Statutes for Strömstad Academy non-profit association adopted 10 September 2008, revised 19 June 2017

   
1 § Purpose and seat
 

Strömstad Academy is a Nordic institute for advanced studies that conducts research and research supervision. In addition, the academy’s purpose is to be an academic residence for academics engaged in research, education and information and to work for cooperation between its members and between members and the surrounding community, especially Strömstad municipality. The seat of the academy is Strömstad municipality.

2 § Compostion
 

The association consists of the natural persons who have been appointed by the academy. See also § 10

3 § Decision-making bodies
 

The decision-making bodies are the annual meeting, the extra annual meeting and the board.

4 §  Company subscription
  The association’s company name is signed by the association’s chairman and treasurer separately..
5 § Year of operation and financial year
  The association’s operating and financial years include calendar years.
6 § Statute interpretations etc.
 

If doubts arise as to whether interpretation of these statutes is referred to the next annual meet-ing. In urgent cases, the board decides.

7 § Arbitration clause
 

An action in a dispute between a member and the association may not be brought before a general court but must be decided in accordance with the Arbitration Act..

8 §

Amendment of the Articles of Association

 

För ändring av stadgar krävs beslut av årsmöte med 2/3 majoritet. Förslag till ändring får skriftligen avges av såväl medlem som styrelsen.

9 § Dissolution of the association
 

Resolution requires a decision of the annual meeting with a 2/3 majority. At the meeting, a de-cision is made on the management of the association’s assets and documents

   
  MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
10 § The members of the association
 

Membership The association is open to academics who have been appointed by the board in accordance with rules decided by the annual meeting and who have paid membership fees. A member must follow the association’s statutes and regulations. Anyone who so wishes and who follows the association’s statutes and regulations can be accepted as a support member without being appointed. Rules decided 10/9 2008 and revised 19/6 2017: Anyone who is or has been appointed as a professor or deemed eligible for professorship at an accredited university (university, college) can be appointed as a professor. Anyone who is an associate professor at a Swedish higher education institution or has equivalent competence can be appointed as an assis-tant professor. Anyone who has a doctoral degree / equivalent and who is or has been a senior lecturer / equivalent at an accredited university can be appointed as an assistant professor. Any-one who has a Swedish doctoral degree / equivalent can be appointed as a research assistant. Anyone who has a Swedish academic undergraduate degree / equivalent can be appointed as a research assistant. Supporting members have the right to attend but not to vote at the annual meeting

11 § Withdrawal
 

A member who wishes to resign notifies the board in writing with immediate effect. A mem-ber who has not paid the membership fee is considered to have requested resignation.

12 § Exclusion etc
 

A member can only be excluded if he / she has not paid the membership fee, opposed the association or damaged the association’s interests. Exclusion is decided by the board and con-firmed by the next annual meeting

13 § Member rights and obligations
 

Member – has the right to use Strömstad Academy as an academic domicile with the benefits decided by the annual meeting or the board, – has the right to use his title as appointed at Strömstad Academy, – has the right to participate in meetings organized for members, – has the right to information about the association’s affairs, – must follow the association’s statutes and decisions, – must pay a membership fee and service fee no later than 30/4 or upon entry. Honorary member does not pay membership fee.

   
  ANNUAL MEETING and EXTRA ANNUAL MEETING
14 § Annual meeting and extra annual meeting
 

Time, notice The annual meeting is the association’s highest decision-making body and is held before the end of July in Strömstad. Notice must be given no later than 4 weeks in advance. Amendments to the articles of association and other matters of significant importance shall be stated in the notice. The annual report, auditor’s report, business plan, budget, board’s proposals and motions received must be sent to the members no later than 1 week before the meeting.

15 § Proposals for matters to be considered by the annual meeting
.

Proposals from a member must be received by the board no later than 2 weeks before the annual meeting

16 § Right to vote and the right to express an opinion and make proposals at the annual meeting
 

Voting rights are personal. The present member may, by written power of attorney, be a representative of no more than one other member. A member has the right to express an opinion and make proposals at the meeting.

17 § Decisions and voting
 

Decisions are made with applause or if requested by vote. With the exception of matters pursuant to § 8 and § 9, all matters are decided by a simple majority; relative majority in elections and absolute majority in other matters. Voting takes place openly unless someone requests a secret ballot. In the event of an equal number of votes, the chairman of the meeting has the casting vote.

