Council on International Higher Education (CIHE)

CIHE Bylaws

Approved by ASHE Board of Directors April 3, 2015

ARTICLE I: PURPOSE

The purposes of the Council on International Higher Education shall be:

• To provide a forum for the dissemination and discussion of research in order to advance research and theory on higher education from comparative and international perspectives.

• To provide a formal structure within ASHE that scholars with interests in international higher education can promote theory and research to explore contrasting cultural and international perspectives in the study of higher education.

• To provide a focal point and network for students entering the field of international higher education research.

• To provide a communication linkage among higher education researchers for the identification of research priorities, the exchange of ideas and methods and the facilitation of cooperative research and evaluation.

ARTICLE II: PROCEDURES

The Council on International Higher Education shall be governed by the following procedures as amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof.

SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP.  All members of the Council on International Higher Education shall be members of ASHE in good standing. Any ASHE members may designate their membership in CIHE on the annual ASHE membership form, and the membership year shall be the same as that for ASHE. There is no additional fee associated with being a member of this Standing Committee of ASHE.

SECTION 2.0 ELECTED OFFICERS. The officers of the Council on International Higher Education shall be the Chair, Vice Chair, Past Chair, the Communications Coordinator, 3 Members-at-Large, and Graduate Student Liaison. These officers shall comprise the Council's Executive Committee. Chair, Vice Chair, Members-at-Large, and the Graduate Student Liaison are full voting members of the Executive Committee. The Communications Coordinator is a non-voting member of the Executive Committee. The Vice Chair shall serve as Program Chair for the annual International Forum. In terms without a Vice Chair, the Chair will appoint a Program Chair for the annual International Forum, subject to approval by voting members of the Executive Committee. A Program Co-Chair may be chosen from among the Council membership. The Chair may invite any chair of a Council committee to be a non-voting member of the Executive Committee. Insofar as practical and possible, members of the Executive Committee shall be of diverse ethnic background, geographic region, and genders.

SECTION 2.1: TERMS

1. The term of the office for the Vice Chair shall be one year, followed by two years as Chair, and a fourth year as Past Chair. The terms of the Members-at-Large, Communications Coordinator, and Graduate Student Liaison shall be two years. Terms of the Vice Chair and Past Chair shall be staggered so that at no time will a Vice Chair and a Past Chair both sit on the Executive Committee. The one exception to the rule of staggering Vice Chair and Past Chair terms shall be the first Executive Committee following the implementation of the two-year Chair term, during which both a Past chair and Vice Chair will serve on the election committee to facilitate the transition. Terms for Members-at-Large shall be staggered.
2. he terms of office shall begin the day following the close of the ASHE International Forum, which is held immediately before the ASHE Annual Meeting. If no Annual Meeting is held, the terms of office shall begin as close as feasible to the date the terms of office of their predecessors would normally expire, the exact dates to be set by the Executive Committee. If the Vice Chair or Chair does not take office within one month of the time the term is to begin, the Executive Committee shall declare the given office vacant and appoint a substitute to serve until a successor can be chosen at a regular or special election. If a Member-at-Large, Communications Coordinator, or Graduate Student Liaison does not take office within one month following the time the term is to begin, the Chair shall declare the office vacant and appoint a substitute to serve in the Member's capacity. 

SECTION 2.2: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

1. All officers of the Council shall be elected by electronic ballot of the voting members of the Council. These ballots will be distributed and collected prior to the first day of the annual International Forum, and results of the elections will be announced at the Council's business meeting, which is held at the close of the International Forum.
2. The Election Committee appointed by the Chair shall propose nominations (for at least two names for each office) and ascertain the availability of nominees for the office of Vice Chair, Communications Coordinator and Executive Committee Members at Large. As much as possible, the nominees shall represent different countries and continents as well as diverse ethnic backgrounds and genders.

• • The names of potential candidates will be solicited from the membership at large at least thirty (30) days prior to voting.

• • The elections committee will approach qualified candidates to inquire as to their willingness to stand for nomination.

• • Potential nominees will submit a 250 word statement describing their qualifications for nomination as well as potential contributions to CIHE as a member of the Executive Committee.

• • The Elections Committee will review candidate statements and will select those whom it considers best qualified for the available positions.

