Amendments to Constitution and Bylaws for Ratification by Chapters
The 2014 Convention approved six amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws, requiring ratification by chapters by April 1, 2015. These amendments cover various aspects such as retirement plans, officer election periods, Fellowship Board size, graduate student eligibility, Editor position flexibility, and salary determination. The Executive Council and Executive Director recommend the approval of all amendments to maintain tradition.
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Constitution & Bylaws Amendments for Chapter Ratification
The 2014 Convention approved six amendments to the Constitution & Bylaws All six require ratification by the chapters Additional information including the ballot is available on the Convention website Chapters have until April 1, 2015 to submit their ballots
Amendments approved by a vote of the 2014 Convention include: 1. Remove the details of the Headquarters retirement plan from the Constitution 2. Allow alumni chapters to specify an officer election period in their chapter bylaws 3. Modifying the Fellowship Board size and term length 4. Clarify graduate student eligibility 5. Provide flexibility in the position of Editor of the Association 6. Adjust provisions regarding the salary determination of the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
The Executive Council and Executive Director recommend approval of all six amendments. In 2014, all collegiate chapters submitted ratification ballots for the amendments approved by the 2013 Convention. Please keep this tradition alive!
The current Article as stated would necessitate a change to the Constitution to make any changes to the retirement plan The retirement plan is an operational responsibility, such as health-care and parking The new policy is consistent with other honor society s constitutions and corporate policies
Constitution Article V SECTION 1. Coverage. establish and set the policies for a retirement plan for the employees of the Association. an insurance and annuity account with Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) for the retirement of the Secretary-Treasurer, the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, and such other employees of the Association as in its discretion shall be so included. Coverage. Retirement Plan. Retirement Plan. The Executive Council shall SECTION 2. Payments for Secretary Treasurer, and Other Employees. full-time employment with the Association, up to five percent (5%) of employees' salaries may be retained by the Association and transmitted monthly with equal amounts from the general funds of the Association to their accounts with TIAA-CREF through the Tau Beta Pi Employee Retirement Plan. Payments for Secretary- -Treasurer, Assistant Secretary Treasurer, and Other Employees. Upon the completion of one year of Treasurer, Assistant Secretary- -
The current Article requires Alumni Chapters to elect officers annually All Alumni Chapters are required to have Bylaws per Executive Council policy Alumni Chapters have less turnover than Collegiate Chapters Numerous chapters are interested in more flexibility in the length of their officer terms This change provides a default requirement that can be adjusted on a per chapter basis
Constitution Article VII SECTION 2. Officcers as designated in the chapter s bylaws a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined into one office of Secretary-Treasurer. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the officers and such additional members as the chapter may elect. Officcers. . (a) Each alumni chapter shall elect annually or
Fellowship Board selects recipients of Tau Beta Pi Fellowships and Scholarships 2012 Change: Board expanded from three to four board members, plus Director of Fellowships Growth of Scholarship Program has increased workload for Fellowship Board and further growth is expected Recent instances have shown that fixed term length and start date do not provide adequate flexibility
Constitution Article IV, Section 2 (g) (2) The Director of Fellowships shall manage the Fellowship and Scholarship Programs of the Association. The Director of Fellowships shall be a member of and shall chair the Fellowship Board. The Fellowship Board shall consist of four alumnus members in addition to the Director of Fellowships. The number of members of the Fellowship Board shall be determined by the Executive Council upon recommendation of the Director of Fellowships. The Director of Fellowships shall recommend to the Executive Council the appointment of member(s) to the Board for terms of not more than three years. a four-year term, the term of office to commence on August 1st. A Board member may be reappointed. The Board shall select those members to be awarded a fellowship or scholarship in accordance with the program rules, the number authorized, and the funds made available by the Executive Council. See Bylaws III, Sec. 3.04, X, and XI. Constitution Article IV, Section 2 (g) (2)
Constitution Article VIII, Section 4 (a) (5) & Section 5 (a) (5)
Both the top 1/5 of the senior undergraduate class and the top 1/5 of graduate students are eligible before graduation, see C-VIII 3 Current rules differentiate between undergraduate and graduate alumnus Proposed change would allow for a graduate alumnus who graduated in the top fifth of their class to be eligible for membership
Constitution Article VIII SECTION 4. Eligibility of Alumni of Own Institution. elect to membership any alumnus of its institution who: (5) Was not eligible at the times of election as an undergraduate at the last election held before their graduation, but who was graduated in the upper fifth of the their undergraduate or graduate class. Eligibility of Alumni of Own Institution. (a) A chapter may SECTION 5. Eligibility of Alumni of Other Institutions elect to membership any alumnus of a recognized engineering college other than the one in which the chapter proposing to elect is located who: (5) Was not eligible at the times of election as an undergraduate at the last election held before their graduation, but who was graduated in the upper fifth of the their undergraduate or graduate class. Elections under this subsection shall comply with the provisions of Subsection (b) Eligibility of Alumni of Other Institutions (a) A chapter may
Constitution Article IV, Section 2 (d) (4) Bylaw III, Section 3.01(a) Bylaw IX, Section 9.02 Constitution Article IV, Section 2 (d) (4) Bylaw III, Section 3.01(a) Bylaw IX, Section 9.02
Secretary-Treasurer role has expanded since 1946 Oversight of the publications would still lie with the Secretary-Treasurer B-III, 3.01 (c) allows the Secretary-Treasurer to employ an editor Secretary-Treasurer s oversight is ultimately checked by Executive Council
Constitution Article IV, Section 2 (d) The Secretary-Treasurer shall: (4) Serve as the Editor of such publications Oversee all publications as may be prescribed by the Executive Council, the Convention, or the Bylaws; Constitution Article IV, Section 2 Bylaw III, Section 3.01. Secretary of the Association shall: (a) Serve as the Editor of Oversee all publications of the Association, and be responsible for the preparation and distribution of such publications. See Bylaw IX. Bylaw III, Section 3.01. Secretary- -Treasurer. Treasurer. The Secretary Treasurer Bylaw IX 9.02. Editor. Treasurer who in such capacity shall be responsible to the Executive Council for the publications of the Association. See Bylaw III, Sec. 3.01(a). Bylaw IX 9.02. Editor. The editor of the publications shall be the Secretary-
Constitution Article III, Section 5 (a) Bylaw III, Section 3.01 (b)
Removal of specific language regarding the salary of the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer from the Constitution and Bylaws The salary will be set in the same manner as it is now, according to B-III, 3.01 (c) There is specific language regarding the salary of the Secretary-Treasurer, it ensures they cannot set their own salary
Constitution Article III SECTION 5. Council Responsibilities assume leadership of the Association. It shall study, or appoint committees for studying, such subjects as from time to time seem desirable. The Council may prepare legislation, amendments, proposals for change, etc., for consideration by the chapters, or by the Convention, or both. It shall determine the salary of the Secretary-Treasurer and report the amount to the annual Convention. It shall determine the salary of the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer on the recommendation of the Secretary-Treasurer. Constitution Article III Council Responsibilities. (a) The Executive Council shall Bylaw III SECTION 3.01. Secretary Association shall: b) Periodically recommend to the Executive Council appropriate adjustments in the salary of the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer. Bylaw III Secretary- -Treasurer. Treasurer. The Secretary-Treasurer of the
