Constitution of the New York College English Association

Article I—Name 
The name of this organization shall be the New York College English Association, an affiliate of the College English Association.

Article II—OBJECT
The object of this organization shall be: (1) to provide opportunities for the discussion of the place of letters in the American college, the preparation of college teachers, and the role of literary scholarship in the teaching of English; (2) to further its belief that liberal education—in particular, the emotional and mental discipline of English studies—is essential to moral and intellectual progress in the modern world.

Article III—MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all teachers, past and present, of graduate and undergraduate English in colleges and junior/community colleges in the State of New York and others with related interests. Anyone eligible may become a member by applying to the Secretary-Treasurer and paying the dues.

Article IV—OFFICES
Section I. The officers of this organization shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer, and an Executive Director.

Section II. The President shall conduct meetings of the association and its Board of Directors.

Section III. The Vice-President shall automatically succeed to the Presidency.  A willingness to succeed is a condition of becoming Vice-President.

Section IV.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for correspondence, publicity, dues, and membership in the Association.

Section V. The Executive Directors will serve as the Association's liaison with the parent organization, the College English Association, and in other intra- or interconference and ambassadorial capacities as established by the Board of Directors.

Section VI. A nominating committee of three members will be appointed by the President to propose a slate of officers to be elected at the annual meeting of the Association.

Section VII. The President, the Vice-President, and the Secretary-Treasurer shall serve terms of two years; the Executive Director shall serve a term of three years.

Section VIII. Members of the NYCEA Board of Directors will be chosen by the officers of NYCEA to serve renewable terms of two years. For the purposes of cohesion in the Board's activities, Board members should attend at least one Board meeting per year. Past Presidents of NYCEA will automatically become members of the Board for two years in order to ensure continuity.

Article V—MEETINGS
The Association shall meet at least once a year, the time and place to be selected by the President in consultation with the other officers and at the invitation of a host institution.

Article VI—COMMITTEES
Such committees shall be appointed by the President from time to time as deemed necessary to carry on the work of the association.

Article VI I –AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regular meeting, provided that thirty days' notice of the proposed change has been given.

Ratified October 9, 1975.
Amended January 6, 1995.