Constitution & Bylaws

The name of this organization shall be known as the MSIS Association.

The Purpose for which the MSIS Association is organized is:

• Give members the opportunity to enhance skills through professional development events.
• Improve the surrounding community through service events.
• Provide members of the MSIS program with an opportunity to grow their network.
• Increase the overall quality of experience within the program.

Section 1. This organization shall consist of the Executive Board, the general membership, non-voting temporary members.

Section 2. Membership Descriptions.

Section 2.1 The Executive Board is a collective of students selected to govern the organization.

Section 2.2 The general membership shall consist of those members of the MSIS program enrolled as students or members designated by the ISGP office to be incoming members of the MSIS program and who have paid proper MSIS Association fees.

Section 2.3 The non-voting temporary members shall consist of those members who are designated by the ISGP office as students who will incoming members of the MSIS program, but who have not paid MSISA fees.

Section 1. The Executive Board officer structure shall consist of an appointed Executive Board and appointed Associate Directors and Committee structure.

Section 2. The Executive Board of this organization shall be composed of the following officers: President, Vice-President of Social Activities, Vice-President of finance and fund-raising, Vice-President of Community Service and Vice-President of Advertising.

Section 3. The appointed Directors of this organization shall be: Director of International Relations, Director of Membership, Director of Alumni Relations, Director of Publications, Director of Web-Administration and Director of Intramural Sports.

Section 1. Officers shall be appointed for a term contingent on their active status as a student within the MSIS program.

Section 2. Duties of Executive Board Officers.

Section 2.1. President~ The President shall be the chief executive officer of the MSISA. He or she shall be responsible for all official acts of the organization and shall be accountable for the operation of the same. The President shall enforce all laws and policies of the University and government appoint chairs of special committees, oversee the financial operations of the organization, and preside over all general member meetings both regular and special. He or she shall serve as a liaison to the ISGP office, faculty and alumni sponsors.

Section 2.2. Vice-President of Social Activities~ The Vice-President of Social Activities shall serve as the chair of the Social committee within MSISA. The Vice-President of Social Activities shall also be responsible for planning, organizing, and arranging all social/networking events. The Vice-President of Social Activities will be charged with ensuring all proper logistics are completed before the event and all follow-up is completed after an event. The Vice-President of Social Activities will also be responsible for overseeing and ensuring proper execution of the Director of Alumni Relations.

Section 2.3 Vice-President of Finance and Fund-raising~ The Vice-President of Finance and Fund-raising shall be responsible for the organization’s financial affairs. He or she shall keep an accurate record of all income and expenses, using a standard accounting system approved by the faculty advisor. He or she shall collect all bills owed by the organization and shall disburse funds. The Vice-President of Finance and Fund-raising shall render or have rendered a statement of the financial condition of the organization monthly to Executive Council and Faculty sponsor.

Section 2.4 Vice-President of Advertising~ The Vice-President of Advertising shall be responsible for all marketing and branding efforts of the organization. He or she will manage the MSISA e-mail account and ensure messages get forwarded on to other members if needed. The Vice-President of Advertising shall also work closely with other Vice-Presidents to create promotional materials for events and have unity within branding of images and messages from the MSISA. The Vice-President of Advertising shall oversee and ensure proper execution of the Director of Membership, Director of Web-Administration and the Director of Publications.

Section 2.5 Vice-President of Community Service~ The Vice-President of Community Service shall be responsible for creating opportunities of community service for the members. The Vice-President of Community Service shall also promote a positive name of MSIS and MSISA into the community through service projects.

Section 3. Duties of Appointed Directors.

Section 3.1. Director of Alumni Relations~ The Director of Alumni Relations shall be responsible for managing an alumni contact list, interfacing with other board members to use alumni as resources, and create and manage alumni events for the membership. The Director of Alumni Relations will report to the Vice-President of Social Activities.

Section 3.2. Director of Web-Administration~ The Director of Web Administration shall be responsible for working on the website needs, updating and maintaining as well as continually improving the website. The Director of Web Administration will report to the Vice-President of Advertising.

Section 3.3. Director of Membership~ The Director of Membership shall serve as the chair of the Membership Committee. The Director of Membership shall take attendance at all MSISA events and do research into how to improve the quality of events and attendance at those events. The Director of Membership shall also oversee the buddy program for incoming students. The Director of Membership shall report to the Vice-President of Advertising.

