Bylaws of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Association

Adopted in 1944 
Amended 1958, 1961, 1971, 1984, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2022 

Article I: Name

The name of the Association shall be the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Association, subsequently referred to as “the Association.” 

Article II: Object

The object of the Association is to advance the cause of professional education in public health; to promote and enhance the values of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the educational experience of its students; and to promote friendship, fellowship and professional development among the graduates and former students of the Harvard T.H. Chan  School of Public Health. 

Article III: Members

Section 1

Membership of the Association shall be comprised of: 

Regular Members: All those who have earned a degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, including those who have earned a doctoral degree through the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health under the aegis of the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. 

Associate Members:

(a)  All present and former students of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who have completed the equivalent of either (i) one (1) year in residence at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; or (ii) forty (40) credit hours of course work. 

(b) All present and former fellows or post-doctoral researchers who have completed at least one (1) academic year in residence at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

Section 2

Honorary Membership in the Association shall be comprised of: 
(a) All present and past academic instructors or administrative officers of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 

(b) All senior level leadership fellows who may have completed less than one year in residence at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 

(c) Any person elected to such a membership by a majority of the Alumni Council 

Honorary members may not serve as alumni councilors or officers or participate as voting members of the association. 

Article IV: Officers

Section 1

Officers. The Officers of the Association shall be a President, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President and Vice President.

Section 2

Duties. The Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.

Section 3

Nominations and Elections. The President-Elect and Vice President shall be elected according to the rules of nominations and elections set forth in Article V, Sections 4 and 5. The President–Elect shall automatically become President on the completion of the term as President-Elect. The President shall automatically become Immediate Past-President on the completion of the term as President. Any member is eligible to serve as an Officer even though a member may have served the maximum number of terms as a Councilor.

Section 4

Limitations and Term of Office. Officers will serve a term of two (2) years or until successors are elected. Each person elected as an officer shall hold only one office at a time. No officer shall serve more than one term in the same office. Terms of newly elected officers commence according to the rules set forth in Article V, Section 6.

Section 5

Vacancies. If there is a vacancy in the office of President, the President-Elect will automatically become the President. If there is a vacancy of any other Officer, the President may appoint a replacement pro-tempore and the position will be filled permanently by election according to the rules set forth in Article V, Sections 4 and 5.

Section 6

Removal from Office. Officers may be removed from office with or without cause by a two-thirds vote of the Council at a regular or special meeting of the Council where thirty (30) days previous notice has been given.

Article V: Alumni Council

Section 1

Purpose. The Alumni Council, subsequently referred to as “the Council,” shall be the policy-making authority and executive power of the Association unless otherwise directed by a majority of the Members of the Association. 

Section 2

Composition of the Council. The Council shall be comprised of (2) elected Officers, nine (9) elected Councilors plus the President and Immediate Past-President. Three (3) of the nine (9) elected positions shall be reserved for a representative of the graduating class who shall be elected by that class. 

Section 3

Eligibility. Any member of the association as set forth in Article III, Section 1 shall be eligible to serve as a Councilor or as an Officer. Persons shall be eligible to serve as an Officer regardless of the number of terms they have served as Councilor. 

Section 4

Nominations for Councilors and Officers. At least 6 months prior to the Annual Meeting of the Association, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee composed of five members, at least one of whom will be a member of the Council. The Nominating Committee will develop two nominations for each position to be filled by election. The Nominating Committee will confirm the willingness of each nominee to serve in the designated position if elected. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for determining the eligibility of nominees. The Nominating Committee will provide the Office for Alumni Affairs with the list of nominees at least 4 months before the Annual Meeting. As set forth in Article V, Section 2, Councilors elected by the graduating class shall be elected according to the rules of the graduating class and are not included in the nomination and election process of these bylaws.

Section 5

Election of Councilors and Officers. The Office for Alumni Affairs shall prepare a ballot with the two nominees for each position and with a space for a write-in candidate for each position. The ballot will list the names of the nominees in chronological order according to the first year of residence at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The ballot will be distributed by mail or electronically to all members of the Association at least 3 months before the Annual Meeting. Appropriate methods will be used to ensure a single ballot is marked by each member submitting a ballot. Ballots may be submitted by mail or electronically, and must reach the Alumni Office ten (10) working days before the Annual Meeting. The nominee with the highest number of votes for each position will be announced at the Annual Meeting.

