PRT Constitution
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be Presidents’ Round Table (PRT) of African American Community College Chief Executive Officers (CEOs).
Article II: Mission
The PRT is an affiliate of the National Council on Black American Affairs of the American Association of Community Colleges. The Round Table is designed to provide Black community college chief executive officers an operational network including:
a. identifying and responding to issues affecting Blacks in community colleges;
b. providing mentoring opportunities for Black upper-level community college administrators;
c. sharing professional resources;
d. providing information and other national and international professional opportunities for Black CEOs, and;
e. collaborating with the National Council on Black American Affairs to support its mission, goals, and objectives.
Article III: Role
In pursuit of this mission, the Presidents Round Table will:
a. monitor and review inequities in the delivery of educational services to black students, and
services provided to blacks in community college education;
b. promote the professional development and advancement of Black CEOs in community colleges;
c. provide mentoring opportunities either formally or informally for Black administrators in
community colleges;
d. establish internships, when feasible, among member institutions to provide opportunities for
practical administrative experiences;
e. share published and unpublished materials such as speeches, statistical data, research findings
and other documents to assist members in their professional responsibilities;
f. develop, update, and disseminate a list of Black CEOs who are available to serve as resource
persons to higher education entities, businesses, other institutions or nations;
g. plan and hold a minimum of two meetings annually, one meeting in conjunction with the AACC
convention and the other at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Board; and
h. seek funding for general support and special projects as agreed to by the Presidents Round Table.
PRT Constitution & By-Laws
Amended and approved by full PRT membership 06-2024
Article IV: Membership
Membership in the Presidents Round Table shall be open to all current and retired Black CEOs of
colleges or universities that offer associate’s degrees as part of its mission, including chancellors,
presidents, vice chancellors, campus provosts, vice presidents, and executive deans in charge of a
campus reporting to a CEO. A membership year is July 1 to June 30.
Section 1. Institutional Membership: Any community or technical college with a Black chief executive
officer Includes participation of no more than three Black leaders including chancellors, presidents, vice
chancellors, campus provosts, vice presidents, and executive deans in charge of a campus reporting to
the CEO. Fee: $1,000.00.
Section 2. Individual Membership: Membership for a chancellor or president. Fee: $600.000.
Section 3. Associate Membership: Any person who is a current non-CEO: (Vice President, Vice Chancellor,
or executive dean of a campus reporting to a CEO); or retired education professional: (Former
Chancellor, President, Provost, or Vice Chancellor). Fee $200.00.
Section 4. Honorary Membership: An individual who has demonstrated exemplary service and
commitment to the goals of the organization as identified by the Executive Board. The PRT Executive
Board reserves the right to bestow recognition upon a person who is or has been associated with PRT
providing substantially to PRT’s growth and development and has made a significant contribution to
community college education in the U.S. The PRT Board may elect up to two individuals each year.
Announcement of any Honorary Members will be made during the Spring PRT Board meeting. No Fee.
Section 5. Lifetime: An individual who is not directly associated with a college/district in a paid capacity,
has demonstrated exemplary service and commitment to the goals of the PRT as identified by the
Executive Board and has been an active (paid) PRT member for a minimum of ten years. The PRT
Executive Board reserves the right to accept Lifetime Memberships per the specified criteria as
determined by the membership and noted on the membership application. No Fee.
Article V: Officers
Section 1. Officers of the Presidents Round Table will be the Convener, Vice Convener, Immediate Past
Convener, Secretary, Treasurer, Dean of the Lakin Institute, Dean of the Men of Color Student Leadership
Institute, Membership Chair/PRT Directory Coordinator, and an ex officio member of the Lakin Institute.
In the event the Convener decides to resign from their role with the PRT Executive Board or retires from
a CEO role, within ninety days there shall be an election for a new Convener. The Vice Convener shall
assume the role of the Convener until the new Convener is elected. If the Vice Convener is a candidate
for the permanent Convener position, then the Secretary or the Secretary designee shall chair the
nomination committee.
Section 2. Executive Board – All officers shall comprise this board.
Article VI: Elections And Terms Of Office
Section 1. – The Officers of the Presidents Round Table shall be elected biennially by majority vote of those
members who choose to vote by an authorized electronic means, with the results announced, at the
spring meeting. The term of office shall be two years, in staggered years, beginning on July 1 with an
option to renew after two years. . Any officer may be removed under the guidelines consistent with the
accepted Robert’s Rules of Order.
