Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be: The Liberal Arts Foundation Advisory Council, The University of Texas at Austin.
Section 2. Authorized use. Official use of the organization's name shall be made only when authorized by The Liberal Arts Foundation Advisory Council (hereinafter "Advisory Council").
Section 1. Purpose. The purposes of the Advisory Council are to promote the recognition, welfare, and progress of the College of Liberal Arts (hereinafter "College"), at The University of Texas at Austin (hereinafter "The University"), and to encourage the making of gifts to The University for the use of the College. The objectives are:
Section 2. The work of the Advisory Council is considered to be part of the work of The University's Development Board. Coordination of effort and staff liaison is provided through the offices of the Dean and the Development Office of The University.
Section 1. Members. There shall be four classes of membership in the Advisory Council: Active, Ex-Officio, Life, and Honorary.
Section 2. Active Members. There shall be not more than 75 Active Members of the Advisory Council, each serving for a term of three years or filling unexpired terms of less than three years. The Active Members shall be appointed by the President of The University in coordination with The University Development Board, on nomination of the Dean, and shall serve staggered terms, approximately one-third of the terms to expire each year. The term of membership shall begin on September 1 and end on August 31. Active Members may not serve more than three full terms. Active Members need not be graduates of The University nor residents of the State of Texas, but they shall not be faculty of The University. The President has discretion to relieve any member of the Advisory Council from membership prior to the end of the member's term of appointment.
Section 3. Qualifications. Qualifications for Active Members on the Advisory Council are:
Section 4. Responsibilities. The responsibilities of the Active Members of the Advisory Council are:
Section 5. Ex-Officio Members. Ex-Officio Members of the Advisory Council without vote shall be the Vice President for Development of The University, and the President of the Liberal Arts Student Council. The President of The University and the Dean shall have voting privileges.
Section 6. Life Members. A Life Member is one whose term on the Advisory Council has expired but who has been invited by the Membership Committee to continue serving on the Advisory Council. Active Members shall be invited to assume Life status if they meet the following criteria:
Active Members who have served fewer than three full terms, but who have met the criteria listed in b. and c. above, may also be invited by the Membership Committee to assume Life status. Life Members will continue to serve indefinitely without reelection, enjoying all the privileges and responsibilities of Active Membership. Life Members shall be encouraged to support the College financially by giving to or raising for The University for the use of the College a minimum of $1,500.00 per year. The talents and experience of Life Members shall be utilized in organizing important Advisory Council events.
Section 7. Honorary Members. An Honorary Member is one who has consistently over an extended period of time rendered exceptional service or made significant financial contributions to the College and to The University. The Honorary Member shall be nominated by the Dean and approved by the Advisory Council. Each Honorary Member shall have all the privileges of an Active Member, except that the Honorary Member shall have no vote.
Section 1. Officers. The Officers of the Advisory Council shall be: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and the Dean. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman must be Active Members of the Advisory Council or may be Life Members who have not previously held either of these offices. However, the Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship shall not simultaneously be filled by Life Members.
Section 2. Chairman. The Chairman shall preside over meetings of the Advisory Council, assist in the achievement of its goals, and work with the Dean to establish such committees and task forces as may be deemed appropriate to serve the interests of the College.
Section 3. Vice-Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall preside and exercise the powers of the Chairman in the absence of the Chairman, and shall succeed to the Chairmanship upon the death or resignation of the Chairman to fill the unexpired term.
Section 4. Elections and terms. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be elected at the annual meeting by voice vote--unless a written ballot is requested by any Active Members present--for a term of one year, or until their successors are elected. Officers may be re-elected to a second term. Persons may be nominated by an Active Member at the annual meeting as well as by the Nominating Committee.
Section 5. Period of term. All elected officers shall assume office on September 1 of the calendar year in which elected.
Section 6. Dean. The Dean shall direct the Advisory Council's staff work, shall cause to be kept and distributed to all members of the Advisory Council accurate minutes of all meetings of the Advisory Council, and shall issue notice of all meetings.
Section 1. Regular meetings. Regular meetings of the Advisory Council shall be held at least twice each year. The spring meeting will be considered the annual meeting of the Council. The second meeting will be scheduled in the Fall. the time and place of each of the meetings shall be designated by the Chairman, notice of which shall be in writing and sent to members at least fourteen days preceding the date of the meeting.
Section 2. Special meetings. Special meetings of the Advisory Council may be called by the Chairman with at least ten days' written notice that shall state the purpose of the meeting. Notice shall be waived by a member who attends the special meetings or by written waiver of notice signed before or after the meeting. Notice may be by letter, fax, email, or other electronic means. The President or Dean may call meetings as he or she deems necessary, with at least ten days' written notice that shall state the purpose of the meeting.
Section 3. Guests. Upon invitation by the Chairman, guests may attend meetings of the Advisory Council.
Section 4. Quorum. A quorum qualified to take action for the Advisory Council shall be 35 Active Members of the Advisory Council. The vote of a majority of the Active Members present at a meeting shall constitute the decision and the action of the Advisory Council.
Section 5. Meetings of the Committees. A minimum of four days' notice (including telephone or written notice) shall be required, and those present at the time and place specified in the notice shall constitute a quorum. Minutes of all meetings shall be kept and presented to the Advisory Council at its next meeting (regular or special).
Section 1. Executive Committee role. The Executive Committee of the Advisory Council shall administer the policies of the Advisory Council and shall, between the scheduled meetings of the Advisory Council, serve as the chief administrative authority of the Advisory Council.
Section 2. Executive Committee membership. The Executive Committee shall consist of: the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the immediate past Chairman, the Dean, the Pro Bene Meritis Committee Chairman, the Membership Committee Chairman, the Nominating Committee Chairman, the Outreach and Resource Development Committee Chairman, and not less than three and no more than five at-large members chosen by the Officers from among the Active Members of the Advisory Council. In addition, the Dean may, at his or her discretion, appoint no more than four Life Members to the Executive Committee.
Section 1. Standing committees. In addition to the Executive Committee, the standing committees of the Advisory Council shall be the Nominating Committee, the Membership Committee, The Outreach and Resource Development Committee, and the Pro Bene Meritis Committee. The Dean shall be an Ex-Officio Member ofall Advisory Council committees.
Section 2. Other committees and task forces.The Chairman may, from time to time, in consultation with the Dean, establish such special committees and task forces and appoint such Chairmen and members to such committees and task forces as shall be helpful to the Advisory Council in the performance of its activities.
Section 1. Amendments to Bylaws. Amendments to these Bylaws may be initiated by any Active Members of the Advisory Council and may be presented to any meeting of the Advisory Council with at least 15 days' written notice of each proposed amendment to the Bylaws. All Bylaws are subject to, and must be consistent with, the Regents' Rules, U.T. System policies and the policies of The University.
Section 2. Vote necessary to amend Bylaws. For adoption of a proposed amendment to these Bylaws, a two-thirds vote of the Active Members present at a meeting of the Advisory Council shall be required.
Amendments to the Bylaws shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
Amended April 23, 2010