Constitution and Bylaws (revisions approved July 2007)
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the Virginia College Personnel Association.
Article II - Purpose
The purpose of this Association shall be:
* To provide leadership in student personnel work within the framework of the goals of higher education, and
* To provide the opportunity for men and women in college student personnel work to serve together productively to participate in the research, the thought, and the sharing of considered experience which are basic to a profession's growth and social utility.
Article III - Membership
Membership in this organization shall be by individuals and shall be open to all persons. There shall be three types of membership: Regular, Student and Honorary.
Regular - Any persons interested in the advancement and promotion of student personnel shall become a "regular member" of the Association upon payment of dues. All regular members are eligible to vote.
Student - Any individual enrolled as a full-time student may become a "student member." Student membership shall be offered at a reduced membership cost. All student members are eligible to vote and hold office.
Honorary - Persons may be nominated "honorary members" by action of the VCPA Executive Committee. Honorary members are not eligible to vote or hold office.
Article IV - Elected Officers
Section 1 - All members of the VCPA Executive Board must hold membership in the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and the Virginia College Personnel Association (VCPA).
Section 2 - The elected officers of this Association shall be: President, Past-President, President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Professional Development Chair, Membership Chair, Member at Large, Public, Member at Large, Private, Member at Large, Faculty
Section 3 - Each of the Executive Officers shall serve a two year term, except for the President-Elect, which is a three-year commitment encompassing the President and Past President offices.
Section 4 - The President-Elect shall automatically become President of this Association one year after commencement of the term of office as President-Elect or upon the resignation or death of the President. The President shall automatically assume the Past President role upon being replaced by the President-Elect.
Section 5 - If a vacancy occurs among the elected officers, other that the President, the President shall appoint, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, a person to complete the vacated term of office.
Article V - Duties of Executive Board
Section 1 – Elected Officers
President
- Attend ACPA annual national convention
- Attend ACPA annual Summer Leadership Institute
- Appoint members for vacant positions on the VCPA Executive Board and present to existing Executive Board for confirmation.
- Submit all ACPA required paperwork and reports
- Maintain contact with ACPA Coordinator for State Divisions
- Represent VCPA with other state, regional, and national organizations
- Maintain signature authority with Treasurer and approve all reimbursements
- Annually appoint necessary VCPA committees (i.e. audit) or taskforces
- Submit one article for each issue of the VCPA Voice newsletter
- Attend and participate in all VCPA Executive Board meetings
- Call for and preside at all VCPA Executive Board and General Membership meetings
Past President
- Administers VCPA election process.
- Act as advisor to VCPA Executive Board
- Submit one article for each issue of the VCPA Voice newsletter
- Chair the VCPA Job Search Bootcamp workshop
- Attend and participate in all VCPA Executive Board meetings
- Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees
President Elect
- Support all VCPA Presidential activities
- Administers VCPA Awards process
- Attend ACPA annual national convention
- Attend ACPA annual Summer Leadership Institute
- Record VCPA Executive Board meeting minutes when Secretary is not present
- Submit one article for each issue of the VCPA Voice newsletter
- Approve all VCPA President reimbursements
- Attend and participate in all VCPA Executive Board meetings
- In the absence of the President, perform the duties of the President
- Become familiar with the work of VCPA in preparation for the term as President
- Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees
Secretary
- Records and disseminates meeting minutes from VCPA Executive Board meetings
- Attend and participate in all VCPA Executive Board meetings
- Maintain historical archive of VCPA Executive Board and VCPA events
Treasurer
- Maintain all fiscal records for the organization
- Complete necessary fiscal reports for ACPA
- Provide monthly VCPA budget updates to VCPA Executive Board or as requested by the VCPA President or Executive Board
- Receive all organizational monies
- Submit payment for all organization bills
- Maintain and administer all reimbursement paperwork
- Attend and participate in all VCPA Executive Board meetings
Professional Development Chair
- Plan and implement annual VCPA spring drive-in workshop
- Research and disseminate information about professional development opportunities in the state, regional and nation
- Submit one article for each issue of the VCPA Voice newsletter
- Assist Past President with VCPA Job Search Bootcamp workshop
- Attend and participate in all VCPA Executive Board meetings
Membership Chair
- Maintain membership database and distribution list
- Send reminders to members with expiring memberships
- Coordinate membership drive events, one per semester
- Submit one article for each issue of the VCPA Voice newsletter
- Attend and participate in all VCPA Executive Board meetings
Member at Large, Public (2 or 4 year Institution)
- Represent the interest of public institutions in the Commonwealth, both 2 year and 4 year, on the VCPA Executive Board
- Strive to recruit new VCPA members from public institutions
- Submit 1 article for each issue of the VCPA Voice newsletter
- Assist with at least one of the VCPA large events (ie. Drive-In or Job Search Bootcamp)
Member at Large, Private
- Represent the interest of private institutions in the Commonwealth on the VCPA Executive Board
- Strive to recruit new VCPA members from private institutions
- Submit 1 article for each issue of the VCPA Voice newsletter
- Assist with at least one of the VCPA large events (ie. Drive-In or Job Search Bootcamp)
Member at Large, Faculty
- Represent the interest of faculty and higher education graduate programs in the Commonwealth on the VCPA Executive Board
- Strive to recruit new VCPA members from the faculty ranks
- Identify ways to connect VCPA to higher education graduate programs
- Submit 1 article for each issue of the VCPA Voice newsletter
- Assist with at least one of the VCPA large events (ie. Drive-In or Job Search Bootcamp)
Section 2 – Appointed Officers
Newsletter Chair (Appointed)
- Compile and edit five (5) VCPA Voice newsletters per year (2 Fall, 2 Spring, one Summer)
- Publicize VCPA Voice article submission timeline and publication dates
- Solicit articles from other VCPA members for VCPA Voice newsletter
- Oversee distribution of VCPA Voice newsletter to VCPA members and onto VCPA website
- Maintain archive of VCPA Voice newsletters and submitted annually to the Secretary to be archived
- Attend and participate in all VCPA Executive Board meetings
Technology Chair (Appointed)
- Maintain VCPA website
- Assist with the dissemination of electronic media for profession development (ie. webchats, newsletter, discussion boards, etc.)
