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Kansas International Educators Bylaws

I: Mission and Vision 

Mission 

Kansas International Educators (KIE) is the professional organization for International Educators in the state of Kansas. The mission of the Kansas International Educators organization is to provide professional development and networking opportunities for international educators within the State of Kansas. 

To accomplish this goal, the KIE Leadership Team pledges to:

  • Provide varied professional development opportunities at reasonable cost;

  • Maintain high standards for professional development in Kansas;

  • Provide networking opportunities for international educators in Kansas;

  • Help members maintain high standards of professional conduct;

  • Keep members informed of best practices and current policies and regulations

Vision

  • Increase the number of international students and scholars coming into Kansas;

  • Increase the number of Kansas residents who participate in education abroad programs;

  • Advocate for international education within the state

 

II: Membership and Meetings

Membership in Kansas International Educators shall be open to all persons living in Kansas who have an interest in the mission, vision and goals of KIE. There are no annual membership dues. Members are invited to attend the annual state conference of KIE held during the spring each year in various venues around the state of Kansas. There will also be a Kansas meeting during the NAFSA Region II Conference each year in the fall. Other meetings, workshops, and sessions may be arranged as needed and as interest indicates. The most up to date KIE Membership Directory is kept up to date by the KIE Leadership Team. People can request to be added to the KIE directory by emailing the current chair or by completing this form. The KIE Leadership Team shall meet monthly and more frequently leading up to the annual conference from January - April. 

 

III: Leadership, Officers and Terms of Service 

The Leadership Team of Kansas International Educators shall consist of the following officers:

  1. Chair

  2. Chair Elect

  3. Knowledge Community Representatives 

The Chair and Chair-Elect shall be nominated and elected by the members of KIE. Candidates for open positions may be announced via email to the KIE Directory. The Chair shall serve for a term of two years and the Chair-Elect shall serve for a term of one year prior to becoming the Chair. The Knowledge Community Representatives are appointed by the Chair in consultation and agreement with the Chair-Elect and will serve for two years. If any member of the Leadership Team wishes to leave the Team before the end of their term, their replacement shall serve only until the end of the term, but may choose to continue for another term.

 

Duties of KIE Leadership Team

  • The Chair of KIE shall be responsible for giving the organization’s overall strategic direction and shall implement an action plan.  The Chair shall identify programs and activities appropriate to the organization and shall establish committees and/or sub-committees to work on such projects. The Chair shall coordinate and call meetings of the Leadership Team. The Chair shall set the agenda for meetings after consulting with Leadership Team members to solicit agenda items and issues. The Chair shall chair the meetings and guide discussions.  The Chair shall ensure that all Leadership Team members have an opportunity to be heard at meetings and that meetings are conducted in a fair and open manner. The Chair shall be responsible for keeping important records of the KIE and shall pass such records to his/her successor.  The Chair shall also be the final authority for the content of the KIE website and shall direct all changes made to the website. If the Chair is not available or is not able to serve, the Chair-Elect will become Chair and serve the remainder of the predecessor’s term and then begin his or her own two-year term. If this occurs the Leadership Team may decide to hold a special election for Chair-Elect. The Chair shall also serve as a liaison between KIE and NAFSA: Association of International Educators Region II. The Chair shall keep the Leadership Team informed of important NAFSA initiatives, plans, meetings, announcements, and issues, especially those that impact Kansas. 

  • The Chair-Elect of KIE shall assist the Chair on all matters for the benefit of the organization. The term of office of the Chair-Elect shall begin one year prior to the term of the Chair. Upon the expiration of the Chair’s term of office, the Chair-Elect shall become Chair and shall serve for a full term of office.  

  • Knowledge Community Representatives (KC Reps) are members of the KIE Leadership Team who have specific interests in various and diverse aspects of international education.  The KC Reps shall use their expertise and experience to raise issues of concern and bring these to the Leadership Team. They shall assist the State Meeting Planning Committee by developing ideas for breakout sessions and suggesting presenters and guest speakers. The number KC Reps will be determined by the interests and needs of the KIE membership. The KC Reps should ideally include members with expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas: Education Abroad Rep, International Enrollment Management Rep, International Student and Scholar Services Rep, Community Colleges Rep, and Administrative Professionals Rep.

