Constitution

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AIKEN
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

We, former students of the University of South Carolina at Aiken (USCA), grateful for the privilege of having shared in that institution's ideals and mindful of the enrichment and opportunities brought to our lives through our association with USCA, do hereby constitute ourselves as the USCA Alumni Association and pledge to continue to develop and support USCA and the USCA Alumni Association through giving of our time, talents and resources.

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the USCA Alumni Association.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of the USCA Alumni Association shall be to support the mutual interests of USCA and its alumni through vigorous efforts to foster the resources of and opportunities offered by each organization, including providing and soliciting financial support for each organization.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERS

A. All USCA Alumni are welcome to join the USCA Alumni Association. There shall be at least the following categories of membership in the USCA Alumni Association:

Regular Members. Regular members shall consist of former students who have received a degree from USCA and who have paid the minimum annual contribution to the university set forth by the USCA Alumni Board. Graduating seniors who participate in the Senior Class gift program will also be considered Regular members.
Associate Members. Associate Members shall consist of current USCA students, former students who did not receive a degree or friends of the university who have expressed an interest in supporting USCA Alumni Association activities. Associate Members must also pay the minimum annual contribution set forth by the USCA Alumni Board.
Other levels of membership may be established by the action of the USCA Alumni Board based upon financial contributions, service or other standards.

B. The minimum annual contribution shall be set forth by the USCA Alumni Board and should be assessed every 2-3 years.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

A. Association Officers

President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Alumni Association, Alumni Board, and Executive Committee, appoint members and chairpersons of standing committees, except as otherwise provided herein, and ad hoc committees as needed; appoint persons to fill temporarily any office that becomes vacant; perform such other duties as are provided for in this constitution; and perform any other duties necessarily implied herein. This is a two-year term.

Vice President. The Vice President shall serve for the President during any absences and become President in the event of a vacancy in the office of President. The Vice President shall be a member of the Alumni Board and the Executive Committee. This is a two-year term.

Secretary/Treasurer. The Secretary/Treasurer shall take all minutes of all regular meetings of the Alumni Board, and the Executive Committee; report on all scholarship matters including fundraising totals, budgets, and scholarship recipient correspondence; perform such other duties as assigned by the President; and shall be a member of the Alumni Board and Executive Committee. This is a two-year term.

Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President shall serve as a mentor to the President, provide support and guidance to the committee chairs, perform such duties as assigned by the President and shall be a member of the Alumni Board and the Executive Committee. This is a one-year term.

Ex-Officio Officers. The Ex-Officio Officers shall include:

a. The USCA Vice Chancellor for University Advancement

b. The USCA Director of Alumni Relations

(Shall serve as a coordinator to the USCA Alumni Association and shall assist the Association, its officers, and members in implementing programs and activities undertaken by the Association. The Director shall be employed by the University and selected according to university hiring policies.

B. Terms of Officers

The President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer shall serve terms of two (2) years.
The Immediate Past President shall serve a term of one (1) year.

C. Election of Officers

The President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected every other year, at the final annual meeting of the USCA Alumni Association by a majority of those active members attending that meeting or voting in writing by email or other written means, received by the Secretary prior to the meeting. There shall be only one vote per Active Member allowed.
Prior to the Final Meeting, a Nominating Committee appointed by the Executive Committee. composed of at least three members of the Alumni Board shall compile and present in writing a slate of officers to the active members of the Board at least two weeks prior to the final meeting.
All nominees must be Active Members of the USCA Alumni Association.
All nominees so presented must give their prior consent to have their names placed in nomination.
Any active member of the Association attending the final meeting is eligible for nomination from the floor to an office.

D. Vacancies

In addition the provisions in IV.A. 1., a vacancy in the existing terms of any Association office, except President, shall be filled by appointment of the President until the next Annual or Special Association Meeting
At the Final Meeting a permanent successor shall be elected by majority vote as provided in IV.C. Herein above.

ARTICLE V: ALUMNI BOARD

A. The Alumni Board shall be an advisory council for and represent the Alumni Association in all matters; carry out the mission of the Association; receive and act on reports; set annual fees for Active Membership in the Association; establish levels of membership in addition to those provided herein above; and carry out such other duties and responsibilities as are necessary for the functioning of the Association. Ideally the Alumni Board will be comprised of up to fifteen (15) members who must be active members of the Association and shall serve terms of two (2) years.

