CONSTITUTION THE COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES STUDENT BOARD Ratified May 2, 2008
CONSTITUTION THE COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES STUDENT BOARD Article I Name The name of this organization shall be the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Student Board. Article II Purposes The purpose of the Board shall be: Section 7 To represent the students of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. To facilitate communication between students, faculty, administration, and the alumni of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. To provide students the opportunity to participate in the consideration of the curricula, the instruction, the educational facilities, the policies, and the goals of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. To provide students with the practical experience of participating directly in decisions concerning their academic and professional life. To provide service learning opportunities for the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences students through projects to enhance student, campus and community life. To provide students with leadership and skills development opportunities. The Board shall abide by the applicable rules and policies of the University of Minnesota pertaining to student organizations. Article III Membership Student Membership The membership of the Board shall include: A. The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Student Senator, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences MSA representative, St. Paul Board of Colleges Representative and the Twin Cities Student Union Board of Governors Representative. B. One representative each from the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior academic level. C. One representative of each Professional (Departmental Sponsored) Club within the College with vacancies filled by the respective clubs. 2
D. One representative from each of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Affiliated (Non-departmental) Clubs. Representation by an affiliated club on the Board must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Board membership upon original admittance to the Board. Criteria A. All student members of the Board must be enrolled in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences or in affiliated programs. B. Membership is open to all students without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, creed, marital status, public assistance status, or sexual orientation. More than two unexcused absences per semester will result in an automatic dismissal of a club representative or officer from the Board. If any member of the Board fails to perform his/her duties, they will forfeit their position on the Board. The open position will be filled according to Article VII. Professional Non-Voting Membership The non-voting membership of the Board shall include: A. The Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and/or a representative of the college administration. B. Four faculty members will be appointed by the Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences with consultation of the Board for twoyear terms, with two of the four terms ending each year. The faculty members will consist of one from each of the three clusters and one from the free standing departments. Corrective action will be taken by the Executive Committee on members identified as failing to perform his/her duties. Article IV Meetings There shall be no less than five meetings a semester during the school year. Voting Each elected and appointed student member shall have one vote. Each club or organization can send alternate members to meetings when regular delegates cannot attend. Members who are absent can not vote by proxy through another member of the Board. All business transactions require a quorum. A quorum shall be defined as a simple majority of the voting membership. The rules contained in Robert s Rules of Order Newly Revised 10th edition shall govern the Board in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this constitution. 3
Members holding multiple positions will have only one vote rather than one vote per position (e.g.. Senior class representative and forestry club representative are the same person). All meetings are open to the public. Any invited guest or student in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences may speak before the Board; but only official members of the Board may move motions or vote. Article V Duties of Board Members All Members A. Will abide by the ACSA Group Responsibility Policy of May 1954 (Conduct Control Policy for Student Organizations). The executive committee will be responsible for the conduct of members at board sponsored activities. B. Will not deliberately misuse funds. C. Will not deliberately mislead the Student Board or its committees while in office. D. Will follow University of Minnesota policies while on the board. The President A. Shall be considered the official representative of the Board. B. Shall appoint special committee chairpersons in consultation with the Executive Committee and the Board. He/She shall have the power to remove and replace any appointee with the consent of the Board. C. Shall preside at the meetings of the Board. D. Shall perform all other duties as pertains to the office of the President as determined by the Board. E. Shall have the power to call special meetings. F. Shall publish meeting agendas prior to each meeting. There shall be a Vice President who shall act at the request of the President. A. The Vice President shall assume the role of the President in the absence of President, and/or if the President resigns or is unable to fulfill his/her full term of office for any reason. B. The Vice President shall serve as the representative to the Council of College Boards. C. Shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. Secretary A. Shall record, publish, and distribute the minutes of the Board meetings. B. Shall publish such reports, announcements, and other appropriate materials as the Board may require. 4
C. Shall handle the correspondence of the Board. D. Shall maintain the permanent records and files of the Board. Copies to be retained in the office of the Associate Dean for undergraduate affairs. Treasurer A. Shall develop a budget for the Board with the assistance of the executive committee. B. Shall collect and dispense all funds of the Board, under the direction of the Board and the Finance Division of the Student Activities Office. C. Shall be responsible for submitting all grants for the Board with consultation and the support of the Executive Committee. D. Shall be responsible for obtaining and depositing in the Student Board account, student service fees from the Council of College Boards each semester. St. Paul Board of Colleges Representative Board s representative to the Saint Paul Board of Colleges. Section 7 College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Student Senator Board s representative to University Senate. Section 8 Twin Cities Student Union Board of Governors Representative Board s representative to the Twin Cities Student Union Board of Governors. Section 9 Minnesota Student Association Representative Article VI Committees Board s representative to the Minnesota Student Association. The standing committees for the Board shall consist of the following: A. The Executive Committee consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. This committee shall discuss and develop programs to be presented to the Board. The Executive Committee will also serve as the Steering Committee, and shall formulate the Board s annual goals and budget which the Board will review and implement. B. Other standing committees the Board deems appropriate. The Board shall establish temporary committees as it deems appropriate. Article VII Election & Qualifications 5
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, St. Paul Board of Colleges Representative, Student Senator, Twin Cities Student Union Board of Governors Representative, MSA representative, and the sophomore, junior and senior class representatives shall be nominated and elected no later than the last class day of the spring semester. The election shall be by online secret ballot. The new executives shall take office at the last meeting of the spring semester. Officers shall be elected for a oneyear term. The freshman class representative will be appointed by the director of student services. All executive members must have served on the board prior to being elected to their respective position. Openings or vacancies of any elected Board positions or vacancy of Executive positions will be filled by nomination and a vote of the voting members of the Board, with exception to the office of President which, if vacated, will be assumed by the Vice President. Article VIII Financial Status This organization shall operate as a nonprofit organization. If this organization is disestablished, the funds shall be held in trust for five years by the Finance Division of the Student Activities Office. If at the end of five years after this organization s last regular meeting the funds have not been used, the funds shall be distributed to the following not-for-profit organization(s) according to the proportions as follows: the amount to be equally distributed among the recognized clubs or organizations within the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Any request for funds must be submitted to and approved by the Board. Article IX Rules for Amending Amendments to this constitution shall be proposed at regular meetings of the membership and shall be voted upon at the following regular meeting. Announcements of the meeting at which amendments shall be acted upon shall carry notice of the proposed amendments. Amendments to this constitution shall be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at the meeting at which the amendment(s) is (are) voted upon, provided there is a quorum. Bylaws for the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Student Board can be established or amended by a simple majority of the total membership present at any meeting, provided quorum is present. All changes must be presented at the meeting prior to the meeting at which the vote on the change takes place. The constitution must be ratified yearly by two-thirds of all voting members. Article X Ratification 6
This constitution became effective on May 2, 2008 after ratification by a majority of all voters from the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Student Board. 7