By-Laws

APLG By-Laws

Approved by Membership July 2, 1993, amended 1995, 1998, and 2008.

Name
The name of this organization shall be Accounting Programs Leadership Group (APLG) - A Section of the American Accounting Association.
Mission and Goals
1. The Mission of APLG is to stimulate excellence in accounting education through outstanding leadership of accounting programs.
2. The Goals of the APLG are:
  1. Excellence in accounting program leadership. To assist accounting program leaders in the development of the knowledge and skills necessary to be effective in their roles and responsibilities.
  2. Excellence in accounting education programs. To influence and support high quality in the design and delivery of accounting education, including providing a forum for best practices in accounting education, assessment, and the continual improvement of accounting programs.
  3. Excellence in serving as an advocate. To provide information and knowledge to members concerning issues in the accounting profession that could influence the future development and delivery of accounting education and, when appropriate, to serve as an advocate for the academy in promoting policies that will promote high quality accounting education.
Membership
1. Regular Membership
  Representation shall be open to all members of the American Accounting Association at educational institutions accredited by the applicable regional accrediting association of colleges and secondary schools that offer accounting programs. Membership is intended primarily for accounting program chairs and program leaders (e.g., undergraduate accounting program, master of accountancy, and doctoral accounting program directors). However, others who are interested in playing a leadership role in accounting education are encouraged to become members and participate.
2. Professional Membership
  Representation shall be open to all organizations that support the missions and goals of the APLG. Professional members of the APLG must be members of the American Accounting Association.
Dues
1. Dues for regular and professional members of the APLG shall be determined by the Board of Governors and approved by a majority vote of the membership voting at a regularly scheduled business meeting or by electronic voting. A proposal to change the dues must be announced to the membership, in writing, not less than 30 days prior to the beginning of the voting period. Dues shall be payable on or before January 1 of each year. Any member whose dues are four months in arrears shall be suspended from membership. Dues shall not be prorated.
2. Dues shall be collected by the AAA Administrative Office and reported to the Treasurer of the APLG. All receipts shall be deposited in an AAA bank account and disbursed upon authorization from the President and/or Treasurer of the APLG.
Officers and Duties of Officers
1. President - The President shall serve a one-year term. Duties of the President shall include:
  1. To direct the affairs of the APLG and carry out the programs formulated by the members with the advice of the Board.
  2. To plan the annual meeting of the APLG with the advice of the Board;
  3. To preside at the APLG's meetings, and meetings of the Board;
  4. To make committee appointments and specify committee charges with the advice of the Board;
  5. To work with the President and Regional Vice Presidents of the AAA where appropriate;
  6. To serve as liaison to the AAA as a member of Council and by attending meetings of Section Presidents; and
  7. To represent the APLG to all outside interests.
2. President-Elect - The President-Elect shall be elected for a one-year term and, upon completion of his or her term as President-Elect, shall become President. Duties of the President-Elect shall include:
  1. To assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President;
  2. To perform whatever duties the President might assign;
  3. To organize the APLG component, if any is to be offered, of the annual meeting of the American Accounting Association; and
  4. To lead a discussion of APLG's strategic plan, at the Fall Board meeting, including the ongoing appropriateness of its mission, goals and strategies.
  5. To recommend, when appropriate, a comprehensive review of the strategic plan by an ad hoc committee of the Board of Governors and others. This is expected to occur at least every five years.
  6. To report preliminary action plans and budgets for the coming year, at the winter Board meeting, consistent with the mission, goals and strategies.
  7. To attend the AAA Council meetings as an observer.
3. Vice President-Academic Standards - The Vice President-Academic Standards shall be elected for a one-year term. Duties of the Vice President-Academic Standards shall include:
  1. To act as liaison between the APLG and the AACSB in accreditation matters of accounting programs;
  2. To chair the Accreditation Committee; and
  3. To plan and conduct, under the direction of the President, meetings of the accreditation committee of APLG.
4. Regional Vice Presidents - The Regional Vice Presidents shall serve for one-year terms. A Regional Vice President shall be from the membership of each of the following seven American Accounting Association Regions:
  - Mid-Atlantic
  - Northeast
  - Ohio
  - Southeast
  - Midwest
  - Southwest
  - Western
  Duties of the Regional Vice Presidents shall include:
  1. To perform such duties in connection with the program of the APLG in their region as shall be directed by the President;
  2. To direct the affairs of the APLG within their region and carry out the regional programs formulated by the regional membership with the advice of the Board;
  3. To plan the regional meeting(s) of the APLG with the advice of the Board;
  4. To preside at the Regional APLG's meetings;
  5. To make committee appointments and specify committee charges as may from time to time become necessary in connection with regional APLG activities; and
  6. To report to the APLG Board regarding activities of the Regional Group.
5. Secretary - The Secretary shall be elected for a two-year term. Duties of the Secretary shall include:
  1. To supervise the keeping of records and minutes of the APLG's meetings and procedures;
  2. To provide information and guidance for the APLG's publications;
  3. To record and report on all membership meetings;
  4. To give notice of all Board and membership meetings;
  5. To administer the mailing and tabulation of the election ballots; and
