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STATE CONSTITUTION OF TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES FOR TEACHER EDUCATION
Corrections/additions approved in May, 2008
Download the State Constitution in PDF Format
Purpose
The purpose of the association is to stimulate improvement in the education of professional school personnel in Texas. The primary goal of the association is to provide, through professional organization and cooperation, for continuous search for the promotion of ideas and practices which are most effective in the education of teachers, particularly in the state of Texas and to promote effective teaching and quality education through efforts to improve teacher education, the teaching profession and the schools. (Constant with this purpose, the major objectives of this Association are in harmony with the objectives of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the member teacher preparation institutions as they apply in and for the State of Texas.)
Article I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Texas Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, hereinafter referred to as "Association." The Association is an affiliate of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
Article II - OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this Association shall be:
A. To encourage and assist upon request, administrators and faculties of teacher education institutions to engage in research and development of improved programs for the education of professional school personnel, and to be concerned with curriculum and education in general.
B. To stimulate and facilitate research, experimentation, and evaluation in general to serve as a clearing house of information and reports of these matters and to publicize the findings of studies that have significance for the improvement of teacher education.
C. To exchange reports, experiences, and ideas with educators of teachers in other states, with the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and with teacher educators in other countries, particularly Mexico, as a means of improving teacher education and of strengthening national and international understanding and cooperation.
D. To make available to colleges, universities, and other agencies, upon request, professional consultant services and other practical assistance to help them improve their programs for the education of professional educators.
E. To present the professional education component of the colleges and universities of Texas before all segments of the public, and to promote the best interest of teacher education in Texas.
F. To maintain close communication with, and, when requested to do so, to act in an advisory capacity to the Texas Education Agency, the State Board of Education, State Board for Educator Certification, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas College and University system, on matters relating to teacher education and teacher certification.
G. To place before the member institutions, the Texas Education Agency, the State Board of Education, State Board for Educator Certification, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas College and University Systems, the State Legislature, other interested parties, and the public at large, the policies and recommendations of the Association of matters of teacher education and teacher certification to which the members wish to speak with a common voice.
H. To cooperate with other professional organizations and agencies in activities designed to establish desirable directions, goals, and standards for teacher education.
Article III - MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all institutions of higher education with accredited programs in teacher education.
Article IV - LIAISON RELATIONSHIPS
Liaison relationships may be established with associations and agencies with an interest in the preparation of professional school personnel.
Article V - OFFICERS
The officers of the Association shall be President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as may be deemed necessary to be elected in accordance with the Bylaws. Each officer must be an institutional representative.
Article VI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the elected officers from the institutional representatives to the state unit in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Bylaws.
Article VII - STANDING COMMITTEES
Standing committees shall be comprised of members from institutional representatives to the association in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Bylaws.
Article VIII - MEETINGS
There shall be at least three meetings of the Association for each academic year. Other such meetings may be called by the Executive Committee as necessary.
Article IX - RULES OF ORDER
The rules of parliamentary procedure contained in Robert's Rules of Order (latest version) shall govern the deliberations of this Association.
Article X - NON-PROFIT STATUS
The Association is not organized for profit and no part of its funds shall inure to the benefit of any member or individual.
Article XI - AFFILIATION
The Association shall be affiliated with the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in accordance with the following policies approved by the AACTE Board of Directors:
A. For purposes of obtaining affiliation the state unit membership shall consist of at least sixty percent of the AACTE member institutions in the state.
B. Continuance of affiliation shall be contingent upon:
1. Maintenance of a membership of at least sixty percent of the AACTE member institutions in the state.
2. Assurance that the voting rights of comprehensive members comprise at least fifty-one percent of the total voting rights for the state unit.
3. Submission to the national board of directors of an annual state activity report to include a review of program and fiscal activities and certification of membership within the state unit.
4. Biennial review by the AACTE Board of Directors.
5. Adoption and maintenance of a state Constitution and state bylaws consistent with the nationally approved models of the same.
Article XII - AMENDMENTS
Proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be submitted in writing to the Executive committee by institutional representatives. The state Executive Committee must approve the proposed amendments by a majority vote. After approval by the state Executive Committee, such proposed amendments must be mailed to all member institutions within state unit at least two weeks before the meetings at which they are to be voted upon, or if the vote is to be taken by mail, at least two weeks before the voting deadline.
