Michigan Writing Program Administrators
Michigan Affiliate of the Council of Writing Program Administrators
By-Laws
ARTICLE I. NAME and LOCATION
Section 1. Name.
This organization shall be known as the Michigan Writing Program Administrators, an affiliate of the Council of Writing Program Administrators (WPA).
Section 2. Location.
The principal office of MI-WPA shall be located at the office of the current chair of the affiliate. Other addresses (for mailing purposes, etc.) shall be designated and published, as appropriate by the Executive Committee. Meetings may be held at any suitable location.
Section 3. Affiliation.
This affiliate is a local subsection of WPA. MI-WPA shall operate within the broad policies and procedures of the national WPA organization.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE, ACTIVITIES and MEETINGS
Section 1. General Purposes.
As an affiliate of the national Council of Writing Program Administrators, MI-WPA shares its general goal of providing opportunities to focus on matters attendant the the administration of college and university writing programs. The purpose of the MI-WPA group is to provide a state-wide organization for collaboration, collegial contact, and state-wide advocacy among writing program administrators at the state’s colleges, universities and community colleges.
Section 2. Activities.
To promote the affiliate’s mission and purposes, member institutions’ activities and programs will be profiled at regular annual meetings, and from time to time the affiliate will sponsor public meetings and workshops and conferences. These meetings will provide opportunities for membership networking, information sharing, and may include presentations and/or outside speakers.
Section 3. Meetings.
This affiliate shall meet regularly at a location to be chosen by the leadership.
Section 4. Website.
The organization maintains a website that serves as a resource of shared information, including program descriptions of all member institutions, best practices information, and related materials. The website is intended to encourage collaboration among institutions and to present the MI-WPA as an advocacy and organizational force in the state of Michigan.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP and DUES
Section 1. Qualification for Membership.
MI-WPA is open to membership to anyone serving as or with interest in working as a writing program administrator at any institution of higher education in the state of Michigan. The Executive Committee will determine on an annual basis if members will be required to submit dues, depending on needs of the Affiliate.
Section 2. Privileges of Membership.
Members shall be eligible: to attend all affiliate meetings; to vote at all membership meetings; to hold office as specified in these By-Laws; to serve on committees; and for all other rights and privileges that may from time to time be determined by majority vote of the membership and/or incorporated in these By-Laws.
Section 3. Suspension of Membership.
Suspension or revocation of membership shall only occur if a member knowingly violates ethical standards as defined and promulgated by WPA. The Executive Committee shall establish procedures, which include provisions for protecting due-process rights of members that may lead to revocation of membership.
Section 4. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31.
ARTICLE IV. ORGANIZATION
Section 1. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall consist of affiliate officers and committee chairpersons. The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the affiliate within in accordance with all provisions of the By-Laws.
Section 2. Officers
The officers of MI-WPA shall consist of a Chair, Chair-elect, Secretary, Webmaster and any Coordinators. All affiliate officers will hold dues-paid membership in the national Council of Writing Program Administrators.
Section 3. Duties of Officers and Qualifications
- Chair and chair-elect
The chair, together with the chair-elect, will help set dates and locations for meetings, solicit, collect and organize issues for the agenda, serve as a point of contact with the CWPA and represent the organization as necessary.
- Chair-elect
The chair-elect will share responsibilities of the chair as described above for a year prior to assuming the position of chair.
- Secretary
The Secretary will record or cause to be recorded, minutes of all affiliate meetings, and shall keep an active file of such minutes. The Secretary shall also serve as corresponding secretary for the affiliate.
- Webmaster
The webmaster will develop and maintain the organization’s website, manage the group’s email distribution list, and coordinate electronic voting for elections and motions.
- Regional Coordinators
Regional Coordinators will be appointed from five regions in the state: Upper Peninsula, Northern Lower Peninsula, Central, Southeast, and West. Regional coordinators will serve as liaisons between members in their assigned regions and the Executive Committee.
Section 4. Election of Officers; Procedures
Officers will serve for a term of two (2) years, or until their successors are elected. Elections will be held in two-year cycles via electronic voting. There shall be staggered terms of office to provide continuity and stability to the leadership. The Chair-elect will be elected and Coordinators will be appointed in one two-year cycle, and the Secretary and Webmaster will be elected in the alternate cycle.
Section 5. Committees
Affiliate standing committees shall consist, minimally, of an Executive Committee, and if necessary a Nominating Committee.
Committees may be appointed from time to time to accomplish specific objectives. Such committees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and will be discharged when not needed.
Section 6. Quorums and Voting
A quorum for Affiliate and committee meetings will be defined as a simple majority of the membership of the affiliate or the committee. In the absence of a quorum, voting will move to an electronic forum to enable participation from the full membership.
Voting will be conducted electronically. Elections will be announced one week before the voting period, and the voting period will remain open for one week. All members in good standing will be allowed to vote.
ARTICLE V. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
Section 1. Notifications
Notification of committee and Affiliate meetings will take place through email and the MI-WPA website.
Section 2. Eligibility to Attend, Vote, and Participate
All MI-WPA members are eligible to attend and participate in discussions at committee and Affiliate meetings. All members who have been a member for at least one month are eligible to vote. Voting privileges in committees will be restricted to committee members.
Section 3. Parliamentary Procedure
While informality in committee and Affiliate meetings is encouraged, Robert’s Rules of Order shall prevail.
Section 4. Suspension of By-Laws
The Affiliate may temporarily suspend its By-Laws, in whole or in part, by a ¾ vote of the membership.
ARTICLE VI. REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS
Section 1. By-Laws Reviews
In each of the first two (2) years following the adoption of these By-Laws, the Chair shall appoint a By-Laws Review Committee to recommend revisions, if necessary, to the membership. Following two (2) such reviews, subsequent reviews shall be conducted at the discretion of the Chair and Chair-elect or upon request of the Executive Committee or the membership.
Section 2. Amendments
These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the membership. All proposed amendments shall be emailed to each member at least two (2) weeks prior to the date that voting will commence.
Amendments may not be acted upon at the same meeting at which they are proposed.
These By-Laws were originally adopted on November 2, 2018.
