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Virginia Career College Association
Member Annual Dues Schedule

Institutions and Colleges with Campuses Located in Virginia

*Revenues are based on previous fiscal year.

Dues are paid per campus and based on this schedule, however the dues paid by any one institution, regardless of the number of campuses, shall not exceed $6,300 per year.

Out-of-State Institution Membership

$125

NOTE: All member institutions must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Associate Membership
(Companies that provide products or services to institution members.)

$190

 MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

VCCA
1108 E. Main Street, Suite 1200
Richmond, VA  23219

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Bylaws of the Virginia Career College Association

ARTICLE I — NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1. Name: The name of this association shall be the Virginia Career College Association, herein referred to as VCCA.

Section 2. Purpose: The purpose of VCCA shall be to promote quality career and educational opportunities for students attending postsecondary private career institutions in Virginia and to provide leadership for private career institutions through education, advocacy, and a unified voice on issues of common interest.

Section 3. Objectives: The objectives of VCCA shall be to:

a) Promote high standards related to private career institution education;

b) Provide a unified voice for the private career institution sector of education:

c) Interpret law, rules, and regulations affecting the delivery of private career institution education;

d) Explain and promote the benefits of private career institution education to government and to private sector entities;

e) Initiate, sponsor, and promote educational programs and research related to the provision of private career institution education;

f) Engage in any and all other activities permitted by law for the promotion of, or related to, any of the above stated objectives.

ARTICLE II — MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Eligibility: Eligibility for membership shall be determined by the Board of Directors in each of the following categories and shall not be denied for reason of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or handicap.

Section 2. Categories of Membership: Members shall be divided into three categories:

A. Institution Members – Private, postsecondary career institutions, duly licensed and/or certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Effective January 1^st, 2005  all such Institution Members shall also be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, except that any member institution that is not so accredited as of January 1^st, 2005 shall, upon its certification that it is a candidate for such accreditation, be permitted to maintain its membership until January 1^st, 2007, at which time it must meet the accreditation requirement set forth herein.

1. Private, post-secondary career institutions, duly licensed and/or certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Any entity meeting this definition may join at this level.

2. A corporation or entity with multiple branches or campuses in Virginia will be required to pay full membership dues for each branch or campus.

3. Rights:

a. Representatives of institution members shall be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors and on all committees of the Association, with full voting rights.

b. There shall be one (1) vote per institution member. Institutions with multiple branches or campuses in Virginia shall be entitled to one (1) vote per campus or branch.

c. Representatives of institution members may participate fully in discussions at all association meetings.

d. The voting representative of each institution member shall be the owner or the owner’s designee as designated in writing. Otherwise, the Director or highest executive position at a institution shall be the voting representative for that institution.

B. Associate Members

1. Companies that provide support services or products to institution members. Also eligible for associate membership are representatives of education, government, business, and industry interested in the purposes of VCCA.

2. Rights:

a) Associate members may serve on any committee of the Association.

b) Associate members are not eligible to serve on the Board of Directors.

c) Associate members may not vote.

C. Honorary Members

1. Individuals who have been recognized by the Association for outstanding contributions to the Association or the private career institution sector of education.

Section 3. Resignation: Any member may withdraw from the Association after fulfilling all obligations to it and by giving written notice of such intention to the Secretary. The notice shall be presented to the Board of Directors by the Secretary at the first meeting after its receipt

Section 4. Suspension/Expulsion: A member may be suspended or expelled for cause, such as violation of any of the Bylaws or Rules of the Association. A statement of the reasons for such action must be mailed to the member at his/her last recorded address fifteen (15) days before the next meeting of the Board of Directors. This statement shall be accompanied by a notice of the date, time, and place that the Board of Directors is to take action on the suspension or expulsion. The member shall be given an opportunity to present a defense at the time and place mentioned in such notice. Suspension or expulsion shall be by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III — FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Association shall be the calendar year.

ARTICLE IV — DUES

Section 1. Annual Dues: The Board of Directors may determine the amount of initiation fee, if any, and annual dues payable to the Association by members. Honorary members shall be exempt from payment of annual dues.

Section 2. Payment of Dues: Dues shall be payable in advance of the thirty-first of January in each fiscal year. Dues of a new member shall be prorated from the first day of the month in which such new member is elected to membership. When any member shall be in default in the payment of dues for a period of three (3) months or more, that membership may be suspended by the Board of Directors in the manner provided in ARTICLE II, Section 4, of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE V — MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual Meetings: There shall be an annual meeting held during the period between October 1 and December 31 of each year for the purposes of: electing members of the Board of Directors; receiving the annual reports of officers, directors, and committees; and for the transaction of any other business. Notice of the meeting shall be mailed to the last recorded address of each member at least ten (10) days before the time appointed for the meeting. All notices shall set forth the place, date, time, and purpose of the meeting.

