By-laws

Alumni Association Bylaws ARTICLE I: NAME The name of the organization shall be The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) School of Public Health Alumni Association, hereafter referred to as the Alumni Association. ARTICLE II: MISSION AND VISION The mission of the Alumni Association is to enhance the School as a leader in public health education, service and discovery by maximizing involvement among alumni, students and friends of the School of Public Health.  The vision of the Alumni Association is to be an indispensable partner of the nation’s premier school of public health. ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP  Section 1. Membership All graduates of any degree-granting program of the School of Public are members of the Alumni Association.  Section 2. Affiliation The Alumni Association is affiliated with the Public Health Foundation, Inc., an independent 501(c) 3 organization established to aid and promote the School of Public Health, its departments and programs to enrich the learning, discovery and service mission of the School. The Alumni Association maintains an informal affiliation with the General Alumni Association of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a dues-based membership organization.  As a departmental focus for the Alumni Association, an affiliated alumni department may be created by application to and approval of the Governing Board. The application must be signed by a minimum of fifty alumni who will become members of the proposed Section.  The bylaws and mission of the affiliated section shall not be in conflict with the bylaws of the Alumni Association. The affiliated section shall elect or appoint its own officers.  The official name of the affiliated section shall be the _____________________ (department/curriculum) Section of the UNC-CH School of Public Health Alumni Association. As a geographic or constituent-based focus for the Alumni Association, an affiliated alumni network may be created by application to and approval of the Governing Board. The application must be signed by a minimum of twenty-five alumni who will become members of the proposed Network.  The bylaws and mission of the affiliated network shall not be in conflict with the bylaws of the Alumni Association. The affiliated network shall elect or appoint its own officers.  The official name of the affiliated chapter shall be the ________ (location or constituent group) Network of the UNC-CH School of Public Health Alumni Association. Section 3. Dues The Association is open to membership without requirement of payment of dues. Constituent chapters and sections also are open to membership without the requirement of payment of dues. ARTICLE IV: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND GOVERNING BOARD  Section 1. Titles and Appointments The Executive Committee of the Alumni Association will consist of the immediate Past President, President, President-Elect, and two At-Large Directors. The Director of Alumni Affairs shall serve as Secretary/Treasurer and be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee and Governing Board. Terms of office for the following appointments are as follows: Past-President and President-Elect - one year; President - two years; At-Large Directors - alternating two-year terms. A new President-Elect will not be nominated until the end of the term of the President's first year. Terms of office will be assumed on July 1, consistent with the fiscal year. The Executive Committee shall transact the business of the Alumni Association between meetings of the Governing Board and report actions to the Governing Board.  The Governing Board shall be comprised of the Executive Committee, the President of each Alumni Section, an appointee from each Alumni Network (up to four), four at-large members, the Dean of the School of Public Health, the Associate Dean of External Affairs and the Associate Dean for Students. Each member shall have one vote.  In addition to the Directors, the following shall serve as ex officio members of the Governing Board: the Presidents-Elect of each Alumni Section, Chair of the Student Union Board, Chair of the Minority Student Caucus, current Department Chairs and program/curricula Directors.  The Governing Board shall participate in planning and implementing Alumni Association policies and activities, serve the Alumni Association in capacities requested by the President and confirm the slate of officers proposed by the Nominating Committee.  All members of the Executive Committee and Directors have the privilege of re-appointment. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same position.  Section 2. Qualifications All members of the Alumni Association who have consented to serve shall be eligible for nomination, except that the candidate for President-Elect/Treasurer shall have served as a member of the Board of Directors within the past three years. Section 3. Duties The Past President shall:  Serve as a consultant to the Executive Committee, providing input and historical perspective for the Alumni Association.  Serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Health Foundation, Inc.  Chair the Nominating Committee.  Perform other related duties as requested by the President in administering the activities of the Alumni Association. The President shall:  Administer and be responsible for the general activities of the Alumni Association.  Preside at all business sessions of the Alumni Association.  Appoint all committee members and representatives of the Alumni Association as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Alumni Association unless otherwise stated in the Bylaws. Committee chairs shall be appointed by the President with input from the Executive Committee.  Chair the Governing Board and the Executive Committee of the Association.  Serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the General Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Health Foundation, Inc.  Represent, or appoint a designee to represent, the Alumni Association at all meetings and events of the School of Public Health that are relevant to the affairs of the Alumni Association. Oversee all Alumni Association funds and authorize expenditures within the provisions of the operating budget. The President-Elect shall:  Succeed to the office of President. Assume the duties of the President in his/her absence. Chair the Bylaws Committee.  