Section 6

Limitations and Term of Office. All Councilors including the graduating class representatives shall serve a term not to exceed three (3) years and councilors may not serve more than two terms. The terms of the newly-elected Officers and Councilors shall begin at the completion of the Annual Meeting of the Association.

Section 7

Vacancies. If there is a vacancy of any Councilor, the President may appoint a replacement pro-tempore and the position will be filled permanently by election according to the rules set forth in Article V, Sections 4 and 5.

Section 8

Removal of Councilors. Councilors may be removed from office with or without cause by a two-thirds vote of the Council at a regular or special meeting of the Council where thirty (30) days previous notice has been given.

Article VI: Executive Committee

Section 1

Composition. The Officers of the Association shall constitute the Executive Committee. The President may appoint up to two (2) current or past Councilors as members of the Executive Committee, subject to approval by the Council.

Section 2

Duties and Powers. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Council and the Association between its meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Association and perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws. The Executive Committee shall be subject to the orders of the Association and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Association.

Section 3

Meetings. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of three members of the Council.

Article VII: Association and Alumni Council meetings

Section 1

Meetings of the Association. The Association will hold its annual meeting at such time and location as determined by the Executive Committee and announced by electronic communication at least four (4) months prior to the meeting. For any meeting of the Association a quorum shall be constituted by the members attending the meeting in person or attending via teleconference or similar manner that permits interaction during the meeting.

Section 2

Meetings of the Council. The Council shall meet during the annual meeting of the Association and at such other times as may be designated by the President. At least thirty (30) days written notice of such additional meetings must be given to all members of the Council. For any meeting of the Council a quorum shall be constituted by the members attending the meeting in person or attending via teleconference or similar manner that permits interaction during the meeting.

Article VIII: Committees

Section 1

Standing Committees. The Standing Committees shall operate according to the rules of the parliamentary authority or as specified in these bylaws. At least one member of each standing committee shall be a current Councilor. The standing committees of the Association are: 
Nominating Committee 
(b) Annual Alumni Meeting Committee 
(c) Awards Committee 

Section 2

Additional Standing Committees. With majority approval of the Council, the President may designate additional standing committee(s) and determine the duration of such committee(s). The President shall appoint the Chair of the additional standing committee(s), and the Chair will then select committee members. At least one member of each additional standing committee shall be a current Councilor.

Section 3

Special Committees. With majority approval of the Council, the President may designate special committees and determine the duration of such committee(s) as required to accomplish the work of the Council. The President shall appoint the Chair of the special committee(s), and the Chair will then select committee members. At least one member of each special committee shall be a current Councilor.

Section 4

Ex-Officio Committee Membership. The President shall be an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The Assistant Dean for Alumni Affairs, or equivalent administrative officer, shall be an ex officio member without vote of all committees.

Section 5

Administrative Support. The Office of Alumni Affairs shall provide administrative support for Council and Association nominations and elections, meetings and other Council activities.

Article IX: Other alumni representation

Section 1

Directors of the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA)—Appointed. The President shall have the authority to appoint two representatives to the HAA as Appointed Directors of the HAA from a slate of nominees prepared by the Nominating Committee. The Council may consider other nominations for the position. 

Section 2

Director of the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA)—Elected. Neither the Association nor the Council has the authority to nominate or elect Elected Directors of the HAA. Elected Directors of the HAA are nominated and elected according to the bylaws of the HAA. 

Section 3

Terms of Appointment or Election. The terms of service of the Appointed representatives will be as specified by the HAA. 

Article X: Parliamentary authority

Section 1

Parliamentary Authority. The Parliamentary Authority shall be the current edition of Robert’s Rule of Order Newly Revised and shall govern the Association and the proceedings of all meetings in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws or any special rules of order the Association may adopt. Unless provided otherwise by the parliamentary authority or by these bylaws, all elections and questions shall be decided by a majority of votes cast. 

Section 2

Parliamentarian. The President of the Council may appoint a parliamentarian. The duties of the parliamentarian will be as specified in the Parliamentary Authority, with the intent to help ensure the orderly progress of meetings and the fair and equitable treatment of all participants. 

Article XI: Amendments to the Bylaws

The Bylaws of the Association may be amended at any meeting of the Association by two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting. The proposed amendments shall have been sent in writing or electronically to the members at least 60 days prior to the meeting where the amendment will be considered. Amendments may be proposed by a special committee of the Council, by the Council, or by petition of 100 members of the Association. Amendments proposed by a special committee of the Council or by the Council must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Council before being presented to the Association membership.