NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - MISSION

To strengthen alumni relations through purposeful activities and be a driving force in the development, marketing, institutional advancement, and admissions outreach programs while working in partnership with the past and present New England College community to develop necessary resources to move New England College into the select group of premier small colleges.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this Association shall consist of all persons who are considered alumni by New England College standards and/or have been recognized by the College as honorary alumni.
 

ARTICLE III - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board shall partner with the College in the management of the Alumni Association.

Section 2. The Board shall consist of the Officers of the Board, the Chairmen of the Board’s standing committees, and all other elected Directors of the Board.  Total membership of the Board shall not exceed twenty-five (25) members.

Section 3. Each Board member shall be elected to serve a two (2) year term, after which he/she may seek re-election.  There is no limit to the number of consecutive terms that a Board member may serve.

Section 4. Any member of the Board may be removed for cause at any meeting of the Board.  Board members are required to attend all meetings.  Failure to attend two (2) consecutive meetings, without approval of the President, shall constitute cause for removal. 

Section 5. A two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote by the members of the Board is required for removal.

Section 6. Any resignation from the Board must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee of the Board.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Officers of the Board shall be a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2. Officers shall be nominated and elected by the Board from its own membership before the first day of July each year and serve for one year.

Section 3. Officers shall be elected to serve a one (1) year term, after which he/she may seek re-election.  There is no limit to the number of consecutive terms that a Board member may serve.

Section 4. Any Officer of the Board may be removed from his/her position for cause at any meeting of the Board.

Section 5. A two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote by the members of the Board is required for removal.

Section 6. Resignation by an Officer must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee of the Board.

Section 7. Duties of Officers

A. The President shall:
1. Preside over all meetings of the Board.

2. Call for and schedule all meetings of the Board in consultation with the Director of Alumni Relations.

3. Serve as an associate member of the College’s Board of Trustees.

4. Serve as the Chairman of the Executive Committee

5. Appoint the Chairmen of each Alumni Association Committee, in consultation with the Officers of the Board and the Director of Alumni Relations, and oversee their work.

6. Represent the Alumni Association at various College events.

B. The First Vice President shall:
1. Discharge the duties of the President in the event of his/her absence.

2. Perform such additional duties as may be prescribed by the President.

C. The Second Vice President shall:
1. Discharge the duties of the President in the event of the absence of the President and the First Vice President.

2. Perform such additional duties as may be prescribed by the President.

D. The Secretary shall:
1. Record and submit to the Director of Alumni relations the approved minutes and records of the Board and the Executive Committee.

2. Perform such additional duties as may be prescribed by the President.

E. The Treasurer shall:
1.  Maintain a record of the funds of the Alumni Association and make all disbursements as authorized by the Board.

2. Perform such additional duties as may be prescribed by the President.

ARTICLE V – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Executive Committee of the Board shall consist of the Officers of the Board.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall work in partnership with, and under the guidance of, the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall partner with the Office of Advancement in the nomination of the Alumni Award recipients.  The board of directors of the alumni association shall select by ballot the award recipients.

Section 4. The minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee shall be kept by the Director of Alumni Relations and made available to the membership of the Alumni Association.

Section 5. Vacancies
A. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the First Vice President shall serve the remainder of the term.

B. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the First Vice President, the Second Vice President shall serve the remainder of the term.

C. In the event of a vacancy in any remaining elective office, the Board may act to fill such office for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE VI – ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. By February 1st the Director of Alumni Relations shall issue a call for nominations.

Section 2. Any member of the Alumni Association may nominate himself/herself or any other member of the Alumni Association to become a member of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Nominations shall include the name, class year, address, and contact information of the nominee and the person making the nomination.

Section 4. The nominee must indicate to the Director of Alumni Relations his/her assent to being nominated.

Section 5. Nominations must be received by the Director of Alumni Relations by March 1st.

Section 6. By April 1st, the Director of Alumni Relations shall make the ballots available to all members of the Board.

Section 7. The Board of Directors shall return their ballots to the Director of Alumni Relations thirty (30) days prior to the Commencement Weekend meeting of the Board.

Section 8. The Director of Alumni Relations shall tally the votes and declare the new members of the Board prior to its Commencement Weekend meeting.

Section 9. A simple majority vote is needed to become a member of the Board.

ARTICLE VII – COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Association shall have four standing committees, in addition to the Executive Committee, to assist appropriate College departments with initiatives that advance the mission of the College.

Section 2. The Admissions Committee shall work with the Office of Admission to enhance student recruitment and retention; help organize regional receptions for prospective students and their families; and interact with prospective students and families.

Section 3. The Career Advisory Network Committee shall work with the Director of Career Services to help link alumni, students, and employers; identify alumni who are interested in providing internship and employment opportunities for students and/or alumni; and host formal and/or informal regional career networking events.

Section 4. The Events Committee shall work with the Office of Institutional Advancement to build stronger relationships between alumni and the College; assist with planning events on and off campus; and help identify and recruit alumni volunteers to host events or lead regional clubs.

Section 5. The Fundraising Committee shall work with the Office of Institutional Advancement to increase fundraising; assist with the identification and recruitment of class agents and other fundraising volunteers; and help the advancement staff identify, cultivate, solicit, and/or connect with potential donors.

Section 6. Special Committees or Ad Hoc Committees may be established by the Board for the discharge of particular duties. The Board shall designate the purpose, powers, and terms of such committees.

ARTICLE VIII– COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Section 1. The President of the Board shall appoint a Chair for each Committee, in consultation with the Executive Committee and the Director of Alumni Relations.

Section 2. Committee Chairs shall serve a term of one year (from July 1 through June 30), and may be re-appointed to subsequent terms.

Section 3. Committee Chairs shall recruit volunteer committee members to help with various initiatives.

Section 4. Committee Chairs shall provide the President of the Board with the names of any committee members and volunteers.

ARTICLE IX - MEETINGS

Section 1. The Annual General Membership Meeting of the Association shall be held on campus during Homecoming Weekend at a date, location, and time to be determined by the Director of Alumni Relations. Notice of the date, location, and time of the meeting shall be appropriately publicized by the Director of Alumni Relations.

Section 2. The Board shall meet as needed, but at least during Homecoming Weekend and Commencement Weekend, to oversee the work of the Alumni Association in coordination with the Office of Institutional Advancement.

ARTICLE X -AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Any member of the Alumni Association may submit proposed amendments to this Constitution to the Board.

Section 2. Such proposed amendments must be provided to all members of the Board in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the next meeting of the Board.

Section 3. In order to adopt any changes to the Constitution, a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote by the members of the Board is required.

Revised 3/11/95 
Amendment to Article V Section 2 on March 11, 1995
Addition to Article IX Section Ion March 11, 1995
Revised September 12, 1998
Revised October 14, 1999
Revised October 30, 2002
Revised October 2, 2004
Revised October 1, 2005
Revised October 14, 2007