Constitution

RobertH.WhiteCollege

MurrayStateUniversity

The mission for R. H. White College, for all of its members (faculty, staff, residents, commuters, parents and alumni), is to develop an ongoing living and learning community through opportunities of involvement, service and leadership. While promoting pride, respect and fellowship, we strive for a collective success resulting in graduation.

Article I

Organization

Section A- The governing body of RobertH.WhiteCollege (hereafter referred to as WhiteCollege) shall be known as the Residential College Council (hereafter referred to as RCC). The RCC shall be divided into three parts: the executive board, the general council, and committees selected based on the needs of the College. All members of the Executive Board shall, in addition to any other requirements listed below, be required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5. Upon notification of falling bellow the set standard, consultation is immediately required with the College Head. Executive Board members must have the time and means to adequately execute the duties required of their office as listed below.

Section B- The RCC executive board shall be defined as the College Head (as an advisor), the elected officers of the RCC, as well as any other person as deemed necessary by the advisors. The officer positions are held for one year and are chosen by a simple majority in a general election of WhiteCollege members held at the end of the Spring Semester. The responsibilities of the elected positions are detailed as follows:

Elected Positions:

  1. President

-Presides over all RCC meetings and prepares agendas for all meetings.

-Has prerogative to call special and executive meetings as deemed necessary.

-Has powers to form and dismiss committees and to appoint chairs.

-Is a non-voting member except in the instance of a tie vote.

-Assists the College Head and Residence Director and collaborates with the Residential Advisors.

-With the Vice-President, oversees all RCC programs and committees.

-Meets with the College Head weekly.

2.Vice- President

-Performs duties of the president in his or her absence.

-Reports to and assists President.

-With the president, oversees all College programs, committees.

-Meets with the RCC president weekly.

3.Treasurer

-Keeps all financial records and reports on the White College funds weekly.

-Endorses all expenditures of RCC.

-Assists President and College Head in creating the budget.

-Monitors budget for major programs.

-Keeps track of RA spending and budgets.

-Reports, as needed, to College Head and/or Residence Director.

4.Secretary

-Keeps accurate and precise records of all meetings.

-Handles all correspondence for the RCC.

-Sends the minutes of all meetings to the College Head Assistant

5.Parliamentarian

-Rules on parliamentary procedure, questions or points.

-Ensures the smooth and efficient running of executive and general meetings.

-Is the caretaker of the colors and arms.

-Presents the colors and arms at select university events.

-Supervises all elections held by WhiteCollege.

6.Historian

-Maintains writings and photographs of the history of WhiteCollege.

-Acts as a liaison between the Residential College Newsletter and the Murray State News.

-Documents all activities of WhiteCollege.

In addition to the above duties, all officers are to keep accurate logs of their duties to assist their successors and to assist the College Head as directed. Officers are expected to participate in the majority of programs and activities sponsored by the college.

Section C- The general council will consist of the executive board, floor representatives, commuter representatives, Residential College Association (RCA representatives), Student Government Association (SGA representatives), Committee chairs, College Head Assistant, Athletic Director(s) and four of eight RA’s, and any White College member. RCA and SGA representatives are to be determined by a simple majority in a general election of WhiteCollege members to be held within the first two weeks of the Fall semester. The committee chairs are appointed by the President from a pool of interested ResidentialCollege applicants. All representatives and committee chairs hold their positions for one academic year. The College Head Assistant and Athletic Director as well as RA’s are hired positions and will be filled by the College Head and/or the Residence Director.

  1. Floor Representative- Two floor leaders will be elected for each floor of WhiteCollege. They shall be elected by a simple majority of all the residents of each floor with the RA of the floor voting only in case of a tie. This election will take place within the first two weeks of the Fall Semester. Their duties are:
  2. Represent members of their floor at RCC general council meetings.
  3. Serve on a standing committee and select committees for university events.
  4. Relate concerns of their constituency to the RCC.
  5. Post RCC/RA event/program information on his or her floor.
  1. Commuter Representative- One commuter representative will be elected by a simple majority of the Residential College Council members of White College with the President voting only in the event of a tie. The election will take place in the Fall semester. Their duties include:
  2. Represent commuters at general RCC meetings
  3. Serve on a standing committee and select committees for university events.
  4. Relate concerns of their constituency to the RCC.
  1. RCA Representative- Duties include:
  2. RepresentWhiteCollege at RCA meetings and functions.
  3. Report to College Head and general council on issues of concern to WhiteCollege.
  4. Act as a liaison between WhiteCollege and RCA.
  1. SGA Representative- Duties include:
  2. RepresentWhiteCollege at SGA meetings and functions.
  3. Report to College Head and general council on issues of concern to WhiteCollege.
  4. Act as a liaison between WhiteCollege and SGA.
  5. Keep bulletin board in the lobby updated of upcoming SGA events.
  1. Committee Chairs-
  2. Conduct meetings of representative committees.
  3. Form and dissolve sub-committees as deemed necessary by the committee.
  4. Report to the general council on results of the committee meetings.
  5. Report to the Vice-President on all programs and activities.
  1. College Head Assistant
  2. Coordinates scheduling of all programs at WhiteCollege.
  3. Works with RCC and RA’s on all programs and activities.
  4. Maintains specified bulletin board and changes it as directed
  5. Maintains the White College Blackboard site.
  6. Other duties as assigned by the College Head.
  7. Athletic Director(s)
  8. Coordinates all sporting events at WhiteCollege.
  9. Organizes all teams and rosters for WhiteCollege sporting teams.
  10. Attends all required sport meetings.
  1. RA’s
  2. Act as a liaison between the RCC and the RA’s.
  3. Coordinate Programs for WhiteCollege Residents.
  4. Report to Residence Director.

