INAIR Constitution
Article I — Name
The name of this organization shall be the Indiana Association for Institutional Research, also referred to as INAIR.
Article II — Purpose
The purposes of the Association shall be to:
a) Promote institutional research in education as a professional activity
b) Disseminate information about the methods and contents of institutional research
c) Provide a forum in which institutional researchers in Indiana can discuss and seek assistance in their common problems and share research findings
d) Promote the professional development of INAIR members
Article III — Membership and Voting
Section 1. Membership in the Association and election to any office or appointment to any committee shall not be based on race, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, nationality, or religious conviction.
Section 2. Membership shall be open to individuals who are engaged in research leading to the improved understanding, planning, and operation of institutions of post-secondary education and to individuals who are interested in the methodology and results of institutional research, including graduate students.
Section 3. Membership shall include all individuals who pay a membership fee or whose membership is current as defined by Section 3 of the By-Laws. The fee is assessed annually. Membership is valid from the annual Conference to the beginning of the next conference.
Section 4. Voting shall take place at the annual Conference business meeting and shall be restricted to those registered members in attendance.
Article IV — Officers
Section 1. The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Officers must be members of the Association.
Section 2. The duties and term of office of each officer shall be as follows:
President: The President shall:
a) Chair the Executive Committee and preside at the business meeting of the Association
b) Appoint a chair of the Membership Committee
c) Appoint a chair of the Publications Committee
d) Appoint a chair of the Conference Planning Committee
e) Work with committees in formulating policy and expediting the implementation of such policies
f) Work closely with the Vice President in planning the annual Conference
g) Serve as official liaison with the national organization
h) Review and pre-approve payments made by the Association
i) Perform any other duties necessary to assist the Association in achieving its purposes as stated in the Constitution
The term of office of the President shall be one year or until a successor takes office. The President shall continue to serve on the Executive Committee for a second year as Immediate Past President.
Vice President: The Vice President shall:
a) Plan the program for the year’s annual Conference
b) Prepare a budget to be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval
c) Serve as back-up account signer for the finances of the Association in the event that the Treasurer is unavailable to perform his or her duties in a timely fashion
d) Assist the President in other duties as the need arises
e) Assume the duties of the President in the event that person cannot complete his or her term of office
The Vice President shall succeed to the office of President at the termination of the one-year term as Vice President, or when a successor takes office.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall:
a) Receive and disburse all funds of the Association
b) Establish and maintain appropriate records of all fiscal transactions, and the official legal documents representing the Association’s status as a not-for-profit corporation
c) Assure that all expenditures are within the approved budget and have been properly incurred under the policies of the Association
d) Present an annual fiscal report at the annual Conference for vote of acceptance
The term of office for the Treasurer shall be four years or until a successor takes office. Once a new treasurer is appointed the out-going treasurer will train the in-coming treasurer for one year.
Secretary: The Secretary shall:
a) Keep the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee and of the annual and any special business meetings
b) Announce officer nominations and proposed changes in the Constitution and By-Laws at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting
c) Assist as needed with all communications of the Association
d) Maintain a historical record of the activities of the Association
e) Keep Executive Committee tasks on record
f) Participate in the Publications Committee
The term of office of the Secretary shall be two years or until a successor takes office.
Section 3. Vacancies – Unless otherwise provided for in the Constitution, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to fill a vacancy by appointing an Association member to fill unexpired terms. If the elected President resigns, the Vice President completes the year as President and is also the President the following year.
A person appointed to finish the term of Vice President must run for election to become President. In this situation both the office of President and Vice President will appear on the ballot.
In all other situations the person appointed to an unexpired term shall be eligible to succeed him/herself and to serve a full elective term as provided in the Constitution.
Article V — Executive Committee
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Executive Committee Members-at-Large. In addition, a liaison from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education may serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee. The current President shall chair the Committee.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall:
a) Conduct the general affairs of the Association between its annual meetings
b) Set the time and location of the next year’s Conference
c) Function as the Budget Committee
d) Fill vacancies, unless otherwise provided for in the Constitution
Section 3. Each Member-at-Large will serve for a two-year term. The membership and web administrator’s terms will overlap. The Members-at-Large shall assist the Executive Committee in performing duties necessary to assist the Association in achieving its purposes as stated in the Constitution.
Section 4. By invitation, a liaison is appointed from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) by the Commissioner annually. The position of ICHE liaison is ex-officio, and therefore non-voting. Duties include: representing the position of the Commission to the Association, and participating in the activities and the Executive Committee and INAIR.
Article VI — Elections
The elections shall be conducted as follows:
Section 1. The officers and Executive Committee shall be elected by a majority of the members voting at the annual business meeting.
Section 2. A slate of officers proposed by the Nominating Committee will be distributed by the Secretary at least 30 days prior to the business meeting.
Article VII — By-Laws
The Association shall adopt by-laws consistent with this Constitution as required for the conduct of its affairs.
Section 1. Proposed changes in the by-laws:
a) May be submitted in writing to any member of the Executive Committee at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual Conference; or
b) May be proposed through action originating in the Executive Committee
Section 2. The Secretary shall be responsible for printing any proposed by-laws or amendment(s) initiated in accordance with Section 1 of this Article, and for submitting them to the registered members for consideration at the annual business meeting, and making copies available at least three (3) days prior to the business meeting.
Section 3. By-laws approved by the Executive Committee shall be circulated at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual business meeting and at the annual business meeting by the Secretary.
Section 4. A proposed change in the by-laws becomes effective the end of the annual business meeting at which it was approved by a majority of the registered members present.
Article VIII — Amendments
This Constitution may be amended at the annual business meeting.
Section 1. Proposed amendments to this Constitution:
a) May be submitted to any member of the Executive Committee by a member of this Association in writing at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual Conference or
b) May originate through actions in the Executive Committee
Section 2. Proposed amendments must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Amendments approved by the Executive Committee shall be circulated at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual business meeting and at the annual business meeting by the Secretary.
Section 4. Proposed changes to this Constitution conforming with Sections 1-3 of this Article shall become effective at the end of the annual business meeting at which they are approved by two-thirds of the registered members present.
Article IX — Tax Exempt Status
To meet the organizational test for exemption under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the following provisions are adopted:
Section 1. The Indiana Association for Institutional Research, Inc, is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, education, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organization that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Section 2. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign of behalf of any candidate for public office.
Not withstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on;
a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal revenue Code, corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or;
b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Section 3. Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.