Bylaws

Preamble

The organization was re-established in 2025 at the behest of Southern Illinois University- Carbondale requesting that Illinois activate the state-wide network.

Article I- Name, Mission, Goals

Name: The name of this organization shall be ACE Women’s Network-Illinois (ILAWN) (WHEMN) as prescribed on January 24, 2025.

Mission: The mission of AWN-Illinois is to identify, develop, advance, link, and support women in higher education.

Goals:

• Promote and support women's leadership in higher education, particularly in Illinois.
• Facilitate networking of women leaders in higher education with each other and with organizations and networks that have shared goals.
• Develop collaborative partnerships with other institutions, organizations, associations, foundations, and businesses to help achieve the mission of ILAWN.
• Enhance the visibility of women administrators on Illinois campuses.
• Assist in career development of professional women and women students in higher education, with particular emphasis on minority women.
• Identify potential women leaders and provide mentoring.
• Recognize achievement of women administrators through appropriate awards.

Article II

Administrative Institution:

The administrative home of ILAWN will be accomplished through Co-Chair positions whose term will be for two years, any college/university in the state of Illinois has a vested interest in the mission and goals of ILAWN. A co-chairmanship provides a succession plan to ensure continuity in the leadership.

Financial Structure:

Financial support for carrying out the mission and goals of ILAWN derives from individual membership, institutional membership, affiliate membership, solicited sponsorship and registration fees for an annual leadership conference for women in IL higher Education institutions. Fee structure is as follows:

• Individual Membership: $50
• Student Membership: $20
• Affiliate Membership: $60
• Honorary Membership: Free
• Institutional Membership: See the Chart

Article III

General Membership:

General membership is women faculty, staff, and administrators employed for a higher education institution in the state of Illinois who completed an application form and paid the annual membership fee. General membership must be renewed each year at a rate set by the Executive Committee.

Student Membership:

Individual membership includes undergraduate, graduate and professional school students enrolled in the institution of Higher Education ($20).

Affiliate Membership:

Affiliate members include women who have graduated from higher education institutions and support similar missions to higher education and promote the professional growth and development of women. May include nonprofit or state agencies.

Honorary Membership:

Honorary membership is women leaders in higher education and other outstanding women leaders chosen by the Executive Committee.

Institutional Membership:

Institutional members support the work of Illinois ACE Women’s Network (see the chart below).

Article IV

Executive Committee:

The Executive Committee will include the Chair, the Chair-Elect, Past-Chair (Ex officio) the Treasurer, Secretary, the Public Relations and media Coordinator, fund development and sponsors and Student Representative. The term of office for each member of the Executive Committee will be two years.

Chair:

The Chair is the key leader of AWN-IL and serves a two-year term while her institution is the administrative home of ILAWN. She chairs the Executive Committee and serves as the principal liaison among the Institutional Representatives, the American Council on Education –Women’s Network and the presidential sponsor. The Chair is responsible for providing leadership for the Executive Committee and Institutional Representatives. She should identify and nominate women for awards, senior administrative positions and women ready for college presidencies and other senior-level positions. The Chair should disseminate information throughout the state regarding professional development activities and programs initiated by ILAWN. The Chair should encourage all women in all institutions of higher education in Illinois to become involved and actively support ILAWN and its goals. The Chair must also submit a year-end report to AWN by June 1 each year.

Chair-Elect:

The Chair-Elect serves a two-year term in preparation for her institution to become the administrative home of ILAWN, during which time she will become the ILAWN Chair. She assists the Chair and serves as the Program Chair. She should coordinate with the Executive Committee to plan the annual spring leadership conference, and/or collaborative workshops or seminars that might arise.

Secretary:

The Secretary shall disseminate meeting notes and other announcements to IR or Executive Board Members in their absence. She should be willing to assist the Public Relations and Social Media Coordinator and Institutional Representatives in promoting the goals of ILAWN.

Treasurer:

The Treasurer/Recorder shall serve ILAWN by keeping accurate written records of financial and business transactions. She should prepare reports for the Executive Committee to review and distribute to the membership.

Secretary:

Powers and Duties. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee and shall perform the duties and functions customarily performed by the of other similar organizations. The Secretary is a two-year term commitment and can be reelected.

Public Relations and Media Coordinator: 

Powers and Duties. The public relations and media coordinator shall coordinate meetings, interviews and similar activities of the organization’s relationships.

Technology Coordinator: 

Powers and Duties. The technology coordinator shall handle website management, announcements, and social media for the organization.

Student Representative: 

Powers and Duties. The student representative acts a liaison between the organization and institutional college women and/or college women organizations seeking involvement in the organization.

Standing Committees:

• Conference and Organization Activities
• Sponsorships, scholarships and awards
• Membership

Election of Officers:

The officers shall serve as the nominating committee and will present nominations to the Executive Committee. Elections shall be held May or June. The officers shall be elected by the Executive Committee but may not be elected for more than two (2) consecutive terms. The President-Elect, Past-President and Student Representative shall serve one (1) term beginning July 1st and ending June 30th. The President, Treasurer, Secretary, Public Relations and Media Coordinator, and Technology Coordinator shall serve two-year terms beginning July 1st ending June 30th.

Records: 

The organization shall keep at its registered office in this State or at its principal place of business wherever situated an original or duplicate record of the proceedings of the Executive Committee, and the original or copy to its Bylaws, including all amendments and alterations thereto to date, and a register, giving the names and addresses of the Executive Committee Officers. The organization also shall keep complete and accurate books or records of account.

Right of Inspection: 

Every member of the Executive Committee shall, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have a right to examine, in person or by agent or attorney, during the usual hours for business, for any purpose reasonably related to the interest of such person as a member of the Executive Committee, books and records of account, and records of the proceedings of the Executive Committee, and to make copies of or extracts from such documents.

Execution of Written Instruments:

All contracts, deed, mortgages, obligations, documents and instruments, whether they require a seal, may be executed by the President, and/or Chair and attested by the Treasurer or Secretary.