Constitution for UNC CH ScienceDays University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Transcription

1 Constitution for UNC CH ScienceDays University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE Section A: NAME Part 1.The official name for this organization is the UNC CH ScienceDays. Section B: PURPOSE Part 1.The purpose of this organization is to foster scientific curiosity in elementary students by engaging them in hands on learning opportunities beyond the ordinary classroom experience. By providing science enrichment in a variety of fields, we hope to lay out the possibilities for pursuing science careers as well as introducing a broad spectrum of science related issues with burning relevance today and years to come. Part 2.All activities of this organization must be directed toward this purpose. ARTICLE II.MEMBERSHIP Section A: REQUIREMENTS Part 1. All currently enrolled UNC CH undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to be members. Part 2. All other UNC CH staff, faculty, alumni, and alumnae are eligible to be non voting members Part 3 All members are required to demonstrate support for the purpose of this organization. Part 4. Membership decisions will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion or creed, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation. Section B. RIGHTS Part 1. All members are eligible to attend all meetings and programs for this organization. Part 2. If a fee is charged to attend a particular event, the membership will establish a fee scale for voting members, non voting members, and others as appropriate. Section C. WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP Part 1. Members may have their membership withdrawn for failure to adhere to the requirements for membership as stated above. Part 2. A simple majority vote of the quorum of membership at a regular or special meeting shall be sufficient to withdraw membership. Part 3. Members to be voted upon in this regard will be notified of the intention to do so in writing at least one week prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken. ARTICLE III. OFFICERS Section A: OFFICER TITLES Internal Coordinators External Coordinator Treasurer President(s) Section B. DUTIES Part 1. The Co Presidents will: Split up the following roles as they see fit:

2 Serve as the primary contact Maintain contact with faculty advisor(s) Plan and execute executive board meetings Plan and execute general body meetings Maintain regular contact with all executive board members to track progress and provide assistance as needed Check/respond to s in the ScienceDays gmail account regularly Send organization wide s Maintain relations with partnerships on and off campus Maintain relations with the national board and other local ScienceDays chapters Coordinate evaluation and assessments for all committees Part 3. Internal Coordinator(s) will: Maintain contact with program coordinator of their respective site Facilitate communication between community partner organizations and the ScienceDays volunteers Plan logistics for weekly lesson plans carried out at their own respective location Have efficient and prompt communication with volunteers to let them know the protocol for preparation for the week's visit, transportation to the site, and teaching the lesson to the kids Speak with organization contact to configure when visits will take place, how many volunteers are needed, and any restrictions or guidelines ScienceDays must adhere to during the visits Part 4. Public Relations Coordinator will: Manage Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress, and Instagram pages to reflect the work of the organization Create fliers, publications, and social media to effectively publicize the student organization Part 5. The Financial Directors will: Take the Treasurer test Be responsible for all financial transactions with the Student Activities Fund Office (SAFO) Maintain records of all finances Write budget proposals for Student Congress funding Assist in grant writing ventures Take meeting minutes for executive board meetings Part 6. The Lesson Planning Coordinator will: Responsible for running monthly lesson planning committee meetings. Collaborate with lesson planning committee members to write the weekly lesson plans that will complement current science curriculum Collaborate with mentors to assess the effectiveness of previous lesson plans and teaching styles Converse with the Education department and seek out other recognized resources about best practices of creating STEM lesson plans Part 7: The Community Outreach Coordinator will:

3 Responsible for coordinating all community outreach STEM events Seek out new partnerships and sustainable relationships with community members. Serve as the main contact person with established community partners Form collaborations with other organizations on UNC s campus to co host outreach events Coordinate volunteers and planning meetings for these events Part 6. The Executive Board includes the Co Presidents, Internal Coordinators, Community Outreach Coordinator, Public Relations Coordinator, Lesson Planning Coordinator, and Treasurer Section C. REQUIREMENTS FOR RUNNING FOR AND HOLDING OFFICE Part 1. All officers and candidates for office must be currently enrolled as UNC CH students. Part 2. All officers must be voting members of UNC CH ScienceDays, unless an exception is approved by a two thirds majority vote by the executive board. Section D. APPLICATION Part 1. Current officers have the option to retain their position Part 2. Any open positions will require submitting an application, which will be reviewed anonymously by current executive board members. Section E. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE Part 1. Officers may be removed from office for failure to perform duties or for violation of membership clause. Part 2. Officers to be voted upon in this regard will be notified of the intention to do so in writing at least one week prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken. Part 3. A majority of quorum present at a regularly scheduled meeting shall be sufficient for removal form office. Section F. TERMS OF OFFICE AND VACANCIES Part 1. The term of office shall be from the first of April the current year to the first of April the subsequent year. Part 2. Should a vacancy in office occur, there will be another nomination procedure and election for the vacant office. Part 3. In the meantime, the President(s) will take over the duties of the vacant position. ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS Section A: Regular Executive Board meetings will be held at least once a month. Section B: General body meetings will be held every month. Section C: Special meetings may be called by any board officer. Notice of special meetings must be communicated to all members at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES Section A. LESSON PLANNING COMMITTEE Part 1. The purpose of the Lesson Planning Committee is to decide which lessons will be administered at the after school mentoring programs for the upcoming month at each of the community partners. Lessons will either be picked and modified from the national ScienceDays database, or will be designed by committee members based on which topics they would like to see emphasized. The planning committee consists of a group of selected students.

4 Part 2. All decisions of the Lesson Planning Committee will be upheld if the majority of the committee members vote in favor of them. Section B. COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE Part 1. Community Outreach Committee will plan enrichment events to engage students beyond the after school program i.e. with field trips, STEM nights, science fairs, socials, etc. Part 2. Decisions will be upheld if the majority of the committee members vote in favor of them Section C. PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE Part 1. Public Relations committee will be tasked with branding of ScienceDays, developing social marketing strategies, maintaining social media presence, and designing fliers/t shirts Part 2. Decisions will be agreed upon by executive board, and in certain cases by a vote from the members Section D. OTHER COMMITTEES Part 1. Other committees may be appointed by the Executive Board. Part 2. In appointing such committees, the Executive Board must specify the purpose and chair or co char of that committee, and establish its duration. ARTICLE VI. AFFILIATIONS Section A. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Part 1. This organization is a recognized student organization at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but is not part of the University itself. Part 2. In all correspondence and transactions, it may refer to itself as an organization at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but not as part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill itself. Part 3. UNC CH ScienceDays accepts full financial and production responsibility for all activities it sponsors. Part 4. UNC CH ScienceDays agrees to abide by all pertinent UNC CH policies and regulations. Where UNC CH policies and regulations and those of UNC CH ScienceDays differ, the policies and regulations of UNC CH will take precedence. Part 5. This organization recognizes and understands that the University assumes no legal liability for the actions of the organization, and that the University is not providing blanket indemnification insurance coverage for any activities of the organization, unless those activities expressly benefit and further the goals of the University, and have received prior review, approval, and consent of Campus Activities, Risk Management, and/or General Counsel. ARTICLE VII. FACULTY/STAFF ADVISOR Section A. ADVISOR REQUIREMENTS Part 1. As a recognized student organization at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC CH ScienceDays is required to have an official advisor from the UNC CH faculty and/or staff. Part 2. Other persons may serve as special advisors as needed. Section B. DUTIES Part 1. The advisor must sign the recognition application each year, or whenever officer information changes or amendments are made to the constitution. Part 2. Officers should meet with the advisor two times per year.

5 ARTICLE VIII. BY LAWS AND AMENDMENTS Section A. BY LAWS Part 1. By laws can be added to this constitution by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board.. Part 2. This constitution takes precedence over any and all by laws. Section B. AMENDMENTS Part 1. This constitution can be amended by a two thirds vote of the Executive Board.. Part 2. Notification of such a motion must be made to members at least one meeting in advance of the one in which the actual vote is taken. Signed: Sangeetha Kumar and Amber Gautam (Co Presidents)