Constitution

GROUP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF DOCTORAL EDUCATION

(As Amended, October 31, 2004 )

Article I - Name

The name of the organization shall be the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE).

 

Article II - Purpose

The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education is a private, non-profit voluntary professional organization. The purposes of the organization are to:

promote the interests and concerns of social work/social welfare doctoral programs at colleges and universities accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting body;

provide a structure for exchange of information regarding curriculum development, educational administration, research and related matters;

stimulate the development of more effective educational and research efforts;

provide resources for new or developing doctoral programs;

identify and publicize existing or potential funding resources for doctoral education; and

represent the interests of doctoral education with constituent groups and funding sources.

 

The organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

Article III - Membership

        Section 1 - Eligibility

All established social work/social welfare doctoral programs shall be eligible for membership. Established programs are those in schools/colleges/departments of social work/social welfare located at universities accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting body. In addition, schools/colleges/departments of social work/social welfare developing doctoral programs at such universities shall be eligible for membership.

 

        Section 2 - Type of Membership 

Voting membership shall be available to established social work/social welfare doctoral programs current in dues.  Each member program shall have one vote.

Non-Voting membership shall be available to schools of social work/social welfare/social policy developing doctoral programs and current in dues.

        

        Section 3 - Membership Dues

Annual dues for voting and non-voting member programs shall be determined by the membership at the annual GADE meeting.

 

Article IV   Administration - Steering Committee

        Section 1 - Structure

The Steering Committee shall serve as the administrative body of the organization.  The Committee shall consist of ten persons elected by the voting membership of the organization.  All members must be directors of doctoral programs in member schools/colleges at the time of their election to the Steering Committee. Diversity with respect to race, gender, institutional auspices, and geographic location shall be considered in Committee membership.

 

        Section 2 - Election

The election of members to the Steering Committee shall occur at the annual meeting of GADE. The current Steering Committee shall generate a slate of candidates prior to the meeting. Provision shall be made for additional nominations of voting members from the floor. Diversity in the Committee, including race, gender, institutional auspices, and geographic location, shall be considered in generating the slate of nominations.

 

        Section 3 - Functions                                  

The Steering Committee shall have the following functions:

serve as the administrative body of the organization;

collect membership dues and prepare annual budget and financial reports;

adopt and adhere to appropriate financial policy for the smooth operation of the fiscal affairs of the organization and the maintenance of the organization's bank account;

maintain an updated membership roll;

at the request of membership of the organization or Steering Committee, prepare and draft bylaws for membership approval;

record and distribute all constitutional changes to doctoral program directors;      

select the host school/program for the annual meeting of the organization (criteria for selection include: interest on the part of the host school/program, institutional membership in GADE for at least two years, and viability consideration regarding geographic location, accessibility and transportation);

plan jointly with the host school/program the annual meeting, with Vice Chair serving as Program Chair and the host school/program assuming responsibility for registration,

identification of lodging accommodations, and other on-site conference arrangements;

notify doctoral program directors of meeting and invite dean/director of the host school/program;

distribute a newsletter of the organization and other information to doctoral program directors and other individuals and entities, as appropriate;

promote research on doctoral education;

represent the goals and advocate the concerns of GADE with other organizations in the professional, public, and private sectors (e.g., the National Association of Deans and

Directors, the National Association of Social Workers, the Council on Social Work Education, and the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, and

government agencies) that fund doctoral education and engage in legislative activities  which are necessary for the funding of research and doctoral education;

 

        Section 4 - Officers

The officers of the Steering Committee shall consist of the chairperson, vice chairperson, treasurer, and recording secretary. The officers shall constitute the Executive Committee.

 

        Section 5 - Duties of Officers

The Chairperson shall officiate at the business meetings of the membership and of the Steering Committee and shall normally represent the organization within the professional and other external organizations with which GADE has a relationship.

The Vice Chairperson shall serve as Program Chair, taking leadership in planning the program and activities for the annual meeting of the membership, and may substitute for the Chairperson when needed.       

The Treasurer shall prepare an annual budget for the organization, execute financial transactions for the organization, and monitor and report on the organization’s finances semi-annually.

 The Recording Secretary shall maintain the official list of the organization’s membership and of Steering Committee membership, prepare and keep the minutes of the business meetings of the membership and of the Steering Committee, and conduct elections.     

        Section 6 - Election and Term of Officers

 The Steering Committee shall elect its officers.  The officers of the Committee shall serve 2 years and may be re-elected for one additional term. If a person’s term as an officer extends beyond her/his term on the Steering Committee, the person shall maintain membership on the Committee until the term of office expires.

 

        Section 6.1 - Voting

Each member of the Steering Committee shall have one vote.

 

        Section 6.2 - Term of Office

The members of the Steering Committee shall serve for 3 years, and they may be re-elected for one consecutive term. The terms will be staggered to assure continuity.  If members of the Steering Committee leave the directorships of their doctoral programs prior to completing their term, they may remain on the Steering Committee until the next regularly scheduled election.

 

Article V - Meetings

Section 1 - General Membership

 

Section 1.1 - Regular Meeting

GADE shall hold an annual meeting of its membership during the fall of each year. The date of the meeting and its agenda shall be determined by the Steering Committee.

 

Section 1.2 - Special Meetings    

Special meetings of the membership may be called by the Steering Committee upon the request of one-third of the Committee members. 

 

Section 1.3 - Quorum  

One-third of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may convene a meeting for discussion of organization business.

          

Section 1.4 - Voting

Each voting member program that is current in GADE dues shall have one vote which shall be vested in the director of the doctoral program or a designated alternate doctoral faculty member.

 

Section 2 - Steering Committee

 

Section 2.1 - Regular Meetings

The Steering Committee shall meet at the annual meetings of GADE and the Council on Social Work Education.

 

Section 2.2 - Special Meetings   

The Steering Committee may meet at other times as required for organization business.

        

        Section 2.3 - Quorum

One half of the Steering Committee’s membership shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may convene a meeting for discussion of organization business.

 

Article VI - Inurement of Income

No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, trustees, officers or other private persons except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable expenses for costs incurred in conducting organization business.

        

Article VII - Legislative or Political Activities

The organization shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

 

Article VIII - Operational Limitations

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt for

Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

 

Article IX - Dissolution Clause

Upon the dissolution of the organization, the Steering Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the organization, dispose of all of the assets of the organization exclusively for the purposes of the organization in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Steering Committee shall determine. Any of such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Circuit Court of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

 

Article X - Governance

Robert’s Rules of Order, revised, shall govern all meetings. These rules may be suspended and consensus governance applied upon majority vote of the members present at the beginning of any GADE meeting.

 

Article XI - Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by an approval of two-thirds of the voting members present at the annual business meeting, providing that said amendments have been sent out to all members at least three weeks prior to the meeting or by approval of two thirds of voting members polled by mail or e-mail.