Section 1. This shall be a professional educational association, voluntary and nonprofit, of cooperating collegiate level institutions.

Section 2. The general purpose of the Association shall be to contribute to the advancement of higher education in its fullest and broadest implications. The specific purposes shall be to advance professionally the work and the positions in the offices of admissions, records, registration and other closely related functions among institutions of higher learning.

Section 3. Any activity appropriate to the purposes set forth in Section 2 may be undertaken by the Association; activities specifically included are the following:

a. To hold an annual meeting for the professional improvement of the membership and for conducting Association business;

b. To publish a newsletter, special bulletins and reports;

c. To encourage, conduct, and cooperate in research projects intended to further the purpose of the Association;

d. To conduct workshops or seminars for development of expertise in appropriate professional areas;

e. To cooperate with other professional organizations whose objectives and purposes are deemed consistent with those of the Association.

a. Eligibility of other educational institutions shall be determined by the Executive Committee of the Association.

b. Institutions of complex organization with divisions which are listed separately in the current Education Directory: Colleges and Universities (published by the National Center for Educational Statistics) may hold an institutional membership for each separately organized unit.

c. The member institution shall designate, from professional staff members in their offices as listed in Section 2. Article II above, individuals to constitute the active membership of the Association. Each member institution may designate active members and additional active members in accordance with Section 1. Article I of the Bylaws.

d. The active members shall conduct matters of Association business. They shall elect officers who, constituting the Executive Committee, shall conduct all Association business assigned to them. Only designated active members shall be eligible to serve as officers, to serve on committees, or to be listed in the Association directory.

Section 2. Voting. There will be one vote per active member. Each institution shall name its active members when dues are paid.

Section 3. Honorary Members. Honorary members shall be those individuals, no longer eligible to be active members but with records of significant service in the Association, who are so elected by the Executive Committee on recommendation of the Committee on Honorary Membership. They shall enjoy a permanent invitation to attend TACRAO meetings and to maintain interest in TACRAO affairs and shall be excused from all TACRAO fees.

Section 4. Affiliate Membership. Affiliates shall be those organizations which are found to have purposes parallel with those of TACRAO, which desire to participate in its non-voting activities, and which are approved for this status by the Executive Committee. There shall be an annual fee for each affiliated organization as stated in the Bylaws.

Section 1. Officers of the Association shall be institutional active representatives only.

Section 2. The elected officers of the Association shall include the following and serve as the Executive Committee:

a. President

b. President-Elect

c. Immediate Past-President

d. Secretary

e. Treasurer

f. Vice-President for Admissions

g. Vice-President for Records and Registration

Section 3. Duties of the Officers

a. The President shall serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee and shall be an ex-officio member of all appointed TACRAO committees. The President may assign and delegate duties but shall be responsible for all activities within the Association and for coordinating the programs and arrangements for the next annual meeting. The President shall assume this office after completion of one term as President-Elect and shall serve for a one-year term

b. The President-Elect shall serve as principal assistant to the President. He/She shall make recommendations concerning the annual meeting site to the Executive Committee. He/she shall be elected for a one-year term before succeeding to the Presidency; if he/she should become President prematurely because of a vacancy in that office, his/her normal term of office would not be affected.

c. The immediate Past President shall serve as advisor to the President and other officers. He/she shall hold this position for one year after the completion of his/her term as President.

d. The Vice-President for Admissions and Vice-President for Records and Registration shall coordinate the work of committees in their respective professional areas and carry out assignments of the president. Each shall be elected by a majority of votes cast for the respective office; each shall serve for a two-year term with terms expiring in alternating years.

e. The Secretary shall maintain the membership roster, maintain all official records of the Association, maintain minutes of the annual business meeting and of Executive Committee meetings, maintain the constitution of the Association, complete correspondence on behalf of the Executive Committee and perform their assignments made by the President. The Secretary shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast for this office and shall serve for a two-year term with the term expiring in alternating years with the Treasurer.

f. The Treasurer shall collect the membership dues at the close of the fiscal year, handle financial activities of the Association, make a complete financial report which will be audited by the Auditing Committee and presented to the Executive Committee for publication, prepare budgets and perform other assignments made by the President. The Treasurer shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast for the office and shall serve for a two-year term expiring in alternating years with the Secretary.

