographers should seek to enhance the well-being of more-than-human lives and the environmental conditions conducive to their survival and capacity to thrive. In circumstances where the well-being of one living entity negatively impacts the well-being of another, geographical researchers should carefully consider how our own interventions may affect the well-being and survival of all parties before deciding whether or how to intervene.

Geographers must engage with colleagues, research associates, students, and staff in a respectful manner. This includes respect for the rights of others, a refusal to spread gossip, a commitment to discussing differences openly and honestly, and attention to the power asymmetries in which we are all embedded. Geographers must not plagiarize, fabricate or falsify evidence, or knowingly misrepresent information. Representations of others’ work should be devoid of prejudice or malice, notwithstanding differences of interpretation, personality, ideology, theory, or methodology. We should take time to reflect before posting online, avoiding cyberbullying and flame wars. However, raising ethical concerns about the conduct of others does not, in itself, constitute cyberbullying if there are reasonable grounds for such concerns and they are presented in a professional manner.

The scope of collaboration, rights and responsibilities of those participating, co-authorship, credit, and acknowledgment should be openly and fairly established at the outset. We must be particularly attentive to actual or perceived conflicts of interest, exercising care to protect the interests and well-being of the less powerful.

Geographers should strive to create and maintain a diverse, pluralistic, and inclusive professional community. It is our moral responsibility to respect the dignity of all, valuing a diversity of intellectual commitments and respecting individual differences. In particular, we should continually work to empower the voices and views of underrepresented communities. Diversity should also be central to teaching and advising. Instructors should strive to create a classroom environment that fosters respect for and engagement across different learning styles, interpretations, and theoretically informed perspectives, in ways that empower underrepresented positionalities and identities and create safe learning spaces. Instructors should take student perspectives that differ from or critique their own views as seriously as they are presented, bearing in mind the principles of respect and doing no harm, modeling for others the value of respectful disagreement and debate. Teaching assistants should be treated with respect, as full partners in delivering a course: instructors should actively mentor their development as teachers, provide clear instructions about expectations, timely feedback on their performance, and ensure that their workload does not exceed contractual obligations. Advisors should be attentive to students’ overall well-being, including mental health, standing ready to provide personal support and facilitate access to professional counseling when appropriate and allowable.

Geographers must not discriminate, harass, bully, or engage in other forms of professional misconduct as defined by the AAG Professional Conduct Policy and Procedures. AAG members should familiarize themselves with their obligations as set out in this document, including procedures for acting on and reporting harassment.

In evaluating the professional performance of peers and other employees, geographers should not discriminate against individuals or groups using criteria irrelevant to professional performance. Such irrelevant criteria generally include (but are not limited to) age, class, ethnicity, gender, marital status, nationality, politics, physical disability, race, religion, and/or sexual orientation.

In addition, geographers should adhere to fair employment practices. They should not discriminate against individuals or groups using criteria irrelevant to the positions for which they are hiring. Geographers are encouraged to strive for inclusivity, justice, and equity in all employment practices.

Geographers working with human communities must obtain free, prior, and informed consent of research participants. The consent process should be a part of project design and continue through implementation as an ongoing dialogue and negotiation with research participants. Minimally, informed consent includes sharing with potential participants the research goals, methods, direct and indirect funding sources or sponsors, expected outcomes, anticipated impacts of the research, and the rights and responsibilities of research participants. It must also establish expectations regarding anonymity and credit. Researchers must present to research participants the possible impacts of participation, and make clear that despite their best efforts, confidentiality may be compromised, or outcomes may differ from those anticipated.

Geographers whose research involves humans, based in countries where there is an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or similar process, must obtain institutional approval and follow its stipulations about informed consent, modification of research practices, reporting of adverse events, etc. Geographers should also familiarize themselves with relevant documents on which such consent is based; in the US, this is particularly informed by the Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. At the same time, geographers should be aware that considerations of ethics go beyond and may in some circumstances differ from such rules.

The informed consent process is necessarily dynamic, continuous, and reflexive. When research changes in ways that may directly affect participants, geographers must revisit and renegotiate consent. The principle of doing no harm means that the right to refuse research goes beyond specific individuals approached through the IRB process, and also includes the right of communities to refuse participation. Informed consent does not necessarily imply or require a particular written or signed form. It is the quality of the consent, not its format, which is relevant.

Whenever appropriate, results of research should be shared with research participants, local colleagues, host agencies, and affected persons and communities in a format that is accessible to them. Whenever possible, acknowledgement, including authorship, should be determined in a fair and transparent manner.

In general, geographers should make data and findings publicly available to the greatest extent allowable by funding agencies and by our ethical principles, and in a fashion that is consistent with the goal of doing no harm to the people, places, and environments we study. Thus, in some situations, generalization or other measures such as the use of pseudonyms will be necessary to protect privacy, confidentiality, and limit exposure to risks. Most funding agencies have guidelines for the use and distribution of data and research findings and may require a data use agreement as a condition for grant or contract awards. Such an agreement may include provisions designed to protect de-identified data from re-identification, and conditions relating to data storage, protection, publication, and transmission. Geographers should carefully document how datasets are collected, constructed, and managed, and carefully guard against any data breaches, while promptly notifying affected individuals or communities if a breach does occur. Geographers should reflect carefully on the potential problems that so-called “big data” pose with respect to data management, de- and re-identification, and privacy.

Geospatial technologies introduce further challenges with respect to potential violations of privacy and confidentiality of individuals and groups. In using these technologies, researchers should make reasonable efforts to protect the health, well-being, and privacy of research participants. Understandings, expectations, and preferences regarding privacy differ across and within societies. Further, privacy depends on the nature of the data, the context in which they were created and extracted, and the expectations and norms of those who are affected. Particular efforts should be made to guard against any breaches, especially when such data could be used to undermine the interests of communities or community members, and when specific agreements have been made to keep such data out of the public domain.

