CONSTITUTION

Preamble

We, the alumni of Ball State University, in order to foster and more fully realize the ideals of the University; to stimulate and encourage the loyalty of all sons and daughters of the University by acquainting them fully with the progress and needs of their Alma Mater; to assist in interpreting the University, its work and its services, to the State and Nation; and to unite ourselves in closer bonds of fellowship and mutual assistance, do establish this Constitution.

ARTICLE I

Name and Membership

Section 1--The name of this Association shall be the Ball State University Alumni Association.

Section 2--All graduates and former students of Ball State and the schools that preceded it are and shall be considered Alumni and members of this Association.

Section 3--Active Members shall be those who have contributed to the Annual Fund for the current year as provided in the By-Laws, and only Active Members shall be eligible to hold office or to vote.

Section 4--Associate Members shall be those friends of the University who may belong to the Association but may not hold office or vote. Anyone making a gift to the Ball State Annual Fund shall be an Associate Member.

Section 5--Honorary Members shall be those persons who may be elected to such membership by the Alumni Council but may not hold office or vote unless they qualify under Section 2.

Section 6--Constituent organizations may be formed within this Association. Application to form such constituent organization may be made as provided by the By-Laws. Constituent organizations may adopt constitutions, pass by-laws, elect officers, designate committees, and otherwise function as organizations within this Association, provided that nothing so adopted or done shall be in conflict with this Constitution. All such provisions, including the levying of any special assessments on members, shall be subject to the approval of the Alumni Council of this Association.

ARTICLE II

Government

The management of affairs of the Association shall be vested in an Alumni Council, an Executive Committee and the officers, as specified elsewhere.

Section 1--Alumni Council: There shall be an Alumni Council in which the voting rights of the general membership shall be vested. It will be composed of 15 members representing the membership at-large (term and election as specified in the By-Laws) and representatives from each constituent organization (as approved by the Council with term and selection as specified in the By-Laws).

1. Each alumni chapter is eligible for one representative on the council as long as that club meets the minimum requirements for club activity and organizations. This representative shall be chosen by each alumni chapter.
2. Each professional society or constituent society that is organized as provided elsewhere in the By-Laws is eligible for a representative organization.
3. All officers of the Association and the immediate Past President of the Alumni Association shall be members of the Council.  
4. The Alumni Council shall meet twice yearly in regular session and for any special session as called by the Association President. The Council membership shall be notified in writing at least ten days prior to any such meeting. A simple majority of the Alumni Council shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2--Duties of the Alumni Council:

1. To pass By-Laws governing the Association.
2. To hear an annual report from the President, the Executive Director, and the Treasurer of the Association.
3. To elect officers of the Alumni Association from the active membership of the Association.
4. To approve the constitutions for alumni chapters, professional societies, and constituent societies and to determine eligibility requirements for their representation on the Alumni Council.
5. To adopt an annual budget of the Association.
6. To nominate jointly with the appropriate University official, to the President and the Board of Trustees of the University, an Executive Director of Alumni Programs who shall also serve as Executive Director of the Association.
7. To nominate, for the Governor's appointment, two Alumni Association representatives for the Board of Trustees.

Section 3--The Executive Committee: Membership of the Executive Committee of the Association shall include the officers of the Association and the elected members at-large as indicated in the By-Laws.

Section 4--Duties of the Executive Committee:

1. Implementation of Alumni Council policy and recommendation of policy matters to the Alumni Council.
2. Appointment of appropriate standing and special committees upon recommendation of the President of the Association.
3. Recommendation of agendas for Alumni Council Meetings.
4. Recommendation of the Alumni Association budget for Alumni Council consideration.

