Policies

• AIA Strategic Vision 
  Adopted on October 18, 2025, the AIA Strategic Vision centers on three Grand Challenges—Excavate, Advocate, and Engage—to strengthen archaeological research, promote ethical practice and heritage preservation, and share global archaeology with the public. These efforts are grounded in a commitment to access, excellence, and fiscal responsibility, and are designed to support the field and advance the AIA’s mission worldwide.

• AIA Annual Report 
  The AIA Annual Report reviews the organization’s performance and effectiveness during the fiscal year (July-June) in pursuit of fulfilling the AIA’s mission.

• AIA Congressional Charter 
  The act of incorporation of the Archaeological Institute of America, approved by President Theodore Roosevelt on May 26, 1906. 

• Regulations of the Archaeological Institute of America 
  Adopted on December 29, 1991, last amended on January 6, 2024, the Regulations are the bylaws that detail the governance and operations of the Institute. 

• Code of Ethics* 
  Adopted on December 29, 1990, and last amended on December 29, 1997, and January 8, 2016. 

• Code of Professional Standards* 
  Adopted on December 29, 1994, and last amended on December 29, 1997, January 5, 2008, and January 8, 2016. The code applies to the AIA’s Professional members. 

• AIA Grievance Procedure 
  The Grievance Procedure details the resolution of violations of the Code of Professional Standards by AIA members. 

• RPA Code of Conduct 
  Adopted on January 9, 2026, with the interpretations outlined in the MOU between the AIA and RPA. This code applies to Professional and Student membership categories.

*It should be noted that neither the general Code of Ethics nor the Code of Professional Standards constitute “rules” that AIA members must follow. Rather, they are guidelines for ethical behavior and statements of responsibility to the archaeological record. 

• AIA Respectful Behavior at the Annual Meeting Policy 
  Adopted on April 27, 2018.

• AIA Statement on Sexual Harassment and Assault and Guidelines on Archaeological Field Projects 
  Adopted on January 3, 2019.

• AIA-SCS Joint Harassment Policy 
  Adopted on August 27, 2019.

• AIA-SCS Virtual Annual Meeting Conduct and Harassment Policy 
  Adopted on October 4, 2020.

• AIA Privacy Policy 
  The AIA Privacy Policy explains how we deal with your personal information responsibly and in accordance with the requirements of applicable data protection laws, including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

• Policy on Endorsements 
  Adopted on June 21, 2001.

• Conflict of Interest Statement for Members of Committees Awarding Fellowships, Grants, and Prizes 
  Adopted on January 4, 2018.

• AIA Endowment Policy 
  Adopted on May 1, 2021; updates approved on July 22, 2021.

• AJA Statement of Purpose 
  Adopted on May 1, 2021.

• AIA Guidelines on the Use of Images of Human Remains 
  Posted December 12, 2024.

• Resolution on the Importation of Antiquities 
  Resolution in support of the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property; adopted by the Council on December 30, 1970.

• Resolution on the Acquisition of Antiquities by Museums 
  Adopted on December 30, 1973.

• AIA Policy on the Presentation and Publication of Undocumented Antiquities 
  Adopted on January 4, 2020.  This policy supercedes the earlier Resolution on the Presentation of Undocumented Antiquities at the AIA Annual Meeting and the AJA Editorial Policy on the Publication of Recently Acquired Antiquities.

• Considerations Regarding the Tenure and Promotion of Classical Archaeologists Employed in Colleges and Universities, with Addendum, Guidelines for the Evaluation of Digital Technology and Scholarship in Archaeology 
  Original document from 2013 with the addendum added in 2018.
  Adopted on October 13, 2018.

• AIA Statement on the Value of Archaeology in the University and College Curriculum 
  Adopted on June 29, 2021.