ICFAD 2007 – 2008 BYLAWS

 

CONTENTS

 

 1.  PURPOSE

 2.  MEMBERSHIP

 3.  OFFICERS

 4.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 5.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 6.  COMMITTEES

 7.  ELECTION PROCEDURES

 8.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 9.  FINANCES

10.  AMENDMENTS

11.  PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

 

 

 

1.  PURPOSE:  CHARTER PROVISIONS

 

1.1  PURPOSE:  The International Council of Fine Arts Deans ICFAD (or the Council) is an alliance of arts administrators representing institutions of higher education. ICFAD provides leadership in arts education, a forum for the exchange of ideas and information, and addresses issues of common concern. Further, ICFAD is committed to fostering the highest standards in the profession, encouraging global understanding and cooperation, providing services to its members, and offering leadership for the arts in society.

 

ICFAD meets its mission by:

• providing forums, conferences and publications in higher education in the arts.

• developing dialogue with other organizations, particularly those with similar goals and objectives.

• fostering arts education practice and research across the boundaries of arts-related disciplines.

• embracing diversity through the encouragement of the study of arts in all cultures.

• promoting partnerships between academic institutions and communities in which they are found.

 

1.2  NON-PROFIT CHARACTER:  ICFAD is a non-profit organization.

 

1.3  RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES:  ICFAD shall not lobby to influence legislation other than as an insubstantial part of its activities and shall not engage in propaganda.

 

2.  MEMBERSHIP

 

Membership in the International Council of Fine Arts Deans shall be open to post-secondary institutions that foster the practice and/or study of the creative arts.  ICFAD does not discriminate against any institution or person on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexuality or disability.

 

2.1  INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP:  This membership is held by the chief executive arts administrator of the academic unit or a designee.  This member would receive full benefits of the organization and would hold the voting privileges of the unit.

 

Recognizing that some institutions organize the arts disciplines into separate schools or colleges, with each reporting directly to the Chief Academic Officer, ICFAD also invites membership from institutions that have other administrative structures.  In instances where institutions have more than one institutional representative, each Institutional Representative shall have one vote.

 

When not in attendance, an Institutional Representative may designate a proxy from the institution to cast the vote for the institution.  In special circumstances a proxy ballot from an Institutional Representative may be cast upon notification to the Executive Director at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the annual meeting.

 

2.2  ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP:  This membership is held by additional academic arts administrators whose unit holds an Institutional Membership.  The Associate member would receive full benefits of the organization, but would not have voting privileges.  There would be no limit to the number of Associate members from any unit holding Institutional Membership.  The Board of Directors may develop reciprocity agreements in the form of Associate Membership to institutions who belong to professional arts organizations that have a current “Memorandum of Cooperation” with ICFAD.

 

2.3  AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP:  The Board of Trustees of ICFAD may, by formal action, grant "affiliate" membership to individuals who do not meet the other membership criteria but for whom membership is deemed appropriate and beneficial to the organization by Board decision. Beneficial criteria may include professional expertise not readily available among the existing membership, officers in arts-support organizations, and those bringing to the Council other areas of understanding that will assist ICFAD in achieving its mission.  Affiliate members would receive full benefits of the organization, except for voting privileges.”

 

2.4  EMERITUS RECOGNITION:  Emeritus designation is awarded by the Board to ICFAD members in good standing who have served as deans and associate deans and have retired from higher education or have returned to the faculty.  Emeritus Recognition shall have the same rights, privileges and obligations as Associate members.

 

2.5      HONORARY MEMBERSHIP:  With the agreement of

the nominee, the Board of Directors may bestow Honorary membership to distinguished individuals who have made extraordinary contributions of an artistic, scholarly or political nature. Honorary members shall have the same rights, privileges, and obligations as Associate members.

 

3. OFFICERS

 

3.1 TERMS:

 

A.  The President will serve for a period of two (2) years.  The term of office will begin at the close of the annual meeting which concludes the term of the previous president.

 

B.  After election to this office, the President-Elect will fulfill the general duties of vice-president for one year prior to assuming the presidency.  In the event that the Past President is unable to chair the nominating and bylaws committees, it shall be the duty of the President-Elect to assume the obligations.

 

C.  If any of the officers become ineligible to serve, the Board of Directors shall either conduct a special election or appoint a member of the Board of Directors to serve in an interim capacity.

 

D.  The Past President shall serve a two-year term (see section 3.3C).

 

E.  The Secretary/Treasurer will serve for a period of two (2)

years, this term not to be coincidental with the term of the President.

 

3.2  NUMBER:  The officers shall include a President, a President-Elect or Past President, and a Secretary-Treasurer.

 

3.3     AUTHORITY:  DUTIES

 

A.  President

The President is the principal representative and spokesperson for ICFAD. The President, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, shall have the authority to appoint the members of committees, determine the chairs of all committees, articulate the charge to committees, and specify the time frame for review of committees. The President shall have the responsibility to insure that the membership is informed regarding issues of common interest.

 

In order to facilitate the business of ICFAD, the President with the concurrence of the Executive Committee shall have the authority to act on behalf of ICFAD and its committees.

