Alumni Association

Constitution and Bylaws

Revised September 24, 1985
Amended June 11, 1988
Amended January 24, 1997
Amended September 15, 2000
Amended July 30, 2002
Amended February 27, 2003

Article I-Name

The name of this Association shall be the School of Education Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, hereinafter referred to as “The Association." The term “alumni” is intended to include all persons who have completed a degree and/or certification programs in the School of Education at Chapel Hill.

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Article II-Purpose

The Association is organized and exists for the mutual benefit of its members, to improve the practice of education and to promote the general welfare of the School of Education and at the educational resources of the people of the State of North Carolina as administered by or through the School of Education and to that end shall:

  1. Assist and cooperate with the Dean of the School of Education, the Trustees, the Chancellor, and other University officials in programs and projects, which may affect the interests, and excellence of the School of Education.
  2. Enlist support for the School of Education by individual and groups of alumni.
  3. Enhance friendships formed during their student years in the School of Education at Chapel Hill.
  4. Aid the School of Education in its promotion of educational services to its various constituencies.
  5. In cooperation with other interested groups, perform other functions, as the Association may deem appropriate to promote general welfare on the School of Education and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Article III- Membership

Section 1. Composition
The Association shall have Regular Members and Honorary Members.

  1. Regular Member. Any person who has been awarded a degree and/or certification by the UNC-CH School of Education.
  2. Ex-officio Member. The President of the Graduate Students Association and the Undergraduate Student Association.
  3. Honorary Member. Any person nominated by a member and approved by the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association.

Section 2. Voting Rights
Each Regular Member is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the members. Honorary Members shall not have voting rights with the exception of Past Presidents serving five terms as an Honorary Member.

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Article IV - Alumni Council

Section 1. Composition
There shall be an Alumni Council consisting of 21 members, including the 5 officers, members, and the Dean of the School of Education. Additionally, there will be 2 faculty representatives selected by the Dean to serve one-year terms. Any alumni may serve, as well those non-alumni who have a special and supportive interest in the School (including past or present faculty). Past Presidents will remain on the Council as voting Honorary Members for a maximum of five (5) terms. At the end of each Past Presidents' five terms, S/he must be nominated and approved through a majority vote of the Council for any additional membership terms. The Council, by simple majority, may increase the number of members to represent better the various constituencies of the Council.

Section 2. Election
The general membership will submit names to the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will submit a slate of recommended new representatives to the Council for approval. The slate will then be submitted to the Association for election. The first such election will take place in spring 2001.

Section 3. Term of Office
The term of office for the President, the President Elect, the Immediate Past President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer each shall be two years. The terms of office of the Council Members other than the officers shall be for 3 years and staggered so that one third of the members’ terms shall expire annually.

Section 4. Duties
The Council shall be the governing body of the Association. As such, it shall initiate, supervise, revise or revoke the constitution and bylaws, impose dues or membership fees, and may participate in the publication of an alumni magazine, journal, or newspaper.

Section 5. Meetings
Regular meetings of the Council shall be held with notice sent to each representative at least fourteen days before the date of the meeting. There will be a minimum of three meetings per year. A Council member who is absent from more than one Council meeting per year without prior notice will be asked to resign his/her seat on the Council. Special meetings may be called as needed. All Council members are expected to serve on at least one committee.

Section 6. Quorum
A majority of Council representatives (11) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

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Article V- Officers

Section 1. Composition
The officers of the Council shall consist of the President, President–elect, past President, Secretary and the Treasurer.

Section 2. Eligibility
All members of the Association including current/past faculty members are eligible to serve on the Council. Other individuals who have a special interest in the School of Education may also be nominated for service.

Section 3. Election
The officers shall be elected as provided in Article IV, Section 2.

Section 4. Term of Office
The term of the officers shall be two years, constituting no longer than a six-year cycle. The term of office shall begin on the first day of July.

Section 5. Duties

  1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and Council and serve on the Board of Directors of the General Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The President shall appoint all committee chairs within the Association and Council, as well as representatives of the Association to any other group. The President also shall perform other duties described in Roberts' Rules of Order and found in common parliamentary practice.
  2. The President-elect shall, in the temporary absence of the President, perform the duties of the President. In the absence of the President by death, resignation, or prolonged illness, the President-elect shall continue to serve as the acting President during that year. The President-elect shall participate in all meetings and deliberations of the Council and participate in the General Alumni Association meetings when called upon by the President. The President-elect shall chair the Nominating Committee.
  3. The past President shall chair the Awards Committee.
  4. The Secretary shall review minutes of the Association and Council meetings and with alumni relations staff prepare an annual calendar of events.
  5. The Treasurer shall chair the Finance Committee. The Treasurer in conjunction with the Committee will present the annual budget for approval to the Council and the Dean. The Treasurer will work with the alumni relation’s staff in preparing reports to the Council. The Treasurer shall perform other duties customarily performed by the treasurer.

