Constitution of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Employers

I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be “Mississippi Association of Colleges and Employers” (MACE); hereinafter referred to as the “Association.”

 

II. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Association shall be:

A. To encourage professional training experiences for the people educated by colleges and universities in the state of Mississippi.

B. To promote high standards of work, legal and ethical practices, and the general professional development of its members.

C. To engender greater understanding and cooperation between individual colleges and employers in their combined recruitment efforts through an exchange of ideas, information, experience, and education.

 

III. COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

 The Mississippi Association of College and Employers is committed to attaining a pluralistic, diverse membership and providing access to all programs and resources to individuals regardless of age, appearance, disability, gender expression, gender identity, immigration status, military veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. The Association encourages the recruitment and professional development of individuals from all groups by continually developing, examining, and instituting policies, practices, and procedures.

 

IV. MEMBERSHIP

There shall be only one class of membership - individual. A member shall be one who has been officially accepted into membership and whose dues are current as set forth in the Bylaws under “Membership.”

 

V. EXECUTIVE BOARD AND OFFICERS

The administrative responsibility of the Association shall be vested in an Executive Board as defined by the bylaws. The elected officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Marketing/Technology Director, and four Directors. The immediate Past-President shall be a member of the Executive Board for one year.

 

VI. MEETINGS

The Association shall hold at least one business meeting each fiscal year at the Annual Conference. The fiscal year shall be July 1 – June 30.

VII. AMENDMENT

A. Amendments to, or revisions of, this Constitution shall be proposed by the Executive Board or by any member.  The Executive Board may recommend for or against the acceptance of any proposed amendment or revision, but must present all recommendations to the membership. All proposed amendments to, or revisions of, this Constitution should be submitted to membership with a minimum of 30 calendar days before a vote is taken.

B. Adoption of any amendment to, or revision of, this constitution shall be upon a two-thirds majority of voting representatives present during the annual conference business meeting.

 

VIII. RULES OF ORDER

“Robert’s Rule of Order, Revised” shall be the authority upon all procedural questions not covered by the constitution and bylaws.

 

Bylaws of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Employers

I. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. There shall be one class of membership - individual. A member shall be one who has officially been accepted into membership and whose dues are current.

Section 2. Membership is open to Cooperative Education and career services from four-year degree granting colleges and universities, junior/community colleges, and post secondary vocational - technical institutions in Mississippi; representatives of state and federal government employment agencies; and to employers who are actively engaged in the selection and placement of students and alumni of these institutions. Third party recruiter representatives of any type are not eligible for membership. Third party recruitment agencies include any organization which charges fees for job placement services.

Section 3. Associate membership is open to students enrolled in graduate programs of member colleges and universities who have demonstrated interest in the profession and who are not employed full-time in the profession. Associate members are non-voting members and are not eligible to serve in elected offices.

Section 4. Membership, as approved by the treasurer, is validated by the payment of the annual dues. Membership dues will be billed by the treasurer each year.

Section 5. Membership shall terminate when a member becomes ineligible as defined in Article I, Section 2 or is delinquent in payment of dues. Membership may be transferred to a successor in the same position upon written request and approval by the Executive Board. A former member dropped for delinquency in dues may be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current year, providing he/she is still eligible.

 

II. EXECUTIVE BOARD AND OFFICERS

The administrative responsibility of the Association shall be vested in an elected Executive Board consisting of the officers, the immediate past president, and four directors. The Executive Board shall take office at the beginning of the fiscal year following the election.

 

OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Marketing/Technology Director.

Section 2. The term of office shall be one year. No officer shall succeed himself/herself in office except the Secretary and Treasurer, which will serve a three-year term and the Marketing/Technology Director, which will serve a two-year term.

Section 3. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association; shall act as Chair of the Executive Board; shall call all regular and special meetings of the Association; shall appoint all chairpersons and members of the committee unless otherwise designated; shall recommend to the Executive Board for approval and appointment successors to fill unex­pired terms of office of Executive Board members; and shall represent the Association each year at the annual Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE) Conference – in which his/her registration fee and a $50 per day per diem – not to exceed four days – will be covered by the Association.

Section 4. The Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President in his/her absence or at his/her request; shall be chairperson of the Program Committee for the Annual Conference; shall serve as President-Elect; and shall serve as president until the next annual election should that office become vacant.

