What is the process for the AOM to consider taking a stand?

Proposals to consider taking a stand must be approved by the Board of Governors with the consensual support of the Executive Committee. A process of vetting and approval is required before a stand can be taken and expressed by the President under exceptional circumstances.

This vetting process begins when a member completes a short initial request form obtained from the Executive Director of the AOM, outlining the change in public policy that constitutes exceptional circumstances, and explaining how these circumstances threaten the AOM as a whole organization. After the Executive Committee reviews the initial request form, the member will either be invited to complete Step 2, the full form, that addresses the full set of concerns that the AOM must consider before taking a stand or be notified that the request does not meet the threshold for the AOM to take a stand. A request by the Executive Committee to complete Step 2, the full form, does not imply approval of the request to take a stand. These criteria emphasize exceptional threats that affect multiple members and multiple jurisdictions on matters of academic freedom, scholarly convening, scholarly exchange, and scholarship itself. Once the full form, Step 2, is received by the Executive Director, it must be deliberated by the Executive Committee. Requests for consideration that receive consensual support are then presented to the full Board of Governors, which must approve and then authorize the President, in consultation with other members of the Executive Committee, to develop an AOM stand. The Board of Governors must then approve the final statement of the stand in a second review.