Landmark Conference Bylaws
Download in MS Word
Download as PDF
Last revision-March 2013
ARTICLE
I
ORDER OF BUSINESS
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Guiding
Principles
Section 2 Membership Requirements
Section 3 Conference Dues
ARTICLE III COMMITTEES
Section 1 Executive Board
Section 2 Athletics Administrator's
Committee
Section 3 Senior Woman
Administrator's (SWA) Committee
Section 4 Faculty Athletic
Representative's (FAR) Committee
Section 5 Athletic Trainer's
Committee
Section 6 Sports Information
Director's (SID's) Committee
Section 7 Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee (SAAC)
Section 8 Sport Committees
Section 9 Terms of Appointment
Section 10 Ad-Hoc Committees
ARTICLE IV ELIGIBILITY
Section 1 Rules of Eligibility
Section 2 Conference Competition
Section 3
Interpretations
ARTICLE
V
LANDMARK EMPLOYEES
Section 1 Commissioner
Section 2 Assistant
Commissioner
ARTICLE VI BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY (added March 2009)
Section 1 Budget Management
Section 2 Budget Submission &
Audit
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE 1 ORDER OF BUSINESS
Section 1 The order of business for the Executive Board's Annual Meeting, normally scheduled in February in conjunction with the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) meeting or any regularly scheduled meeting, shall be:
A. Approval of the minutes of the previous
meeting(s)
B. Report from the Executive Committee Chair
C. Treasurers Report
D. Secretaries Report
E. Athletics Administrator's Committee
Report
F. Additional Committee Reports
G. Old Business
H. New Business
I. Election of Officers (annual meeting
only)
J. Executive Session
K Adjournment
Section 2 The order of business may be changed by the Chair, unless there is objection from the floor. In that event, a majority vote of the Executive Board Members shall be required to change the order of business.
Section 3 At a Special Meeting (called per Constitution Article V, Section 1, C (1)), the business for which the meeting was called will be first on the agenda. The order of the remainder of the agenda shall be set by the Chair.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Guiding
Principles----Eligibility for membership, conditions,
obligations, suspension and termination of membership are governed
by the provisions of Article IV of the Constitution and by this
Bylaw.
Section 2 Membership Requirements
A. Each member institution, within current
NCAA guidelines, may determine which sports it shall offer.
B. Member institutions must participate in
conference scheduling, competition, and championships in all sports
that they sponsor in which the conference competes and conducts
championships and is eligible for an NCAA automatic
qualification.
C. If an institution adds a team in a
sport in which the conference sponsors competition ,conducts a
championship and is eligible for an NCAA automatic qualification
the new team shall immediately engage in conference scheduling,
competition and championship play.
D. The conference and its member institutions
shall conduct athletic competition in a manner consistent with the
policies recorded in the Policy section of this document.
E. An institution wishing to become a
member of the Landmark Conference shall:
(1) Be invited, by the Executive Board, through the
Commissioner, to submit a written request to become a member of the
conference.
(2) Submit all information concerning the institution and its
athletics program that is requested by the Executive
Board.
(3) Receive approval from a majority of the voting members of the
Athletics Administrator's Committee.
(4) Receive approval from three-fourths of the members of the
Executive Board.
(5) Pay an entrance fee, as set by the Executive Board, prior to
the institution’s first year of conference membership.
(Revised March 2013)
Section 3
Conference Dues
A. Annual Dues shall be established by the
Executive Board.
B. The Constitution (Article IV,
section 7) provides for termination of membership for failure to
pay dues.
ARTICLE III COMMITTEES
Section 1 Executive Board
A.
Membership----The membership of the Executive Board is
defined in the Constitution (Article IV, Section 1 A.).
B. Duties----The duties of the
Executive Board are listed in the Constitution (Article V, Section
1 B.).
Section 2 Athletics
Administrator's Committee
A. Membership----The membership of
the Athletics Administrator's Committee is defined in the
Constitution (Article V, Section 2A.).
B. Duties----The duties of the
Athletics Administrator's Committee are listed in the Constitution
(Article V, Section 2B.)
Section 3 Senior Women's Administrator's (SWA) Committee
A. Membership
(1) The membership of the Senior Women's Administrator's Committee shall include the Senior Women's Administrator at each institution or another staff member appointed by the respective institution.
(2) Membership on the Senior Women's Administrator's Committee shall be open to any faculty or staff member of a member institution.
