Constitution

ARTICLE I

This organization shall hereafter be known as the United Colors Organization.
 

ARTICLE II

The purpose of the United Colors Organization shall be the following:


To sustain a support system both socially and academically for University of Scranton students.

To promote diversity and the idea of multiculturalism on the University of Scranton campus as well as in the community.

To work with local organizations as well as other clubs on campus in order to achieve these goals.

To make available to students literature and cultural activities which pertains to elements of ethnicity.

To work with the admissions office to aid in the recruitment of minorities to the University in an effort to ethnically equalize the student population.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP



We agree that 90 % of our organizations participants will be enrolled in one of the schools or colleges of the University of Scranton.

Membership Requirements

All official members must pay dues at the start of the school year. While no one will be barred from participating in any way in events, trips and cultural events, other benefits of being an official member will be withheld until that fee has been paid.
 

ARTICLE IV ELECTIONS



The collective body shall be comprised of all members who have fulfilled their membership obligations. They shall be the electorate.

Each candidate is responsible to know and adhere to any policies as put forth by the election committee. The election will be formatted within the guidelines used by the Student Government.

The elections commissioner shall be the Election commissioner appointed by the Office of Student Activities for that particular school year.

All elections shall be held before March 15th at a designated time and location.

In the event of a tie, the tying parties shall participate in a run-off two days after the general election. All voters may vote again.

Vacancies:

Any Executive Board vacancies shall be appointed by the President.

Format

The elections will be held no earlier than February 15th and no later than March 15th.

Students wishing to run for a position on the Executive Board (President, Vice-President, Budget Director, Secretary) should put together a ticket of 4 individuals for these four positions.

Students wishing to run for a position on the Executive Board as one of the four subcommittee heads must run as separate individuals.

note: United Colors House Programming Coordinator is selected through the Resident Assistant process within the Office of Residence Life.

The format of the election will follow that of the Students Government elections.

Each ticket running for office, as well as each individuals required to have a platform and must attend the forum in order to expose that platform to voting members.

Between the election of the United Colors officers and the end of the school year, current officers will slowly give control of the organization to the newly elected officials. This time will serve as a training session for new officials. By the end of the year, newly elected officials should be doing all or most of the work.

ARTICLE V EXECUTIVE BOARD

Authority

The executive board derives its authority from the united colors existence as a club under the office of student activities. It must therefore follow all of the rules and regulations pertaining thereto.

Membership

The executive board shall consist of the President, Vice-president, Budget Director, Secretary(s) and Executive Subcommittee Chairs.

Job descriptions
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PRESIDENT
o Represent and be the spokesperson for the Organization
o Oversee and be the liaison to connected organizations such as United Colors House, Gospel Choir, the UC Cabinet of the President
o Lead the bi-weekly meeting with all Executive officers.
o Delegate tasks and direction to the Executive office.
o Prepare a propose calendar of events.
o Carry out the policies and decisions of the Organization.

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CO-PRESIDENT
o When the president cannot represent the club, must assume the responsibilities
o Coordinating events, speakers, workshop and activities.
o Responsible for paperwork and booking of events and facilities.
o Delegate tasks and direction to the members.
o Carry out the policies and decisions of the Organization.
o Prepare a propose calendar of events.

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FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT

o Lead discussions/forums.
o Assist the Co-president in coordinating events, speakers, workshops, and activities.
o Responsible; for community services.

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SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT

o Responsible for publicity.
o Responsible for providing information to students, faculty, staff, administration etc. via brochures, newsletters, webpage.
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TREASURER
o Responsible fundraisers.
o Control the monetary stability of the organization.
o Put together a comprehensive budget for each semester as well as one for the entire year detailing the whereabouts of all incoming and outgoing money.
o Put together budget sheets for each event.
o Responsible for collection of all membership dues, payments, and club allocations on any contributions.
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SECRETARY

o To supply officers and members with any necessary information pertaining to
club activities and meetings.
o Record and distribution of both club meeting minutes and executive office minutes to all club members as well as the club moderator.
o Keep accurate attendance records.
o Documentation of club events and services.
o Distributes the agenda before all meetings.

