Procedures and Policy Manual for the Organization and Operation of the ACTE Agricultural Education Division
Revised March 2001
This Procedures and Policy Manual was developed to inform members of the organizational structure and operating procedures for the ACTE Agricultural Education Division. It serves as a refresher manual for Policy Committee members on how the division operates. In addition, it provides a record of those policy and procedure changes made on a yearly basis. These procedures supplement the policies of the ACTE and its Board of Directors.
William L. Deimler
Vice-President
ACTE Agricultural Education Division
July 2006 – June 2009
ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION DIVISION
General Purposes
The general purposes of the Agricultural Education Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) are:
- To develop high professional attitudes and standards among teachers, teacher educators, supervisors, and administrators concerned with agricultural education.
- To offer services to members of the Agricultural Education Division that will provide, maintain, extend and expand quality programs to prepare and to improve individuals for essential occupations in the total agricultural industry.
- To provide for better understanding of the program of agricultural education
- To act as a clearinghouse for the dissemination of new ideas, research, and other items that will aide program development.
- To keep members of the Agricultural Education Division informed as to plans and policies of the Association for Career and Technical Education and their implications for vocational education.
- To promote professional relationships with other agencies, organizations, and institutions concerned with agriculture and agricultural education.
ACTE Board Composition and Operation
- The ACTE Board of Directors consist of 21 members including vice presidents for Administration, Agricultural Education, Business Education, Employment and Training, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Guidance, Health Occupations Education, Marketing Education, New and Related Services, Special Needs, Technical Education, Technology Education, and Trade and Industrial Education, plus five regional vice presidents, president, president-elect and past president of ACTE
- The Executive Committee of the ACTE Board is comprised of the president, president-elect, past president, a regional representative, and a divisional representative of ACTE.
- Each division and region shall have a policy committee to plan and implement a strategic plan for the division/region and assist in the implementation of the ACTE Strategic Plan.
- The Annual ACTE Strategic Plan is prepared by the president-elect of the ACTE with input from the ACTE Board of Directors. However, it is the responsibility of the ACTE president-elect to draft goals and objectives for the Strategic Plan which will be in operation at the time he/she serves as president of ACTE.
- The activities of the ACTE Strategic Plan are carried out primarily through division and region strategic plans. However, specific items affecting the association can be addressed by the ACTE Board.
- State and territories are the only affiliated organizations to ACTE.
- Membership in ACTE is achieved through membership in state or territorial vocational education organizations. However, a member may become an ACTE member by paying dues directly to ACTE.
- Regional structure within ACTE results in a multi-level structure, e.g., state associations, disciplines and regions.
Agricultural Education Division Organization
- The Agricultural Education Division consists of the three affiliates:
- the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE)
- the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education (NASAE)
- the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE).
Members of the affiliates are encouraged to be members of the ACTE Agricultural Education Division.
- Other membership organizations may affiliate as membership interest indicates, according to the policies of the ACTE Board of Directors.
- Each organization shall elect its own officers and develop its own Program of Activities.
- The affiliated organizations of the Division are only affiliated with ACTE through the Agricultural Education Division. They are not affiliates of the ACTE.
- Members of the ACTE who are professionally engaged in or interested in agricultural education shall be considered members of the Agricultural Education Division.
Agricultural Education Division Policy Committee
- The National Council for Agricultural Education (NCAE) and the ACTE Agricultural Education Division Policy Committee are a unified body and serve as the leadership group for the Agricultural Education Profession. The major roles of this group are:
a. to provide national leadership for the Agricultural Education profession;
b. to assist ACTE achieve its goals as identified in the annual strategic plan;
c. to provide a mechanism whereby the three affiliates of the Division (NAAE, AAAE, NASAE) can communicate with ACTE;
d. identify priority issues of the profession; and
e. develop and implement plans to resolve the issues.
2. The membership on the ACTE Agricultural Education Division Policy Committee/NCAE is comprised of the:
a. The Senior Program Specialist in Agricultural Education, United States Department of Education, who serves as ex-officio member, without vote.
b. The President of the ACTE Agricultural Education Division or the persons holding the equivalent successor offices of the ACTE or a successor organization.
c. The President, President Elect and Immediate Past President of AAAE, NASAE and NAAE or the persons holding the equivalent successor offices of the organizations as listed or any successor organizations.
d. One person, appointed by the NCAE's Board of Directors, from each of the following areas of vocational and technical education in agriculture:
(1) A representative of production agriculture recommended by the National Young Farmer Educational Association (NYFEA).
