bylaws
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
of the
KANSAS ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Kansas Association on Higher Education and Disability.
ARTICLE II. DEFINITION
For the purposes of this constitution, the term “student with a disability” shall be defined as the condition of any person who (a) has a physical or mental characteristic which may in specific situations substantially affect one or more of such person's life activities, (b) has a record of such characteristic, or (c) is regarded as having such characteristic.
ARTICLE III. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Kansas Association on Higher Education and Disability (Hereinafter referred to as Kansas AHEAD) shall be to:
A. Provide a vehicle which will strengthen the professionalism, expertise, and competency of personnel working with students with disabilities through:
1) Encouraging the development and expansion of a communications network primarily for those persons professionally involved in programs for students with disabilities;
2) Developing the capability to make timely and meaningful responses to issues and concerns affecting the educational resources or environment of students with disabilities; and
3) Serving as a mechanism to facilitate the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of information for persons professionally involved in programs for students with disabilities.
B. Promote the equal rights and opportunities of post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities.
C. Promote coordination among agencies working with post-secondary students with disabilities.
D. Encourage and support legislation for the benefit of post-secondary students with disabilities.
E. Provided further, Kansas AHEAD is organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Types of Memberships:
Membership in Kansas AHEAD will be of three types:
1) Active Professional,
2) Other Professional,
3) Retired.
Section 2. Active Professional Membership:
a. An active professional member shall be any individual working in a Kansas post-secondary educational institution to enhance post-secondary educational opportunities for students with disabilities.
b. Each active professional must pay annual dues.
c. Each active professional member is entitled to one vote.
d. Each active professional member is eligible to hold office.
Section 3. Other Professional Membership:
a. Another professional member shall be any individual working in Kansas in a setting
other than a post-secondary educational institution to enhance educational opportunities
for students with disabilities.
b. Each other professional member must pay annual dues.
c. Each other professional member is entitled to one vote.
Section 4. Retired Membership:
a. A retired member shall be any individual who is retired from the profession of working to
enhance educational opportunities for students with disabilities.
b. Each retired member must pay annual dues.
c. Each retired member is entitled to one vote.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1. Officers and Terms of Office:
a. The officers of Kansas AHEAD shall be the President, the Vice President, the Treasurer and the Secretary.
b. All officers shall be elected at large from the active professional membership of Kansas AHEAD.
c. The term of office of each elected officer of Kansas AHEAD shall be for a period of two (2) years, with the exception of the treasurer who shall serve four (4) years. Any officer can serve two (2) consecutive full terms, if elected. The Vice President/President-Elect and Secretary will be elected in odd-numbered years to begin office January 1 of even-numbered years. The Treasurer will be elected in even-numbered years to begin office January 1 of odd-numbered years. The Vice President/President-Elect will automatically assume the presidency for a period of two years at the end of the two-year term for which he/she was initially elected as VP.
d. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the duties of President, without prejudice to his/her ensuing term of office. All other vacancies shall be filled as they occur, in the method of original selection.
Section 2. Duties of Officers:
a. The President shall preside at all meetings of Kansas AHEAD and perform such other duties as pertain to that office. The President shall be Chairperson of the Executive Council and shall be an ex officio member of all committees. The President shall appoint the Chairpersons of all standing committees.
b. The Vice President, in the absence of the President, shall have all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the President without prejudice to his/her subsequent term of office as President. The Vice President shall be the Kansas AHEAD standing committee coordinator, and in such capacity shall coordinate and direct as appropriate the functions of all standing committees as directed by the President.
c. The Treasurer shall be responsible for receiving and disbursing all monies of the Kansas AHEAD under policies approved by Kansas AHEAD. He/she shall keep adequate and appropriate records of such receipts and disbursements. The Treasurer shall perform the duties customary to the office and such additional duties as may be directed by Kansas AHEAD. The Treasurer shall submit an annual report to the Executive Council.
d. The Secretary shall have both recording and correspondence responsibility and such additional duties as may be directed by the Executive Council.
