CEU Alumni & Friends Association

CONSTITUTION

Preamble
We, the alumni of Central European University, adopt this Constitution
in order to establish and guide the CEU Alumni & Friends Association.

CONTENTS

ARTICLE I – NAME
ARTICLE II – GENERAL STRUCTURE & DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE III - MISSION
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE V – THE CEU ALUMNI COUNCIL
ARTICLE VI – THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
ARTICLE VII – SPECIAL COMMITTEES
ARTICLE VIII – ALUMNI CHAPTERS
ARTICLE IX – ADOPTION & AMENDMENTS

ARTICLE I – NAME
The association shall be known as the CEU Alumni & Friends Association
(hereinafter referred to as the CEU-AFA).

ARTICLE II – GENERAL STRUCTURE & DEFINITIONS

The CEU-AFA shall operate as a network of local alumni chapters and individual
alumni. The CEU-AFA shall have a four-tier structure consisting of the following
bodies:
a.) Alumni Council: the highest decision-making body of the CEU-AFA;
b.) Executive Board: the executive body of the CEU-AFA;
c.) special committees: working groups formed by the Alumni Council to take
responsibility for specific activities of the Association;
d.) chapters: local groups of CEU alumni.

ARTICLE III – MISSION

The Association shall serve to establish and enhance a mutually beneficial, enduring
relationship among alumni, and between alumni and the University. The Association
shall promote the CEU’s values and mission. More specific goals shall be as follows:

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 a.) Networking
The CEU-AFA shall support networking among individual alumni and alumni
chapters, and between the alumni and the University, helping them all to enhance
the interests of alumni and the wider University community.

b.) Recruitment
The CEU-AFA shall assist in the University-led recruitment process, for instance
by promoting and distributing admissions material, organizing information
sessions at local universities or organizing pre-departure orientations, in
accordance with CEU’s policies concerning recruitment.

c.) Publicity & Communications

The CEU-AFA shall utilize the Internet and other media channels to enhance
communication and effectively fulfill its mission. All communications published
by the CEU-AFA and its chapters, whether in print or electronically, shall carry a
standard disclaimer clarifying that the opinions expressed are not necessarily those
of CEU.

d.) Services & Benefits

CEU-AFA members shall be eligible for a wide range of services and benefits,
which shall promote communication, networking, continuing education, and
recreation in the alumni community. These services shall be provided by the
University and/or local alumni chapters. The Alumni Affairs Office (AAO) shall
publish an annual portfolio outlining benefits and services.

e.) Career Exploration

The CEU-AFA shall assist its members in career development and placement.
The CEU-AFA, the AAO, and the Student Advising Center shall jointly
administer the Alumni Mentor Program, providing both ad hoc career consulting
services and mentoring.

f.) Fundraising & Community Service

If approved by the University or upon University’s request, fundraising projects
may be initiated to serve the interest of the University community. These projects
may be campaigns or fundraising events for scholarships, awards, or other
legitimate purposes. In accordance with the mission of CEU, the Association may
also offer community service coordinated by local alumni chapters.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Types of Membership

a.) Regular Members: alumni. Any CEU graduate* is by definition an alumnus/
alumna, and is eligible for benefits offered by the CEU-AFA.
b.) Associate Members: former CEU students who have not graduated from the
University, as well as individuals or friends willing to support the Association and
act in accordance with its mission.

*
CEU students that fulfilled all the requirements of a certificate program prior to a program was
accredited shall be regular members.

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c.) Honorary Members: other individuals whose active participation or regular
donations have resulted in major development of the Association or the
University.

Section 2. Further Aspects of Membership

The AAO shall issue CEU-AFA membership cards to eligible individuals. Local
chapters’ membership policies (if any) may differ from those of the Association, but
shall by no means contradict or limit the membership criteria or members’ rights and
privileges stated in Section 1 of this Article.

Section 3. Nominations
The Alumni Council shall award Honorary Member status upon recommendation by
alumni chapters. The Executive Board may approve Associate Membership status
upon request of the Applicant.

ARTICLE V – THE CEU ALUMNI COUNCIL

Section 1. Purpose
The CEU Alumni Council shall be the highest decision-making body of the CEU-
AFA and shall be empowered to undertake and regulate any action on behalf of the
Association. It shall have all power necessary and consistent with this Constitution to
carry out its activities and those of the Association. The Council may amend this
Constitution, adopt its own standing rules of procedure, select members of the
Executive Board and special committees consistent with this Constitution.