The following examples of research approaches involving geospatial technologies are particularly likely to raise issues of privacy and confidentiality, and therefore should be undertaken with special care: (1) automated tracking of the locations and movements of individuals or vehicles; (2) the use of images from satellites, aircraft, UAVs (drones), or ground-based sensors that are of sufficient resolution to identify individuals or vehicles; (3) the use of high resolution geographic location to link data in ways that violate personal confidentiality; and (4) any use of big data that compromises privacy, confidentiality, or violates other ethical principles in this Statement, even when such data is considered publicly available. The use of geospatial technologies and other geographical techniques within the context of warfare, or to support other acts of violence, is inconsistent with principles of doing no harm and securing free, prior, and informed consent, and is therefore outside the boundaries of ethical geographical research and practice.

Geographers should reject funding from any sponsor that compromises the principles of ethical research. The conditions under which data can be used, and restrictions on the use of data after the end of a research project, should be clarified prior to accepting funds. Ethical quandaries are particularly likely to be encountered when seeking funding from military, intelligence, security, and policing agencies as well as private corporations to support research or to undertake government- or corporate-sponsored projects. Geographers should be open and candid, avoiding undertaking any task that requires us to compromise our professional and ethical responsibilities.

All funding sources, affiliations, sponsorships, and partnerships should be fully disclosed in a comprehensible manner at the time that informed consent is requested from research participants, because prospective participants have the right to assess this information as they consider giving or withholding consent. Where relevant, geographers should undertake due diligence to trace and disclose not just intermediary but also original funding sources. Transparency and disclosure also mean reporting in a timely fashion any changes in funding sources, affiliations, or partnerships to affected individuals or communities during the course of research.

Disclosure and transparency must be practiced throughout the research process, from the first stages through to the dissemination of research results in journals and other publications. Such transparency in the disclosure of funding source reporting, affiliations, and partnerships also applies to presentations of geographical research at AAG and AAG-affiliated meetings as well as in other scholarly and professional forums. Both during the research process and in any related publications and presentations, geographers should make explicit the extent to which governments, corporations, or other funding entities have limited or restricted research efforts.

In addition to disclosure, geographers should bear in mind that there may be other ethical implications involved in accepting funding and sponsorships. Geographers should carefully consider with due diligence the ethical integrity of those sources as well as conditions or expectations implied by any particular funding, sponsorship, affiliation, or partnership, and be ready to defend our decisions on ethical grounds. Similarly, ethical judgements about funding sources may extend beyond research to teaching, such as teaching in specific programs that are externally supported. Individual geographers should encourage their departments or other units to evaluate, reflect upon, and engage in thoughtful debate regarding the ethical implications of accepting such funding support, particularly in relation to the principle of doing no harm.

Ethics are not based on absolute moral standards but are situational. This means taking into account the particular context of an act. In this spirit, geographers must weigh competing ethical obligations to research participants, students, professional colleagues, employers, and funders, among others, while recognizing that obligations to research participants are usually primary. These varying relationships may create conflicting, competing, or crosscutting ethical obligations, reflecting both the relative vulnerabilities of different individuals, communities, or populations, asymmetries of power implicit in these scholarly relationships, and the differing ethical frameworks of collaborators representing other disciplines or areas of practice. These considerations may also include geographers’ own safety, especially if they are a member of a marginalized group, or in cases where research participants, funders, or sponsors are in a position of power over the researcher.

Geographers must often make difficult decisions among competing ethical obligations while recognizing our obligation to do no harm. We remain individually responsible for making thoughtful and defensible ethical decisions. If geographers’ ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other governing authority, we should clarify the nature of the conflict and take reasonable steps to resolve the conflict consistent with the principles of ethics laid out in this Statement on Professional Ethics.

The American Association of Geographers (AAG) is a nonprofit scientific and educational society founded in 1904. For over 100 years, the AAG has contributed to the advancement of geography. Its members from nearly 100 countries share interest in the theory, methods, and practice of geography, which they cultivate through the AAG meetings (national and regional), scholarly journals, the volunteer work of its Specialty and Affinity Groups, the service of its committees and the elected governing Council.

As a scientific organization, the AAG recognizes that scientific integrity and ethics are fundamental to advancement. Science cannot flourish without the respectful and equitable treatment of all those engaged in the scientific community. The AAG Professional Conduct Policy has been revised to include a new code of conduct that broadens the definition of professional misconduct to include discrimination, sexual harassment, and bullying to the extent that conduct relates to AAG activities or the professional role of an AAG member. The revised Policy identifies standards for professional behavior and outlines processes for reporting and addressing violations.

The American Association of Geographers advocates a positive culture of inclusion and respect for the dignity of each individual. AAG members should exhibit appropriate professional conduct in their interactions with all individuals whom they encounter in connection with their professional roles, including colleagues, students, researchers, support staff, grantors, administrators, and others in the academic or research community. Non-members of AAG involved in AAG activities must also exhibit professional conduct in connection with those activities. AAG expects members, event attendees, and others involved in AAG activities to adhere to professional conduct expectations. Inappropriate professional behaviors include but are not limited to:

• Discrimination against or harassment on the basis of an individual’s race, age, religion, creed, color, ancestry, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, disability, military or veteran status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
• Physical contact that is uninvited and, in the situation, inappropriate, and unwelcome or coercive sexual attention;
• Intimidation, stalking, abusive or threatening behavior, or bullying;
• Retaliation against individuals who raise conduct concerns.

AAG reserves the right to assess whether an individual’s behavior is consistent with these conduct expectations and, based on that assessment, the right to bestow, deny, revoke or limit participation in AAG-sponsored activities (e.g., meeting attendance, publication in AAG journals, recognition, and service on committees or in AAG leadership roles) or eligibility for membership or honors. Any action taken against an individual for violation of this policy shall be in accordance with AAG policies and procedures and other governing documents. This policy also applies to AAG members, AAG staff, event attendees, speakers, exhibitors, or event venue staff at any AAG-sponsored conference or meeting as well as AAG-sponsored social events.

