1. Background of the University

South Asian University (SAU) is an International University established by the eight member nations of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) viz. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

SAU started its operations from the academic year 2010. The University now offers post graduate and doctoral programmes in various disciplines that include Development Economics, Computer Science, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Sociology, International Relations and Law. The University is currently functioning from Akbar Bhawan Campus in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

In order to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued service to members and to support the University’s mission, the Alumni Association of South Asian University (AASAU) is proposed herewith, as per Rule 30 of SAU Rules.

 2. Name of the Association: The Association shall be named as the “Alumni Association of South Asian University” (AASAU).

 3. Registered Office

The office of the Association shall be located within the University campus. The Association will thus operate from the campus.

 4. Objectives of the Association

4.1 To promote the advancement, interests, and welfare of South Asian University (SAU)

4.2 To collect funds and donations to support specific academic activities at SAU, including financial support to poor and needy meritorious students.

4.3 To facilitate and further, strong collaboration amongst the scholars and institutions within and outside SAARC Region with SAU.

4.4 To facilitate close link between the alumni of SAU and the University.

4.5 To organize events and activities that would foster friendship and sharing of cultures within the South Asian Region.

4.6 To act as goodwill ambassadors of SAU within and outside the SAARC region.

4.7 To provide academic and professional interaction and networking among the SAU alumni.

4.8 To help alumni in distress.

4.9 To promote social and cultural activities of former and current students of the University.

4.10 To promote regional consciousness in South Asian Region.

4.11 Facilitate SAU’s awareness in local, national, and international communities.

4.12 To create platform for honouring the alumni of SAU, who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields and have attained national and international recognition.

5. Membership of AASAU

 5.1 Regular membership of the Association would be open to all students who have obtained degrees from the South Asian University.

5.2 Associate membership of the AASAU will be available to:

a. Present and past faculty members and senior administrative functionaries of the University.

b. Students enrolled in SAU academic programs.

c. Distinguished persons who have been conferred honorary degrees by SAU or have been associated with the activities of SAU.

5.3 Associate Member under clause 5.2 above shall have all rights and privileges admissible to the regular members except the voting rights, and eligibility to be a member of the Executive Council of the AASAU.

6. Membership and Membership fees

6.1 Members / Associate members shall enrol themselves by filling up the registration form, either in person or electronically and upon payment of the prescribed fee.

6.2 Annual membership fee of the AASAU will be US$ 10 or equivalent Indian Rupees for both Members and Associate Members. Life-time Membership fee for both categories will be US$ 100 or equivalent Indian Rupees.

6.3 Life-time Membership of students enrolled as associate members under clause 5.2b will continue after they have completed their degrees at SAU but they will be re-designated as Regular Members. .

6.4 The Association shall maintain a register of members and it shall be open to inspection by all members.

6.5 A member may resign from the Association with a notice of 15 days but their Membership fee will not be refunded.

6.6 A member shall be allowed to vote in any election or mandate, only if he/she has paid the annual membership fees for that period, or is a life member.

7. Management

The General Body shall elect Executive Committee and Association shall be managed by the Executive Committee.

7.1 General Body

7.1.1 The General Body consists of all registered members and shall meet at least once in a year at Delhi.

7.1.2 Any meeting of the General Body shall require a minimum of one tenth of the total membership in order to form the quorum for the meeting with representation preferably from each SAARC country. Provided that the quorum prescribed above will not be necessary for an adjourned meeting held thirty minutes after the scheduled time.

7.1.3 The General Body shall have the authority to consider and decide all matters related to the Association and provide a broad policy framework towards the functioning of the Association, including adoption of Annual Report, adopting the Audit Report and Annual Statement of Accounts as certified by auditors, adoption of budget for the ensuing year.

7.1.4 There shall be elections by the General Body in order to elect the Executive Committee, hereafter referred to as EC. The Elections will be held only through postal ballot and e-ballot. The tenure of the elected EC will be two years from the date on which they assume the charge.

7.1.5 All regular members of the Association shall have the voting rights. Such members shall also be eligible to be elected to the EC. No member shall be elected to EC for more than two terms consecutively.

7.1.6 In any case if the elections are not conducted at a decided time, the elected committee of EC should continue till the next elections are conducted as per the rules of 7.1.2 and 7.1.3.