(3) The Chair of the committee is elected by the committee members for a two-year term. The two- year term is not renewable until each member institution representative has had an opportunity to serve.
Section 4 Faculty Athletic Representative's (FAR) Committee
A. Membership
(1) The membership of the Faculty Athletic Representative's Committee shall include the Faculty Athletic Representative at each institution or another staff member appointed by the respective institution.
(2) Membership on the Faculty Athletic Representative's Committee shall be open to any faculty member of a member institution.
(3) The Chair of the committee is elected by the committee members for a two-year term. The two-year term is not renewable until each member institution's representative has had an opportunity to serve.
Section 5 Athletic Trainer's Committee
A. Membership
(1) The membership of the Athletic Trainer's Committee shall include the head- athletic trainer at each institution or one other staff member appointed by the respective institution.
(2) Membership on the Athletic Trainer's Committee shall be open to any faculty or staff member of a member institution.
(3) The Chair of the committee is elected by the committee members for a two-year term. The two-year term is not renewable until each member institution's representative has had an opportunity to serve.
B. Responsibilities
(1) The committee shall provide oversight of the consistent standards and organization throughout the conference.
(2) The Athletic Trainer's Committee shall consider and make recommendations to the Athletics Administrator's Committee regarding athletic training policies and issues as they relate to athletic competition within the conference.
(3) The Athletic Trainer's Committee shall propose updates and revisions to the conference Policies to the Athletics Administrator's Committee.
Section 6 Sports Information Director's (SID's) Committee
A. Membership
(1) The membership of the Sports Information Director's Committee shall include the Sports Information Director at each institution or one other staff member appointed by the respective institution. In addition the Conference Assistant Commissioner, who shall have Sports Information Duties, shall serve on this committee.
(2) The Chair of the committee is elected by the members for a two-year term. The two year term is not renewable until each member institution representative has had an opportunity to serve.
B. Responsibilities
(1) The committee shall collaborate on consistent reporting and updating of accurate and timely information on institutional, local and national levels.
(2) The Sports Information Director's Committee shall deal with matters pertaining to policies and procedures governing the gathering and dispensing of conference sports information and propose any legislation relating to game management and conference promotion to the Athletics Administrator's Committee.
Section 7 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
A. Membership
(1) The membership of the Conference Student -Athlete Advisory Committee shall be 16 NCAA student-athletes; one male representative and one female representative from each member institution. Each representative shall be in good academic standing as defined by their institution.
(2) Members shall be appointed by their institution for a term not to exceed two years.
(3) Each institution present at conference Student Athlete-Advisory Board meeting shall have one vote.
(4) The conference Student -Athlete Advisory Committee Officers shall be elected on a yearly basis.
(5) The chair of the committee is elected by the members for, up to, a two year term. The chair shall be from a different institution, until all institutions have been represented in the position.
B. Responsibilities
(1) The Student -Athlete Advisory Committee shall have oversight of the conference commitment to student-athlete representation and activities at the institutional and national levels.
(2) The committee shall consider and make recommendations regarding student-athlete welfare and concerns as they relate to the Conference.
(3) An athletics administrator and the Commissioner, or Assistant Commissioner, shall be the advisor for the conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Section 8 Sport Committees
A. Membership
(1) The following sports will have a Sport Committee: Baseball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country (joint committee), Field Hockey, Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving (joint committee) , Softball, Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Track and Field (indoor and outdoor combined men's and women's committee), and Women's Volleyball.
(2) The Commissioner shall appoint a Sports Committee for each sport officially recognized by the conference. Each Sport committee shall be composed of one person, typically the head coach, from each conference member sponsoring the sport.
(3) Membership on the Sports Committee shall be open to head coaches, faculty or staff members of a member institution.
(4) The chairs of the Sports Committees shall serve a renewable two-year term and shall be designated by the Commissioner.
(5) Attendance at meetings of Sports Committees is open to members of the coaching staffs, faculty and athletics administrators but each institution shall be limited to one vote by an institutions official member of the Sports Committee or their designated representative.
B. Responsibilities
(1) Sport Committees are responsible for selection of all-conference and player of the year awards, officiating issues, adherence to conference and national governing body legislation, and other pertinent issues related to each specific sport.
(2) Each sport Committee chair must submit a report to the Athletic Administrator's Committee following official meetings.
(3) Sports Committees shall deal with matters intrinsic to their particular sport.
(4) Sports Committees shall propose voting items to the Athletics Administrator's Committee pertaining to the conduct of their sport and championships.