Professional ideas and information are exchanged most effectively at the AAG Annual Meeting, other AAG events, in AAG journals, and online discussion fora in an atmosphere free of discrimination or harassment and characterized by courtesy and respect. To that end, the AAG expects all individuals who become AAG members or who serve as AAG staff to conduct themselves in a manner that is honorable, ethical, and professional. Similarly, the AAG expects all individuals who attend the national conference or who participate in other AAG-sponsored events to conduct themselves in a manner that establishes an atmosphere free from discriminatory practices. All AAG staff, AAG members and all participants at AAG-sponsored events are expected to treat others with respect and consideration, follow venue rules, and alert staff or security when they have knowledge of dangerous situations, violations of the Event Conduct Policy, or individuals in distress. The purpose of this policy is three-fold: to foster a positive, harassment-free environment; to offer support for targets of harassment, and to provide for accountability and disciplinary action for violations of the policy. This Professional Conduct Policy applies to all AAG staff, members, attendees and participants at any AAG-sponsored event, including online venues, and at AAG-sponsored meeting social events. All who are employed by the AAG, all who join as AAG members, all who register to participate, attend, speak at, or exhibit at an AAG event agree to comply with this Policy.

All AAG members are expected to aspire and adhere to the following standards of behavior:

A. Principles

Integrity, and honesty in all aspects of research and professional behavior

Personal accountability in one’s conduct

Professional courtesy, equity, and fairness in working with others

Freedom to responsibly pursue science without interference or coercion

Unselfish cooperation in research and Legal compliance in all aspects of research, including intellectual property

B. Responsibilities

1. Integrity: AAG Members will act with honesty in the interest of the advancement of science, take full responsibility for the trustworthiness of their research and its dissemination, and treat others with courtesy, equity, and fairness.
2. Adherence to Law and Regulations: AAG Members will be aware of and adhere to laws and regulations related to the professional conduct of research; to the AAG policy on publications, peer review, scientific integrity; and to professional ethics, law and policy related to discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
3. Responsibility: Members will take responsibility for the integrity of their contributions to all publications, funding applications, reports, and other representations of their research and work.
4. Acknowledgement: Members will acknowledge the names and roles of those who made significant contributions to their work or research (such as ideas and scientific discussion).
5. Peer Review: Members will adhere to AAG peer review policy and provide fair, impartial, prompt, and rigorous evaluations and will respect confidentiality when reviewing others’ work. Members will welcome constructive criticism and be responsive to peer review.
6. Conflict of Interest: Members will disclose financial, personal, professional, and other conflicts of interest that could compromise the trustworthiness of their work on AAG committees, publications, research proposals, meeting presentations, and public communications as well as in all AAG honors and awards activities.
7. Public Communication: Members, when representing AAG, will limit professional comments to their areas of scholarly expertise when engaged in public discussions about the application and importance of research findings and will clearly distinguish professional comments from their opinions based on personal views.
8. Environment: AAG members are responsible for creating and upholding a safe, open, and professional environment for learning, conducting, and communicating science with integrity, respect, fairness, trustworthiness, and transparency at all organizational levels and in all scientific endeavors.
9. Misconduct: AAG members will not engage in harassment, bullying, and prohibited behavior (see Section II.C for detail).

C. Harassment, Bullying, and Prohibited Behavior

AAG prohibits any form of harassment, sexual or in other forms, at AAG events or in interactions by AAG members with individuals whom they encounter in connection with their professional roles, as set forth in its Professional Conduct Policy (see inset on p.2).

Accordingly, some behaviors are specifically prohibited, whether directed at other members, AAG staff, event attendees, speakers, exhibitors, event venue staff, colleagues, students, and others in connection with AAG activities or an AAG member’s professional role. The prohibitions in this policy do not apply to purely private interactions, even between AAG members, if unconnected to AAG activities or to the professional roles of the individuals.

Unacceptable behaviors include:

• Physical or verbal intimidation, including threats, stalking, or unwelcome following;
• Any conduct that is harassing, abusive, discriminatory, or intentionally demeaning of a person by any attendees at the event and related event activities;
• Personal attacks or other behavior during disagreements or in discussions;
• Offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin, gender identity, or disability;
• Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces (including presentation slides);
• Harassing or intimidating photography or recording;
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events; and
• Unwelcome physical contact or sexual attention, including unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, or propositions; unwelcome verbal comments or physical actions of a sexual nature; sexually degrading words used to describe an individual; an unwelcome display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures; sexually explicit jokes; and offensive, unwanted physical contact such as patting, pinching, grabbing, groping, or constant brushing against another’s body.

Member conduct that violates AAG’s Event Conduct Policy may also be considered a violation of this policy to the extent it violates the prohibitions in this policy.

Allegations of misconduct may be submitted to the AAG when the alleged action is directly connected to a program operated under the direction of the AAG, including its publications, presentations, meetings and events, or to the extent that conduct relates to the professional role of an AAG member.

A. Scope and Purpose

AAG recognizes that an allegation of misconduct does not constitute proof of misconduct. AAG recognizes that an allegation does, however, bear the potential to damage professional credibility and cast doubt on the entire career of an accused party. For that reason, the complainant and the accused party must maintain the confidentiality of their submissions to AAG and AAG’s communications with them about the matter during the pendency of the proceedings, and, when practicable in connection with its investigation, AAG staff and the Standing Committee will treat the submissions as confidential until a ruling on the merits by the Standing Committee and/or Council has been made, at which point confidentiality may or may not be preserved, depending on the case and the findings. Neither the complainant nor the accused party are prohibited from discussing with others the events that gave rise to the complaint, however.

