By-Laws

Article I

Name

The name of this organization shall be the North American Veterinary College Administrators (NAVCA). It shall be referred to in these By-Laws hereafter as NAVCA.

Article II

Objective

To advise the Council of Deans on the financial and administrative issues of the colleges of veterinary medicine, including recommending practices and preparing reports as requested by the Council.

To provide a vehicle for regular communication among those designated by the Deans of veterinary medicine to represent the colleges in NAVCA.

Article III

Membership

The membership shall be composed of representatives - e.g. business officers and hospital administrators - from each college of veterinary medicine in Canada and the United States of America, the representatives to be designated by the dean of the college.

Article IV

Officers

Officers shall be a chair, chair-elect, and a secretary-treasurer and will be elected for one term of one year from the membership at the close of the annual meeting. The chair and chair-elect may be re-elected for a second year. The secretary-treasurer may be re-elected on two occasions for a total of three years.

Section I

The CHAIR shall:

  • Preside over all meetings, including the Executive Committee (see Article V, Section ii), using acceptable parliamentary procedure.
  • Install newly elected officers at the conclusion of the term of office.

Section II

The CHAIR-ELECT shall:
  • Preside at meetings in the absence of, or at the request of, the Chair.
  • Serve as a member of the Executive Committee and as the Program Committee Chair.
  • Assume the Office of Chair upon installation by the retiring chair at the annual meeting when the latter completes the term of office, whether for one year or two years.

Section III

The SECRETARY-TREASURER shall:

  • Keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings of NAVCA.
  • Serve as a member of the Executive Committee
  • Maintain a file, for at least five years, including copies of all correspondence, reports and communications received or sent in his/her capacity as Secretary-Treasurer.
  • Receive, record, and deposit all monies collected and pay all bills incurred by NAVCA.

Section IV

The NOMINATING COMMITTEE consisting of three members, appointed by the Chair, shall submit one or more names for each position to be filled (Chair, Chair-elect, Secretary-Treasurer). The Chair-elect will automatically succeed the Chair. Names shall be submitted to NAVCA membership at least thirty days before the annual meeting, and additional nominations may be made from the floor. Vacancies occurring in any of the three offices between elections shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Committee.

Article V

The Executive Committee

Section l

The Executive Committee shall carryout the policies of NAVCA and serve as the administrative office. It shall be responsible for preparing an agenda for the annual meeting, to be distributed at least thirty days before the meeting.

Section II

The Executive Committee shall consist of the three officers of NAVCA plus the Past Chair. The Chair of NAVCA shall also chair the Executive Committee with the Chair-elect functioning as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee.

Section III

Meetings may be called by the Chair, or any two Executive Committee members, provided written notice is sent to each member of the Executive Committee at least three weeks prior to the meeting. A majority (three members) of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

Article VI

Association Meetings

The annual meeting shall be held in rotation at the schools of veterinary medicine or as determined at the annual meeting. A majority of NAVCA members in attendance at the meeting shall constitute a quorum. Each college shall have one vote to be decided in any way by those in attendance from each college. The annual meeting of the Executive Committee shall be held immediately prior to the annual meeting of NAVCA. (see Article V, Section III).

Article VII

Amendments

  • Any member of NAVCA or appointed committee of NAVCA; may propose amendments to these by-laws.
  • A proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer at least sixty (60) days before the annual meeting.
  • The Secretary-Treasurer shall distribute copies of the proposed amendment to all NAVCA members at least thirty (30) days before the annual meeting.
  • An affirmative vote by two-thirds of the members at the annual meeting shall be required to amend these by-laws.
  • An amendment becomes effective immediately upon its approval (see 4.).

Article VIII

These by-laws will become effective immediately on their acceptance at the meeting at which they are presented.

As amended at the business meeting of NAVCA on October 6, 1993.