Section A: Name and Purpose

1. Name
   1. The name of this body is the Digital Medievalist Postgraduate Committee (“DMPGC”).
2. Purpose
   1. The DMPGC:
      1. Organizes and participates in scholarly research events (e.g. conference panels and workshops).
      2. Engages in public and professional outreach (e.g. podcasts, social media).
      3. Acts autonomously but in dialogue with the Digital Medievalist Executive Board (“DMEB”), to focus on postgraduate and early‑career colleagues in digital medieval studies.

Section B: Membership

1. Composition
   1. The DMPGC shall have no fewer than five (5) active members and shall never exceed the size of the DMEB.
2. Eligibility
   1. To be eligible for membership, individuals must:
      1. Hold current membership of Digital Medievalist.
      2. Be enrolled in, have completed within the last five years, or intend to begin within the next two years, a (post‑)graduate degree in medieval studies, digital humanities, or a related field (including professional programs such as library/information science).
      3. Not be a current or past member of the DMEB.
   2. The committee shall not exclude any individual who:
      1. Has followed a non-traditional career path.
      2. Has taken career breaks. Time limits may be altered on a case-by-case basis if members have taken a career break, either for personal or professional reasons.
      3. Is an independent scholar.
3. Term Limits
   1. Members serve for a minimum of one year.
   2. If a member ceases to be eligible for membership of the DMPGC (as described in B.2.a) during their first year of membership, their term will end after the minimum period of a year.
   3. After the minimum period, members’ terms end when either:
      1. They have held the post for a period of five years in total, excluding any period of suspension (as described in B.4.a).
      2. They cease to be eligible for membership of the DMPGC (as described in B.2.a).
4. Suspension and Resignation
   1. Suspension. A member may voluntarily suspend their term for any period exceeding two months by notifying the Committee. Members missing two consecutive meetings without notice are presumed to have suspended indefinitely. Return to active status is automatic upon attending a meeting, provided eligibility remains.
   2. Resignation. Members may resign at any time with at least two months’ notice and are encouraged to assist in recruiting replacement.

Section C: Officers and Roles

1. Structure
   1. The DMPGC operates on a flat structure. There is no formal hierarchy, and organising roles are held on a rolling basis.
   2. Members are expected to volunteer for organising roles and management of projects as much or as little as they are able at any given time, on the understanding that the (post-)graduate experience is one punctuated by periods of intense work alongside quieter periods.
2. Rolling Chair
   1. Each monthly meeting is chaired by a Rolling Chair, selected by agreement in the previous meeting.
   2. No member may serve as Rolling Chair for more than six months per calendar year, or for three consecutive months.
   3. The Rolling Chair is responsible for setting the agenda, facilitating discussion, and recording decisions.
3. DMEB Liaison
   1. At least one DMPGC member shall attend each DMEB meeting to provide a report on the DMPGC’s activities, and gather information on the DMEB’s activities to be shared at the next DMPGC meeting.
   2. The Liaison is selected by agreement in the DMPGC meeting preceding the DMEB meeting.
   3. Attendance rotates monthly; no member may serve as liaison in three consecutive months.
   4. If no member can attend, a Liaison will still be selected, obtain meeting notes from the DMEB and share them at the next DMPGC meeting.
   5. There is a standing invitation for any members of the DMEB holding the position of ‘Postgraduate Committee Liaison’ to attend DMPGC meetings, who are also included in all communications regarding the meetings.

Section D: Meetings

1. Frequency and Notice
   1. The DMPGC meets at least quarterly, and typically monthly, via the most suitable medium, usually video call.
   2. The Rolling Chair shall determine a time for the meeting and issue a draft agenda at least one week in advance.
2. Minutes
   1. The Rolling Chair shall appoint a Minute‑Taker for each meeting.

Draft minutes and action points are stored in a file accessible to all members, and circulated by the Rolling Chair within one week.

Section E: Appointments and Vacancies

1. Filling Vacancies
   1. When a seat within the DMPGC becomes vacant or active membership falls below five due to a suspension, the Committee opens a call for applications via DM’s mailing list and social channels, in addition to other methods of recruitment including co-opting.
   2. Interested parties should submit a brief statement to digital-medievalist-pgc@googlegroups.com expressing their interest in joining the committee and, if relevant, their previous experience with digital medieval studies.
2. Appointment Process
   1. The current members appoint new members to the DMPGC on a rolling, first‑come-first-served basis, providing that an applicant meets the criteria for eligibility outlined in Section B.2.
   2. Applicants are notified, usually by email, of the outcome of their application within two months.
   3. New members will be announced publicly through DM’s mailing list.
   4. If the maximum number of members has been reached, eligible applicants are placed on a waiting list in order of application, and remain on the waiting list until:
      1. A place becomes available on the DMPGC;
      2. They are no longer eligible for membership;
      3. Written notice is given of an intention to withdraw their application.

Effective Date: These bylaws were adopted by the Digital Medievalist Postgraduate Committee on October 27, 2025.