Doctoral Nursing Student Organization Constitution 1. Name: Name of the organization shall be called the Doctoral Nursing Student Organization (DNSO). 2. Purpose, Goals & Association/Affiliation: The purpose of the Doctoral Nursing Student Organization shall be to provide for its members an opportunity to expand and enhance their overall doctoral education experience. The DNSO shall provide opportunities for interaction among faculty and students and a venue for exchange of scholarly information and ideas. By providing opportunities for leadership and acquisition of knowledge about doctoral studies, members of the DNSO may gain the self confidence to succeed in their doctoral studies, develop working relationships among their peers, and advance their leadership skills. The DNSO shall coordinate monthly meetings to be delivered at a time convenient to doctoral students and faculty. The monthly meetings will provide an opportunity for students and faculty to interact outside the classroom setting. Business of the organization will be conducted at the monthly meetings, as well as, opportunities to learn about college, campus, and community resources to aid in student success. Invited speakers may include current faculty, students, and alumni who may discuss their current research, study tips, and advice on beginning their career as a doctoral graduate. The monthly meetings will also allow an avenue to discuss program specific information so students and faculty can stay up-to-date on program policies and guidelines. The DNSO will maintain an active Blackboard site to provide information to the students and minutes (and/or recordings) of the monthly meetings for those not able to attend. Members of the DNSO may also provide mentoring opportunities to new students as they begin their doctoral studies. Members of the organization will attend the annual College of Nursing Doctoral Orientation for new students and attend the College of Nursing Doctoral Open House for potential new students. There is no affiliation/association to a group or national organization. 3. Membership Qualifications: A. Requirement for membership 100% of active membership must be USF students. Associate membership may be granted to non-usf-students under special circumstances; these associate members shall not be given the rights and privileges of active USF students. The DNSO must have 10 active members (includes officers) at all times to maintain active status with the USF Office of Engagement and Involvement. B. Length of term for membership Individual memberships shall continue until completion and graduation from the doctoral program or until such time that the individual is no longer a student at USF. Individuals may also voluntarily withdraw from the organization. Associate members will remain active until they voluntarily withdraw from the organization or until removed from the organization. C. Requirements for continued membership
Members must maintain an active registration status at USF (enrolled in at least one course) to maintain continued membership. All members must demonstrate professional behavior to maintain an atmosphere of collegiality and strive to uphold the purpose and goals of the DNSO. D. Specifications for the removal of members from the group If any member fails to meet the requirements for continued membership, or does not comply with University policies, he/she may be held accountable and in jeopardy of losing their membership. Reason for removal of a member must be presented in writing to the Executive Board of this organization. The Executive Board will then provide written notification to the member in question to include the proposed reason for removal. After the member in question has had his/her right to speak to the board on their own behalf, a vote will be taken and he/she may be removed by a two-thirds vote of Executive Board. E. Voting rights Only active members of the organization may have voting privileges. Non-USF students who have been granted associate membership may not have voting rights. 4. Dues/Fees: No dues, fees, assessments, donations, or other charges are required for membership into the Doctoral Student Nursing Organization. 5. Quorum: Quorum shall be composed of 50% plus 1 of the active, voting membership. 6. Officer Description: A. Required officer positions The required officer positions include: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. President The President must have served for at least one semester with the group prior to running for this office. The President s duties shall be to preside over meetings, appoint and oversee DNSO functions, and act as the primary University and College of Nursing liaison for the doctoral students. Vice President The Vice-President shall assist the president with his/her duties and preside over the organization in the president s absence. The Vice-President shall initiate review of the DNSO Constitution annually and submit the annual re-registration of existing student organizations to the USF Office of Student Organizations by the September due date each year. Secretary The Secretary shall record, keep, and make available copies of the meeting minutes and dispatch correspondence as directed by the President. The Secretary shall post the final meeting minutes on the Doctoral Community Blackboard page. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall receive, dispatch, and keep accurate records of all financial matters regarding the Doctoral Nursing Student Organization and submit annual budgets to the Financial Review for A&S allocation from the USF Student Government. B. Selection of officers for office The required officers are elected to serve a one year term beginning in June and ending in May. Non-USF student may not hold any leadership positions within the organization. C. Optional officer positions Additional officers may be added as deemed necessary by the DNSO Executive Board and membership. Additional officers may be created by a majority vote of the Executive Board of the organization. The duties and titles of these officers will be created and established in the organization s constitution. 