Advocacy & Solidarity

The American Studies Association advocates for our members and American Studies and related fields in a variety of ways, in accordance with the association’s bylaws and policies.

Resolutions and statements have been issued by the American Studies Association for more than two decades.

While resolutions and statements may be read separately, taken altogether they convey the association’s sustained commitment to the critical importance of dissent. The intensive debates attending the association’s 2013 consideration and ultimate endorsement of a boycott of Israeli academic institutions exemplifies the ASA’s commitment to fostering intellectual freedom through rigorous and open critical consideration among its members, as well as our attention to the entangled pasts and futures of the United States in the world. 

ASA Policy on Resolutions, Statements, Letters of Support and Solidarity

Approved by the ASA National Council, 27 June 2025

The American Studies Association is a learned society that fosters critical analysis of power relations and that embraces the role of dissent when we see our discipline and related sub-disciplines, our members, and our profession imperiled. When the association speaks it does so as a collective to marshal our expertise as scholars and students of American Studies both within the academy and without, within the United Sates and beyond. The ASA makes statements on behalf of our collective membership about issues, practices, and policies with broad importance/implications.

We approach this work in good faith and assume that when conflicts and disagreements emerge that we commit to dialogue and collaboration along the lines of transformative justice frameworks.

This policy is intended to clarify the types of resolutions, statements, and letters of solidarity the American Studies Association makes, and to illustrate the workflow for our democratic decision making.

1. Requests for resolutions, statements, and letters should be sent to the Executive Director (ED) of the American Studies Association. 
2. The ED shall consult with the current ASA President, President-Elect, and Past-President to determine the appropriate workflow for a request. Requests will either be sent to the Executive Committee or to the Committee on Academic Freedom and Solidarity (CAFS).
   • The Executive Committee shall consider requests for resolutions and statements related to matters concerning the discipline of American Studies and the profession.
   • The Committee on Academic Freedom and Solidarity (CAFS) shall consider letters of solidarity and support concerning specific cases or institutions. The CAFS will conduct research into the matter at hand and advise the Executive Committee on how it should respond. The CAFS will draft an advisory letter for the EC to endorse, if they so choose.
     • Membership to CAFS will be appointed by the Executive Committee and should come primarily from leadership and members of ASA committees.CAFS’ determination to support a cause will be advisory, and shall be guided by an understanding of the strategic utility of an ASA statement to the collective good of the association.
     • Matters placed in front of the Executive Committee require at least two weeks for a response. Matters placed in front of CAFS might move quicker, although ASA infrastructure doesn’t always allow for a rapid response.
3. Members, Caucuses, Committees, and Chapters may request resolutions, statements, and letters of solidarity by writing to the Executive Director. The request should include:
   • A clear statement about what is being requested of the ASA
   • A paragraph-long (or more) statement explaining the strategic utility of having the ASA take a specific action. Why should the ASA act? How does having the ASA act help reach a particular outcome?
   • A description of what local/community organizing may already be taking place, as well as statement of how an ASA statement will support community organizing.
4. The Executive Committee and/or CAFS may request to meet with the authors of a request for action, during which time they may choose to request more information, they may choose to consult with the National Council, or they may choose to consult with the entire membership.
5. CAFS or the Executive Committee may choose not to act on a request, especially if said request might jeopardize any aspect of the Association’s ability to function, or when a request doesn’t speak to the collective good.
6. In cases where a request for support is declined, the Executive Committee will explain its reasoning directly to the individual or group who has requested the support.

Browse Resolutions & Statements