Article Ⅰ In order to meet the needs of the development of degree and postgraduate education in China in the 21st century, to better play the role of graduate schools in cultivating high-level talents and carrying out high-level scientific research, and to drive the development of degree and postgraduate education in China and improve the quality of postgraduate training, it is decided to establish the Joint Association of Deans of Graduate Schools (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Association), with the English name of Association of Chinese Graduate Schools (ACGS).

Article Ⅱ The Joint Committee receives the guidance from the Ministry of Education and the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, and its main task is to discuss the development plan and major reform programs of China's degree and graduate education, study and explore the new ideas and methods to strengthen the construction of graduate schools, improve the innovation ability of graduate students, improve the overall quality of graduate students, reform the degree and graduate education system, and make the graduate education continuously adapt to the needs of China's economic development and social progress. New ideas and methods will be provided for national decision-making, so as to facilitate the Ministry of Education and the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council to study and explore the way to run a good graduate school with Chinese characteristics, continuously improve the quality and efficiency of China's graduate education, enhance the level of graduate training and international reputation, and make China's degree and graduate education more perfect.

Article Ⅲ The main work of the Joint Committee includes

 (1) Conducting research on the development planning and major issues of degree and postgraduate education, putting forward proposals for reform and development, and providing advice for national decision-making

 (2) Promoting the development and improvement of the system of graduate schools in China

 (3) To conduct exchanges, discussions and coordination among member institutions on issues related to degree and postgraduate education under the guidance of national policies

 (4) To carry out international exchanges of graduate schools and degree and postgraduate education

 (5) Accepting the evaluation work entrusted by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and relevant departments of the Ministry of Education.

Article Ⅳ Membership of the Joint Council

　　The members of the Association are composed of full members and reserve members.

 (1) Full Members

　　The official members of the Council are the deans or executive vice presidents of the graduate schools. If there is a change in the leadership of the Graduate School, the members of the Joint Committee will be automatically replaced by the new dean or executive vice dean.

 (2) Preparatory Members

　　The reserve members of the Joint Committee shall be composed of the deans or executive vice deans of the pilot graduate schools. In the event of the change of the leadership of the pilot graduate school, the members of the joint committee of the school will be automatically replaced by the new dean or executive vice dean.

Article Ⅴ The Joint Committee has four chairmen elected by the meeting for a term of four years; the secretariat is attached to the Graduate School of Peking University, and the secretary-general is the dean or executive vice dean of the Graduate School of Peking University.

Article Ⅵ The main duties of the Secretariat of the Joint Committee are

 (a) To carry out the tasks assigned by the Joint Committee and its Chairman.

 (b) to communicate between the members of the Joint Committee.

 (c) to assist the Chairman in preparing the annual meeting of the Joint Committee.

 (d) to assist the Chairman in summarizing the annual work of the Joint Committee

 (e) to provide various forms of information exchange services

 (f) to the Joint Committee to provide the annual report on the work of the Secretariat and financial reports.

Article Ⅶ The Joint Committee will hold an annual meeting, or other meetings as needed. Each meeting should have a special topic. Meeting topics, on the basis of extensive consultation with the deans of the member units, the President of the unit deans meeting to determine.

Article VIII of the admission of new members by the joint meeting of all full members to consider and vote, more than two-thirds agree to pass.

Article IX of the activities of the Federation mainly includes membership fees, sponsorship or donations accepted by the members. The funds shall be administered by the financial department of the unit where the secretariat is located. The amount of membership fees for the following year shall be determined at the annual meeting.

Article Ⅹ These regulations shall be jointly observed and implemented by all member units. In case of any modification, it shall be valid only with the consent of two-thirds or more of all members.

October 26, 2002  

(Adopted at the 2002 Annual Meeting)