CONSTITUTION

Amended and adopted April 2010

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE

TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY

STUDENT PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATORS

(TACUSPA)

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators. Further references to this organization in this Constitution shall be made by the abbreviation TACUSPA.

 ARTICLE II - MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE

Section 1. Mission Statement

TACUSPA, a premier state association, is dedicated to the development, support and promotion of the student affair profession in the State of Texas.

Section 2. The purpose of TACUSPA shall be:

A.     To promote discussion and research regarding the most effective methods of aiding students in their intellectual, social, moral and personal development;

B.     To provide leadership and support for all professionals engaged in the administration of student personnel programs;  

C.    To maintain and improve professional standards in the field of student personnel administration in the State of Texas;  

D.    To serve as a central clearing agency for information pertinent to student personnel programs in Texas;  

E.     To encourage and support best practice programming and original research in the student personnel field;  

F.     To promote and enhance the role that student personnel administrators play in higher education.  

Section 3. TACUSPA is organized exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 Section 4. No part of the net earnings of TACUSPA shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that TACUSPA shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II, Section 2 of this Constitution. No substantial part of the activities of TACUSPA shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and TACUSPA shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, TACUSPA shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by: (a) an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a corresponding section(s) of any future federal tax code or (b) an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code or a corresponding section(s) of any future tax code.

 ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Professional Membership

 Membership shall be open to all student personnel administrators, to those persons employed within the area of

student affairs, to educators who train student personnel workers, and others interested in student development.

Professional members are entitled to the following rights and privileges: 

A.     Nominating and voting privileges; 

B.     Participation in meetings and conferences; 

C.    Use of placement services; 

D.    Subscription to all TACUSPA publications and all regular communications; 

E.     Membership on committees and commissions; 

F.     Research grant opportunities; and 

G.    Holding elected office in TACUSPA. 

Section 2. Student Membership 

Membership shall be open to all matriculated students (undergraduate or graduate) who are interested in student personnel work upon the recommendation of a professional member. Student members are entitled to the following rights and privileges: 

A.     Nominating and voting privileges; 

B.     Participation in meetings and conferences; 

C.    Use of placement services; 

D.    Subscription to all TACUSPA publications and all regular communications; 

E.     Membership on committees and commissions; and 

F.     Research grant opportunities. 

Section 3. Institutional Membership 

Institutional membership options are available as designated in the by-laws.

Institutional membership includes:

A.     Listing of all TACUSPA members will be available in the directory; 

B.     Opportunity to apply for funding and co-sponsorship with TACUSPA for regional conferences, drive-in workshops, seminars, and the like; and 

C.    Annual information from the Graduate Education and Research Commission on graduate education opportunities within the state. 

ARTICLE IV - DUES

 The annual dues shall be determined by simple majority vote of the TACUSPA membership.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

 Section 1. The officers shall be the President, President-Elect, Past President, Vice President for Administration, Vice President for Marketing & Membership, Vice President for Education and Professional Development, Treasurer, Director of Technology, and Secretary. All of the officers shall be elected by the voting membership in the manner described in the By-Laws.  

Section 2. All officers shall be professional members in good standing with TACUSPA and shall be employed by an academic institution in the State of Texas during the term of their office. Those officers who are no longer employed by an academic institution in the State of Texas may be allowed to complete their elected term or removed by a ¾ vote by the Board of Directors (See Article V, Sec. 4). 

Section 3. Responsibilities and Terms of Office  

A.     President - Serves a one-year term of office and shall be the chief executive officer of TACUSPA, and it’s Board of Directors.

B.     President-Elect - The President-Elect serves a one-year term of office and handles specific administrative projects for TACUSPA.

C.    Past President - The Past President shall serve a one-year term of office.  

D.    Vice President for Administration – The Vice President for Administration serves a two-year term in office.  

E.     Vice President for Marketing & Membership – The Vice President for Marketing & Membership serves a two-year term in office.

F.     Vice President for Education and Professional Development – The Vice President for Education and Professional Development serves a two-year term in office.

G.    Treasurer - The Treasurer serves a three-year term in office.  

H.    Director of Technology – The Director of Technology serves a two-year term in office.  

I.      Secretary - The Secretary serves a three-year term in office.  

J.     An officer may not succeed one's self after two (2) consecutive terms.  

K.     All officers, with the exception of the President (see Section A above), shall perform such additional duties as directed by the President or the Board of Directors. A full description of officer duties can be found in the TACUSPA by-laws.