Article VII: Functions Of The Presidents’ Round Table (Prt)
Section 1. – The Presidents Round Table represents Black members in community colleges and shall serve
as their official voice on matters pertaining to the interest and promotion of Blacks in community
colleges.
The Presidents Round Table will perform the following key functions:
a. develop, sponsor, assist and coordinate workshops, forums, conferences and all other
educational and legislative arenas that focus on the success of Blacks in community colleges;
b. maintain regular communication with its members and constituencies through mechanisms that
will keep the membership, and the communities informed about current affairs, activities, public
policy and all other information that is pertinent to the role and condition of Blacks within those
institutions; and
c. pursue and develop coalitions with those organizations, groups or agencies that can aid in the
promotion of the purpose and goals of the organization.
Section 2. The enumerated functions of the PRT (Sections 1 a-d) do not restrict the organization from
pursuing all other paths/functions that will move the organization more efficiently toward its
fulfillment of its purpose and the completion of its goals.
Article VIII: Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the Presidents Round Table by
the Executive board.
Section 2. An amendment is considered adopted if it receives at least two-thirds of the votes cast by the membership in attendance at the annual meeting or any special meeting called by the Convener.
Article IX: Ratification Of The Constitution
Section 1: The organization, the Presidents’ Round Table of Black Community College Chief
Executive Officers, is officially authorized when a majority of the membership voting at each
meeting approves adoption of this charter.
Article I: DUES
Section 1. The dues are to be paid annually, starting with the fiscal year, July 1 of every year. The Treasurer shall notify each institution of the yearly assessment prior to May 1 of each year. The CEO of each member organization shall submit the dues to the Treasurer no later than the next fiscal year starting with July 1.
Section 2: Descriptions of and Fee Structure for Institutes:
a. Lakin Institute = A national initiative designed to provide a personal & professional development experience for aspiring community college presidents. Fee will be determined annually.
b. Men of Color Student Leadership Institute = A national initiative focused on improving academic & professional outcomes of Black male community college students. Fee will be determined
annually.
Descriptions of Memberships & Categories:
Individual Membership = Opportunity for each PRT member to personally support the Presidents’ Round Table at one of the four levels.
Institutional Membership = Required of ALL current CEOs, including Chancellors, Presidents, and Provosts
Corporate Membership = Business and Industry leaders
Associate Membership = Retired CEOs including Former Chancellors, Presidents, Provosts, Vice-Chancellors, and Vice Presidents
Lakin Institute = A personal & professional development experience for aspiring community college presidents
AAMI = A national initiative focused on improving academic & professional outcomes of African-American male community college students
Lifetime Membership = An individual not directly associated with a college/district in a paid capacity, has demonstrated exemplary service and commitment to PRT and has been an ACTIVE (paid) PRT member (individual or institutional) for a minimum of 5 years. It requires PRT Board approval.
Honorary Membership = Demonstrated exemplary service and commitment to the goals of PRT. It requires PRT Board approval. The PRT Board may elect up to two individuals each year. Announcements of any Honorary members will be made during the Spring PRT Board meeting.
Section 2. – The Treasurer of the PRT shall notify each institution of the yearly assessment before May 1 of each year. The CEO of each member organization shall submit the dues to the Treasurer no later than the next fiscal year, starting with July 1.
PRT Constitution & By-Laws – Amended and approved by full PRT membership 10-2011.
Article II: Duties Of Officers And The Executive Board
Section 1. The Convener shall perform the following duties.
a. Preside at all meetings of the Executive Board;
b. Participate in all discussions and vote on all matters;
c. Appoint or provide for the election of all Executive Board members and committee assignments;
d. Call to order all regular and special meetings as required;
e. Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or by action of the Executive Board or the
organization membership;
f. Communicate regularly with the membership at large;
g. Ensure support for the planning and implementation of the Lakin Institute and MOCSLI; and
Section 2: The Vice Convener shall perform the following duties:
a. Serve on the Executive Board and attend all Executive Board meetings;
b. Serve as the Convener in the absence of the Convener;
c. Serve as the chair of the Nominating Committee; and
d. Serve as the liaison between the Presidents Round Table and the National Council of Black
American Affairs.
Section 3. The Past Convener shall perform the following duties:
a. Serve on the Executive Board and attend all Executive Board meetings;
b. Solicit and secure outside funding to support the Lakin Institute;
c. Actively solicit CEO participation with the organization; and
d. Assist in obtaining up-to-date information on available CEO positions for distribution by the
Convener to the membership.