7.1.7 An advance notice of at least 21 days shall be given to all the members for holding meetings of the General Body.

 7.2 Executive Committee

7.2.1 The Association shall be managed and governed by a Body of Executive Committee consisting of 12 members, elected by the General Body from among the regular members of the association. In order to give due representation to alumni of all member countries, preferably one member from each member country be on the Executive Committee. No member of the Alumni Association shall be entitled to vote or stand for election unless he/she has been a regular member of the Association for at least one year, prior to the date of the election. Provided that the condition relating to the completion of one year’s membership shall not apply in the case of the first election after the establishment of the University.

7.2.2 The term of the Elected/nominated members of the EC for two year. They would be eligible for re-election/re-nomination for one additional term.

7.2.3 The composition of the EC is as follows:

* Chairperson

* Vice Chairperson

* General Secretary

* Treasurer

* Members ( Eight : one each from each SAARC country)

* Dean, Alumni Affairs (ex-officio), to be nominated by the President, SAU.

* A nodal officer from the SAU administration, custodian of the AASAU records, to be nominated by the President, SAU. (Non-voting member)

7.2.4 An advance notice of 21 days shall be given to all the members for holding the meeting of the Executive meeting, with a copy of the agenda.

7.2.5 A minimum of two-third (2/3) members including Chairperson, General Secretary and Dean (Alumni Affairs) shall form the quorum for holding the meetings of the Executive committee.

7.2.6 Participation of members for the meetings of the Executive Council is also permitted through Skpe / phone.

7.2.7 No expenses other than local conveyance and hospitality shall be borne by the Assocation(AASAU).

 7.3 Elections

7.3.1 Only regular members of the Association shall be eligible for membership of the Executive Committee. (EC)

7.3.3 There shall be an Election Committee comprising two members of the Association who are not candidates for re-election or election to office, to be nominated by the Chairperson of the AASAU, and the Dean, Alumani Affairs, at SAU. The election committee will be chaired by the immediate past Chairperson, or the immediate past Vice Chairperson if the Chairperson is not available. The Election Committee shall present nominees for membership on the EC as per para 7.1.4 and 7.2.

7.3.4 Regular members of the Association from the General Body may file nomination of candidates to fill up the positions in EC.

7.3.6 Every nomination shall be duly proposed and seconded by different regular members of the Association. If more than one nomination is received for any position, elections may be held to select the positions through secret ballot.

7.3.7 Candidates for the position of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer may be citizens of any of the SAARC countries. For operational considerations, any of these two office bearers may be located in Delhi. Executive Committee members may preferably be one each from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In absence of nominations from one or more Member States, nomination from other Members states may be considered.

7.3.8 A regular member of the association will have the right to cast one vote only for each open position. Proxy voting will not be allowed.

7.3.9 The results of the election shall be published in the publication of the Association and displayed on the website and notice board of the AASAU.

 7.4 Powers and Functions of the EC

The EC shall have the following powers and functions:

7.4.1 The EC shall have the power to plan and carry out its activities and shall have the financial powers to do so. Based upon the planned activities, the Secretary in consultation with other EC members will present an annual budget to be approved by the EC.

7.4.2 The EC shall have the power to open a bank account, receive and spend money by maintaining proper accounts.

7.4.3 All decisions in the EC will be taken by simple majority of the members present, except in case of disciplinary action against a member, which shall require two third of the members present and voting.

7.4.4 Till the election and constitution of the first Executive Committee, the affairs of the Association shall be managed and governed by a committee consisting of first five founding members of the AASAU to be chaired by the Dean, AASAU affairs at SAU

 7.5 Vacancies and Expulsions

 Vacancies

In case of a vacancy arising in the EC, the same may be filled i) by nomination, in case the remaining period of the EC is less than 6 months; ii) by election, in case the remaining period of EC is 6 months or more.

 Expulsions

In case a member is found to work against the interest(s) of AASAU or is found involved in serious misconduct, he/she may be suspended by the Executive Committee of AASAU, after service him/her Show Cause Notice and providing opportunity to explain his/her conduct. This would be subject to further consideration of the next General Body meeting which may decide to revoke the suspension or expel him/her from the EC or the primary membership of AASAU for a period specified by the GBM.