University Museums in Scotland (UMIS) Constitution
Last amended: February 2025
- NAME
The name shall be University Museums in Scotland, also to be known as UMIS.
- PURPOSE
To connect Scotland’s Accredited university museums to work collaboratively and effectively, offering mutual support, sharing best practice and enabling us to maximise our impact and contribution to Scotland’s universities, culture, people and economy.
UMIS acts as the collective voice of Scotland’s university museums, advocating for the value and vital position university collections and museums hold within our institutions and the wider cultural landscape, as a significant part of Scottish life and culture and as fundamental to learning, teaching and research worldwide.
- MEMBERSHIP
UMIS is a network of the Scottish university museum services that have achieved Accreditation – the UK industry standard for museums and galleries.
Analogous institutions shall be eligible for membership at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall comprise one individual from each of the institutions represented within the membership. Each institution shall nominate a committee member or alternative to represent it and to vote if required. The committee has the power to co-opt non-voting members.
- OFFICERS
The Officers of the Executive Committee shall be the Convenor, the Treasurer and the Secretary. The Officers shall be responsible for carrying on the business between meetings, as directed by the Executive Committee. The Officers shall be elected by the Executive Committee from the membership, may hold office for three years, and shall be eligible for re-election. A cycle of elections shall be established to ensure that office bearers are elected for overlapping terms. In the absence of the Convenor, the Executive Committee shall elect a chair for that meeting from among those present.
- MEETINGS
The quorum at meetings shall be four voting members. In the event of a tied vote, the Chair of the meeting shall also have a casting vote. An Annual General Meeting shall be held, at which Officers are elected, a financial report received and considered, and amendments to this Constitution can be made. Other meetings shall be held as the need or wish arises.
- FUNDS
Funds shall be raised by levying a subscription on members or by other means. The Treasurer shall be responsible to the Executive Committee for holding, disbursing, and accounting for the funds. The Executive Committee shall determine the level of membership fees.
- DISSOLUTION
The Executive Committee shall have the power to dissolve UMIS and to dispose of any assets to an organisation or organisations with broadly similar aims.