Clarion University AITP Unofficial Chapter Bylaws Last Revised: 10/27/2016 Article I- NAME a. Section 1: Naming Conventions The name of our organization for official and promotional purposes shall be as follows: Association of Information Technology Professionals- Unofficial Chapter of Clarion University (“CU AITP”). Article II- MISSION STATEMENT a. Section 1: Purpose We provide university students with the knowledge, support, and opportunity to work with technology that they might not have access to otherwise. We do this through weekly, informative presentations that are reinforced through hands-on projects. By fostering a professional attitude and work process, we help to prepare the students for the workplace. Article III- MEMBERSHIP a. Section 1: Membership Requirements In order to join CU AITP the person looking to join must be a current student of clarion university whose academic standing is a 2.5 GPA or higher. All majors are welcome. b. Section 2: Attendance It is required that all CU AITP members regularly attend the meetings. While it is understandable to miss on occasion due to illness or academic reasons, choosing to join CU AITP is a commitment and therefore should be treated as such. Each member is required to attend AT A MINIMUM three-fourths of all meetings held during a semester. If a member is going to be absent, a formal excuse will be required to be sent an hour prior to the meeting to the official CU AITP email, to then be voted upon by the executive board. Any member who is absent more than the required amount during a semester is eligible to be put on probationary status for the following semester. Article IV– OFFICERS a. Section 1: President The President runs both the Executive and regular meetings. The president is in charge of keeping the meetings on task. The President is also in charge of relationships with any organization outside of CU AITP. b. Section 2: Vice President The Vice President(s) is responsible for committee management. This includes making sure that deadlines are followed, committee reports are documented by the secretary, and that committee presentations are properly scheduled into meetings. c. Section 3: Secretary The Secretary is responsible for taking minutes during the meetings, keeping detailed records, and emailing correspondence to the members of AITP. d. Section 4: Treasurer The Treasurer is responsible for keeping detailed records of the organization's budget and expenditures, as well as overseeing any fundraising activities the organization participates in. E. Section 5: Term Each officer will serve for the fall and spring semester after they are elected. Officers can serve no longer than 4 semesters in a single position. Members who are placed into an emergency position do not have the semesters they serve count against their total time. Article V- MEETINGS a. Section 1: Purpose The purpose of the meetings is to make sure that every member of AITP is up to date with what is going on pertaining to the organization in terms of events, activities, and budget. The meetings also serve as a time for any member of AITP to give a presentation on a topic that is of interest to them or the organization. b. Section 2: Meeting Time Regular meetings will be held every Monday at 7:00pm in the Ralston hall Techfloor room. c. Section 3: Quorum No voting can occur on any matter unless two-thirds of the total organization is present. The only exception to this rule is in the case of special meetings (see Article V Section 6). d. Section 4: Structure 1.) Role call- who is present and who is absent 2.) Absentee Excuses- each excuse will be read to the gathered members and will be voted upon by the executive board 3.) Officer Reports- each officer gives a report on any new/relevant information that needs to be given to the organization. The order of reports is: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer 4.) Committee reports- each committee chair is required to give an update on the status of their committee. There is no specific order for committee reports 5.) Open Forum- during open forum any member/visitor can voice any questions/comments/concerns that they have regarding AITP. During this time any topic that is brought to the organization’s attention that requires a vote is tabled for voting, pending discussion. 6.) Voting- during voting each topic to be voted on is discussed one at a time in an orderly manner. After the discussion of each topic voting occurs immediately unless it is decided by the organization that voting is to occur at another meeting, to allow for thought and contemplation on the topic. 