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AAUP Chapter
CONSTITUTION of the TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY and TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER CHAPTER of the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS As proposed for Amendment by the Chapter, November 20, 2009
Article I. Name: 1. The name of this organization shall be the “Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Chapter of the American Association of University Professors” or “TTU-AAUP”. Article II. Purpose: 1. The primary objective of the Chapter shall be the furtherance of the Association's purpose: to develop and strengthen the professional concept of teaching and research; to promote the interests of higher education; and in general to increase the usefulness and advance the standards and ideals of the profession. 2. The principal functions of the Chapter are: (a) to consider questions of general interest to college and university teachers; (b) to consider current local questions of educational method or policy or of professional obligation and privilege; (c) to serve as a nucleus of faculty members for the purpose of initiating \ faculty action on specific matters; (d) to take action upon specific matters of Association business submitted to the Chapter by the councilor the officers of the national organization; (e) to cooperate with the officers of the national organization in dealing with professional problems in order that the Association may be as representative of the profession as possible. Article III. Limitations and Privileges: 1. The Chapter shall make only such recommendations to administrative officers of the institution as are harmonious with the policies of the national American Association of University Professors. In local matters which would ordinarily come before the faculties for action, members of the Chapter should in general act as members of faculties rather than in the name of the Chapter; but the Chapter as such may make recommendations to appropriate faculty committees. Article IV. Membership: 1. Only Active Members, Graduate Student Members, and Retired Members of AAUP in Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center shall be eligible for membership in the Chapter. 2. Graduate student members shall have the right of attendance at all Chapter meetings without the right to vote or hold office. Associate members may attend meetings by invitation of the Chapter. 3. The classes of membership named above are defined by the Constitution of the National Association (http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/about/bus/constitution.htm). Article V. Election of Members: 1. All persons eligible for membership in the Chapter shall become members upon the payment of dues hereinafter specified. Article VI. Officers: 1. The officers of the Chapter shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the Chapter may determine. 2. The President of the Chapter shall take charge of all meetings of the Chapter and shall assist in the coordination of the work of all officers and such committees as the President may appoint to carry on the various functions of the Chapter. 3. The Vice-President shall act in the absence of the President and shall assist the President in the regular work of the Chapter. 4. The Secretary shall record the business and activities of the meetings of the Chapter, shall attend to all correspondence to members regarding meetings and committee recommendations, and shall report to the General Secretary of the Association the names of the officers of the Chapter. 5. The Treasurer shall collect chapter dues, shall keep an accurate account of the financial status of the Chapter, and shall present a financial report at the April and October meetings. Article VII. Election of Officers: 1. The officers of the Chapter shall be elected annually from the active membership at an April meeting. 2. The term of all elective officers shall be one year. Officers shall assume office at the beginning of the following Fall term. 3. (a) Nominations of candidates for Chapter offices shall be made in one of the following manners: (1) by a petition signed by at least five (5) chapter members including the nominee and presented to the President of the Chapter by March 10. (2) by nominations from the floor at the meeting prior to the meeting at which elections are held. (3) by a Nominating Committee, appointed to canvas the Membership and propose nominations before the General Meeting. (b) To facilitate the process, the President shall appoint a three-member nominating committee. (c) The Secretary shall circulate an alphabetized list of nominees to the membership immediately following the meeting at which floor nominations are in order. 4. If for any reason a vacancy of office shall occur, it shall be filled at the next meeting by the floor method describe above. 5. Officers may not ordinarily be re-elected for a fourth consecutive term in the same office. 6. Election to office requires a majority vote of the members responding to a call for said vote. 7. A secret ballot is required for elections of officers. Article VIII. Amendments: 1. This constitution may be amended only by a two-thirds or greater majority vote of the members attending the meeting subsequent to the circulation of a proposal in writing to the full membership.
BY-LAWS Article I. Dues: 1. The annual dues shall be determined by the executive committee prior to the first meeting of each year. 2. The Chapter may exclude from Chapter meetings a member who has failed, after suitable notice, to pay lawfully established Chapter dues. 3. Dues are payable at the first meeting of the school year. Article II. Non-member Participation: 1. The Chapter may invite to its meetings any persons who are not eligible for membership, such as administrative officers, or those whose work cannot be classified as teaching or research, or members of the Association who are not members of the Chapter. Article III. Meetings: 1. The Chapter shall hold at least three regularly scheduled meetings during the academic year, one during the first four full weeks of classes at the beginning of each semester, and one during the last four full weeks of classes at the end of the spring semester. Additional meetings shall be held when deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. 2. If members desire additional meetings, they may petition and require the Secretary to call such a meeting. The petition must be signed by at least ten percent of the full membership. Upon presentation and validation of such a petition, the Secretary must call a meeting within thirty days. 3. The Secretary shall give advance written notice of all meetings to the full membership. 4. No regular meetings shall be held during the months of June, July, or August. 5. Delete <The Executive Committee may act for the chapter during the summer months.> Replace with <At such times as the Executive Committee is presented with a situation which requires immediate action, the afore-said committee will make every effort to inform all members of the Texas Tech AAUP Chapter and ask for approval--in a timely matter--of any proposed actions.> 6. The quorum for all meetings of the chapter shall be ten (10) local Chapter members or fifteen percent (15%) of the local Chapter membership. The Secretary of the Chapter shall determine that a quorum is present before any business is transacted. Article IV. Committees: 1. The Executive Committee shall be made up of the President, who shall be chairperson, the Vice-President, the past President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and other members of the Chapter who hold positions in the Association's National Organization or in the Texas Conference. 2. A parliamentarian and such committees as deemed necessary may be appointed by the President, or as directed by the Chapter for the satisfactory operation of the organization. Article V. Amendments: 1. Amendments to the By-Laws shall follow the same procedure as for the amendments to the Constitution, except that in the case of a by-law, a simple majority is sufficient to amend.
Amended October 30, 2009 |