• • Election for Vice Chair will occur every other year during the Chair’s first year in term. The elected Vice Chair will assume the position at the start of the sitting Chair’s second year in term and will replace the outgoing Past Chair.

c. The Election Committee should whenever possible submit to the Chair at least twice the number of the names of nominees for each position to be filled -- Vice Chair, Communications Coordinator, Members at Large, and Graduate Student Liaison -- accompanied by evidence of the nominees' consent to run.

d. The Chair shall approve the nominees and prepare and send an electronic ballot to the membership of CIHE. The person receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected to office. In the event that two At-Large Members are subject to voting in the same election, then the top two vote recipients shall be elected to office. The Election Committee shall review the procedures and certify the results to the Chair immediately, and to the members at the following annual meeting and on the Council's web page. In case of a tie, the election shall be settled by lot. The Election Committee will establish the procedure.

SECTION 2.3: SCHEDULE FOR NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

1. The Election Committee shall be appointed within two months after the Chair assumes office.
2. At least 30 days shall elapse between the electronic delivery of election ballots to members and the deadline for voting. The Chair shall arrange for announcing the election on the CIHE listserv and set the deadline for voting, which shall be prior to the ASHE Annual Meeting.
3. The Chair may choose to conduct the elections process in a reasonably fair manner different from that described in 2.3a and 2.3b, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 2.4: VACANCIES

1. When a vacancy in the office of the Chair occurs, the Vice Chair and the Council's Executive Committee shall designate an individual, whose name shall be submitted to the President of ASHE for appointment to the respective office for the remainder of the term.
2. When a vacancy occurs for a member of the Executive Committee who is not the Chair or Vice Chair, the Chair will appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term.
3. If the Chair or Vice Chair is unable or fails to perform duties satisfactorily over a period of time, the Executive Committee shall declare the office vacant and arrange for the duties of the office to be performed. The Executive Committee shall also take other reasonable steps to preserve intact the offices of the Council on International Higher Education, and to maintain the Council's operations.
4. If a member of the Executive Committee who is not the Chair or Vice Chair is unable or fails to perform duties satisfactorily over a period of time, the Chair (after consultation with the Executive Committee) shall declare the office vacant and to arrange for the duties of the office to be performed.

SECTION 2.5: DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. CHAIR

The duties of the Chair of the Council on International Higher Education are defined by these procedures and include the following:

• Be responsible for activities that will further the objectives and aims of the Council on International Higher Education.
• Call and conduct the annual business meeting of the Council.
• Chair meetings of the Executive Committee of the Council.
• Make all appointments to Council committees as described in this document.
• Replace Members-at-Large in accordance with Section 2.4 above.
• Report annually to the ASHE Board of Directors the activities and significant news of the Council on International Higher Education.
• Appoint a Program Chair for the CIHE Annual Forum in years when a Vice Chair does not sit on the Executive Committee.
• Appoint and oversee the CIHE Award Committee.

B. VICE CHAIR

The duties of the Vice Chair of the Council on International Higher Education are defined by these procedures and include the following:

• Serve as Program Chair of the annual International Forum. Working in collaboration with a team of Members-at-Large, the Vice Chair will coordinate the development and dissemination of the Forum's Call for Proposals, the review of proposals received, and the development of the International Forum Program.

• The Vice Chair may appoint a Program Co-Chair from the Council membership.

• At the close of the International Forum, the Vice Chair will assume the duties and title of Chair.

• The Vice Chair will work closely with the Chair to oversee activities that will further the objectives and aims of the Council on International Higher Education.
• The Vice Chair shall chair meetings of the Executive Committee of the Council in the event of an absence of the Chair. 

C. PAST CHAIR

The duties of the Past Chair of the Council on International Higher Education are defined by these procedures and include the following:

• At the close of the International Forum, the Chair will assume the duties and title of Past Chair.

• The Past Chair will serve as a consultant to the Council on business matters and the development of the International Forum program.
• The Past Chair will work closely with the Chair to oversee activities that will further the objectives and aims of the Council on International Higher Education.

D. COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

The duties of the Communications Coordinator of the Council on International Higher Education are defined by these procedures and include the following:

• Lead the Council's ongoing efforts to inform the membership of issues and events related to comparative and international research in higher education, as well as seeking ways to engage members of the International forum in meaningful dialogue.
• coordinate the development of newsletters or brochures, as well as electronic forms of communication (including websites and e-mail).

E. MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

The duties of the 3 Members-at-Large of the Council on International Higher Education are defined by these procedures and include the following:

• Serve as an advisory group to the Chair.
• Support the Program Chair with coordinating the International Forum program. 

