University Commission Reports

U N I V E R S I T Y	C O M M I S S I O N
ON THE HISTORY OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE

By-laws

Article I: Name
The official name of the commission is the University Commission on the History of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Article II: Purpose

The commission was established in 1989 to preserve the history of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.
The specific objectives shall be

to assist the LSU Libraries in identifying, collecting, organizing, and providing access to materials which document the history of LSU;
to promote graduate study, instruction, and research in the history of LSU;
to facilitate the preparation of works interpreting the history of LSU;
to serve in an advisory capacity to the University Oral History and Archives programs;
to encourage an appropriate historical perspective in the observation and celebration of significant landmarks in the development of LSU, its colleges and departments;
to coordinate the identification and solicitation of resources to support projects related to the history of the University.

Article III: Membership

Section 1:
Nomination for membership shall come from board members, the chancellors of the LSU System campuses, and University faculty, students and alumni and be presented to the membership committee.

Section 2:
Nominees shall be presented by the membership committee for approval by the Commission and appointment by the Chancellor of the LSU and A&M.

Section 3:
The membership of the Commission shall be limited to 20 members. The Commission shall represent a diverse constituency and have a sincere interest in the development and support of the history of LSU.

Section 4:
Members shall be appointed to a three-year term commencing July 1. One third of the membership shall be appointed each year. Vacancies among members may be filled by the Executive Committee for the unexpired term.

Article IV: Finances

Section 1:
All funds collected shall be accounted for by the treasurer of the Commission and audited by the chair of the Commission.

Section 2:
Funds shall be used for the support of the Commission activities in pursuit of its purpose and as directed by the chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 3:
Funds donated to the Commission shall be deposited in and managed by the LSU Foundation as stipulated in agreements between the Commission and the LSU Foundation and in accordance with standard practices.

Article V: Officers

Section 1:
The officers of the Commission shall be: chair, vice-chair, and secretary/ treasurer. These officers will form the Executive Committee of the Commission.

Section 2:
Vacancies among officer positions may be appointed by the Executive Committee for an unexpired term.

Section 3:
A nominating committee shall be appointed by the chair at the fall meeting prior to election of officers at the following spring meeting. The committee shall nominate one person for chair, vice chair, and secretary/ treasurer. Nominations will also be taken from the floor. Balloting will be determined by the Commission at the time of election.

Section 4:
Officers shall be elected during the regular spring meeting on even years.

Section 5:
Officers shall serve a two-year term commencing August 1.

Article VI: Duties of the Officers and the Executive Committee

Section 1:
The chair of the Commission shall preside at all meetings, shall appoint all standing committees, serve in an advisory capacity to all committees, and shall perform all other duties pertaining to his or her office.

Section 2:
The vice-chair shall perform the duties of the chair in his or her absence.

Section 3:
The secretary shall be responsible for an accurate written record of all regular meetings of the Commission and the Executive Committee. This officer shall be responsible for maintaining a correct list of commission members and committees and the official by-laws and amendments.

Section 4:
The treasurer shall have oversight responsibility of all funds, pay all bills as approved by the chair or the Executive Committee, and shall render a report at each meeting of the commission, and present an annual financial report.

Section 5:
Within one month of retirement from office, all officers and chairs of committees shall deliver to their successors such books and records pertaining to the conduct of the office. Noncurrent records shall be transferred to the University Archives.

Section 6:
The Executive Committee, consisting of the current officers and the past-chair, shall have the authority to transact any business of the Commission between regular meetings, except make financial obligations that are not in the budget. The Executive Committee may present unbudgeted financial recommendations to the Commission for approval.

Section 7:
The Executive Committee shall meet at either the call of the chair or majority of the Commission members.

Article VII: Meetings

Section 1:
The Commission shall have regular meetings at least twice each year, once in the fall and once in the spring.

Section 2:
Special meetings may be called by the chair, a majority of the Executive Committee, or upon written request of a simple majority of the members of the Commission.

Section 3:
A quorum to conduct business at the regular or special meeting of the commission shall consist of a simple majority of the members.

Article VIII: Committees

Section 1:
There shall be two classes of committees:

a. standing committees, and
b. special committees.

Section 2:
The standing committees of the Commission shall be the

a. The membership committee: to identify and present prospective new members to the Commission as vacancies occur.
b. The projects committee: to present proposals for projects in accordance with the purposes of the Commission
c. The development committee: to raise money to support the projects of the Commission.
d. The finance committee: to determine budget and investment priorities.
e. The Oral History and University Archives advisory committee: to act as a liaison to these programs.

Section 3:
Each standing committee shall have three members, one of whom serves as chair. The chairs of the standing committees shall be appointed by the chair of the Commission for a one-year period.

Section 4:
Special committees shall be formed by the chair or the Executive Committee. The chair of a special committee shall be appointed by the chair of the Commission.

Article IX: Parliamentary Authority

The last of edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall be used for authority in the absence of a clarification in the by-laws.

Article X: Amendments

These by-laws may be amended by 2/3 vote of the members present at a regular meeting of the Commission, provided that the nature of the amendment has been submitted in writing and distributed to all members of the Commission at least one week preceding the meeting.

Revised 4-25-02