               

B.  President-Elect

After election to this office, the President-Elect will fulfill the general duties of vice-president for one year prior to assuming the presidency. In the event that the Past President is unable to chair the nominating and bylaws committees, it shall be the duty of the President-Elect to assume the obligations.

 

C.  Past President

During the first year of a new president's term, the Past President will fulfill the general duties of Vice-President to provide continuity from one administration to the next.  The Past president shall serve as chair for a two-year term of the Nominating and Bylaws Committees.  The Past President shall lead the ICFAD Endowment effort and serve as ICFAD Historian.  In the event the Past President is unable to fulfill these responsibilities, it shall be the duty of the President-Elect to assume these obligations.

 

D.  Secretary/Treasurer

The Secretary/Treasurer will perform the following responsibilities: (1) prepare and distribute minutes for all Executive Committee meetings, Board of Directors Meetings, and general business meetings; (2) prepare a conference summary report of the annual convention for inclusion in the next edition of the newsletter;  (3) present the financial report at the general business meeting at the annual conference; (4) review periodic financial reports prepared by the Executive Director; (5) in coordination with the Executive Director, arrange for an official independent accounting review prior to the end of the first quarter after the close of each fiscal year and, to the extent desired by the independent reviewer, participate in the process; (6) in coordination with the Executive Director, prepare an annual budget proposal for the membership; and (7)  he/she shall be the alternate signator of Council checks.

 

E.  Parliamentarian

The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian who shall serve a term concurrent with that of the President.

 

 

4.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

4.1  STRUCTURE:  The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the immediate Past President (during the first year of the President’s term) or the President-elect (during the second year of the President’s term), the Secretary/Treasurer, and the Executive Director, functioning in a non-voting,

 ex-officio capacity.

 

4.2  ELECTION:  The President, Past-President,

President-elect, and Secretary/Treasurer will be elected in accordance with section 7.1A.  Executive Committee members may be removed for just cause by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors.

4.3  TERMS: The President, Past-President, President-elect, and the Secretary/Treasurer will serve terms in accordance with section 3.1.

 

4.4  AUTHORITY:  The President shall serve as  Chair of the Executive Committee.

 

4.5  MEETINGS:  The Executive Committee shall meet at such times and places as the President shall determine. Reasonable notice shall be given.

 

4.6  QUORUM; ACTION BY MAJORITY:  Two of the three members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum. The act or vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act or vote of the Executive Committee (condition  under 4.4 Authority). The Executive Committee is authorized to act for the Council during the interim between meetings of the full Board.  Minutes of such actions shall  be reviewed by the full Board of Directors at its next meeting.

 

 

5:  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

5.1 STRUCTURE:  The Board of Directors should reflect board representation of international geography, cultural diversity, and gender sensitivity.  The Board shall consist of the President, immediate Past-President (for two years), and the President-Elect (during the second year of the president's term), Secretary/Treasurer, six members-at-large elected by the membership, and the Executive Director, functioning in a non-voting, ex-officio capacity.  The Board shall review periodically its representation in relation to the composition of the membership.

 

5.2  ELECTION:  Members shall vote at each annual meeting for successors to those officers and members whose terms expire. A nominating committee shall present a slate of candidates for these positions.  The election shall be in accordance with section 7.1A. When appropriate, as in the case of a natural disaster or other extraordinary event, a mail ballot may be utilized as determined by the Board

 

5.3 TERMS:  Elected directors shall serve a term of three years and may not stand for election for consecutive terms.  Past President serves a two-year term and President-Elect serves a one-year term on the Board while holding those offices.

 

5.4 STAGGERED TERMS:  The immediate Past President will continue to serve during the first year of the President's term, fulfilling the general duties of vice-president for the first year.  During the second year of the term, the Past President will serve in a non-voting, ex-officio capacity, leading the ICFAD Endowment and serving as Historian.   The President-Elect will serve during the second year of the President's term, fulfilling the general duties of vice-president for one year prior to assuming the presidency.

 

5.5  NUMBER:  The Board shall consist of nine (9) elected Directors and the Executive Director ex-officio, except during the term in which both President-Elect and Past President concurrently serve when the Board shall consist of ten (10).

 

5.6  AUTHORITY:  The Board is vested with the authority to exercise its best judgment as individuals on behalf of the membership. The Board shall:  (1) set the policy of the Council; (2) authorize the budget (including any fund-raising activities or jointly funded projects with outside organizations); (3) authorize all grant applications prior to submission; (4) approve date, location, and theme of conferences; (5) develop and/or endorse position statements on issues which come before ICFAD or in regard to concerns of the membership; (6) insure that the membership is informed by appropriate officers of important trends, events and issues; and (7) authorize committees as it deems appropriate at any given time and establish procedures for periodic review of all such committees.  The Board of Directors has sole fiduciary responsibility for the operation of ICFAD and all its committees.  Each Director shall have one vote exercisable in person or by proxy.

 

5.7  MEETINGS:  The Board shall hold an annual meeting and shall meet at such other times and places as the President shall determine. Reasonable notice shall be given.

