PAC-TE By-Laws

The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators
A State Unit of the Association of Teacher Educators
and The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education

BY-LAWS
November 1, 2006

PREAMBLE
The purpose of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators is to be the voice for teacher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is an association of all those in the Commonwealth who are concerned with the preparation and development of professional teachers.
In order to be an effective and pro-active voice for teacher education, PAC-TE has adopted the following objectives:

PAC-TE will provide unified leadership for those concerned with teacher education in colleges, universities and basic education.
PAC-TE will provide an active strong voice for teacher education within the Commonwealth.
PAC-TE will coordinate the professional preparation and development activities of teacher education associations, those organizations with indirect interest in the preparation and professional development of teachers, and the professional organizations of teachers.
PAC-TE will maintain state affiliations with national teacher education organizations by providing both institutional and individual membership categories.
PAC-TE will continue to be among the most active and supportive state affiliates of the national teacher education organization.
In order to accomplish both purpose and objectives and in compliance with national guidelines, PAC-TE is organized according to the following bylaws.

ARTICLE I

MEMBERSHIP

Institutional Membership
There shall be two categories of Institutional membership, State members and comprehensive members.
Section 1 - Eligibility

State members
All regionally accredited colleges, universities, and community colleges in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania engaged in the preparation of professional school personnel, including paraprofessionals who have contact with children in the teaching-learning process, and which have state approval are eligible for membership. Member institutions are responsible for selection of institutional representatives, the number to be determined as set forth in Section 2a.

Comprehensive members
(Institutions that are eligible for state membership and are members of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.) Institutions that are American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) members and which are eligible for state member status are eligible for comprehensive membership. Member institutions are responsible for selection of institutional representatives, the number to be determined as set forth in Section 2a and b.

Associate Membership

Any individual or individual representing an entity with a vested interested in education or the preparation of teachers such as an Intermediate Unit, community college, or learned society.

Associate members do not have voting privileges.

Corporate Associate Membership

Any representative of a public or private business or foundation interested in promoting education through the support of teacher preparation or related activities.

Corporate associate members do not have voting privileges.

Section 2 - Number of Representatives

The number of representatives for each state member institution shall be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

Three representatives for institutions which recommend for certification from one to not more than 75 professional personnel per year;
Four representatives for institutions which recommend for certification not less than 76 and not more than 150 professional personnel per year;
Five representatives for institutions which recommend for certification not less than 151 and not more than 225 professional personnel per year;
Six representatives for institutions which recommend for certification not less than 226 and not more than 300 professional personnel per year;
Seven representatives for institutions which recommend for certification more than 300 professional personnel per year.

Each comprehensive (AACTE) member institution will be allotted representatives as described in section 2a 1-5 plus at least one additional institutional representative.

The total of members from the comprehensive member institutions shall equal at least 51 percent of the total voting membership and shall be computed annually. In the event that the comprehensive member representation percentage falls below this level, one or more additional representatives will be assigned to each comprehensive member institution so that their total equals 51 percent of the total voting membership.

Each institution will designate one of its representatives and chief institutional representative.

All institutional representatives are voting members.

Member institutions may at their discretion, designate additional institutional members above their allocations by paying the full Individual Memberships fee for each additional institutional member. These additionial institutional memberships must be renewed annually.

Individual Membership
Section 1 - Eligibility

All persons engaged directly or indirectly in the preparation of professional school personnel are eligible for membership, regardless of race, sex, color, or creed.

All persons holding an individual membership are voting members.

Membership Year
The membership year shall be from July 1 to June 30.

Dues
The dues for the various categories of membership shall be determined by the Board of Directors, with consent, by majority vote of the membership present and voting at the Annual General Business Meeting.

