Elections Committee

The Elections Committee shall consist of one member of the Executive Committee who is not a candidate for an NCHE office, and four Individual Members who are not actively working in the campaign of a candidate for NCHE office.

Nominations

Candidates for office must be nominated from the floor at Session I of the Regular Annual Meeting. Nominations do not need a second.

Speeches

Candidates for the office of President, Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer will be given three (3) minutes to speak to the Council. Candidates for the Executive Committee, including candidates for at-large positions, will be given one (1) minute to speak.

Voting Credentials

The Elections Committee Chair shall have prepared election credentials for all organizational and individual membership categories. The credential for each membership category shall be a different color, and shall indicate the membership category, year, and provide for multiple elections.
It shall be the responsibility of the Vice-President, as the coordinator of registration at NCHE meetings, to ensure that each Organizational and Individual member receives the appropriate credential.

Voting

Ballots for the election of officers, Executive Committee members, and Constitution and Bylaw Amendments, as well as all contingent elections such as run-off elections and at-large positions, shall be prepared in advance of the Regular Annual Meeting by the Secretary/Treasurer. Ballots shall be color coded to match the election credentials.

Balloting will occur at the opening of Session II of the Regular Annual Meeting. The Council Meeting will be recessed for this purpose, with a specific time designated by the President for the polls to be open.

The elections committee shall ensure that each Organizational and Individual member receives one ballot corresponding to his/her voting credential.

The elections committee shall count the ballots immediately after the polls are closed. Each candidate shall be permitted one observer during the counting, but observers shall in no way assist in the tabulations.

Results

The Elections Committee shall submit tally sheets directly to the Secretary/Treasurer and the President. The Secretary/Treasurer shall verify the election results in accordance with the procedures for an Organizational Vote detailed in Article II of the Bylaws. Only then shall the results be posted and announced.

Special Elections

Immediately after the results are reported any necessary special elections shall be held in accordance with the Constitution.

Records

All election materials, including ballots and papers used to tabulate results, shall be kept in the NCHE office for a period of two years following an election, until such time as the term of those elected shall have expired.

NEA Endorsement Committee

The Executive Committee of NCHE shall establish and Committee NEA Endorsement Committee (NEC) to review candidates for offices in NEA, as well as develop questions to be asked of the candidates and a Candidate Questionnaire.

The NEC shall be composed of three members, selected from the Executive Committee, who are not actively involved in any one of the candidates' campaigns. If three members of the Executive Committee are not eligible to serve, the NCHE President shall appoint NCHE voting members who are not actively involved in one of the campaigns to fill the vacancies. If no minority is among those appointed the NCHE Minority Caucus Chair, or designee, shall serve on the Committee.

Procedure

The NCHE Executive Committee shall develop and approve a Candidate Questionnaire to facilitate the deliberations of the members.

On behalf of the NEC the NCHE President shall send from the NCHE Office to each announced candidate a copy of the Endorsement Procedures and the Questionnaire. Upon receipt the candidate responses shall be forwarded to the NEC and duplicated by the NCHE Office for the Regular Annual Meeting.

Each candidate shall be asked to schedule an interview at Session I of the Regular Annual Meeting. The NEC shall develop the questions for each contested office for which there will be interviews at Session I. Each candidate shall be asked the questions and shall be given five additional minutes to address the Council.

If there is an uncontested office the questionnaire and interview procedures may be suspended for that particular office by the NCHE Executive Committee. Endorsement for this uncontested office may be considered at any meeting of the Council, but no later than the Summer Meeting immediately preceding the opening session of the NEA RA.

Voting

At Session II of the Regular Annual Meeting the names of all candidates for all NEA offices shall be placed on the Endorsement Ballot.

The candidate receiving a majority of the secret votes cast by the NCHE members present and voting shall be the officially endorsed candidate. If more candidates receive a majority of the votes than there are seats available then only as many candidates shall be endorsed as there are positions; endorsed candidates shall be those receiving the highest number of votes cast. The election for endorsement shall be conducted under the election procedures contained in Article VII of the Constitution.

Records

All election materials, including ballots and papers used to tabulate results, shall be kept in the NCHE office for a period of three years following an election, until such time as the term of those endorsed shall have expired.

