Alumni Board Bylaw

School of Information Sciences Alumni Association at the University of
Tennessee, Knoxville

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the University of Tennessee School of Information Sciences (SIS) Alumni Association.

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of the Association shall be to support the programs of the School of Information Sciences and to promote professional and social interaction among its alumni.

Article III - Membership

Any person who is a graduate of the School of Information Sciences or its predecessors is eligible for membership in the SIS Alumni Association.

Article IV - Officers

Section 1 - The elected officers of the association shall be the president, vice-president (president-elect), secretary, and four members-at-large.

1. The president shall preside at all proceedings of the association, plan the program of activity for the year, appoint committees as appropriate, and assume any other duties necessary.
2. The vice-president (president-elect) shall act in the absence of the president and shall automatically assume the duties of the president for
   the following term of office.
3. The secretary shall keep records of all the proceedings of the association.
4. Members-at-large shall represent the general association membership.

Section 2 - The four elected members-at-large serve as the nominating committee. Nomination of officers and members-at-large is completed and approved by the executive board by July 1. The nominating committee will be responsible for organizing, communicating, and administering the annual election of board members.

Section 3 – Officers and members-at-large shall be elected by a majority of members casting ballots via a method to be determined by the executive
board.

Section 4 - The president and vice president (president-elect) will each serve a one year term of office. Upon completion of the one year term, the president shall succeed to the office of immediate past president and the vice president (president-elect) shall succeed to the office of president.

1.    The Immediate Past President shall be available to fill any vacated position(s) and automatically assumes the duties of President if the office is vacated. If multiple offices are vacant, the immediate past president shall be given first choice of office.

2.    The Executive Board shall make immediate appointments to fill any vacated offices (excluding the office of President) and appointees shall carry out the duties for the remainder of the term of the respective office (refer to Article IV, Section 6). All SIS alumni are eligible to fill appointments for vacant Executive Board positions.

Section 5 - Officers will assume their duties September 1 and exit their offices August 31.

Section 6 - The term of office for members-at-large is two years with two members being elected each year. The annually elected members-at-large assume their duties September 1 of the year elected and exit their offices August 31 of their second year of service.

Article V - Executive Board

Section 1 - There shall be an executive board composed of the elected officers, the immediate past president, and four elected members-at-large.
The board shall supervise all association affairs and meet as often as the president deems necessary.

Section 2 - The director of the School of Information Sciences shall serve as the faculty adviser to the Alumni Board. The director shall be an ex officio member of the executive board.

Article VI - Meetings

The association shall have one regular meeting each year. Other meetings may be held as deemed appropriate by the executive board.

Article VII — Events

The Alumni Board executive committee shall oversee the planning and promotion of the School’s alumni events. The executive board shall plan the program in consultation with the director and the communications specialist.

Article VIII — Awards

The Alumni Board executive committee will solicit and gather nominations for its two awards in collaboration with the communications specialist: the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Innovator’s Award. SIS Alumni will vote for the winners, according to the awards criteria. The president will write a letter to invite award recipients to attend an event to honor their award.

Innovator’s Award:

• This award honors an alumnus or alumna who graduated at least two years earlier.
• The recipient demonstrates innovation in the field of library and information sciences through cutting edge activities, forward thinking, leading trends, or reinventing a traditional service.
• Nominations for this award are sent to a designated Alumni Board member. SIS Alumni vote to determine the winner.

Distinguished Alumni Award:

• This award honors an alumnus or alumna who graduated at least ten years previously.
• The recipient demonstrates a meritorious career based on service, teaching, and/or scholarship.
• Nominations for this award are sent to a designated Alumni Board member. SIS Alumni vote to determine the winner.

For all submissions, nominators must submit a resume, a letter of explanation, and rationale why the individual being nominated demonstrates national merit and is deserving of this award.

Article IX - Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the Modern Edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the association in all cases where they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the association may adopt.

Article X - Amendments

This constitution may be amended by unanimous vote of the executive board. When deemed necessary by the executive board, the amendment may be submitted to the membership for vote.

Amended June 2009.

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