SLAS

Constitution

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The Standing Conference was established in 1966 to coordinate the development of Latin American Studies in the UK.

 

Mission

The mission of the Standing Conference is to provide a forum for collaboration between member institutions on issues of strategic importance to the field of Latin American Studies, and on their behalf to represent it to outside bodies, including research councils and government policymakers.

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Membership, Chair and Steering Committee

Membership of the Standing Conference is open to one representative of any UK institution where teaching and/or research on Latin America is undertaken by five or more scholars, in one or more departments or disciplines. Applications for membership should be sent to the Chair of the Standing Conference; formal approval will be by majority vote held either virtually or at the next scheduled meeting.

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Ex-officio membership will be granted to the elected representatives of a limited number of other relevant societies and special interest groups associated with teaching and/or research on Latin America at UK institutions. These include: the President of the Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS), the President of the Society for Caribbean Studies (SCS), The President of the Association of Hispanists of Great Britain and Ireland (AHGBI), the President of Association of British and Irish Lusitanists (ABIL), the Chair of the Latin American Geographies Research Group of the RGS (LAGRG), a representative from UK Latin American Historians Network (UKLAH), the President of the United Kingdom Council for Area Studies Associations (UKCASA), and the President of Women in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies (WISPS).

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The elected representatives of any groups who believe they should have representation as ex-officio members should contact the Chair of the Standing Conference. Formal approval will be by majority vote held either virtually or at the next scheduled meeting.

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The Standing Conference is chaired by the Past President of SLAS for a two-year term, or, in his or her place, the current Vice-President. The Chair is advised by a Steering Committee elected by the members of the Standing Conference by majority vote held either virtually or at the next scheduled meeting. The Steering Committee comprises three representatives, each undertaking the role for a three-year term, with staggered start dates to ensure continuity.

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Changes to the constitution will be discussed with members, either at scheduled meetings or by virtual means and will be approved by majority vote.

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Meetings

Meetings of the Standing Conference normally take place once a year, in the autumn, and are held online. All members are eligible to vote. Where a binding decision requires a vote of members, this will be on the basis of a majority of those present.

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Agendas will be circulated to members in advance, as will summary notes of discussions and actions agreed at the previous meeting.