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Table of Contents (click on a section to go there) Article I-Name Article II-Purpose Article III-Membership Article IV-Officers and Organizational Structure Article V-Committees Article VI-Advisor Article VII-Meetings Article VIII-Rules of Procedure Article IX-Finances Article X-Amendments Article XI-Process for Dissolution
-Name- The name of the organization shall be the Nebraska University Pre-Veterinary Club. -Purpose- The Purpose of this organization is to maintain and increase the interest of college students pursuing the pre-professional course of study of veterinary medicine by: A. Inviting speakers involved in the different fields of veterinary medicine to speak at regular meetings of the organization. B. Acquainting members with the varied aspects of veterinary medicine and allied animal health by allowing interaction with the faculty and staff of the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. C. Acquainting the members with professional veterinary colleges and the requirements of each. D. Bringing about a closer relationship among students pursuing some phase of veterinary medicine as a profession. -Membership- Section 1 Eligibility of Members A. This organization does not discriminate in the selection of members or appointments when discrimination is defined as denying individuals membership or appointment on the basis of gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, disability, marital status, veteran’s status, national or ethnic origin, gender identity or expression, place of residence, or sexual orientation. B. This organization shall consist of at least five currently enrolled student members. Non-students will be allowed to participate in any student organization activity as long as they are in compliance and accordance with the club’s risk management policy. Non-students, however, will not be voting members or elected or appointed officers. A non-student is someone who is not currently enrolled at Nebraska University for the fall or spring semesters. Section 2 Interested students may become members by: A. Payment of annual dues. B. Meeting one of two membership classes as outlined in Article III, Section 3. Section 3 Two classes of membership shall exist. Their respective eligibility requirements are as follows: A. Regular Membership 1. Currently enrolled NU student 2. Payment of dues before the third regular Club meeting (transfer students and students changing major may pay prior to second regular meeting of second semester) B. Associate Membership 1. Non NU student 2. Payment of dues before the fourth regular Club meeting Section 4 Membership Status A. New Members will attain Regular Membership status after attending 2 of 3 new member meetings as well as the requirements listed above for regular membership status in Article III, Section 3. 1. If an individual is unable to attend new member meetings, prior arrangements may be made and substituted with the new member educator. 2. Individuals seeking membership after new member education must coordinate a new member education program with the new member educator in place of the new member meetings. Section 5 Revocation of Membership A. Basis for Revocation: 1. The Club members are to meet UNL requirements for participation in extracurricular activities along with higher standards set by the Club’s Risk Management Policy. If a member does not meet UNL requirements for participation in extracurricular activities and does not sign and comply with the NU Pre-Veterinary Club Risk Management Policy membership may be revoked. 2. The Club members are to maintain orderly conduct and moral character. If a member does not meet these basic requirements, membership may be revoked. B. Process of Membership Revocation: 1. First, a complaint must be filed against the member with the Vice President. The member will be posted on the next immediate Executive Meeting Agenda. After a formal appeal is made by the member stating his/her case to the executive team, the present executive officers will vote by simple majority to determine if the complaint against the member will be dropped or if the complaint warrants the vote of regular members at the next regular club meeting. a. In the event that the executive officers vote by simple majority to drop the complaint, the issue will be dropped. b. In the event that the executive team votes by simple majority that the complaint be voted upon by regular members at the next regular meeting, a 2/3 vote of regular members will result in the revocation of all membership. 2. Revocation of membership shall not result in any refund of dues or other fees. 3. Revocation of membership shall be effective immediately and for the following two full regular academic semesters. -Officers and Organizational Structure- Section 1 The officers of the Pre-Veterinary Club consist of and are ranked as follows: an upper-class President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Program Coordinator, a Public Relations Chair, a Service Chair, a Historian, three Committee Heads, and two New Student Representatives. Section 2 A. It shall be the duty of the President to preside over all club meetings and all executive committee meetings and direct the activities of the organization. B. It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to act in the absence or disability of the President and to aid in the directing of the activities of the organization. The Vice-President is also in charge of organizing the annual Spring Banquet, coordinating the Club vote for all-university officer awards, seeking and developing scholarship opportunities, facilitating new member meetings, and head any constitution revisions. C. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to take minutes of the organizational meetings, give the minutes to the historian to be posted on the club web page and on electronic mail to members. It is the responsibility of the Secretary to handle all necessary correspondence, including mailings and Club point totals. The Secretary shall also maintain the club listserve and serve as the coordinator of the mentor task force for incoming members. D. