Operating Standards

Columbus State University Athletic Hall of Fame
Revised October 2001

  1. MISSION STATEMENT:

The Columbus State University Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1995 to honor and memorialize those participants in athletics who have made a major contribution, individually, in at least one major sport and have helped to bring recognition and prominence to the University. The persons eligible for membership include Lettermen/Athletes at Columbus State, Coaches and others who may not have been athletes but who have made major contributions to the College through personal time, effort and interest. The controlling objective is to return honor, enshrine memory and encourage a strong and continuing bond between the selectees, their families and the University.

  1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
    1. The Board of Directors of the Columbus State University Athletic Hall of Fame shall consist of fifteen members.
    2. Each Director shall be elected for a term of three years and terms shall be arranged such that five new members shall be elected each year by returning members to replace those rotating off of the Board of Directors.
    3. The Executive Committee shall be composed of duly elected Officers, four in number, who shall select one other member such that a third of the members shall comprise the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the day to day operation of the Organization and for accounting and reporting. Executive Committee members shall be ex-officio members of all standing committees. Additionally, the Executive Committee. members shall select Chairmen for standing committee service from among themselves with the actual committee membership to be filled at the first meeting of each year.
    4. Director Terms of service shall begin on July 1 of each year. Elections shall be held at a special meeting on the third Monday in March, or as close thereto as may be practicable. Voting for directors shall be so conducted by secret ballot. Officers for the coming term shall be elected at the same proceeding.
    5. The composition of the Board of Directors should resemble, as closely as possible, the following:
      1. Athletic Director
      2. Hall of Fame Designated Members.
      3. Faculty Member.
      4. Director of Alumni Affairs.
      5. Director of the Columbus State University Athletic Fund.
      6. Representative of the Athletic Committee.
      7. Five Alumni selected, as nearly as possible, from the past five decades.
      8. Sports Information Director.
      9. Emeritus Personnel.
      10. University Administrator
        1. should be the President or his designated representative provided such be a Vice President or Dean level appointee.
  2. SELECTION CRITERIA:
    The following classifications of prospective selectees shall obtain:
    1. Letterman/Athletes who participated and helped bring recognition and prominence to the University as an undergraduate.
    2. Coaches, Athletic Officials, Staff Members, other University Officials and individuals who have made major contribution to the University Athletic Program, though not necessarily as Lettermen/Athletes, through a commitment of personal time, effort and interest.
  3. NOMINATIONS:
    1. The Secretary will receive nominations of persons for election into the Hall of Fame. Such nominations shall be written on a form provided for that purpose, must be received by the Secretary by November 30 of each year and shall be kept secret, except that copies of nomination f orms submitted shall be sent to each member of the Board of Directors.
    2. AnyLettermen/Athlete, Coach, Athletic Official, Staff Member or other University Official must be at least five years removed from the institution in connection with the service for which he or she has received nomination in order to be eligible for induction.
    3. From time to time certain individuals shall be nominated for posthumous induction and, in that event, the five year limitation shall not serve as a bar to their induction in any term following their death.
    4. A separate classification shall be designated as CONTRIBUTOR.Persons may be considered membership into the Columbus State University Athletic Hall of Fame based on their non-direct athletic efforts and/or service to Columbus State University which significantly and positively affects athletics or advances or makes more meaningful the athletic experience for direct participants. This provision shall not be construed to memorialize and honor mere financial contribution in this fashion nor shall it operate to exclude such generosity as a factor in examination of a nominee's credentials when viewed as a whole.

                 V.            VOTING:
The Board of Directors shall meet prior to December 15 of each year to vote on nominees for that year. The following regulations respecting voting shall obtain:

A.     A maximum of (four) nominees shall be selected from a ballot containing the names of all persons nominated that year together with the names on nominees from the two prior years who were not elected.

B.     To be eligible to vote, a Board member must be in good standing. Board members with irremedial attendance conflicts may vote by preparing and signing an original ballot and submitting it to the president prior to the meeting. There shall be no proxy voting.

C.     Directors shall vote, from the schedule of nominees, for up to four individuals of their preference.

D.    Voting shall be accomplished by secret ballot.

E.     To be elected, a nominee must receive a number of votes equal to or greater than the majority (50%) of board members who are voting.

F.      In the event of a tie, there shall be a revote for nominees involved in the tie until the tie is broken.

G.    A quorum shall be considered as eight (8) voting directors present and voting. No election shall take place absent a quorum of directors in attendance.

H.     Posthumous nominees and individuals nominated as contributors shall be considered as any other prospective member for voting purposes.

  1. AWARDS:
    1. A prospective inductee shall be notified of his or her selection by the Chairman of the Board of Directors via formal communication specifying the date and time of the induction ceremony.
    2. Each inductee shall receive a Hall of Fame ring and a individual plaque commemorating their selection.
    3. A plaque identical to that awarded to the individual shall be displayed in the Athletic Hall of Fame.
  2. HALL OF FAME CEREMONY:
    1. The Hall of Fame Ceremony shall be conducted at a designated time in conjunction with a University function calculated to attract a substantial alumni attendance.
    2. The ceremony shall be of the nature of a banquet or Program/Reception or other such event appropriate to the dignity and prestige of the occasion.
    3. Prospective inductees and their spouses/dates shall be invited as paid attendees.
    4. An invitation shall be sent to all previous inductees together with such other persons as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
    5. An appropriate press release will be prepared for publication on the day following the induction ceremony.
  3. AMENDMENTS:
    The above stated standards shall be incorporated by reference into the Bylaws of the Organization. They may from time to time be amended to reflect experience, development and evolution. Should the same be desirable then a proposed amendment shall be presented to the Board of Directors by any director for discussion and approval of the same shall require a two-thirds vote. An amendment may not be voted upon at the same meeting at which it is introduced unless the same appears upon the meeting agenda and such agenda is mailed or otherwise communicated to each Board member at least one week prior to such meeting.