Constitution of Youngstown State University’s
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team
Article I. Name
Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Youngstown State
University’s Student in Free Enterprise (YSU-SIFE) Team.
Article II. Purpose
Section 1: To help provide Youngstown State University students the opportunity
to participate in Students in Free Enterprise programs and competitions – sponsored by
the international SIFE organization.
Section 2: To help YSU students become involved in service learning and servant
leadership projects in our community helping others (young and old) understand the
principles of business, entrepreneurship and free enterprise.
Section 3: To give YSU students, as either SIFE members or participants in YSUSIFE projects, with the opportunity to learn about the principles of business, free
enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Section 4: To become more active in and engaged with campus and community
activities.
Section 5: To help YSU students become active servant leaders in addressing
issues in our community.
Article III. Membership
Section 1: Membership is open to all YSU students – graduate and undergraduate
-- in good standing, regardless of major, rank, race, religion, ethnicity, gender or grade
point average.
Section 2: Members must participate in a minimum of 35-service learning hours
each semester to maintain good standing in the organization. Members not in good
standing will be removed from the organization. The executive committee will be the sole
determinant of a student’s level of participation and membership status.
Article IV. Officers and Elections
Section 1: The officers of this group shall include a President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Public Relations, and Parliamentarian.
Section 2: The executive committee of this group shall consist of the officers
listed above.
Section 3: The officers of this club shall serve a one-year term commencing June
st
1 . Vacancies caused by graduation will be appointed by majority vote of the executive
committee.
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Article V. Advisor
Section 1: The primary advisor for this group will be the Sam M. Walton Free
Enterprise Fellow who is appointed, after the faculty member submits a formal
application, by the Students in Free Enterprise international organization (Springfield,
MO).
Section 2: Additional faculty and/or staff advisors may be selected by the group to
advise. Their role will be secondary to the Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow.
Section 3: A second Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow can be appointed by
the international SIFE organization upon the recommendation of the current Walton
Fellow and approval of the student members. Any new Walton Fellow will assume her or
his duties beginning with Fall Semester.
Article VI. Meetings
Section 1: This group shall meet weekly during Fall and Spring Semesters. These
meetings are scheduled for 4:00, Wednesday afternoons beginning with the first
Wednesday of each semester.
Section 2: Additional meetings can be scheduled by the President and\or Sam M.
Walton Free Enterprise Fellow.
Section 3: A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of registered members
present at any group meeting.
Section 4: Meetings during the Summer Semester can be scheduled by the
President and\or Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow.
Article VII. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws
Section 1: Amendments to the constitution and/or bylaws must be submitted in
writing to the President and Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow one week prior to
consideration by the group.
Section 2: These amendments will be discussed at the next regular scheduled
meeting of the group.
Section 3: All amendments require a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum present
at the meeting for passage.
Article VIII. Officer duties and Responsibilities
The Executive Committee will meet during the summer to plan and prepare for
the upcoming academic year and conduct appropriate projects as needed. These meetings
can be scheduled by the President and\or Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow.
Section 1: President
A. Conducts all meetings of the group.
B. Serves as the official spokesperson for the group.
C. Appoints special committees for fundraising.
D. Administers the budget with the aid of the treasurer.
E. Meets at least weekly with the advisor to review program progress.
F. Coordinates all communication with the Students in Free Enterprise
international organization.
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G. Is familiar with all deadlines for competing in SIFE programs (regular
and special competitions). Will make sure associated deadlines are
met.
H. Serves as the liaison with the group’s business advisory board.
I. Other duties needed by the group or Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise
Fellow.
J. Assigns duties to other members of the group as necessary.
Section 2: Vice President
A. Assumes the role of the President in his or her absence.
B. Assists the president in all necessary areas.
C. Coordinates all plans for travel to regional and national competitions.
D. Coordinates special projects of the group.
E. Serves as the liaison with Student Government.
Section 3: Secretary
A. Records business of all group meetings. Prepares copies of minutes
and gives a copy to the president and advisor within 3 calendar days of
a group meeting (may be posted on the website).
B. Knows the rules and regulations for student organizations at YSU.
C. Makes sure all members are registered with SIFE (via on-line
registration).
D. Meets with the President before each meeting to prepare an agenda.
Prepares a typed agenda for each meeting to be presented to the Sam
M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow.
E. Helps the Vice President with special projects.
F. Prepares correspondence from the group. Receives Sam M. Walton
Free Enterprise Fellow’s approval before sending any correspondence.
Seeks assistance from other members to prepare and send
correspondence.
G. Prepares a new membership directory each term.
H. Takes attendance at each meeting.
I. Makes sure all paper work (registration, etc.) is submitted to SIFE
(Springfield, MO) prior to all competition deadlines.
J. Prepares a newsletter each semester for distribution.
Section 4: Treasurer
A. Maintains all financial records of the group (currently the Associated
School Employees Credit Union at YSU).
B. Collects dues and any special assessments from each of the members.
C. Submits a financial report to the President and Sam M. Walton Free
Enterprise Fellow at each meeting.
D. Familiar with the YSU Student Organization Funding Regulations.
E. Prepares all travel vouchers for travel to regional, national and
international competitions. Submits travel vouchers to appropriate
offices on campus in a timely manner. Collects all receipts and submits
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the completed travel voucher within 5-calendar days upon return for
reimbursement.
F. Determines any financial assessments needed by the group and make
recommendations to the President about the need for and amount of
any assessment.
G. Makes sure all bills received by the group are approved for payment
by the President and Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow and are
paid on time.
Section 5: Director of Public Relations
A. Coordinates all communication with the media through University
Relations.
B. Chairs the Public Relations Committee.
C. Designs a Public Relations Plan annually.
D. Communicates with the University Relations of the international SIFE
organization.
E. Assures all projects conducted by YSU-SIFE receive proper media
attention – both print and broadcast.
Section 6: Parliamentarian
A. Guarantees the group follows Roberts Rule of Order.
Article IX: Campus Affiliation
The YSU-SIFE team will forever more be affiliated with and sponsored by the
Department of Communication and Theater in the College of Fine and Performing Arts
until such time as the department disbands or the Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow
works in a different department at Youngstown State University.
Article X: Equal Opportunity
The YSU-SIFE team will follow all policies in effect at Youngstown State
University and all laws of the City of Youngstown, the State of Ohio, and the United
States government regarding equal opportunity and harassment of any kind.
Article XI: Order of Meetings
YSU-SIFE meetings are conducted using Roberts Rule of Order.