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Constitution and Bylaws

Below you will find the official constitution and bylaws for IUSPA.  You can view each of the individual items of the constitution by clicking on the "plus" (+) signs under each article or section.  Both the constitution and bylaws are available in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF document formats.  If you need to access the latest version of Adobe Reader, visit http://get.adobe.com/reader.

Indiana University Student Personnel Association Constitution
(Revised November 2008)

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Preamble
The Indiana University Student Personnel Association shall be an organization for all graduate students or alumni of graduate programs at Indiana University interested in higher education and student affairs. The organization shall serve as the official graduate student assembly for all students in the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program. The aims and purposes of the organization shall be consistent with the philosophy of student development. The organization shall provide an educational, professional, and social base and shall encourage and enhance all facets of individual professional growth and development and advocate on behalf of the organization's members.
Article I. Name
The name of the organization shall be the Indiana University Student Personnel Association, hereinafter referred to as IUSPA.
Article II. Membership
Section 1. Full Member
All Indiana University graduate students interested in the field of student affairs, who have paid dues established in Article 1, Section 3 of the IUSPA Bylaws, shall be considered a Full Member
Section 2. Honorary Member
All tenure track and non-tenure track faculty of the department of Higher Education and Student Affairs shall be considered Honorary members.
Section 3. Alumni Member
All alumni of graduate programs at Indiana University who previously held full membership status.
Article III. Executive Board
Section 1. Voting Members
The IUSPA Executive Board voting members shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Director of Relations, Director of Programming, Directors of Outreach, Director of Professional Development, Graduate and Professional Student Organization (GPSO) Representative, and the most recently appointed IUSPA Journal Co-editor.
Section 2. Terms of Office
IUSPA Executive Board voting members will be elected in the Fall, with the exception of the Journal Co-editor who is appointed in the Fall.  All members of the Executive Board will assume office in January, with the exception of the Directors of Outreach, who will assume office immediately following their election. All elected Executive Board members shall serve a term of one (1) year. The Journal Co-editors will serve a term of one and a half years.
Section 3. Eligibility
All Executive Board members must be Full Members in good standing, in accordance with Article II, Section 1 of the IUSPA Constitution, for the length of their term.
Section 4. Advisory Members
A full-time, adjunct, or clinical faculty member of the department of Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) shall be appointed by the HESA department chair to serve as the official IUSPA advisor. This individual will serve on the Executive Board in an advisory, non-voting capacity.
Article IV. Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Board
Section 1. President
  • Shall oversee and coordinate all activities of IUSPA.
  • Shall call and preside at all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
  • Shall be responsible for the formulation of an agenda for all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
  • Shall have the ability to create ad hoc committees and appoint committee chairs to further the business of IUSPA.
  • Shall serve as representative to HESA faculty. 
  • Shall be responsible for coordinating the review of the HESA Master’s curriculum and for making recommendations to the HESA faculty.
  • Shall have the ability to appoint and coordinate the efforts of the IUSPA Webmaster.
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board and an ex-officio (non-voting) member of all other IUSPA ad hoc and standing committees.
Section 2. Vice President
  • Shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the President should the President be unable to perform his/her designated duties.
  • Shall coordinate the IUSPA Executive Board Elections each Fall.
  • Shall coordinate the IUSPA Executive Board transitions each Fall.
  • Shall coordinate the HESA hooding ceremony in May.
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board.
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
Section 3. Treasurer
  • Shall assume responsibility for all budgetary aspects of IUSPA.
  • Shall prepare the IUSPA operating budget and share it with the Executive Board at the beginning and end of each semester, and the General Assembly members as requested.
  • Shall coordinate all fundraising efforts of IUSPA, including chairing ad hoc fundraising committees.
  • Shall work with the long-term financial health of IUSPA in mind.
  • Shall establish procedures for accessing allocated funds and train the Executive Board and General Assembly membership regarding these procedures.
  • Shall oversee the collection of dues and inform the Secretary of membership.
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board.
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
Section 4. Secretary
  • Shall coordinate all IUSPA listservs.
  • Shall be responsible for notifying membership of all upcoming activities.
  • Shall keep official records of all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
  • Shall prepare minutes for all meetings and make them available to the General Assembly membership.
  • Shall serve as the IUSPA Historian and be responsible for keeping official records of all IUSPA activities, meetings, and correspondence.
  • Shall write and publish the IUSPA newsletter.
  • Shall create and maintain the official membership list of IUSPA as defined in Article II of the IUSPA Constitution.
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board.
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
Section 5. Director of Membership Relations
  • Shall serve as a liaison between new, returning, and alumni members.
  • Shall serve on the Executive Board as the official representative of all new members.
  • Shall be responsible for contacting all potential members regarding membership each fall.
  • Shall be responsible for advising and implementing the orientation and peer mentor programs.
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board.
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
Section 6. Director of Programming
  • Shall organize programs that facilitate social opportunities for the General membership
  • Shall organize at least one community service project each semester
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board.
  • Assist with social and community service aspects of major IUSPA events (Hooding, Orientation, and Outreach)
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
Section 7. Directors of Outreach
  • Shall coordinate the Outreach Program, including serving as chairs of the Outreach Committee.
  • Shall assist the HESA Master’s Program in the coordination of admissions and recruitment activities for Outreach weekends.
  • Oversee all aspects of the Outreach program, including sub-committee work and budget management
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board.
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
Section 8. Director of Professional Development
  • Shall coordinate all Professional Development activities of IUSPA, including chairing ad hoc professional development committees.
  • Compile professional development information and distribute to members through IUSPA publications and the IUSPA website.
  • Shall facilitate attendance of members at regional and national conferences.
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board.
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
Section 9. IUSPA Journal Co-Editors
  • Shall oversee the design, production, and distribution of the Journal.
  • Shall coordinate the selection and training of the Co-Editor and during their first full year.
  • Facilitate IUSPA Journal review board selection process
  • Solicit IUSPA Journal submissions
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board during their first full year.
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings during their first full year
Section 10. Graduate and Professional Student Organization (GPSO) Representative
  • Shall serve as the official liaison between the GPSO and IUSPA.
  • Shall attend all GPSO General Assembly meetings.
  • Shall serve on at least one of the GPSO committees.
  • Shall encourage IUSPA members to attend GPSO events/activities and serve on GPSO committees
  • Shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board.
  • Shall attend all Executive Board and General Assembly Meetings.
Section 11. Webmaster
  • Shall assist in the construction and maintenance of the IUSPA website.
  • Shall work with the executive board to ensure that the website reflects the current needs of the organization
  • Shall assist with the management of IUSPA’s online registration and election system during the annual outreach program and elections.
Article V. Meetings
Section 1. Frequency
The President shall have the power to call regular and special meetings for the Executive Board, Standing Committees, and the General Membership. There shall be a minimum of two Executive Board Meetings each semester which are open only to members of the Executive Board, the advisor of IUSPA, and special guests. There shall be a minimum of one (1) General Assembly Meeting open to all Full Members. The Executive Board may invite people who are not members of the organization to attend the meetings in special circumstances.
Section 2. Parliamentary Authority
The most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all meetings and special sessions of IUSPA when the President of IUSPA deems that they are applicable and that they are not inconsistent with the IUSPA Constitution and Bylaws.
Article VI. Ratification of Constitutional Amendments
Section 1. Voting Eligibility
All Full Members, as stated in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, are eligible to vote on amendments to the constitution.
Section 2. Procedure
All Full Members may propose an amendment to the Constitution. Notification of proposed amendments must be made public to all Full Members a minimum of two weeks prior to voting on the proposed amendment. Amendments must have a two-thirds majority vote of all Full Members who are present at amendment proceedings in order to pass. Absentee votes may be cast by a designee of the absent Full Member, if notification is given in writing to the President at least two days before Amendment proceedings. Amendments shall become effective immediately after passage.