7.) Closing Notes- At this time any of the executive board or the organization's faculty advisor may make a statement regarding the state of the organization. This is usually words of encouragement or a reminder of any upcoming events. e. Section 5: Executive Meetings There will be a minimum of three executive meetings per semester. All members of CU AITP are welcome to sit in on the meetings, however they will not be allowed to actively participate outside of the meeting’s open forum. The purpose of the Executive meetings is to give the Executive members time to discuss anything they believe needs to be brought to the attention of the organization or to discuss disciplinary action for a member, should it be needed. Executive meetings can take the place of regular meetings, or they can be scheduled another time with at least one week's worth of notice to the organization as a whole. f. Section 6: Special Meetings In the case that there is a sudden/unexpected issue, a special meeting may be called by the executive board. Members are not required to go to special meetings, however if one is necessary voting can occur with all members present at the time regardless of quorum. Article VI- EXECUTIVE BOARD a. Section 1: Purpose The executive board is made up of the officers of CU AITP with the express purpose of governing and overseeing all internal and external affairs. They also oversee any judicial matters so long as there is not a conflict of interest. Article VII- COMMITTEES a. Section 1: Purpose The purpose of committees is to divide and organize the organization’s workload so that each member of AITP has the opportunity to contribute to the organization. b. Section 2: Organization Committees are to be voted on according to Article 5 Section 3. They will be formed within the first *(two or three) meetings of the school semester. Committee chairs will also be elected and voted upon. Officers may be part of the committee, but are discouraged from being committee chair. (Special case: Officers may be a committee chair if there is low attendance/enrollment in AITP.) Commented [1]: Feel free to destroy/change what I've added to the committees article. I am mostly just trying to get ideas down on paper, and my wording is probably awful. Additional items I have missed will also need added Commented [2]: Also, I know this is a thing this year and not sure if it should be added. We don't want Officers as committee chairs in the future? Correct? Commented [3]: That is correct. It is mostly a last resort kind of thing c. Section 3: Committees Committees will be added to this section as the need arises and by approval of the CU AITP members. The current committees will need to be voted upon each semester. Subsection A: Web Committee - will organize and maintain the AITP official webpage as well as the AITP CuConnect Page. The Web Committee chair may elect other members to assist in their duties. Web Committee must keep the website calendar and events up to date according to the weekly minutes, as well as posting such minutes, presentations, etc. Subsection B: Bylaws Committee - maintains and organizes the Bylaws. Will be responsible for seeing to it that proposed bylaw changes are discussed and worked out before being brought to the chapter for review. Article VIII- ELECTIONS a. Section 1: Officer Elections The purpose of officer elections is to vote upon Officers for the upcoming year. Elections must occur the first week of the last month of each spring semester, and nominations must be put forward the week prior. Speeches are to be given just before the election. b. Section 2: Committee Chair Elections Committee Chair elections occur on an as needed basis, with the election immediately following the accepted nomination(s). Article IX- AMENDMENTS a. Section 1: Submissions Submissions for Bylaw changes must be submitted to the Bylaw Committee for review. Each submission is to be reviewed in a timely manner and then brought to CU AITP for discussion. b. Section 2: Bylaw Revisions Any amendment that has been reviewed by the Bylaw Committee, discussed by CU AITP, and then given a passing vote by the members will be included immediately into the bylaws as discussed at the meeting. After each revision it is required that the “Last Revised” date is changed to the date of the revision. After amendment to the bylaws it is required that the new version be archived, along with the last revised date. This is to be maintained by the secretary. Article X- BUDGET a. Section 1: Maintenance It is the duty of the Treasurer to archive all previous Budgets and maintain the current Budget. b. Section 2: Approval Once the Treasurer has completed the Budget, it must be brought before the CU AITP members for review. If a Budget is not approved, the Treasurer must review and change the Budget before bringing it before the members again. Ideally, the changed Budget would be brought before the members at the next meeting. If the members cannot approve a Budget by one week before the Budget is due for review by the Student Senate, an executive meeting is to be called to review and approve a Budget by the Student Senate’s RSO Budget review date. If the Executive Board cannot approve a Budget by the Student Senate’s RSO Budget review date, the Treasurer must approve a Budget. Article XI- VOTING a. Section 1: Ballot Ballots are to be used any time discretion is needed for the object at hand. Officer