SUNY Council on Writing

Constitution

Working Draft: August 3, 2009
Constitution of the SUNY Council of Writing

Article I. Statement of Purpose
The SUNY Council on Writing (COW) was formed in 1980 with the central purpose of helping each SUNY system college generate, discuss, and disseminate new ideas about writing instruction. By sharing ideas, by seeing and learning what each institution is doing as its programs evolve, representatives and other interested faculty grow professionally as well as institutionally. The COW also takes stands on issues related to the profession and communicates those positions to instructors of writing and to administrators at all levels. It supports the Task Force on Assessment’s position that program improvement is primary and reporting for accountability is secondary and is concerned with the professional development of writing faculty.

Article II. Membership
The General Membership consists of two representatives from each SUNY campus which houses writing. Members are to be nominated by the Academic Vice President or equivalent on each campus. The offices of the Academic Vice President should supply funding to send two representatives to the annual conference.

Article III. Governance
A. There is an Executive Board of eight members: a President, Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and four other members. While Executive Board Members may be established scholars who have published research in the field of historical rhetoric and composition, it is most important that the Board represent the diversity of campuses, workers in composition, and regional distribution.

B. Terms of office. All Executive Board Members will have a renewable four-year term of office that begins with the Spring conference and concludes at the Spring conference four years later.

Article IV. Procedures for Elections
A. Nominations for the Board and elections will take place at the Annual Meeting of the COW. Duly appointed representatives, present at the Meeting, vote.

Article V. Revision of Constitution
The Constitution may be revised by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Article VI. Meeting Place
The COW’s main meeting will take place at the annual meeting of the Conference of SUNY Council on Writing at a time agreed to by the Board and the Conference Chair.

Article VII. Treasury
The COW’s cash will be maintained in a University Auxiliary Service account which will be established at the Treasurer’s campus.
Article VIII. Publications
The Coalition will publish the results of its work in various venues, not limited to its webpage.

(Signed March 24, 2010 Arabella Lyon (President), Michael Murphy (Vice-President), Cynthia Davidson (Secretary), Anika Constantine (who is our treasurer I believe Anne stepped down), John McKinnis, Nichole Bennett-Bealer, Kelly Kinney, Herb Shapiro., Lynne Crockett