Friday, 04 November 2022
ARTICLE I. NAME
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication (SWECJ/MC).
Section 2. Official use of the organization’s name shall be made only through the authority of the Council.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES
Section 1. The purpose of the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication is to promote the recognition, welfare, and progress of journalism and mass communication education in the Southwest.
Section 2. The objectives are as follows:
a. To work cooperatively toward strengthening journalism and mass communication teaching, research, and service in the Southwest.
b. To host a Symposium to recognize significant research by faculty and students in journalism and mass communication programs in the Southwest.
c. To honor individuals who have made significant contributions to journalism and mass
communication education in the Southwest.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING
Section 1. Membership in the Council shall be limited to dues-paying journalism and mass communications programs in institutions of higher education offering the baccalaureate degree in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming, and Utah.
Section 2. Only academic units carry voting privileges. No institution shall have more than one vote. It is the past president’s responsibility to solicit names for open positions on the Executive Committee.
Section 3. All memberships shall be for 12 months beginning September 1.
Section 4. A Past President’s Council shall consist of all past presidents of the Council whether or not affiliated with a member academic unit. Past presidents may serve in an ad hoc advisory capacity at the request of the President but shall not have voting privileges. Past presidents may participate in the Symposium upon payment of a registration fee similar to that paid by representatives from member institutions.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the Council shall be past president, president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. No more than two officers shall be from the same institution (the treasurer is excluded from this provision).
Section 2. The president shall preside over meetings of the Council, assist in the achievement of goals, and may appoint committees to assist in achieving these goals.
Section 3. The vice president shall preside and exercise the powers of the president in the president’s absence, and shall succeed to the presidency upon the death or resignation of the president, filling the unexpired term. The outgoing vice president shall become president.
Section 4. It is the responsibility of the vice president to send out the call for papers for the annual Symposium refereed papers competition, to receive the papers, to find judges for the papers, and to get the papers to the judges in a timely fashion so they can be returned. It is the vice president’s responsibility to produce a program for the presentation of the papers, and to notify presenters early enough so they can make travel and hotel arrangements. The vice president shall work with the president and the host institution to coordinate awards presented at the symposium, reimbursed by the SWECJMC treasurer. It is the vice president’s duty to work with the host school to coordinate the paper presentations. The vice president also may work with the host school to provide special panels, although it is the sole responsibility of the host school to ensure programming is complete.
Section 5. The vice president shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot at the annual business meeting or by mail ballot, with the method to be determined by the Executive Committee. The secretary shall be elected for a term of two years. The secretary shall be elected in even years.
Section 6. The treasurer shall be elected for a term of two years. The treasurer shall be elected in odd years. The treasurer shall keep current the membership list and shall make a financial report at the annual meeting.
Section 7. Newly elected officers shall assume office at the passing of the gavel from the president to the vice president at the Friday night awards ceremony and shall serve through the following Symposium. The secretary shall assume office every other year.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS
Section 1. The Council shall hold one annual meeting each year, usually in conjunction with the Symposium in the fall. The Executive Committee shall meet at least annually at a time and place designated by the president.
Section 2. Special meetings of the Council may be called by the president or the Executive Committee with at least 10 days written notice.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall determine the site and dates of the Symposium.
ARTICLE VI. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The Executive Committee of the Council shall administer the policies of the Council and shall, between the scheduled meetings of the Council, serve as the chief administrative authority of the Council.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of nine voting members: the immediate past president, president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and four directors. The four directors are elected in staggered elections for a two year term in the same manner prescribed in Article IV Section 5 and no more than two directors may be from the same state. The editor of the Southwestern Mass Communication Journal shall serve as ex-officio member.
Section 3. All members of the Executive Committee shall be from member schools. If a committee member leaves for a non-member school, he or she shall resign. If an officer or director resigns or dies at least three months before the end of his or her term of office, nominations for a replacement from member schools shall be solicited and a replacement member elected in a special meeting of the (8-member) Executive Committee within 60 days. The new officer shall be elected for a term that completes the original officer’s term. The past president shall abstain from voting in the case of tie. If an officer or director resigns or dies within three months of the end of his or her term, the position shall remain vacant until filled at the next business meeting.
Section 4. The Executive Committee shall serve as the Council’s publication board to determine policy and operation of the Southwestern Mass Communication Journal.
ARTICLE VII. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
In the absence of any provision to the contrary in this Constitution or by-laws, all business meetings of the Council, of the Executive Committee, and of the Council committees shall be governed by the parliamentary rules and usage contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, revised.
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENT
Section 1. Amendment to the Constitution or by-laws may be initiated by any member of the Council. Amendments must be proposed in writing. The deadline for amendments shall be 30 days prior to the annual meeting of the Council. Amendments must be circulated by those proposing them.
Section 2. A majority vote of a quorum of the entire membership of the Council shall be required for adoption of a proposed amendment to the Constitution or by-laws. A quorum shall consist of half of the membership. Proxies for member schools who are not represented at the Symposium will be accepted.
ARTICLE IX. ADOPTION AND REVISION
Adoption or revision of the Constitution shall require a majority vote of a quorum of the entire membership of the Council. The Constitution or revisions of it shall take effect immediately upon adoption.