Elections must use ballot voting. The ballots will be counted out immediately after all ballots have been submitted by a member chosen at random and the overall tallies will be displayed after they have been counted. Any member may call for a recount, which is to done explicitly in view of all members. b. Section 2: Show of Hand A show of hands vote will be counted by the secretary. Each vote in favor should be signified with a “Yea,” and each vote opposed should be signified with a “Nay”. c. Section 3: Abstention Any member may choose to abstain from voting for any reason. An abstention still counts towards quorum but not towards the acceptance threshold. Article XII- RULES & REGULATIONS a. Section 1: Campus Policies This Section contains the Clarion University Student Senate Recognized Student Organization Policy. This Section cannot be amended. The below Subsections are to be equivalent at all times to the Sections of the current Clarion University Student Senate Recognized Student Organization Policy. Subsection A: Association Identification Clause 1: As stated in Article VII, Section 5 of its constitution, Clarion University’s Student Senate is duly authorized to grant, suspend, and revoke University recognition from any Recognized Student Organization (“RSO”). Clause 2: No individual, group, or organization shall have the right to officially represent or speak on behalf of Student Senate, or the University, without the expressed authorization of the Clarion University President (or designee) except to identify the University affiliation of the individual, group, or organization. Clause 3: Affiliation with an off-campus organization shall not disqualify a potential student organization from receiving University recognition provided that the organization is not in violation of state or federal laws. Clause 4: All RSOs must have 7 or more Clarion University students as members. SubClause A: All National Pan-Hellenic Council (“NPHC”) member organizations need only one or more Clarion University students as members. Clause 5: The membership, policies, and actions of an RSO shall be determined by a vote of only those members who are also students, faculty, of staff of Clarion University. SubClause A: The officers and/or official representatives of the RSO must be members who are students, faculty, or staff of Clarion University. Phrase 1: In order to receive Clarion Students’ Association (“CSA”) funding, all officers and/or official representatives of the RSO must be members who are students of Clarion University. SubClause B: The number of members who are Clarion University students must always exceed the number of nonstudent members. SubClause C: RSOs shall be free to establish their qualifications for membership provided that such membership shall be open to any Clarion University student willing to subscribe to the stated aims of the organization and meet its stated obligations. SubClause D: Any RSO denying membership on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, veteran status, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation, except as provided for under state or federal law, shall not be eligible to receive University recognition. Clause 6: As a condition of recognition, all RSOs are required to have a faculty/staff member of the University serve as an advisor. SubClause A: Each RSO is free to select the faculty/staff member it wishes to serve as its advisor, pending the consent of that individual. SubClause B: A faculty/staff advisor shall provide advice and guidance on the exercise of responsibility, but shall have no authority to control the policy of the organization. SubClause C: A faculty/staff advisor should possess knowledge of the rules, policies, structure, goals, and objective of the organization they advise, as well as all applicable Student Senate & University policies and all applicable state and federal laws. Subsection B: Inquiry and Expression Clause 1: Members of RSOs shall be free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly or privately. SubClause A: They shall be free to support causes by orderly means that do not disrupt the regular and essential operation of the University. SubClause B: In their public expressions or demonstrations members of student organizations shall only speak for themselves. Clause 2: RSOs shall be allowed to invite and hear any person of their own choosing when the purpose of such an invitation does not violate civil law and does not constitute civil disobedience. SubClause A: Routine procedures required by the University must be taken care of before a guest speaker is invited to appear on campus designed only to ensure orderly scheduling of facilities and adequate preparation of the event. SubClause B: Sponsorship of guest speakers shall not imply the approval or endorsement of their views by the sponsoring group, Student Senate, or the University. Subsection C: Use of Facilities RSOs may request the use of university facilities for regular business meetings, social