CONSTITUTION of the BILINGUAL EDUCATION STUDENT ORGANIZATION Article I NAME Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Bilingual Education Student Organization and may be referred to as BESO. No other name will be used in the advertisement or representation of this organization. RECOGNITION Section 2. It shall be stated that the BESO is the first college level bilingual education program to be established at UTRGV in Edinburg, Rio Grande City, and Brownsville. Article II PURPOSE Section 1. The purpose of BESO shall be to offer professional development opportunities regarding bicultural, bilingual, and biliterate education. BESO will also address the components in the Bilingual Education Program, the responsibilities it comes with, and the important role it has on our society. Section 2. To establish methods of study for the development of the related interests and abilities which Bilingual Education has in the teaching field and to incorporate bilingualism, biculturalism, and biliteracy. Section 3. To establish recognition within ourselves of the qualities of 1
personality, character responsibility and leadership which are essential in a good educator. Section 4. The purpose of this organization shall be to advocate and improve the quality, the procedures and the philosophy of bilingual-bicultural education in the Texas schools through the interchange of ideas and practices and through distribution of literature by college education students. Article III AFFILIATION Section 1. BESO shall be chartered by the National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE) and the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE). Where members and officers may have the opportunity to assist conferences that are hosted by these prestigious organizations. Not only will they provide professional development opportunity, but the chance to network and build as a professional in the education field. Article IV OFFICERS Section 1. The officers of this organization shall be President, Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President of Professional Development, Vice-President of Community Service, Vice-President of Fundraising, Historian, Parliamentarian, Public Relations, Social Chair, Co-President of Brownsville, and Co-President of Rio Grande City. All officers must be active members of BESO for at least one semester, and must have completed at least 10 community service hours and 4 professional development sessions. Officers must also have a 3.0 GPA or higher as well as show strong professionalism and leadership skills. 2
ADVISOR Section 2. a. Advisor must be a full time faculty/ staff member of UTRGV. b. There must be at least one advisor per campus. c. Removal of advisor requires a ¾ or majority vote of members or voluntary resignation is accepted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Section 3. a. Elections will be held near the end of each term. b. The President and all officers shall preside over this election meeting for the selection of new officers. c. Each office shall be presented as well as, the duties that are described in Article IV, Section 3. d. Nominations will be taken based on specific requirements set by a deadline that will be sent out via email. e. As of Spring 2017, current active members will be allowed to vote and/ or hold office from, Brownsville, Rio Grande City and Edinburg. f. The members of the organization will vote for the candidate of their choice. Candidates who receive the majority of votes cast shall be elected. g. This procedure will be followed for the duration of all offices. h. Term of office for the President, Co- President of Rio Grande City, Co- President of Brownsville, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President of Professional Development, Vice-President of Community 3
Service, Vice-President of Fundraising, Historian, Public Relations, Social Chair and Parliamentarian shall be in role until entering their Student Teaching. Should a vacancy occur, new election will take place with requirements. All officers shall assume their duties immediately following the announcement of their election. i. Member Aids for each officer will be selected by that particular Officer. This does not warrant approval of the Executive Committee. DUTIES OF OFFICERS Section 4. a. The President shall perform all duties proper to the office and appoint the standing committee chairman subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. The President shall be a member of TABE and be knowledgeable of all other officer positions. The President may appoint the chairman of such special committee as are needed subject to the confirmation of the Executive Committee. b. The Vice-President shall preside in the absence of the President and shall serve as chairman of the Membership Committee, shall encourage attendance at all meetings and keep the membership records of the point system upon attendance of meetings, the wearing of BESO shirt, and notification by the Vice-President of Fundraising of donations to organization for events. c. Secretary shall keep a correct record of membership upon notification by the Treasurer, membership shirts in order to place orders, and proceedings of all meetings of the organization and of the Executive Committee meetings. The Secretary shall preserve all records in a permanent file. 4
d. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the maintenance of an accurate file which lists the names and addresses of the council officers and membership, assist and advise the President in all expenditures and revenue the organization has made. The Treasurer shall keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures. Funds shall be deposited in a bank designated by the Executive Committee and disbursed by written orders signed by the Treasurer and President. If the President is absent, the check will then be signed by the Vice-President. Dues to the Texas Association for Bilingual Education shall be kept by the Treasurer upon receipt from members. The Treasurer shall keep an active record of all state members paying through the state office and shall furnish all officers an annual up-to-date list of TABE members. The Treasurer shall release to his successor within ten days of vacating office all books, records, and papers and receive a listed receipt therefore from the incoming Treasurer. The executive board along with the advisor shall examine the Treasurer s report and records for accuracy at the end of each term. e. The Vice-President of Professional Development shall contact presenters that can provide professional development opportunity for the organization s members. The VP of Professional Development shall also keep record of all attendees during the professional development hour in a permanent file. Only those who were present during the hour will the VP of Professional Development give credit to with the BESO stamp. f. The Vice-President of Community Service shall find community service events members can benefit from, shall keep a record of all attendees during the service event in a permanent file, and only give credit to those present with the BESO stamp. g. The Vice-President of Fundraising shall plan fundraisers that will bring funds towards the organization, shall work with the Treasurer based on the expenditures and 5
revenue made, and shall report to the Vice-President a record of attendee s names and those that made donations. h. The Historian shall help with promoting and publicizing of the organization throughout the use of flyers, announcements on FB and the updating of the BESO webpage. The Historian shall also keep a permanent record of all executive meetings to refer back upon for future elected officers. i. The Parliamentarian shall direct correct parliamentary procedure during meetings according to Robert s Rules of Order, Revised. The Parliamentarian shall also create voting ballots and help facilitate the voting process. j. The Social Chair shall create social events for members to collaborate and get to know one another. k. The Public Relations officer shall be in charge of recruitment events and making sure our organization is in good standing with the Office of Student Involvement in order to not get suspended. l. The Co-Presidents shall be in charge of expanding the organization, to the university s branch of Brownsville and Rio Grande City. m. An Executive Committee, composed of the officers and chairman of the standing committees, shall transact the business of the organization in the interim between meetings of the organization. n. Within ten days of vacating office, files of records shall be transferred by each officer. o. Any amendment proposed by the organization must be approved by the CSO. 6
Article V FEES AND DUES Section 1. The T.A.B.E. B.E.S.O chapter affiliation charter fee, or annual renewal fee of ten dollars ($10.00), shall be sent directly to the State Treasurer, Texas Association for Bilingual Education, 5835 Callaghan Rd. #301, San Antonio, Texas 78228. The affiliation charter fee will be sent in September of each academic year. Section 2. The B.E.S.O. local chapter charter fee or annual renewal fee, shall be $10.00 dollars for every semester. This does not include the club shirts which should be purchased separately. FISCAL AND MEMBERSHIP YEAR Section 3. The fiscal year of the organization shall be defined as the period of time from September 1 extending through August 31. The membership year of the organization shall be defined as the period of time from September 1 through August 31. MEMBERSHIP Section 4. Membership shall be open to all teacher education students interested in bilingual-bicultural education, general education, special education, or other university majors.. Section 5. Membership should be open to everyone regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Section 6. Membership for the majority of active membership shall be based on enrolled students of UTRGV. EXPULSION 7
Section 7. Result of expulsion for violation of any provision in the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley student conduct code as expressed in the Handbook of Operating Procedures. DUE PROCESS MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICER REMOVAL Section 8. Every member who is up for expulsion must be given due process: an opportunity to present his/her case, rebut accusations, conduct an investigation, and appeal any decisions made against him/her. Appeals will be heard by officers and voted on by members for reinstatement of membership. 8