Endorsement Labels

Each endorsed candidate shall receive 100 stick-on labels stating "Endorsed by NCHE" for use in his/her campaign.

Run-Off Elections

In the event that NEA has to conduct a run-off election for NEA offices at the NEA RA, and should the NCHE endorsed candidate not make the run-off election, the NCHE may consider non-endorsed candidates for the run-off election. To receive an endorsement a candidate must receive a majority of the secret votes cast by the NCHE members present and voting.

Candidates for Positions Announced after the RAM

If a position is announced after the Regular Annual Meeting the NCHE President shall invite candidates for the position, or their representative, to address the Council before an endorsement vote is taken. The time and place for their presentations shall be set by the NCHE President. After these presentations the candidate receiving a majority of the secret votes cast by the NCHE members present and voting shall be the officially endorsed candidate. At the Summer Meeting two-thirds of the members present and voting may vote to suspend the rules to endorse by a voice vote

Date

The Regular Annual Meeting shall be held prior to the beginning of the NEA Higher Education Conference.

Agenda

The Agenda of the meeting shall include but not be limited to:

• Reports of the President, Treasurer and Executive Committee.
• Election of Officers and Executive Committee members.
• Approval of the budget for the next fiscal year.
• Adoption of official positions of NCHE.
• Consideration of proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws.
• Consideration of the endorsement of candidates for NEA office.

Date

The Summer Meeting shall be held prior to the beginning of the NEA Representative Assembly, in the time frame established by the NEA Convention Office.

Agenda

The Agenda of the meeting shall include but not be limited to:

• Development of strategies for the adoption of NCHE positions at the NEA RA.
• Establishment of a communications network for the RA floor
• Assignment of speakers on NCHE New Business Items and Resolutions
• Endorsements of NEA candidates not completed at the Regular Annual Meeting.

Reconvene

The meeting shall be reconvened during the NEA RA as needed to continue the business of the Council and adjourned with the close of the NEA RA.

Committees

Regular committees shall be:

• NEA Endorsement
• Davenport Award
• Elections
• Financial Review

Membership

Committee members shall:

• Serve only upon appointment by the President.
• Be Individual members of NCHE.
• Attend all meetings; absence from two (2) consecutive meetings shall be considered cause for dismissal from the committee.

Duties

Committees shall:

• Complete the charges assigned by the President and the Executive Committee.
• Report to the Executive Committee and Council.
• Meet only at the authorization of the President.
• Operate within the budget provided by the President and Executive Committee.

Duties

The Executive Committee shall:

• Discharge the duties specified in the Constitution and Bylaws.
• Exercise the general authority of the Council between Council meetings.

Meetings

The Executive Committee shall meet:

• Prior to the Regular Annual Meeting.
• Prior to the Summer Meeting.
• By Conference Call or in person at least six times annually

President

The President shall:

• Discharge the duties specified in the Constitution.
• Monitor all meetings of the NEA Executive Committee, Board and Program and Budget Committee.
• Serve as the Co-Chair of the NEA Membership Advisory Committee if appointed by the NEA President.
• Be released from employment to perform these duties. The Council shall reimburse the President's institution for this released time
• NCHE Goal: Full time release.

Vice President

The Vice-President shall:

• Discharge the duties specified in the Constitution.
• Publish the NCHE newsletter.
• Attend NEA Board and such other Meetings as the President shall request.
• NCHE Goal: Release of at least one day/month if needed to perform NCHE duties.

Secretary/Treasurer

The Secretary/Treasurer shall:

• Discharge the duties specified in the Constitution.
• Maintain an updated file of NCHE Rules and Policies and Procedures Manual as adopted by the Council and Executive Committee, respectively.
• Oversee the preparation of an NEA RA ribbon or other official insignia for NCHE.
• NCHE Goal: Release of at least one day/month if needed to perform NCHE duties.

Dates

The NCHE newsletter shall be published four times annually after the October, December, February and May NEA Board Meetings.

Advertising

No paid advertising shall be accepted for the newsletter.

Records

A copy of each newsletter shall be kept in the official Council's files.