functions, and public programs. Requests for space must follow the policies and procedures established by the Office of Conference and Event Services. Subsection D: Recognition Process Clause 1: A group of Clarion University students interested in forming a new student organization can initiate the recognition process by scheduling a meeting with the designee of the Center for Leadership & Involvement (“CLI”). At this meeting, the group will be given the Recognition Packet and will discuss the new organization’s purpose, future constitution, and the group’s rights & responsibilities. Clause 2: Following the meeting, the members of the potential student organization will complete the Application for Recognition and submit it, along with a letter stating the students’ intent and rationale for forming the new organization and the group’s constitution, to the CLI. The group has four weeks from the original meeting with the Center for Leadership & Involvement designee to complete the application for recognition. If a complete application is not received by this time, the group must begin the recognition process again. Exceptions will be considered by the Rules & Regulations Committee on an individual basis and an alternate timeline will be established. The organization will return all of the completed paperwork to the Center for Leadership & Involvement. The CLI will forward the request for recognition to Student Senate’s Rules & Regulations Committee. Clause 3: The Rules & Regulations Committee will review all materials submitted by the potential student organization. If necessary, a list of comments & suggestions for revisions to the constitution will be sent back to the potential student organization. Representatives of the potential student organization may be required to attend a Rules and Regulations Committee meeting to be determined by the Committee. Clause 4: Once the Rules & Regulations Committee has approved the potential student organization’s constitution, bylaws, and any other required paperwork, the Rules & Regulations committee will forward a recommendation regarding the group's recognition to Student Senate at the next meeting. SubClause A: Any issues concerning funding shall be determined by the Appropriations Committee and are not to be considered when voting on recognition. SubClause B: Any organization wanting to be funded must have a treasurer, or some other officer, that is specified to handle the group's funds. Clause 5: Immediately following this Student Senate meeting, the Rules & Regulations Committee will send an official letter granting or denying recognition to the representatives of the organization. Upon recognition, the newly approved organization will be required to hold at least one (1) campus event open to the entire university community within three months that meets all criteria established by the Rules & Regulations Committee. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the revoking of the organization's recognition. Clause 6: In the event that an organization is denied university recognition, they may appeal Student Senate’s decision within thirty (30) days of the decision. SubClause A: To appeal an unfavorable decision, a letter should be sent to the president of Student Senate requesting a review of the organization’s application for recognition and outlining the group’s rationale for requesting the review. SubClause B: The president will inform the Rules & Regulations Committee of the appeal and ask them to bring the matter before Student Senate at its next meeting. SubClause C: In the event that the appeal to Student Senate is unsuccessful, the organization may appeal for review to the Vice President for Student & University Affairs. Clause 7: In the event that the organization is granted university recognition, an official University Charter will be issued to the RSO. Subsection E: Recognition of General Fraternity or Sorority Chapters In addition to meeting the criteria outlined above in Subsection D, general fraternity chapters are required to receive and maintain the approval of the Interfraternity Council and general sorority chapters are required to receive and maintain the approval of the Panhellenic Council. In order to gain this approval, potential fraternity/sorority chapters are also required to meet the stipulations outlined in the expansion policies of the respective councils. Subsection F: Recognition of Club Sports In addition to meeting the criteria outlined above in Subsection D, a Club Sport must also meet all of the Club Sport Policy guidelines and have proof from the Director of Club Sports. Subsection G: Privileges of Recognition Clause 1: RSOs may utilize university facilities and hospitality for meetings and programs. Clause 2: RSOs may use the intercampus mail service. Clause 3: RSOs may conduct fundraising activities, provided they are registered with and approved by the Center for Leadership & Involvement. Clause 4: RSOs may post information on bulletin boards, with approval where required, and