The New Mexico AACTE Teacher Education Deans/Directors Group Charter

09/12/07 Draft
7/22/08 Revised and Approved

Description – The New Mexico American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education   (AACTE) Deans/Directors Group is the state affiliate to the national AACTE organization. “The Dean’s Group” is a common reference to this organization.

Rationale – Teacher education in New Mexico has various regulatory expectations and is called upon to maintain conversations concerning the education profession. The Dean’s Group chooses to have an active voice with such bodies as the NM Public Education Department (NMPED), NM Higher Education Department (NMHED), NM legislative bodies such as the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) and Legislative Finance Committee (LFC), Office of Educational Accountability (OEA), the Council of University Presidents (CUP), and various other important educational organizations including the National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Membership – Membership of the Dean’s Group includes all deans, directors, or coordinators that represent institutions with programs approved by the NMPED. This approval pertains to all initial or advanced licensure programs. Alternative licensure as well as programs for the continuing education and professional development of educators is included. An institution does not have to belong to the national AACTE organization.

Voting – Each program is responsible for a delegate to be present at all regular or special meetings. A proxy may be used with the attendance of a designee or by written notification to the chair.  There is one vote per membership institution.

Officers – Every three years the body elects a chair and co-chair. The chair is a representative of the public four year institutions and the co-chair is a representative of the public 2 year institutions. The intent of the group’s leadership is to present a unified, progressive, and responsive voice to the various regulatory bodies and interested constituents.

Duties

• The officers schedule meetings, set the agenda, coordinate communications, and may delegate functions of the group to any member.
• The officers may select a member to be the recording secretary.
• The officers are expected to manage the group’s website from their institution, collect and manage annual dues, reimburse host sites, and maintain a current list serve and directory of members and friends.   

Annual Meeting – Every year the group shall meet to confirm officers, submit an annual report, and revise a strategic/operational plan for the coming year.  This meeting shall occur in conjunction with the Center for Teaching Excellence’s (CTE) annual June conference in Taos. The group also intends to support the CTE’s efforts at supporting a representative cohort of higher education action research participants at the conference.

Dues – There are no dues per se. However, host institutions for meetings are asked to provide refreshments and lunch if possible. Meetings around the central part of the state are encouraged (Albuquerque and Sante Fe). Provisions of refreshments for sponsoring institutions offset the expense that others have in travel. At this time UNM, NMSU- Alb, SFCC, SFC, NMHU-Rio Rancho, U of P, NMPED, and LESC have supported our meetings.