NACUA Membership Policy Statement

WHEREAS, the Committee on Membership and Member Services has recommended that the current Membership Policy Statement be revised, be it

THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the following revised Membership Policy Statement, be and it hereby is, approved: 

National Association of College and University Attorneys Membership Policy Statement

Accredited, non-profit or public colleges and universities are the principal members of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). As an organization created to foster and promote higher education by advancing knowledge in the practice of law on behalf of colleges and universities, NACUA has made a conscious decision to focus on service to the fundamental unit of higher education -- accredited institutions.

With the exception of one membership category (Associate Individual Membership), individuals do not become members of NACUA. Instead they are representatives of Member Institutions (or of the nonvoting class of Associate Institutional Members). To further Institutional Membership, the By-Laws of the Association mandate that individuals participate at the highest class of membership -- that is, as representatives of institutions which qualify for membership.

The Board of Directors of NACUA has not yet established any additional requirement that a person may not be designated as a representative for an Institutional Member unless all accredited colleges and universities for which that person would qualify as counsel are also Member Institutions. Instead, the Board continues to remind institutions and lawyers alike of the institutional character of NACUA. The Board has a concomitant expectation that, in fairness to their colleagues and to all institutions, which make up the Association, attorneys will seek membership for all accredited colleges and universities which they serve.

In keeping with the institutional character of the Association, and its purpose as expressed in its Articles, Bylaws, and Mission Statement, Representatives of Member Institutions, Associate Member Institutions, Representatives of Associate Member Institutions, and Associate Individual Members are required to maintain a commonality of interest with NACUA Member Institutions, including shared values, traits and characteristics.  This includes having a bona fide interest in identifying, clarifying and resolving legal problems affecting NACUA Member Institutions and advancing the effective practice of higher education attorneys for the benefit of the colleges and universities they serve; having a bona fide interest in the higher education mission, work and purpose of NACUA Member Institutions; having a mission or purpose that is consistent with that of NACUA Member Institutions; actively undertaking work that supports higher education; not representing, during the time period when he or she is a representative or member, interests or undertaking work that is adverse to the interests of NACUA Member Institutions; and not representing, during the time period when he or she is a representative or member, any clients or claimants against an institution of higher education unless that client is itself a NACUA Member Institution.