This process is intended to determine whether a violation of the Code of Conduct Policy has occurred and if so, to decide on appropriate sanctions.

B. Authorized Entities

The AAG Council has appointed the members of the AAG Executive Committee (i.e., President, Vice President, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer and Executive Director) to serve as the members of the Standing Committee on Disciplinary and Eligibility Matters for AAG Members. The Executive Director is an ex officio member of the Standing Committee.

The Standing Committee is charged with investigating all complaints referred to it by the Executive Director that relate to violations by Association members of the Standing Rules on Professional Conduct, violations of other Association policies or Standing Rules, or that otherwise allege dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct by an Association member in relation to the Association or its activities, or to the professional role of the Association member. The Committee may also determine that a prospective member who has engaged in conduct in connection with the prospective member’s professional role that is contrary to the values of AAG, as reflected in its policies and Standing Rules, is ineligible for membership, based on a referral from the Executive Director. A determination by the Standing Committee that any such allegation is supported by the evidence shall warrant disciplinary action against a member as determined in the discretion of the Standing Committee, which may include but is not limited to suspension or temporary or permanent revocation of the membership and eligibility for membership in the Association of the subject of the complaint or restrictions on the member’s privileges and rights as a member, including temporary or permanent loss of eligibility to attend future AAG Annual Meetings or to hold leadership or Committee roles with AAG. With respect to prospective members, the Standing Committee may find the prospective member temporarily or permanently ineligible for membership.

The Standing Committee shall establish procedures for review of and decision on such matters that provide to the subject notice of the nature of the allegations and an opportunity to respond in writing. A member or prospective member who is the subject of an adverse finding may appeal to the Council a decision by the Standing Committee to impose a disciplinary revocation of membership or finding of temporary or permanent ineligibility for membership, by notifying the AAG Executive Director in writing within 30 days of being informed of the sanctions by the Standing Committee. If a decision of the Standing Committee is appealed, the Council will review the written record related to the matter and affirm, modify, or reverse the imposition of sanctions based on that review. Additional material that was available to the subject of the sanction but was not submitted to the Standing Committee will not be included in the record on appeal.

C. Reporting a Complaint or Allegation

Formal complaints or allegations regarding violations by Association members of the Standing Rules on Professional Conduct, violations of other Association policies or Standing Rules, or that otherwise allege dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct by an Association member in relation to the Association or its activities, or to the professional role of the Association member must be submitted in writing to the AAG Executive Director Gary M. Langham, glangham@aag.org or Chief Operating Officer Elin Thorlund, ethorlund@aag.org, tel. 202-234-1450.

Complaints made under the Event Conduct Policy may be made orally to the Onsite Advocate or the Offsite Ombudsperson, but no action will be taken by AAG under this Professional Conduct Policy unless the complaint is also submitted in writing.

The Onsite Advocate is available to AAG meeting attendees and AAG members to provide advocacy-based counseling (safety planning, support, resource referral), stress management, and wellness resource navigation. Services will not include clinical mental health services (diagnosis, treatment planning, or psychiatric referral). Advocacy will be confidential and no records beyond a count of number of individuals served will be maintained. The Advocate will be available to consult with attendees about their institutional practices responding to harassment and general wellness needs. Consulting with the Advocate will not result in any further action by the AAG, unless a formal complaint is submitted to the AAG. However, as a Licensed Social Worker, the Advocate is bound to mandatory reporting requirements which would include unreported child abuse, unreported abuse of a vulnerable adult, an immediate threat of suicide, or a direct threat to a third party

C. i. Filing a complaint or allegation

Formal complaints or allegations must be signed by the complainant and must include the following information:

1. The name of the person(s) submitting the complaint and the name and any other identifying detail (affiliation, etc.) of the person(s) alleged to have committed the violation.
2. A description of the event, including the date and circumstances of the alleged violation.
3. A statement explaining any relevant prior interactions or professional or personal relationship that the person filing has with the person(s) named in the complaint.
4. It is advisable for anyone submitting a complaint or allegation to keep notes on the names of potential witnesses. Allegations may be submitted in writing to Executive Director Gary M. Langham, glangham@aag.org, or Chief Operating Officer Elin Thorlund, ethorlund@aag.org, (with the subject line: AAG Policy Violation). Complaints may also be mailed in hard copy to:

Attn: AAG Conduct Policy Violation
AAG
1701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 325
Washington, DC 20006
USA

To the extent practical, the complainant should provide details, specific facts and documentation of the allegations. Additionally, the complainant should provide their contact information, including a phone number and email address.

The complaint must also include the following statement:

I authorize AAG to contact me regarding this complaint, if deemed necessary. I authorize AAG to release this complaint and all other supporting material I have provided or may provide in the future to the subject of the complaint, members of AAG’s Standing Committee on Disciplinary and Eligibility Matters for AAG Members, the AAG Council, AAG’s attorneys and others as deemed appropriate by AAG or as required by law. You may also file a grievance using our online complaint form.

C. ii. Preliminary Investigation

The Director of Operations and Executive Director will review the allegations in the formal written complaint and determine whether the complaint, on its face, alleges a violation of the AAG’s policies. AAG has the sole discretion to determine which complaints should be pursued, how they should be pursued, and what action, if any, should be taken. If the alleged violations relate to conduct that occurred outside of AAG events or activities, AAG may, in its sole discretion, defer review of or action on the complaint unless and until the allegations have been investigated by a third party entity with jurisdiction over the actions and greater investigative authority than AAG, such as the member’s home institution or a court.

a) If the determination is that the allegations described in the complaint do not constitute a violation of applicable AAG policies, no further action will be taken and the complainant will be informed of this determination.

b) If the determination is that the formal written complaint alleges conduct in violation of applicable AAG policies the Executive Director will convene the Standing Committee on Disciplinary and Eligibility Matters for AAG Members and share the complaint with them for investigation. The Executive Director will also forward the complaint to the accused at the address(es) AAG has on file for the accused, unless the Standing Committee determines that consideration of the complaint should be deferred.

