Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University A land-grant institution
Constitution and By-laws of the College Alumni Organization
Revised September 6, 2003
Constitution
Article I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization, here after referred to as the College Alumni Organization. It is a constituent organization of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.
Article II - PURPOSE
The College Alumni Organization shall have as its objectives:
Section 1.
Provide leadership in creating a connectedness between College students, faculty, administrators, and staff with its alumni, with its potential students, with the agricultural industry, and its associated clientele to assist Virginia Tech in becoming the premier land-grant university.
Section 2.
To celebrate the relationship among College alumni and their campus, to enhance pride in that relationship, to assist in accessibility in higher education for those interested in agricultural and related sciences, to promote College teaching, research, and extension missions, and to educate the general public about agriculture.
Section 3.
Provide constituency programs that will:
- Enhance the quality of on and off campus event experiences for alumni.
- Effectively coordinate the events that attract increasing numbers of alumni to return to campus.
- Encourage participation by younger graduates.
- Develop and implement a set of programs that will engage alumni in their various constituency relationships.
- Establish gift goals in collaboration with College development director to reach goals.
- Identify, cultivate, and leverage volunteers within the alumni organization.
Section 4.
Provide special alumni programs that will:
- Promote major programs on and off campus for alumni.
- Strengthen programs for alumni living abroad.
- Involve the Dean in the alumni organization.
Section 5.
Support job search and career resource initiatives in conjunction with Career Services.
Section 6.
Establish liaison events and activities between College Ambassadors and the Alumni Organization.
Article III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
All graduates of any degree program offered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech are members of the College Alumni Organization. Membership will also be extended to graduates of programs in the University related to agriculture. Current and former faculty, administrators, and staff members of the College are also eligible for membership.
Section 2.
Other persons, who by their interests and activities, have distinguished themselves through their support of, or work with, the College may be offered membership as an "Honorary Member" of the College Alumni Organization by action of the Board of Directors.
Article IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1.
Regional Directors from geographic regions in the state of Virginia will constitute the Board of Directors. The College Dean will designate a faculty and student representative to serve on the Board of Directors. At least two at-large members will be selected with consideration given to curriculum, geographic representation of each region, and diversity will serve on the Board of Directors.
Section 2.
The following will serve as ex-officio non-voting members to the Board of Directors: Dean of the College, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, College Director of Development, College Director of Alumni Relations, and College Director of Public Relations.
Section 3.
There will be a faculty and student liaison from each department, appointed by the head of each department, to serve as non-voting council to the Board of Directors and key contact for the faculty and student board members.
Section 4.
Additional directors with voting privileges from regions established by the Board in the United States and internationally may be named by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.
Each region will have one vote at each board meeting. If the regional director is not in attendance, the director shall designate an alternate.
By-Laws
Article I - ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS
Section 1.
The term of office for each elected College Alumni Organization Board Member shall be three years beginning at the annual meeting. A person may serve no more than two consecutive terms as a regional board member. However, any member of the Executive Committee shall remain a voting member of the Board until their term of immediate past-president has expired.
Section 2.
A Nominating Committee of at least four members, including the past President as chair, shall be appointed by the President to select a slate of candidates for the Board in accordance with Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution.
Section 3.
The slate of nominees shall be presented to the Board. The candidate with the highest number of votes in each vacancy shall be selected. Election results shall be announced at the annual meeting.
Section 4.
Board Members shall be elected at the annual meeting by a majority of board members present.
Section 5.
In the event of a vacancy, an interim member may be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee to fill the term of the vacancy until the next election. A person filling such a vacancy shall be eligible for election to two additional terms on the Board.
Article II - OPERATION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1.
The officers of the College Alumni Organization shall be the President, President-elect, and Secretary-Treasurer, elected by the Board of Directors by majority vote, from its membership, each year.
Section 2.
The Executive Committee is authorized to transact business between Board meetings.
Section 3.
Should the office of the President become vacant, the President-elect shall succeed to the office. If the President-elect cannot succeed to the Presidency, then the Board shall name an interim President to complete the current term of office.
Section 4.
All actions of the Board of Directors shall be decided by a majority vote of the Board members present.
Section 5.
A Board member absent from three consecutive meetings without being excused by the President can be replaced by the Board.
Article III - MEETINGS
Section 1.
At least one general meeting of the College Alumni Organization, to be known as the annual meeting, shall be held at the College Homecoming. The date and place will be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.
Additional Board meetings may be called by the Executive Committee, with the number of meetings to be determined by need.
Article IV - COMMITTEES
Section 1.
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, President-elect, Immediate Past-President, and Secretary-Treasurer. Ex officio members will be the Associate Dean of Academic Programs, College Director of Alumni Relations, and College Alumni Coordinator. The President shall serve as the chair of the Executive Committee.
Section 2.
There shall be standing and/or ad hoc committees appointed by the Board of Directors. The standing committees shall be Nominations, Programs, Awards, Scholarships, Public Relations, and Regional Coordinators. All members are eligible to serve on committees, subject to re-appointment annually.
Article V - FINANCES
Section 1.
College Alumni Organization expenses will be included in the Virginia Tech Alumni Association annual budget. Insofar as possible, activities of the Virginia Tech College Alumni Organization will be self-supporting.
Article VI - AMENDMENTS
Section 1.
This Constitution may be revised or amended by a two-thirds majority of the Board members present. Proposed amendments shall be submitted at least two weeks prior to a set board meeting. This provision may be waived with 2/3 vote of members present.
Article VII - ANNUAL REPORTS
Section 1.
The Board of Directors of the College Alumni Organization, through its President, and at the conclusion of each presidential term, shall make an annual report to the membership and the Board of Directors of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. This report shall include the accomplishments of the previous year and major future planning.
Article VIII
This Constitution will take effect upon recognition of the College Alumni Organization by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association as one of the official alumni organizations at Virginia Tech.
The Constitution and By-Laws is effective as amended and adopted on April 24, 1999. As amended on September 6, 2003.