Proposed By-Law Amendments for 2016

April 4, 2016
2015-2016

Anne Kremer, Past President and Credentials Committee Chair
DePaul University

The 2015-2016 Credentials Committee presents the following proposed changes to our by-laws. These amendments address the changes within our association as we move forward. In addition, this year’s by-laws were read alongside of our newly created Leadership Manual. We reviewed the content this year with the mindset of searching for material tucked in the by-laws that is better suited for the Leadership Manual and removing it accordingly. As always, the Credentials Committee also ensures that the Illinois Association for Admission Counseling (IACAC) adheres to the guiding principles of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and adherence to the Statement and Principles of Good Practice.

These proposed changes will be presented at the Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, May 4th, 2016. The meeting will begin at 8:30 am. Voting cards and ballots will be available in registration packets. In the interest of being green, we will not be printing a copy of all by-law changes for each folder this year, however, these will be located on the website should you be interested in following along. We will also have all changes displayed on two screens in the Membership Meeting. Voting members who cannot attend Conference may request a proxy ballot.

A tremendous thanks to the members of this year’s Credentials Committee. I am so grateful to each of you for your time and expertise. The work of this committee and the changes they have put forth help us ensure that the by-laws will continue to allow future leadership and members to adapt to the changes and growth within the organization.

Mission Statement

Old Language:

The Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) has a dual mission. First and foremost is our role in providing help, support, and guidance to assist students successfully through an important life transition. This is achieved within the context of safeguarding options, which meet the needs of individuals in regard to college choice.

New Language:

The purpose or mission of the association is to support and advance the work of counseling professionals as they educate students, with particular emphasis on the transition from secondary schools to colleges, universities, and other post-secondary options. In all activities, attention to access and equity for all students is paramount.

Rationale: As we put together the new strategic plan we took a closer look at our mission statement. The previous statement emphasizes that we serve both counselors and students equally, however, our organization is one for professionals within the counseling profession and we first serve this population and as a by-product directly and indirectly impact students. We felt it necessary to clarify this as our mission and purpose by refreshing the statement.

Article I. Membership

Section 1. Voting Membership

A. Individuals

Old Language:

Persons who perform the majority of their professional duties in Illinois and provide counseling, admission or financial aid services to students and/or their parents and who are employed by an out-of-state institution or organization as approved by the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling.

New Language:

Persons whose primary recruitment territory is in Illinois perform the majority of their professional duties in Illinois and provide counseling, admission or financial aid services to students and/or their parents and who are employed by an out-of-state institution or organization as approved by the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling.

Rationale: Work is done in Illinois even though the person might not spend the majority of time in Illinois. Because their work consists of recruiting Illinois students, we want to clarify that statement.

Old Language:

Regional representatives of two or four-year colleges, universities, or postsecondary institutions located outside of Illinois who perform the majority of their professional duties in Illinois.

New Language:

Regional representatives of two or four-year colleges, universities, or postsecondary institutions located outside of Illinois whose primary recruitment territory is perform the majority of their professional duties in Illinois.

Rationale: Same as above.

Article I. Membership

Section 2. Nonvoting Membership

Old Language:

Nonvoting membership in IACAC shall be extended to the following:

New Language:

A member institution shall be represented by a person or persons charged with the responsibility for admitting students or for guiding students in planning for postsecondary education. Nonvoting membership in IACAC shall be extended to the following:

Rationale: This statement should be required of all groups listed below.

Article I. Membership

Section 2. Nonvoting Membership

B. Educational Institutions

Old Language:

Any not-for-profit two- or four-year college or university, or primary or secondary school in the State of Illinois, which is degree-granting or which awards a diploma, which is newly established or has not attained accreditation, which meets the professional criteria that shall be established by the Executive Board from time to time, and which is in agreement with the purposes of IACAC. A member institution shall be represented by a person or persons charged with the responsibility for admitting students or for guiding students in planning for postsecondary education.

New Language:

Any not-for-profit two- or four-year college or university, or primary or secondary school in the State of Illinois, which is degree-granting or which awards a diploma, which is newly established or has not attained accreditation, which meets the professional criteria that shall be established by the Executive Board from time to time, and which is in agreement with the purposes of IACAC. A member institution shall be represented by a person or persons charged with the responsibility for admitting students or for guiding students in planning for postsecondary education.