The accused may submit a written response to the complaint within 30 days after the date of the Executive Director’s notification. The response should be submitted to the Executive Director at glangham@aag.org. The Executive Director will forward the response to the Standing Committee.

After filing a complaint with AAG, a complainant may request that AAG provide protections from harassment, discrimination, or bullying at AAG activities. Such actions may include but are not limited to: barring the respondent from a complainant’s talk, barring a respondent from an AAG activity, or providing the complainant with an escort during AAG activities. If the complaint goes to a full investigation, AAG may consider further actions (such as providing an escort for AAG activities, or other steps deemed necessary to assure member safety) for harassment-related concerns that fall short of a formal complaint.

In some cases, an allegation may be resolved informally, such as through an apology and assurance that the action will not happen again (especially in cases of the respondent unknowingly causing offense), or it may best be resolved through mediation between the Complainant and the Respondent. The Complainant, or the Chair of the Standing Committee, may make a recommendation for mediation at any time during the investigation process, or as a final resolution after an investigation is completed.

C. iii. Procedure for Investigation

a) After receiving a complaint from the Executive Director, the Standing Committee will review the materials. During this time, the Standing Committee (chaired by the AAG President) may request additional information from the parties and may consult with AAG legal counsel in order to reach its decision. The Standing Committee may consider additional relevant information, including any information that is part of a member’s AAG record or information obtained from a third party. If AAG obtains additional information from a third party relevant to consideration of a complaint, that information will be shared with the subject of the complaint and it will be made part of the record. If the alleged violations relate to conduct that occurred outside of AAG events or activities, the Standing Committee may, in its sole discretion, defer review of or action on the complaint unless and until the allegations have been investigated by a third party entity with jurisdiction over the actions and greater investigative authority than AAG. In that event, the Standing Committee will notify the parties of its deferral decision.

b) The Standing Committee will meet to discuss the complaint and related information and submissions. Unless consideration or action by the Committee has been deferred, the Committee will make a determination, based on the evidence and its credibility determinations, about whether a violation of AAG policies has occurred. If the Committee finds a violation, the Committee will also determine the sanction that will imposed, in its discretion.

C. iv. Sanctions

Sanctions for a violation of the Professional Conduct Policy may include but are not limited to one or more of the following:

1. Written reprimand or warning.
2. Removal from volunteer AAG position(s).
3. Placement of an author or reviewer on an AAG Editors’ watch list.
4. Suspension from publishing in AAG journals for a specific period, including permanently.
5. Suspension from attending or presenting at AAG-sponsored meetings for a specific period of time or permanently.
6. Suspension or temporary or permanent revocation of the membership and eligibility for membership in the Association.
7. Restrictions on the member’s privileges and rights as a member, including holding leadership or Committee roles with AAG.
8. If the offender is a prospective member, the Standing Committee may find the prospective member temporarily or permanently ineligible for membership.
9. Denial of eligibility for or revocation of AAG honors or awards.
10. Notification of offender’s employer.

c) The outcome of AAG’s review of a complaint may or may not be made public.

d) Once the Standing Committee’s decision has been reached, the Executive Director or the Director of Operations will notify the involved parties in writing. Any adverse finding against the subject of the complaint will include a statement of the basis for the Standing Committee’s decision.

e) The subject of the complaint will have the opportunity to appeal a decision of the Standing Committee that suspends, revokes, or denies eligibility for membership, denies eligibility for or revokes an AAG honor or award. Appeals must be submitted in writing to AAG’s Executive Director within 30 days of the date of the notification of the adverse decision. Appeals must state with specificity the grounds on which the individual is requesting the appeal and must be signed. If an appeal is not postmarked or emailed within 30 calendar days of the notice of the Standing Committee’s decision, the Standing Committee’s decision shall constitute the final decision of AAG on the matter and shall not be subject to further review or appeal absent extraordinary circumstances, as determined solely by AAG.

f) In the event of an appeal, the AAG Council will review the written record related to the matter and affirm, modify, or reverse the finding of violation and imposition of sanctions based on that review. The review shall be limited to a determination of whether (1) a procedural error contributed to the Standing Committee’s decision or (2) the Standing Committee’s decision was arbitrary and capricious or was unsupported by the evidence. Additional material that was available to the subject of the sanction but was not submitted to the Standing Committee at the time of its deliberations will not be included in the record on appeal, and no new evidence will be considered after the date of submission of the appeal.

The objectives of the Association are to further professional investigations in geography and to encourage the application of geographic findings in education, government, and business.  The Association supports these objectives by promoting acquaintance and discussion among its members and with scholars in related fields by stimulating research and scientific exploration, by encouraging the publication of scholarly studies, and by performing services to aid the advancement of its members and the field of geography.  The Association receives and administers funds in support of research and publication in the field of geography.

