SVA Bylaws

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STUDENT VETERANS ALLIANCE

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I – Organization Title

Section 1.1. Organization Title

The name of this organization shall be the Western Kentucky University Student Veterans' Alliance (WKUSVA), a chapter member of the Student Veterans of America (SVA).

ARTICLE II – Mission and Goals Section

2.1. Mission

To provide military veterans and their families with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education.

Section 2.2. Goals

• Promote communication and interaction among veterans in order to encourage veterans helping veterans.                                                    • Sponsor organizational operations that promote veterans helping veterans and social events and networking opportunities that include family, loved ones, and veteran supporters.                                                                                                                                                                             • Educate the surrounding communities about the special experiences, circumstances, strengths, and needs of military veterans and their families. Work with the university administration to meet the needs of student veterans.                                                                                     • Provide outreach programs to potential student veterans.                                                                                                                                               • Work with the community and campus veteran service organizations through the SVA created Southern Kentucky Veterans Council.        • Host/sponsor at least one veterans event on campus for military/veteran students, faculty and staff to attend a semester.

ARTICLE III - Membership Section

3.1. Membership Statement

Membership in the Student Veterans' Alliance will be open to all Western Kentucky University officially registered students in Bowling Green including Bowling Green Technical College who are military veterans, spouses, and children, along with faculty and staff who are interested in supporting student veterans within the campus community. No person otherwise qualified shall be excluded from SVA membership on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or disability, or any other protected class.

Section 3.2 Additional Membership

Requirements Members are required to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. Members shall pay a one time membership fee of $10. Along with the previous Article III, Section 1, these additional requirements define the term, "active student member."

Section 3.3. Recruitment

Recruitment shall take place throughout the year, and membership is to remain open at all times.

Section 3.4. Voting Rights

Only active student members are eligible to vote.

Section 3.5. Revocation of Membership

Membership may be revoked without mutual agreement for non-participation, misconduct, or violations of any provisions of the Constitution. The member will be notified in writing of the possible revocation at least 1 week, or 7 days, prior to the vote and will be allowed to address the organization in order to relate to members any relevant defense prior to the voting for removal. Membership can be revoked by a 2/3 affirmative vote of active student members.

Section 3.6. Reinstatement of Membership

Membership may be reinstated after one full semester (after the revocation) has expired. The former member may submit a written request for reinstatement to the executive officer in charge at that time. At the next membership meeting, the organization must vote on the reinstatement request. Membership may be reinstated by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the active student members.

Section 3.7 Auxiliary Members

Any student, staff, or community member that wishes to support Student Veterans Alliance mission is welcome to attend all open SVA events.

ARTICLE IV – Executive Council Section

4.1. Eligibility

Potential officers must meet the minimum eligibility requirements of an active student membership (Article III). All officers must be in good standing, academically and behaviorally, per existing guidelines and policies of Western Kentucky University. All officers of the organization must have been a member of the Armed Forces in order to be President or Vice President of Student Veterans Alliance. The officers of the Student Veterans Alliance shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 4.2. Advisor

A Faculty/Staff Advisor shall serve as the interface to the Student Veterans Alliance and the University.

ARTICLE V - Duties of the Officers Section

5.1. President

The President shall be the presiding officer of all general meetings and shall oversee all activities; Represent the organization on campus; Ensure that the Student Veterans Alliance is operating in conformity with the standards set forth by Western Kentucky University and the Student Veterans of America; Maintain communication with the organization Advisor; and Discharge the responsibilities normally adhering to the office.

Section 5.2. Vice President

The Vice President shall preside at all meetings if the President is absent; Succeed to the presidency in the event of the death, disability, or resignation of the President; Assist the President in representing the Student Veterans Alliance to internal and external constituencies; and Discharge the responsibilities normally adhering to the office.

Section 5.3. Secretary

The Secretary shall maintain an accurate record (minutes) of the organization's transactions; Maintain a membership directory; Correspond when necessary with University administration and other recognized organizations; and Discharge the responsibilities normally adhering to the office.

