I. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

Membership shall consist of three types: full member, associate member and affiliate member.

Definition:

A. Full Members (Employer) – individuals who are engaged in the selection and placement within their own organizations of students from educational institutions within the state of South Carolina.

B. Full Members (College) – individuals who are engaged in the areas of experiential education and/or career services at postsecondary institutions that are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

C. Associate Members (Graduate Students) – individuals who are enrolled in graduate study in a student services or human resources related discipline at a college or university within South Carolina and who are planning to pursue careers in the areas of human resources, experiential education, and/or career services.

D. Affiliate Members – Professionals who do not meet the criteria for other categories of membership and who provide support products and/or services to the recruitment/career services functions; or are working in fields related to career services and/or college recruiting may be accepted as non-voting members. Such members may include, but are not limited to, employees of contract recruiting firms, outplacement firms, employment agencies, career assistance centers, or other organizations related to the overall functions of career services, human resources and/or university recruiting/relations. Affiliate members are not eligible to vote, hold office, or chair a committee within the Association.

Section 2

Application for membership shall be made to the Membership Chairperson.

Section 3

Applicants and members shall endorse and abide by the “Principles for Ethical Professional Practice” as set forth by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. https://www.naceweb.org/career-development/organizational-structure/principles-for-ethical-professional-practice/

Section 4

Membership shall be terminated when a member becomes ineligible, is delinquent in payment of dues, or is ruled ineligible for due cause by the Board. Terminated members due to delinquency of dues may be reinstated upon receipt of current dues.

Section 5

Membership may be transferred to a successor upon written request to the Membership Chairperson. 

Section 6

Each full member (college or employer) shall be entitled to cast a vote on each matter submitted to the membership for vote. Associate and Affiliate members shall not be entitled to vote.

II. EXECUTIVE BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

The administrative responsibilities of the Association shall be vested in an executive board consisting of the officers, the immediate Past President, and four (4) members elected at large.

Section 1

The President will preside at all meetings of the Association, chair meetings of the Board, call all regular and special meetings of the Association, serve as an ex-officio member of all committees, and along with the immediate Past President, recommend to the Board for approval and appoint successors to fill unexpired terms of office of board members. The President will assume the title and duties of Immediate Past-President at the conclusion of his/her term as President, serving as a voting member of the Executive Committee and as consultant to that committee. The President will review by-laws and operational procedures each year to make sure the needs of the members are being addressed. The President will enforce all Operational Procedures among the Board and Committees to ensure the best for SCACE.

Section 2

The President Elect will perform all the duties of the President in his/her absence or at his/her request, will coordinate the annual Board Retreat in the summer he/she becomes President. The President Elect will assist the President with reviews of any Board decisions along with Past President. The President Elect will serve as President until the next annual election if that office becomes vacant. The President Elect will assume the office of President at the conclusion of his/her term as President-Elect, thereby succeeding the current President. He/she also serves as Chairperson to the Nominating Committee. 

Section 3

The Past President serves as a consultant to the elected Executive Board. Along with the President, he/she recommends to the Board for approval and appoints successors to fill unexpired terms of office of board members.

All officers noted below in sections 4 thru 8 will hold a two – year term in office.

Section 4

The Correspondence Officer will handle official board correspondence and maintain all official minutes of the annual conference, business, and board meetings. The Correspondence Office will serve on the Newsletter Committee.

Section 5

The Finance Officer will maintain a record of all Association financial business including payment of bills from the Board, receipt and distribution of funds and association dues.

 Section 6

The Communications Officers (Technology and Marketing/PR) represent the interests of the organization by providing electronic and printed communications to members on behalf of the association. These officers will serve on the executive board. The Technology chair will handle website maintenance and current information via social media or other electronic formats. The Marketing/PR chair will handle the association’s publication and produce at least three newsletters and/or mass updates during the membership year. The chair will also be the lead information source for news, events, and photographs that need to be published or archived for the association. These officers will co-chair the newsletter and technology committees.

Section 7

The Membership Officer(s) will develop and implement recruiting efforts for the association for all levels of representation (full and associate). The Officer(s) will lead database management, contact info updates, and membership renewals. This officer(s) will serve on the executive board and chair the membership committee.

