Our Goals, Values and Structure
To enhance communication and exchange of professional information among advisers and counselors. To collaborate with other advising and counseling organizations, and to provide professional development opportunities.
The work performed by professional advisers and counselors is integral to the mission of the University of Washington. A strong community is a necessary part of training, developing, and retaining the best professional advisers and counselors. APAC is guided by the input and leadership of its members.
APAC is organized independently of the University administrative structure. Membership in APAC is open to all University of Washington Advisers and Counselors. APAC is led by an executive board chosen by the entire UW advising community. Each Board member is elected to a two-year term.
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this association shall be the Association of Professional Advisers and Counselors (APAC).
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purposes of this organization are:
- To provide, promote, and improve professional development opportunities and community support;
- To encourage recognition, as an association and as individuals;
- To enhance collaboration and exchange of professional information among advisers and counselors;
- To facilitate communication between or provide liaison among the Association, students, faculty, the administration of the University of Washington, and its schools, colleges, and departments.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1: The Association shall be open to all University of Washington staff who perform student advisory and who have a strong interest in advising, counseling and/or student affairs, and to University of Washington students who have a strong interest in advising, counseling, or student affairs.
Section 2: The term of membership shall extend for one calendar year from payment of membership dues.
Section 3: Amount of annual dues will be recommended by the Executive Board. Changes in dues must be submitted to the membership one month before being voted upon and must be approved by a majority of votes cast.
Section 4: Payment of dues shall be made to the APAC Treasurer, who is a member of the Executive Board.
Section 5: The fiscal year for APAC shall extend from June 1 to May 31.
ARTICLE IV: EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1: The Executive Board of the Association shall be composed of ten to twelve elected board members. The term of office for Executive Board members shall be two years in staggered fashion. In one year, at least three new Board members shall be elected. There shall always be at least three continuing Executive Board members. The Board shall strive to maintain diverse representation from the advising community. The new Executive Board members will assume duties on June 1 and serve until May 31 two years later.
Section 2: It shall be the duty of the Executive Board, in response to the membership, to propose and recommend policies, identify issues and priorities, formulate operational actions for the Board and Association, and perform such duties as may be delegated to it by the Association.
Section 3: The Executive Board shall provide the membership and wider University community with an annual report detailing past events, membership updates, and goals for the future.
Section 4: It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to call, and preside at, the events hosted by the Association.
Section 5: The Executive Board shall keep the minutes of the Board meetings.
Section 6: The Board shall maintain all funds of the Association and disburse these funds as needed, keep accurate records accounting for all receipts and disbursements, and report quarterly on financial affairs to the Board.
Section 7: The Executive Board may act for the organization. All formal actions taken by the Executive Board must be shared with the Association.
ARTICLE V: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1: Candidates for the Executive Board shall be nominated in March and April and a list of candidates shall be sent to the membership by email by the the end of April.
Section 2: The advising community shall elect the Executive Board by confidential electronic balloting.
Section 3: Members elected to the Executive Board shall be candidates receiving the greatest number of votes.
Section 4: During June the current Executive Board will meet with new Executive Board members to orient them to the Board duties.
Section 5: No one may serve on the Executive Board for more than one consecutive two-year term; however after a year interval a member may serve again. (See the exceptions in Article V, Section 6 and 7.)
Section 6: In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Board during the middle of a term, the Board may appoint a new member, subject to the approval of a simple majority of the Executive Board. Board members shall be notified of this appointment by email. The board member appointed may be a former Board member if continuing for only one additional (third) year.
Section 7: If, in the estimation of the Board or the membership, an Executive Board member is not performing Board duties adequately, any member may request that the Executive Board, or a special group of members appointed by the Board, investigate the matter. If it is determined that the Board member is not performing Board duties adequately, after discussion at a Board Meeting of the findings of the investigation, the Board may choose to deal internally with the member and either counsel resignation or come up with a plan agreeable to all parties. If the investigated member is not satisfied with the informal outcome, s/he may present his/her case at the next general meeting, where the outcome of the investigation is also presented. If the outcome of the general meeting vote is that the member should leave the Board, the Executive Board member shall be replaced in the same manner as in Section 8 above.
ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES
Section 1: Standing Committees, ad hoc committees, and task forces will be formed as necessary.
Section 2: Any Association member may propose the formation of a new committee or taskforce to the Executive Board. The Executive Board may appoint a chairperson as necessary.
Section 3: Each committee or task force of the Association shall have as one of its members a member of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
Section 1: Meetings of the Association include, but are not limited to, lunch and learn events, socials, Summer Symposia, and other Association-sponsored events. Scheduled events will be presented to the advising community through the Association website and email announcements.
Section 2: Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Executive Board as the need arises.
Section 3: The Executive Board will strive to meet during the seventh or eighth week of each quarter, with the exception of Summer. Committees and task forces shall meet as necessary.
ARTICLE VIII: PROPERTY OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1: All property of the Association shall be subject to the control and management of the Executive Board with approval of the membership.
Section 2: All appropriations of the Association funds shall be made by the Executive Board. The expenses incurred in the conduct of the affairs of the Association shall be paid by the Executive Board member acting as Treasurer of appropriations budgeted for such purposes.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1: Any member may propose an amendment to the APAC by-laws.
Section 2: A proposed amendment to the by-laws may be presented at an Executive Board meeting. All dues-paying members will be notified of proposed amendments via email and will be given one week to approve or deny amendments. A proposed amendment must be approved by a simple majority of ballots cast.
—Revised 8/7/2015