Constitution

Updated January 2006:

Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education

• Preamble
  The mission of the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education is to focus teacher education on the moral dimensions of schooling and education. The Association encourages member institutions to emphasize:
  • the importance of individuals,
  • the importance of community,
  • the obligations that individuals have in community,
  • the role that individuals and communities have in a democratic society, and
  • the principle of equity of access to knowledge.
• Article I: Name
  The name of this organization is Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE).
• Article II: Purposes
  • To provide a communication and information system for the sharing of concerns, issues, and viewpoints in teacher education as they pertain to AILACTE
  • To raise the general level of awareness of the needs of members to this organization and of those who do not fall within its membership
  • To be an effective voice for member institutions at the national level in matters related to teacher education
  • To make available to national policy-making groups in education the talent represented in this organization
  • To cooperate with other organizations in the promotion of teacher education at the national level
• Article III: Membership
• Full membership is institutional in nature and shall be open to those colleges and universities which have state-approved teacher education programs, are private in ownership, and liberal arts in direction
• Each full member institution shall be entitled to one vote when conducting the business of the organization
• Affiliate membership will be open to any college or university which can demonstrate commitment to the purposes of the organization, but which does not meet the complete criteria listed in the first bulleted item in Article III: Membership
• Article IV: Dues
  • Dues shall be determined by a simple majority vote of the members attending the annual business meeting. Dues adjustment shall be based on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.
• Article V: Officers
• The officers of this organization shall be:
  • President
  • President-elect
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
• Term of office:
• The term of office for each officer shall be prescribed in the Bylaws.
• Eligibility:
  • Each officer shall be a representative of a dues-paying member institution of AILACTE; in addition, the President must be an institutional representative of a dues-paying member institution of AACTE
  • Holding an office in AILACTE is terminated at the time the officer discontinues service with a member institution
• Removal from Office:
  • Members of the Executive Committee may be removed from office for just cause by a two-thirds vote of the members of the Executive Committee
• Article VI: Executive Committee
  • Members of the Executive Committee shall include the officers as stated in Article V, the immediate Past President (in years for which there is no President-elect), the Publications Editor, and four persons to represent the various member institutions, elected from the following four regions:
    • EAST: (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C.)
    • SOUTH: (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands)
    • MIDWEST: (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin)
    • WEST: (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)
  • The terms of office shall be prescribed in the Bylaws
  • Any representative of a member institution who serves on the AACTE Board of Directors shall become an Ex Officio Member of the Executive Committee.
• Article VII: Executive Assistant
• There may be a paid Executive Assistant to support the activities of the organization and the work of the Executive Committee. The Executive Assistant will be hired and annually evaluated by the Executive Committee and will report to and be supervised by the President of the organization. Compensation and reimbursement of expenses for the Executive Assistant will be included in the AILACTE budget that is approved annually by the membership
• Article VIII: Nominating Committee
• There shall be a Nominating Committee composed of three members appointed by the Executive Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the immediate Past President of AILACTE. Its responsibility shall be to provide at least two nominees for each vacancy which exists on the Executive Committee. The ballot shall be broadly representative of the member institutions. For regular elections, the Nominating Committee shall prepare a ballot to be voted upon by the membership pursuant to the Bylaws.
• The Nominating Committee shall also serve as the Tellers Committee for all ballots. The report of the Tellers Committee, signed by its chairperson, shall be received and filed with the minutes of the next Executive Committee meeting.
• For vacancies occurring during an officer's term, the Executive Committee shall by a majority vote select a successor to fill the remaining term.
• Article IX: Committees
• Committees other than those specified may be appointed if they are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this organization.
• Article X: Meetings
• The organization shall hold an annual meeting in conjunction with the regular meetings of AACTE. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
• Article XI: Rules of Order
  • The rules of parliamentary procedure contained in Roberts' Rules of Order (latest revision) shall govern the deliberations of this organization.
• Article XII: Not-For-Profit Status
• This organization is designated not-for-profit, and no part of its funds shall inure to the benefit of any member institution or individual or political party.
• Article XIII: Amendments
• Proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee. After approval by a majority of the Executive Committee, such amendment must be mailed to all member institutions at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted. Institutions not represented at the Annual Meeting may vote by mail
• Proposed amendments shall not become part of this Constitution until such proposed amendment is approved in person or by mail by two-thirds of the votes cast.
• Article XIV: Bylaws
  • Bylaws may be adopted or amended by the Executive Committee subject to a majority vote of the membership at a regular or special meeting.