Article I. Name and Acronym
The name of this association shall be the Bloomington Advisors’ Council. The official acronym of the Council shall be BAC.
Article II. Mission Statement
The mission of the Bloomington Advisors’ Council (BAC) is to promote the quality of academic advising at Indiana University, Bloomington. To this end, it is dedicated to the support and professional growth of advisors. BAC serves its constituency in academic and student affairs concerned with the intellectual, developmental, personal and vocational needs of students. It is the forum for discussion, debate, and exchange of ideas regarding academic advising on the Bloomington campus. BAC is the official representative and advocate of academic advising and academic advisors on the Indiana University, Bloomington campus.
Article III. Association with the National Academic Advising Association
BAC is associated with the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) and supports the goals and programs of NACADA.
Article IV. Membership
The membership and opportunities for leadership shall be open to all individuals meeting membership eligibility requirements. There shall be no discrimination for reasons of religion, age, race or color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or handicap.
Regular memberships shall be open to faculty members, administrators, counselors, academic advisors, graduate students, and other members of the IU Bloomington community whose interest is in the area of academic advising.
Article V. Meetings of the Membership
Sec. 1. The Annual Meeting of BAC shall be held between January 15 and March 15.
A. The officers of the Council shall consist of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
B. Each officer shall serve for a term of two years. The President and Treasurer will serve their term concurrently, as will the Vice President and Secretary. Terms commence on July 1 of each year.
A. Two officers will be elected each year at or prior to the annual meeting.
B. During the fall semester, the BAC President will inform the membership of the officer positions due for election and will poll the membership for nominations.
C. Members may self-nominate or nominate other BAC members. Individuals nominated by others must agree in writing or by e-mail to be a candidate for the position.
D. The President will present all nominations to the Steering Committee for approval. The Steering Committee will base approval on each candidate’s experience, support of BAC and its mission and ability to contribute to the organization. Candidacy approval will be granted by a simple majority vote of Steering Committee members present at the meeting of discussion.
E. Should vacant officer positions be without a candidate, the Steering Committee will solicit and appoint a candidate from the membership. The appointed individual must agree to the candidacy.
F. Voting may be conducted and completed by electronic or paper ballot up to two weeks prior to the annual meeting.
G. Candidates receiving a simple majority of all votes received will be the new officers. Ties will be broken by a simple majority vote of the Steering Committee members present at the meeting of discussion.
A. President
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Council and Steering Committee. The President is charged with oversight of all Council activities and functions; serves as a spokesman and representative of the council for campus committees, campus events, and at state/national conferences; may call special meetings of the Steering Committee; may appoint ad hoc committees as needed; serves as an ex officio member of all standing and ad hoc committees. The President may delegate some of the above responsibilities to other BAC officers without approval of the Steering Committee. The President will also write the annual report of the organization and submit it to the Steering Committee prior to the annual meeting.
B. Vice President
The Vice President shall perform the duties and responsibilities of the President during the President’s absence, and, when so acting, shall exercise the powers of the President. If the Presidential position becomes vacant, for whatever reason, the Vice President will assume the position for the remainder of the original presidential term.
C. Secretary
The Secretary shall keep records of all meetings of the Council and the Steering Committee and shall give notice of all meetings to all members.
D. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall have custody of all BAC funds and must be knowledgeable of University guidelines governing institutional funds. Assets maintained outside the University shall be placed in a federally insured depository institution approved by the Steering Committee. The Treasurer shall also maintain a register accounting for all receipts and disbursements. The Treasurer will also write the annual report of Council funds. The Treasurer will submit the annual report and present the account register to the Steering Committee for audit each year prior to the annual meeting. The fiscal year shall be from July 1 through June 30.
Officers may be removed from their position by a two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee members present at the meeting of discussion. Officers removed by the Steering Committee may, upon request, have their removal confirmed or reversed by a simple majority vote of the BAC membership.
In case of vacancy, resignation, or removal of any officer position (except for President), the Steering Committee shall solicit the membership for candidates to fill the vacant position. The Steering Committee will consider all candidates and will then elect a new officer by a simple majority vote of the Steering Committee members present at the meeting of discussion. The newly elected officer will serve out the duration of the original officer’s term.