BY-LAWS

Section 1--Alumni Council

1. Membership
   1. At-Large representation of 15 members will be determined by the Council by electing four each year for respective three-year terms.
   2. Constituent organizations are defined as Alumni Chapters (geographic), Professional Societies (educational), or Constituent Societies (special interest). Constituent organization representatives to the Council will be determined by the respective organization, will serve a two-year term on the Council, and will be part of its constitution. Each Professional Society, Constituent Society, and Alumni Chapter that is formally chartered shall be eligible for one representative. Subsequent organizations (Alumni Chapter, Constituent Society, or Professional Societies) shall be eligible for representation following approval of its constitution by the Alumni Council.
   3. Other members of the Council include all Association officers and the immediate Past President of the Association. All professional staff personnel of the Office of Alumni Programs are ex-efficio, non-voting members.
   4. The two Alumni Association representatives to the Board of Trustees are ex-officio members of the Council and are included in all business of the Association.
   5. One Alumni Association representative to the Ball State University Foundation will serve for three years and also serve on the Executive Committee of the Council.
   6. When a member of the Alumni Council is absent for two consecutive meetings, the Executive Director shall call the member prior to the third meeting to determine the intent of the member. The Executive Committee may request a letter of resignation from the member.
2. Nominations and Elections:
   1. At the spring meeting of the Alumni Council, a Nominating Committee will be appointed that will prepare the following slates of nominees for selection at the fall meeting of the Council:
      1. Officers of the Association (Executive and Finance Committee) for a one-year term including the President, President-Elect, four Vice-Presidents, a Ball State University Foundation representative, and Past-President; provided, however, that if there is no Past President for any reason, a fifth Vice-President. These officers shall be chosen from the current membership of the Alumni Council.
      2. At-Large members of the Alumni Council as indicated in By- Laws, Section 1 (A-1).
   2. The newly elected officers and members of the Alumni Council will take office January 1, and will be formally installed at the first subsequent meeting of the Council.

Section 2--Constituent Organizations

1. Alumni Chapters may be formed in any geographic area upon petition of twenty-five Active Members of the Association. Upon acceptance of their constitution by the Alumni Council they will be eligible for representation on the Council as specified in Article II, Section 1 A. The Chapter shall hold a minimum of one annual meeting an actively represent the Association and the University in its locality. The Alumni Council may revoke the charter of any Clhapter at any time for just cause.
2. Professional Societies may be organized by request of a college dean or department chairman accompanied by a petition of twenty- five or more Active Members of the Association. They shall hold a minimum of one annual meeting. Upon acceptance of their constitution, they will be eligible for representation of the Council as specified in Article II, Section 1 B. The Alumni Council may revoke the charter of any society at any time for just cause.
3. Constituent Societies may be organized by request of a petition of twenty-five or more Active Members of a special interest group. They shall hold a minimum of one annual meeting. Upon acceptance of their constitution, they will be eligible for representation on the Council as specified in Article II, Section 1 B. The Alumni Council may revoke the charter of any Society at any time for just cause.

Section 3-- Officers/Executive and Finance Committee: The officers of the Association shall be a President, President-Elect, Vice-Presidents, a representative to the Ball State University Foundation, Past President, and Executive Director. Their duties shall be the normal ones associated with such offices. The duties of the Vice- Presidents shall be determined annually by the President with input from the Past-President, President-Elect, and Executive Director. The Executive Director will also serve as treasurer and publisher of the Ball State Alumnus.

Section 4--Committees:

1. Standing Committees shall include:
   1. Alumni Scholarship
   2. Distinguished Alumni Award
   3. Benny Award
   4. G.O.L.D. Award
   5. Nominating
   6. Strategic Planning
2. Temporary Committees shall be appointed as needed by the President of the Association and approved by the Executive Committee.
3. All committees shall serve for the duration of the calendar year and their members may include any alumni members of the Association.

Section 5--The annual Fund is defined as making a current calendar year gift to the Ball State University Foundation.

Section 6--Amendments:

1. Constitution: The Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the Alumni Council by a two-thirds vote of those present, provided that the proposed amendments shall have been distributed to the membership of the Council thirty days prior to its consideration by the Council.
2. By-Laws may be amended by simple majority of those attending any regular meeting of the Council.

Section 7--Audit: The annual budget of the Alumni Association, as determined by the Alumni Council, will be subject to audit at the end of each fiscal year in a manner determined by the Executive Committee.

September 18, 1971

Revised: September 1980
Revised: November 5, 1988
Revised: September 9, 1989
Revised: September 22, 1990
Revised: September 15, 2001
Revised: September 25, 2004