Section 4. The Secretary shall perform the following duties:
a. Shall record all information/decisions taken at regular and Executive Board meetings;
b. Shall distribute all minutes and communication to all Executive Board members and the
membership as a whole;
c. Participate in the selection process for Lakin Fellows; and
d. Coordinate the logistics for all meetings of the Presidents Round Table and any meals held in
conjunction with such meetings.
Section 5. The Treasurer(in collaboration with the finance committee)shall perform the following duties:
a. Be responsible for all financial accounting and reporting of the organization;
b. Collect dues for the organization;
c. Maintain the membership list of the organization; and
d. Collect registration fees, and applications for Lakin Institute participants and forward to Institute
Coordinator.
Section 6. The Membership Chair/PRT Directory Coordinator shall perform the following duties:
a. Develop and implement strategies to increase membership;
b. In consultation with the Convener and Executive Board, identify and submit names for
consideration for awards;
c. Recommend to the Board future professional development programming for member CEOs; and
d. Develop and implement engagement strategies for the membership.
Section 7. Dean of the Lakin Institute shall perform the following duties.
a. Oversee and ensure appropriate implementation of all activities associated with the Lakin Institute to include, but not limited to:
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- Develop activity schedule for the Institute, including topics/presenters;
- Correspond appropriately with presenters, Fellows, and others associated with the Institute;
- Work closely with the host institution in developing the activities and Institute Program Booklet;
- Work closely with Convener to develop Lakin Institute budget; and
- Ensure that all Institute activities are conducted in a professional manner.
b. Engage as many Round Table members as participants in the planning and execution of
the Institute as possible.
c. Identify and orient the Lakin Coordinator, and provide appropriate training/materials for
a smooth transition.
d. Maintain the contact list for past and present Lakin cohorts
Section 8. The Dean of the Men of Color Student Leadership Institute shall oversee all aspects of the
Institute to include, but not limited to:
a. Develop activity schedule for the Institute, including topics/presenters;
b. Correspond appropriately with presenters, mentees, and others associated with the
Institute;
c. Work closely with the host institution in developing the activities and binder;
d. Work closely with convener to develop Men of Color Student Leadership Institute budget;
e. Ensure that all Institute activities are conducted in a professional manner;
f. Engage as many Round Table members as participants in the planning and execution of the
Institute as possible;
g. Provide a range of topics that contribute to the development and success of minority males
in higher education; and
h. Orient a successor, and provide appropriate materials for a smooth transition.
Article III: Meetings – Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall meet as established by the Convener.
Section 2. There shall be at least two meetings of the general membership body – one in the fall at the
culmination of the Lakin Institute and one in the spring at the AACC convention.
Section 3. The Convener of the organization may call additional meetings as required/needed.
Section 4. The Secretary shall report the minutes of every meeting of the Executive Board and the full
membership.
Section 5. A quorum for all meetings shall be defined consistent with Robert’s Rules of Order.
Article IV: Agendas
Section 1. The Convener shall prepare an agenda, in consultation with the Executive Board for each meeting.
Section 2. The agendas shall be distributed to the membership prior to the meeting by the Secretary.
Section 3. Items may be placed on the agenda in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.
Article V: Committees
Section 1. The Presidents Round Table shall have committees that support the implementation of the strategic plan. Unless otherwise indicated, the Convener shall appoint all chairpersons with the approval of the Executive Board and have final approval over all committee members.
Section 2. Any member may be appointed to any committee. A committee member shall serve for a period of two years, except that in the initial year of a standing committee, one-half of the committee members shall be appointed to one-year terms (note: staggered terms allow for continuity). The Convener’s appointments can be overridden by a 2/3 vote of the general membership.
Section 3. All chairpersons shall be appointed to one-year terms, with the right of reappointment. A chairperson may be recalled by the same method by which he/she was appointed.
Article VI: Fiscal Accountability
Section 1. – The treasurer shall prepare quarterly reports of the Presidents’ Round Table financial status.
Section 2. – All quarterly financial reports shall be distributed to the membership for review and publicly posted.
Section 3. – The quarterly financial report shall present any expenses and revenues, in addition to the account balance.
Article VII: Parliamentary And Legal Authority
The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and any special rules of order that the organization may adopt.
Article VIII: Amending The By-Laws
Section 1. A proposed amendment to by-laws may be presented by any member of the organization.
Section 2. The amendment to the by-laws shall be referred to the Executive Board for study and will be presented at the next general meeting.
Section 3. Adoption of the proposed amendment to the by-laws is accomplished by two-thirds of all members present and voting