 

5.8 QUORUM; ACTION BY MAJORITY: 

A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum.  The act or vote of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act or vote of the Board unless the act or vote of a greater number is required by these Bylaws or by law.

 

 

6. COMMITTEES

 

6.1 CATEGORIES:  There shall be two general categories of committees.

 

A. Standing Committees:

Nominating Committee                          

Bylaws Committee

Conference Planning Committee (The chair shall be the President)

 

The three standing committees operate under the authority of the Board of Directors fulfilling organizational responsibilities of a periodically recurrent nature.  The Nominating and Bylaws committees will have the same structure:  one representative elected by the membership and one representative appointed by the president who shall serve staggered two-year terms, and both committees will be chaired by the Past President for a term of two years (see section 3.3C).  The Conference Planning Committee membership will be the members of the ICFAD Board and the host dean(s) of the next annual conference.  Only Institutional Representatives may serve on Standing Committees.

 

B.  Ad Hoc Committees:

The Ad Hoc Committee shall conduct business in relation to provisions Established in section 5.6.  Ad Hoc Committees are charged by the President to deal with specific issues within a limited or indeterminate time frame.  Consonant with guidelines as defined in 5.6 (7) and 3.3A members and chairs of Ad Hoc Committees will be appointed by the President.

 

C.  Unless otherwise specified, both the chair and the members will serve for a term of two years, renewable for one additional term.  In exceptional cases the service may be extended further at the discretion of the President with  the concurrence of the Executive Committee.

 

 

7.  ELECTION PROCEDURES

 

7.1  ELECTION:  All officers, the Board of Directors, and elected members of Standing Committees will be elected by the membership of the Council at an open meeting.

 

A.  Procedures for Election:

A Nominating Committee shall be formed, consisting of the Past-President, one member appointed by the President, and  one member elected by the membership (see section 6.1).  The committee will be chaired by the Past-President.

 

The Nominating Committee will be responsible for consulting broadly within the membership and actively involved in identifying candidates for positions.  The Nominating Committee is enjoined to consider international geography, cultural diversity and gender sensitivity when formulating the slate.  All nominations made by the membership shall be mailed to the Executive Director, who shall forward them to each member of the Nominating Committee.

 

The Nominating Committee will be responsible for determining the availability of candidates recommended and for preparing the formalized slate of nominees that shall include officers, Board of Directors, and elected members of Standing Committees.  The slate of nominees with appropriate supporting documentation will be provided to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.  The slate of nominees will be introduced at the first business session of the annual meeting.  Nominations from the floor during the first business session will be in order, provided those members nominated have agreed.  The election will be conducted at the final business session of each annual meeting.  All elections shall be by a majority vote of members eligible to vote (see section 2.1) who are attending the annual meeting.  Those members attending the annual meeting who are unable to stay for the final business session may register with the Executive Director and vote by absentee ballot.  The President will vote only in case of a tie.

 

B. Eligibility for Election:

Only Institutional Member Representatives, active as arts administrators in institutions of higher education, shall be eligible for election as officers and to hold office, or as members of the Board of Directors or members of the Nominating and Bylaws Committees.  A member of the

Nominating Committee may not be nominated for election

 

 

8.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

8.1  The Executive Director shall be the chief staff officer of the Council. It shall be the primary duty of the Executive Director to carry out the policies established by the Council and to operate the ICFAD Office.

 

8.2  The Executive Director shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

 

8.3  The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and shall be subject to biannual review.

 

 

9.  FINANCES

 

9.1  FISCAL YEAR:  The fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

 

9.2  MEMBERSHIP FEES:  Membership fees for all membership categories shall be for the fiscal year and due on January 1 of each year. Changes in membership fees must be approved by a majority vote of the voting members attending an annual meeting of the Council.  Notification of proposed changes in membership fees shall be provided to the general membership no later than thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.

 

9.3  CONFERENCE FEES:  All members and non-members attending the annual meeting of the Council shall pay a conference fee set by the Executive Committee.

 

9.4  AUDIT:  An external audit of the records of ICFAD shall be conducted within the first quarter after the close of each fiscal year.

 

10.   AMENDMENTS

 

10.1  Bylaws may be amended by majority vote of the Institutional Member representatives present and voting at the annual meeting of ICFAD. Proposed changes shall be provided to all members at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled meeting. Ratified amendments will take effect upon ratification by the membership.

 

 

11.  PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

 

11.1  Parliamentary authority for the organization shall be the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order Revised.

 

_____________________________________

 

Adopted November 7, 1996

Washington, D.C.

 

Amended November 6, 1997

San Antonio, Texas

 

Amended November 5, 1998

St. Louis, Missouri

 

Amended November 5, 1999

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

 

Amended October 26, 2000

Miami, Florida

 

Amended November 7, 2001

Long Beach, California

 

Amended October 22, 2003

Fort Worth, Texas

 

Amended October 23, 2004

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Amended November 11, 2006

Boston, Massachusetts

 

Amended October 20, 2007

Charleston, South Carolina