18 § Eligibility
 

Eligible for election to the Board, to the auditor and to the Nomination Committee are both appointed and supporting members. Eligible as principal and vice-principal are members who should be appointed. In addition, Strömstad’s municipal board elects an ordinary member of the association’s board and an auditor

19 §

Matters at the annual meeting

 

At the annual meeting, the following shall be discussed and recorded: 1. Determination of the voting list. Election of chairman and secretary of the meeting. 3. Election of minutes adjuster as well as counters. 4. Ask if the meeting has been announced correctly. 5. Adoption of agenda. 6. (a) The Board’s annual report for the most recent financial year. (b) The Board’s balance sheet and income statement for the most recent financial year. (c) The Board’s report on operations between the turn of the year and the annual meeting. 7. The auditors’ report for the most recent financial and financial year. 8. Question about the board’s and the rector’s discharge from liability for the period to which the audit relates. 9. Determination of membership fee and service fee for future financial years. 10. Determination of the business plan and budget for the coming financial year and financial year and discussion of the business until the coming turn of the year. 11. Consideration of the Board’s proposals and timely motions received. 12. Election for the coming financial year by (a) the principal for 2 years, elected in even years, (b) the vice-principal for 2 years, odd years are elected. In 2016, the vice-rector is elected for 1 year, (c) a board consisting of a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer and 2-6 other members, (d) a maximum of 10 deputies to the board, (e) 1-2 auditors and a maximum of 2 deputies, ( f) convener and 1-3 members of the nomination committee. Nothing in addition to what is in the notice may be decided by the annual meeting.

20 § Extraordinary annual meeting
  The board can call an extra annual meeting and must do so if 1/3 of the members so request
   
 

THE NOMINATION COMMITTEE

21 § Nomination Committee
 

Composition, duties The Nomination Committee consists of a convener and 1-3 members. The Nomination Committee’s task is to prepare the Annual General Meeting’s election of the Board and auditors

   
 

AUDITORS

22 § Revision
 

The association has 1-2 auditors and a maximum of 2 deputies as well as an auditor appointed by Strömstad’s municipal board. The auditors must continuously review the Board’s management and accounts. The association’s accounts must be submitted to the auditors no later than 6 weeks before the annual meeting. The auditor’s report shall be presented at the annual meeting.

   
 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

23 § Composition of the Board
 

The board consists of a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer, 2-6 members and a maximum of 10 deputies, all elected by the annual meeting, and a member appointed by Strömstad’s municipal board. The board shall appoint a media manager from among its members. The principal and vice-principal are constantly co-opted to the board. During the current financial year, the Board may co-opt additional members.

24 § Duties of the Board
 

When the annual meeting is not convened, the board is the association’s decision-making body. The board shall be responsible for the association’s activities in accordance with these statutes and established plans. It is the responsibility of the board to – execute decisions made by the annual meeting, – plan, lead and distribute the work within the association, – keep the cooperation with the municipality and the municipal board in Strömstad alive, – have the overall responsibility for projects within the academy area or be connected to the Strömstad area and appoint project managers , – decide on activities proposed by the chairman or vice-chancellor, – appoint members and adopt supporting members, – be responsible for and manage the association’s funds, – be responsible for the website and appoint a web editor, – provide the auditors with accounts etc. in accordance with section 22, and – prepare the annual meeting. The board divides different areas of responsibility within itself. When voting on the board, the chairman has a casting vote

25§ Duties of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman
 

The chairman and treasurer sign the academy’s company separately. The chairman and rector represent the academy externally and consult the board on an ongoing basis if necessary. The chairman convenes a working committee consisting of the chairman, vice-chairman, rector and vice-rector, who assist the chairman in leading the academy’s activities between board meetings. The chairman, in consultation with the rector, proposes activities that can be conducted in the academy’s name. After consulting the principal, the chairman signs all applications from external sources. The chairman is responsible for, convenes and chairs the meetings of the board. The Vice-Chairman assists the Chairman in her duties and may, if necessary, take her place. If the chairman and the principal disagree on an issue, it is referred to the board for decision.

26§

Duties of the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor

 

The vice-chancellor and chairman represent the academy externally and consult the board on an ongoing basis if necessary. The vice-chancellor proposes, in consultation with the chairman, activities that can be conducted in the name of the academy. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor assists the Vice-Chancellor in the duties and may, if necessary, take her place. The Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor assist the Chairman and the Board in matters concerning the ongoing academic activities within Strömstad Academy. The board can delegate various matters to them. Examples of such matters are that – the Vice-Chancellor prepares and proposes appointments of new members, – the Vice-Chancellor is responsible for and develops contact with various higher education institutions, – the Pro-Vice-Chancellor is responsible for the Academy’s electronic newsletter and Acta Academiae Stromstadiensis series, – the Vice-Chancellor the festival in consultation with the board; the Vice-Chancellor installs new members, – the Vice-Chancellor is responsible for ensuring that all members are reached by personal contact by letter at least once a year, – the Pro-Vice-Chancellor is responsible for ensuring that all members are reached by personal contact via telephone once a year. If the chairman and the vice-chancellor disagree on an issue, it is referred to the board for decision

27 § Summons, quorum and voting
 

The board meets after convening the chairman or when at least half of the members request it. The Board has a quorum when at least half the number of members – ordinary or replaced by deputies – is present. Board meetings can be located in several places connected via computer or telephone. When voting, a simple majority applies with the chairman’s casting vote. In urgent cases, the matter can be decided by written vote or telephone conference. Minutes are kept at board meetings, which are adjusted by the chairman of the meeting and by a designated minutes adjuster.

28 § Överlåtande av beslutsrätten 
 

The Board may delegate decisions in individual matters.