In addition to above duties, all members of the general council are to assist the College Head as directed. Attendance is mandatory by all Executive Board members. If for any reason a member is unable to attend set meetings, that member must notify the President tell them why they are going to be absent. If, for any reason, an Executive Board member misses two meeting unexcused, they must meet with the College Head and President to discuss the matter. Further action will be taken by the Executive Board if needed.

Article II

Procedures

Section A- General Powers

1)The RCC shall have the power to legislate amendments, rules and regulations it deems necessary for the implementation of the constitution and for the general welfare of the college members. Any legislation that falls under the direct authority of MurrayStateUniversity housing office shall be subject to approval by the White College Resident Director and College Head. Any amendments to the constitution must be further ratified by a 2/3 majority in a general vote.

2)Any officer of the Residential College Council may be removed from office through the following process:

1)A written request by at least three voting members of the organization will be submitted to the President, Vice President, or Treasurer. A written notification will be sent to the officer in question asking that officer to be present at the next meeting and prepared to respond to the removal request.

2)A two thirds majority vote of the members present is necessary to remove the officer, with the President only voting in case of a tie.

3)In the event of the removal of an officer, a special provision may be granted to the remaining officers to appoint an interim replacement.

Section B- Agenda

The agenda for all RCC meetings shall reflect the following format which may be amended as required:

  1. President calls meeting to order
  2. Roll call of officers and representatives
  3. Officer Reports
  4. Vice-President
  5. Treasurer
  6. Secretary
  7. Parliamentarian
  8. Historian
  9. President
  10. Special Reports
  11. College Head Assistant
  12. Athletic Director(s)
  13. College Head
  14. Residence Director
  15. Faculty/Staff
  16. Floor Representatives
  17. RA’s
  18. SGA Representative
  19. RCA Representative
  20. Other
  21. Committee Reports
  22. Old Business
  23. New Business
  24. Announcements
  25. Adjournment

Section C- Proposals

Any member of WhiteCollege may speak out at any regular meeting of the general council. A 24 hour written notice must be given to the President before the member shall be allowed to speak and promote his ideas. All proposals to the general council shall be presented at one meeting and voted upon at the next regular meeting.

Section D- Special Powers

  1. The RCC general council shall have the power to go into special session to discuss matters of personal nature that involve a member of the college.
  2. The RCC executive or general council shall have the power to go into special session to consider impeachment charges against any elected RCC member. Charges of negligence against the accused shall be made by another council member and the accused shall have the right to refute the charges before the general council. Charges will be made and refuted no more than one week before a vote for impeachment can be made. Impeachment can be accomplished by a 2/3 majority vote of the RCC general council. The Vice-President will preside over these hearings.
  3. The RCC executive board will meet weekly for executive session.

Section E- Committees

All committee meetings are open. All committees shall keep minutes and submit final reports at the end of the academic year. All committees will report to the President. Minutes and final reports will be filed in the College Head’s office. Committees will be formed based on the needs of White College.

Section F- RCC Member Replacement

In the event that the office of President becomes vacant before the term of office expires, the Vice-President shall assume the duties of President and the Executive Board shall appoint a new Vice-President. In the event that any other RCC office becomes vacant between RCC elections in the spring and the beginning of fall term, the RCC shall make an appointment to fill this vacancy through the process of a vote of the WhiteCollege residents. If a vacancy occurs during the academic year, the RCC Executive Board shall have the power to appoint a replacement. All replacements shall hold their new office for the remainder of the term of office.

Section G- Voting

Unless otherwise stated, all members of WhiteCollege shall have voting power in all general elections and ratification votes. The President shall vote in the event of a tie.

Article III

Policies

WhiteCollege accepts and endorses all applicable federal, state, local and University statutes and policies. In addition to these policies, WhiteCollege promulgates the following policies:

  1. Smoking
  2. Smoking in any area of WhiteCollege is prohibited. Smoking is only allowed outside and ten feet from the building.
  3. Visitation
  4. There is a 24 hour visitation policy in effect. All visitors must sign in and out at the front desk. Both the person checking in and the resident must leave a photo I.D.
  5. Quiet Hours
  6. Quiet hours shall be for a minimum of 8 consecutive hours in a 24 hour period, the exact time of which will be determined by each residential college floor.
  7. Residence Hall Floor Policies
  8. Each floor of WhiteCollege, as a sub-unit, may establish rules and regulations governing quiet hours and study times. These rules shall be in compliance with WhiteCollege policies and shall be established by a simple majority of the residents of each floor.

Violation of any policy of WhiteCollege may result in action by the College Head and/or the University.

Article IV

Ratification

Ratification of the WhiteCollege constitution shall take effect following a 2/3 majority vote of all members. The constitution will remain in effect until a new constitution of amendments and revision are proposed and ratified.

Ratified: September 2011.