Section 5.4. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall oversee the receipts and disbursement of the funds of the Student Veterans Alliance, while keeping an accurate and itemized account thereof; Prepare the annual budget request of the Student Veterans Alliance for submission to SGA; Shall follow the funding policies of SGA; Collect dues, if required; Arrange fundraising opportunities for the Student Veterans Alliance; Solicit additional funding, if needed, from SGA; and Discharge the responsibilities normally adhering to the office. At the end of the academic year, a financial statement shall be compiled and submitted to SGA at the last general meeting of the year. The financial statement will be signed by the Treasurer and the President.

ARTICLE VI – Officer Election and Term of Office

Section 6.1. Election Process

Election of officers will require a majority vote of the general membership present. If a candidate fails to receive a majority of votes, a run off election will be held with the top two candidates that received the most votes.

Section 6.2. Election Period and Term of Office

Election of officers will be held during the last scheduled meeting in December or the last scheduled meeting of the Fall semester. The new officers will take office January. The term of office will be one full year starting January 1st an ending December 31st.

ARTICLE VII – Officer Replacement Section

7.1. Filling Vacant Officer Positions

The Vice President shall succeed to the presidency in the event of the death, disability, or resignation of the President. Vacancies in other offices, including the Vice President office, due to voluntary or involuntary resignation, expulsion, impeachment, or death of the incumbent shall be filled at a special election called by the President.

ARTICLE VIII – Committees Section

8.1. Committee Creation

The Student Veterans Alliance shall establish such Standing and Ad-hoc committees as necessary to accomplish its purposes. The chairperson of each committee shall be appointed by the President.

Section 8.2. Chairperson Responsibilities

The chairperson of each committee is responsible for organizing regular meetings of that committee, and for the timely delivery of progress reports at the general meeting. The chairperson is also responsible to keep the Student Veterans Alliance officers informed about any major developments in their planned activities. In addition, the committee chairs will propose a budget to the Treasurer in conjunction with the Treasurer developing the annual budget.

ARTICLE VIIII – Meetings Section

9.1. Formal Meeting

The dates and times of the regular meetings of the Student Veterans Alliance shall be determined at the first meeting of the new term. Regular meeting shall take place once monthly throughout the fall and spring semesters. Meetings must be announced 2 weeks prior to the meeting to the entire membership. Agendas for meetings shall be prepared by the President and provided to all officers seventy-two hours prior to the meeting via e-mail.

Section 9.2. Quorum

A quorum shall consist of the presence of the majority of the voting members.

Section 9.3. Special Meetings Special meetings shall be called by the President when the need arises.

ARTICLE X – Finances Section

10.1. Financial Deposits

All finances belonging to this organization shall be deposited and disbursed through a fund established for this organization and/or approved by Western Kentucky University Student Services. All funds must be deposited within 76 hours after collection.

Section 10.2. Annual Audit

The Student Veterans Alliance President, along with the Student Veterans Alliance Treasurer, shall propose an annual budget for adoption and shall also arrange for an annual audit by a committee.

ARTICLE XI – Advisor Section

11.1. Advisor Responsibilities

The Advisor shall maintain communication and meet with the officers regularly; maintain awareness of all financial expenditures; ensure that the Student Veterans Alliance is operating in conformity with the standards set forth by Western Kentucky University and the Student Veterans of America. The Advisor shall abide by the rules and policies established by Western Kentucky University Student Services.

ARTICLE XII – Non-Hazing Policy Section

12.1. Non Hazing Policy

Western Kentucky University Student Veterans Alliance (WKUSVA) will not practice any physical or psychological forms of hazing. Members are free to discontinue their membership without undue pressure or interference.

ARTICLE XIII – Amendments to Bylaws Section

13.1. Amendments and Ratification

These Bylaws may be amended and subsequently ratified at any time, with a majority of the membership. Members will be given 15 days prior notice to a meeting to consider amendments. This document shall become effective as the constitutional bylaws of the Student Veterans Alliance one (1) day after it is ratified by the membership.

Section 13.2. Approval

These Bylaws and any revisions or amendments must be approved by the Western Kentucky University Student Services Individual as well as the Student Veterans Alliance's Faculty Advisor prior to implementation.