Rationale: Same as above. Moving this language from Article I, Section 2, B2 to cover all components of Article I, Section 2.

Article III. Cabinet and Council

Section 1. Duties of Cabinet Officers

Old Language:

Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining the official financial records of IACAC, performing other financial transactions, and monitoring fund development. The Treasurer shall be chairperson of the Professional Development Grants Committee, Finance Committee and shall submit an annual report to the general membership at the Annual Membership Meeting.
Treasurer-Elect.
The Treasurer-Elect shall serve on the Professional Development Grants Committee, Finance Committee and the Illinois College Fair Committee.

New Language:

Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining the official financial records of IACAC, performing other financial transactions, and monitoring fund development. The Treasurer shall be chairperson of the Professional Development Grants Committee, Finance Committee and shall submit an annual report to the general membership at the Annual Membership Meeting.
Treasurer-Elect.
The Treasurer-Elect shall be the chairperson of the Professional Development Grants Committee and will serve on the Professional Development Grants Committee, Finance Committee and the Illinois College Fair Committee.

Rationale: When the position was created, the Treasurer-Elect was given the duty of chairing the Professional Development Grants Committee. This reflects the work already occurring within this position.

Article V. Council Teams and Committees

Section 2. Standing Committees

Rationale for following changes regarding committee membership: Details about committee membership and carryover have been moved into the Leadership Manual.

A. Admission Practices Committee.
The Admission Practices Committee shall review annually the Statement of Principles of Good Practice of NACAC, the NACAC Monitoring Procedures for the Statement of Principles of Good Practice, IACAC Monitoring Procedures, and the IACAC Statement of Practices and Courtesies, and shall formulate and recommend changes to the IACAC Executive Board which shall determine whether to submit such recommendations to the NACAC Executive Board. This committee shall also be responsible for dealing with alleged infractions as defined by NACAC guidelines. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

B. College Awareness and Preparation Committee (CAP).
The College Awareness and Preparation Committee shall be responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing, and staffing association-sponsored activities to offer the expertise of IACAC to individuals throughout the State of Illinois who are seeking counseling and information regarding postsecondary admission and financial aid. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

D. Credentials Committee.
The Credentials Committee shall determine eligibility as outlined in these By-Laws for membership in IACAC; make recommendations to the Executive Board regarding criteria for membership in IACAC; investigate membership eligibility questions referred to it by the Executive Board; and review these By-Laws and recommend revisions when deemed appropriate, including revisions required to maintain their consistency with the governing documents of NACAC. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year. The chairperson shall be the Most Recent Active Past President.

G. District Seminars Committee.
The District Seminars Committee shall be responsible for creating, coordinating, and implementing IACAC District Seminars in Region 1 and Region 2. These seminars will address guidance and admission concerns for high schools, community colleges, four-year colleges and universities. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

I. Inclusion, Access and Success Committee.
The Inclusion, Access and Success Committee shall develop and recommend goals which promote sensitivity to human differences and guide the expansion of equal access for all students to postsecondary educational opportunities. The committee shall plan and recommend strategies for implementing a multicultural agenda for the association. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

J. Media Communications Committee.
The Media Communications Committee shall be responsible for increasing the visibility of IACAC and promoting its college transition programs and services through media and marketing strategies. This committee shall also be responsible for promoting use of technology within the association. Membership should have some carryover from year to year.

K. Membership Committee.
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for reviewing, developing, and recommending promotional activities for membership in IACAC. The chair/s of this committee shall oversee production of the membership directory. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

L. Mentorship Committee
The Mentorship Committee shall function as an outreach of IACAC to provide new and veteran members with an opportunity to form partnerships for professional development. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

M. Middle Management Committee (MMI).
The Middle Management Institute Committee shall be responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing and staffing summer middle management training for post-secondary college admission professionals with three or more years of experience. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

N. National College Fair Committee.
The National College Fair Committee shall be responsible for assisting the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) in planning, coordinating, implementing and staffing the NACAC College Fair(s) in Illinois. The membership of this committee shall be diverse and embrace secondary, postsecondary and community-based organizations. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

Q. Professional Liaison Committee
The Professional Liaison Committee shall be responsible for communicating and coordinating IACAC services with like organizations, who offer expertise to individuals throughout the State of Illinois seeking counseling and information regarding postsecondary admission and financial aid. Examples of such organizations would be ISAC, ISCA, CPS, etc. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

R. Summer Institute Committee
The Summer Institute Committee shall be responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing and staffing summer training institute(s) for secondary and postsecondary college admission counselors. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

S. Summer Tours Committee
The Summer Tours Committee shall be responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing tours to colleges for counselors involved in the college transition process. Membership should have some carry-over from year to year.