Section 4. Newly elected officers shall take office at the conclusion of the annual meeting at which they are elected. In the event of a subsequent vacancy in the offices of Vice-President for Admissions, Vice-President for Records and Registration, or Secretary, or Treasurer, the Executive Committee shall make an appointment for the balance of the unexpired term; such appointment shall not affect the appointee's eligibility for election to that office.

Section 5. Should office of the President become vacant, the President-Elect shall assume the duties of the President; should the office of the President-Elect become vacant, the Executive Committee shall call a special election; should the office of Immediate Past-President become vacant, it shall remain unfilled.

Section 6. No person shall be eligible for election to an office in the Association who shall not, at the time of such election, be an active member of the Association. If any office, subsequent to the election, shall be declared vacant by the remaining members of the Executive Committee; the vacancy shall be filled in the manner prescribed in Section 4. Article IV and Section 5. Article IV of this Constitution.

Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of the Association, the precise date and location to be set by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the authority in case of emergency, to advance, to postpone, or to omit an annual Meeting; in such case, the time between two consecutive meetings of the Association shall be counted as one year of administration. In the event that an annual meeting is postponed or omitted or in case of an emergency, the Executive Committee has the authority to conduct association business by mail or electronic media. The same voting requirements outlined in Section 2 will apply. The Executive Committee shall set a registration fee for the annual meeting, to be paid by each active member and affiliate in attendance at the Meeting.

Section 2. Association business shall be conducted at the annual meeting by the active members present. The adoption of any proposed amendment to the Constitution or Bylaws shall require a two-thirds majority of the votes cast if notice has been circulated to the active members at least one month in advance, or a four-fifths majority of the votes cast if less than a month or no advance notice has been given. Except for amendments, decisions shall be made by a majority of the votes cast.

a. Official business to be conducted at annual meetings shall include but not be limited to the following:


1. Election of officers;

2. Reports from officers and committees, with such action as may be appropriate including adoption of resolutions and annual budget discussion;

3. Action on any proposed amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws.


b. Normally, due notice shall have been given in advance on any substantive matter which is to be voted on at the annual meeting.

Section 3. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the president, as needed, or by the President-Elect if the President is unable to do so. Decisions within the Executive Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the members present and voting.

Section 1. This association is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an association exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or (b) by association contribution to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law).

Section 3. Upon the dissolution of this association, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the association, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or educational institution which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and/or scientific purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 1. Institutional enrollment shall determine annual dues for institutional membership, and shall determine the number of active representatives to be designated by the institution.

a. Cost of membership for institutions enrolling 1 - 9,999 credit students in the preceding Fall semester shall be $60.00 per year. Up to three active representatives can be designated by the institution.

b. Cost of membership for institutions enrolling 10,000 - 19,999 credit students in the preceding Fall semester shall be $100.00 per year. Up to five active representatives can be designated by the institution.

c. Cost of membership for institutions enrolling 20,000 or more credit students in the preceding Fall semester shall be $140.00 per year. Up to seven active representatives can be designated by the institution.

d. Institutional enrollment shall be based on Coordinating Board figures for the preceding Fall semester.

e. Additional active representatives can be designated by an institution at the cost of $20.00 per each.

Section 2. The cost of Affiliate membership shall be $50.00 per year. Up to two non-voting representatives can be designated by the Affiliate member.

Section 3. The membership year and the fiscal year of the Association shall begin September 1, of each calendar year and shall end August 31 of the following calendar year. Any institutional or affiliate member who fails to pay annual membership dues by the following April 1 shall be dropped from the list of members of the Association after one written reminder followed by a verbal reminder from the Treasurer.

Section 1. Association officers shall be elected in the business session held during the annual meeting. A slate of nominees shall be made available to the members at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the election of officers by the Nominations Committee. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the business meeting providing that prior consent of the nominee has been obtained.

Section 2. A Nominations Committee, composed of five members shall be elected by the membership of the Association.

a. Election shall be from a pool of ten candidates who are active members selected by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will make every reasonable effort to reflect among the candidates the variety of personal and professional characteristics represented in the membership.

b. Candidates' names will appear on a Nominations Committee Ballot submitted to active members for voting. Members will vote for four and return the ballots to the current Nominations Chair for tabulation. Ballots returned as directed within thirty days of this mailing and. containing not more than four votes shall be counted as valid ballots.

c. The four candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected; the one (of the four) receiving the largest vote total will be Chair-Elect. The Chair-Elect will assume the role of Chair in the second year to provide continuity. Except for the Chair-Elect, no member shall be eligible to serve again on the Nominations Committee until three years have elapsed from the end of the year's service. This same provision shall apply to the Chair-Elect after serving as Chair. During service on this committee, a member shall not be eligible for nomination to an Association office nor become eligible by resigning from the committee.

d. The Chair shall certify the results to the President who will announce the results to the Executive Committee.