(2) An adult representing secondary students in agriculture who has been recommended by the National FFA Board of Directors.
(3) An adult representing post secondary students in agriculture who has been recommended by Post secondary Agricultural Students (PAS).
(4) An Alumni representative recommended by the National FFA Alumni Association.
(5) Two (2) agribusiness representatives recommended by the National FFA Foundation Sponsors' Board.
(6) An adult level instructor recommended by the President of the ACTE Agricultural Education Division.
(7) A two-year post secondary level instructor recommended by the President of the ACTE Agricultural Education Division.
(8) A representative of AgrowKnowledge recommended by AgrowKnowledge.
(9) Representatives as deemed appropriate.
e. The Executive Director of NAAE and the COO of National FFA serve as ex officio members, without vote.
- The Agricultural Education Division Policy Committee/NCAE meets twice annually once in the Spring and once in the Fall of each year. Special meetings may be called as necessary.
Agricultural Education Division Budget and Strategic Plan
- The Division shall prepare annually a Budget and Strategic Plan identifying the financial resources available from the ACTE and other sources. The budget and the Strategic Plan shall be approved by the ACTE Agricultural Education Division Policy Committee/NCAE and submitted to the ACTE Executive Director.
- The Division must submit a Budget and Strategic Plan to ACTE by May 1 annually for the next fiscal year.
- The resources to fund the activities of the Division come primarily from membership. Currently, the Agricultural Education Division receives $1.75 for each paid member effective June 30 of the previous year, plus a $100.00 allocation for postage.
- Expenditures of Division funds are authorized through the Division's Strategic Plan.
- Expenditure of funds shall be approved by the Division President, in accordance with policies and procedures designated by the ACTE Board of Directors.
- Travel expenses for the Division President, and representatives of the affiliate organizations will be authorized and paid from the Division's Budget provided from ACTE Agricultural Education Division funds when such a meeting is in keeping with the Division's Strategic Plan.
Agricultural Education Division Committees
- Committees may be established in accordance with the needs to carry out the purposes of the Division.
- The following committees are currently functional:
- Nominating
- Convention Program Planning
- Agricultural Education Division committees are under the direct authorization of the ACTE Agricultural Education Division President.
- Ad hoc committees can be appointed and terminated at the discretion of the ACTE Agricultural Education Division President.
- Members of the Division may serve on general ACTE committees according to the provisions of the ACTE by-laws or policies establishing such committees.
- Division appointments to ACTE standing committees are made by the ACTE Agricultural Education Division Presidents as recommendations to the ACTE Board of Directors.
Member Input
- The ACTE Agricultural Education Division receives input from the three affiliates.
- Once ACTE receives input from the ACTE Agricultural Education Division, this input is handled in one of two ways:
a. If it affects ACTE policy, it is assigned to the appropriate ACTE Board subcommittee for consideration and recommendation. Following the subcommittee meeting, each item is discussed with the entire Board and action taken.
b. For those items which do not affect ACTE policy and are of an informational nature, they likewise are assigned to the appropriate Board subcommittee for information. No official Board action is taken with these items.
3. The member input process provides the means to communicate directly to other agencies and organizations those issues, concerns, suggestions and recommendations which the Division desires to address. Through this process, the Division, its affiliates, and members, have the vehicle to affect policy of other organizations and the ACTE.
Division President
- Duties: The President of the ACTE Agricultural Education Division shall represent the Division on the Board of Directors of the ACTE in accordance with the ACTE by-laws.
- Term of Office: The President of the Agricultural Education Division shall serve a term of three years. When the office of Division President falls vacant prior to the scheduled election, the ACTE Board of Directors shall fill said office in accordance with the Policies of the ACTE.
