BYLAWS

THE NETWORK

Office of Women in High Education/American Council on Education

New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education

 

PREAMBLE

 

The New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education is an informal network of women administrators, faculty, and others associated with or supportive of higher education in New York state.  Formed under the auspices of the Office of Women in Higher Education (OWHE) of the American Council on Education (ACE) in 1977, the New York State Network is part of THE NETWORK, a national network organized by states and headed by coordinating committees within each state.

 

ARTICLE I                  Name and Purpose

 

Section 1                    The name of this statewide coordinating organization is the New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education.

 

Section 2                    The purpose of the New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education is to develop and promote the advancement of women in higher education in New York State and reaffirm the principles of diversity and inclusion by:

 

·         Increasing the number, visibility and influence of women in leadership roles in higher education within New York state.

 

·         Establishing linkages among women in higher education, and between women in higher education and trustees, legislators, policy makers, search firms, and other women’s organizations.

 

·         Developing an agenda of policy issues affecting women in higher education.

 

·         Supporting, encouraging, and strengthening state and regional associations.

 

·         Implementing such goals consonant with its purpose as may be identified by members of the Executive Board of the New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education.

 

ARTICLE II                 Activities and Responsibilities

 

Section 1                    The New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education will follow policies, guidance, and procedures provided by THE NETWORK for its state-level organizations.

 

Section 2                    The Executive Board of the New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education will serve as the coordinating board for the New York State Network and is empowered to act on the behalf of the New York State Network.

 

Section 3                    The Executive Board will develop goals and priorities in order to fulfill the purpose of the New York State Network and its parent organization, THE NETWORK.  Through meetings, programs, retreats, policy statements, publications, sponsorship of events, and other actions as appropriate, the Executive Board will implement activities to meet and support the goals and priorities of the New York State Network.

 

ARTICLE III                Membership of the Executive Board

 

Section 1                    Composition

 

1.1                               There shall be no more than sixteen (16) members of the Executive Board. All members should hold mid-to senior-level administrative positions or full-time teaching positions in institutions of post-secondary education in the State of New York, administrative positions in governmental agencies that oversee or implement policy regarding post-secondary education, or administrative or leadership positions in organizations that promote or support women in higher education.  In seeking women from these areas of higher education, we affirm our principles of diversity and inclusion.

 

1.2                               Members of the Executive Board may vote on New York State Network business; hold elected office on the Executive Board; serve on New York State Network committees; and represent, with the approval of the Executive Board, the New York State Network at regional and national meetings and conventions.

 

Section 2                    Selection and Terms of Executive Board Members

 

2.1                               Membership on the board is based on interest expressed through self-nomination or in response to nomination or invitation.  The Executive Board will make appropriate efforts to ensure geographic, cultural, and institutional diversity among the members of the Executive Board.

 

2.2                               Selection to membership shall take place either at a regularly called meeting of the Executive Board by voice or paper ballot or by ballot mailed or electronically sent to members of the Executive Board.  An affirmative vote of a simple majority of Executive Board members eligible to vote is necessary

 

2.3                               Executive Board members will serve a three-year term of office, renewable once (renewable twice if needed to serve as a past coordinator).  The Executive Board will make appropriate efforts to sequence terms of office of members in order to ensure continuity on the Executive Board.

 

Section 3.                   Responsibilities of Executive Board Members

 

3.1                               Executive board members will attend regularly scheduled Executive Board meetings and shall:

 

·         Network with other women in mid- to senior-level administrative positions within the region.

·         Promote visibility of the New York State Network and THE NETWORK.

·         Support and promote New York State Network conferences, retreats, and events.

·         Identify “emerging leaders.”

·         Provide information about changes in senior leadership at colleges and universities within the region.

 

ARTICLE IV                Officers

 

Section 1                    There shall be eight (8) officers on the Executive Board, each position associated with a leadership role in the New York State Network.  The elected officers of the Executive Board shall be:  coordinator, associate coordinator, past coordinator, secretary, treasurer, public relations committee chair, conference committee chair, and liaison to institutional representatives.

 

Section 2                    Election of Officers

 

2.1                               The elected officers are selected from the membership of the Executive Board and shall be known as the Steering Committee.  Officer membership positions are filled based on interest expressed through self-nomination or in response to nomination.