ARTICLE II

OFFICERS Section 1 - Elected Officers
There shall be three elected officers: President, President-Elect, and Treasurer. The President and President-Elect shall be elected in even numbered years. The Treasurer shall be elected for a three-year term.
In such cases that the President is a representative of an institution which does not hold comprehensive membership, the Board of Directors will elect one of its members from an institution with comprehensive membership as the representative to the AACTE Advisory Council of State Representatives.
Section 2 - Appointed Offices
The President may appoint Chairs of Committees and Task Forces for a term of office of one year. A Recording Secretary shall be appointed by the President.
Section 3 - Executive Director
An Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board of Directors for a term of office not to exceed two years. The Executive Director may be reappointed to subsequent terms at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Section 4 - Officers' Terms of Office
The President and President-Elect shall be elected for a two-year term and may not succeed themselves for one additional two-year term. The President and President-Elect may run again for either position after at least one term of not holding that position. There is no term limit on the Treasurer. Officers shall assume their responsibilities on the first day of July following their election. The President-Elect automatically shall assume the Presidency at the end of the two-year term.
Section 5 - Election of Officers

The Board shall appoint a Nominations and Election Committee at its March meeting each year. The Nominations and Election Committee shall secure the names of nominees for each position and forward them to the Executive Director who will publish and advertise the elections in the PAC-TE News Notes.

Candidates for offices may be self-nominated or nominated by another member. The Nominations and Election Committee shall diligently attempt to assure that at least two names are submitted for each office. When multiple nominees cannot be achieved, only one name may appear on the ballot along with a write-in option. Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Business Meeting by written ballot. Eligible voters are those members who are present and voting or who have requested an absentee ballot and submitted it to the Nominations and Election Committeeby the election date no later than five (5) days before the annual business meeting.

Notice of the election shall be published and absentee ballots solicited early enough to ensure return to the Chair of the Nominations and Election Committee five (5) working days before the Annual Business Meeting.
Section 6 - Duties

The President shall preside at Board meetings, Executive Committee Meetings, the Annual General Business Meeting, and at special meetings and shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors. During the tenure the President will be responsible for the development of policy and shall submit an operational budget. If representing an AACTE member institution, the President will serve as a representative to the AACTE Advisory Council of State Representatives. The President is a member of the ATE Council of Unit Presidents.

The President-Elect will succeed to the Presidency if for any reason the President cannot fulfill the duties. The President-Elect will serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

The Treasurer will be bonded and will supervise all monies paid into and out of the General Fund. The Treasurer will prepare financial reports for representation at the Annual General Business Meeting and regular Board meetings and will serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section 1 - Composition
The Board of Directors shall consist of sixteen (16) voting members (17 members when community college representative is added). The President, President-Elect, Past-President, Treasurer, three persons holding individual memberships whose primary affiliation is not with higher education institutions, three persons from private/liberal arts colleges, three representatives from institutions of the State System of Higher Education, and three persons from state-related institutions. One person representing a community college will be eligible for board membership when a minimum of eight (8) community colleges become members at the institutional level. Eight (8) of these directors must be institutional representatives of AACTE member institutions. The immediate Past President, upon completion of his/her term as President, shall serve a one-year term as a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
All members of the Board of Directors must:

