Removal From Office: A Proposed Addition to the MAA Bylaws

Removal From Office: A Proposed Addition to the MAA Bylaws

In November 2005, the MAA Board of Governors, in compliance with the provisions of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act, passed the MAA Code of Ethics with a Whistle Blower Protection Policy. See /ABOUTMAA/whistleblowerpolicy.html.

Given this policy, it is clear that the MAA should have some provision for removal from office. While such a procedure would most likely never be invoked, the Board of Governors agrees that it is necessary to add it to the Bylaws.

The following addition to the Bylaws was approved by the Board of Governors at its meeting in Knoxville, TN on August 9, 2006. It will be presented for approval by the members of the MAA at the January 2007 Business Meeting of the Association in New Orleans, LA.

Note that the first sentence refers to persons appointed to positions. It is ordinarily the President who makes appointments. Persons elected to office are either elected by the Board or by the entire membership of the MAA or by some constituency. Those who are hired are in contractual positions and the removal of such persons is the subject of the final sentence.

Please see the MAA Bylaws at /Aboutmaa/bylaws03.html for the procedures for amending the Bylaws as well as the entire text of Article IV.

Contact Professor Martha J. Siegel, MAA Secretary, at msiegel@towson.edu if you have any comments, questions, or recommendations.

Article IV. 9.
Persons appointed to positions within the Association may be removed from office by the entity that appointed them. Persons elected to office by the Board of Governors, by the general membership, or by the membership of a constituency within the Association may be removed from office by a 3/4 vote of the membership of the Board of Governors, with or without cause, if deemed to be in the best interest of the Association. The vote of the Board of Governors for removal from contractual positions is an authorization for the President or the Executive Director to take the steps necessary for that removal.