In order to maintain an affiliation with ATPE, ATPE’s chartered local units and regions must follow guidelines approved by the ATPE Board of Directors (BOD). These standards were created with input from more than 100 local unit, region, and state leaders and were first implemented in 2014–15. The purpose of the charter standards is to promote sound business practices, transparency, financial accountability, and compliance with IRS requirements. 

Please review the standards and contact ATPE  Membership if you have any questions. You may also access the PDF here.

ATPE University Local Unit Operational Standards

Approved by the ATPE Board of Directors on May 19, 2018

For Chartered ATPE College/University Local Units  

ATPE’s Board of Directors, as authorized by the ATPE House of Delegates, has adopted a set of charter standards that define the relationships between the state entity (ATPE) and its chartered entities (local units and regions). The charter standards, known as the State- University Local Unit Charter Agreement, outline the expectations and requirements for both parties, and specifically address the operational and financial obligations an ATPE entity must agrees to follow as a condition of affiliation.

This University Local Unit Operational Standards document is an ancillary document to the ATPE State-University Local Unit Charter Agreement as approved by the ATPE Board. The operational standards listed below apply to all chartered and active ATPE college/university local units as a condition of maintaining said charter as outlined in the ATPE State-University Local Unit Charter Agreement. Standards based on IRS requirements are designated (IRS) and marked with a red arrow.

Each operational standard listed includes a short explanation of the standard, along with links to documents and/or training that will help all ATPE local units implement the standards.

Questions? Please call ATPE at 1-800-777-2873.

1. University local units must have a president and a treasurer. The president and treasurer must not be related parties, either by blood or by law (Husband/wife, brother/sister, parent/child).

   Explanation: ATPE’s local units require a committed group of volunteers to serve as local unit officers.

2. University local units must submit their annual officer list to the state office no later than September 1 each year.

   Explanation: Requiring university local units to provide updated officer lists by September 1 each year enables the state to send communications and materials to the right people. Local units that do not meet this standard will be placed on a watch list and may be deactivated.

3. University local units that adopt amendments to their local unit bylaws must submit a copy of the revised bylaws to the state office no later than two weeks following the meeting at which the amendments were adopted.

   Explanation: A local unit’s bylaws reflect the will of the members within that local unit, and they provide guidance to a local unit’s officers about how to conduct local unit business. Local units must follow the amendment process outlined in their local unit bylaws, and once an amendment is adopted, a revised set of bylaws must be sent to the state office within two weeks so that the state office can update its files. ATPE’s state office often receives calls from leaders and members with questions about officer roles, elections and governance, and having an updated set of bylaws for each local unit greatly facilitates ATPE’s ability to respond to questions that are posed.

4. University local units that expend funds through a scholarship program must have the program reviewed and approved by the state office prior to its implementation. (IRS)

   Explanation: ATPE does not prohibit its local units from using a portion of their annual revenue to fund a scholarship program. Scholarship programs properly implemented can bring welcome PR to a local unit. However, scholarship programs administered improperly can damage a local unit’s tax status, as the IRS has clear and strict rules that govern the administration of a scholarship program. Any local unit that wishes to maintain a scholarship program must have the program approved by the state office. The local unit rebate may be withheld until such time as the scholarship program is submitted for approval and deemed compliant.

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5. University local units must conduct a minimum of one official meeting per year, and must conduct an election of officers each year.

   Explanation: ATPE’s local unit bylaws stipulate that a local unit must plan for at least one meeting and one election per year. Meetings are great opportunities to address issues within the school district, identify new leaders and volunteers, and say hello to old friends – and make new ones! When and where to have the meeting, and how to conduct the election, are decisions to be made by the local unit leadership that is guided by the requirements as outlined in the local unit bylaws. Meetings can either be held as a traditional meeting or can be online or via phone conference, and elections can be conducted electronically.

6. University local units that collect membership applications must submit the applications to the state office once every two weeks in order to ensure timely processing of the applications and activation of member benefits.

   Explanation: An educator recruited to join ATPE by a local unit officer or campus representative becomes a member the moment the ATPE local unit representatives signs and dates the member’s application. That means the member can begin accessing ATPE benefits and services immediately, but their access may be limited if the state office does not have record of their membership. It’s important that all membership applications received by a local unit representative be sent to the state office within two weeks so that the memberships can be activated and members can begin utilizing ATPE’s services as quickly as possible.

7. Any member who believes that financial malfeasance may have occurred must immediately report the possible malfeasance, along with any documentation that supports the suspected malfeasance, to the state office.

   Explanation: All ATPE volunteer leaders have a fiduciary responsibility to properly spend – and account for – their members’ dues dollars. Every ATPE local unit is funded either through a rebate of members’ dues or the collection of local unit dues, and the essence of being a good fiduciary is to always remember that, as a volunteer, you are responsible for other people’s money. If a local unit or region officer or a member believes that a fiduciary responsibility has been violated, it is the member’s obligation to promptly raise their concern to the state office so that the issue can be investigated and, if necessary, addressed.