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Article VI- Executive Committee

Section 1. Composition
The Executive Committee is composed of the five officers of the Council and the Dean of the School of Education.

  1. The Executive Committee shall be fully authorized to carry out all the activities of the Council and act on behalf of the Council in the interim between meetings of the Council. The Board shall report all actions to the Council and to the Association at its annual meeting.
  2. The Dean of the School of Education serves as the advisor to the Executive Committee and Council.

Section 2. Meetings
The Executive Committee will meet as needed.

Section 3. Quorum
A minimum of three officers shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee.

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Article VII- Committees

Section 1. Composition
There shall be seven standing committees of the Association, which are described below. The Council may appoint additional or temporary committees as deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the Association and shall prescribe their duties and membership. Each standing committee shall have a chair appointed annually by the president with the approval of the Board and at least four additional members appointed annually by the chair. The President shall be an ex officio member of all committees with the exception of the Nominating Committee.

  1. Advancement Committee. This committee shall cooperate with the Development Director and other staff of the School of Education to support the fundraising activities of the School of Education. The chair of this committee shall serve a two-year term.
  2. Awards Committee. This committee is chaired by a past President of the Council. The committee shall have nine members; two faculty members, five alumni representing as many facets of the School of Education Alumni Association as possible, and a representative appointed by the Dean and the Alumni Relations officer. The Dean will review the names of all award recipients prior to announcement.

    -- Criteria for Awards

    The Alumni Leadership Award will recognize an alumnus/a for exceptional service and commitment furthering the School’s mission.

    The Alumni Achievement Award will recognize exceptional achievement of an alumnus/a who personifies the School of Education's tradition of excellence and brings distinction to himself/herself and the School.

    The Outstanding Young Alumni Award will recognize a School of Education alumnus/a who has graduated within the last 10 years and has shown leadership and/or exceptional commitment to furthering the mission of the School of Education.

    The Excellence in Teaching Award will recognize a teacher whose creativity and knowledge of a discipline have been expressed through the development of an innovative and compleling curriculum.

    The Peabody Award will recognize an outstanding individual who has made a significant impact on the field of Education. Eligibility Recipients of the first three awards may be alumni or faculty. Recipients of the Peabody Award do not have to be faculty or graduates of the School of Education. No person shall be recommended for any of these awards while a candidate for public office.
  3. Carolina Connection Committee. This committee shall inform alumni about important events within the SOE and the educational community, as well as gather feedback from Carolina graduates on critical issues to the School and the educational community at large.
  4. Executive Committee. This committee shall consist of the officers of the Council and shall have and may exercise all powers of the Council between meetings of the Board.
  5. Finance Committee. This committee—with the Treasurer as chair and in consultation with the President—shall annually review the budget of the Association and report on it to the Council.
  6. Nominating Committee. The nominating committee will prepare a slate of officers annually for presentation to the membership. g) Program Committee. This committee will plan at least one alumni event a year.

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Article VIII-Resignations, Vacancies, And Removals

Section 1. Resignations
Any officer may resign by filing with the President and with the Secretary a written resignation addressed to the Council. It shall be effective upon acceptance by the Council. Any committee chair may resign by letter to the President and any committee member may resign by letter to the committee chair. Such letters of resignation shall be effective upon receipt.

Section 2. Vacancies
Vacancies, other than the Presidency, occurring among officers or Council members shall be filled by appointment of the President in consultation with the Nominating Committee and with the approval of the Council with the approval of the Council for the remainder of the term. Upon the vacancy of the Presidency, the President-elect shall preside for the remainder of the term.

Section 3. Removal
Any officer or member of the Council may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Council. Any other person appointed to a committee (except the Executive Committee) may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the person or body authorized by these bylaws to make such appointments.

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Article IX- Annual Meetings

Section 1. Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Association shall be held in Chapel Hill, NC, at such time and place, as the Council shall determine. If for any reason an annual meeting is not duly called or held a special meeting may be held, and any business transacted or elections held at such meeting shall have the same effect as if transacted at the annual meeting.

Section 2. Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the President, by the President-elect, or by any other officer or by a majority of the Council.

Section 3. Notice
A notice of every meeting of the Association, stating the time and place of the meeting and the agenda, shall be communicated to the membership at least fourteen days before the date of such meeting. In any year in which a valid nomination petition for one or more positions has been filed, there shall be mailed.

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Article XII- Amendments

These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by two-thirds vote of the Council.

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Article XIII- Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of July and end on June 30 of the following year, coinciding with that of the university.

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Article XIV- Effective Date

The bylaws shall become effective upon adoption by the Council.

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