• The Council shall be the governing body of the Association, establish committees and determine Association policies and procedures; it may assign specific responsibilities to the various officers and committees of the Association. The Council may delegate to officers and to the Executive Director authority to sign contracts.
• The Council shall appoint an Executive Director. The Executive Director shall manage the affairs of the Association, maintain its Central Office, and serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of all administrative committees and on other committees as Council may approve.
• The Council appoints Editors, Assistant Editors, Editorial Boards, a Parliamentarian, and standing and ad hoc committees to meet the needs of the Association. (October, 1986).
• The Council shall periodically monitor project development efforts to ensure that they conform to overall AAG objectives. The Executive Director, acting for Council, shall maintain close relationship with the projects, including liaison with the funding agencies, and shall report to Council on their status.
• Council has overall responsibility for fiscal affairs of the Association, but as a practical matter delegates the responsibility primarily to the Executive Director working with the Treasurer. The Executive Director is charged with implementing the policies determined by Council and assisting the program and project operations of the Association.
• Council approves budgetary guidelines concerning salaries, honoraria, travel and per diem expenses, recognizing, however, that special circumstances may make exceptions necessary.
• The AAG National Councilors elect a Chair from among the group. In conjunction with the AAG Office, the National Councilors Chair will monitor the activities of the Specialty and Affinity Groups via their reports submitted to the AAG Office at the conclusion of the AAG annual meeting; and report findings to Council at each fall meeting. The report will include whether each group is operating in a responsible effective manner per the guidelines established by the AAG Council. In addition, the Chair helps to maintain continuing liaison with the Groups by attending the annual scheduled meeting of the group chairs.
• Regional Councilors are charged to coordinate activities between Regional Divisions and Council, attend Division Annual Meetings, and report AAG Council actions and initiatives; act as a liaison between AAG Office and Regional Divisions; attend and participate in AAG Council meetings; be involved in various AAG Council committee responsibilities; attempt to bolster AAG membership at the local level; be involved in the activities of the Executive Council of the local division (varies according to bylaws of the local division); and develop ideas for promoting and maintaining membership in the AAG.
• Chair selected from among the Regional Division Councilors and National Concilors shall also be members of the Committee on Committees. The Regional Division Councilor Chair chairs the annual Regional Division Chairs meeting at the AAG Annual Meeting.
• No person who has served as an AAG employee shall be eligible for election to the Council for a period of three years after conclusion of the individual’s employment at the AAG.
• Council members will be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred up to two days federal per diem for the Spring Council meeting held in conjunction with the AAG Annual Meeting. They will be reimbursed for actual travel and expenses up to federal per diem for attendance at Fall Council Meetings. Expenses incurred on Association or project assignment away from home-base are reimbursed at the U.S. Government per diem rate, calculated on a quarter-day basis, upon submission of appropriate documentation.

• The Executive Director may modify existing publications exchange arrangements as he/she deems appropriate. (April, 1975).
• The Executive Director or his/her designee is assigned the sole responsibility for responding to requests for help by individuals, departments, colleges or universities that need assistance in resolving problems that are academic or professional in scope. (April, 1979).
• The Executive Director is an ex officio member of all commissions, committees and task forces.
• Following Council Guidelines and under the constitutional provision authorizing the Executive Director to manage the AAG office, the Executive Director sets salary levels within limits set by the Council approved budget. Staff salaries should be competitive with similar scholarly societies based in Washington, D.C. The Executive Director appoints supporting staff personnel in the AAG Office. Staff members receive letters of appointment by the Executive Director. The Executive Director oversees the implementation of the AAG Employee Guidelines and supervises the AAG Office Staff.

• Council may approve no dues increase that exceeds the annual rate of change in the cost of living, regardless of the Association’s budgeted expenses, without returning such an increase to the membership for their approval. (April, 1984).
• Changes in membership dues would be made in dollar increments. (April, 1984).
• A retirement category membership is available to individuals who have both retired and reached the age of 60 at reduced dues rates to be established by Council. (May, 1974).
• The Executive Director is granted authority to reduce annual dues by one‑half, in special cases of unemployment with economic hardship.  Cases will be handled individually. (April, 1976).

Committee on Committees

• Charge: prepares slates of nominees for the Honors Committee and for the Nominating Committee from which the AAG Council selects those who stand for election by the membership; nominates at least two candidates to fill vacancies on the Association’s committees, and as delegates to other organizations; prepares a pool of names from which the executive director selects the Nystrom Award Competition committee. Provide a short biography or rationale for each committee nominee vacancy.
• Membership: The Committee on Committees shall be composed of the Secretary, Treasurer, Chair of the Regional Councillors, and Chair of the National Councillors. The Secretary of Council shall chair the committee.

Honors Committee

• Charge: The Honors Committee is charged with the responsibility of receiving and evaluating nominations for national and international interdisciplinary awards and with making recommendations to Council.
• The AAG keeps up to date information on the full listing of categories of Honors, guidelines, including eligibility, purpose, application instructions, and deadlines in the AAG Office and on the AAG website. Notice of opportunities are published in AAG communication venues such as the newsletter and/or listserves.
• New Honors categories may be established by the AAG Council.
• The AAG Office maintains a set of Guidelines for the Honors Committee to utilize that summarizes and clarifies the general procedures, responsibilities, and timeline of the committees activity.
• All Honors Committee nominees’ materials should be placed in the Archives; committee written deliberations should be placed in the Archives with a restriction (25 years) and names of nominees should be passed on to future committees.

Nominating Committee

• The Nominating Committee shall submit its slate of candidates to the AAG Office at least six weeks before the fall meeting of the Council. It may seek nominations from the membership at-large as well through the AAG Newsletter and/or other communication venues. The membership shall promptly be notified of the committee’s nominations and be given a minimum of sixty days to submit nominations by petition. Official ballots shall be mailed to all members at least two months before the annual meeting. These ballots must be returned within forty-five days and be counted by tellers selected from the list of members.
• Each nominating committee should transmit to its successor the names of individuals nominated and considered by the Nominating Committee. (October, 1988).