Proposed amendments will not become a part of this Constitution until such proposed amendments are approved by a majority vote of those institutional representatives present and voting at any regular meeting of the Association and until such proposed amendments are approved by the AACTE Board of Directors.
Article XIII - BYLAWS
Bylaws may be adopted or amended by the Executive Committee subject to a majority vote of institutional representatives from the membership at a regular or special meeting and approval of the national Board of Directors.
BYLAWS
OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF
COLLEGES
FOR TEACHER EDUCATION
Article I - MEMBERSHIP
A) Eligibility
All regionally accredited colleges and universities engaged in the preparation of professional school personnel which have state program approval are eligible for membership. Member institutions are responsible for the selection of an institutional representative.
B) Membership Year
The membership year shall be from January 1 to December 31
C) Dues
The annual dues structure per institution shall be as follows:
For institutions with only undergraduate programs...$150
For institutions offering Master's Degrees in Teacher Education........................................................$250
For institutions offering Doctorates in Teacher Education .....................................................................$350Annual dues should be paid by the institution not later than January 15 of each calendar year.
Article II - VOTING RIGHT OF MEMBERS
Institutions shall be represented for voting purposes by the chief administrative officer of the teacher education component. In case it is not possible for the institutional representative to be present, a proxy may be designated. Each member institution shall be entitled to one vote. Institutions which choose not to pay yearly dues will not be entitled to vote or to hold office.
Article III - OFFICERS
Section 1 - Elective Officers
There shall be four elective officers: President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as may be deemed necessary by the officers and members of the association. Elections shall be held at the spring meeting.
Section 2 - Officer's Terms of Office
Officers will assume their positions immediately following the Spring Retreat. Term of office shall be for one year. Officers may be reelected for one year.
Section 3 - Duties
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings, to represent the Association in all matters concerning teacher education and to perform such other duties as instructed by the Association. The President shall have the authority to appoint regional representatives to assist with contacting deans within their assigned region for the purpose of disseminating information. (See section "Executive Committee - Powers and Duties.")
The President-Elect shall serve as presiding officer in the absence of the President, plan for meeting arrangements, and perform such other duties as directed by the President.
The Secretary shall maintain records of the Association, and conduct such correspondence as may be required.
The Treasurer shall receive and disburse funds at the direction of the Association.
Article IV - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1 - Composition
The Executive Committee shall consist of five voting members: the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and immediate Past-President.
The Executive Committee shall:
a. carry on the business of the association between meetings;
b. develop and implement policy;
c. approve the budget and plans for all meetings;
d. be responsible for the verification of eligibility for membership;
e. maintain a list of all members and current institutional representatives;
f. appoint annually an Audit Committee of members who will be responsible for auditing all accounts for the year;
g. assure that all standing committees are duly elected;
h. assure the election of a representative to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Advisory Council of State Representatives;
i. appoint a replacement to complete an unexpired term if, for any reason, an officer must resign;
j. appoint all other committees for the transaction of the Association business during the year as deemed necessary.
The Executive Committee may appoint an Executive Secretary and such other staff as may be necessary to carry out the business of the Association.
Actions of the Executive Committee will be reported to the next general meeting and be subject to ratification.
Section 3 - Meetings of the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall hold regular meetings each year and special meetings as necessary on dates established by the Executive Committee.
Article V- STATE BOARDS/AGENCY COMMITTEE
Section 1 – Composition
The Texas Education Boards/Agencies Committee shall consist of voting members: the President, President-Elect, Executive Secretary, association SBEC member, association member of the Texas Education Agency stakeholders committee and any member who sits on a panel of a Texas education board or agency, i.e. SBEC board or the Higher Education Coordinating Board. Members shall assume office immediately following the spring retreat. The current president shall serve as chair.
Section 2 – Power and Duties
The State Boards/Agency Committee shall:
a. represent the association at meetings of Texas education boards/agencies;
b. prepare reports of Texas education boards/agency activity;
c. apprise the association of pertinent issues under consideration by Texas education boards/agencies;
d. apprise the association of pending rule and policy changes;e. provide updates at scheduled TACTE meetings and ongoing updates as needed between regularly scheduled meetings.