Section 2. Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors at their discretion. Upon the written request of ten (10) voting members, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting. Notice for any special meeting is to be given in the same manner as for the annual meeting. No business other than that specified in the notice of meeting shall be transacted at any special meeting of the Association.

Section 3. Quorum: The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the members of the Association entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 4. Voting: Any member institution may be represented at any meeting by any delegated member of its staff. Each institution shall be entitled to only one vote. Any institution maintaining one or more branches shall be entitled to a vote for each branch which is a member, in good standing, of the Association. If the manner of deciding any question has not otherwise been prescribed. a majority vote of the members present, in person or by proxy, rules.

Section 5. Proxies: Every member of the Association entitled to vote at any meeting thereof may vote in a proxy. A proxy shall be in writing and revocable at the pleasure of the member executing it. Unless the duration of the proxy is specified, it shall be invalid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution.

Section 6. Order of Business: The order of business shall be as follows at all the meetings of the Association and Board of Directors:

a) Call to order.

b) Approval of agenda.

c) Approval of previous minutes.

d) Financial reports.

e) Committee reports.

f) President’s report.

g) Executive Director’s report.

h) Other business from the floor.

i) Adjourn.

Any question as to priority of business shall be decided by the Chairperson without debate. This order of business may be altered or suspended at any meeting by a majority of the members present.

ARTICLE VI — DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number: The property, affairs, activities, and concerns of the Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of eight (8) directors. The eighth director shall automatically be the immediate past president who shall serve as a member of the Board for a term of two (2) years immediately following the year s/he served as President.

Section 2. Election of Directors and Term: Election of Directors shall be held at every other annual meeting of association members, beginning with the annual meeting held in 1993 and thereafter, in the following odd-numbered years. the Directors shall serve for a term of two (2) years.

Section 3. Duties of Directors: The Board of Directors may: (1) convene meetings necessary; (2) approve, suspend, or expel members; (3) appoint committees on particular subjects; (4) audit bills and disburse funds of the Association; (5) print and circulate documents and publish articles; (6) carry on correspondence and communications with other associations; (7) employ agents, including an Executive Director; (8) require an annual audit of the financial records of the Association; and (9) devise and execute any other measures as it deems proper to promote the objectives of the Association.

Section 4. Meetings of the Board: The Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly. The President or the Secretary, at the request of four (4) members of the Board, shall issue a call for a special meeting of the Board. Only five (5) days’ notice shall be required for such special meetings.

Section 5. Quorum: Five (5) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 6. Absence: Should any member of the Board of Directors absent him/herself unreasonably from three (3) consecutive meetings of the Board without sending a communication to the President or Secretary stating his/her reason for so doing, or if his/her excuse should not be accepted by the members of the Board, his/her seat on the Board may be declared by the Board to be vacant, and the President may forthwith proceed to fill the vacancy, according to ARTICLE VI, Section 7 of these Bylaws.

Section 7. Chairman: In the absence of the President and Vice-President, the Board may appoint a chairman for that meeting from the members present

Section 8. Vacancies: Whenever any vacancy occurs in the Board of Directors for any reason, it shall be filled without undue delay by a majority vote by ballot of the remaining members of the Board at a regular or special meeting which shall be called for that purpose. The election shall be held within sixty (60) days after the occurrence of the vacancy. The person shall hold office until the next annual meeting, or until his/her successor shall have been chosen at a special meeting of the members.

Section 9. Removal of Directors: Any one or more of the directors may be removed either with or without cause, at any time, by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board members present at any regular or special meeting called for that purpose.

ARTICLE VII — OFFICERS

Section 1. Number: The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, or a Treasurer.

Section 2. Method of Election: The Board of Directors shall elect all officers for a term or two (2) years. Such election shall be held at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following their election. A quorum shall be necessary to constitute an election.

Section 3. Duties of Officers: The duties and powers of the officers of the Association shall be as follows:

PRESIDENT: The President shall preside over the meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors, and shall be a member ex officio with the right to vote on all committees except the Nominating Committee. S/he shall also, at the annual meeting of the Association, communicate to the Association or to the Board of Directors any matters to promote the prosperity, usefulness, and welfare of the Association. The President shall perform such other duties as are necessary to his/her office.

VICE-PRESIDENT: In case of the death or absence of the President, or of his/her ability to serve, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the office of the President.

SECRETARY: It shall be the duty of the Secretary to give notice of and attend all meetings of the Association. The Secretary must give notice of, attend and record meetings of all committees. Duties include accurate correspondence, execution of all orders, votes, and resolutions, keeping a list of the members of the Association, notifying the officers and members of the Association of their election, notifying members of their appointment on committees, and preparing, under the direction of the Board of Directors, an annual report of the condition of the Association. In case of absence or disability of the Secretary, the Board of Directors may appoint a Secretary pro tem. Any of the duties of the Secretary may be assigned to the Executive Director. The Secretary, however, will still have oversight responsibilities for these assigned duties.

