Strategy 1: Offer high quality and relevant professional development and leadership opportunities to faculty, support staff, and students in the realm of academia through a variety of mediums.
Strategy 2: Increase the visibility and influence of NOSSMD as a leader in academia.
Strategy 3: Assess procedures and systems, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement sustainable processes when needed.
MARYLAND CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
BY LAWS
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of the Corporation shall be Maryland Chapter of The National Organization for Student Success, Incorporated. (NOSSMD)
ARTICLE II- AFFILIATION
This association shall be affiliated with the National Organization for Student Success (herein after referred to as NOSS) and shall operate in harmony with that association's constitution and by-laws. Members include (but are not limited to) collegiate educators, K-12 educators, staff and support services, personnel affiliated with student success initiatives in collegiate and K-12 educational facilities, students enrolled in education programs, and other constituents affiliated with education.
ARTICLE III- PURPOSE
Section 1. IRC Section 501(c) (3) purpose
The Corporation is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
No member of NOSSMD may utilize the name or likeness of NOSSMD to engage in activities that are not in furtherance of NOSSMD exemption purposes.
Upon the dissolution of this organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding Section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.
Section 2. Specific objectives and purposes
The Maryland Chapter of The National Organization for Student Success is a professional group of those engaged in, or with interest in, student success. The purposes of NOSSMD shall be to promote the following goals within the state of Maryland:
● To provide visibility, significance, and support to student success programs
● To provide an information channel for learning assistance and student success faculty, staff, administrators, and other interested persons.
● To promote professional standards for student success programs.
● To provide professional development activities for sharing professional methods, techniques, and strategies.
● To provide an arena for the discussion of local campus issues related to learning assistance and faculty and staff.
● To serve as an advocate for learning assistance and student success programs on issues directly affecting developmental learners.
● In general, to engage in any lawful act or activity or to carry on any business in accordance with the corporation’s non-profit purpose not forbidden by the laws of the State of Maryland and with all the powers conferred by the State of Maryland.
ARTICLE IV- DUES
The annual dues shall be reviewed each year and set by the Executive Board. The fiscal year shall be from July 1- June 30.
ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP
Any individual or institution/organization in academia or otherwise interested in the purposes of this Organization shall be eligible for membership. Such individuals or institutions do not have to be members of NOSS to qualify for membership.
ARTICLE VI - GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
Section 1. Executive Board Membership
The Executive Board will consist of the President, the President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Administrative Chair, Two Representatives at Large, the Newsletter Editor, the Political Liaison, the NOSS Liaison, and the Recruitment Chairperson.
Section 2. Executive Board Powers
The Executive Board shall have the responsibility and authority for generating, interpreting, and implementing policies deemed necessary between annual NOSSMD membership meetings, and other expressions of membership will, provided that such interim actions shall not abrogate the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association. In addition, it shall have the responsibility and authority for interpreting and implementing policy actions adopted by the general NOSS membership at annual conferences and elsewhere.
Section 3. Committees
The committees for this Corporation shall be any committees as deemed advisable and approved by the Board.
Section 4. Officers
A. All officers shall be members of NOSSMD. Elected officers must also be members of NOSS.
B. Elected Officers
The elected officers of this Corporation shall be:
C. Appointed Members
The appointed Board members shall be:
ARTICLE VII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. President:
Duties include the following:
● Scheduling Board meetings and preparing agendas;
● Presiding at Board meetings;
● Implementing professional development programs and the annual conference;
● Promoting communication with members through newsletters, e-mail, bulletins, or other means, as appropriate;
● Appointing committee members and overseeing committee activities;
● Acting as an ex-officio member of all committees;
● Acting at his/her discretion in situations he/she considers to be emergencies, subject to later discussion and action by the Executive Board;
● Otherwise implementing the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws;
● Filing reports on chapter activities with the NOSS Vice President;
● In the event of a tie during voting, the President shall cast the tie-breaking vote.
Section 2. President Elect
Duties include the following:
● Acting as Executive Officer in the absence of the President;
● Coordinating program planning for the annual conference;
● Coordinating the selection process for workshop and conference proposals;
● Working with the team to secure locations for workshops and conferences;
● Planning and facilitating meals and incentives/prizes for workshops and conferences;
● Creating brochures/agendas for workshops and conferences;
● Preparing for the duties of the President during the succeeding year.
