Bylaws

These bylaws were adopted by a vote of the membership. They replace any and all earlier charters, bylaws, or other documents describing the constitution, organization, or governance of the Alliance.

1. Name: The “Alliance of Distinguished and Titled Professors of Indiana University” is an organization of professors (active and emeritus) holding distinguished rank, a titled professorship, or an endowed chair.
2. Statement of purpose: The Alliance and its members will serve Indiana by working to preserve and enhance Indiana University’s excellence in research, teaching, and service.
3. Membership: Professors (active and emeriti) holding distinguished rank, a titled professorship, or an endowed chair are presumed to be members of the Alliance.
   1. Resignation and reinstatement: A professor can resign from the Alliance at any time by informing the Co-Chairs of the Alliance in writing. An otherwise qualified professor who has resigned form the Alliance may rejoin it at any time by tendering a signed statement to either of the Co-Chairs of the Alliance.
   2. Honorary members: The Steering Committee may from time to time appoint members of the university community who have distinguished themselves by their exceptional contributions to academic excellence at Indiana University to be honorary members of the Alliance. Decisions to make honorary appointments shall be made by a majority vote of the Steering Committee and announced at the annual meeting. Honorary members shall hold the same rights and privileges as regular members.
4. Annual Meeting: The Alliance will meet annually to consider an agenda prepared by the Co-Chairs and distributed at least two weeks in advance to members. This meeting traditionally alternates between the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses and precedes an annual dinner sponsored by the President at which new Distinguished Professors are recognized.
   1. Business may be introduced: Business may be introduced from the floor at the annual meeting for purposes of information or future consideration but shall not be subject to vote. Unless otherwise specified in the bylaws, all other items on the agenda may be presented for vote at the annual meeting.
   2. Voting at the Annual Meeting: A majority vote of the members in attendance at the annual meeting shall constitute approval of a motion.
5. Governance: The business and affairs of the Alliance will be managed by two Co-Chairs, a Steering Committee, and an Administrative Assistant.
   1. Steering Committee: The Alliance Steering Committee will be drawn from the membership and composed of five members whose primary appointment is on the Bloomington campus and five members whose primary appointment is on the Indianapolis or other campuses. Each member will serve a four–year term. The Steering Committee will elect two Co-Chairs and work with the Co-Chairs to conduct the business of the Alliance as outlined below and in other ways as the Steering Committee may deem appropriate. Meetings of the Steering Committee may be held electronically, by conference call, or in person. The time, type, and location of meetings will be announced to members of the Alliance so that members may attend in person or advise a Co-Chair or member of the Steering Committee of concerns and issues that should be considered. Decisions of the Steering Committee will be governed by a majority vote of those members of the Steering Committee in attendance. The Steering Committee shall keep minutes for each meeting and shall distribute them to the members of the Alliance in a timely manner.
   2. Co-Chairs: The Alliance will have two Co-Chairs drawn from the membership and elected to the Steering Committee, one whose primary appointment is on the Bloomington campus and one whose primary appointment is on the Indianapolis campus. The Co-Chairs will carry out the policies of the Alliance, as set by the membership at the annual meeting or by special ballots; oversee the work of the Alliance office and the Administrative Assistant; organize, arrange, and preside at meetings of the Steering Committee; conduct nominations and elections, including the distribution, receipt, and counting of ballots; schedule the annual dinner and select a master of ceremonies in consultation with the President; prepare an agenda for the annual meeting, in consultation with the Steering Committee, and preside at the meeting; make recommendations for policy and planning to the Steering Committee; appoint subcommittees as necessary to work on specific projects of the Alliance; and ensure that communication is maintained with the members; and represent the Alliance to external constituencies.
   3. Administrative Assistant: The Administrative Assistant will be a full- or part-time staff employee of the university. The Administrative Assistant will report to the Co-Chairs of the Alliance and will be responsible for the activities outlined in a job description approved by the Steering Committee.
6. Nominations, elections, and terms of service: Nominations and elections for the Steering Committee are by campus, with members being  nominated and voted upon based upon the campus of their primary appointment. For purposes of both nomination and voting, the Bloomington campus shall be considered one unit and the Indianapolis campus and remaining campuses shall be considered one unit. Elections for members of the Steering Committee shall occur during the spring semester of every other year. Half of the Steering Committee will be elected every other year for a four–year term. The Co-Chairs shall solicit nominations not less than one month prior to each election. To qualify for appearance on the ballot, a candidate must receive at least two nominations from members whose primary appointment is in the same campus unit as the candidate’s. The name of each candidate so qualified, and who consents to stand for election, shall appear on the ballot. Elections shall be conducted by any appropriately secure means.

1. Steering Committee: The two or three members (depending on how many representatives’ terms expire) from each of the Bloomington and Indianapolis campus units receiving the largest number of votes from his or her respective campus units shall be elected to a four-year term commencing the first day of the month following the annual meeting (except as provided above for the first election). No member of the Steering Committee may serve more than two terms in succession. If a member of the Steering Committee should resign or decline to serve the member from the appropriate campus who received the next largest number of votes in the most recent election will be invited to complete the term of office.
2. Co-Chairs: At the first meeting of each new Steering Committee, the Steering Committee shall select from among their number a Co-Chair from each of the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses for a two-year term (renewable); Steering Committee members from each campus will select the Co-Chair for that campus. If a Co-Chair should resign or decline to serve, the Committee members from the appropriate campus will select a member to complete the term of office.

1. Revision of the bylaws: Proposals to revise the bylaws shall be considered by the Steering Committee and, if approved by majority vote, shall be forwarded to the members of the Alliance for their consideration. The bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Alliance casting votes in an election conducted by any appropriately secure means.
2. Unless in conflict with these bylaws, this organization shall be governed by the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.