Constitution and By-Laws

CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I. Name and Purpose
1. The name of this association shall be changed from the Texas Association of College Admission Counselors to the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (“TACAC”), a chartered state affiliate of the National Association of College Admission Counselors now known as the National Association for College Admission Counseling (“NACAC”).

2. The purposes for which the Association is organized are exclusively educational and charitable and no other. In furtherance thereof, its mission is:
a. To develop and maintain high standards which foster ethical and social responsibility among those involved in the process of planning for postsecondary education.

b. To promulgate and to promote adherence to the Statement of Principles of Good Practice of NACAC.

c. To promote and protect the interests of students involved in the postsecondary education planning process.

d. To develop the professional competence and to meet the professional needs of individuals involved in admission procedures.

e. To engage in and report research pertinent to the purposes of the Association.

f. To educate those involved in the process of planning for postsecondary education.

g. To develop services related to the process of planning for postsecondary education and admission.

h. To assist in the development of efficient programs of counseling which will aid parents and students in selecting a suitable college.

i. To communicate information to members and other appropriate parties.

j. To provide opportunities for interaction between and among members, the various segments of the Association, other parts of the educational community and appropriate organizations and agencies.

k. To interpret to various publics any information, data and opportunities relevant to the student’s postsecondary education planning.

l. To strive for the inclusion of traditionally underrepresented and eligible TACAC members to leadership roles in the Association, both at the state and NACAC levels.

ARTICLE II. Membership
1. Voting membership in the Association shall be extended to any secondary school, college, university, organization, agency or individual in the state of Texas eligible for voting membership in the NACAC.

2. Non-voting (associate) membership in the Association shall be extended in accordance with Article I, Sections 4. and 5. of the By-Laws of NACAC.

3. Membership shall be terminated automatically by failure to pay Texas ACAC dues or by failure to comply with the Statement of Principles of Good Practice of NACAC, as determined by the Monitoring Statement.

ARTICLE III. Meetings
There shall be at least two meetings held each year. One will be held during the annual conference of the NACAC. The other will be called by the officers of the TACAC.

ARTICLE IV. Officers
1. The officers shall be the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the immediate Past President of Texas ACAC.

2. The officers shall be selected from among TACAC leadership by a majority vote of the eligible members present at a general state meeting of TACAC. No officer may serve more than two years in the same office. The Secretary and Treasurer shall each serve a term of two years unless reelected by the members. All other officers will serve a term of one year unless reelected by the members.


ARTICLE V. Duties of the Officers
1. The duties of the President shall be:
a. To prepare the agenda for the general meetings.

b. To preside at any meeting of the Association and the Executive Committee.

c. To appoint any committees deemed advisable.

d. To serve as ex-officio member of all committees.

e. To submit a report to the membership at an annual meeting.

f. To appoint eligible members to fill vacancies on the Executive Committee.

2. The duties of the President-Elect shall be:
a. To preside at any meeting of the Association in the absence of the President, and to assist the President as requested.

b. To chair the annual Conference Planning Committee.

c. To assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President.

3. The duties of the Secretary shall be:
a. To be responsible for the records of the Association.

b. To record and retain the minutes of all meetings.

4. The duties of the Treasurer shall be:
a. To maintain the official financial records of the Association including sending statements, collecting dues, paying bills and performing other financial transactions.

b. To report periodically on the financial condition of the Association.

ARTICLE VI. Executive Committee
1. There shall be an Executive Committee of TACAC to assist the President in carrying out the purposes of the Association.

2. Membership of the Executive Committee shall include:
a. The President of TACAC.

b. The President-Elect of TACAC.

c. The Secretary of TACAC.

d. The Treasurer of TACAC.

e. The immediate Past President of TACAC.

f. The TACAC Publications and Research Chair.

g. All TACAC delegates to the National Assembly of NACAC.

h. All persons chairing standing committees.

i. All persons chairing ad hoc or advisory committees appointed by the President of TACAC.

3. A vacancy shall occur when a member of the Executive Committee resigns or can no longer meet the membership elegibility requirements of Texas ACAC.
a. In case of vacancy in the office of the President, the President-Elect shall become President and a member of Texas ACAC shall be appointed President-Elect pro tem until the next General Membership meeting.

b. In case of a vacancy on the Executive Committee other than President, the President shall have the power to appoint eligible members to fill vacancies on the Executive Committee until the next meeting, at which time a member will be elected to complete the original term.

ARTICLE VII. Delegates
1. Delegates to the NACAC National Assembly shall be elected or appointed according to the provisions of Article V of the By-Laws of NACAC.

2. The chief delegate shall be the immediate Past President of TACAC.

3. Delegates to the Assembly shall be elected by NACAC voting members of TACAC and Alternate Delegates shall be elected by NACAC voting members of TACAC and Alternate Delegates shall be elected or appointed not later than June 30 of the year in which they are to be seated in the Assembly. Upon election or appointment the Executive Director shall immediately be notified by TACAC of the names and terms of office of its Delegates and Alternate Delegates.

4. In order to remain as Delegates of the Assembly and/or officers of NACAC, incumbents must continue to be persons charged with responsibility for admitting students, or with responsibility for guiding students in planning for postsecondary education, or with responsibility for performing services relating to the counseling or admission of students, as defined in Article I of NACAC By-Laws; provided that for purposes of this Article an incumbent shall be deemed to continue to be a person charged with such responsibilities until the sixteenth day following the termination for any reason of such incumbent’s qualifying employment or the date on which such incumbent accepts nonqualifying employment, whichever occurs first.

ARTICLE VIII. Standing Committees
1. The Standing Committees of TACAC shall be:
a. The Conference Planning Committee (chaired by the President-Elect).

b. The Membership Committee.

c. The Awards Committee

d. The Nominating Committee.

e. The Government Relations Committee.

f. The Professional Development Committee.

g. The information Support Services Committee.

h. The Human Relations Committee.

i. The Admission Practices/Ethics Committee.

j. The Publications and Research Committee.

k. Executive Secretary for Membership.

2. Members of standing committees shall be appointed from the membership by the persons chairing the committees, in consultation with the President of TACAC.

ARTICLE IX. Amendments
The constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting of TACAC by a vote of two-thirds of the members attending, provided that notice of any proposed amendment has been sent to each member at least two weeks prior to the date of said meeting.

ARTICLE X.
This Constitution shall be consistent with NACAC’s governing documents. Within one year after the adoption of any amendment to NACAC’s governing documents, TACAC shall review its governing documents and shall adopt any amendments required to maintain consistency with NACAC’s governing documents.

BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I. Dues
Dues shall be established by the Executive Committee. Any changes in dues will be announced at least six (6) weeks in advance of any general meeting.

ARTICLE II. Quorum
One-tenth of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for a general meeting of TACAC.

ARTICLE III. Amendments
Amendments to the by-laws may be made by a two-thirds vote of the voting members attending any general meeting of TACAC without previous notification.

ARTICLE IV.
Roberts’ Rules of Order will govern all rules not specifically covered by the Constitution of TACAC or NACAC.