Standing Committees

Standing Committee on AAG Disciplinary and Eligibility Matters for AAG Members

The AAG Council hereby resolves that the Standing Committee on AAG Annual Meeting Attendee Disciplinary Matters shall serve as the Standing Committee on Disciplinary and Eligibility Matters for AAG Members and appoints the members of the Executive Committee to serve as the members of the Standing Committee. The Executive Director is an ex officio member of the Standing Committee.
The Standing Committee is charged with investigating all complaints referred to it by the Executive Director that relate to violations by Association members of the Standing Rules on Professional Conduct, violations of other Association policies or Standing Rules, or that otherwise allege dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct by an Association member in relation to the Association or its activities, or to the professional role of the Association member. The Committee may also determine that a prospective member who has engaged in conduct in connection with the prospective member’s professional role that is contrary to the values of AAG, as reflected in its policies and Standing Rules, is ineligible for membership, based on a referral from the Executive Director. A determination by the Standing Committee that any such allegation is supported by the evidence shall warrant disciplinary action against a member as determined in the discretion of the Standing Committee, which may include but is not limited to suspension or temporary or permanent revocation of the membership and eligibility for membership in the Association of the subject of the complaint or restrictions on the member’s privileges and rights as a member, including temporary or permanent loss of eligibility to attend future AAG Annual Meetings or to hold leadership or Committee roles with AAG. With respect to prospective members, the Standing Committee may find the prospective member temporarily or permanently ineligible for membership.
The Standing Committee shall establish procedures for review of and decision on such matters that provide to the subject notice of the nature of the allegations and an opportunity to respond in writing. A member or prospective member may appeal to the Council a decision by the Standing Committee to impose a disciplinary revocation of membership or finding of temporary or permanent ineligibility for membership, by notifying the AAG Executive Director in writing within 30 days of being informed of the sanctions by the Standing Committee. If a decision of the Standing Committee is appealed, the Council will review the written record related to the matter and affirm, modify, or reverse the imposition of sanctions based on that review. Additional material that was available to the subject of the sanction but was not submitted to the Standing Committee will not be included in the record on appeal.

Adopted unanimously on November 17, 2019.

Endowment funds will be established by resolution of the AAG Council, which shall include specification of the purposes of such fund(s) and how they are to be managed.

• The AAG manages its funds according to currently accepted accounting practices, including conducting an annual audit. An Accounting Manual is on file at the AAG Office as a set of operational guidelines. The Finance Committee and Council shall review the AAG Investment Policy annually and Council may make adjustments via resolution as necessary.
• Council shall maintain a policy of fiscal responsibility including increasing income or reducing existing budgeted expenditures before adding or increasing expenditures. This policy is to be enforced by the Treasurer and Executive Director. (April, 1981).
• AAG shall budget each year adequate funds for the repair and renovation of AAG building(s) and fixed equipment. (April, 1991).
• An annual administrative fee may be charged for the management of restricted funds at a rate to be set by the AAG Council. (April, 1991; September, 1997). (The AAG currently does not charge an administrative fee on restricted funds.)
• The Treasurer, having consulted with the Finance Committee and the AAG Executive Director, will present an annual budget for Council review at its Spring meeting.
• The AAG Finance Committee shall consist of no less than four members of the Association, including the AAG Treasurer, the immediate AAG Past Treasurer, and AAG Executive Director as ex officio members. The Treasurer shall chair the committee.

• The AAG office keeps current records of funds established for the purpose of AAG Grants, including the categories of grants available for research, dissertation, travel, or other purposes. The AAG also keeps up to date information on the balances and payments made from those funds. A listing of AAG grant guidelines, including eligibility, purpose, application instructions, and deadlines are maintained in the AAG Office and on the AAG website. Notices of opportunities are published in AAG communication venues such as the newsletter and/or listserves.
• AAG Standing Committees are appointed to review the submissions for particular grant programs as indicated in the respective charge of those committees given by the AAG Council. No awards are made if funds are insufficient or if proposals are not suitable for a particular AAG grant program.
• New AAG grant programs are established by the Executive Director and/or the AAG Council, as donations for such purposes are given.

Annual Meeting Papers and Presentations

• No prior screening of annual meeting papers and presentations will be required (April, 1976).
• The call for program participation and the preliminary program should direct participants unable to give their presentations to inform the session chair and to write the AAG Conference Director to explain the absence (October, 1982).
• AAG Annual Meeting participants are limited to a total of two public presentations at the meeting: a maximum of one paper or poster and one role as a panelist, or two roles as panelist if they do not present a paper or poster. Exemptions can be made for individuals in official capacity. (November, 2008).
• All individuals presenting papers or posters will submit an abstract as instructed in the Call for Program Participation. The abstract must state the purpose, methods, and conclusions of the presentation in a maximum number of words as indicated in the call. All abstracts will be available before the annual meeting (October, 1986).
• In regular paper sessions, speakers will be allowed twenty minutes per paper, with the proviso that presentation be restricted to fifteen minutes and that five minutes be explicitly reserved for discussion of the paper just presented. Five papers should be scheduled in each one hundred minute (regular) paper session (April, 1993).
• AAG will budget funds each year to be made available on a competitive basis to underwrite the expenses of non-geographers invited to appear in plenary-like sessions. A committee will receive and review proposals for the funds and allocate them among the applicants (March, 1995).

Annual Meeting Field Trips

• The number, frequency, capacities, times, and fees for annual meeting field trips shall be determined by consensus among the AAG Conference Director, the local support committee chair, and the field trip coordinator.  The AAG may cancel a field trip in the event a significant financial loss is likely. (October, 1982).
• Field trips organized by specialty groups will be scheduled by the field trip coordinator. Any income generated will accrue to the Association (October, 1982).
• In keeping with the AAG effort to promote the fair and equal treatment of members, field trips organized by AAG members or specialty groups at the annual meeting will, as a rule, be open to all members. In instances where a member or specialty group wishes to organize a field trip that explicitly excludes any group of AAG members, the organizer will petition the AAG Council for an exception to this policy by the date when field trip proposals are due. If Council grants the exception, notice will be given in the AAG Newsletter, along with an explanation of the reason for the exception. The substance of this resolution shall be included in the annual call for field trip proposals that appears in the AAG Newsletter.

Registration Fees

• No complimentary annual meeting registrations will be granted (October, 1990).
• No registration fee will be charged to non‑attending co‑authors of paper or poster presentations (May, 1986).
• The Association will pay annual meeting registration fees for fifty-year members recognized at the meeting.