Section 3.4. Director of Publications~ The Director of Publications shall serve as the chair of the newsletter committee. The Director of Publications shall be responsible for overseeing monthly publications of the newsletter as well as taking minutes at all executive board meetings and general member meetings and giving them to the Director of Web Administration to post. The Director of Publications shall report to the Vice-President of Advertising.

Section 3.5. Director of International Relations~ The Director of International Relations shall be responsible for enhancing the international student participation in the events. He or she shall also be responsible for strengthening the relations between the domestic and international students from different geographic and cultural backgrounds. He or she will be working in tandem with the Vice-President of Social Activities and the Vice-President of Advertising.

Section 3.6. Director of Intramural Sports~ The Director of Intramural Sports shall be responsible for handling MSIS student participation in the intramural sports offered by IU RecSports. He or she shall also be responsible for maintaining a roster for sports events and informing the Vice-President of Advertising so that he or she can send out communications to MSIS students to participate in the different sports. He or she will be reporting to the Vice-President of Social Activities.

Section 1. The committees of this Organization shall be: the Executive Board, Standing Committees and Special Committees.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall serve as a cabinet to the President, chaired by the Executive Vice President, and shall advise and direct operations in general; it may additionally act as a Judicial Board for disciplinary action concerning members.

Section 3. The Standing Committees of this Chapter shall be as follows:  Social Committee, Membership/Recruitment Committee, Newsletter Committee, Professional Development Committee and Fundraising Committee.

Section 4. Special Committees may be formed by the Executive Council and at the direction of the President or Executive Vice President, to fill specific roles within in the Organization.  These committees must be approved at the next regular meeting of the Executive Council with a simple majority vote.

Section 5. The President and Vice President shall appoint the chairman of each Special Committee with the simple majority approval of the Executive Board, unless otherwise prescribed in this constitution.

Section 6. The duties and responsibilities of Standing and Special Committees shall be determined by the Executive Council.

Section 1. A member will be considered a “Member in Good Standing” if said member attends at least 50% of all scheduled meetings and events and serves on at least one standing committee.  Exceptions can be made with a 3/4ths vote of the Executive Board.

Section 2. The Election Process.

Section 2.1 An election will be held every semester for any vacant positions.  Any general member considered to be a “Member in Good Standing” will be eligible to run for all vacant positions.  For the position of President and Vice President, at least 1 active semester in MSISA is required.

Section 2.2 Interviews will be held for all applicants in front of an election panel which will consist of the Executive Board. A quorum must be present for all interviews.

Section 2.3 The election panel will convene and vote on the candidates for the vacant position.  A 2/3 majority vote is required to elect a new candidate.

Section 3. In case of malfeasance in office, neglect of office, or inappropriate conduct, any Officer may be impeached by the following procedure:  Said accused shall be given opportunity to present his/her case at the next executive board meeting following the presentation of the Case of the Accuser.  A vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the Executive Council when a quorum is present shall be necessary for conviction and removal from Office.

Section 4. An officer at any time can choose to voluntarily resign his/her position.  In the event that an officer chooses to do so, he/she must notify the President and Vice President in writing with a resignation letter.  After receipt of the letter, the position’s vacancy shall be announced immediately.

Section 5. In case of an officer vacancy for any reason, being a resignation or an impeachment, there will be an immediate election held for that position to be within 1 week of the vacancy.  Once a vacant position is filled, that newly elected officer will hold the position for the rest of that officer’s tenure, not the length of the initial tenure.  In the case of an officer resigning that officer will be eligible for re-election for any vacant position at the next election; however, will not be guaranteed a position.

Section 1. Any Member may propose Amendments to this Constitution at any regular Meeting. The proposed Amendment shall consist of two (2) copies in writing. One (1) copy shall be submitted to the President and the other to the Director of Marketing. The Director of Marketing shall engage in the First Reading of the proposed Amendment before the Membership and shall record its submission in the Minutes of the meeting, making copies available to all Members who shall request them. The proposed Amendment must lay on the table until the next regular meeting, at which point the Director of Marketing shall engage in the Second Reading, The Membership will debate the Amendment, the Director of Marketing shall engage in the Third Reading and Members shall cast their votes on the motion.

Section 2. Adoption of an amendment must be by an affirmative Vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the Members. Members not able to attend the Meeting in which the vote shall occur may personally record an absentee ballot with the President only.

Section 3. This Constitution of the MSIS Association shall be in force upon ratification by the Executive Council.