Articles of Agreement
The parties hereto, a group of individuals with professional interests in issues and policies relating to the administration of research activities at universities and other post-secondary institutions, hereby join together to form an association for the purposes outlined hereafter.
I. The name of the Association shall be: "CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ADMINISTRATORS", ("ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE D'ADMINISTRATEURS DE RECHERCHE UNIVERSITAIRE").
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II. The purposes of this association are:
1. to encourage and to facilitate the development of more effective policies and procedures relating to the administration of research programmes and to promote the achievement of the goals of research policy in universities and other post-secondary institutions;
2. to provide a forum through national and regional meetings for the discussion and exchange of information and experiences related to research programmes, policies and procedures in universities and other post-secondary institutions;
3. to provide mechanisms for the dissemination of current information and the exchange of views on mutual problems.
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III. The principal office of the Association shall be located at the institution of the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association.
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IV.The first officers of the Association and the manner of their election, together with the committee structure of the Association, shall be set forth in the By-Laws, and the first officers of the Association shall be elected at the Organizational Meeting of the Association by the Members present and voting.
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V. Membership
1. Any individual engaged in the administration of research in a Canadian university, other post-secondary institution, a teaching hospital, a not-for-profit or non-profit, university-owned foundation or corporation, or any organization wholly organized and administered by or affiliated with a university is eligible to be a Member of the Association
2. Any individual who,
a) is not qualified under V.I. and
b) is employed by a not-for-profit or non-profit or public agency or organization whose programmes of research support include universities, other post-secondary institutions or other institutes affiliated with universities, and
c) is interested in the administration of research policy
is eligible to be an Associate Member of the Association.
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VI. There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Association.
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VII. These Articles of Agreement may be amended at any Annual Meeting by the Membership. The procedure for such amendment shall be as follows. The proposed amendment signed by five members of the Association shall be transmitted to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association for distribution to the membership at least two months prior to an Annual Meeting. At the subsequent Annual Meeting, if two-thirds of the Members of the Association present or voting by proxy shall pass an affirmative ballot, the amendment shall be declared effective.
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VIII. The Canadian Association of University Research Administrators may be dissolved by a vote of the Membership at any time, subject to the rules set forth for amendment above. On dissolution, all of the assets of the Association shall be given to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.
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IX. The first members of the Association shall be the signatories hereto.
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In witness whereof the terms herein are agreed to by the parties who have hereunto affixed their hands and seals this 2nd day of October 1972.
By-Laws
I. MEMBERSHIP
There shall be two types of Membership. Membership shall be requested by individual application to the Association and is subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
A. Members:
Any individual who is engaged in the administration of research in a Canadian university, other post-secondary institution, a teaching hospital, a not-for-profit or non-profit, university-owned foundation or a corporation, or any organization wholly organized and administered by or affiliated with a university is eligible for membership.
1. Since membership in this Association is explicitly restricted to individuals, there may be any number of members for any university or organization, but the qualifications for membership must be confirmed by the university or organization concerned.
2. Each Member shall have all the rights and privileges of membership, including the right to vote on all matters; to become an officer of the Association; or to become a member of one of its committees in accordance with the rules adopted by the Membership.
B. Associate Members
Any individual who is not qualified for membership under Article V (1) above, but who is interested in the administration of research and who is employed by a not-for-profit or non-profit or public agency or organization whose programs of research support include universities, other post-secondary institutions or institutes affiliated with universities is eligible for Associate Membership.
1. Since Associate Membership is explicitly restricted to individuals, there may be any number of Associate Members from any non-profit organization or public agency.
2. Each Associate Member shall have the rights and privileges of membership, including the right to attend all National Conferences and the Annual Business Meetings of the Association, but shall not have the right to vote on matters raised at the Annual Business Meeting.
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II. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
A. The Association shall be governed by the following officers, each of whom shall be a member of the Association. The officers shall have the overall responsibility for management of the work of the Association.
1. President
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association, with the power to call meetings, to appoint committees in consultation with the Executive Committee, and generally to direct the overall activities of the organization, including the organization of the Annual National Conference. The term of the office of President shall be two years, beginning at the close of the Annual Business Meeting.
In the event that the office of President shall be vacated by resignation or death, the Executive Committee shall appoint the Vice-President or a Past President to serve the remainder of the term in that office.
2. Vice-President
The Vice-President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association after the President and shall assist the President in such ways as the latter may direct in the conduct of the affairs of the Association including the development of the Program for the Annual National Conference. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall conduct meetings and perform the other duties of the President. The term of office shall be for one year, with the possibility for renewal
Normally, to be appointed by the Executive Committee to succeed to the Presidency, the incumbent must have held the post of Vice-President for at least one year. In the event that the office of the President shall have been vacated and filled by the Vice-President during a term of office, he/she shall, other provisions to the contrary notwithstanding, be elected to the office of the Presidency for the succeeding full term.
