The Constitution of the Red River
Athletic Conference
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ARTICLE I
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NAME
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The name of this organization shall be the Red
River Athletic Conference (RRAC). |
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ARTICLE II
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ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP
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The object of this Conference shall be to promote
education and the development of students through intercollegiate
athletics in the universities or colleges represented by this
Conference.
The following institutions are current members of
the Red River Athletic Conference.
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| Bacone College
(Okla.) |
University of the Southwest (N.M.) |
| Huston-Tillotson
University (Texas) |
Southwest Assemblies of God University
(Texas) |
| Jarvis Christian
College (Texas) |
Texas College |
| Langston University
(Okla.) |
University of Texas at Brownsville |
| Northwood
University (Texas) |
Texas Wesleyan University |
| Paul Quinn College
(Texas) |
Wiley College (Texas) |
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ARTICLE III
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MEMBERSHIP
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Section 1. A
college or university may apply for Red River
Athletic Conference regular membership provided the applicant
reflects the RRAC member institution profile.
The RRAC member institution profile addresses geographic
location, the champions of character initiative, and a minimum
number and seasonal distribution of inter-collegiate athletic
programs for men and women. New members, when applying, need to
compete in at least one RRAC-sanctioned sport in the fall, winter
and spring which includes both men's and women's teams in each
season.
RRAC membership requires approval by at least three fourths
of the RRAC Council of Presidents.
An institution that lacks the minimum number and seasonal
distribution of inter-collegiate athletic programs for men and women
may be considered a provisional member if a plan for full compliance
within two years is presented to the Council of Presidents at the
time of application.
Institutions accepted on provisional status are not eligible for
participation in RRAC championships or post-season competition.
A provisional member will become a regular member when full
compliance with the RRAC member institution profile is achieved.
If full compliance with the RRAC member institution profile
is not achieved at the end of three years, RRAC membership will be
revoked.
Section 2. Annual dues shall be
determined by the Council of Presidents. Dues are payable immediately
after July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year. Membership dues
become delinquent after September 1. All institutions delinquent in
the payment of dues could be placed on probation or have their
membership terminated upon the decision of the presidents.
Section 3. A member wishing to withdraw
from this Conference may do so by submitting a resignation in writing
to the Conference Council of Presidents� Chair at the fall or spring
meeting. Resignations become effective at the end of that academic
year.
Section 4. This Conference is affiliated
with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and
subscribes to the purposes and rules of eligibility of the association
as a minimum standard.
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ARTICLE IV
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MEETINGS
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Section 1. There will be at least two
meetings of the Council of Presidents annually. Of which one may be a
conference call. These meetings will be determined by the Conference
Commissioner at the direction of the Council of Presidents.
Section 2. Special meetings shall be
called by the Commissioner or upon request of one-half of the members
of the Conference, and these special meetings shall be at the place
designated by the petitioners, or named by the Commissioner.
Section 3. There shall be yearly meetings
of the Conference coaches to discuss matters related to their sport
and to make recommendations for consideration by the Conference. The
chairman of each coaching group shall be determined by a majority vote
of the coaches in that sport.
Section 4. There will be at least two
regular meetings of the Red River Athletic Conference Athletic
Directors, Faculty Athletic Representatives, and Coaches at least ten
days prior to the Presidents� meetings. Times, dates and locations
will be set by the Council of Presidents or the Commissioners.
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ARTICLE V
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GOVERNANCE
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Section 1. The Conference shall have the
following committees:
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- Council of Presidents composed of the president
from each member institution.
- Eligibility Committee shall be composed of the
Eligibility Chair and the Faculty Athletic Representative from each
member institution. The Commissioner is an ex-officio member of the
Eligibility Committee.
- Athletic Committee shall be composed of the
Conference Commissioner and the Athletic Director from each member
institution.
- Sports Committees shall be composed of the
coaches in each sport.
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Section 2. A quorum
shall consist of one over half of membership vote of any
committee. Voting by proxy is prohibited.
Section 3. This constitution may be amended at a
regular meeting by a simple majority vote of the membership,
provided that such an amendment is presented in writing at
the immediate preceding regular meeting. Emergency
action may be taken by the unanimous consent of the members
of the Eligibility Committee, subject to the approval of the
Council of Presidents.
Section 4. Under this constitution, bylaws are
authorized. There shall be a set of bylaws to govern
and control the activities of the Conference. Bylaws
must be passed by the Eligibility Committee of the
conference, subject to the approval of the Council of
Presidents.
Section 5. The appeal of any decision can be made in
writing to the Council of Presidents.
Section 6. The Eligibility Committee shall be
responsible for all academic and eligibility issues.
Decisions of this Committee shall be reported to the Council
of Presidents.
Section 7. The intercollegiate athletic activities in
the institutions of this conference shall be under the
control of the chief executive officer of each institution.
Section 8. The Eligibility Committee must assume full
responsibility for enforcing the eligibility rules of the
Conference. |
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ARTICLE VI
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COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS
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Section 1. Membership on the Council of
Presidents requires concurrent service as a chief executive officer of
a member institution.
Section 2. The officers of the Council of
Presidents shall be composed of the Chair and the Vice-Chair.
Officers shall rotate on a two-year cycle among the presidents of the
member institutions. The Vice-Chair shall be the succeeding officer.
In the event a President feels he/she cannot accept this
responsibility when his/her turn arrives, the leadership may pass to
the president of the next school listed in alphabetical order.
Section 3. The Council of Presidents
shall have primary responsibility for conference membership and shall
review and approve all policy recommendations.