Article VII. Steering Committee
The Steering Committee shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, the Chairs of the Standing Committees, and one representative from each of the following academic advising units:
The College of Arts and Sciences; the Graduate School; the Kelley School of Business; the School of Continuing Studies; the School of Education; the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; the School of Informatics; the School of Journalism; the School of Library and Information Sciences; the School of Music; the School of Nursing; the School of Optometry; the School of Public and Environmental Affairs; the School of Social Work; Athletics Advising; the FASE Mentor Program; Groups Student Support Services; the Health Professions and Pre-law Center; the Hudson and Holland Scholars Program; the Hutton Honors College; the Office of Overseas Study; and University Division.
The Steering Committee shall review unit representation on the Steering Committee each year. Additions and/or deletions of unit representation shall occur by a two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee members present at the meeting of discussion.
The Coordinator for each academic advising unit is responsible for designating a representative to the committee each year by August 15.
The Steering Committee shall reorganize each year in August.
A. The Steering Committee shall have full authority over the affairs of the Council.
B. Specific Powers and Responsibilities
1. The Steering Committee shall be responsible for meetings of the Council.
2. The Steering Committee shall supervise the activities of the Standing Committees.
3. The Steering Committee shall prepare and submit an annual budget for approval by the Council.
4. The Steering Committee shall review and approve all annual reports submitted prior to the annual meeting.
5. The Steering Committee determines the necessity and amount of annual dues, subject to ratification by the membership at the annual meeting.
6. The Steering Committee must approve all contracts and/or other agreements obligating the organization.
7. The Steering committee may authorize expenditures not included in the annual budget up to $500 per fiscal year, without prior approval of the membership, and may authorize variations in budgeted expenditures as necessary to fulfill Council goals.
Article VIII. Standing Committees
The Standing Committees shall consist of volunteers from the membership of the council at large. Committees will be convened at the annual meeting and a Chair elected from the committee members attending. Each Chair will serve as a member of the Steering Committee.
There shall be four Standing Committees of the Council: Professional Development, Campus Affairs, Membership, and Public Relations.
A. Professional Development
The purpose of the committee shall be to promote the individual and corporate professional growth of the membership for the benefit of the advisors, students and the University as a whole.
B. Campus Affairs
The purpose of the committee is to be active in any area within the University Community which affects the students of Indiana University Bloomington, the BAC membership and all academic advisors.
C. Membership
The purpose of the committee is to promote, establish and maintain active membership in BAC. The committee will work with the Steering Committee to determine the need for or amount of annual membership dues.
D. Public Relations
The purpose of the committee is to facilitate communication of relevant information among advisors on the Bloomington campus and to the university, local communities and media as appropriate, to heighten public awareness of the importance of academic advising at Indiana University, Bloomington.
A. Each Standing Committee shall prepare an annual budget to be submitted to the Steering Committee
B. Each Standing Committee shall prepare an annual report to be submitted to the Steering Committee before the annual meeting.
C. Each Standing Committee Chair shall be responsible for reporting its ongoing activities to the President.
Article IX. Ad-Hoc Committees
Committees may be established by the Council or by the Steering Committee to serve as needed. Service on these committees shall be open to all BAC members. Each ad-hoc committee must have a written charge stating procedures and duration of the committee assignment.
Article X. Standing Rules
A. Standing Rules may be enacted, amended, or deleted by a two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee members present at the meeting of discussion.
B. Standing Rules may be enacted, amended, or deleted by a simple majority of all votes received from the Council membership.
C. The Secretary shall maintain a current copy of the By-laws and Standing Rules.
Article XI. Amendments to By-laws
Any member may propose amendment(s) to these by-laws to their representative on the Steering Committee. The proposed amendment must be submitted in writing and with the signatures of five members.
Upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the Steering Committee members present at the meeting of discussion, the proposed amendment(s) shall be submitted to the membership at any meeting or by electronic mail within thirty days of approval by the Steering Committee.
The by-laws shall be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all votes received from the membership following two weeks written notice of the proposed amendment(s).
Article XII. Dissolution
Upon dissolution of this Association, the Steering Committee shall provide for the payment of all debts and claims against the Council, and for the transfer of all remaining funds and property to Indiana University.Back to BAC Home Page