Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1543950
ASSOCIATION GOVERNANCE 11 ADVOCATE | SPRING 2026 ONE HIGHER EDUCATION AT-LARGE DIRECTOR SHALL BE ELECTED FOR EVERY 1,000 HIGHER EDUCATION MEMBERS OR PORTION THEREOF. IN THE EVENT STATEWIDE HIGHER EDUCATION MEMBERSHIP IS BELOW 1,000 MEMBERS, ONE HIGHER EDUCATION AT-LARGE DIRECTOR AND ALTERNATE HIGHER EDUCATION AT-LARGE DIRECTOR SHALL BE ELECTED AND BE A NON-VOTING MEMBER OF THE AEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AS A NON-VOTING MEMBER OF THE AEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE HIGHER EDUCATION AT-LARGE DIRECTOR SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK BUT SHALL NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE MOTIONS AND SHALL NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. MEMBERS SO ELECTED SHALL SERVE FOR THREE (3) YEARS OR UNTIL THE HIGHER EDUCATION REPRESENTATION OF THE REGULARLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD EQUALS THE STATE MEMBERSHIP RATIO OF HIGHER EDUCATION MEMBERS. IN NO CASE SHALL SUCH MEMBERS SERVE MORE THAN TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE TERMS FOR THE SAME OFFICE. EACH DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE ELECTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL ENTER UPON THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES AT THE SAME TIME AS OTHER ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE AEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A HIGHER EDUCATION ELECTION WILL BE HELD UNTIL THE HIGHER EDUCATION REPRESENTATION OF THE REGULARLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD EQUALS THE STATE MEMBERSHIP RATIO OF HIGHER EDUCATION MEMBERS. IF A HIGHER EDUCATION MEMBER IS SERVING ON THE AEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ANOTHER OFFICE ENSURING REPRESENTATION EQUAL TO THEIR STATEWIDE MEMBERSHIP, THEN AN ELECTION FOR A HIGHER EDUCATION AT-LARGE DIRECTOR OR ALTERNATE HIGHER EDUCATION AT-LARGE DIRECTOR WILL NOT BE HELD." Submitted on behalf of Higher Education Subcommittee C-2026-04 Article III, Section 3 Rationale is amendment strengthens communication, collaboration, and preparation between regional leadership and local associations prior to Delegate Assembly. By encouraging flexible pre-delegate caucuses organized collaboratively by regional directors and local presidents, delegates will be better informed and prepared, leading to stronger participation, more effective decision-making, and greater alignment with AEA's mission of member engagement and advocacy. To Amend the AEA Constitution as follows: "Section 3. e Board of Directors shall be: a. charged with general management of the affairs of the Association and, in the absence of specific provisions otherwise, shall determine the policies of the Association between annual meetings of the Delegate Assembly. b. able to recommend a boycott of companies or products to the Delegate Assembly. A majority vote of the Delegate Assembly shall implement the boycott. c. CHARGED WITH ADVISING, GUIDING, AND SUPPORTING LOCAL PRESIDENTS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS IN ORGANIZING PRE-DELEGATE CAUCUSES HELD WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. SUCH CAUCUSES MAY BE HELD IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY AND SHALL BE COORDINATED COLLABORATIVELY BETWEEN THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR AND LOCAL PRESIDENTS. CAUCUSES MAY INCLUDE MULTIPLE LOCALS OR BE HELD SEPARATELY BASED ON REGIONAL AND LOCAL NEEDS. REGIONAL DIRECTORS SHALL MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO ATTEND EACH PRE-DELEGATE CAUCUS IN THEIR REGION. IN REGIONS WHERE A REGIONAL DIRECTOR REPRESENTS FIVE (5) OR MORE LOCAL CHAPTERS, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL OR GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED AREAS, A REGIONAL PRE- DELEGATE CAUCUS SERVING ALL LOCALS MAY BE HELD IN LIEU OF MULTIPLE LOCAL CAUCUSES OR ANOTHER FORMAT MAY BE USED THAT BEST MEETS REGIONAL LOGISTICAL NEEDS. REGIONAL DIRECTORS IN RURAL OR GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED REGIONS MAY CONDUCT SUCH CAUCUSES VIRTUALLY WHEN DISTANCE BETWEEN LOCALS MAKES IN- PERSON MEETINGS IMPRACTICAL." Submitted on behalf of Felisa Alberts C-2026-05 Article III, Section 11, 12 & 13 Rationale To provide clarity regarding when elections are held for an unexpired term of a regional, retired, and At-Large Directors. To Amend the AEA Constitution as follows: Section 11. In the event of a vacancy or a failure to elect a Regional Director, the duly elected Alternate Director shall become the Regional Director until the next regularly scheduled election ELECTION SCHEDULED AT THE END OF THE TERM of that regional director position. Section 12. In the event of a vacancy or a failure to elect a Retired Director, the duly elected Alternate Retired Director shall become the Retired Director until the next regularly scheduled election ELECTION SCHEDULED AT THE END OF THE TERM of that Retired Director position. Section 13. In the event of a vacancy or a failure to elect an At-Large Director, the duly elected Alternate Director for that category of membership shall become the At-Large Director until the next regularly scheduled election ELECTION SCHEDULED AT THE END OF THE TERM of that At-Large Director position Submitted on behalf of AEA Elections Committee