University of Massachusetts Amherst Multicultural Greek Council Constitution & Bylaws Edited by: Sovanny Lim President (Spring 2016 - Fall 2016) Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority Inc. September 2016
Article I Name The name of this association shall be the University of Massachusetts- Amherst Multicultural Greek Council, also referred to as the UMass Amherst MGC Article II Objectives and Jurisdiction Section 1 - Objectives A. The objective of the Multicultural Greek Council shall be to develop and maintain fraternity life and interfraternity relations at a high level of accomplishment and in so doing to: i. Consider the goals and ideals of member groups as continually applicable to campus and personal life. ii. iii. Promote superior scholarship as basic to intellectual achievement. Cooperate with member fraternities/sororities and university administration in concern for cultural awareness and maintenance of high social and moral standards. iv. Act in accordance with all rules established by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Multicultural Greek Council, as to not violate the sovereignty, rights, and privileges of member fraternities and sororities. v. Be a forum for discussion of questions of interest to the university and the fraternity/sorority world. vi. Encourage social service and philanthropic activities for the development of members and the Amherst community. vii. Further leadership education and development within the Greek realm and on campus. Section 2 University Jurisdiction The University of Massachusetts Amherst Multicultural Greek Council is under the jurisdiction of the UMass Student Government Association Office, specifically the secretary of the registry, and therefore adheres and follows all regulations established by the school for Registered Student Organizations and fraternity/sorority organizations. Article III Membership Section 1 Council Membership As of 01/13/2016 the membership of the University of Massachusetts- Amherst Multicultural Greek Council is composed of the members of the following organizations at the University of Massachusetts- Amherst and nationals: Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Pi Delta Psi Fraternity, Inc. Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc.
Beta Chi Theta National Fraternity, Inc. Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. Chapters previously on this campus (inactive): Gamma Phi Sigma, Hermanos Unidos Fraternity, Inc. La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/ Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc. Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. Omega Psi Delta Sorority, Inc. Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Section 2 Active Membership A. Definition i. Organization that have undergraduate members or representation on campus. ii. Organizations in good financial standing. iii. Organizations that attend all meetings and events pertaining to the council and Office of Fraternities and Sororities B. Rights of Active Members i. Have full voice and voting rights. C. Expectations and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to i. Each organization must have at least two delegates at all MGC general body meetings and All Council (OFS) meetings 1. With the exception of organizations with 15 members or less. They can send two delegates 2. With the exception of organizations with 10 members or less. They can send one delegate 3. A delegate on the executive board can count as one delegate ii. Pay council dues of $30 by the 2 nd general body meeting (once per school year) 1. Dues will increase by $10 every week they are not turned in Section 3 Inactive Status A. Definition i. Organizations that have no undergraduate members or representation on campus. ii. Multicultural Greek Council organizations that have not paid all dues and fees to the Multicultural Greek Council by the end of the academic year. B. Procedures to become Active 1. Contact Office of Fraternities and Sororities 2. Contact the Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board 3. Fulfill the following Multicultural Greek Council Program Requirements in two
consecutive semesters: 1 Academic program 1 Cultural program 1 Community Service program 1 Social program * These events must be sponsored by the Multicultural Greek Council 1. Sponsored can be defined as: providing financial and social support. Up to the discussion of the executive board. 4. Fulfill the following Office of Fraternities and Sororities Program Requirements 1 Multiculturalism and/or diversity program 1 Substance Abuse program 1 Leadership and/or Organizational Issues program 5. If applicable, pay off all dues, fees, and debts of the organization within the Multicultural Greek Council. 6. Once all requirements have been completed, contact the Executive Board to set up a presentation date. 7. Directly after the presentation, each active organization of the Multicultural Greek Council will have a voice, but no vote, to determine whether the inactive group will be recognized by the Multicultural Greek Council. a. In this case, only the Executive Board will vote, considering the council s voice. b. The council president will notify the inactive group within 24 hours of the council s decision. 8. If not accepted, the inactive group can send the Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board a proposal for another presentation date. a. In this case, each active organization president and executive board member of the council will have a vote directly after the presentation 9. If not completed within two consecutive semesters, the inactive group must send the Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board a proposal requesting another presentation date (asking for an extension). This is will be discretion the executive board. 10. After the organization has been approved to be in the council, the organization will be considered under Probation Status the following semester a. While in probation status, organizations have a voice, but no voting rights. b. Organizations have at least 2 delegates at all MGC general body meetings, All Council meetings, and MGC events and community services. c. Must pay council dues of $30 by the 2 nd general body meeting of the semester
Section 4 - Interest Groups A. Definition i. Interest groups are fraternities or sororities interested in joining the Multicultural Greek Council that have not been previously recognized by the Multicultural Greek Council. B. Procedure to join the council 1. Be recognized by the National Board of the fraternity/sorority they are interested in joining (an official letter from their nationals to the executive board stating they are officially an interest group). 2. Contact Office of Fraternities and Sororities 3. Within one year of joining the council, be recognized by the University of Massachusetts Amherst as a Registered Student Organization 4. Contact the Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board and send a proposal to set up a presentation date. 5. Directly after the presentation, each active organization of the Multicultural Greek Council will have one vote to determine whether the interest group will be recognized by the Multicultural Greek Council. a. In the case of a tie, each member of the Executive Board will vote individually. 