Section 5. The Secretary shall keep all official minutes of the Executive Board and the Association business meetings; shall maintain a current and accurate list of members; shall maintain an historical archive of Association records; shall develop and maintain an effective mentoring program and new member orientation program; shall issue invitations and notifications as shall be required by the Executive Board; and shall serve as an approved signature on the Association’s bank account. The Secretary will serve a term of three years.

Section 6. Treasurer shall keep accurate records of all financial business of the Association; present the annual estimated expenditure to the Executive Board for review and approval; shall make reports as required by the Execu­tive Board; shall pay all bills approved by the President or other designated officers; shall submit to the membership statements of policies concerning dues; shall manage and process all deposits and withdrawals, accounts payable & accounts receivable, and Association investments; and shall maintain records of receipts. The Treasurer will serve a term of three years.

Section 7. The Marketing/Technology Director shall be responsible for maintaining the Association website and updating information as necessary; writing the quarterly Association newsletter; acting as a liaison between MACE and SoACE; submitting updates for newsletters and assisting with membership; and developing marketing materials to help promote MACE. The Marketing/Technology Director will serve a term of two years.

Section 8. Four directors shall be elected at the Annual Conference for a term of one year. Two shall be Employer members, and two shall be College members. The four directors shall serve on the Program Committee. The Directors shall also coordinate two professional development learning and support activities, one each Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer, not to coincide with the Winter Drive-In and Annual Conference.

Section 9. The immediate Past-President shall be a member of the Executive Board for one year. In the event the immediate past president cannot serve, the president shall appoint one of the other past presidents to fill the unexpired term. The immediate Past-President shall be chairperson of the Program Committee for the Professional Development Winter Drive-In.

 

III. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing committees shall be the Program (Annual Conference), Nominating, Membership, and Audit Committees. Standing committees shall be appointed by the President.

Section 2. Other committees shall be appointed by the President, as deemed necessary.

Section 3. These committees shall serve during the year in which they are appointed.

Section 4. The Program Committee shall be responsible for the program of the Annual Conference. The Vice President shall be chair of the Program Committee. The committee shall be composed of the four directors; additional members may be appointed as needed by the committee chair.

Section 5. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of three members. It shall select and present to the annual business meeting a slate of nominees for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Marketing/Technology Director, and Directors. The business meeting shall be open to nominations from the floor.

Section 6. The Membership Committee shall market the Association to develop new members and expand the membership.

Section 7. The Audit Committee shall be composed of the four directors. It shall have the responsibility of auditing the financial records of the Association annually and submitting a report to the President within sixty days of the close of the fiscal year.

 

IV.  DUES & FEES

Section 1. The annual membership dues of the Association shall be set by the Executive Board and approved by the majority of the voting membership.

Section 2. Individual membership dues shall be $75.00 annually transferable for the remainder of the current year upon leaving position. [Associate membership dues shall be $30.00 annually and are available only to individuals.]

Section 3. Dues shall be billed annually.

Section 4. Members whose dues remain unpaid shall receive a second billing. Members whose dues remain unpaid for 60 days shall be dropped from membership.

Section 5. The executive board shall approve the registration fee for the annual conference.

 

V.  MEETINGS

Section 1. The Association shall hold its annual conference at a time to be determined by the Executive Board. Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Board.

Section 2. Executive Board members and officers shall take office at the beginning of the fiscal year following the election.

Section 3. A majority of the membership of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of any of its meeting (6 of 10). Each member of the Executive Board has one vote.

Section 4. Active members in good standing only shall have voting rights in Association business meetings. Each membership representative present shall be entitled to one vote. Absentee voting is not permitted.

Section 5. Majority vote is required to pass motions in the Executive board meetings and the Association meetings, with the exception of amendments or revisions to the Constitu­tion, which require two-thirds majority vote.

Section 6. The Executive Board may invite to meetings of the Association special guests. Association members may invite to the meetings representatives of their organization and their families.

Section 7. The Program Committee shall determine the registration fee for the Annual Conference subject to the approval of the Executive Board. Registration and dining fees may be reimbursed to program participants who are not Association members if approved by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board present.

 

VI.  AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to, or revisions of, these bylaws shall be proposed by the Executive Board or by any member.  The Executive Board may recommend for or against the acceptance of any proposed amendment or revision, but must present all recommendations to the membership. All proposed amendments to, or revisions of, this Constitution should be submitted to membership with a minimum of 30 calendar days before a vote is taken.

Section 2. Adoption of any amendment to, or revision of, these bylaws shall be upon a two-thirds majority of voting representatives present during the annual conference business meeting.

 

Last Amended and Revised: July 2023