Michigan State Physiology Society Constitution

MICHIGANSTATE PHYSIOLOGY SOCIETY CONSTITUTION

Article I: Declaration Name and Purpose

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be The Michigan State University Physiology Society.

Section 2. The undergraduate students of the Department of Physiology

have created the Michigan State University Physiology Society to realize three specific goals: Academic achievement, career development, and diversity. This organization will strive to provide an environment for the academic success of undergraduate students who wish topursue a career in the biological sciences, specifically but not exclusively: physiology, medicine, dentistry, nursing, veterinary, and academic research. The Physiology Society will execute everything outlined in this document to reach these goals.

Article II: Membership

Section 1. A person shall be considered a member of the Physiology Society and be accorded all of the rights, privileges, responsibilities of membership if that person is enrolled in MichiganStateUniversityas an undergraduate and has interest in the biological sciences. A member is also encouraged to attend all Physiology Society General Assembly meetings, and vote on business presented there. The organization will not discriminate on the basis of age, color, gender, disability status, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight. Also, only MSU students may be officers and/or voting members.

Section 2. An individual may become a member of the Physiology Society at any point during the academic year by attending one general assembly meeting per semester. If the individual meets the requirements of membership outlined in the previous section, the individual will attain membership. Once a member, that person remains in good standing by adhering to the rules of the Society written in this constitution.

Article III: Executive Authority

Section 1. The executive authority of the Physiology Society shall be given

to the Executive Board, which shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chairpersons, and Executive Assistants. Executive Assistants shall include, but not be limited to Vice Chairpersons.

Section 2. The positions of the Executive Board shall have terms of office

which shall last one year except Executive Assistants who will serve at least one semester. Elections for Executive Board members (except Executive Assistants) shall be held at the third General Assembly meeting of Spring term. Terms for incoming officers will begin immediately after the fourth General Assembly meeting of Spring term. Terms of office for outgoing officers end immediately after the fourth General Assembly meeting of Spring term.

Section 3. Nominations will be accepted for the positions of the Executive Board (except Vice Chairpersons) at the first Spring semester meeting of the Society. All nominations will be given or addressed to the graduate advisor who will verify the qualifications outlined in Article 3, Section 2. Nominations may also be accepted the day of the elections meeting. Only members in good standing may nominate, be nominated, or vote. Nominations need not be seconded. The elections shall be by secret ballot collected by the graduate advisor and counted in the presence of one additional advisor. Positions are filled by a simple majority of the collected ballots. If a candidate should lose in running for a position, that person may be nominated for the next open position.

Section 4.a)The president shall have the following duties: to convene

and preside at all meetings; coordinate executive assistants; coordinate an agenda with faculty and graduatestudent advisors; oversee the performance of the executive board; keep the faculty, graduate and staff advisors informed of all Society activities and functions through regular meetings; represent the Physiology Society to all groups; act as official spokesperson for the Society; oversee the implementation, review and evaluation of the Society's constitution; and have the ordinary duties and responsibilities for such a position as presented by Robert's Rules of Order, except where otherwise noted by the constitution, and assist and participate in all Physiology Society activities.

b) The Vice President shall have the following duties: to convene and preside at all meetings in the absence of the President; take on the permanent role, title, and responsibilities of the President, until the end of the President's term, should the President leave office; coordinate market and publicity activities; coordinate the preparation for meetings and Society functions; act as a liaison with the Physiology Faculty; activate the winter election process;assist the President in Society activities, and assist and participate in all Physiology Society activities.

c) The Recording Secretary shall have the following duties: attend all meetings of the Society and record accurate minutes of the meetings, coordinate the distribution of meeting materials, maintain Society directory, maintain Society files, coordinate copying and documentation activities, read the minutes of the

previous meeting, and assist and participate in all Physiology Society activities.

d) The Treasurer shall have the following duties: be responsible for the Physiology Society's finances, keep a complete and accurate set of accounting records of expenditures and assets of the Society, and open Society's accounts at the beginning of the academic year. The Treasurer will also report to the Executive Board and General Assembly the current status of the Society's accounts. With the approval of the Executive Board, the Treasurer will allocate funds to the committees when needed, and to other groups and Societies when purchases are made. The Treasurer will also be responsible to seek fund-raising options, coordinate fund-raising activities, and assist and participate in all Society activities.

e) The Chairperson shall have the following duties: attend all Executive Board meetings, coordinate the activities of the society, and organize and communicate with the members of the society. The chairperson will hold at least three meetings per semester. This position also requires that the officer coordinate, with the Treasurer, the financial activities of the society. The chairperson will be expected to arrange in state and out of state community service projects, as well as provide advertisements for the society and its activites. TheChairpersons must report to the Executive boardabout community functions, address specific concerns of the society members about service/internship opportunities and refer them to other resources, act as the spokesperson for community service projects, and attend and participate in all Physiology Society functions.