Section 8

The Special Events Co-Chairs (Annual Conference and Member Engagement) will represent the interests of the members, serve on appointed standing and ad hoc committees, and plan the Fall and Spring Drive-ins, professional development activities, and annual association conference. The Member Engagement Chair will be selected to serve his/her first year in that role and will transition to chairing the Annual Conference during his/her second year. These members will serve on the executive board and chair the Professional Development committee. The President, President-elect, and Finance Officer will serve as the oversight body for Special Events.

Section 9

The four (4) Board Members at Large (two college/university and two employer members) represent the interests of the members, serve on appointed standing and ad hoc committees, and offer their assistance in the planning of the Annual Conference, Drive-ins and other programs as needed.

III. COMMITTEES

Standing committees shall be Membership, Special Events, Communications, Nominating and Awards. Other committees shall be appointed by the President as necessary on an “ad hoc” basis. All committees will serve for one year beginning July 1st.

Section 1

The Membership Committee will consist of at least one employer member and one college member. The Committee will devise and implement procedures for recruiting new members and retaining current members. The Committee will keep an updated membership database, application form and email addresses. The Committee will review membership applications and approve such applications in accordance with the constitution and by-laws or refer the application to the Board for approval. The Committee will publish an updated membership directory and provide other membership updates for each newsletter published. The Committee will send updates to the Technology Committee for the website: myscaceonline.com on a regular basis.

Section 2

The Special Events Committee will consist of at least one employer representative and one college representative. The President Elect will oversee this committee and be involved in the committee. The Committee will provide members and guests of SCACE with workshop(s) on topics useful and relevant to each participant’s career satisfaction and/or advancement. Two regional Drive-Ins per year are recommended, along with overseeing and assigning a member for each regional area (upstate, midlands and low country) for the regional meetings to be held at least three times per year, professional development sessions, and the annual conference. This committee will assist the Special Events Officers and is composed of the Past President, President, President Elect, and Finance Officer. The Co-Chairs will be responsible for all sub-committees within the conference and keep the President informed.

Section 3

The Communications Committee will be composed of the Communications Officers (Technology and Marketing/PR), the Correspondence Officer and one association member. The committee will assist with taking photographs at events, as well as collect, organize, and maintain on an annual basis any and all material and records pertaining to the Association news and events and preparing three association newsletters and providing copy to the Technology Committee to publish on the website. This committee will also assist the Communications Officer (Technology) with maintaining the website with current information presented by all Board members and committees. The committee will review new technology and current and existing technology needs of SCACE and present recommendations to the board.

Section 4

The Nominating Committee will be composed of the President Elect as Chairperson, along with at least one employer member and one college member at large. The Committee will select and present a slate of nominees for President Elect, Finance Officer, Correspondence Officer and four At Large Board members. In the event the current President Elect declines the position of President, the Nominating Committee will recommend a candidate. The nominees will ideally be presented in the Spring newsletter (or prior to the Annual Conference) and voting will take place directly after the Conference; however nominations can be accepted during and after the Conference if necessary.

Section 5

The Awards Committee is composed of the Past President and the Employer and College Members at Large. They solicit and evaluate nominations for the three association awards offered annually; select recipients; and present the awards at the annual conference. The current awards offered include: New Professional Award, Unsung Hero Service Award and the 10 Year Recognition Award. The criteria and past recipients will be included with the membership information on the association’s website and will be distributed to the membership 60 days prior to the annual conference for receipt of nominations. The nominations will be presented to the association President for review with the SCACE Executive Board and Awards Committee. Winners will be recognized at the annual conference.

Section 7

The SCACE newsletter shall be called The Palmetto Statement.

IV. DUES

Annual dues of the Association will be determined by the Board. Dues renewals will be emailed 60 days in advance by the Membership Chairperson. Dues are paid to the Finance Officer for the period of July 1 – June 30.

V. AMENDMENTS

The bylaws may be amended or revised by the President and presented to the Executive Board for review. Approval of bylaws may be taken by a majority vote of active association members attending one of the regional business meetings (drive-ins) or by a majority vote of those returning ballots within ten (10) days request for voting via email.

Revised: August 2017