BYA Overview

Our History:

The Board of Young Associates was established by action of the Board of Trustees in the early 1960s. The first meeting of the “Young Associates” was held during the 1964 Homecoming.

The group of 31 all male HSU alumni, none over 40 years of age, met with Mr. C. Kenneth Hill, Jr., HSU Alumni Director, who served as temporary chairman. The Associates were welcomed by Dr. James H. Landes, HSU President, and challenged by Lee Hemphill, Development Vice President. Dr. W. B. Irvin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, installed the Board Members who then elected their permanent offices.

Four projects were outlined and proposed to the Associates: student recruitment, the promotion of western traditions at HSU, publicizing and promoting the interests of HSU, and participating in a leadership way in the 1964-65 CLASP campaign.

Since that meeting in 1964, the Young Associates have evolved into a working University Board.

The Board is now comprised of young men and women who are under the age of 40 and are three years past their graduation date. The Board is dedicated to assisting the University in recruitment, scholarships, fund raising, public relations and alumni activities.

There are two or three full meetings for the Board each year. One is held at Homecoming, another during the Spring semester, and a third during the late summer months.

In recent years the Board has become involved in assisting with student placement/career counseling and leadership development programs.

Our Purpose:

According to the by-laws, the Board of Young Associates shall exist for the purpose of assisting Hardin-Simmons University achieve its mission statement. The Board shall seek to accomplish this through:

1. Promoting the philosophy of Christian education and the application of this philosophy at Hardin-Simmons University.
2. Assisting in recruitment, fund raising and the promoting of academic excellence and student leadership.
3. Encouraging Hardin-Simmons Alumni to support and become involved in University activities.
4. Providing assistance as may be requested for projects and activities of the University, the Board of Trustees, the Board of Development, and the Alumni Association.

Current Activities:

• Faith For the Future Campaign (ended December 2002)
• Assisting with Alumni Involvement Activities
• Assisting with recruitment activities
• Providing alumni input on the University’s academic programs
• Maintaining an endowed scholarship fund
• Hosting an annual Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Leadership Assembly
• Awarding scholarships to outstanding students
• Honoring outstanding student leaders
• Holding three annual meetings: one at Homecoming, one in the Spring semester, and one during the late summer
• Assisting the University with student job placement and mentoring activities
• Assisting the University with the development of student leaders
• Raising General Operating Funds

Our Leadership:

An Executive Committee governs the Board:

• President
• President-Elect
• Three Vice-Presidents
• University Liaison (Director of Alumni Relations)
• Secretary
• Parliamentarian (appointed)
• Immediate Past President

Our Membership Requirements:

From the By-Laws: All members are required to attend not less than one out of every three regular business meetings. Attendance will be recorded at each meeting. Any member failing to meet attendance requirements shall be automatically dropped from the membership except upon motion by the Membership committee for just cause. No dues shall be charged but each member is expected to make an annual donation of any amount to the Board of Young Associates Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Endowed Scholarship.

Board membership implies a personal commitment to and dedication of:

1. Time - attending at least two or three annual board meetings;
2. Service - assisting in recruitment, public relations and fund raising efforts of the University and Board of Young Associates; and
3. Financial Resources - supporting HSU, in general, and the Board of Young Associates, specifically.

Each member is appointed to one or more committees. Committees function primarily by phone or by mail, and your assignments on those committees will probably be carried out in your own home community.

Board members serve an initial term of three years and may then renew for three-year terms until the year of their fortieth birthday. Board membership is restricted to seventy-five and, at this time, there are a limited number of positions.