F. GRADUATE STUDENT LIAISON 

The duties of the Graduate Student Liaison of the Council on International Higher Education are defined by these procedures and include the following:

• Represent the interests and perspectives of graduate students on the Executive Committee.
• Advise the Chair on matters of importance to graduate students.

SECTION 3.0 MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

a. The Executive Committee shall hold at least one meeting each year, usually in conjunction with the Conference's Annual Meeting. The Chair may call meetings at other times, and must call one upon petition of a majority of the Committee's members.

b. Two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum, and unless otherwise specified by these procedures, decisions shall be by majority vote of those present.

c. Any member of the Council on International Higher Education may attend a Committee meeting as an observer. 

SECTION 4.0 COMMITTEES AND APPOINTMENTS

SECTION 4.1 COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

The Committee Structure of the Council on International Higher Education shall consist of (a) standing committees, (b) ad hoc committees, and (c) annual committees.

SECTION 4.2 STANDING COMMITTEES

a. Standing Committees may be established or discontinued by the Executive Committee. Standing Committees shall have not less than three members appointed by the Chair, upon the recommendations of the Executive Committee. Appointments normally shall be for three-year terms. The terms shall be staggered such that approximately one-third of the members' terms end in any year.

b. The duties of Standing Committees shall be prescribed by the Executive Committee. These duties may be revised from time to time by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 4.3 AD HOC COMMITTEES

a. Ad Hoc committees may be established by the Chair of the Council to carry out particular tasks as described in a charge from the Chair. The Chair shall designate the term of the ad hoc committee which shall not exceed the Chair's term of office.

b. Members of ad hoc committees shall be appointed by the Chair of the Council, and the committees shall be discharged at the end of their term or earlier if the tasks assigned are completed or if in the Chair's judgment, they are not making substantial progress toward their purpose.

SECTION 4.4 ANNUAL COMMITTEES

The Chair shall appoint necessary committees for one-year terms. Among them shall be an Election Committee which shall perform the duties specified in Section 2.2. and 2.3 of these procedures.

SECTION 5.0 FINANCES

Revenues and expenses of the Council on International Higher Education shall be determined and managed consistent with Article VIII, Sections 1-3 of the ASHE Bylaws.

SECTION 6.0 BUSINESS AND MEETINGS

SECTION 6.1 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

The Chair shall arrange one session of the annual International Forum meeting for Council affairs. As a forum for report and discussion of Conference affairs at this meeting, agenda items shall be proposed by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 6.2 RULES OF ORDER

In all cases to which they apply and do not conflict with the provisions of these Procedures, Robert's Rules of Order (current edition) shall govern business meetings of the Council on International Higher Education.

SECTION 6.3 MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL

Items of business requiring the vote of the Council members shall be transacted at the annual meeting or by mail or e-mail and must originate from the Chair or the Executive Committee in accordance with these Procedures. At least 30 days must elapse between the date on which the proposal is sent to the members and the date on which the vote is counted. Decision shall be by majority vote. Any member may introduce items of business for discussion and reconsideration at the next succeeding business meeting of the Conference. A majority vote of the members present at the meeting shall be sufficient for submission by mail or e-mail of an action to the entire membership for vote, with opportunity for those favoring submission to state their reasons therefore.

A summary of actions taken by the membership shall be included in the Annual Report produced by the Chair for the ASHE Board and the Council membership.

SECTION 7.0 AMENDMENT OR REVISIONS

SECTION 7.1 INITIATION

Amendments to or other changes in these Procedures may be initiated in either of the following ways:

a. The Executive Committee may formulate proposals and submit them with any arguments it chooses to the members of the vote.

b. Five percent of the voting members may submit to the Executive Committee a proposed amendment or amendments in writing, signed by the sponsors. The Executive committee shall then submit the proposed amendment with any arguments by its sponsors and with the Executive Committee's arguments and recommendations for or against the motion to the voting members for action.

SECTION 7.2 AMENDMENTS

Amendments or revisions shall be acted on by the members of the Council on International Higher Education as follows:

The Chair shall send to the voting members of the council the proposed changes with explanations and arguments, together with an electronic ballot. At least 30 days shall elapse between the date on which the proposal is sent to the members and the date on which the vote is counted. An affirmative vote by two-thirds of the members returning ballots within 30 days shall be sufficient for ratification of an amendment. The Election Committee shall review the procedure and certify the result. The results of the vote shall be reported to the membership in the next available issues of a scheduled communication to the members.

SECTION 7.3 NECESSARY CONSISTENCY

These bylaws and any amendments may not be in conflict with the ASHE bylaws.