GRAJU Provisional Bylaws

Provisional By-Laws

Global Research Alliance of Jesuit Universities (GRAJU)

Approved by the Executive Committee of GRAJU on February 27, 2026

I. Mission Statement

Formally established on August 4, 2025, the Global Research Alliance of Jesuit Universities (GRAJU) is an international consortium dedicated to the advancement of robust and sustainable research collaborations among Jesuit institutions of higher education globally. Grounded in the Jesuit tradition and commitment of integral formation of the person, academic excellence, social justice, sustainable development, and global engagement, the GRAJU shall facilitate a research network designed to catalyze interdisciplinary innovation and advance mission-driven inquiry.

II. Governance and Organizational Structure

  1. Nature of the GRAJU: GRAJU remains a voluntary association of independent Jesuit institutions, predicated upon mutual commitment and the shared mission of its constituent members.
  2. Interim Governance: For the initial interim period (March, 2026–June, 2027), the GRAJU shall operate under a flexible, voluntary governance framework overseen by an Executive Committee (EC).
  3. Founding Membership: The EC shall be comprised of representatives from the seven founding member institutions and two non-funding members:
    • Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines)
    • Fordham University (USA)
    • Georgetown University (USA)
    • ITESO (Mexico)
    • Sogang University (South Korea)
    • University of Deusto (Spain)
    • University of Namur (Belgium)

III. Functions of the Executive Committee

The EC is vested with the following core responsibilities to ensure operational continuity and long-term viability:

  1. Strategic Direction: Formulating the legal and administrative framework for the GRAJU, including the drafting of Bylaws and the establishment of permanent leadership structure.
  1. Membership and Recruitment: Spearheading global outreach and overseeing the vetting and approval of applications for new member institutions. The principal criterion for GRAJUS membership is that an institution qualifies as a Jesuit university. Each individual member represents their institution’s membership.
  2. Symposium Oversight: Soliciting and reviewing institutional proposals for the Annual Symposium and selecting host sites. The EC shall provide advisory support to the host institution to ensure adherence to GRAJU standards.
  3. Digital Infrastructure: Managing the official GRAJU digital presence and website (currently hosted by Fordham University).
  4. Partnership Brokerage: Identifying and facilitating cross-institutional research opportunities to maximize the scholarly impact of the membership.
  5. Meetings: The EC shall convene virtually as required, with frequency determined by the exigencies of current projects and administrative timelines.
  6. Decision-Making. The EC shall endeavor to reach all decisions via consensus. In the event that consensus cannot be achieved and a formal resolution is required, matters shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the EC. For the strategic matters and important decisions, the EC will facilitate communication and participation across all members and call for a majority vote of the general membership via electronic communication.
  7. Shared Governance: The EC shall communicate its key plans, recommendations, and decisions to all GRAJU members to ensure transparency, invite and incorporate feedback,  promote broad global representation, and uphold the principles of shared governance.

IV. Leadership

  1. Interim Chair: The EC shall elect an Interim Chair to serve as the primary administrative officer.
  2. Selection of the Interim Chair: Candidates for the position must be current members of the Executive Committee and may be seated through either third-party nomination or self-nomination by a member of the Committee.
  3. Mandate of the Chair: The Interim Chair is authorized to:
    • Convene meetings and propose agenda items for deliberation or vote.
    • Process membership applications for EC’s review and vote.
    • Liaise with external stakeholders as the official representative of the GRAJU.
    • Oversee the maintenance of the GRAJU’s website.
  4. Term of Office: The Interim Chair shall serve until the conclusion of the interim term in June 2027, at which time formal elections for a President of the GRAJU shall be conducted according to the procedures to be specified in the bylaws.

V. Financial Provisions

  1. Fiscal Autonomy: At present, the GRAJU does not maintain a centralized treasury or collective institutional funding.
  2. Institutional Responsibility: Each member institution shall be solely responsible for the costs associated with its participation in the Annual Symposium, committee meetings, and related collaborative activities.
  3. Membership Dues: GRAJU will not charge membership dues until at least June 2027. After that the EC or governance body will determine the appropriate policy.

VI. Relationship with the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU)

  1. Affiliation: To provide a foundation for future growth, GRAJU will seek to establish a formal professional and academic relationship with the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU), potentially through a MOU, while maintaining GRAJU’s status as an independent organization.
  2. Strategic Alignment: GRAJU will explore establishing a formal relationship and affiliation with IAJU’s professional association status in the near future. Such a relationship would strengthen GRAJU’s collaborative capacity and enhance its standing within the global Jesuit higher education network.