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to maintain accurate financial records and preside over all financial matters of the Club. The Treasurer is to attend training offered by the Student Organization Financial Services and submit a budget at the first meeting of the year. The Treasurer must also present a financial report along with any budgetary changes at each monthly organizational meeting. E. It shall be the duty of the Program Coordinator to schedule the speakers for the regular Club meetings and to order annual Pre-Veterinary Club wearing apparel. F. It shall be the duty of the Public Relations Chair to advertise and promote regular Club meetings and Club activities. The Public Relations Chair is also responsible for semester correspondence with the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association. G. It shall be the duty of the Service Chair to coordinate and execute community involvement and volunteer opportunities for the Club. 1. Due to the overlapping nature of their duties and task objectives, the offices of Public Relations Chair and Service Chair shall share the responsibility of fundraising for the Pre-Veterinary Club. H. It shall be the duty of the Historian to keep accurate accounts of all Club activities and correspondence organized into an annual scrapbook. The Historian also maintains the Club World Wide Web page, post minutes and announcements on the web page, maintain the public display cases, and coordinate yearly student photographs. I. It shall be the duty of the Committee Heads to be responsible for the handling of Club tours and coordinating the efforts of the various committees. The Committee Heads shall also be responsible to coordinate and execute at least one Club social activity during each of the fall and spring semesters. J. It shall be the duty of the New Student Representatives to plan social events for the club during the school year. It is also the duty of the New Student Representative to help other club officers as needed. Section 3 A. Officers must meet the UNL requirements for participation in extracurricular activities and must have regular membership status in Pre-Veterinary Club. B. Nomination for an office is made by recognition of the speaker of the floor or by submission of an application for any office. Nominations made off the floor shall consist of a written expression of intent to run for an office in the form of a sign-up sheet. In case of an unsuccessful run for an office, a candidate will also give a written expression of intent to run for any other two subsequent offices. The sign up sheet shall be present for use at the meeting prior to the election date and shall be available in VBS 112 until fourteen days prior to the March election date. Any expression of intent to run submitted after this deadline shall not be officially recognized. 1. Each candidate must submit a Vision Statement for the primary and other offices in which they are running. Vision Statements shall be available for posting fourteen days prior to March elections in VBS 112 and on the Club’s official Web page. A Vision Statement shall consist of: a. Approximately one-half page of letter paper b. Single spaced c. Twelve point font d. Candidate’s future goals/ideas for the primary and other offices in which he or she is running and how he or she will aid in the betterment of the Club. C. The prescribed election procedure to be used by the organization will be that nominations will be taken during the February meeting and elections will be held at the March meeting. Each nominee will be allowed to present a two-minute speech to share his/her ideas and goals for the main office for which he/she is running. A one-minute speech will be allowed to present ideas for any subsequent office if the person was not elected to their primary choice of office. Election to office will be by a plurality secret ballot vote of the active members present. Only regular members present for the official election shall be eligible to vote. There shall be no absentee ballot. 1. New Student Representatives shall be elected during the November New Student Member Meeting. D. The term of office shall be for one year. Section 4 An Election Committee (EC) shall be composed of four non-returning fourth year members. In the event that this is not possible, the Club adviser shall appoint impartial Club members to the Election Committee. A. The EC shall consist of: 1. One chairperson who shall facilitate the Club vote 2. A runner who shall assist the chairperson with the Club vote and immediately run the collected ballots to the two-committee member counting ballots 3. Two counters shall be positioned outside of the voting room and shall immediately perform each official ballot count and record and report the results C. The EC shall be responsible for collecting the list of nominees from VBS 112 on the seventh day prior to the election date and preparing the ballots for each office with the name of every individual running for each office. D. The EC shall also be responsible for preparing an overhead projector transparency of each ballot that shall function to display all write-in candidates. No vote for an office shall take place until the ballots from the previous vote have been officially counted and all write-ins are properly displayed on the projector screen and recognized by the Club members voting. Section 5 A. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the President, the Vice-President will automatically fill this vacancy. B. Vacancies occurring in any office other than the President shall be filled by the candidate with the next highest votes not already elected for an office. If the office is turned down, vacancies are filled by nomination from the floor and a majority vote of regular members present. C. Only regular members may fill a vacant office and only regular members are able to be nominated to run for an office. Section 6 Impeachment proceedings will be brought against any officer for the following reasons: 1. Any dereliction of duty 2. Conduct unbecoming of an officer 3. Violation of Risk Management Policy
