Approved 2010
Table of Contents:
ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this organization is AERA Division J Postsecondary Education.
ARTICLE II: Affiliation
The organization, AERA Division J Postsecondary Education, is a Division of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and, as such, members of Division J pay annual dues to AERA and participate as active members of AERA.
ARTICLE III: Governing Authority
As a division of AERA, Division J Postsecondary Education is governed by the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation of AERA and by the Division’s Bylaws. Division J’s Bylaws shall not conflict with the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation of AERA.
ARTICLE IV: Mission
The mission of the AERA Division J Postsecondary Education is to advance postsecondary educational research with the goal of developing and testing theory, improving practice, and informing policy decisions.
ARTICLE V: Purpose
The major purposes of Division J Postsecondary Education are to:
ARTICLE VI: Membership
Section 1: Membership Eligibility
Division J focuses on advancing research on postsecondary education with the goal of developing and testing theory, improving practice, and informing policy decisions. Individuals may select membership in Division J provided they are current members of AERA. Only voting members of AERA may vote and hold an elected office in Division J.
Section 2: Membership Dues
Each member shall pay annual membership dues in accordance with the Bylaws, policies, and practices of the AERA.
Section 3: Membership Year
The membership year of the Division shall be the same as that of the Association as established by the AERA Executive Board.
ARTICLE VII: Officers and Appointees
The elected officers of Division J are the Vice President, Immediate Past Vice President, Vice President-Elect, Secretary, and Executive Council Members at Large. Only Regular and Emeritus members of the AERA may hold elected office as dictated by the Bylaws of the American Educational Research Association.
Section 1: Terms of Office
Section 2: Vacancies
Section 3: Officer Duties
As stated by the Division Bylaws, the elected officers of the Division are the Vice President, the Immediate Past Vice President, the Vice President Elect, the Secretary, and Executive Council Members at Large.
The Vice President shall:
The Secretary shall:
Division J Executive Council Members at Large shall:
Information about terms and tenure of officers has its basis within the Bylaws of the American Educational Research Association. We note phrasing within the AERA Division J Bylaws to ensure that this document is dynamic. Should the full membership approve changes to the Bylaws of the American Educational Research Association, Division J changes will be deemed automatic and not require a review and formal approval process to this supplemental document.
ARTICLE VIII: Nominations and Elections
Section 1: Nominations
Section 2: Election
Section 3: Schedule for Nominations and Elections
ARTICLE IX: Committees
Section 1: Committee Structure
The committee structure of the Division shall consist of The Executive Council and (a) standing committees, (b) ad hoc committees and (c) annual committees.
Section 2: Executive Council
The Division Executive Council consists of the Vice President (who serves as the Chair), the Vice President-Elect (when applicable), Immediate Past Vice President, the Secretary, the Program Chair, Graduate Student Representative, and three members-at-large. The Vice President may invite any committee chair to be an ex officio member. The Executive Council serves as an advisory group to the Vice President. It reviews the Division general affairs and has the authority to make recommendations to the Division membership as appropriate. The Executive Council holds at least one meeting each year, usually in conjunction with the Association’s annual meeting. The Vice President may call meetings at other times and must call one upon the petition of a majority of the Executive Council members. Two-thirds of the members of the Executive Council shall constitute a quorum, and unless otherwise specified by these Bylaws, decisions shall be by a majority of those present.
Section 3: Standing Committees
Section 4: Appointees Duties
Program Chair: Under the direction of the Vice President, the Program Chair shall be in charge of arranging for the Division's program at the Association's Annual Meeting, including the appointment of Section Chairs. The Vice President appoints the Program Chair for a one-year term. The incumbent can receive a reappointment.
Section Chairs: As part of the Division Program Committee and under the direction of the Program Chair, each Section Chair is in charge of determining the Division's program for a subject category.
Editor of the Division Newsletter: The Editor of the division newsletter, appointed by the Vice-President for a term of three years, is responsible for the content and electronic distribution of the semi-annual editions of the Division's newsletter.
Website Coordinator: The website coordinator, appointed by the Vice-President for a term of three years, is responsible for the maintaining the Division J section of the AERA website in coordination with the AERA Office.
Standing Committee Chairs: Standing committee chairs, appointed by the Vice President, shall serve a term of 1 to 3 years as mutually agreed upon by the Committee Chair and the Division Vice-President. The Chairs shall provide leadership for their respective committees; shall, in consultation with the chair of the Division’s Affirmative Action Committee chair, appoint committee members; and shall carry out the assigned work of the committee.
Section 5: Standing Committee Membership and Terms of Office
Standing Committees have at least three members. The term of office is normally three years, staggered so that approximately one-third of the members’ terms end in any year. Committee chairs recommend members of their respective committees in consultation with the Division J Affirmative Action Committee Chair and the Vice President. All appointments, made by the Vice President, are subject to the AERA Conflict of Interest policy.
Section 6: Ad Hoc Committees
a. Membership. The Vice President shall appoint the Chair and members of the ad hoc committees
b. Duties. Ad hoc committees carry out particular tasks as described in a charge from the Vice President following consultation with the Executive Council. The Vice President designates the term of the ad hoc committee. The term does not exceed the Vice President's term of office. Committee membership will end at the end of one’s term or earlier, based on completing assigned tasks or if, in the Vice President's judgment, the committee is not making substantial progress toward its purpose.