Section 2. Composition
The CEU Alumni Council shall be composed of the following voting and non-voting
members:

a.) voting members

i) one representative of each local alumni chapter, who shall be a regular
member of the CEU-AFA;
ii) the CEU Alumni Affairs Officer; and

b.) non-voting members

i) chairs of committees;
ii) CEU Vice President, or his/her designee;
iii) a representative of the CEU Student Council;
iv) a representative of the faculty, nominated by the CEU Rectorate.

In addition, the Council shall have the right to co-opt further individuals as non-
voting members, including but not limited to alumni volunteers and contact
persons not represented by a chapter.

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Section 3. Meetings
The Alumni Council shall determine the dates of its meetings. At least one meeting
shall be held each year (Regular Annual Meeting). Extraordinary meetings of the
Council may be called upon the written request of the Executive Board or at least half
the voting members of the Council. Virtual meetings or teleconferencing may be used
when appropriate. The Council shall maintain minutes of its meetings, and these
minutes shall be available to all CEU-AFA members upon request.

Section 4. Voting Procedure

A quorum of the Alumni Council shall consist of half the voting members, plus one.
Council decisions shall require a simple majority of voting members present, except
as specified in Article IX.

Section 5. Terms of Service

The members of the Council, as provided in Section 2 of this Article, shall serve one-
year renewable terms, beginning with the first regular annual meeting of the Council.
Apart from ex officio members, Council members may not serve more than three
consecutive terms. First inaugural meeting of the Council shall be convened by the
AAO and based upon the list of local alumni groups and contact individuals registered
with the AAO.

ARTICLE VI – THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. Purpose
The Executive Board elected by the Alumni Council shall be responsible for the co-
ordination and management of the Association’s day-to-day activities, and shall report
to the Alumni Council.

Section 2. Composition and Voting

There shall be five Board members. Four shall be Council voting members, of whom
at least one shall be resident in Budapest, and the fifth shall be the Alumni Affairs
Officer ex officio. The members of the Board shall be elected annually by the Alumni
Council upon consultation with CEU. A quorum of five shall be required to make
decisions; voting shall be by simple majority.

Section 3. Correspondence
Each alumnus/alumna may contact the Board in writing, and the Board must consider,
and respond to, this correspondence within reasonable time.

ARTICLE VII – SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Section 1. Purpose
For the purpose of effective planning and implementation of CEU-AFA programs, the
Alumni Council may form committees, which may include but need not be limited to
those listed in Section 2. Each committee shall report to the Executive Board.
Committee membership shall be open to all members of the CEU-AFA.

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Section 2. Structure

a.) Recruitment & Admissions Committee

This committee shall assist the University to implement its recruitment and
admission policy.

b.) Publications & Public Relations Committee

This committee shall assist the University to evaluate its editorial policy and
content of alumni publications. It shall also be responsible for maintaining and
updating the CEU-AFA’s web resources.

c.) Career Network Committee

This committee shall be responsible for implementing the Alumni Mentor
Program and other career-related programs for current students and alumni.

d.) Development & Fundraising Committee

This committee shall help to promote University-led development activities,
and coordinate alumni fundraising drives.

e.) Reunions & Events Committee

This committee shall plan and coordinate reunions and other major alumni
events.

ARTICLE VIII – ALUMNI CHAPTERS

Section 1. Purpose
Chapters are self-organizing local alumni communities. Alumni groups provide a
structured vehicle through which alumni foster links among themselves and with the
University. The chapter network allows the University to extend its visibility and
influence beyond campus.

Section 2. Chapter Establishment & Maintenance

Chapters may have different goals and aims, but these goals and aims shall be
consistent with the mission and principles of the CEU-AFA stated in this
Constitution. The Alumni Council shall recognize an alumni group as a CEU-AFA
chapter on the basis of the following criteria:
a.) a sufficient number of graduates in the area to form a chapter, as determined by
the Alumni Council;
b.) a core group of willing individuals who shall take the organizational initiative and
help sustain it;
c.) at least one annual reunion and regular networking activities;
d.) participation in any of the following University-led activities: fundraising,
recruitment, public relations, and other activities aimed at the enhancement and
support of the University.
The Council must provide reasons for its decisions and suggest alternatives should it
find a chapter’s establishment or continuation unviable. A negative decision shall not
preclude an alumni group from reapplying.

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ARTICLE IX – ADOPTION & AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Adoption
This Constitution shall come into effect upon review and approval of the CEU
Planning & Budget Committee and upon approval by a simple majority of all CEU
alumni voting in a referendum.

Section 2. Amendments
Any member of the Alumni Council may propose amendments to this Constitution.
The Alumni Council may amend this Constitution by a three-fourths majority vote of
voting members present at the Regular Annual Meeting of the Council, provided that
a written copy of the proposed amendment is endorsed by the CEU Planning &
Budget Committee and submitted to the members of the Council at least one month
before voting.