Section 3. The Executive Council:
a. The Executive Council shall have full authority to conduct the affairs of Kansas AHEAD during the interim period between meetings. Such authority must remain within the provisions of this constitution and not conflict with decisions, actions, or policies established by Kansas AHEAD.
b. The Executive Council shall be comprised of the elected officers, the immediate Past President, and the Chairpersons of each standing committee.
Section 4. Nomination and Election of Officers:
a. There shall be established a Nomination and Election Committee as a special committee consisting of no less than three (3) members appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Executive Council.
b. The Nomination and Election Committee shall poll the membership for the names of possible candidates to be placed on the nomination ballot for positions and shall screen and select appropriate candidates from among these nominees. No person nominated and accepted, as a candidate shall be placed in nomination for another office during the current selection.
c. The Nomination and Election Committee shall conduct the election of officers by secret ballot by mail. A majority vote of those eligible members responding is required.
ARTICLE VI. FINANCE
Section 1. The fiscal year of Kansas AHEAD shall be from January 1 to December 31.
Section 2. Income shall be derived from membership dues and such other sources as the
Executive Council may approve.
Section 3. Dues shall be assessed and collected in such amount and in such manner as may be prescribed by Kansas AHEAD. Any proposal to increase the dues of the Association shall be made available to the total membership by the Secretary at least thirty (30) days before expected action. No vote shall be taken until at least thirty (30) days have passed. The vote may be by: 1) a duly called meeting of Kansas AHEAD or 2) by mail. In the first instance, a majority vote of those eligible members registered and physically present during the ballot is required. In the second instance, a majority vote of those eligible members responding is required. In no case will proxy voting be allowed.
Section 4. The books of Kansas AHEAD shall be audited at the conclusion of each fiscal year in a manner prescribed by the Executive Council.
ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
Section 1. Appointment to the Committees:
Kansas AHEAD shall establish such standing and special committees as may be needed to conduct its activities. The Chairperson of each committee will be selected by the President.
Section 2. Standing Committees:
The President with concurrence of the Executive Council shall establish, maintain or dissolve such standing committees as per the provisions of Article V11, Section 1.
Section 3. Special Committees:
The President and/or the Executive Council may establish special committees as necessary. Such committees will operate within the purposes and philosophy of Kansas AHEAD, shall be specifically charged, and automatically dismissed upon completion of their task.
Section 4. Each committee shall make an annual written report of its activities and status to the Executive Council on or before the date of the annual meeting, and shall report at other times as requested by the Executive Council.
ARTICLE V111. RULES OF ORDER
Section 1. Robert's Rules of Order Revised:
This text (by Sarah Corwin Robert, et.al., Scott-Foresman, Illinois, 1970) shall be the parliamentary authority for all proceedings of the Kansas AHEAD unless otherwise specified in the constitution.
Section 2. Parliamentarian:
The President shall appoint a parliamentarian for all meetings of Kansas AHEAD.
ARTICLE IX. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Initiation:
Proposals to amend this Constitution may be initiated by the Executive Council, unanimous recommendations of a standing committee, or any one member qualifying for Active Professional membership under Article IV.
Section 2. If a proposal to amend is initiated by an individual member, it shall be accompanied by a petition signed by at least ten (10) Active Professional members. The proposal to amend must be received by the Secretary at least fifty (50) days before action is expected. The Secretary shall make such proposed amendments available to the total membership at least thirty (30) days before expected action and no vote shall be taken until at least thirty (30) days has passed.
Section 3. Approval:
The Constitution may be amended by: 1) a duly called meeting of Kansas AHEAD, or 2) by mail. In the first instance, a majority vote of those eligible members registered and physically present during the ballot is required. In the second instance, a majority vote of these eligible members responding is required. In no case will proxy voting be allowed.
ARTICLE X. IMPLEMENTATION
This constitution shall be implemented and go into effect immediately by two-thirds vote of the voting members. This election may be held via e-mail.
Revised: April 2007
