Constitution of the Harvey Mudd College Alumni Association

Article I: Name

This organization shall be known as The Harvey Mudd College Alumni Association. (The word alumni as used hereinafter shall be understood to include both men and women.)

Article II: Membership


The membership in this Association shall include:

  1. Alumni of the College, defined as those persons who:
    a. have received a degree from Harvey Mudd College, or
    b. have completed one semester at the College, whose class has graduated, and upon application have been granted membership by the Board of Governors of the Alumni Association, or
    c. were considered to be alumni at the time of ratification of this constitution.
  2. Such persons as the Board of Governors may wish to grant honorary membership.

Article III: Purposes and Powers

The purposes and powers of this Association shall be:

  1. to promote the welfare of the College;
  2. to coordinate alumni activities;
  3. to direct the Alumni Fundd, and to approve any general solicitation from alumni of funds for alumni purposes;
  4. to supervise the nomination and election of alumni representatives to other organizations;
  5. to establish and operate central office facilities as may be deemed necessary.

Article IV: Board of Governors1

  1. There shall be a Board of Governors which shall manage the affairs of this Association.
  2. The Board of Governors shall consist of twenty-one alumni.
  3. No more than five members of the Board of Governors shall be from the same graduating class.
  4. A quorum for a meeting of the Board of Governors shall consist of a majority of its membership.
  5. Meetings of the Board of Governors shall be held at least annually, and all meetings shall be open to members of the Alumni Association.
  6. A member of the Board of Governors shall be elected for a term of three years and until the election of his successor. However at the first election following ratification of this constitution, one-third of the Governors shall be elected for a term of one year, and one-third shall be elected for a term of two years.
  7. Terms of office shall begin on July 1st
  8. Any vacancy in the Board may be filled by the Board or by a majority of the remaining Governors although less than a quorum. A vacancy arising prior to the expiration of term may be filled only for the unexpired portion of the term.
  9. In the event that any member of Board of Governors is unable to attend a meeting he/she may appoint any member of the Alumni Association to act in his/her place. Appointment must be in writing to the President of the Alumni Association. No member attending a meeting of the Board of Governors may hold more than one vote.

Article V: Election of Governors2

  1. Candidates for Governors shall be selected by a nominating Committee made up of the Governors whose terms are not expiring. Candidates may also be nominated by written petition of five or more alumni. Petitions must be received by the Secretary by April 1st. The nominating committee for the first election following ratification of this constitution shall be appointed by the Temporary Chair of the Alumni Association.
  2. Election of Governors shall be by ballot. Ballots will be made available by May 1st and must be received by the Secretary with thirty days to qualify.
  3. The elected Governors for the pending vacancies shall be the candidates who have received the highest number of votes cast, subject to the restrictions of Article IV Section 3, above. Ties shall be resolved by the nominating committee.

Article VI: Officers

  1. The officers of the Association shall include President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. They shall be elected annually by the Board of Governors from among its membership.
  2. The Board of Governors shall have the authority to create and fill other offices.
  3. The term of office for all officers shall be for one year or until successors are elected.
  4. The officers of the Alumni Association shall serve respectively as the officers of the Board of Governors.

Article VII: Finances

The funds of this Association shall be under the supervision of the Board of Governors.

Article VIII: By-laws

The Board of Governors may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this constitution and may amend or rescind same.

Article IX: Amendments3

  1. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed through any member of the Board of Governors and upon approval by that body shall be submitted to the alumni for action. Amendments must be submitted to the alumni for action on or before the next scheduled ballot for election of Governors upon written petition of twenty-five or more alumni. Petitions must be received by the Secretary by April 1st.
  2. Voting for amendments shall be by ballot. Ballots must be received by the Secretary within thirty days of the ballot’s availability to qualify.
  3. Adoption of any amendment shall require at least a two-thirds of the ballots returned or a majority of the Association members.

Article X: Ratification

  1. Voting for ratification of this constitution shall be by mail ballot. Ballots must be returned to the Alumni Office by June 30, 1965 to qualify.
  2. This constitution shall take effect when ratified by at least two-thirds of the ballots returned, or a majority of the Association members.

1 Article IV was amended with the addition of section 9 in 1968.

2 Article V.2 was amended as found in the current text in March 2006.

3 Article IX.2 was amended as found in the current text March 2006.