Section 4. The Council of Presidents may
meet more often as deemed necessary, at such time and place as may be
determined by the chairperson.
Section 5. The Vice-Chair shall assume
all duties of the Chair in his/her absence for any reason or
disqualification.
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ARTICLE VII
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THE COMMISSIONER
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Section 1. There shall be one
commissioner of the RRAC. The commissioner shall be appointed by the
Council of Presidents and the commissioner shall be responsible
directly to the Council of Presidents.
Section 2. The Commissioner:
- Shall act on all game protests.
- Shall keep a copy of all Conference athletic
records.
- Shall maintain Conference correspondence and
the property of the Conference.
- Shall be responsible for all awards and
trophies in all sports.
- Shall be in charge of all post season men's and
women's sporting events when four or more institutions are involved.
- Shall appoint the Eligibility Chair, who in
turn, shall be responsible directly to the Commissioner.
- Shall appoint the Sports Information Director,
who in turn, shall be responsible directly to the Commissioner.
- Shall secure and have on file minutes of all
conference committee meetings
- Shall report any inappropriate behavior of
coaches to the Eligibility Committee.
- Shall maintain statistical records for each
conference sport and provide the compiled information weekly to
coaches, news media, and the national organizations with which the
conference is affiliated. In addition, weekly summary stories and
conference standings should be released to the Associated Press.
This will be coordinated with the Conference Sports Information
Director.
- Shall bill each basketball participating
institution one time for the total amount due for the
assigned basketball officials. Each institution is responsible for
assigning officials for the other sports in which the institution
participates.
- Shall see that each basketball official is paid
for services rendered as well as supply applicable W-2 tax forms.
All regularly authorized expenditures shall be
paid by the secretary when presented by itemized accounts and signed
by the individuals authorized to make expenditures.
- Shall send notices and collect all Conference
dues.
- Shall submit records annually for audit from a
reputable CPA firm.
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Section 3. The Conference Eligibility
Chair shall be appointed by the Conference Commissioner and shall:
- Serve as the Conference Representative to the
NAIA National Convention.
- Serve as chair of the Eligibility Committee
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Section 4. The conference secretary shall
be appointed by the conference commissioner and shall be responsible
for maintaining minutes of all meetings and up to date records of all
conference members.
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ARTICLE VIII
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ELIGIBILITY COMMITTEE
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Section 1. The Eligibility Committee
shall have responsibility for all academic and eligibility issues. A
majority vote of all members present and voting shall be required on
all matters brought for consideration.
Section 2. Each member of the conference
shall be represented at all meetings by one voting delegate who shall
be a regular member of the faculty of that institution and who is not
directly connected with any of the fields of intercollegiate
athletics. These delegates shall be called the Faculty Athletics
Representatives (FARs) and shall be the Eligibility Committee of the
conference.
Section 3. The Eligibility Committee
shall have a chair. The Commissioner is an ex officio member of the
Eligibility Committee. The Secretary shall be elected at the spring
meeting, and shall be responsible for taking and dispersing the
minutes of the meetings. The secretary shall be responsible for
taking the minutes of regular meetings and submitting them to the
conference secretary.
Section 4. The Committee shall act as
counselor and arbitrator for all of the members of the conference in
the interest of good sportsmanship.
Section 5. The Committee shall publish
and distribute updates of the constitution and bylaws as changes are
made by the conference.
Section 6. The Conference Eligibility
Chair shall serve as the chair of the Eligibility Committee. The FAR
from each member school is a member of the Eligibility Committee. A
minimum of two FARs shall be randomly selected from the conference
FARs to serve on individual case.
A majority vote on all violations and appeals is
required in determining a recommendation to accompany all cases sent
to the national office.
- The committee's members shall pursue,
investigate all matters pertaining to the eligibility of conference
athletes and institutions.
- This committee shall be responsible for the
formulation of a recommendation to send to the national NAIA office
involving any violation or appeal to a standard rule.
- This committee shall follow procedures as
outlined in the Official Handbook of the NAIA.
- There will be no proxy votes.
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ARTICLE IX
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ATHLETIC COMMITTEE
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Section 1. The Athletic Committee shall
be composed of the Director of Athletics from each member institution,
and chaired by the Conference Commissioner.
Section 2. The Athletic Committee shall
consist of a chair appointed by the Athletic Directors, the Conference
Commissioner, and, an Athletic Director from each member school. The
conference secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes and
dispersing them to the membership. The Conference Eligibility Chair
shall be an ex-officio member without vote.
Section 3. The Athletic Committee shall
be responsible for games, meets, tournaments, and other similar
intercollegiate activities.
Section 4. The chairman of the individual
sports committees will meet in the fall and spring and make
recommendations to the Athletic at their regular conference meeting.
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ARTICLE X
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SPORTS COMMITTEES
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Conference sports committees shall be composed of
a head coach of the individual sport. The committee will meet in the
fall and spring and make recommendations to the Athletic Directors at
their regular conference meeting. The head coach of the individual
sport will call the meetings.
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ARTICLE XI
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NON-PROFIT STATUS
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Section 1. This organization is organized
exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning
of section 501, c, 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these
articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not
permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal
Income tax under section 501, c, 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States
Internal Revenue law).
Upon the winding up and dissolution of this
corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and
obligations of the corporation, the remaining assets shall be
distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation which is
organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational,
religious and/or scientific purposes and which has established its
tax-exempt status under section 501, c, 3 of the Internal Revenue
Code.
Section 2. The Commissioner shall
communicate with the Internal Revenue Service in regard to all
financial matters.
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