ARTICLE VI EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE'S

The executive subcommittees will consist of the community service division, fundraising division, publicity division, Kostka House division and trips retreats division.


Community service division
This division of the United Colors Organization aims at increasing the clubs' role in community service both in the Scranton community as well as other locations not necessarily in the University's immediate vicinity.

Fund Raising Division
The fund raising committee finds new and innovative ways to raise money for use by other divisions of the club on a continuous basis. This must be an ongoing process and not simply raising funds on an event by event basis. Although the United Colors Organization benefits from partial funding from the student government, it is only a fraction of the organization's total operating costs.

note: Any and all fundraising done outside of the University of Scranton campus must be approved by the Development Office

Publicity Division
The purpose of the publicity division is to help the club promote diversity and multiculturalism by advertising events and promoting the United Colors Organization as a whole. This will include distributing newsletters, contacting other similar organizations, soliciting information and keeping non club members informed of important happenings within the club.

Trips Retreats Division
The United Colors Organization has as one of its goals to provide recreational activities and opportunities for members to relax, travel and have fun. This also includes opportunities for the officers and members to receive training, learning opportunities that will prove valuable after graduation.

United Colors House Division
The multicultural house is an extension of the United Colors Organization. Its purpose is to increase cultural sensitivity and awareness through programming in a living environment. Because this club finds the goals of the house members who reside there. It is the hope of the united colors officers that all club members will use the multicultural house as a means to gain new perspectives on diversity and multiculturalism. It is this division which will attempt to use the house to reach beyond the house residents, and incorporate each and every member in its activities and functions.
 

ARTICLE VII FACULTY MODERATOR



The faculty moderator is present to assist the organization reach its goals and objectives. The moderator acts as a consultant to the organization who provides direction through advice to the executive board as well as individual members. These duties include

Assisting the club in the management of its financial operations.

Clarifying roles and responsibilities of club members and officers

Encouraging group participation

ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS



United colors meetings will be held at least once a month but may occur more frequently at certain times.

Location

The location of united colors meetings will be either at the united colors house, or at another university of Scranton meeting place.

The Executive Board will meet bi-weekly to discuss matters at hand and carry out organizational duties.
 

ARTICLE IX DUES

Dues will be collected for the year during the first and second meetings of the year. Dues will be decided by the executive board prior to the first club meeting. Those not submitting club dues will be denied club membership until such time as club dues are paid.
 

ARTICLE X IMPEACHMENT



Impeachment of Executive Board Members

Any executive board officer may be impeached.

Impeachment proceedings shall be initiated by a majority vote of all members (voting members and the executive board) of the organization. The president of the Executive Board does not vote.

Notification of the charges must be made by letter (issued by a Judiciary Board member) to the member at least two school days prior to the impeachment hearing.

The impeached member may be present at the hearing to plead his/her case.

An executive Board member shall be removed by a 3/4 vote of the voting membership of the organization. Impeached members may not vote in his/her case.

Appeals

The impeachment decision will be considered final on the second day following the impeachment hearing. All appeals must be received within two days in writing by the President of the Executive Board.

Appeals received within the proper time constraints will be considered by the executive board.
 

ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION



The constitution of any organization is what defines that particular organization. As such, it is important for an organization to continuously look at that document to be sure that it is indicative of the organization's purpose and that it provides vision for the organization to follow in the year ahead. It is the executive board's responsibility as one of its first orders of business to examine the details of the constitution following club elections. If for this or any other reason it is decided that changes must be made to the constitution, the process will occur as follows.

Proposed amendments to the constitution may be presented to United Colors Organization by a petition signed by 1/3 of all members. A proposed amendment must be ratified by a 3/4 vote of the organization at the meeting following the presentation; upon this ratification it shall be incorporated into the constitution.