ANNEX 1: CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTH ASIA RESEACH INSTITUTE (SARI) IN THE
COLLEGE OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, ANU
Accepted (with amendments) by members attending the SARI AGM, 12 October 2015.
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MISSION
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The mission of SARI is to maintain and promote the role of the Australian National
University (‘the University’) as the world’s premier institution in the field of South Asian
Studies, through the conduct of research, the organizing of workshops/conferences and
Mater Classes, and a broad range of outreach activities. SARI has very successfully
functioned as vehicle for achieving and sustaining the objectives set out in the College of
Asia & the Pacific (CAP) to enhance South Asia research and teaching. Our objectives remain
closely aligned with the mission statement to support cross-College and cross-campus
research communities, fund research symposia, conferences and workshops; promote and
communicate CAP research activity and achievements in the international arena, and to
nurture the next generation of scholars. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the SARI shall be open to all academic staff, professional staff, emeritus faculty, and
students studying for higher degrees by research, who have an interest in South Asian Studies and
hold a current University email address. However, given the College funding, a condition for grant
application is have one at least one CAP member sponsor the application.
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BOARD
The affairs of the Institute shall be managed by a Board whose membership reflects the diversity of
the College’s interests in the field of South Asian Studies.
3.1
Board membership
At any one time, the Board shall contain a minimum of 6 members and a maximum of ten
members, of whom:

At least three shall be women and at least three shall be men.

At least one shall belong to Colleges other than the CAP, which contains the largest number
of the SARI members.
In addition, at least one of the members shall be a be a postgraduate student.
The Board shall be responsible to ensure that its membership is compliant with these provisions,
subject to a process of consultation with the membership of the Institute.
3.2
Directors / Board chairs
At any one time, SARI shall have a Director and a Deputy Director, who shall otherwise be known as
Chair and Deputy Chairs of SARI.
The Directors shall be elected from amongst the current members of the Board at one of the
Board’s regular meetings.
The term of office of each Chair shall not extend for more than Three years following the adoption
of this Constitution.
For the sake of continuity, the Deputy Director will be encouraged to take on the role of Director,
and one new Deputy Director will be elected, in the course of the final calendar year of her/his
tenure.
If the Director is absent from the University for a continuous period of more than three months
during his or her term of office, he or she may nominate a substitute from amongst the members of
the Board subject to approval by the rest of the Board members.
3.3
Board meetings
The Director and Co-Director shall be responsible for ensuring that the Board meets at least two
times in any one calendar year.
A quorum of one (Director or Deputy Director) and 3 other members is required at any meeting of
the Board.
The Director/Deputy Director shall be responsible for ensuring that the minutes of each Board
meeting are made available to all members of the Institute.
4.
GENERAL MEETINGS
The Board shall be responsible for organizing an Annual General Meeting of all members of the
Institute, as well as any additional general meetings which may be required to discuss specific
issues.
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