TREASURER: The Treasurer shall prepare an annual budget for the Association, collect the fees, annual dues, and subscriptions and shall keep an account of all moneys received on behalf of the Association in a manner approved by the Board of Directors. S/he shall expend or disburse the moneys of the Association as directed by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall make a report at the annual meeting and at other meetings when called upon by the President. The funds, books, and vouchers in his/her hands shall at all times be under the supervision of the Board of Directors and subject to its inspection and control. With the approval of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer may delegate to an independent accounting service approved by the Board of Directors any part or all of his/her responsibility with respect to custody of the books and accounting records of the Association. In case of the absence or disability of the Treasurer, the Board of Directors may appoint a Treasurer pro tem. Any of the duties of the Treasurer may also be assigned to the Executive Director. the Treasurer, however, will still have oversight responsibilities for these assigned duties.

Section 4. Bond: The Treasurer or the Executive Director shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give to the Association such security for the faithful discharge of his/her duties as the Board may direct.

Section 5. Vacancies: Any vacancies in any office shall be filled without undue delay by a majority vote by ballot of the remaining members of the Board at a regular or special meeting which shall be called for that purpose. The election shall be held within sixty (60) days after the occurrence of the vacancy.

Section 6. Compensation of Officers: The officers and directors shall serve without monetary compensation, except for moneys received in reimbursement of Association related expenses as may be approved by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII — COMMITTEES

Section 1. Committee on Nominations: At least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee, none of whom shall be a member of the Board, whose duty it shall be to nominate candidates for directors to be elected at the next annual election. They shall notify the Secretary in writing at least twenty (20) days before the date of the annual meeting of the names of candidates, and the Secretary shall mail a copy to the last recorded address of each member simultaneously with the notice of the meeting.

Section 2. Independent Nominations: Nominations for directors may also be made from the floor at the annual meeting by a voting member in good standing. If a voting quorum is present, and such nomination receives a second and a favorable majority vote by voting members in good standing, such name or names will be added to the slate of directors being considered.

Section 3. Other Committees: At the first meeting of the Board of Directors after their election, the President shall appoint the following standing committee chairpersons:

a) Membership

b) Legislature

c) Scholarship

d) Annual Conference

e) Financial Aid

The chairpersons of such committees shall hold office until the appointment of their successors. All committee chairpersons shall report to the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Special Committees: The President may, at any time, appoint other committees on any subject for which there are no standing committees.

Section 5. Committee Quorum: A majority of any committee of the Association shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless any committee by majority vote of the entire membership decides otherwise.

Section 6. Committee Vacancies: The various committee chairpersons shall have the power to fill vacancies within their membership.

ARTICLE IX — AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended, repealed, or altered in whole or in part by a majority vote of the voting membership at any annual or special meeting of the Association or by mail ballot by a majority vote of respondents. The proposed change(s) shall be mailed to the last recorded address of each member at least ten (10) days before the time of the meeting which is to consider the change(s), or the deadline for consideration of a mail ballot.

ARTICLE X — PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be the authority on all matters of procedure not specifically covered by the Bylaws.

ARTICLE XI — LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY OF BOARD MEMBERS

Section 1. Liability: No member of the Association shall be personally liable for any debts or obligations of the Association by virtue of their being a member.

Section 2. Bonding: Adequate bonding may be provided for any officer or employee responsible for the receipt or disbursement of any funds or assets of the Association.

Section 3. Indemnification: Each director and officer of the Association shall be indemnified against all expenses, penalties and liabilities including attorney’s fees, reasonably incurred by, or imposed upon, him/her in connection with any claim, demand, action, or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, or in connection with any settlement thereof to which s/he may become involved by reason of his/her being or having been a director or officer at the time such expenses, penalties, or liabilities are incurred, except in cases where s/he shall be finally adjudged in such action or proceeding to be liable for willful misconduct in the performance of his/her duties as such director or officer. The right of indemnification herein provided shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, all other rights to which such director or officer may be entitled, and the director’s and officer’s right of indemnification shall inure to the benefit of the personal representatives of deceased directors and officers. The Association may purchase insurance to provide for such indemnification.

ARTICLE XII — DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of the Association, the assets, thereof, both real and personal, after provision for payment and discharge of all liabilities, shall not become the property of any member of VCCA, but shall be distributed to such organizations as are qualified as tax exempt under Section 501C-6 of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding section(s) of a future Untied States Internal Revenue Code. All such assets shall only be used to enhance educational opportunities for those financially in need.

Adopted 1993

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