advertise using the TV video messaging system. Clause 5: RSOs will be assigned an email address ending in “@clarion.edu” and may request web space on the University’s server. Clause 6: RSOs may request group space on the University’s iClarion portal system. Clause 7: RSOs are afforded the privilege of promoting themselves as Clarion University student organizations. Clause 8: RSOs will be issued a mailbox in the Gemmell Student Complex. Clause 9: RSOs in compliance with Student Senate’s Funded Student Organization Policy, have the opportunity to request Clarion Student Association Funding. Subsection H: Maintaining Recognition Clause 1: At the beginning of each academic year, all RSOs must submit the organizational paperwork (Officer & Advisor Confirmation Form and updated roster) to the Center for Leadership & Involvement within the first thirty (30) days of the academic year. SubClause A: The Officer & Advisor Confirmation Form must also be resubmitted after any change to an officer or advisor position during the semester. Updated paperwork is due by the last day of the month in which elections were held. Clause 2: All RSOs must have at least one meeting every semester. SubClause A: Members of Clarion University’s Student Senate may make unannounced visits to organizational meetings to verify organizational activity and compliance with the membership policies. SubClause B: All RSOs that start with A-M must submit their constitution, or bylaws, every year ending in an odd number. The constitution, or bylaws, must be handed in within the first 30 days of class to the Center for Leadership & Involvement with the organizational paperwork. SubClause C: All RSOs that start with N-Z must submit their constitution, or bylaws, every year ending in an even number. The constitution, or bylaws, must be handed in within the first 30 days of the first day of class to the Center for Leadership & Involvement with the organizational paperwork. SubClause D: If an organization has revised their constitution, or bylaws, and had it approved by Student Senate within six months prior to the organizational paperwork due date, the organization does not have to turn in its constitution, or bylaws, to the Center for Leadership & Involvement. SubClause E: All constitutions must be submitted to Student Senate as a Microsoft Word Document and emailed to Senate@clarion.edu. Paper copies of the constitution will not be accepted. Clause 3: All RSOs are required to have a representative at every president and advisor roundtable meetings organized by the Center for Leadership & Involvement each academic year. Clause 4: All RSOs are required to check their mailboxes, located in the Gemmell Student Complex, on a regular basis. Clause 5: Upon request, all RSOs must submit an updated copy of their constitution to Student Senate. Student Senate must ratify any changes made to an RSO’s constitution. SubClause A: When an RSO submits a revised copy of their constitution, all changes must be clearly marked using the Track Changes feature of Microsoft Word. Clause 6: An RSO may be placed on probation for failing to meet one or more of the criteria listed above. SubClause A: To be removed from probation and returned to good standing, an RSO must come into compliance with the criteria listed above. SubClause B: While on probation, the RSO forfeits all of its privileges defined in Subsection G of this Section. Additionally, if the RSO receives Clarion Student Association funding, that funding will be frozen. SubClause C: If an RSO fails to come off of probationary status before the end of the semester, they will be put on inactive status the following semester. Clause 7: An RSO will also be put on inactive status if none of the organizational paperwork is submitted within the first thirty (30) days of each academic year. SubClause A: To be removed from inactive status an RSO must submit a letter to the Rules & Regulations Committee requesting reinstatement, along with any outstanding paperwork SubClause B: An RSO on inactive status has until the end of the semester to be removed from inactive status. Once an RSO has reached one semester of inactivity Student Senate will revoke their recognition. Subsection I: Loss of Recognition An RSO may have its University Recognition revoked by Student Senate, or University Judicial, for violations of Student Senate or University policy. Article XIII- CONFLICTS OF INTEREST a. Section 1: Whenever a member or officer has a personal interest or gain from any matter arising in a meeting, the affected person shall fully disclose the nature of their interest and withdraw from all voting on the matter. Any discussion or vote involving a potential conflict of interest shall be approved only when a majority of other members and officers who do not hold a conflict of interest in the matter determine that it is in the best interest of the organization to do so. The minutes of meetings at which such votes about conflicts of interest will record such disclosures for approval.