Charter for the Iceland Academy of the Arts.
Article 1
The Iceland Academy of the Arts is a self-governing institution with a special administrative board. Its domicile and venue are in Reykjavík.
The self-governing institution’s starting capital is its own capital of 500,000 ISK as of September 21st, 1998.
Article 2
The Iceland Academy for the Arts is a university institution offering higher education relating to the various fields of art that satisfies demands made of instruction and research at a university level. In addition, the Iceland Academy of the Arts shall work towards the furthering of art education in this country and convey information regarding arts and culture to the public.
Article 3
The Academy board is composed of 5 members appointed for a three-year term, none of whom shall earn her/his livelihood working for the Academy nor be student at the Academy. The Minister of Education appoints two members of the board, and three are to be elected at the annual general meeting of the Society for the Support of the Iceland Academy of the Arts (Félag um Listaháskóla Íslands). The board elects a chair and vice-chair from among its members. The board’s working year begins April 1st.
Article 4
The Academy board shall keep watch over the function played by the Academy and ensure that its activities serve set objectives. The Academy board is responsible for operations, finances and assets and determines tuition rates. In addition, the board appoints the Rector.
Article 5
The Rector is appointed for a term of five years. The position shall be advertised for applicants when vacant. The incumbent Rector may be re-appointed once for a five-year term without the position being advertised for applicants as vacant. At the end of this term, the position must be advertised.
The Rector handles the Academy’s administration and operation on behalf of the Board, to which s/he is responsible. S/he is responsible for staff arrangements being in keeping with the Academy’s role, objectives and quality requirements regarding curriculum, organisation of instruction and so on. The Rector is responsible for the hiring of staff. The Rector shall appoint top management at the Academy in consultation with the Academy Board.
Article 6
The Academy’s activities shall be divided into departments by field of art. The Academy Board determines department divisions. The Academy Board sets operating procedures for the departments. The Academy Board sets rules for the Academy in accordance with Act no. 136/1997. The management of each department is assigned to the Dean. The position of Dean shall be advertised for applicants when vacant for up to three years at one time. The Rector appoints Deans in consultation with the Academy Board.
Article 7
A curriculum shall be set for each department within the Academy, stipulating objectives, content and main subject of the course of study. Deans are responsible for curriculum preparation, but it is the Rector who approves the curriculum. On the basis of the curriculum, a course catalogue shall be given out yearly, where the structure of study programmes, methods of instruction, course assessment and so on are to be outlined. The Rector is responsible for the preparation of the course catalogue. Stipulations regarding semester/term division, hours of instruction, examination periods, leave and other issues pertaining to study and course organisation shall furthermore be made in the course catalogue or other organisational plans of individual departments.
Article 8
The Academy Forum is a cooperative platform for Academy departments and institutions, and the Academy Board and Rector can refer any matter regarding the Academy’s work and development to the Forum for consideration. An Academy Forum meeting shall be held a minimum of once each academic year. The Rector calls Academy Forum meetings. The Academy Board sets further rules regarding the activities of the Academy Forum.
Article 9
A Grievance Committee makes final decisions in matters concerning discipline and the rights of students. Two Deans, two long-term Academy instructor representatives and two student representatives sit on the Grievance Committee, in addition to the Rector, who chairs the Committee. The Academy Board sets further regulation regarding nominations to the Grievance Committee and its activities in other respects.
Article 10
In every instance where a Dean or tertiary instructor is to be appointed to the Academy, the Rector shall, at the nomination of the Board, name a three-member selection committee for the purpose of evaluating the ability of applicants to act in the position of tertiary instructor or Dean. No one may be appointed as tertiary instructor or Dean unless s/he has been deemed qualified by the majority of the selection committee.
Article 11
The financial year for the Academy is the calendar year, and the Rector shall, within three months of the close of the financial year, submit the financial statement, as well as a report on Academy activities, to the Academy Board. The Rector shall, prior to May 1st of each year, submit the operating budget for the next financial year to the Academy Board to be passed.
Article 12
Should the Academy be shut down as a self-governing institution, a winding-down committee, comprised of one representative from every nominated party in the Academy administration, is to determine how this process will take place.
Article 13
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture guarantees financial support for the Academy, resting upon an agreement for those services the Academy provides. Furthermore, the Minister of Education, Science and Culture guarantees that a special agreement be made with the Academy regarding use of the premises at Laugarnesvegur 91, Reykjavík.
The Academy is permitted to enter into agreements regarding financial or other forms of support with whomever wishes to grant the Academy financial support or make use of its services. The Academy is responsible for its commitments.
Article 14
The Academy board shall, prior to the end of November of each year, hold an annual open meeting to present the finances and principal core operations of the Academy. The Board determines policy regarding the organisation of annual meetings.
Article 15
The Academy Board may make amendments to this charter with unanimous consent.
Amendments to this charter may only be approved in meetings of the Academy Board called following correct legal procedure where a proposal for amendment to the Academy Charter has been introduced at the time of the meeting’s announcement.
Passed at the inaugural meeting, Monday, September 21, 1998.
With amendments unanimously consented to at the Academy Board meetings of October 3, 2002 and November 25, 2003.