  6. To perform such other duties as prescribed by the Board.
6. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall be elected for a two-year term. Duties of the Treasurer shall include:
  1. To prepare an annual budget with the advice and consent of the Board;
  2. To work with the AAA Executive Director relative to collection and disbursement of the APLG's funds, and
  3. To report to the Board and membership the financial activities of the APLG.
7. Vice President-Communications – The Communications Vice-President shall be appointed for a two-year term. Duties of the Communications Vice-President shall include:
  1. To prepare and distribute the APLG newsletter on a regular basis.
  2. To work with the staff at AAA headquarters to maintain and update the APLG web site.
Board of Governors
1. The Board of Governors shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice President-Academic Standards, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President-Communications, the most immediate Past President willing to serve, and six members elected at large who shall serve two-year terms, two of whom must be professional members.
2. The Board shall decide upon specific ways to carry out the major policy decisions of the membership. The Board shall meet at least annually.
  Meetings of the Board shall be called by the President or at the written request of any six Governors to the Secretary. Notice of meetings of the Board shall be made by the Secretary. A quorum shall consist of six members.
Academic Standards Committee
1. The Academic Standards Committee shall consist of at least five (5) members appointed by the President in Consultation with the Vice President - Academic Standards.
2. The Academic Standards Committee shall consider accreditation issues as they affect the APLG membership, make recommendations to the Board of Governors regarding accounting accreditation matters, and make recommendations to the Vice President - Academic Standards to take to the AACSB for consideration when authorized to do so by the President on behalf of the APLG. At no time will the Committee purport to represent the American Accounting Association regarding accreditation matters unless specifically authorized to do so by the President or by the Executive Committee of the AAA.
Membership Meetings
1. The APLG may hold an annual meeting in conjunction with the APLG Annual Seminar and other meetings as called by the Board of Governors. Notice of the time and place of membership meetings of the APLG shall be e-mailed to all members by the Secretary or published in the Newsletter at least two months before such meetings. All such meetings shall be considered to be regularly scheduled business meetings.
2. A quorum at all duly called membership meetings shall consist of those members present. All matters coming before the membership at the annual and other regularly scheduled meetings shall be decided by majority votes of those present.
3. For purposes of conducting all membership meetings of the APLG, Robert's Rules of Order (latest edition) will apply wherein the by-laws do not specify procedure. A parliamentarian will be appointed by the Officer presiding at each meeting.
Elections and Filling of Vacancies
1. All elections of Officers, Board Members, and the Nominating Committee members shall be by electronic ballot administered by the Secretary.
2. In the event the President is unable to serve, his or her duties shall be assumed by the President-Elect. In the event that the President-Elect, Vice President-Academic Standards, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President-Communications, a Board Member, Regional Vice President, or a Nominating Committee member is unable to serve, the President shall appoint a member to complete the term until the next regular election.
Nominating Committee
1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the most immediate Past President willing to serve, the President, and three non-Board Members, elected by the membership for one year terms. The Chairman of the Committee shall be the Past President serving on the Committee.
2. The Nominating Committee shall nominate one individual for each elective position in the APLG. In addition, members in good standing may be nominated and their names placed on the ballot provided their nominations are submitted to the Past President by March 1 and are accompanied by a petition signed by fifteen members in good standing.
3. The Nominating Committee's report and election ballots shall be distributed electronically to all members no later than four months prior to the AAA Annual Meeting. Ballots must be completed within 30 days of notification of the beginning of the voting period to be included in the tabulation. Individuals receiving a majority of the votes cast, including write-ins, shall be declared elected. Those elected shall take office at the Board meeting held during the AAA's Annual Meeting.
Compensation
No officer or Board Member shall receive any compensation in the form of honoraria, professional fees, stipends, etc., from the AAA or the APLG for the performance of duties as an Officer or Board Member. Officers and Board Members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with their duties using the standard AAA expense reimbursement policy.
Position Statements
Position statements issued in the name of the APLG must be approved by a majority of the members' votes cast in a ballot whenever time permits. However, when time is of-the-essence and a ballot vote would be ineffective, the Board of Governors itself may develop a position statement or otherwise represent the interests of the APLG.
Amendments
Proposed amendments to these by-laws may be submitted to the President by any regular member in good standing. Proposals accompanied by a petition signed by fifteen regular members in good standing shall be submitted to the Secretary for ballot by the membership. Proposals not accompanied by such petition shall be submitted to the President and by the President to the board at their next regular meeting. Amendments approved by the Board shall be submitted to the Secretary for ballot by the membership. Amendments shall be adopted by an affirmative vote of the majority of those voting. Voting may be done electronically or by mail. Amendments shall go into effect as soon as the results of the balloting are ratified by the Secretary and reported to the Board of Governors.

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