 

Indiana University Student Personnel Association Bylaws
(Revised July 2005)

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Article I: Membership
Section 1. Full Member's Rights
All Full members shall have the right to attend and vote at all General meetings, serve on all IUSPA committees, attend all IUSPA programs and activities, place themselves in contention for elected office, and receive the IUSPA Journal annually.
Section 2. Honorary Member's Rights
All Honorary members shall have the right to attend all IUSPA programs and activities and receive a copy of the IUSPA Journal annually.
Section 3. Alumni Member’s Rights
[CONTENT MISSING]
Section 4. Dues
Full members shall pay a one-time membership fee to be established by the Executive Board. Dues shall be paid during the first semester of membership.
Article II: Election of Officers
Section 1. Time
The Executive Board offices for election at the end of the fall semester shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Programming, Director of Outreach, and Director of Professional Development. The Director of Relations shall be elected in September of each year under the same general procedures governing the election of other Executive Board officers.
Section 2. Procedure
Nominations for office will be open three (3) weeks prior to the end of the fall semester. Those eligible for nomination must meet the qualifications established in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution. Voting for officers will take place two weeks prior to the end of the fall semester. Those eligible to vote are members in good standing in accordance with Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution. Votes will be cast by secret ballot.
Section 3. Resignations
All resignations from the Executive Board shall be presented to the President of IUSPA in writing. In the event of the President's resignation, the letter of resignation shall be given to the Vice President. The resignation shall be effective only after the Executive Board has recognized the resignation by a two-thirds majority vote. The vote on resignation shall occur no later than ten (10) days after the letter of resignation has been received by the properly designated board member.
Section 4. Vacancies
Vacancies for all offices will be filled through Executive Board appointment.
Article III: Budget Policy
Section 1.
All budget proposals are due to the Treasurer by the end of February.
Section 2.
The Treasurer shall prepare the budget for presentation to and review by the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall make recommendations for changes to the proposed budget.
Section 3.
The requesting individuals/committees shall adjust their proposed budget and prepare a statement for presentation at a budget hearing during a General meeting.
Section 4.
The Treasurer shall present the proposed final budget to the membership for approval.
Section 5.
The final budget will be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of all Full members present at the budget hearing held during a meeting. Absentee votes will be accepted.
Article IV: Amendments
Section 1. Procedure
All Full members, as stated in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, may propose an amendment to these Bylaws. Notification of proposed amendment must be made public to all those eligible to vote a minimum of two weeks prior to voting on the proposed amendment. Amendments must have a two-thirds majority vote of all those eligible and present to vote at amendment proceedings. Absentee votes may be cast by a designee of the absent Full member if notification is given in writing to the President, at least two days before Amendment proceedings. The proposed amendment shall become effective immediately after passage.
Section 2. Voting Eligibility
All Full members of IUSPA, as stated in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, are eligible to vote on amendments to the Bylaws.
Article V: Ratification
Section 1. Voting Eligibility
All Full members, as stated in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, are eligible to vote on ratification of the Bylaws of the IUSPA Constitution.
Section 2. Procedures
The proposed bylaws shall be made available to the membership a minimum of two weeks prior to voting. Discussion of and voting on the proposed bylaws shall take place at a ratification meeting. The ratification meeting shall be announced two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
Section 3. Passage
Ratification will require a two-thirds majority vote of all those present at ratification proceedings. Absentee votes may be cast by a designee of the absent Full member if notification is given in writing to the President, at least two days before ratification proceedings.
Section 4. Effective Date
The newly ratified IUSPA Constitution Bylaws shall be effective immediately following ratification proceeding.