Other

• The AAG Annual Meeting will be held in Canada only at the invitation of the Canadian Association of Geographers and a Canadian university geography department (August, 1989).
• The AAG shall henceforth avoid scheduling its annual meetings on major religious holidays (April, 1992).
• Accessibility. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the AAG and its contracted facilities hotel’s management make reasonable accommodations to the extent possible when they are requested. Individuals requiring such accommodations are asked to make their needs known to the AAG and the hotel’s management as early as possible so they can make every effort to provide the requested accommodations.
• Professional Conduct. Professional ideas and information are exchanged most effectively at the AAG’s Annual Meeting in an atmosphere free of abuse or harassment and characterized by courtesy and respect. To that end, the AAG expects all individuals who attend to conduct themselves in a manner which establishes an atmosphere free from discriminatory practices and sexual harassment. The contents of annual meeting presentations by individuals or groups at the annual meeting are theirs alone. The American Association of Geographers neither endorses nor disclaims the conclusions, interpretations, or opinions expressed by speakers at its annual meeting.
• Union Hotels. Once the site for the annual meeting is chosen, the AAG will actively solicit and give preference to a suitable unionized hotel in cities selected for the AAG annual meeting. If on review, the AAG Executive Committee concludes that cost or other considerations indicate that a non-union hotel should be used in a city with a union hotel option, then the Executive Committee should detail the rationale for its choice to the Council and at the AAG business meeting. The AAG will continue to negotiate, and if possible strengthen, existing force majeure language in AAG annual meeting hotel contracts. (April, 2005).

Associate Members

• Eligible prospective members may join the AAG under its Associate Membership Programs, which include the CAG (Canadian Association of Geographers) Reciprocal Membership Program, the IBG (Institute of British Geographers) Reciprocal Membership Program. No individual residing in the U.S. is eligible for Associate Membership through these programs.
• Associate Members are not eligible to vote in National Elections and are not eligible to hold National AAG Office.

Mailing Lists

• The AAG sells mailing labels/lists with members’ names and addresses to firms wishing to announce scholarly materials and other goods and services deemed appropriate to the purposes of the Association. The Executive Director decides whether to sell the list or to withhold it. Members may opt to delete their names from mailing lists that are sold. (October, 1982).

• The AAG publishes the Annals of the Association of American Geographers and The Professional Geographer. The operations of the publication of these journals conform to the most current publishing agreement, on file at the AAG Office. Other operational guidelines are also outlined in the AAG Publications Manual.
• The AAG Office is responsible for publishing the AAG Newsletter, Jobs in Geography (incorporated as part of the AAG Newsletter since 1971), AAG Guide to Programs of Geography in the Americas /AAG Directory of Geographers, and other occasional items, such as Careers in Geography, or other publications.
• It is the responsibility of the AAG Executive Director and/or his/her designate to supervise the production and distribution of AAG Office publications, to propose an annual budget to the Finance Committee for funding these publications, and to communicate with the Chair of the AAG Publications Committee regarding accomplishments, problems that require resolution, and plans for the coming years.
• The AAG Publications Committee is charged with assessing the needs and effectiveness of the AAG Office publications program, reviewing suggestions and proposals for enhancing its service to the AAG membership, reviewing questions that relate to content, format and frequency of publication, and referring related policy issues to the AAG Council.

• The AAG Council suggests to the Regional Divisions that Regional Councillors be made ex-officio members of the Divisions’ Executive Committees. (October, 1973).
• AAG Regional Division Councillors must be elected during the Fall or otherwise well before their council terms take effect on July 1st annually.
• Annual meetings of the Regional Division of the AAG are an important means of communication between the members of the Association and the council. Regional and National Councillors are expected to attend their regional meetings, and the president will offer his/her assistance in arranging the attendance of a national officer as well. (April, 1978).

Use of the AAG seal and/or logo by regional and specialty group publications requires Council approval. (April, 1978).

• Specialty and Affinity Groups must comply with particular financial and legal procedures as required for the association’s auditing needs. The most current information on these procedures can be found in the latest AAG Specialty and Affinity Group Handbook, which is provided to Chairs and posted online. This handbook will be maintained on the AAG website by the AAG office and thus is provided to Chairs and officers for their reference, who bear responsibility for its implementation.
• The AAG Council establishes policy and implements procedures for the formation, functioning, and decommissioning of AAG Groups, as documented in the history of resolutions of the council. This is also outlined in the AAG Specialty and Affinity Group Handbook.

• The AAG Executive Committee reviews all standing committees and task forces and presents recommendations to Council to continue, eliminate or assign additional tasks to committees/task forces. (October, 1986).
• All Standing Committees shall coordinate with the Executive Director or a designee at least once per year to establish current priorities for the Committee and to coordinate committee activities with ongoing AAG activities and programs. (April, 2007).
• Current practice holds that committees may have an interim chair appointed by the Committee on Committees, but are ultimately free to select their own permanent Chairs.
• The chair of each committee shall submit to Council an annual report of committee activities.
• Committee membership normally will be for a three year term. As committees are established members are to be appointed on a one, two, and three year term basis to provide continuity of membership and orderly rotation.  An individual may be reappointed.
• At least one AAG Councillor will be appointed to each standing committee. (April, 1986).
• The following committees will be chaired by an AAG Councillor: Committee on Committees (Secretary), Finance (Treasurer), and Publications.
• All committee vacancies should be advertised in the AAG Newsletter and/or other communication venues annually before the Council meeting at which those vacancies are to be filled and applications should be solicited from interested members. (April, 1981).
• Committee membership is indefinite in the Jackson Prize Committee, and any necessary replacements will be named by the committee itself.
• Persons appointed to AAG Committees, Review Boards, and as Delegates, and Elected Officers and Councillors should be members of the AAG.

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