Sample Student Organization Constitution 2013-2014
Sample Student Organization Constitution
Constitution Signature Page
________________________________________________ __________________
Primary Student Contact (list title here)
Date
________________________________________________ __________________
Primary Advisor
Date
________________________________________________ __________________
Assistant Director of Student Life
Date
________________________________________________ __________________
Director of Student Life
Date
________________________________________________ __________________
Dean of Student Development
Date
1
Sample Student Organization Constitution 2013-2014
Article I: Name
The name of the organization is the ______________________________________.
Article II: Objective, Aims, or Purpose
It shall be the purpose of ______________________________________________
(name) to
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.
Article III: Membership and Eligibility Criteria
Section A: Membership is open to any enrolled Collin student who*:
*Note: Include any specifications here including course completion requirements,
enrollment in a designated academic program, minimum cumulative GPA requirements,
or enrollment in a specified number of credit hours here.
1. __________________________________________________________________.
2. __________________________________________________________________.
3. __________________________________________________________________.
Section B: Dues and collection procedures (if any)
1. The fiscal year of the organization, shall be from ______________ (month and date)
to _______________ (month and date).
2. The amount of annual dues shall be determined each year by _________________.
Note: The organization may have the executive board or general membership set and
approve annual dues.
3. Dues shall not exceed $________________ per year.
Note: The disbursement of dues shall not be based on race, color, gender, age, national
origin, disability, or veteran status.
Section C: Collin College Core Values
All members of the organization agree to uphold Collin College’s Core
Values. We have a passion for: Learning, Service and Involvement,
Creativity and Innovation, Academic Excellence, Dignity and Respect, and
Integrity.
Article IV: Voting
Section A: A quorum shall be ___________________________________________.
Note: Each organization must include the minimum number of officers and members
needed to conduct business at a meeting.
Section B: Each member in good standing may vote.
2
Sample Student Organization Constitution 2013-2014
Section C: Proxy voting is allowed by the following process:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.
Section D: Funds
All expenditures should be presented for approval to either the Executive
Board or General Members. Minutes should reflect the voting results.
Article V: Officers
Section A: The (name of organization) ________________ shall have a President,
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Advisor(s). These officers and advisors
comprise the executive committee or board.
Note: These titles may vary for each organization. Some Student Organizations may
choose to have team leaders of equal standing and operate on a consensus model rather
than having officers.
Section B: All officers must be members of ____________________ (name of
group) in good standing academically and with the Dean of Students Office.
Officers must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0* GPA and maintain a minimum
of six (6)* credit hours each fall and spring semester.
*Note: organizations may require higher standards.
Section C: The term of office shall be from ___________________ (month/date) to
___________________ (month/date).
Note: Each organization should consider the maximum number of terms that an officer
may serve in a particular position (e.g. two years).
Section D: Election of officers is held annually during the month of
__________________. Explain nomination and election procedures.
Possible Wording: Nominations are initiated from the floor. There will be seven days (7)
days between the close of nominations and the election. Elections will take place by
secret ballot at a general meeting. The person receiving a simple majority of the votes
will be elected to that office.
Section E: Any officer may be removed by ____________________ (procedure).
Include how member can appeal the ruling.
Possible Wording: Any officer can be removed by a two-thirds vote of the executive
board for not fulfilling their duties or for violating college policies and procedures. Any
officer removed may appeal this ruling to the general membership. Said officer shall be
reinstated with two-thirds approval of the general membership present at the next general
meeting.
Section F: Any officer vacancy shall be filled by ___________________.
Possible Wording: Any officer vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the executive
board pending ratification at the next general business meeting.
3
Sample Student Organization Constitution 2013-2014
Article VI: Officer Duties
Note: There are many ways to organize officer duties. Each organization must determine
officer titles and division of labor. A list of sample officer positions and their duties are
listed below.
Section A: The President will:
1. Act as the Primary Student Contact.
2. Preside over all executive and general meetings.
3. Appoint all committee chairpersons.
4. Direct the budget with the approval and support of the executive board.
5. Coordinate the appointment of all executive board vacancies with the approval of
the executive board and general membership.