Assist the President in any way the President deems necessary in administering the activities of the Alumni Association. Serve as the Alumni Association liaison for School wide networking and professional development events. Serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Health Foundation, Inc.  Perform other related duties as requested by the President in administering the activities of the Alumni Association. The Secretary/Treasurer shall:  Maintain all records of the Alumni Association, including minutes, the Operating Manual and financial records.  Notify appropriate persons of all Association meetings called by the President or the Board.  Serve as the Executive Committee’s liaison to the School of Public Health Dean’s Office.  Serve as staff person to Alumni Association committees and events.  Perform other related duties as requested by the President in administering the activities of the Alumni Association. The At-Large Directors shall:  Serve as the Alumni Association liaisons to the Student Union Board and to the Minority Student Caucus.  Perform other related duties as requested by the President in administering the activities of the Alumni Association. Section 4. Vacancies If, before the expiration of the term for which he/she is appointed, the President dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified, the President-Elect shall succeed to the office vacated for the unexpired portion of the term. If the President-Elect is unable to succeed to the Presidency, the Board shall select from its body a person to serve as President. If the President-Elect/Treasurer is unable to serve, the Governing Board shall select from its body a person to serve as President-Elect/Treasurer.  Vacancies created by the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of other Officers or Directors shall be filled by appointment of the Governing Board for the unexpired portion of the term. ARTICLE V: MEETINGS  Section 1. Number The Governing Board may hold an Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with the time and place set at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Notice shall be sent to all members of the Alumni Association at least thirty days prior to the meeting. Additional meetings and events may be held at other times and places during the year at the discretion of the Governing Board. Section 2. Voting Body and Quorum The voting body of the Alumni Association shall consist of all School of Public Health alumni. A quorum shall consist of all members present at any meeting that has been properly called by the President or Governing Board. Section 3. Mail Vote When a mail vote is required, the Governing Board or the Executive Committee may call for a ballot to be cast by mail. At least fifteen days must be allowed for a response. A quorum for a mail vote shall consist of the number of responses received from the alumni body. A majority of those casting ballots is necessary for a decision unless otherwise stated in the Bylaws. Section 4. Meetings of the Governing Board At least two regular meetings shall be held each year, the time and place to be set by the Governing Board. Special meetings of the Governing Board may be called by the President or by the Executive Committee, provided sufficient notice is given in writing to all Board members. A majority of the Governing Board shall constitute a quorum. ARTICLE VI: BUDGET The budget year for the Alumni Association shall be from July 1 through June 30. A budget shall be prepared annually by the Executive Committee and approved by the Governing Board. The accounts of the Alumni Association shall be audited as specified in the bylaws of the Public Health Foundation, Inc. ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES  Section 1. Standing Committees The standing committees of the Association shall be: Events  Finance  Awards  Bylaws  Nominating Additional standing committees of the Alumni Association may be created by the Governing Board.  Unless otherwise stated in the bylaws, committee chairs will be appointed by the President with input from the Executive Committee. Standing committee members shall be appointed by the President. All committee appointments, except the Nominating Committee and the Awards Committee, shall be for a term of one year or until their successors are appointed and assume responsibility. The duties of these committees shall be defined by the Governing Board, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws. Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees The President may appoint special committees, as needed, and define their duties. Ad hoc committees shall be dissolved at the end of the term of office of the appointing President unless their commission is completed at a sooner date, or unless continued by the new President. ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND ELECTION  Section 1. Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee shall consist of five members, the President-Elect/Treasurer, the President, the two most recent Past Presidents and one non-Governing Board member of the Alumni Association. The immediate Past President shall serve as chair of the committee for one year. The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate for the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association, consisting of one nominee for each vacancy. This slate shall be broadly representative of the School of Public Health alumni body.  The membership of the Association shall be notified of the slate of nominees each spring. In addition to the candidates nominated by the Committee, alumni may nominate by prior submission as stipulated by the Nominating Committee. Members who are nominated must have agreed to serve prior to the nomination. Section 2. Elections Elections shall be by voice vote of the Governing Board.  ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS These bylaws may be amended in whole or in part by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all alumni who return the mail ballot regarding the amendments by the specified date. The Governing Board shall send the members of the Alumni Association a copy of the proposed amendments at least thirty days prior to the voting deadline.  Any alumna or alumnus of the School of Public Health may submit in writing a proposed amendment to the Governing Board for consideration. Amended:  March 29, 1979  March 20, 1980  March 25, 1982  March 29, 1984  March 20, 1986  March 30, 1989  March 24, 1992  March 29, 1996  March 10, 1997  April, 1997  June, 1998  April, 2000  March, 2003  July, 2004

Last updated August 01, 2006