Section 3. Immediate Past-President:
Duties include the following:
· Advising the Executive Board;
· Receiving awards nominations and coordinating the award selection process;
· Maintaining the NOSSMD records;
· Performing other duties as designated by the President.
Section 4. Administrative Chair
Duties include the following:
● Managing financial matters relating to the Association such as (but not limited to) collecting dues and conference fees, dispersing funds, planning budgets, furnishing receipts, and maintaining accurate and current financial records;
● Maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial records of all income and expenditures;
● Maintain and update the NOSSMD website, keeping it current regarding information about NOSSMD as well as NOSS. This includes social media accounts;
● Maintain a database of both past and current members;
● File taxes and other legal requirements.
Section 5. Representatives at Large:
Duties include the following:
● Sitting on the Executive Board;
● Serving on at least one committee;
● Performing other duties designated by the President.
Section 6. Newsletter Editor:
Duties include the following:
● Compiling, editing, printing, and distributing a minimum of two newsletters per year (one per fall and spring academic semesters).
Section 7. Political Liaison:
Duties include the following:
● Advising the Executive Board and membership of statewide and national concerns which affect developmental education;
● Assisting with the preparation and updates to position papers to assist local colleges with maintaining best practices on their campuses and the state.
Section 8. Recruitment Chairperson
Duties include the following:
● Promoting the mission, values, and benefits of NOSSMD to prospective professionals, including current and former members;
● Developing a database of contacts from colleges and universities with the intent of promoting the mission, values, and benefits to prospective student members;
● Developing and implementing an annual recruitment campaign.
Section 9. Public School Liaison
Duties include the following:
● Functioning as primary liaison with K-12 Maryland Educational Institutions
● Relay shifts and trends associated with Maryland public schools
Section 10. Student Representative
Duties include the following:
● Advocating for students by communicating concerns and ensuring that student needs are integrated into NOSSMD activities;
● Collaborating with the Recruitment Chairperson to develop and implement recruiting practices targeted toward students.
ARTICLE VIII - EXECUTIVE BOARD TRANSITION
Section 1. Transition of Officers
Each newly elected officer shall take office on July 1 of the year they are elected. Outgoing officers are expected to provide some documentation of duties to incoming officer.
Section 2. Terms of Office
The terms of Office are as follows:
● The President-Elect is elected every year for a three-year term of service, one year each in the following capacities: President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past-President.
● The Administrative Chair serves a two-year term, elected in odd years.
● The Representative from a two-year institution serves a two-year term, elected in even years.
● The Representative from a four-year institution serves a two-year term, elected in even years.
● The Student Representative serves a one-year term, elected each year, renewable each year.
● Newsletter Editor, Political Liaison, Public School Liaison, and Recruitment Chairperson are each appointed by the President, with concurrence of the Board, for a one-year term, renewable indefinitely.
Section 3. Replacement and Impeachment of Officers
Officers who resign, are removed from office, or are unable to serve their full term of office, shall be replaced for the remainder of that term by appointment of the President, with the concurrence of the Executive Board. An elected officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the membership. A call for removal from office comes from the recommendation of the Executive Board, or upon petition by 25% of the members of NOSSMD.
ARTICLE IX - ELECTION PROCEDURES
Officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote of the NOSSMD membership. Voting will occur at least one month prior to the beginning of the term of the newly elected/appointed board members. Any voting member of the Organization may submit a nomination for any of the elected offices. Nominations will be sought through the newsletter and/or other means. Vacant NOSSMD Board positions may be filled at any time through the electoral process defined above.
ARTICLE X- EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS, DEPOSITS AND FUNDS
Section 1. Execution of Instruments
Only the President, acting with authorization from the Board of Directors, may enter into a binding agreement on behalf of the corporation. No other member of the Board, officer or agent shall have actual or apparent authority to bind the corporation by any contract or any engagement or pledge its credit or render the corporation monetarily liable for any purpose or for any amount.
Section 2. Checks and Notes
Checks, drafts, and promissory notes must be signed by the Administrative Chair or executed electronically.
Section 3. Deposits
All funds of the corporation shall be deposited to the corporation's credit from time to time, and no later than (7) days after receipt, into a financial institution of the Board’s choosing.
