General
The Accounting Society at Baylor is a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of Texas and a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. As a chartered student organization at Baylor University, it is also subject to the student organization policies of the university.
Membership Rights
The Accounting Society has a democratic governance structure with the membership as the highest authority. All dues-paying members have equal voting rights.
The membership exercises its authority through the annual election of directors and one business meeting each semester. Only the membership has the power to amend the bylaws and Code of Ethics, approve the annual budget, set the amount of dues and remove directors from office. Members also have the right to make motions at business meetings to change the society’s operations and policies.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is the governing authority of the society and is responsible for strategic planning, policymaking and financial oversight. The Board consists of eight directors elected by the membership for one year terms and a nonvoting Executive Director. The Board typically meets every other week during the semester.
The Board elects the principal officers of the society from amongst itself, namely a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. The President is the chairman of the Board and is the presiding officer and official representative of the society.
Management
The Board appoints an Executive Director who is responsible for day-to-day business and serves as the chief executive officer of the society. The Executive Director leads the Executive Council, which is the executive leadership team of the society. All other staff officers report to an Executive Council member and are assigned to an operating committee.
Elective Committees
The membership elects the Audit Committee, Bylaws Committee, Election Committee and Ethics Committee at the annual membership meeting. These committees support important governance functions within the society and operate independently of management.
Disciplinary Process
In the event of a violation of the bylaws, Code of Ethics or policies, members may file a compliant with the President who refers the compliant to the appropriate committee (for example, ethics complaints are considered by the Ethics Committee). After the committee has made a decision, it may be appealed to the Board of Directors. The decision of the Board of Directors may be further appealed to the membership if it involves suspension or expulsion of membership.
Important Documents