L.     All officers shall assume their offices at the end of the Annual Business Meeting.  

Section 4. Removal 

Any elected officer of the organization may be removed from office for just cause. 

A.     Grounds for removal include:

1.     violation of TACUSPA policies or procedures;

2.     failure to perform the duties of the office as set forth in the Constitution, By-laws and policies

of TACUSPA;

3.     gross impropriety in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the office; and

4.     inability to properly carry out the duties and responsibilities of the office. 

B.     A motion to remove an elected officer shall be presented in writing to the Board of Directors by a current Board of Directors member or by a petition signed by 10% of TACUSPA’s active membership. The letter or petition shall be given to the President unless the President is the subject of the removal action in which case the letter or petition should be given to the Past President. 

C.    Upon receipt of the above motion and ensuring that these are grounds for removal, the Board of Directors shall conduct appropriate hearings if needed or deliberations to consider removing the officer from the office. 

D.    The officer shall be removed by an affirmative vote of ¾ of the Board of Directors if action was initiated by a member of the Board of Directors or a ¾ vote of the membership if action was initiated by the membership. In the latter case, a vote would be conducted in accordance with the procedures contained in Article II of the By-laws.

Section 5. Vacancies 

Vacancies may occur for any of the following reasons: officer resignation, removal (see Article V, Section 4), death, or moving to work outside of the State of Texas. 

A.     In the event the President vacates his/her office, the President-Elect shall serve for the unexpired term of the President. 

B.     Should the President vacate his/her office and the President-Elect be unable to fill the unexpired term of the President, the Vice President for Administration shall fill the unexpired term of the President. 

C.    Should the Vice President for Administration, Vice President for Membership & Marketing, Vice President for Education and Professional Development, Treasurer, Secretary, or the Director of Technology vacate his/her office, the President shall appoint a professional member to fill the vacant position for the remainder of the term. 

D.    Should the Past President vacate his/her office, the President shall appoint a professional member from among Past Presidents to fill this position for the remainder of the term. 

Section 6. Board of Directors 

The Board of Directors shall be composed of all elected and appointed leadership positions. This group shall meet as determined by the President and conduct the business of TACUSPA between annual conferences and shall have the authority to establish and amend By-Laws, administer policy and procedures, and enter into contracts for various services and activities. Only elected officers may vote on TACUSPA business items. 

Section 7. Appointed Leadership Positions 

Individuals holding appointed leadership positions (e.g. Conference, Commission, Committee, and Chairpersons) will meet with the Board of Directors at the discretion of the President.  

ARTICLE VI – CONFERENCES 

TACUSPA shall sponsor or co-sponsor professional meetings and conferences each year as deemed appropriate by a majority of the Board of Directors. 

ARTICLE VII - BY-LAWS 

By-Laws consistent with this Constitution shall be established and amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors. 

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS 

Section 1.    Amendments to this Constitution may be initiated by the Board of Directors or upon petition to the Board of Directors by ten (10) percent of the membership. 

Section 2.    Proposals to amend this Constitution must be distributed with the ballots to the full membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the established deadlines for posting ballots. 

Section 3.   The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the ballots received.

ARTICLE IX - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY 

Section 1. All Board of Directors and Appointed Leadership Position meetings shall be conducted according to the procedures specified in the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order. 

Section 2. The President may appoint a parliamentarian to advise them on parliamentary matters during the Board of Directors meetings. 

ARTICLE X - FISCAL YEAR 

The fiscal year of this Association shall be September 1 through August 31. 

ARTICLE XI – DISSOLUTION 

Section 1. Dissolution may occur formally or informally. 

A.     Formal dissolution occurs when two-thirds (2/3) of the membership votes to dissolve TACUSPA. 

B.     Informal dissolution occurs when all of the following cease to exist for a period of eighteen (18) months: Board of Directors meetings, Appointed Leadership Position meetings, dues and registration fee collection, conferences and workshops, and any other regular activities and events of TACUSPA. 

Section 2. Upon dissolution of TACUSPA, any outstanding and encumbered expenses will be paid in full. The most recently elected Treasurer and/or President will then donate TACUSPA’s assets as a one-time payment to a 501(c)(3) organization(s) as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. The most recent Board of Directors will determine the recipient(s) of these assets within four (4) weeks of dissolution.