Bylaws of the Iowa State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors

Article I: Name  

The name of this organization is the "Iowa State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors". 

Article II: Object

The object of this chapter is to facilitate more effective cooperation of faculty and other scholars at Iowa State University to promote the interests of higher education, and to advance the standards, ideals, and welfare of the profession. In particular, we:

  1. Support the policies and goals of the Association as set forth in Article 1 of the AAUP constitution, and in all matters act in harmony with the principles and procedures of national Association and its constitution;

  2. Defend academic freedom at Iowa State University and throughout academe;

  3. Promote shared governance at Iowa State University;

  4. Protect and advance the professional status and interests of all faculty;

  5. Facilitate the dissemination of information on higher education principles and practices;

  6. Inform the academic community about AAUP standards and policy statements; and

  7. Develop necessary and proper chapter programs for the accomplishment of the aforementioned purposes.

Article III: Membership

  1. Eligibility for membership in this chapter shall extend to all current and retired faculty members, post-docs, and graduate students at Iowa State University. All chapter members may vote in chapter matters. All chapter members are strongly encouraged to join the national organization.

  2. The Executive Board shall establish chapter dues. Chapter dues are payable on September 1 of each year. Chapter dues are delinquent after 30 days at which time voting rights will be suspended until dues are paid.

  3. The President shall have the authority to accept the resignation of any member.

Article IV: Officers and Organization 

The officers of this organization shall be the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The term of office shall be two years or until successor is elected. Officers may serve no more than two consecutive terms. 

President: The duties of the president shall include carrying out the policies of the chapter, appointing special committees, exercising general supervision over the activities of the chapter, and presiding at meetings of the chapter and executive committee. The president shall be a member ex officio of all committees. The President is the primary representative of the Chapter.

Vice president: The duties of the vice president shall include those usually appertaining to the office and those delegated by the president. In the absence of the president, the vice president shall serve in the president's stead. The Vice President shall serve as the chair of the bylaws committee, and serve as the Chapter's representative to the Faculty Senate.

Secretary: The duties of the secretary shall include keeping a record of all proceedings and correspondence of the chapter, certifying chapter delegates to the Association's annual meeting, and maintaining official contact with the Association. It shall be the duty of the secretary to provide the secretary-treasurer of the Association the names of the officers of the chapter and the chapter bylaws and to conduct the correspondence of the chapter with the secretary-treasurer of the Association. In the absence of the president and vice president, the secretary shall preside at meetings of the chapter. The Secretary shall be the chair of the publications committee.

Treasurer: The treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all funds received and disbursed. At the request of the executive committee, the treasurer shall prepare an annual chapter budget and report of finances, and submit them for approval. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to remit to the Association and/or to the applicable state conference any dues collected on behalf of the Association and/or conference. In the absence of the president, vice president, and secretary, the treasurer shall preside at meetings of the chapter. 

Officers will be nominated from the floor at the annual meetings of the Chapter.

Officers will be elected by secret ballot at the annual meeting of the Chapter. If there is only one nomination for an office, then the nominee is automatically elected. Term begins upon election.

The President shall have the authority to accept the resignation of any office.

The President shall have the authority to fill any vacancy by appointment subject to approval of the Executive Board. The term of any such appointment shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term or until a successor is elected.

Article V: Committees

The President shall appoint the members of each committee subject to approval by the Executive Board.

Committee A: Committee A is authorized to receive, on behalf of the chapter, complaints of departures from the principles of academic freedom, tenure, shared governance, and due process. Where appropriate the committee undertake formal investigations. Such investigations may lead to a recommendation from the committee to the executive board for further action. The committee shall keep the executive board informed of its activities in a manner consistent with due respect for the confidentiality of faculty members involved.

Publications committee: The publications committee shall be in charge of promoting and building awareness of the Chapter through the webpage and other publications of the chapter including social media.

Bylaws committee: The bylaws committee shall conduct an annual review of the bylaws and propose amendments as needed.

Membership Committee: The membership committee shall work to recruit new members and encourage the maintenance of membership.

Audit committee: The audit committee shall conduct an annual audit of the chapter’s finances and present their report at a regularly scheduled meeting of the chapter.

Special committees: The President shall have the authority to appoint special committees subject to approval by the Executive Board.

The President shall have the authority to accept the resignation of a member of a committee and to appoint a replacement subject to approval by the Executive Board.

Article VI: Executive Board

1. The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers of the chapter, the immediate past president, and at least one at-large elected member. Members of the executive board shall pay current dues to the national AAUP and any mandatory conference dues.

2. The Executive Board shall:

a. Conduct the business of the chapter between meetings;

b. Respond to faculty members seeking assistance;

c. Consult regularly with the administration and faculty senate on matters of mutual interest; and

d. Respond to inquiries from the media.

3. The majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for conduct of business of the board.

4. The Executive Board shall hold two regular meetings per year, one in the Fall and one in the Spring.

5. The President shall have the authority to call a special meeting of the Executive Board. A special meeting of the Board may also be called by a majority of its members. The President shall provide the members of the Board with 7 days advance notice of any special meeting except in emergency situations.

Article VII: Meetings

1. The Chapter shall hold one regular meeting per academic year. The date, time, and location of this meeting shall be determined by the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall prepare a proposed agenda for the regular meeting, and will disseminate it to the membership at least one week prior to the meeting.

2. Special meetings of the chapter may be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Board. Written notice of such meetings shall be provided each member by the Secretary of the chapter at least five days in advance of the meeting date. The President shall call special meetings of the chapter within seven days of being so directed by the Executive Board or by a petition signed by ten percent of the members.

3. The quorum required for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Chapter shall consist of 20 percent of the members.

4. Members may participate in meetings virtually.

Article VIII: Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of those voting at a regular meeting of the Chapter, provided that a notice setting forth the proposed amendment or amendments an explanation thereof and known objections thereto shall have been sent to each member at least thirty days prior to the vote. Any member of the chapter may initiate an amendment. 

Article IX: Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are consistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Chapter shall adopt.

Article X: Dissolution

Upon dissolution of the chapter, its assets shall be distributed to the Association, a charitable and educational organization.

Enacted this 25th day of September in the year 2020.