Section 7: Annual Committees
a. Annual Committees. Annual committees include the Division Nominating Committee and an Emerging Scholars Workshop Committee.
b. Membership. The Vice President appoints necessary annual committees. These include the Division Nominating Committee and Emerging Scholars Workshop Committee
c. Functions:
ARTICLE X: Division J Meetings
Section 1: Scheduling and Notice of Meetings
The Vice President shall have authority to set the time and place of meetings of the Division. On the petition of ten percent of the voting members, the Division must call and hold a meeting within three months of the date of the petition. The voting members will receive any resolution passed at that meeting for action by the voting members.
Announcement of time and place of any meeting of Division J will occur as far ahead as it is reasonably possible. In any case, each division member will receive a meeting notice at least three weeks in advance.
Section 2: AERA Annual Meeting and Division J Business Meeting
Except for sufficient reason, there shall be a convention of the Association each year. Arrangement of one session as Division J Business Meeting will be for Division affairs. The time and location shall be listed in the annual meeting program and during the meeting members of the Division Executive Council shall report to the membership and allow for discussion of Division affairs.
Section 3: Rules of Order
In all cases to which they apply and do not conflict with the provisions of these Bylaws, Robert's Rules of Order (current edition) shall govern business meetings of Division J.
Section 4: Membership Approval
Items of Division J business requiring the vote of the voting members will be sent by mail or e-mail and must originate from the Vice President or the Association Council in accordance with these Bylaws except as provided for in Section 1 above and in Article XIII, of the Association's Bylaws. It shall also be in order for any member to introduce these items for discussion and reconsideration at the next succeeding business meeting of the Division. A majority vote of the members present at the meeting shall be sufficient for resubmission of an action to the mail or e-mail vote of the entire membership with opportunity for those favoring resubmission to state their case. A summary of actions taken by the membership shall be included in the Annual Report by the Vice President.
ARTICLE XI: AERA-Approved Division J Awards
Division J offers and seeks nominations for three awards: Outstanding Publication, Exemplary Research, and Dissertation of the Year.
Section 1: Division J Exemplary Research Award: This award is a special honor bestowed on one of the Division’s most esteemed colleagues. The primary purpose of this award is to recognize and honor an individual who demonstrates an outstanding record of scholarly research in postsecondary education. The focus is on experienced faculty, both associate and full professors, who demonstrate an unusually high level of accomplishment. They are recognized scholars whose published research has made an outstanding contribution to knowledge and understanding in the field of higher education.
Section 2: Division J Outstanding Publication Award: The purpose of this award is to bestow recognition on a colleague for a specific publication (book, book chapter, or journal article) judged as making a substantial contribution to the literature and/or practice of higher education. Publications may have more than one author. Substantial contribution is defined as scholarship that extensively revises knowledge and understanding of a particular problem in the study of higher education or looks at it in a new way. It may also be an interdisciplinary effort that identifies a problem new to the community of scholars in higher education. Publication of the nominated book, book chapter, or article must occur during the preceding calendar year.
Section 3: Outstanding Dissertation Award: The purpose of this award is to recognize a doctoral student who, through his or her dissertation work, does the following:
ARTICLE XII: Dues and Other Fiscal Concerns
Section 1: Dues
The Association Council, as specified in Article XII of the Association’s Bylaws, establishes the dues, fees, and special assessments for all categories of membership.
Section 2: Allocation of Funds
The Association Council shall determine the fiscal period for the Association. Prior to the expiration of one fiscal period, the Division Vice President shall prepare and propose an operating budget for the next fiscal period in accordance with Association policies.
Section 3: Overseeing the Allocation of Funds
ARTICLE XIII: Approval and Amendment of the Bylaws
Section 1: Initial Adoption
Adoption of these Bylaws shall be by an affirmative vote by two-thirds of the members returning ballots within 30 days of the date of mailing or e-mailing of the ballots and copies of the Bylaws. The Association Executive Director shall review the procedure and certify the result. The Bylaws are subject to review by the Association Council in accordance with Article VII, Section 3 of the Association's Bylaws.
Section 2: Amendments
The Bylaws of Division J may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions specified herein. Initiation of amendments to or other changes in these Bylaws may occur in one of two ways: (1) The Division Executive Council may formulate proposals and submit them with any arguments it chooses to the voting members for a vote; (2) Any five percent of the voting members may submit a proposed amendment or amendments to the Division Executive Council. The amendment or amendments must be in writing and signed by the sponsors. The Division Executive Council shall then submit the proposed amendment with any arguments advanced by its sponsors and with the Division Executive Council arguments and recommendation for or against, to the voting members of the Division for action.
The voting members of Division J may act upon amendments or revisions as follows:
ARTICLE XIV: Indemnification
No Officer or member of a committee shall be liable to the AERA, or any member, or any other person or persons from any claim of any character resulting from any actions taken or any failure to take action in good faith and believed by them to be authorized by these Bylaws or within their discretion or rights or powers conferred upon them by these Bylaws. Each of these individuals shall be indemnified by the Association against expenses actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, or proceeding in which he or she is made a party by reason of his or her being or having been in this designated role of responsibility.