be members of ATE, and
hold individual membership in PAC-TE or must represent a PAC-TE institution.
The Pennsylvania representative to the AACTE Advisory Council of State Representatives, if other than the President (see Article II, Section 1), must be a member of the Board of Directors.
Section 2 - Election of the Board of Directors
Candidates for positions on the Board of Directors may be self nominated or nominated by another member. The Nominations and Election Committee shall assure that nominees fit the categories listed in Article III, Section 1. Further, they shall diligently attempt to assure that at least two names are submitted for each vacancy. Whenever multiple nominees cannot be achieved, only one name may appear on the ballot for that particular vacancy along with a write-in option. Directors will be elected at the Annual General Business Meeting by eligible members who are present and voting or who have requested an absentee ballot and submitted it to the Nominations and Election Committee by the election date.
Section 3 - Term of Office
The elected members of the Board shall serve for three-year terms; four members, one from each of the following categories: private/liberal arts college, individual membership, state-owned institutions and state-related institutions, will be replaced each year. Elected Board members may succeed themselves in office for one additional three-year term and may run again for the position after at least one year of not holding the office. This policy becomes effective with Board members taking office on or after July 1, 2003.
Section 4 - Powers and Duties
The Board of Directors shall develop and implement policy and must approve the budget and plans for the Annual General Business Meeting. The Board shall be responsible for verification of eligibility for membership and shall maintain a list of all members and current institutional representatives. The Board may appoint an Executive Director and other such staff as may be necessary to carry out the business of the association. The Board shall ensure that representation to the AACTE annual meetings and the annual ATE delegate assemblies is in accordance with the national bylaws of the AACTE and ATE.
Section 5 - Executive Committee of the Board
The President, President-Elect, Past President, Treasurer, Executive Director, and one member of the Board elected by the Board and coincident with the President's term, shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and shall carry on the business of the association between meetings of the full Board and report to the Board of Directors on their activities.
Section 6 - Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Board shall hold at least five regular meetings each year and special meetings as necessary on dates to be established by the Board.
Section 7 - Special Appointments
If a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors, the unexpired term shall be filled as soon as possible through an appointment by the Executive Committee. Such appointments must be made to ensure appropriate composition as specified in Article III, Section 1.

ARTICLE IV

ANNUAL GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING
Section 1
Each year there shall be a Teacher Education Assembly. Time, place, and agenda of the T.E.A. will be approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 2
During each T.E.A., in addition to workshops and general sessions, an Annual General Business Meeting shall be conducted. Eligible to attend this Annual General Business Meeting shall be representatives as identified in Article I of this document.
Members attending the Annual General Business Meeting shall act on items of new business which will provide guidance and direction to the Board of Directors, shall receive and approve reports from committees, and shall elect the officers and members of the Board of Directors.
In the event of postponement of a T.E.A., a new Annual General Business Meeting date must be set within the same fiscal year.
The membership shall be encouraged to conduct regional meetings.

ARTICLE V

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Section 1
Members of the Annual General Business Meeting may join together to form Special Interest Groups to coordinate the activities of significant subgroups of PAC-TE.
Special Interest Groups shall petition the Board of Directors for official status as a Special Interest Group of PAC-TE. No Special Interest Group may function officially as part of PAC-TE without such recognition and status.
Special Interest Groups shall work toward goals consistent with PAC-TE policy.
No Special Interest Group may charge dues or fees as a condition of membership. Special Interest Groups may request financial support from the Board of Directors for special activities.

ARTICLE VI

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION COMMITTEE
The Nominations and Election Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. Committee functions are:

to receive nominations for positions on the Board of Directors and elective officers;

diligently attempt to assure that there are at least two candidates for each office, that there is a reasonable geographic distribution of candidates, and a distribution of candidates from the categories identified in Article III, Section 1; and

conduct elections at the Annual General Business Meeting.

ARTICLE VII

FINANCES
Section 1 � Fiscal year
The fiscal year of the Association shall be from July 1 through June 30.
Section 2 � General Fund
The General Fund of the Association shall consist of the income from the receipt 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 Board of Directors.
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 budget. All non-budgeted expenditures must be approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 5 � Financial Report
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 Annual General Business Meeting.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS
Bylaws may be adopted or amended by the Board of Directors subject to the approval of 2/3 (two-thirds) of the members present and voting at the Annual General Business Meeting. Bylaws must be submitted in writing to all members at least two weeks before the meeting at which they are to be voted upon.
Only institutional representatives of AACTE member institutions may vote on bylaws changes which affect the relationship between the state unit and AACTE, and any such bylaws changes must be approved by the Board of Directors of AACTE. Only institutional representatives of AACTE member institutions may vote on resolutions to be placed before the membership at AACTE�s annual meeting.

ARTICLE IX

ANNUAL REPORTS
The organization will submit to the Board of Directors of AACTE an annual state activity report to include a review of programs and fiscal activity and a certification of membership within the state unit. An annual report will be sent to ATE Board of Directors.
psl 4/2007