Bylaws - College of Social Science Alumni Association

Revised November 3, 2007

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Michigan State University College of Social Science Alumni Association, hereafter referred to as the "Association". The Association operates under a charter granted by Michigan State University.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Association shall be to:

• Unite all alumni of the College of Social Science in promoting the mutual interests of the College and its alumni through personal, professional, and educational development;
• Provide an alumni advisory voice to the College faculty, administrators, and students on social science programs and activities;
• Encourage alumni participation and financial support to the College of Social Science; and
• Supports college communications efforts in its outreach to its alumni

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Membership

Payment of membership dues to the Michigan State University Alumni Association qualifies one for membership in the College of Social Science Alumni Association.

• Associate Membership

All former students of the College of Social Science and all active, participating friends are eligible for membership in the Association.

ARTICLE IV - BOARD

The Association shall be governed by a Board of Directors (hereafter referred to as the "Board").  The Board shall consist of eighteen (18) Directors. Candidates for Board of Director positions must be graduates of the College of Social Science and a current member of the MSUAA .

The Board of the Association shall consist of three elected officers and fifteen (15) elected Directors, who are alumni of departments or schools within the College of Social Science.

In addition, eligibility for membership will be extended to one undergraduate student and one graduate student each year. The students are to be determined by the Board, upon consultation with the Dean. These are one-year terms and non-voting positions. The members will be called Student Liaisons. The students must be from the College of Social Science. The goal is to foster increased communication between the Alumni Association and the student body.

The Board of Directors shall be vested with the management of the affairs of the Association, including responsibility for planning and financial management, and policy development. The Board shall conduct annual and special meetings of the membership.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

The Association shall hold an annual membership meeting in May and board members and officers shall be elected at the annual meeting. Three other board meetings will be held during the year and the dates determined at the annual meeting. 

ARTICLE VI - ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS

The elected officers shall be a President, President-elect, and a Secretary.

Term of Board Membership

The term for elected Board membership shall be three years following election at the annual meeting.

Term of Elected Officers

The term shall be one year following the annual meeting. Each elected officer will hold office for one year with an option for re-election for one additional year. The new officers will take office June 1.

Procedures for Elections

The eighteen members elected by the membership shall be elected to three-year terms.  The nominating committee shall suggest candidates and shall seek diversity of membership across the college’s programs. The President, President-Elect and Secretary shall be elected the by the Board.

Vacancies

Should the office of President become vacant, the President-elect will immediately assume the office. A replacement President-elect shall be elected by the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting to complete the vacant term.

Should a vacancy occur on the Board of one of the eighteen members, the position will be filled by appointment by the President for the remainder of the term, subject to the approval of the Board.

ARTICLE VII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

President

• Shall have served on the Board;
• Shall be chief executive officer of the Association and an ex-officio member of all standing and special committees;
• Shall act as Chair and preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board;
• Shall appoint, from the elected Board members, the chairs of the standing and special committees, with the exception of the Finance Committee;
• May appoint, subject to the approval of the Board, a member to fill the vacancy in any unexpired term of office or wait until the annual election to fill the vacancy;
• Shall work in cooperation with the Dean and College Liaison of the College of Social Science; and
• Shall assure the annual report be prepared and forwarded to the Association and the MSU Alumni Association.

President-Elect

• Shall, in the absence of the President, perform his/her duties;
• Shall perform such duties as are assigned by the President;
• Shall chair the Finance Committee and prepare a proposed budget for the new fiscal year to be approved at the annual meeting;
• Shall assume the responsibilities of the Board Presidency for one year, upon the completion of the President's term, or in the event of the President's resignation shall complete his/her term as is remaining; and
• Shall chair the nominating committee that will be responsible for drafting the ballot and reporting the results of the election.

Secretary

• Shall assure the recording, review and sign the minutes of all proceedings of the Association and the Board;
• Shall assure distribution of  minutes of meetings to Board members prior to the next meeting;
• Shall keep a permanent file of these records for the Dean, the President, and the College Liaison in the College Liaison’s office ;
• Shall maintain the Board roster; and
• Shall notify President of violation of attendance requirements.

College Liaison (appointed by the Dean)

• Shall be present at all Board meetings;
• Shall maintain Board files and records; and
• Shall act in an advisory capacity and serve as liaison between the Board and the Dean of the College.

ARTICLE VIII - REMOVAL

Any officer, or Board member may be removed from office by 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of all members of the Board whenever, in its judgment, the best interest of the College of Social Science Alumni Association would be served thereby.

Two unexcused absences from a scheduled Board meeting (including the Annual Meeting) during the July 1 – June 30 year shall constitute resignation from the Board.  An absence shall be considered unexcused unless the member missing a meeting obtains from the President, before or, in the case of an emergency, promptly after the missed meeting, a determination that the absence was "excused".

Three absences of any sort from a scheduled Board meeting (including the Annual Meeting) during the July 1 – June 30 year, shall constitute resignation from the Board.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

These By-laws may be amended by a 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of the board members. Proposed amendments to these By-laws shall be submitted in writing to the Board no fewer than 15 working days in advance of a scheduled Board meeting or any time prior to or during an annual meeting, verbally or in writing

A board member who cannot attend a regular meeting may vote in writing or electronically if received by the board president at least 3 day prior to the regular meeting at which the vote takes place.

ARTICLE X - QUORUM

Ten (10) directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.  A majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.

Electronic voting may take place if needed and initiated by the president upon consultation with the executive committee. Such voting must be documented at the next regular board meeting for inclusion in the minutes. Approval of any motion by electronic voting must be approved by at least 12 board members.

ARTICLE XI - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert's Rules of Order will be the Parliamentary guide for all questions not covered in these By-laws.

ARTICLE XII - ANNUAL REPORTS

The Board, through its president, shall assure an annual report be prepared by the College Liaison, and be signed and distributed to the Association and to the Michigan State University Alumni Association, including accomplishments of the previous year, future planning, and the Association's financial status.