 

2.2                               Election of officers shall take place at the annual meeting of the Executive Board.  An affirmative vote of a simple majority of Executive Board members present at the meeting at which the vote is taken shall be necessary for election as an officer of the Executive Board.

 

2.3                               The Executive Board will ask each officer to reaffirm annually her desire to remain on and participate in the initiatives of the Executive Board.

 

2.4                               The term of office of an officer shall begin on July 1 or at another date approved by the Executive Board.

 

2.4.1                The Coordinator will serve a two-year term.  The term of Coordinator will be followed by a two-year term as Past Coordinator.

 

2.4.2                The Associate Coordinator will serve a two-year term.

 

2.4.3                The Secretary will serve a two-year term.

 

2.4.4                The Treasurer will serve a two-year term.

 

2.4.5                The Public Relations Committee Chair will serve a two-year term.

 

2.4.6                The Conference Committee Chair will serve a term of office that coincides with the development of the conference through the holding of the conference.

 

2.4.7                The Liaison to Institutional Representatives will serve a two-year term

 

Section 3.                   Responsibilities of Officers

 

3.1                               Officer Members will attend regularly scheduled Executive Board meetings and meetings of the Steering Committee of the Executive Board. In addition, officer members have general and specific responsibilities associated with their leadership roles within the New York State Network.

 

3.2                               The Coordinator shall:

·         Provide vision and overall direction for the New York State Network and the Executive Board.

·         Preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and the Steering Committee of the Executive Board.

·         Serve as the Executive Board's liaison with THE NETWORK, OWHE/ACE and other national, state, and regional organizations.

·         Represent the Executive Board of the New York State Network at regional and national meetings sponsored by THE NETWORK, OWHE/ACE and other national, state, and regional organizations.

·         Represent the Executive Board through correspondence, to include letters to women within New York State recognizing achievement, service, retirement, or new positions accepted.

·         Appoint committees deemed necessary or helpful in furthering the business of the Executive Board.

·         Delegate responsibility to appropriate officers and committees.

·         Plan the New York State Network annual board meeting.

·         Plan the New York State annual Network and Board retreat.

 

3.3                               The Associate Coordinator shall:

·         Serve as coordinator for regional associations.

·         Provide budget oversight and establish budget priorities.

·         Coordinate nominations for Executive Board officers and members of the Steering Committee.

·         Assist the Coordinator, as needed.

·         In the absence of the Coordinator, assume all responsibilities of that office.

 

3.4                               The Past Coordinator shall:

·         Advise and mentor the Coordinator and Associate Coordinator

 

3.5                               The Secretary shall:

·         Prepare and distribute minutes of the Annual Meeting.

·         Ensure that written records of meetings of the Executive Board and Steering Committee are made and maintain these records.

·         Collect and disseminate nominations for at-large members;

·         Maintain, update, and distribute membership rosters.

·         Maintain a transferable database for secretarial responsibilities

 

3.6                               The Treasurer shall:

·         Receive and disburse all monies of the Executive Board under policies approved by the Board.

·         Maintain records of bank accounts, keep appropriate records of receipts and disbursements.

·         Submit an annual report to the Executive Board and any interim reports that may be required.

·         Make provision for the filing of any and all required tax statements.

·         When requested by the Executive Board, turn over all monies, accounts, record books, papers, vouchers, and other records pertaining to the treasury.

·         Maintain transferable database for the treasurer's responsibilities.

·         With the Associate Coordinator, plan the annual budget.

 

3.7                               The Public Relations Committee Chair shall:

·         Produce a newsletter on a periodic basis for use by Executive Board members and regional associations.

·         Prepare press releases.

·         Create, maintain, and update the New York State Network brochure and any other publications.

·         Provide input to ListServe/Web site, as appropriate.

·         Recruit and chair the committee created to provide public relations support to the Executive Board.

 

3.8                               The Conference Committee Chair shall:

·         Oversee the planning and implementation of the periodic New York State Network conference.

 

3.9                               The Liaison to Institutional Representatives shall:

·         Serve as the communications link between the Executive Board and the institutional representatives.

·         Establish state regions balancing interests and ability to travel.

·         Identify and select institutional representatives following consultation with the Coordinator.

·         Mentor, coach, and develop new institutional representatives.

·         Maintain a current list serve of institutional representatives

 

ARTICLE V                 Steering Committee of the Executive Board

 

Section 1                    The management of the Executive Board shall be vested in the Steering Committee, consisting of the above officers and the immediate Past Coordinator.