B. Members

Members shall be appointed to the Alumni Board by the Executive Committee,
The Alumni Board should strive to have representatives from each of the colleges and professional schools.
Other at-large members may be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Alumni Board. The Alumni Board shall strive to achieve a diversity of membership in the Alumni Council that reflects the diversity of current and former students of USCA.
The Presidents’ (or a designee) from any approved Alumni Council (see Amendment I) shall serve as at-large members to the Alumni Board.
In the event that a Board member is unable to complete his/her duties, the Alumni Board shall nominate a replacement for that vacancy. The actions of replacing a Board member and adding a replacement member shall be accomplished by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Alumni Board voting.
There shall be 8 board members who serve on even-year terms and 7 board members who serve on odd-year terms. Officers will serve on odd-year terms.
Ex-Officio members shall include the following:
a. Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs
b. Director of Alumni Relations

C. Voting

With the exception of the presiding officer and ex-officio members, all members of the Board shall have voting privileges. The presiding officer may vote to break a tie.
All issues considered by the Alumni Board shall be decided by a majority vote of those present, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
Officers may be reelected, not to exceed two (2) consecutive terms.

D. Meetings

The Alumni Board shall meet not less than four (4) times per year. Such regular meetings shall be held at a time, place and format approved by the Executive Committee.
Special meetings may be called by the President, a majority vote of the Executive Committee, or by majority vote of the Alumni Board.
A simple majority of the Alumni Board shall constitute a quorum for conducting business at regular or special meetings.

E. Standing Committees

The Alumni Board shall include the following standing committees appointed by the Executive Committee. Meetings of committees will be called by their respective chairpersons. Such committees shall consist of the following:

Member Benefits and Scholarship Committee,
Student and Alumni Engagement Committee,
Fundraising and Young Alumni Committee,
Legislative and Bylaws Committee,
Such ad hoc committees as may be appointed by the President.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Association President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Immediate Past President. A simple majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting business. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the Director of Alumni Relations, the President, or any two members of the committee. The Executive committee shall have the responsibility for establishing policy and strategic direction for the USCA Alumni Association. If necessary, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to make decisions during the interim between meetings of the Board.

The Executive Committee shall meet when deemed necessary by that committee.

ARTICLE VII: ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

A. Annual Meeting

The USCA Alumni Association may hold an Annual Meeting on a date, place and format approved by the Executive Board.
Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Executive Committee or by the petition or majority vote of the members of the Alumni Board.

B. Notice of Meetings

At least ten (10) days' notice of an Annual or any special meeting of the Association shall be given to all active members. Such notice shall contain a listing of the matters to be considered at the meeting.
No other agenda items may be introduced at the meeting, except on the majority vote of the active members attending the meeting.

C. Quorum

The quorum necessary to conduct the business of the Alumni Association shall be the majority of the Alumni Executive Board.
Members unable to attend the meeting may submit their votes by a written, signed proxy received by the Secretary/Treasurer prior to the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

All meetings of the Alumni Association, Alumni Board, Executive Committee, Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees shall be conducted pursuant to the most current edition in effect at the time of Robert's Rules of Order, unless such is waived by unanimous consent of the members attending the meeting.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be altered, amended or repealed in whole or in part by a majority vote of the active members of the Alumni Board attending a Regular or Special meeting. Written votes received by the Executive Board prior to the Regular or Special Meeting may be accepted if an Active Board Member is unable to attend the meeting. No such amendment may be considered unless fourteen (14) days prior notice of the meeting and a written explanation of the amendments are provided to all active members of the Alumni Board.

AMENDMENT I: COUNCILS OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

(Passed May 14, 1999)

Councils of the Alumni Association may be formed based on academic discipline, geographic location, or other special interests. Policies regarding governance, programming, and financing of such Councils will be set by the Alumni Board within the following parameters:

Approval to form a Council must be granted by the Alumni Board, which also shall have the power to disband a Council.
The Alumni Board will consider forming a Council after receiving a written request to do so from 15 Alumni Association members in good standing who claim an affinity with a particular academic department, geographic location, or special interest.
The Alumni Board may provide financial support during the Council's formative phase, and the Alumni Board reserves the right to attach obligations for the use of the money.
The Alumni Board shall have the authority to set aside a portion of funds raised by each Council for use by that particular Council.
All solicitations from an affinity council need approval from the Alumni Director and the Vice Chancellor of Development and Alumni Affairs.
The Alumni Board shall appoint a member in good standing to serve as a liaison to a Council and as an ex-officio member of the Council’s governing body.
An Alumni Council shall refer to itself in all publications and correspondence as a "Council of the USCA Alumni Association."

Revised and Approved June March 2025*

Former Versions Revised and Approved

June 2024
December 2019
June 2015
May 2013