3. Secretary-Treasurer
The Secretary-Treasurer shall be charged with coordinating with staff, the records of the Association, the minutes of the meetings, the membership roster and communication with the Membership, the collection of dues, fees or other charges and the maintenance of Association accounts, which shall be reported in professional form to the Executive Committee at its Annual Meeting. The term of office of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be two years and shall begin at the close of the Annual Business Meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer may be elected for no more than three consecutive terms.
B. The Association shall have Standing Committees, including:
1. The Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three Members: the President of the Association, ex-officio, who shall chair the Committee, and two members in good standing, at least one of whom is not a member of the Executive, to be selected by him/her with the consent of the Executive Committee. In making these appointments, consideration shall be given to activity in the Association and geographic distribution. Details of the work of the Nominating Committee are found under Section III Elections.
2. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee (EC) shall consist of ten Members in good standing. It shall consist of the officers; the Past President, and six additional Members elected at the Annual Business Meeting, with due consideration at such election being given to fields of interest, geographic location and specialization. The EC shall meet at least once a year and at such other times as shall be deemed necessary at the discretion of the President or the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association. The President shall be required to call a meeting of the EC, whenever three members of it, in writing, request such a meeting. The EC additionally may invite those persons whom it deems desirable to attend EC meetings, to provide input on issues facing the Association. These invitees will be non-voting.
This Committee shall have the following functions:
a) serving with the officers as the Management Committee of the Association;
b) preparing for, planning, organizing and holding of the meetings of the Association, to which the Committee may invite those persons whom it deems desirable;
c) filling vacancies in its own ranks or the offices of the Association between annual elections;
d) approving applications for membership which have been received by the Association.
C. Special Committees:
The Association shall have such ad hoc committees as may be needed from time to time, to be created and appointed by the President with the consent of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee.
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III. ELECTIONS
The Nominating Committee shall certify to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association, at least one month before the Annual Meeting in each year, a slate of one or more candidates for each of the offices to be filled by election in that year. The nomination of the Vice-President to be President shall be certified by the Nominating Committee to the Secretary-Treasurer for inclusion on the slate.
In the event that the incumbent Vice-President shall not wish to serve in the office of President in the succeeding term, he/she shall so certify to the Nominating Committee, which then shall name one or two candidates for President to be included on the slate.
Any ten Members of the Association may present a nominating petition for any open office to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association up to seven days before the Annual Business Meeting and the Secretary-Treasurer shall include such nomination or nominations on the slate.
The Secretary-Treasurer may, upon receipt of a slate of candidates in which only one candidate for each of the offices to be filled by election, has been recommended by the Nominating Committee, and having received no further nominations, either in writing, or verbally from members present at the Annual Business Meeting of the Association, request that the slate of candidates recommended by the Nominating Committee be approved unanimously without a vote by ballot. Otherwise, voting will take place by ballot and the ballots counted by the retiring President and the person or persons elected certified to the President of the Association, who shall have responsibility for notifying the winners of their election and assisting them in undertaking their functions in the affairs of the Association. The results of the election shall be announced at the Annual Business Meeting of the Association, and the new officers shall assume office at the close of that meeting.
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IV. MEETINGS
The meetings of the Association shall be held at such times and places as may be determined by the President with the consent of the Executive Committee. Three months' advance written notice of the time and location such meetings shall be given to the Membership. There shall be at least one general meeting of the Association each year, which shall be designated as the Annual National Conference of the Membership. And which, commencing in 1974, shall be held between the 1st day of February and the 30th day of June.
The Annual Business Meeting of the Association shall be held in conjunction with the Annual National Conference and fifty members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Special meetings may be called by the President at his/her discretion. Upon due petition by ten Members, the President shall be required to call a special meeting of the Association. Fifty members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such special meetings.
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V. DUES
Dues shall be assessed, as needed on recommendation of the Executive Committee with the approval of the Membership.
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VI. COMMUNICATIONS
The Association shall ensure there are appropriate mechanisms for communications to and among the Members on topics of interest.
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VII. AMENDMENTS
The By-Laws may be amended at any Annual Meeting by the Membership. The procedure for such amendment shall be as follows: the proposed amendment signed by five members of the Association shall be transmitted to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association for distribution to the Membership at least two months prior to an Annual Meeting. At the subsequent Annual Meeting, if two-thirds of the Members of the Association present and voting shall cast an affirmative ballot, the amendment shall be declared effective.
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VIII. DISSOLUTION
If the Association is dissolved in accordance with the Articles of Agreement, the Executive Committee shall dispose of such papers, records and other such materials as may be on hand at such time, in any manner which seems to it appropriate.
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For additional information, please contact David Harris, Secretary-Treasurer of CAURA.
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