CCAS Constitution
Article I Name
This organization shall be called the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences.
Article II Purposes
This Council is established as a non-profit organization to provide its member institutions through their appropriate representatives: (1) a forum for discussing common problems of higher education as these relate to the Arts and Sciences; (2) an agency to encourage, initiate, and support programs and activities to improve the intellectual stature and the public understanding of the disciplines of the Arts and Sciences; and(3) a medium for the dissemination of the results of Council deliberations and other information deemed essential to the continuing intellectual and educational strength of the Arts and Sciences. However, no substantial part of the activities of the Council shall be designed to influence legislation or the election of candidates known to be preferentially favorable to the Arts and Sciences.
Article III Membership
The membership of this organization shall consist of the following: (1) duly accredited Colleges, Schools, and Divisions of Arts and Sciences that grant the baccalaureate degree and (2) such institutions or organizations as may subsequently be admitted under provisions of the By-Laws. Institutional representatives are those who have primary responsibility for overseeing programs and courses in the Arts and Sciences.
Article IV Voting Rights
Each institution that has paid its annual dues shall have one vote.
Article V Officers
The officers of this organization shall be a president,a past president, a president-elect, a treasurer, and a Board of Directors. The officers shall perform duties, serve terms and shall be elected as set forth in the By-Laws.
Article VI Meetings
An Annual Meeting shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors.
Article VII Dues
The annual dues of the organization shall be set by the Board of Directors, but may not be adjusted more frequently than once every three years, or by more than 15% in a single adjustment without ratification by two-thirds of the members responding on a mail or electronic ballot.
Article VIII Fiscal Policies
No part of the income of the Council shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the Council may pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and make payments in the furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof. Upon the dissolution of the Council the Board of Directors shall, after providing for the payment of all liabilities of the Council, dispose of all assets of the Council exclusively for the purposes set forth in Article II hereof through an agency or agencies which shall at that time qualify as tax-exempt under appropriate sections of the Internal Revenue Code.
Article IX Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution can be adopted by a three-fourths majority of those member institutions present and voting at an Annual Business Meeting, or on a mail or electronic ballot by a two-thirds majority of those member institutions responding. Proposals to amend may be initiated by the Board of Directors or by a petition presented through the Board signed by at least ten member institutions. Amendments shall be acted upon only after written notice of at least fourteen days.
Article X Bylaws
The Organization may adopt Bylaws for the conduct of its affairs that are consistent with this Constitution. Such Bylaws may be accepted, repealed or amended at any Annual Meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of those member institutions present and voting, or by mail or electronic ballot by a simple majority of those member institutions responding. Amendments shall be acted upon only after written notice of at least fourteen days.
Last updated 6/26/08