6. The council president will notify the interest group within 24 hours of the council s decision. a. If not accepted, the interest group can send the Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board a proposal for another presentation date 7. Once the interest group has been accepted by the Multicultural Greek Council, they have two consecutive semesters to become affiliated with the organization they are interested in. a. If not completed within two consecutive semesters, the interest group must send the Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board a proposal requesting another presentation date. 8. Once affiliated, interest groups must fulfill the following Multicultural Greek Council Program Requirements in two consecutive semesters 1 Academic program 1 Cultural program 1 Community Service program 1 Social program * These events must be sponsored by the Multicultural Greek Council 9. Interest groups must also fulfill the following Office of Fraternities and Sororities Program Requirements. 1 Multiculturalism and/or diversity program 1 Substance Abuse program 1 Leadership and/or Organizational Issues program 10. Upon event completion, the interest group must send the Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board a proposal for a follow-up presentation
11. Directly after the presentation, each active organization of the Multicultural Greek Council will have one vote to determine whether the interest group will be officially recognized by the Multicultural Greek Council. a. In the case of a tie, the Executive Board will vote individually. 12. The council president will notify the interest group within 24 hours of the council s decision. a. If not accepted, the interest group must meet with the Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board to discuss a new action plan regarding their events. Afterwards, send a new proposal for another presentation date. 13. Once officially recognized by the Multicultural Greek Council, the interest group will become an active organization under Probation Status a. While in probation status, organizations have a voice, but no voting rights. b. Organizations must have at least three delegates at all MGC general body meetings, All Council meetings, and MGC events and community services. c. Pay council dues of $30 by the 3 rd week of the semester Article IV Executive Board Section 1 Executive Board A. The officers of the University of Massachusetts- Amherst Multicultural Greek Council shall be President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Parliamentarian/Events Coordinator, Four Council Liaison/Publicity. i. They shall serve as officers of the Multicultural Greek Council and shall have powers and duties as prescribed in the Constitution of the University of Massachusetts- Amherst Multicultural Greek Council. ii. The Executive Board shall have the power of the general Council in emergencies that necessitate action between meetings. A report of such actions must be made at the following general body meeting. iii. Executive Board shall meet every other week in between General Body meetings. iv. Any officer can be impeached or asked to resign by the majority (3/4) of the Council for just cause. B. Duties a. President- the general duties and responsibilities of the President include, but are not limited to, the following: i. Maintaining lines of communication with the Office of Fraternities and Sororities ii. Encouraging each organization to take initiative in creating and implementing ideas/events iii. Holding officers and organizations accountable for their goals and responsibilities
iv. Prepare general body agenda and send to secretary for revision and distribution v. Delegating tasks to officers on the executive board b. Vice President- the general duties and responsibilities of the Vice President include, but are not limited to, the following: i. Assume the responsibility of the president in her/his absence ii. Maintaining lines of communication with the executive board and each individual organization iii. Support the president, and perform any duties assigned by the president c. Treasurer i. Maintain accurate records of expenditures and receipts of all funds ii. Handle all financial exchanges iii. Collects semester dues iv. Prepares/monitors budget for each year v. Serve as authorized signer for the Multicultural Greek Council vi. In absence of president and vice president, the treasurer will be an interim d. Secretary i. Record all attendance and take minutes at all executive board and general body meetings ii. Print out and distribute agenda to the executive board and delegates iii. iv. Send out general body minutes to presidents and delegates Maintain and distribute current contact information list of the executive board of the council, the presidents of each organizations, and delegates. e. Parliamentarian/Event Coordinator i. Enforce the Multicultural Greek Council regulations, constitution and policies. ii. Review constitution every year with the executive board iii. Be in charge of room bookings, campus pulse event submissions, and duties affiliated with coordinating an event iv. Work in conjunction with the Four Council Liaison/Public Relations chair f. Four Council Liaison/Public Relations i. Maintain lines of communication amongst the rest of the councils ii. Compile a list of events from other councils to present to the Multicultural Greek Council general body iii. Promote the image of the Multicultural Greek Council through various
iv. social network sites. Promote Multicultural Greek Council events and be in charge of creating flyers for such events Section 2 Eligibility, Nomination, and Voting Process A. Eligibility a. The officers shall be delegated from fraternities/sororities holding active membership in the University of Massachusetts- Amherst Multicultural Greek Council. b. In order to be nominated and elected for an Executive Board position, the individual must be an enrolled undergraduate student during both semesters of his/her term and have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. The individual must also have been on the council previously for at least one semester. i. To run for President, candidate must have been on the executive board of their organization before for at least one full term and not be current President of any other Registered Student Organizations. B. Nomination a. Nominations will be held the second to last general body meeting of the semester. The candidate must be nominated by him/herself or any other council member. i. Nominations can be accepted or denied by the nominee at the second to last general body meeting. ii. Maximum of 2 nominees per organization per position. C. Elections a. Elections will be done last general body meeting of the fall semester (Jan-Dec). The day of elections, each candidate must come with a speech and be prepared for a possible Q&A session afterwards. b. In the case if a nominee could not attend the election they forfeit their nomination. c. The general body delegates will be given one pre-printed ballot per organization to cast their vote. Executive board has 1 vote per position separate from his or her organization. i. If a delegate will be absent, the delegate must notify an officer of the Executive Board and designate a convenient time to cast their vote. ii. All ballots will be given to the executive board and the new Executive Board will be announced at the end of the last meeting. iii. Each candidate must win by a simple majority iv. In the case of a tie the executive board will make the final decision.