Section 4. Gifts
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the corporation any contribution, gift, bequest, or device for the nonprofit purpose of the corporation.
ARTICLE XI--ANNUAL NOSSMD CONFERENCE
1. An annual NOSSMD conference shall be held each year. Locations shall vary.
2. A meeting of the membership shall be held at the annual conference, with a quorum consisting of those members who are present.
ARTICLE XII--POLICY REGARDING FUNDS FOR NOSS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE (PRESIDENT & PRESIDENT-ELECT)
The NOSSMD Executive Board recognizes the importance of the President and President-Elect attending the Annual NOSS Conference Leadership Congress. The Board may approve support for the President and/or President-Elect to attend the NOSS Conference, contingent upon availability of funds and an assurance that every effort has been made to secure institutional funding.
ARTICLE XIII- RECORDS
The corporation shall maintain the following records:
● Copies of minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors
● Adequate and correct books and records of accounts and all financial transactions, as well as all tax documents
● A record of all members and their names and addresses
● A copy of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as amended to date
ARTICLE XIV- RULES OF ORDER
Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall guide the Organization in all areas not in these By-Laws.
ARTICLE XV--AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the By-Laws may be passed by a majority vote of the membership present, provided such proposed amendments have been prepared in written form and distributed to the membership at least one month prior to the scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE XVI- NOSSMD POLICY FOR ANNUAL AWARDS
NOSSMD may present awards in the following categories contingent upon available funding:
Outstanding Contributor for Student Success in Maryland
The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has made a significant contribution to students, NOSSMD state-wide student success efforts, and/or the developmental education profession.
Rosa Ilardo Howard Memorial Outstanding Alumnus of a Developmental Education Program
The purpose of this award is to recognize an alumnus of a developmental education program who sets a standard for others to emulate. This award is named after Mrs. Rosa Ilardo Howard, Assistant Director, Project SPARK program at the Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville campus.
Outstanding Research in Student Success
The purpose of this award is to recognize current or past research, or to encourage future research efforts by a member of NOSSMD, which will enlighten and strengthen student success theory and/or practice.
Alex Afonta Memorial Scholarship for Professional Development
The purpose of this award is to assist NOSSMD members who wish to pursue professional development opportunities directly related to student success. It was named after the late Dr. Alex Afonta, Professor of Developmental Mathematics at the Baltimore City Community College.
Procedures
The Immediate Past President will oversee an awards committee to manage the awards nomination and selection process. A deadline for nominations will be established that corresponds with an Executive Board meeting in the spring.
All nominations, with supporting material will be reviewed by the committee and presented at the designated meeting to the entire Executive Board. The committee may choose to formulate recommendations after reviewing the nomination materials. The Board will make the final decision regarding awards by majority vote. The President will contact the winners by letter to inform them of their selection and request their presence at the Spring Conference. The conference fee will be waived for the student award winners of the Outstanding Alumnus Award. Awardees will receive a certificate and a monetary award, contingent upon availability of funds.
The committee may also send a letter of recognition to nominees not selected.
Nomination Procedures and Materials
Outstanding Contributor to Student Success in Maryland
● Letter of nomination;
● Letter(s) of endorsement from an administrator or a current or former officer of NOSSMD;
● Other supporting materials which document the nominee’s contribution to student success in Maryland;
Outstanding Alumnus of a Developmental Education Program
● Letter of nomination;
● Letter(s) of endorsement from developmental educators, employers, or others;
● Other supporting materials may include information regarding the following:
1. Academic Achievements;
2. Activities and Contributions to his/her college, community, and/or profession;
3. Letter(s) from the nominee’s employers;
Outstanding Research in Student Success
● Cover sheet identifying nominee, job title, institution, and research area or topic;
● Research abstract (limit 5-10 pages); nominee’s name and professional affiliation should not be identified on the abstract;
Alex Afonta Memorial Scholarship for Professional Development
● Letter of nomination containing the following:
● Specific professional development activity the nominee the Afonta Scholarship is intended for;
● Nominee’s significant contributions to student success;
● Explanation of how the professional development activity benefits the nominee professionally, particularly in the realm of student success;
● Letter(s) of endorsement from developmental educators, employers, or others;