Article 1:

Upon the approval of King Abdulaziz University (KAU) Council on 24/10/2019, Saudi Association for English Language Education (Saudi TESOL) has been established and based at the English Language Institute of KAU in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is an academic and professional association with focus on improving the quality of English language teaching practices in general and higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and providing professional training, consultations, and academic studies related to TESOL.

Article 2:

Association Vision and Mission Statements:

Vision: A professional hub for exemplary English language teaching and networking in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mission: Helping to improve the quality of English language teaching and learning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at all educational levels through consultation, research, and provision of continuous innovative professional development for English language professionals.

Article 3:

Association Goals:

1. Developing an academic insight in TESOL and working for its improvement and revitalization.
2. Establishing academic, research, and professional communication channels among English language teachers within the Kingdom and between them  and English language teachers and researchers outside the Kingdom.
3. Providing specialized academic consultations and training courses within the Association’s scope to governmental and private institutions.
4. Building links between the Association and regional and international TESOL organizations.

Article 4:

Association Activities:

1. Conducting research and studies in a range of TESOL domains.
2. Holding conferences and symposiums and organizing specialized courses on TESOL.
3. Issuing an ELT Journal and periodical newsletters covering various ELT topics related to the Saudi context.
4. Participating in local and international TESOL conferences and exhibitions.
5. Inviting eminent TESOL scholars and thinkers to participate in Association activities.  
6. Organizing academic trips for its members and holding academic competitions in its field of specialization.

Article 5:

Membership: Conditions and Procedures:

1.     Individual  Membership

Individual Members are required to:

a.      hold a university degree in TESOL or an equivalent qualification;

b.     pay the annual membership fees;

c.      meet any other conditions set by the Association Board of Directors;

d.     be accepted for membership by the Board of Directors.

2.     Student membership

Open for currently enrolled students in English Department at Public or Private Universities (proof of enrollment is needed). Students are entitled of 50% discount of the individual membership fees.

3.     Honorary Membership

Honorary membership is granted by a decision of the Association General Assembly to those who have contributed to the development of the Association’s areas of interest, or provided financial contributions. Honorary members are exempt from membership fees, and may attend General Assembly sessions and committees and participate in discussions.

4.     Institutional Membership

Institutional membership is open to Schools, English language centers, colleges and Universities both governmental and privates, national and international organizations involved in English language teaching. Institutional members may attend General Assembly sessions and committees and participate in discussions without having the right to vote.

Article 6:

Membership Termination:

1. Association Membership shall be terminated in the following cases:
2. Withdrawal or death of the member;
3. Non-payment of annual membership fees;
4. Failure to comply with one of membership conditions;
5. Any activity judged by the Board of Directors as being in any way detrimental to the Association.

Article 7:

Membership Reinstatement:

The Board of Directors can reinstate members whose membership has been terminated if the cause for the termination has since been rectified.

Article 8:

General Assembly of the Association:

The General Assembly consists of all active members and holds an ordinary meeting once a year at a time announced by the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Quorum for the meeting is a majority (more than 50%) of the members. If the quorum is not met, another meeting may be held after two weeks have elapsed, and this meeting will be considered valid regardless of whether quorum is met. It is also permissible to hold an extraordinary meeting upon request from the Board of Directors or from one-fifth of the members of the General Assembly.

Article 9:

General Assembly Terms of Reference:

1. The General Assembly strives to achieve the Association goals by performing the following tasks:
2. Issuing governing rules for the Association internal affairs.
3. Approving the Association Annual Budget and balance sheets.
4. Approving the Association Annual Report.
5. Selecting the members of the Board of Directors.
6. Approving the Association Annual Plan prepared by the Board of Directors.
7. Suggesting establishment of Association branches based on recommendation from the Board of Directors.
8. Appointing an external auditor for the Association and setting his entitlements.
9. Suggesting transfer of the Association headquarters to another university.
10. Suggesting dissolution of Association.

Article 10:

Honorary President of the Association:

Based on recommendation from the Association Board of Directors, the General Assembly may nominate an Honorary President from well-know figures  for their interest in the Association’s work for a single three-year term. He or she will preside over the Association meetings attended.

Article 11:

Association Resources and Budget :

First: The Association depends mainly on its own resources, which are as follows:

1. Annual membership fees;
2. Income from sales of publications, periodical newsletters, and services;
3. Income from courses and programs conducted by the Association;
4. Gifts, donations, and grants from universities, institutions, and individuals.

Second:  Association Budget and Balance Sheets:

1. The Association fiscal year starts and ends in accordance with the University's fiscal year.
2. The balance sheets are to be prepared in accordance with established professional financial procedures.

Article 12:

Board of Directors:

1. The Board of Directors will have not more than nine active members elected by a secret ballot of the General Assembly. At least one third of board members should be from the University that founded the Association.
2. Board membership will be for a one three-year term, and can be renewed for an additional term.
3. If a Board member fails to attend three consecutive Board meetings without acceptable reason, the member is considered as having resigned from the Board.
4. In case of a vacancy arising on the Board of Directors, a replacement member will be selected by the Board, subject to the General Assembly’s approval in the first meeting subsequent to the nomination.
5. The Board of Directors elects a member from the University that founded the Association to be the Association President by secret ballot. The position is for three years, renewable for an additional term. The Board also elects a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
6. The President will represent the Association in all its formal communications with official and non-official authorities in the Kingdom and internationally, and presides over the General Assembly.

Article 13:

Board of Directors Meetings

The Board of Directors holds a regular meeting every three months, and its meeting is not valid except with the approval of the majority of its members. It may hold extraordinary meetings whenever requested by more than half of its members or one-fifth of the members of the General Assembly or the chairman of the board of directors, and in this case the meeting is limited to discussing the issues for which the board convened. The decisions of the Board of Directors are issued by the majority of the votes of the attendees, and when the votes are equal, the vote of the Chairman of the Board is weighted

Article 14:

Board of Directors Terms of References:

1. Proposing the Association’s budget.
2. Preparing the General Assembly meetings’ agenda.
3. Proposing Association policies and procedures in-line with the Association goals outlined in these rules, to be presented to the General Assembly for approval. 
4. Proposing the Association Internal Rules and Regulations.
5. Forming committees and teams to conduct Association tasks and activities.
6. Preparing the Association Annual Report for the University Council, after the General Assembly’s approval.
7. Determining annual membership fees.
8. Commissioning research and studies.
9. Approving symposiums, seminars, and courses to be held, in accordance with universities regulations in this regard. 
10. Accepting contributions, grants, donations, awards and other forms of assistance.

Article 15:

General Provisions:

1. The Association reports on its activities to the President of KAU or his authorized representative.
2. The Association shall set its implementing rules that do not contradict with the articles of these Governing Rules, and they shall be approved by the KAU Council.
3. The meeting minutes of the General Assembly and the Board of Directors shall be approved by the President of KAU or his authorized representative.
4. In the event of disagreement between the President of KAU and the General Assembly or the Board of Directors, the issue shall be brought to the University Council, whose decision in that regard is final.
5. If the Association is dissolved, for any reason, its property reverts to KAU.
6. If the Association is transferred from KAU to another university, all its property and documents will be transferred to the new university.
7. The Saudi University Affairs Council has the right to interpret these Governing Rules.
8. These Governing Rules shall be effective from the date of approval.