Section B: The Vice President will:
1. Preside as the parliamentarian at all organizational meetings.
2. Assume the duties of the President in his/her absence and temporarily serve as
president if that office is vacant.
3. Have current copies of the governing documents readily available at all executive
board and general meetings.
4. Oversee committee chairpersons and be responsible for scheduling events.
5. Perform other duties as directed by the President.
Section C: The Secretary will:
1. Take minutes of all executive board and general meetings.
2. Submit copies of previous meeting minutes to the executive board and general
membership for approval.
3. Maintain a complete and accurate account of attendance, membership status,
and meeting minutes.
4. Be responsible for collecting, sorting, and answering correspondence from their
student organization mailbox located within Student Life.
5. Notify members of upcoming meetings.
6. Perform other duties as directed by the President.
Section D: The Treasurer will:
1. Keep a current record of all financial transactions.
2. Present a monthly or quarterly report to the general membership containing a list
of all deposits, receipts, and disbursements.
3. Check the accuracy of all bills and invoices; pay them correctly and on time.
4. Perform other duties as directed by the President.
Section E: The Advisor will:
1. Assist officers in executing their roles and responsibilities.
2. Approve any financial withdrawals from the organization’s agency account.
3. Ensure plans for each activity conform to college policies and procedures.
4. Provide feedback to the organization regarding its operation.
5. Serve as a mentor and resource.
6. Provide advice upon request and share knowledge, expertise, and experience
with the group.
7. Be a nonvoting member of the organization.
4
Sample Student Organization Constitution 2013-2014
Article VII: Advisor Removal
Any advisor may be removed by ____________________ (procedure). Include how
advisor can appeal the ruling.
Possible Wording: Any advisor can be removed by a two-thirds vote of the executive
board for not fulfilling their duties or for violating college policies and procedures. Any
advisor removed may appeal this ruling to the general membership. Said advisor shall
be reinstated with two-thirds approval of the general membership present at the next
general meeting.
Article VIII: Committee Structure
Section A: Committee Identification and Appointment
The following committees (other than the executive board) shall be appointed by the
President subject to ratification by the organization during a regular business meeting.
1. __________________________________________________________________.
2. __________________________________________________________________.
3. __________________________________________________________________.
Section B: The duties of the standing committees shall include _______________
(provide details of responsibilities respective to each committee).
Article IX: Meetings
Section A: The times
___________________.
for
regularly
scheduled
meetings
shall
be
Section B: At least _______________ days notice shall be given prior to each
regularly scheduled general or executive board meeting.
Section C: Special or emergency meetings may be called with no less than
_______________ hours/days notice by the executive board.
Section D: All meetings shall include a quorum, order of business, and approval
of the minutes.
Article X: Constitutional Amendments
Section A: Any member may submit an amendment to the constitution at a
general business meeting. The membership will vote on the amendment at
_______________. Possible Wording: the next general business meeting. A
_______________ Possible Wording: simple majority vote of quorum is necessary to
pass an amendment.
Section B: Once approved by the membership, the Director of Student Life and
Collin Administration must also approve the constitutional amendment prior to it
going into effect.
5
Sample Student Organization Constitution 2013-2014
Article XI: Dissolution
Section A: If _______________ (name of organization) is inactive for twenty-four
consecutive months, the group will be dissolved.
Section B: Any remaining organizational funds shall be donated to
_______________. Note: List a nonprofit entity here. Include the organization’s full
name, address, and phone number. If that non-profit organization has dissolved,
any remaining organizational funds shall be donated to _______________.
Possible Wording: the Collin Foundation, Inc. for general scholarship purposes .
XII: Parliamentary Procedure
Section A: (Example) Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall be followed by the
organization in all cases involving parliamentary procedure when it does not conflict with
the constitution.
Section B: The rules may be suspended by two-thirds vote of the membership present
at a meeting.
This sample constitution was adapted from the Student Organization Office, Student
Organization Handbook 2003-2004, University of Wisconsin Madison.
6