NCWCA Mission Statement & Constitution and Bylaws

Mission:

Preamble

The Northern California Writing Centers Association, a member organization of the International Writing Centers Association, provides support, encourages scholarship, and promotes community among writing center professionals. Our primary commitment is to serve colleges and high schools in Northern California – public and private schools, 2-year and 4-year colleges – while inviting participation from colleagues nationally and internationally. We define writing-centers broadly, acknowledging the intersections of writing, reading, and academic support in the various institutional setting in which this work occurs.

We are committed to the following:

1) Sponsor an annual conference located in the Northern California region and welcoming all interested participants.

2) Support the establishment and development of writing centers within their varied institutional contexts.

3) Promote and provide professional development for writing center staff members including: tutors, directors, coordinators, instructors, and funding agents.

4) Encourage exploration of and dialogue about multiple conceptions of literacy and the teaching, tutoring, and learning thereof.

5) Facilitate dialog about our diverse student populations and strategies for promoting their success.

Constitution and Bylaws

Article I: Name

The name of the association shall be the Northern California Writing Centers Association.

Article II: Objectives

1. To promote the worth and value of writing centers as intrinsic and vital components of the academic community.

2. To promote tutor training and appropriate utilization of tutors in writing programs

3. To exchange ideas and techniques about teaching and tutoring writing in the areas of:

a. Methodology
b. Issues affecting special populations.
c. Program Assessment and evalutation.
d. Curriculum development.
e. Instructional technology.

4. To discuss local, state, and national issues that affect writing programs.

5. To develop stronger liaisons and better articulation between high schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges and universities.

6. To exchange information about administration of writing centers.

7. To develop stronger liaisons with other writing center associations.

8. To provide a mechanism for professional networking.

Article III: Membership

Paid professional registration for the annual NCWCA conference confers voting membership for three years; a $20 membership fee confers voting membership for one year.

Article IV: Executive Board

1. The Officers of the Board shall be the President, the immediate Past President, the current Conference Chair(s), the Secretary, the Treasurer, and at least two but not more than five at-large members, ideally representing a variety of institutions, including secondary school and two-year and four-year colleges and universities, public and private. In addition, all past Conference Chairs will have the right of tenure on the Board.

2. The Executive Board shall exercise general supervision over the association. It shall administer the affairs of the association between meetings, and it shall set Board Policies as it deems necessary.

3. A nominee for elected office must have been a member of the organization for at least two years; the Treasurer needs to have served as a board member for a three-year minimum.

4. All officers will cooperate fully with their successors and turn over all necessary files within thirty (30) days after the election.

5. In the event of irreconcilable professional differences interfering with the operation of the Executive Board, Board Members may be removed from the Board by consensus of the remaining body.

Article V: Duties of Officers

1. Duties of the President:
a. To officially represent and express the viewpoints of the association.
b. To call and conduct general meetings.
c. To call special meetings as necessary.
d. To appoint all committees with approval of the Executive Board.
e. To represent NCWCA at writing conferences and meetings when possible.

2. Duties of Immediate Past President
a. To provide continuity of leadership by assisting the President and Conference Chair as needed.
b. To serve as Presiding Officer in the absence of the President.
c. To serve as the NCWCA Regional Representative on the International Writing Centers Association’s (IWCA) Executive Board, or to nominate another member of the NCWCA Executive Board to serve as IWCA Regional Representative and to have that nominee approved by the NCWCA Executive Board.

3. Duties of the President-Elect/Conference Chair
a. To be the program chair.
b. To find the host college for each meeting and develop the program.
c. To assist the President as needed.

4. Duties of the Secretary
a. To coordinate ballots.
b. To maintain records.
c. To take and distribute minutes of Board meetings.

5. Duties of the Treasurer
a. To hold and disburse funds on the order of the association.
b. To receive registration monies and dues and maintain records of such.
c. To submit an annual financial report to the Board and membership.

6. Duties of At-Large Members
a. To represent the interests and express the viewpoints of their various institutional settings.
b. To participate in the business of the Executive Board by attending the annual conference, twice-yearly Board meetings and any other special meetings, including on-line deliberations.
c. To serve on committees as needed.

Article VI: Financial Matters/Designation of Dues

Conferences should be self-sustaining. The organization will provide seed money to assist with start-up costs for the conference with any seed money and surplus funds returned to the association. Enough of a cushion will be maintained to allow the organization to meet its obligations. Funds could be available for special projects as designated by the Board to meet the needs of goals of the organization. Funds may be provided for the IWCA Representative to cover conference and/or travel fees to national meetings.

Article VII: Voting

The Executive Board works on a consensus model.

When vacancies occur, nomination for at-large Board Members will be accepted between December 1 and February 15, and balloting shall occur either electronically or at the annual convention. Notifications of vacancies will be announced by mail and/or by email to the regular membership no later than November 15.

Article VIII: Dissolution

In the case of the dissolution of this association, any assets remaining after paying or making provision for the paying of liabilities of the association shall be donated to the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA).