The Constitution of Students Consulting for Non-profit Organizations, Northwestern University Chapter (SCNO)

Transcription

1 The Constitution of Students Consulting for Non-profit Organizations, Northwestern University Chapter (SCNO) We, the people of Students Consulting for Non-profit Organizations at Northwestern University, in Order to form a more perfect student organization, establish procedures, insure group tranquility, provide for community development, and secure the longevity and success of our goal, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Students Consulting for Non-profit Organizations, Northwestern University Chapter. Article I: Name of Organization Section 1: Formal Name This organization shall be named Students Consulting for Non-profit Organizations, Northwestern University Chapter. Section 2: Acronym In this Constitution and across all Northwestern-related paperwork, Students Consulting for Non-profit Organizations, Northwestern University Chapter will be abbreviated as SCNO. Article II: Statement of Purpose Section 1: Guiding Principles SCNO is a student-run organization created with the goal of providing pro-bono consulting services to non-profit organizations in order to benefit the community. Section 2: Mission The objectives of SCNO are twofold: 1) To provide non-profit organizations with meaningful strategic consulting services to achieve significant results in the community 2) To foster opportunities for students to develop professional skills and gain practical consulting experience. Article III: Rules and Regulations SCNO shall comply with all local, state, and federal laws. Article IV: General Membership Section 1: Eligibility The right to apply for membership in SCNO shall be open to all Northwestern University students in good academic standing. Section 2: Non-discrimination Policy SCNO does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, housing or services or in the educational programs or activities it operates. Harassment, whether verbal, physical or visual, that is based on any of these characteristics, is a form of

2 discrimination. This includes harassing conduct affecting tangible job benefits, interfering unreasonably with an individual's academic or work performance, or creating what a reasonable person would sense is an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. Section 3: Student Consultants Members of SCNO are defined as those students who receive an offer of membership, accept the offer, and continue to live up to the standards expected of SCNO members. These members will be called Student Consultants. Section 4: Role of the Student Consultant Student Consultants contribute to the organization and to the community by working together on a Project Team or as part of the Executive Board. Section 5: Active and Inactive Members Active members of SCNO are defined to be Student Consultants who are involved in a project or on the Executive Board during the ongoing quarter. Inactive members of SCNO are defined to be Student Consultants who are not on a project or on the Executive Board during the ongoing quarter. All Student Consultants who were considered active during the spring quarter of any year will also be considered active during the summer of the same year. Section 6: Removal of Membership A. Any Student Consultant who is inactive for two or more consecutive quarters is subject to be removed from the ranks of membership. B. Any Student Consultant who resigns from their project team without seeing the project to the end is subject to be removed from the ranks of membership. C. Any Student Consultant who fails to meet reasonable standards of attendance or contribution to team effort is subject to be removed from the ranks of membership. D. Any Student Consultant who is purposefully disrespectful of clients or Professional Mentors is subject to be removed from the ranks of membership. E. The decision to remove a Student Consultant from the organization must be made by a 2/3 vote of the Executive board. Article V: Executive Board Section 1: Definition The Executive Board is an appointed group of Student Consultants responsible for developing a productive and efficient environment within the organization. They shall establish the long-term and operational plans necessary to continue providing valuable consulting services to non-profit organizations. Section 2: Positions and Responsibilities The Executive Board shall be composed of five specific roles. All roles with the exception of Project Manager shall be held by exactly one member. The positions and responsibilities shall be: A. President

3 i. Act as the chief executive officer of the organization. ii. Organize and chair all Executive Board meetings. iii. Set organizational goals for SCNO and the Executive Board. iv. Oversee all work performed by Student Consultants and members of the Executive Board, with the duty of providing guidance and support wherever necessary. v. Manage the Professional Mentor Program. vi. Serve as the representative of SCNO to the University and the community. B. Director of Operations i. Oversee the work of the Project Teams and Project Managers. ii. Coordinate Team Lead training at the beginning of each quarter. iii. Maintain the long-term feedback system with former clients. iv. Organize professional programming. v. Manage the finances and maintain the assets of SCNO. vi. Administer the SCNO website. C. Director of Community Development i. Serve as the primary client-facing side of SCNO. ii. Coordinate client recruitment, project selection, and the creation of Project Teams. iii. Manage client interactions with teams. iv. Organize and administer client feedback. D. Director of Human Resources i. Coordinate Student Consultant recruitment and retention. ii. Coordinate Team Lead selection and the creation of Project Teams. iii. Oversee all human resources issues within teams. iv. Organize programs to build community. v. Conduct internal team feedback at the end of every project cycle. E. Project Manager i. Oversee the work of two or more Project Teams. ii. Report to Executive Board on the progress of said Project Teams. iii. Assist said teams by providing guidance and resources. iv. Contribute to internal projects that further the purpose of SCNO. v. Multiple members may share the role of Project Manager in order that all Project Teams receive adequate assistance. Section 3: Shared Responsibilities Executive Board members, as with all members of SCNO, are expected to work together as a team. Responsibilities are fluid and are shared across all members of the board. All board members are expected to participate on ad-hoc committees that may be formed by the Executive Board to achieve directed goals. Section 4: Necessary and Proper The Executive Board is charged to take on any directives necessary to aid the accomplishment of stated responsibilities or which directly further the goals of SCNO. Section 5: Eligibility Requirements

4 All Student Consultants who have been a member of at least one Project Team are eligible to serve on the Executive Board. Section 6: Appointment All members of the Executive Board members shall be appointed their position by a committee of all graduating seniors from the previous Executive Board. If there are fewer than two graduating seniors in the previous Executive Board, the committee shall be composed of all graduating seniors in the organization. If there are fewer than two graduating seniors in the entire organization, the committee shall be composed of the three Student Consultants with the most quarters in which they were an active member. Section 7: Installation Appointment of a new Executive Board shall take place annually and no later than the end of Winter Quarter. Installation of the new Executive Board will be at the discretion of the outgoing board, but will take place no later than the first day of the Spring Quarter immediately following appointment. Unless specifically chosen to serve a second term, all members on the outgoing board shall surrender their position at the time of transition. Section 8: Term Length A. The President, Director of Operations, Director of Community Development, and Directory of Human Resources shall serve a term which extends from the start of the Spring Quarter in which they take office to the end of the following Winter Quarter. B. Project Managers appointed in Winter Quarter will serve a term concurrent with the other members of the Executive Board. C. Project Managers may be added or removed during the year as deemed necessary to meet demands of current projects. The addition of a Project Manager shall be by unanimous appointment by all current members on the Executive Board. The removal of a Project Manager shall be by voluntary withdrawal or by 2/3 vote of the Executive Board. Section 9: Removal from Executive Board Any Executive Board member who does not fulfill the responsibilities of their position is subject to removal from the board. Any board member may call a vote for the removal of another board member. The decision to remove a member from the Executive Board shall then made by a 3/4 majority of all other Executive Board members. Once removed from the Executive Board, the member may also be removed from the organization using Article IV, Section 6. Section 10: Vacancies and Succession If a vacancy occurs in any position, the remainder of the Executive Board will decide how to best fill the vacancy, either by absorbing the responsibilities internally or unanimously appointing someone to the role. Article VI: Project Teams Section 1: Definition

5 A. Project Teams are groups of Students Consultants who work together to provide consulting services to a non-profit client, under the direction of the Team Lead, Project Manager, and Executive Board. B. Project teams will be formed by the Director of Community Development and the Director of Human Resources. C. Project teams are disbanded at the conclusion of the project engagement. Section 2: Team Lead Project Teams are led by one Student Consultant, called the Team Lead. The Team Lead is appointed by the Executive Board. Responsibilities of the Team Lead include leadership of the Student Consultants on the team, facilitating contact with the client and the professional mentor, communicating progress with the Project Manager and Executive Board, and ultimate ownership for the success of the project. The term of the Team Lead ends at the conclusion of the project engagement. Section 3: Vacancies and Succession If a vacancy within a Project Team occurs, the Executive Board shall decide how to best fill the vacancy, either by absorbing the responsibilities internally or unanimously appointing someone to the role. Article VII: Professional Mentor Program To the best of the Executive Board s ability, all project teams shall be paired with a professional consultant mentor. The mentor will provide guidance and advice to the project team during the course of the non-profit consulting engagement. Article VIII: Advisor The advisor of SCNO shall be a full-time faculty, administrator, or staff member at Northwestern University. Article IX: Amendments to the Constitution Section 1: Submission Amendments to this constitution shall be submitted to the President in writing by any Student Consultant. Section 2: Vote A 2/3 vote of the Executive Board is required for the submission to be considered. Once this vote is passed, a simple majority vote of Student Consultants is required for final approval. Article X: Disillusion of Organization Section 1: Process SCNO may be dissolved after dissolution is approved by Student Consultants in a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of active members, provided that a notice of the vote on dissolution is furnished to all Student Consultants at least sixty (60) days prior to the vote. Section 2: Obligations

6 Upon dissolution, the Executive Board will utilize assets of the organization to pay all obligations and expenses of the organization.