 

1.1                               The Coordinator shall chair the Steering Committee.

 

1.2                               The Steering Committee shall act on behalf of the Executive Board between meetings.

 

1.3                               The Coordinator shall report actions taken by the Steering Committee on behalf of the Executive Board at subsequent meetings of the Board.

 

 

ARTICLE VI                CHANGE IN MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1                    Termination of Membership

 

1.1                               The service of an officer of the Executive Board may be terminated for cause by a vote of the two-third’s majority of the members in attendance at a regular or special meeting of the Executive Board.

 

Section 2                    Vacancies in Membership

 

2.1                               All positions that become vacant may be filled at the next regularly called meeting of the Executive Board. The position may remain vacant until filled, but the Executive Board will actively seek a new member so that the position is filled in a timely manner.

 

2.2                               If the Coordinator is unable to complete her term of office, the Associate Coordinator shall assume the position of Coordinator and the Executive Board will elect a new Associate Coordinator.

 

2.3                               Vacancies in other offices shall be filled by election to the office, with the term of office to be that of a regular term of office plus the additional months to July 1, the usual start of an officer's term.

 

2.4                               Prior to an election to fill a vacant office, the Coordinator or Associate Coordinator or designee will assume the responsibilities of the vacant office as necessary in order to conduct business of the Executive Board and the New York State Network.

 

ARTICLE VII               Meetings

 

Section 1                    Meetings of the Executive Board

 

1.1                               The Executive Board shall meet at least twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring.  The spring meeting will be considered the annual meeting.  Notice shall be given by mail, email, or phone at least 20 days prior to the meeting.

 

1.1.1                The Steering Committee may schedule additional meetings of the Executive Board, as it deems necessary.

 

1.1.2                Meetings may also be called by the Coordinator or by petition of three (3) members of the Executive Board.

 

1.2                               Business of the Executive Board may be conducted by telephone, mail, or email.

 

1.3                               All members of the Executive Board have a single and equal vote in the decisions of the Executive Board.

 

1.4                               A quorum for the conduct of business shall consist of nine (9) members of the Executive Board.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII              Bylaws and Amendments

 

Section 1                    Bylaws

 

1.1                               The Bylaws of the New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education will be reviewed at least every five years.

 

1.1.1                The Executive Board will appoint a committee to review the Bylaws and to make recommendations to revise and rewrite, as necessary.

 

1.2                               The Bylaws are effective upon approval by the Executive Board.

 

Section 2                    Amendments

 

2.1                               Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed at any meeting of the Executive Board.

 

2.1.1                The members of the Executive Board must be given a minimum of 20 days to review the proposed amendments to the Bylaws.

 

2.1.2                No amendment that is inconsistent with the policies, guidance, or procedures of THE NETWORK, OWHE/ACE, shall be submitted to a vote.

 

2.2                               Amendments are effective upon approval of the Executive Board. A two-third’s majority of members is required to approve an amendment to the Bylaws.

 

2.3                               A copy of the approved amendment will be sent to each member of the Executive Board.

 

Section 3                    These Bylaws will continue in force until rescinded by action of the Executive Board. All members of the Executive Board will be governed by the provisions of the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE X                 Rules of Procedure

 

Section 1                    The officers may establish such rules of procedure as may be necessary for implementing the provisions of these Bylaws and for managing the Executive Board, as long as those rules of procedure do not violate the provisions of these Bylaws.

 

Section 2                    Robert's Rules of Order, as most recently revised, shall govern the meetings of the Executive Board unless otherwise decided by a majority vote.

 

2.1                               The Executive Board or the Steering Committee may adopt, by majority vote, standing rules for their respective meetings. A record of such rules shall be kept by the Secretary.

 

ARTICLE XI                Dissolution

 

Section 1                    A two-third’s majority vote of the Executive Board will be required for dissolution of the New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education.

 

Section 2                    In the event of dissolution of the New York State Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education, whether voluntary or involuntary, no member shall be entitled to any distribution or division of its remaining assets.  The balance of all monies and other property received by the Executive Board from any source shall be used to satisfy all debts and obligations of the Executive Board.  Should further assets remain, a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board will be required to determine whether the remainder shall be used or distributed for the purposes set forth in Article I or distributed to the Office of Women in Higher Education, American Council on Education.