7. Election of Officers: Election of new officers will take place during May of each year. One month prior to elections, the President must notify the members of the DNSO of the annual election of officers. Individuals interested in running for a position must complete a Consent to Serve form and return the form to the President to create the ballot. A ballot will be emailed to all members of the DNSO and an online voting system will be utilized with all responses remaining anonymous. Officers will be selected by a majority vote of all ballots cast. In the event of a tie, a run-off between those candidates who tied will take place the following week. If a tie still remains, the elected officer will be determined by a majority vote of the Executive Board, after individual interviews with the candidates. In the event that a required officer position becomes vacant during the school year, the President will announce the vacant position, request a Consent to Serve form from interested candidates, and conduct the election via the online voting system mentioned above. In the event that the President s position is vacated, the Vice-President takes on the interim responsibilities of the President and will announce the position as vacant. 8. Removal of Officers: If any officer of the DNSO fails to uphold the purpose and objectives of the organization, fulfill the duties of the office, meet membership requirements, or does not comply with University policies they may be subject to removal from office. Written notification must be provided to the DNSO Executive Board with the reason for removal of the officer in question. After the officer in question has had his/her right to speak to the Board on his/her behalf, a vote is taken from the Executive Board. The officer is question does not have a vote and shall be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Execute Board. 9. Advisor(s): The advisor must be a current USF faculty member teaching in the USF College of Nursing doctoral program. A minimum of one advisor is chosen annually. Members of the DNSO will be asked to make recommendations for advisors to the Executive Board. The Executive Board will choose an advisor by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Two advisors (one faculty member from each doctoral program) may also be selected if decided. The minimum duties for the advisor(s) shall be to: meet with the DNSO president and/or Executive Board a minimum of once a month be placed on all communication for the organization (i.e. Blackboard, listerves, etc)
assist in the interpretation on University policies and regulations provide financial and budgetary advice and insure that University policies and procedures are followed provide general guidance to the organization and its members on matters of the organization serve in the position until a successor is elected, if for any reason it is not possible to continue as the advisor to the organization 10. Meetings: A. Officer transition An officer transition meeting shall be held no later than 2 weeks following the election of new officer(s). B. General membership and officer meetings General membership and officer meetings will be held monthly with a minimum of 9 meetings annually. C. Calling special meetings The decision to call a special meeting shall be made by any officer of the Executive Board when deemed necessary. A minimum of 48 hours notice is necessary to call a special meeting. 11. Rules of Order: Meetings shall be run according to Robert's Rule of Order. 12. Amendments The Doctoral Nursing Student Organization shall operate in accordance to all University, Student Government, and the Office of Student Organizations provisions. The DNSO Executive Board shall review the constitution annually at the start of the new academic year in August. Members of the organization may propose changes to the constitution in writing to the Executive Board prior to their annual review. Amendments shall be prepared and presented to the membership prior to a vote. Amendments shall be passed by a majority vote of the voting DNSO membership. Amendments and revisions to the constitution must be reviewed by the Office of Student Organizations once adopted by the organization. 13. Hazing: USF Anti-Hazing policy: This organization prohibits its members, both individually and collectively from committing any acts of hazing as defined herein: Hazing means any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution. "Hazing" includes, but is not limited to, pressuring or coercing the student into violating state or federal law, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student, and also includes any activity that would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the student. Hazing does not
include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective. For the purpose of this section, any activity as described above upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with this organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be a forced activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding. 14. Organization Agreement: Organization agrees to abide by Florida State Statute #1006.63 regarding hazing. Furthermore, agrees to abide by all Office of Student Organizations policies as outlined in the student handbook, to check the organizations mailbox regularly, to communicate via email upon request, and to update the organization s records whenever there is a change. Completed by the DNSO on 6-12-09 Submitted and approved by the USF Office of Student Organizations on 6-16-09