Section 5. The President may appoint, in consultation with the Vice-President and Graduate Advisor, additional Executive Assistant who shall execute such functions and duties as designated by the President.

Section 6. All Executive Board members, and Executive Assistants shall submit

reports detailing their terms of office, emphasizing both positive and negative points. These Officer term reports shall be given to the Advisors two weeks after elections or one week after leaving office. They will also maintain records throughout their terms of office.

Section 7. The President or Vice President, in failing to maintain membership

in good standing or failing to execute the duties and responsibilities of office, may be removed by a 2/3 vote of the Physiology Society General Assembly. Such a removal vote may not occur until one meeting after removal proceedings have been initiated.

Section 8.All other Executive Board members and Executive Assistants, in

failing to maintain membership in good standing or failing to execute the duties and responsibilities of office, may be removed by a council of the President, Vice President, and Faculty, Graduate, and Staff Advisors. Committee chairs may also be removed by a 2/3 vote of their committee with approval of the above removal council.

Section 9. Should any Executive Board member leave office before the regularly
scheduled elections, the President may appoint, in consultation with
the Vice President and the Graduate Student Advisor, replacement
members who will serve in office until the next regularly scheduled
elections.

Article IV: Advisors

Section 1. The Physiology Society shall also have advisors/liaisons from the Physiology Department faculty and staff, who shall aid and guide the assembly to the best of his/her ability. Selection and term of office shall be designated by the Physiology Society Executive Board. These advisors are expected to attend all General Assembly meetings.

Article V: Operating Procedures

Section 1. The Physiology Society General Assembly shall conduct at least five meetings per semester during the academic year excluding Summer session. The time and place of these meetings will be designated by the Vice President and the Executive Board. Special meetings may be called by the President or by a majority vote of the General Assembly.

Section 2. The Executive Board will meet at least five times per semester during the academic year excluding Spring/Summer term. These meetingsshould be the week of, or before, the General Assembly meetings. Thetime and place of these meetings will be designated by the Vice President and the Executive Board. Special meetings may be called by the President or faculty Advisor.

Section 3. Quorum shall be considered as a simple majority of the attending voting members of the General Assembly, all Executive Board members present, and at least one Advisor.

Section 4. Quorum may be waived by the Executive Board and an Advisor. Quorum may only be waived if attendance is greater than 1/4 of the membership.

Section 5: Section 5. Meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, but at the discretion of the President.

Section 6. Any business brought before the General Assembly may not be voted upon by the Executive Board or any Advisors, only General Assembly votes are valid. In the event of a tie, the final decision may be made by the President (except for elections). Election ties will be broken by a second vote. Votes will be tallied by the Secretary and Vice President (except for elections).

Section 7. All actions taken by this Society shall be in accordance with both Spartan Life Student Handbook and the Student Society Handbook of Michigan State University.

Section 8. Executive Board Attendance Policy

a) One chairperson, and member of the executive board must attend each meeting.

b) If a member of the executive board cannot attend a meeting, (s)he is to call both an advisor and the president to explain why.

c) If each executive position or chairperson is not represented at three (3) meetings per semester, that person will be removed from his/her position.

Article VII: Amendments and Ratification

Section 1. Amendments to this document may be initiated by any member of the Society, as well as any Faculty, or Staff Advisor of the Physiology Society.

Section 2. The constitutional change may be initiated by submitting to the Executive Board and Advisors a petition which shall include the article, section number, and rationale for the change. After the Executive Board has approved the petition, the amendment may be proposed to the Physiology General Assembly for ratification. The proposed amendment must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the voting members of the Assembly.

Section 3. This constitution shall be ratified upon approval by a simple majority of votes cast by the Physiology Society membership. This document will be presented to the Department of Physiology Faculty, and the MichiganState University Department of Student Life for recognition.

-Drafted by the Michigan State University Physiology Society’s Executive Board in January, 2006:

President- Lauren Kriger

Vice president- Amanda O’steen

Treasurer- Eric Bryante

Secretary- Matthew Pattyn

Public Relations/community service chairperson- Brittany Sherman

Website Director- Ryan Hop