Article V. Council Teams and Committees

Section 2. Standing Committees
Continued

Old Language:

H. Illinois College Fair Committee.
The Illinois College Fair Committee shall be responsible for establishing the Illinois College Fair schedule, overseeing policy and procedures, promoting the Illinois Regional College Fairs, and overseeing the planning and implementation of the Articulation Unplugged program held each fall. The Illinois College Fair Coordinator shall be the chairperson and the committee shall consist of nine members, each of whom shall serve a three-year term. In addition, the Treasurer-Elect shall serve as the tenth member of the committee. Efforts will be made to include a member who serves on the Chicago National College Fair Committee and at least one member who will also serve as the chief organizer(s) of Articulation Unplugged.

New Language:

H. Illinois College Fair Committee.
The Illinois College Fair Committee shall be responsible for establishing the Illinois College Fair schedule, overseeing policy and procedures, promoting the Illinois Regional College Fairs, and overseeing the planning and implementation of the Articulation Unplugged program held each fall. The Illinois College Fair Coordinator shall be the chairperson and the committee shall include consist of nine members, each of whom shall serve a three-year term. In addition, the Treasurer-Elect. shall serve as the tenth member of the committee. Efforts will be made to include a member who serves on the Chicago National College Fair Committee and at least one member who will also serve as the chief organizer(s) of Articulation Unplugged.

Rationale: Details about committee membership and carryover have been moved into the Leadership Manual.

Old Language:

O. Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall nominate a candidate or candidates for each office to be voted on by the membership at each Annual Membership Meeting. The membership of this committee shall be as provided in Section 1 of Article IV.

New Language:

Rationale: This addition denotes the chairperson of the committee and should be included in the by-laws.

Old Language:

Section 2. Other Duties

New Language:

Section 3. Other Duties

Rationale: Correct numeration.

Old Language:

Section 3. Other Committees
Any Committee deemed necessary to implement the activities and purposes of IACAC may be appointed by the Executive Board.

New Language (updated April 13, 2016):

Section 4. Other Committees
Any committee deemed necessary to implement the activities and purposes of IACAC may be appointed as an ad-hoc committee by the President, with approval of the Executive Board.

Rationale: As described in Roberts’ Rules of Order, committees are appointed by the presiding officer. In the case of IACAC, this would be the President. For the sake of transparency, we are adding that the by-laws take this one step further and seek approval of the Executive Board. This also provides correct numeration.

Old Language:

Section 4. Committee Membership
Except as otherwise specifically provided in these By-Laws, the President shall appoint committee chairpersons. Each committee chairperson, except as otherwise specifically provided in these By-Laws, shall appoint the members of his or her committee from the membership of IACAC. Such appointments shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Board. The members of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed in the manner set forth in Section 1 of Article IV.

New Language:

Section 5. Committee Chairpersons and Membership
Except as otherwise specifically provided in these By-Laws, the President shall appoint committee chairpersons and such appointments shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Board. Each committee chairperson, except as otherwise specifically provided in these By-Laws, shall appoint the members of his or her committee from the membership of IACAC. Such appointments shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Board. The members of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed in the manner set forth in Section 1 of Article IV.

Rationale: This provides clarification.

Article VIII.

Old Language:

Rules of Order
The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all procedures for IACAC not covered by the Illinois General Not-For-Profit Corporation Act and these By-Laws.

New Language:

Rules of Order Operation
The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all procedures for IACAC not covered by the Illinois General Not-For-Profit Corporation Act and these By-Laws. The association is also governed by the IACAC Leadership Manual and the IACAC Fiscal Policy Manual.

Rationale: More complete description of governance and to be transparent with the membership.

By-Laws