Chapter Bylaws
Constitution of the UCLA Chapter of the
American Association
of University Professors
Article I- Name
The
name of this organization is the UCLA chapter of the American Association
of University Professors
Article II - Purposes
The
Purposes of this chapter are to:
1. Support
the policies and goals of the Association as found in Article 1 of
its national constitution.
Facilitate
a more effective cooperation of teachers and research scholars in
universities and colleges, and in professional schools of similar
grade, for the promotion of the interests of higher education and
research, and in general to increase the usefulness and advance the
standards, ideals, and welfare of the profession.
2. Defend
academic freedom at UCLA.
3. Encourage
faculty participation in governance at UCLA.
4. Protect
and advance the professional status and interests of all faculty.
5. Facilitate
the dissemination of information on higher education principles and
practices.
6. Inform
the academic community about AAUP standards and policy statements.
7. Participate
in the California Conference of the AAUP.
8. Develop
necessary and proper chapter programs for the accomplishment of the
aforementioned purposes.
9. Upon
dissolution of the chapter, its assets shall be distributed to National
AAUP, a charitable and educational organization.
In furtherance
of the purposes described above, but not in limitation thereof, the
chapter shall have power to conduct studies; to disseminate statistics
and other information; to engage in various fund- raising activities;
to conduct promotional activities, including advertising and publicity,
in or by any suitable manner of media; to hold such property as is
necessary to accomplish its purposes; and to employ individuals to
represent the chapter in lawsuits, negotiations, and for other purposes.
This AAUP chapter is organized and operated for the above stated purposes,
and for other nonprofit purposes, and no part of any net earnings
shall inure to the benefit of any member.
Article III - Members
The
membership of this chapter is open to those persons who are National
members of the American Association of University Professors with
the status of Full-time, Entrant, Joint, Part-time, Emeritus, or Graduate
Student.
Chapter
membership shall become effective upon payment of chapter dues in
an amount determined by the Executive Committee and as approved by
a two-thirds vote at a meeting of the chapter in accordance with the
procedures specified in Article V - Dues. Notification of membership
in the chapter shall be the responsibility of the chapter Executive
Committee.
Article IV- Officers
and Organization
The
officers of this organization shall be a president, vice president,
secretary, treasurer, membership chair. Officers shall hold office
for a term of two years. In the event that successors have not been
elected before the expiry of said two-year term, an election shall
be held as soon as practicable and the current officers shall remain
in office until their successors have been duly elected. No officer
shall be eligible to serve for more than three consecutive terms in
the same office.
President:
The duties of the president shall include carrying out the policies
of the chapter, appointing all committees of the chapter, exercising
a general supervision over the activities of the chapter, and presiding
at meetings of the chapter and Executive Committee. In the absence
of the president, the vice president shall serve in the president's
stead. The president shall be a member ex officio of all committees,
but the president shall not be counted in determining a quorum in
these committees. The President shall serve, wherever applicable,
as the chapter’s first delegate to the national AAUP, its applicable
branches (including the Assembly of State Conferences and the Collective
Bargaining Congress), and to the AAUP’s California Conference.
Vice
President: The duties of the vice president shall include those usually
appertaining to the office and those delegated by the president. The
Vice-President shall serve, wherever applicable, as the chapter’s
second delegate to the National AAUP, its applicable branches (including
the Assembly of State Conferences and the Collective Bargaining Congress),
and to the AAUP’s California Conference. The Vice President shall
oversee and shall serve as Chair of the chapter’s membership committee.
Secretary:
The duties of the secretary shall include keeping a record of all
proceedings, and correspondence of the chapter, certifying chapter
delegates to the Annual Meeting, preparing newsletters for distribution
to the faculty [in the absence of another person delegated that responsibility],
maintaining official contact with the National Association, its officers
and staff.
Treasurer:
The treasurer shall receive the dues of the members and keep an accurate
record of all money received and of all disbursements, promote the
establishment of dues deduction to facilitate the recruitment and
retention of members, prepare an annual budget and report of finances,
and submit for approval an annual chapter budget. The treasurer shall
preside at meetings and assume responsibility for the leadership of
the chapter in the absence or withdrawal of the president, vice president,
and secretary, and until a new Executive Committee can be elected.