(5) Sports Committees shall propose updates, and revisions to the Conference Policies.
C. Duties of Sports Committee Chairs
(1) Request agenda items from members prior to the annual coaches meeting.
(2) Appoint a Secretary for Sports Committee meetings to record minutes of that meeting.
(3) Conduct meetings according to Roberts Rules of Order (Revised)..
(4) Keep the Commissioner and the Athletics Administrator's Committee Liaison informed of all Sports Committee action, voting and voting tally.
(5) Within three business days, e-mail a copy of the minutes of each meeting to the members of the Sports Committee, the Commissioner and the designated Liaison on the Athletic Administrator's Committee. The Commissioner will collate the reports and distribute them to delegates of the Athletics Administrator's Committee for consideration and vote.
(6) Communicate and explain voting items to the designated Liaison on the Athletics Administrator's Committee.
(7) Reports to the Commissioner and is responsible for initiating committee tasks as delegated by the Commissioner.
Section 9 Term of Appointment
A. All standing committees should have a Chair who rotates every two years. In addition these committees should meet in person once every two years. All other communication can take place via conference calls if so desired.
Section 10 Ad-Hoc Committees
A. The Executive Board (as per Constitution, Article V, Section 1, B., 5) may create standing, special and ad-hoc committees.
(1) These committees may be created for any specified time.
(2) The membership and duties of these committees shall be duly noted in these conference documents.
(3) These committees shall have such powers and duties as shall be outlined and designated in the committee responsibilities adopted by the Executive Board, provided however, that such powers and duties shall not conflict with the conference Constitution or Bylaws.
(4) Each Chair of an ad-hoc committee shall have full authority over all activities performed by the committee. However, such activities must, at all times, meet with the approval of the Executive Board, and all actions of all ad-hoc committees shall be subject to ratification by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE IV ELIGIBILITY
Section 1 Rules of Eligibility----Landmark Conference members shall adhere to the current eligibility rules of the NCAA Constitution and Bylaws, except where conference Constitution and Bylaw rules, if any, are more restrictive than those of the NCAA.
Section 2 Conference Competition----All conference contests, tournaments and championships shall:
A. Be conducted according to NCAA rules of eligibility, and
B. Include only varsity intercollegiate teams competing on the NCAA Division III level.
Section 3 Interpretations----Interpretations of rules including, but not limited to, eligibility, shall be rendered by members of the Legislative Services staff of the NCAA, except when a specific sport's governing body or Landmark Conference rules, if any, are more restrictive than those of the NCAA.
ARTICLE V LANDMARK CONFERENCE EMPL0YEES
Section 1 The Executive Board shall hire a Commissioner (Constitution Article V, Section 1, B., (6)). The Commissioner is selected, and the terms of employment and position description established by the Executive Board. Direct supervision of the Commissioner is the responsibility of the Chair of the Executive Board.
Section 2 The Commissioner is empowered to hire and Assistant Commissioner. The Assistant Commissioner is selected, and the terms of employment and position description is established by the Commissioner in consultation with the members of the Athletics Administrator's Committee.
ARTICLE VI BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY (added March 2009, updated March 2010)
Section 1 Budget management for the Landmark Conference is the responsibility of the Commissioner. A proposed operating budget shall be created from Landmark dues, the NCAA Strategic Initiative Grant (when and if approved by the NCAA), income from Landmark Championships and any additional Landmark Conference activity such as fundraising.
Section 2 After consultation with the Athletics Directors, no later than during their annual meeting in January, the Commissioner will submit a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year (beginning on July 1) at the Chief Executive Officers annual meeting in February. During the meeting the Chief Executive Officers will modify and/or preliminarily accept the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. By April 30th of each year the Commissioner will present a final budget proposal to the officers (Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer) of the Executive Board for approval. The budget will be routinely monitored by the accounting department of a member institution providing administrative oversight for the conference office (currently Drew University) and the financial activity of the conference is therefore subject to periodic independent audits. Irregularities, if any, will be, immediately, reported to the Chair of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these Bylaws shall be made upon the recommendation
of a majority vote of the voting members of the Athletics
Administrator's Committee voting at any meeting and a subsequent
three-fourths vote of all members of the Executive Board, provided
that the proposed amendment has been submitted to the Executive
Board at least thirty days preceding an announced meeting. The
Commissioner shall transmit copies to the members of the Executive
Board.
