Alabama Council of Graduate Deans

Section 1. Membership

(a) The State universities within Alabama are subject to the regulatory authority of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and are automatically full members of the Council. Any other educational institution which offers graduate study, is resident within the State of Alabama, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, may apply for full membership. Full membership status would require that the applicant pledge to participate fully in the new program review process and forward the Graduate Council's recommendation to the institution's governing board prior to final approval and implementation of the proposed program.

(b) Associate membership is open to any postsecondary institution not subject to the regulatory authority of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education which offers graduate study, is resident within the State of Alabama, and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

(c) The President of each member institution shall designate a regular institutional representative (the Graduate Dean or an individual responsible for graduate study) who shall participate in Council deliberations. The President of each full member institution shall also designate an alternate institutional representative who shall serve as a voting member in the absence of the regular institutional representative. If the regular institutional representative is absent, the attendance of the alternate representative will be counted towards a quorum.

Section 2. Ex Officio Membership

The Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education, or the Director's designee, shall serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Council.

Section 3. Appointment of Membership

Appointments of the institutional members will be made by the Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, with the concurrence of the Commission, and will be limited to the provisions of Article III, Section I (a and b).

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers

The officers of the Council shall be the chair, vice-chair (chair-elect), secretary and treasurer. These officers shall serve one-year terms. Only the secretary and treasurer may serve successive terms. Alternates (assistant and associate deans) can hold office.

Section 2. Duties

Duties shall be those usually incumbent upon such officers.

Section 3. Election of Officers

A nominating committee consisting of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Immediate Past Chair, and the ACGD member with the most seniority shall, following the second quarterly meeting of the full Council, identify a slate of nominees for next year's Council of officers. The list of nominees, along with any nominations from the floor, will be presented to the Council at its third quarterly meeting. Elections shall be held at the third quarterly meeting with new officers assuming their duties on the 1st of October each year.

ARTICLE V

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. Membership

The Executive Board shall consist of six members - chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer, immediate past chair, and one member elected by the Council for a one-year term.

Section 2. Ex Officio Membership

The following shall serve as ex officio, non-voting members of the Executive Board:

(1) The Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education, or the Director's designee;

(2) A Communication Officer, responsible for maintaining efficient internet-based communications amongst the Council membership, appointed from the Council membership (both regular and alternate members) by the Executive Board prior to October 1 each year. In years for which a voting member of the Executive Board can fulfill the duities of Communication Officer, no additional ex officio appointment shall be made.

Section 3. Quorum

A majority of the voting members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4. Function

The Executive Board shall exercise the full power of the Council between meetings when necessary and also perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the Council. All actions of the Executive Board shall be reported to the Council at its next meeting and will be subject to review by the Council. Upon advice of the Executive Board, the Chair shall appoint committees of the Council as needs arise.

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings

The Council should meet in regular session once each calendar quarter at a time set by the chair.

Section 2. Special Meetings

A special meeting of the Council may be called by the chair, by a majority of the Executive Board, or by petition signed by one-fourth of the Council membership.

ARTICLE VII

VOTING PRIVILEGES

Each full member institution shall have one vote on the Council. Associate member institutions have no vote.

ARTICLE VIII

QUORUM

Section 1. Simple majority of voting members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2. A quorum must be present at any official meeting at which business is transacted or a vote taken committing the Council to any proposal or action. Meetings without a quorum may be held, however, for information purposes or to engage in discussion on matters of interest to the Council.

ARTICLE IX

PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert's Rules of Order shall be the Council's final authority on all questions of procedure and parliamentary law not covered by the Constitution.

ARTICLE X

AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of the Council may be amended by two-thirds vote of the council membership at an official meeting, provided that written notice of the proposed amendment or amendments has been given at least 30 days in advance. Preliminary Draft July 26, 1977 Revised October 20, 1977 Revised March 22, 1978 Adopted March 22, 1978 Revised November 13, 1985 Revised November 7, 1990 Revised April 30, 1993 Revised November 15, 1996
Revised April 19, 2002
Revised April 23, 2004

Developed by Dr. Stephen L. McFarland and Junmo Yang