Section 3. The Nominations Committee shall meet at least one month in advance of the annual meeting of TACRAO for the purpose of deciding the slate of nominees for officers.

Section 1. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President for Admissions, Vice-President for Records and Registration, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate Past-President. The Executive Committee shall have those duties specifically assigned in the Constitution and Bylaws and any others assigned by the President.

Section 2. There shall be fourteen standing committees appointed by the Executive Committee with the following membership guidelines. All standing committee appointments will be reviewed annually and may be altered at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Appointees shall be named prior to the annual meeting for the next year.

a. Auditing. There will be three members with one rotating off each year. Each member will serve a total of three years with the last year as Chair.

b. Council of Past-Presidents. Membership is limited to those active members who have served as President of the Association.

c. Graduate and Professional School Relations. Members are designated as Regional Coordinators of each area of Texas determined to be appropriate by the Committee and approved by the Executive Committee. Each member will serve a five-year term with a balanced number of members rotating off each year. During the fifth year of the term, the area coordinator will work with an apprentice to transition responsibilities. The Chair of the Graduate and Professional School Relations Committee will be selected by the Executive Committee and will serve a three-year term.

d. High School Relations. Members are designated as Regional Coordinators of each area of Texas determined to be appropriate by the Committee and approved by the Executive Committee. Each member will serve a five-year term with a balanced number of members rotating off each year. During the fifth year of the term, the area coordinator will work with an apprentice to transition responsibilities. The Chair of the High School Relations Committee will be selected by the Executive Committee and will serve a three-year term.

e. Historical. There will be three members with one rotating off each year. Each member will serve a total of three years with the last year as Chair.

f. Honorary Membership and Recognition Awards. There will be three members with one rotating off each year. Each member will serve a total of three years with the last year as Chair.

g. Legislative Issues. There will be six members of the committee, each representing one of the TACRAO regions. Each member will serve a one-year term with possible reappointment.  The Chair will serve a two year term beginning with an odd numbered year.  A Co-Chair will be appointed by the Executive Committee each even numbered year, rotating to Chair the following year.

h. Local Arrangements. The Chair of the Local Arrangements Committee will be nominated by the President-Elect and approved by the Executive Committee as part of the annual meeting site selection process which takes place 18-24 months in advance of the meeting. The number of members will be determined and individuals selected by the Chair. Each will serve until all business associated with the conclusion of the annual meeting is finished.

i. Nominations. There will be five members (See Bylaws Article II, Sections 1-3).

j. Resolutions. There will be three members with one rotating off each year. Each member will serve a total of three years, with the last year as Chair.

k. Publications. The Chair will also serve as the Newsletter Editor for a term of three years. Members of this committee are designated as Regional Editors for each area of Texas determined to be appropriate by the committee and approved by the Executive Committee. Regional Editors will serve a three-year term with a balanced number of members rotating off each year. During the third year of the term the Regional Editor will work with an apprentice to transition responsibilities. The Chair of Publications will be selected by the Executive Committee.

l. Technology.  There will be six members of the committee each serving a five year term with a balanced number of members rotating off each year.  The Chair will be appointed by the Executive Committee and will serve a three-year term.  One committee member will serve as TACRAO Webmaster and will work with the Publications Committee on an ex-officio basis.

m. Community College Issues.  There will be three members with one rotating off each year.  Each member will serve a total of three years with the last as Chair.  The Committee will coordinate activities for the Community College Summer Meeting.

n. New Comers Committee.  The committee  will be chaired by the Past President and include three additional members with the Past President and one member rotating off each year.   Each member shall serve a total of three years with the last as Coordinator.

Section 3. Other committees to assist in Association activities, as deemed necessary or desirable, shall be established (or may be discontinued) by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee. Appointment to committees is limited to the active members of TACRAO. Individuals who are not active members may be invited to assist a committee.