Vacancies/Resignations
When
an officer has resigned or is disqualified, the office shall be filled
by a special election of the chapter. The Executive Committee is empowered
to fill vacancies in any elective office until a special election
is held. The person so elected shall hold office for the remainder
of the unexpired term.
Article V- Dues
1. Local
dues may be set only by a secret ballot vote conducted among Association
Active members in the chapter. The vote may be conducted either by
mail ballot or, after reasonable notice, at a regular or special membership
meeting.
2. Once
set, local dues shall be increased annually by the same percentage
as the national AAUP raises its dues. Changes in local dues beyond
this annual increase require the approval of the Executive Board.
Payment of current national AAUP dues, conference dues in states with
comprehensive dues, and chapter dues shall be a prerequisite for chapter
members.
Article VI- Committees
Executive
Committee The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers
of the chapter, the immediate past president, and [two] members elected
at large. It shall act as a governing body of the chapter, but only
in pursuit of a prior resolution of the chapter or as needed to uphold
the constitution. The majority of the elected members of the Executive
Committee shall constitute a quorum for conduct of business of the
committee.
The
Executive Committee shall assume responsibility for the chapter’s
continuing effective presence at the institution, keeping all positions
on the executive committee filled as vacancies occur. Among the duties
of the Executive Committee are the following:
1. Meet
regularly to enable response to any faculty members seeking assistance.
2. Conduct
the business of the chapter between chapter meetings.
3. Regularly
recruit members and encourage maintenance of membership.
4. Make
necessary appointments to complete an unexpired term of any officer.
5. Set
the agenda for chapter meetings.
6. Consult
regularly with the administration on matters of mutual interest.
7. Respond
to inquiries from the press.
8. Promote
the establishment of a dues deduction and/or bank debit plan to encourage
membership recruitment and membership maintenance.
Membership
Committee. The membership committee shall supervise the regular and
continuous recruitment of new members, using suggestions supplied
by National AAUP and others as may be applicable to the institution.
The Executive Committee shall constitute the core of the Membership
Recruitment Committee.
Nominating
Committee. A Nominating Committee of three members, appointed by the
Executive Committee, shall broadly represent faculty at UCLA. The
names of all candidates shall be sent to members by the secretary
at least one month before the chapter election meeting. Additional
nominations of candidates for elective office may be submitted from
the floor by an active member of the chapter. A plurality of votes
shall be required for election to any office.
Standing
Committees. The chapter may create standing and ad hoc committees
from time to time as they are deemed necessary to promote the welfare
of the chapter’s program at the institution. The chair and members
of these committees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.
Article VII- Meetings
The
chapter shall hold regular meetings. Special meetings of the chapter
may be called by the president or a majority of the Executive Committee.
Written notice of such meetings shall be provided each member by the
secretary of the chapter at least five days in advance of the date
selected. The president shall call special meetings of the chapter
within seven days when directed by the Executive Committee or by petition
signed by ten percent of the members of the chapter.
The
quorum required for the transaction of business at all meetings of
the chapter shall consist of 10 percent of the active members of the
chapter.
Article VIII - Amendments
This
constitution may be amended by the three-fourths (3/4) affirmative
vote of a quorum of the chapter at a regular or special meeting, provided
that a notice setting forth the proposed amendment or amendments with
reasons thereof and setting forth any known objections thereto shall
have been sent to each member at least thirty (30) days prior to the
meeting. A petition of ten (10) percent of the chapter membership
may also initiate amendments. The approval of two-thirds (2/3) of
the active membership responding to a written ballot under the preparatory
conditions cited above shall also constitute approval.
Article IX - Mail Ballots
Except
as otherwise specified, those eligible to vote in any mail ballot
shall be all members in good standing as of one week before the date
on which the ballots are mailed. Unless the Executive Committee shall
declare than an emergency exists requiring a shorter period, no less
than two weeks shall be allowed from the date of mailing to receive
and count returned ballots. Matters submitted to the membership by
mail ballot shall require only a simple majority of those casting
ballots.
Article X - Effective
Date
This
Constitution shall become effective on an interim basis upon adoption
by the Executive Committee and shall become permanent when approved
by a majority of the membership responding to a mail ballot which
shall be conducted within thirty days after the approval of the Executive
Committee.
Article XI
Roberts
Rules of Order Revised shall be the authority for this chapter in
matters of procedure not specified above.
©2006 CA-AAUP
This page was last updated on December 13, 2006.