Section 3 – Meetings of the State Boards/Agency Committee
The State Boards/Agency Committee shall meet prior to all scheduled association meetings and hold special meetings as necessary.
Article VI - AWARDS COMMITTEE
Section 1 – Composition
The Awards Committee shall consist of: one member from a private institution, one member from a public institution, and one member may represent either a private or public institution. Members shall serve three-year staggered terms and shall assume office immediately following the Spring Retreat. The committee shall elect its chair.
Section 2 – Powers and Duties
The Awards Committee shall:
a. generate and review policies and procedures for association awards including the TACTE Annual Leadership Award and the Robert B. Howsam Award.
b. call for, review and judge award nominations;
c. recommend award recipients to the Executive
Committee at least eight weeks prior to the appropriate
meeting where the award will be made for the
affirmation of the Executive Committee;d. secure award plaques and present at the CSOTTE
Fall Conference.
Section 3 – Meetings of the Awards Committee
The Awards Committee shall meet at the Spring Meeting to prepare the call for awards nominations, at the Spring Retreat to review nominations and select recipients to be presented to the Executive Committee at least eight weeks prior to the CSOTTE Fall Conference, and at the CSOTTE Fall Conference to finalize presentation plans and review policies and procedures of the committee. The chair of the committee shall call meetings as needed.
Article VII - LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1 – Composition
The Legislative Committee shall be comprised of four elected voting members: one association member from a university within the UT, A & M, UH system, Texas Tech system or the Texas State system; one association member from a regional comprehensive university; one association member from a minority serving institution; one association member from a private institution, and the association president (ex-officio). Members shall serve 2 year staggered terms and shall assume office immediately following the Spring Retreat. The committee shall elect its chair.
Section 2 – Powers and Duties
The Legislative Committee shall:
a. serve as a liaison between the association and elected officials in the Texas legislature;
b. identify and track bills of interest to the association;
c. draft position statements related to educational issues on behalf of the association to be shared with legislators;
d. coordinate with the Executive Secretary to attend hearings and provide testimony on bills and items of interest to the
association.
Section 3 – Meetings of the Legislative Committee
The Legislative Committee shall meet with the Executive Secretary and President prior to all scheduled association meetings. Meetings may be held electronically or face to face. The chair of the Legislative Committee shall call meetings as needed.
ARTICLE VIII - NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Section 1 – Composition
The Nominating Committee shall be comprised of four voting members appointed at the Spring Retreat by the President-Elect: two association members from public institutions; two association members from private institutions. Membership shall be a two-year staggered term. The committee shall elect its chair.
Section 2 – Powers and Duties
The Nominating Committee shall:
a. identify and recruit association members to serve on
standing committees;
b. identify and recruit association members to serve as
officers;c. present a slate of officers and standing committee
member nominations for vote at the Spring Retreat;d. devise a plan for staggering the terms of current and future committee members;
e. apprise the Executive Secretary and President of the slate of officers to be presented at the Spring Retreat at least four weeks in advance of the association meeting.
Section 3 – Meetings of the Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall meet as needed to fulfill the powers and duties designated by the association. The chair shall call all meetings.
Article IX - ANNUAL MEETINGS
There shall be three meetings of the association during the year chosen to coincide with other major conferences: Fall Teacher Education Conference, Spring Conference, and the Spring Retreat.
Article X - FINANCES
Section 1 - Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Association shall be from January 1 to December 31.
Section 2 - General Fund
The General Fund of the Association shall consist of the income from the receipts of dues from members and any other income which may accrue to the Association.
Section 3 - Budget
An annual budget must be presented by the President and approved by the Executive Committee.
Section 4 - Disbursement of Funds
All monies paid to the General Fund of the Association shall be supervised by the Treasurer. Monies shall be disbursed according to the approved annual budget. All non-budgeted expenditures must be approved by the Executive Committee.
Section 5 - Financial Reports
An annual report of the general fund, including income and expenditures for the fiscal year, shall be prepared by the Treasurer for presentation at the Spring Retreat and submission as part of the Annual State Activity Report to AACTE.
(Corrections/additions approved in May, 2008)