- Qualifications: All members of the ACTE Agricultural Education Division are eligible for nomination. It is further recommended that nominees have the following qualifications:
a. Major responsibility shall be in the field of agricultural education.
b. Sustained membership in the ACTE.
c. A large percentage of those involved in agricultural education in that nominee's state should be members of ACTE.
d. An understanding of vocational education and a willingness to promote the ACTE and its entire program.
e. Authorization to make time available and have sufficient clerical and secretarial help to effectively execute the responsibilities the office of Division President.
f. Served on the ACTE Agricultural Education Division Policy Committee or on one or more ACTE committees, have had a good attendance record at annual meetings of the ACTE and have participated in the programs of the Division.
- Process of Nomination: When the Division becomes eligible to elect a new President, the current President will inform the presidents of each of the affiliated organizations to submit nominations. Nominations may be made by either the affiliated organizations or by an individual member of the division. Such nominations should be made through the current Division President and the chair of the Division's Nominating Committee. The Division's affiliated organizations, through their publications, should notify members that nominations are being received.
a. The following rotation was established and has been continued for the office of Division President:
- University Agricultural Educator (AAAE)
- Supervisor (NASAE)
- Teacher (NAAE)
- The Division President will appoint a nominating committee of seven persons: Two teachers, two teacher educators, two supervisors and one member-at-large representing the organization (affiliate) eligible to nominate the candidates. No member of the nominating committee shall be a candidate for office. The committee will review all nominations and interview each candidate. The nominating committee shall recommend two nominees at the business meeting of the Division at the ACTE Convention. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at this business meeting by any member of the Division. Should the person(s) nominated from the floor receive a majority vote of the members present and voting, their name(s) shall be included on the mail ballot with the two candidates recommended by the nominating committee. The Division President shall inform the ACTE Board of the Division's nominees for inclusion on the mail ballot to be sent to all members of the Division.
Recording Secretary
The Recording Secretary will be the Executive Director of NCAE or that person's designee. The Recording Secretary shall maintain accurate minutes of Policy Committee and Agricultural Education Division meetings. The minutes will be distributed to Policy Committee members within 30 days after meetings. The secretary shall distribute proposed amendments to the Operating Policies to the membership as described in Section XIII of this document. A summary report of the Division activities are to be prepared and distributed to the division members at the annual business meeting. The individual shall also prepare correspondence for the Division as assigned by the Division President and Policy Committee.
President-Elect of the ACTE
When the Division is eligible to submit a candidate for President-Elect of the ACTE, the Division President will ask the president of each of the Division's affiliate organizations to submit nominations. Nominations can be made from either the Division's affiliated organizations or by any individual member of the division. The Division's affiliate organizations may wish to notify members that nominations are being received by the Division President. The Division President shall forward to the ACTE Nominating Committee the names of all candidates who have submitted credentials or other information which may be required of candidates in keeping with ACTE policy. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the Assembly of Delegates providing each nominee has been interviewed by the ACTE Nominating Committee and is approved by a majority of the delegates voting.
Reporting of Divisional Activities
It shall be the responsibility of the Division President to submit reports/minutes of the Policy Committee meetings and other activities within the Division on a continuing basis to the office of the Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education.
Agricultural Education Magazine
The Agricultural Education Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education recognizes The Agricultural Education Magazine as the professional journal for agricultural education.
Meetings
During the ACTE Convention, the Division will hold at least one officially announced business meeting. Members of the Division present at the officially announced business meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Amendments
These policies may be amended by submitting the proposed revision in writing to the Division President at least 60 days before the annual meeting. The Recording Secretary shall send the proposed revisions to each member of the Policy Committee, to head state supervisors, head state teacher educators, and presidents of the agriculture teachers associations in the various states and territories at least 30 days before the annual meeting. Proposed revisions which receive a majority vote of the members present and voting at the annual meeting of the Division shall be submitted to the ACTE Board of Directors for approval as the official policies of the Divisions
General ACTE Policy
Any statements or policies included in the Operating Policies which are in conflict with the Articles of Incorporation, By-laws or Operating Policies of the Association for Career and Technical Education, shall be declared null and void.
Distribution of Policy
Provision shall be made for depositing a supply of copies of the statement of Operating Policies in the office of the Executive Director of the ACTE. These shall be available for distribution to members of the Division.
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