An officer may be removed from office in the following manner: A. Impeachment charges must be brought against the officer by an regular member or adviser of the Club at one of the regular meetings. B. A special meeting will be called for impeachment proceedings. The highest-ranking officer not charged with impeachment shall preside over the hearing. 1. Each side will have the opportunity to represent themselves at the hearing. C. Following the hearing, a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of regular members present shall be required to find the accused officer guilty and removed from office. -Committees- Section 1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the Club officers and the faculty adviser(s). Their duties shall be to oversee the operation of the Club. The President shall serve as the chair of the Executive Committee. Section 2 Other Committees of the organization will be as decided by the Club based on their need. Their duties will consist of those assigned by the Club or the Executive Committee. -Advisor- Section 1 This organization shall have one Primary Advisor, which must be a permanent Academic/Administrative or Managerial/Professional faculty/staff member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and may have any number of Secondary Advisors, which may be permanent Academic/Administrative, Managerial/Professional, or Office/Service staff members or Graduate Assistants of the University of Nebraska. Only the Primary Advisor may approve expenditures of funds. Section 2 The club shall seek the assistance of the Head of the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and Student Involvement to appoint the Advisor. If possible, the Club recommends that the new Advisor shadow the current Advisor in Club activities until responsibilities are mastered. Section 3 The position of advisor shall be re-evaluated every two years beginning in the 2004-2005 academic year. A. The evaluation to take place every two years will consist of a written evaluation by each member of the club. The written evaluation will detail advisor commitment, involvement, willingness, and the club members recommendation to keep/eliminate the advisor. 1. The written evaluations will be anonymous and compiled by the President, Vice President, and one New Student Representative. Only the President, Vice President, and New Member Representatives will see the evaluation. 2. The written evaluation shall be in a standard form, created by the current Vice President, and approved by the Executive Committee. B. A general summary of the written evaluations will be presented to the club members in the absence of the advisor. Discussion shall follow written evaluation summary. C. After sufficient discussion, a majority vote of regular members present will determine if the advisor shall remain, or if the club will eliminate the current advisor and seek to a new advisor. D. The evaluation process shall take place at the end of the said academic years. E. A motion may be made by a regular member at any time during the year to re-evaluate the position of club advisor. At the time of the motion, a majority vote of regular members must approve the evaluation of the advisor position. After the motion to evaluate the club advisor is made, the club advisor shall not be present for the vote of active and dues-paid members to determine if the club will proceed with the motion to evaluate the advisor. F. At no time during the evaluation process will the advisor hear, participate, or be present for discussion. At no time will the advisor ever receive a summary of or see written evaluations. Section 4 It shall be the duty of the adviser to assist the Club and provide a source of information, guidance, and continuity in handling Club affairs. Article VII -Meetings- Section 1 The monthly organizational meetings of the Pre-Veterinary Club shall be held on the second Wednesday of every month, September through April, at 7:00PM in the East Campus Student Union. The President may call a special meeting at any time. Section 2 The regular membership present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Section 3 Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the recognized authority of procedure. -Rules of Procedure- Section 1 The legislative powers (regular voting privileges) of this organization will consist of the majority of the regular members. Section 2 The executive powers of this organization will consist of the Executive Committee of the Club. Section 3 The judicial powers of this organization will consist of the majority of the regular membership of the Club. -Finances- Section 1 Dues for membership in the organization will be determined by the executive committee and approved by the regular membership. Section 2 Alternative funding will be proposed and executed as needed by the regular membership of the Club. Section 3 Organizational monies will be handled by the Student Organizational Fund regardless of the source. Section 4 No part of the net earnings of the Pre-Veterinary Club shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered. The organization shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of the 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Laws). -Amendments- Section 1 Methods of adopting amendments: A. Amendments may be proposed by any regular member at a regular meeting of the Pre-Veterinary Club. B. Proposed amendments shall be read and discussed at the regular meeting proceeding the time of voting upon the amendment. C. Ratification of an amendment shall require and affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of regular members present. D. All amendments must be approved my ASUN. Section 2 All amendments shall take effect immediately, unless otherwise stated. The constitution is effective as of October 13, 2004. Section 3 Revisions to the constitution or revised editions of the constitution must be approved according to Sections 11-15 as outlined in the Organic Act for Approval of New Organizations and Constitutional Amendments. This approval comes from ASUN. -Process for Dissolution- Upon dissolution of the Pre-Veterinary Club, the exiting Executive Committee shall, in coordination with the exiting Club advisor and after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the organization, forward any remaining assets of the organization to the Nebraska University Office of Student Involvement for the promotion and support of student organizations in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. | ||
