BYLAWS AND PROCEDURES OF
THE LIBERAL ARTS FOUNDATION ADVISORY COUNCIL

ARTICLE I
Name

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"). 

ARTICLE II
Purpose and Objectives

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:

• a. To assist the Dean of the College (hereinafter the "Dean"), the Faculty, and the Students of the College in strengthening fundamental education in the areas included in the College, and in strengthening the Liberal Arts program at The University. 
• b. To generate and maintain widespread interest in and commitments to the College.
• c. To inform alumni and friends of The University and the public about, and to promote the recognition of, the College, its present work, its services to the State and Nation, and its future plans and needs.
• d. To promote the welfare and advancement of the College and to assist it financially by encouraging voluntary private gift support.
• e. To promote understanding, interaction, and cooperation with other Advisory Councils of The University.

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.

ARTICLE III
Membership

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: 

• a. A strong belief in the private support of higher education and enthusiasm for the College and The University.
• b. High standing in the community and wide acquaintanceship. 
• c. A sense of organization, an ability to get others to work, and a willingness to devote time to the organization, leadership, and activities of the Advisory Council. 
• d. A willingness to seek financial support for the College and to give personal support as far as possible.

Section 4. Responsibilities. The responsibilities of the Active Members of the Advisory Council are: 

• a. To assist in the attainment of the objectives of the Advisory Council and the College. 
• b. To participate from time to time in presenting the needs of the College to prospective donors. 
• c. To attend a majority of the meetings of the Advisory Council unless excused or waived. 
• d. To give or to raise for The University for the use of the College an average of at least $1,500.00 per year during the time of service.
• e. When any Active Member's current term expires, if he or she has not met the requirements of Council membership, he or she shall not be eligible to continue serving on the Council. 

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. 

• a. Ex-Officio Members may designate a nominee to attend any meeting of the Advisory Council that the member is unable to attend.
• b. Any Ex-Officio Member who ceases to serve in the office that qualified him or her for membership on the Advisory Council shall be succeeded in membership on the Advisory Council by the person who succeeds to such office, either as the named officer or one who temporarily serves in such capacity. 
• c. The Dean may establish an Advisory Board comprised of two faculty members of the College. These faculty members shall be professors at The University and shall assist the Dean in service to the Advisory Council. 

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: 

• a. The member has served three full terms; 
• b. The member has met the minimum fundraising requirement for the membership in Section 4. d. or has given to or raised for The University for the use of the College a total of at least $13,500.00 over the period of his or her lifetime; and
• c. The member has met the attendance requirements in Section 4. c.

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. 

ARTICLE IV
Officers

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. 

ARTICLE V
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). 

ARTICLE VI
Executive Committee

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. 

ARTICLE VII
Committees

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.

• a. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of a Chairman and at least four Active Members appointed by the Chairman of the Advisory Council. The Nominating Committee shall nominate candidates for Chairman and Vice-Chairman and shall report their nominations at the annual meeting. The Chairman of the Advisory Council shall appoint a Nominating Committee Chairman and at least four Active Members of the Advisory Council, two of whom shall serve a one-year term and two of whom shall serve a two-year term, the matter to be determined by lot. Thereafter all four members of the Nominating Committee shall serve two years, but with staggered terms. The Nominating Committee Chairman will serve one two-year term and become a non-voting Ex-Officio Member of the Nominating Committee during the year after serving as Chairman. No member may serve on the Nominating Committee two consecutive terms. The Nominating Committee shall include persons from geographically diverse areas of the State of Texas. 
• b. Membership Committee. The Membership Committee shall consist of a Chairman appointed by the Chairman of the Advisory Council, the Dean of the College, plus six members who are broadly representative of geographic areas of Texas and the country. The Membership Committee shall assist the Dean in identifying persons qualified for nomination to membership on the Advisory Council.
• c. Outreach and Resource Development Committee. The Development Committee shall consist of a Chairman and Active and Life Members appointed by the Chairman of the Advisory Council. The Development Committee shall assist the Dean with outreach and development activities to help build donor relations. 
• d. Pro Bene Meritis Committee. The Pro Bene Meritis Committee shall consist of four Active Members of the Council, appointed by the Chairman of the Council. The Committee shall solicit nominations of distinguished individuals for the Award and together with four members of the Development Council and three former Pro Bene Meritis recipients, to be appointed by the Dean, select the Award recipients. 

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. 

ARTICLE VIII
Amendments

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. 

ARTICLE IX
Adoption

Amendments to the Bylaws shall take effect immediately upon adoption. 

Amended April 23, 2010