Tennessee Conference of Graduate Schools Bylaws

Article I. NAME

This organization shall be called The Tennessee Conference of Graduate Schools.

Article II. PURPOSE

It is founded for the purpose of considering matters of common interest relating to graduate study and research, articulating the needs of graduate education, and influencing public opinion and legislation for the improvement and advancement of graduate education through appropriate channels.

Article III. MEMBERSHIP

Each public or not-for-profit institution of higher education in the State of Tennessee which has regional or professional accredited status and offers graduate degrees or certificates will be eligible for membership. State governing or coordinating boards also may hold membership.

Article IV. MEETINGS

The Conference shall meet in Fall and Spring of each year. The meetings shall be rotated among the three grand divisions of the state.

Article V. OFFICERS

The officers of the Conference shall be a president, a vice president (who shall be designated as president-elect), a secretary and a treasurer. Officers shall be elected biennially except the treasurer, who shall be elected every three years. Elections shall be held at the Spring meeting and officers will assume office on the following July 1.

The four elected officers of the Conference and the immediate past president shall constitute the Executive Committee.

The officers and members of any committees shall be appointed or selected as individuals and not as representatives of a particular institution.

Article VI. PROGRAM

The Executive Committee shall prepare an agenda for each meeting.

Article VII. VOTING POWER

At meetings each member institution may have any number of representatives present, but each member institution shall have a single vote cast by the graduate dean or the officer designated as the official contact person for that institution.Representatives from coordinating and governing boards are non-voting members.

Article VIII. LIMITATIONS OF POWER

No act of the Conference shall be held to control the policy or line of action of any member institution.

Article IX. DUES

Each member institution of the Conference shall be assessed membership fees to be paid annually as agreed upon by members present at the spring meeting. The treasurer shall maintain a detailed ledger for all expenses and income, and shall report on all expenditures and income at each meeting.

Article X. ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the Bylaws after April 1977 may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by written petition of any of the members. To be adopted, proposed amendments must receive the approval of a two-thirds majority of the members voting at a meeting. Proposals for amendments shall be received by the Executive Committee and forwarded with recommendations to the members, in writing, at least 30 days before the meeting at which they are to be voted upon.

Article XI. STATE AND FEDERAL EXEMPTION

Notwithstanding an other provisions of these articles, the Conference is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under IRC Section 501(c)(3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws.

No part of net earnings of the Conference shall inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director, officer of the Conference of any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the Conference), and no member, trustee, officer of the Conference or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets on dissolution of the Conference.

No substantial part of the activities of the Conference shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided by IRC Section 501(h) and participating in, or intervening in (including the publication or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. [Adapted from the By-Laws of the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP).]

Bylaws Amended: February 8, 2017