    • The KC Reps shall be responsible for the following duties. Duties of each KC Rep shall be decided in their first meeting of the new Leadership Team. 

      • Secretarial Duties: 

        • Take notes at the Leadership Team meetings and for preparing minutes of the meetings in a timely manner

        • Distribute the minutes to all Leadership Team members.  

        • Draft correspondence as needed on behalf of the KIE

        • Maintain the membership list

        • Maintain all records in a retrievable database that can be copied, shared, and passed to the successor  

        • If the assigned KC Rep is not able to complete the term of office, the Chair may appoint a replacement to serve the remaining term until the next reps are appointed

      • Financial Duties: 

        • Maintain the fiscal records of the KIE

        • Make a report to the general membership at the annual meeting about the KIE account income and expenses and the current balance

        • Maintain the KIE funds in a safe and secure manner so that the funds are accessible at all times by the Chair or Chair-Elect or other designated member

        • If the assigned KC Rep is not able to complete the term of office, the Chair may appoint a replacement to serve the remaining term until the next reps are appointed

      • Other Duties as Assigned

 

Voting

All actionable items and motions on which the Leadership Team must decide shall go to a vote.  To pass, a motion must carry a simple majority of the Leadership Team.  Voting may take place by voice vote. If members of the Leadership Team cannot vote in person, voting may take place by electronic mail or by other acceptable means.  The Chair-Elect shall record all voting that takes place.  

 

IV: Annual KIE Conference and Events 

Many of the duties and responsibilities of the KIE Leadership Team shall focus on the Annual State Conference. The annual State Conference is a one-day meeting that takes place in the spring of every year, usually in March or April depending on schedules of the various institutions where many KIE members are employed. The Annual State Conference may take place on the campus of one of the institutions where KIE members are employed, or in another acceptable venue. It should be made clear to the hosting institution that they will receive no profit or gratuity. The State Representative and the State Meeting Committee shall be responsible for the following details:

  • meeting venue

  • agenda

  • guest speakers 

  • meals

  • planning 

  • schedule 

  • theme

  • conference sessions

  • invitations

  • publicity

  • parking and signage

  • directions

  • other details as assigned

 

V: Treasury and Funding

Funding for KIE activities, purchases, rentals, refreshments, printing and meetings comes from the KIE treasury. All funds that the KIE needs for routine operations must be raised through charges to the membership for the annual meeting. Any member of the KIE Leadership Team may also solicit sponsorship or in-kind contributions. The KC Rep handling treasurer duties shall make appropriate arrangements for the accounting of all KIE income and expenses.  The account information will pass to the next KC Rep at the end of the annual meeting that marks the end of their two-year term in office.

 

Purchases and financial transactions may be proposed by any member(s) of the KIE Leadership Team.  All purchases and financial transactions made by KIE must be conducted by the KC Rep responsible for the treasury. The KC Rep may authorize and execute minor purchases such as supplies. Larger expenditures, such as those connected to the annual meeting, must be approved by the Chair and a majority of the Leadership Team. The KIE Chair may direct the KC Rep to make a purchase with the approval of a majority of the Leadership Team. The KC Rep’s annual report shall reference every purchase and transaction made from the KIE treasury, and shall cite the purpose and the authorization for each item listed.

 

VI: Amending and Changing the Bylaws

The KIE Bylaws may be amended or changed by the following process:

  1. Any official member of KIE, including any member of the Leadership Team, may propose a change or amendment to the Bylaws by submitting the proposed change or amendment in writing, on paper or electronically, to the Chair. 

  2. The Chair shall distribute the proposed change(s) or amendment(s) to the Leadership Team for comment and consideration.  The Chair shall allow a reasonable amount of time for review. 

  3. If a majority of the Leadership Team supports the change(s) or amendment(s), the Chair shall present the proposed change(s) or amendment(s) to the membership for approval and ratification. The KIE Chair and Chair-Elect together shall determine the best and most efficient process of voting, such as show of hands or a paper ballot at the annual meeting or by electronic means during other times of the year. In the event of an exact tie vote the Chair of KIE shall cast the deciding vote. 

  4. If the proposed change(s) or amendment(s) are ratified by the vote, the Chair shall update the Bylaws to reflect the new change(s) or amendment(s), which will go into effect immediately. 

  5. These Bylaws as written or as amended shall be in effect until such time as a majority of KIE official members votes to replace them. 

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