- Submit one article for each issue of the VCPA Voice newsletter
- Create and maintain online registration for VCPA events though the VCPA website
- Provide the Executive Board with updates on the state of the website
- Identify areas where VCPA can utilize technology to best meet the needs of VCPA members and other student affairs professionals
- Create archive on the website for Executive Board minutes, VCPA Voice Newsletter, photos and other materials.
Article VI - Executive Committee
Section 1 - The Executive Committee shall be the President, Past-President, President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Professional Development Chair, Membership Chair, Member at Large: Public, Member at Large: Private, Member at Large: Faculty, Newsletter Chair, and Technology Chair
Section 2 - The Executive Committee shall conduct, manage, and control the business of this Association during the periods between the business meetings of this Association, subject to the By-Laws of ACPA and the By-Laws of this Association.
Section 3 - A meeting of the Executive Committee shall be called by the President, or at the request of a simple majority of the Executive Committee membership.
Article VII - Elections
The officers of this Association shall be elected at a business meeting of the Association or by mail or electronic ballot.
Article VIII - Committees
Section 1 - The Association shall have the following standing committees: Nominations & Elections and Awards.
Section 2 - The Nominations & Elections Committee shall consist of not more than three (3) persons and shall be chaired by the Immediate Past President. The Committee shall prepare a slate of at least two (2) candidates for the offices of President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Professional Development Chair, Membership Chair and the Member at Large positions. This committee shall conduct the elections under the direction of the President at a business meeting or by ballot. Provisions shall be made for soliciting nominations from the membership.
Section 3 - The Awards Committee shall be responsible for the promotion of VCPA awards on a semester basis. This committee is chaired by the President-Elect.
Article X - Fiscal Matters
Section 1 - The fiscal year of this Association shall be from January 1 to December 31.
Section 2 - Budget: Annual income and expense budgets shall be drafted by the Treasurer and submitted to the Executive Board for its formal approval at its first meeting of the fiscal year.
Section 3 - A committee of three (3) will be appointed by the President to conduct an annual audit.
Section 4 - The members of the Executive Board may approve the reimbursement of expenses for the President of the Association which incur as a result of traveling to professional meetings/conferences related to representing the Association on a state or national level.
Section 5 – Reimbursements for VCPA related expenditures must be approved by the President. All Presidential reimbursements must be approved by the President-Elect.
Article XI - Meetings
Section 1 - There shall be at least one General Membership business meeting annually at which the Association's business shall be conducted. The time and place of the meeting shall be determined by the Executive Board.
Section 2 - Notices of each meeting shall be sent to each member at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of such meeting.
Section 3 - The voting members present at any Association meeting at which written notice has been given shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Article XII - Dissolution of the Association
Disposal Upon Dissolution - Upon dissolution of the Association, none of its property shall be distributed to any of the members, and all of such property shall be transferred to such other organization or organizations as the Executive Committee shall determine to have purpose and activities most nearly constant with those of the Association, provided that such other organizations shall be exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding provisions of the Internal Revenue Laws.
Article XIII - Amendments
Section 1 - Amendments to the By-laws may be acted upon at a General Membership meeting of the Association. If presented in writing to all members of the Association at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the proposed change is to be considered, such an amendment may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the membership present. Any amendments to such proposed amendments NOT presented in writing to all members of the Association thirty (30) days in advance of the business meeting may be adopted by at least four-fifths of the members present.
Section 2 - If, in the judgment of the Executive Board, action upon a proposed amendment is desirable before the next business meeting, it may be taken through an electronic ballot following presentation of the amendment in writing to all members with all votes cast within the succeeding thirty (30) days. Such an amendment must be adopted by a two-thirds affirmative vote.
Section 3 - These By-laws and any amendments thereto become effective immediately upon adoption by vote of the membership, as specified in Article XIII, Sections 1 & 2, in accordance with the procedure established in these revised By-laws of VCPA.
Article XIV - Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order Revised (by Henry Martin Robert) shall govern the proceedings of the Association not otherwise specified by the By-laws.
