Consortium Bylaws PDF Print E-mail

The Middelburg Center for Transatlantic Studies: Consortium Bylaws

In the interest of furthering global understanding and the free exchange of ideas, and being keenly aware of the role played in this process by institutions of higher education, the partners named in this document agree to establish the Middelburg Center for Transatlantic Studies (MCTS). We declare the following to be our mission: 

The Middelburg Center for Transatlantic Studies seeks to encourage and promote a transatlantic perspective by providing faculty and students with a unique multicultural environment in order to aid their personal, professional, and academic development. Furthermore, we encourage collaboration within the consortium and between the member institutions in the area of academics, research, sharing of resources, and development of new programs, at all levels of the college/university: student, faculty, and administration.

The administrative duties will be divided among the Consortium Board of Directors, Executive Committee, the Academic Committee, the Conference Committee, and other officers and bodies deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee. The specific terms governing this participation are as follows:

Consortium Board of Directors

        
  1. The Consortium Board of Directors is comprised of the persons (one or two from each member) designated by each member institution.
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  2. The Board of Directors will be responsible for overseeing MCTS and its proper and efficient operation.
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  3. The Board of Directors will be responsible for policy decisions concerning the program.
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  4. The Board of Directors (or a committee appointed by the Board) will approve all faculty and staff appointments and curriculum.
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  5. The Board of Directors will determine the location and support services used by the program.
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  6. The Board of Directors (or a committee appointed by the Board) will appoint each semester a director selected from the faculty participating in the Transatlantic Studies Program.
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  7. The Board of Directors will appoint an Executive Director selected from one of the universities of the Consortium. This appointment is for a three-year period, at the end of which the Board may extend the appointment or select a new Executive Director. The Executive Director will have the primary responsibility of coordinating the overall program.
    8.     
  8. The Board of Directors will elect an Executive Committee, which will have the authority to act when the Board is not in session.
    9.     
  9. The heirs of the Consortium in the event of dissolution will be those member institutions that have paid the most recent membership fees due.

Executive Committee

        
  1. The Executive Committee will assist the Board of Directors to accomplish their tasks, and will act when the Board of Directors is not in session.
    2.     
  2. The Executive Committee will act as the representative body of the consortium in matters dealing with the consortium’s status as a vereniging   (association) under Dutch law.
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  3. The Executive Committee consists of six elected members to be chosen by the Board of Directors. The Committee is comprised of the following:
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    • Two from the United States,
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    • Two from Europe,
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    • One from Mexico,
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    • One from Roosevelt Academy.
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  4. Acting as ex officio members of the Executive Committee will be the:
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    • Executive Director,
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    • Chief Administrative Officer,
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    • Chief Financial Officer.
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  5. Responsibilities of the Executive Committee include, but are not limited to, the following:
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    • Making decisions on behalf of the consortium,
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    • Developing policies on behalf of the consortium,
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    • Conducting strategic planning,
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    • Choosing a Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer.  
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Executive Director (Chairman)

        
  1. The Executive Director will be the primary public representative of MCTS.
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  2. The Board of Directors will elect the Executive Director for a three-year term, beginning on 1 July.
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  3. Duties will include but are not limited to, the following:
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    • Corresponding on behalf of the consortium,
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    • Setting agendas for meetings,
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    • Making day-to-day decisions when necessary.  
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Chief Administrative Officer (Secretary)

        
  1. The Chief Administrative Officer will be provided by one of the member institutions.
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  2. Duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
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    • Provide overall coordination for handling administrative issues, including registration, housing, etc. when they arise,
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    • Assisting the Chief Financial Officer in preparing the budget and overseeing expenditures. 
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Chief Financial Officer (Treasurer)

        
  1. The Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for accounting for and managing the finances and budget.
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  2. Duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
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    • Assuming signing authority over consortium bank accounts,
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    • Paying bills incurred by the consortium out of consortium accounts. Signing AuthorityThe Executive Director, Chief Administrative Officer, and the Chief Financial Officer will individually have authority to sign documents on behalf of the consortium. 
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Academic Committee

        
  1. The Academic Committee consists of members chosen by the Board of Directors.
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  2. Responsibilities of the Academic Committee include, but are not limited, to the following:
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    • Recruiting courses and faculty,
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    • Preparing course schedules.  
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Conference Committee

        
  1. The Conference Committee consists of members chosen by the Board of Directors.
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  2. Responsibilities of the Conference Committee include, but are not limited to, the following:
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    • Offering guidance for the biennial conferences.  
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MCTS Member Duties

As participants of the Middelburg Center for Transatlantic Studies, each member will:

        
  1. Work to promote the program on their respective campuses.
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  2. Endeavor to recruit and enroll students for the program. While the universities are under no obligation or commitment to recruit a minimum number of students, it is agreed that the goal of each institution is to send three students per semester to the program.
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  3. Approve all student participants through the application of established criteria for study abroad, with particular attention directed toward English language capabilities (for non-English institutions).
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  4. Support the collection of fees as necessary.
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  5. Provide a faculty member(s), subject to the approval of the Academic Committee, to teach at MCTS according to the availability of such faculty on campus and the academic needs of the program.
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  6. Assign their faculty to teach courses, with faculty agreeing to integrate part of their course in collaboration with other resident faculty.
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  7. Agree to seek the acceptance of all courses offered in Middelburg each semester as their own courses and to facilitate the transfer of all such courses. Each university collects tuition fees as appropriate.
    8.     
  8. Provide the annual fee of $500 to support the program.  This money will be used to defer costs of administrative expense, academic support activities and other program concerns as determined by the Board of Directors.
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  9. Support the attendance of their institutional director to the yearly meeting of the Board of Directors.

Amending Bylaws Any member of the Board of Directors may propose amendments to the bylaws by submitting them to the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee will compile the proposed amendments and present them to the entire Board of Directors at the next annual meeting.  Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the Board of Directors present at the annual meeting.   

Procedures for Joining MCTS

Application for membership in the Middelburg Center for Transatlantic Studies should be made to the Executive Director and should consist of a letter agreeing to the above commitment. The Board of Directors at the subsequent annual meeting will vote on the application. Upon acceptance, the new members should designate its representative to the Board of Directors.             

Current Consortium Membership

For a list of consortium members, please see the Consortium Institutions page.