The Kaplan University Student Military Association
Constitution
Article I:
Section A: Mission Statement
Mission: Kaplan University Military Student Association for students at Kaplan University and is open to active duty, prior military, military spouses, military dependents, and faculty or staff. The Association seeks to provide additional information and resources to military personnel and their families to build the relationships that foster completion of their classes and maximizes their opportunity to graduate. It is designed with networking and career building tools that aid our membership in seeking and finding appropriate employment post-graduation. Lastly, it provides tools that assist in developing the esprit de-corps we enjoyed in the military and aspire to enjoy in the Kaplan Military Family as well. Please make full use of your membership and hope to see you on-line at www.kusma.org and Facebook.
Requirements: KUSMA members are expected to participate in meetings, seek leadership positions, assist each other in completion of classes and to graduate.
Section B: Vision Statement
Original Intent- By President of the Kaplan University Student Military Association
1. I would like to have good communication with members as well as staff in
bringing this club to the forefront so that we can set the example that
other at Kaplan clubs can follow.
2. Teamwork- as members contributes greatly to the success of the club and to our success as students. Communicating with helpful information and sighting the resource would be required.
3. The purpose in the establishment of this club it to offer its members a chance to succeed in the Kaplan environment as well as finding resources that can contribute to their own success.
4. Violations of the Constitution by its members will initiated an investigation headed by the president of the organization or appointed person of the President until the investigation has been conducted and findings of fact have been determined and a disputation has been made into the matter or a disposition, if it is deemed to have been Committed by the President.
Article II: Membership & Dues
Section A: Eligibility: this club is open to all faculty and military affiliated students of Kaplan University.
Section B: Members must participate at least one time during a term in the association to remain in good standing.
Section C: Non-Discrimination Statement- Individuals shall not be excluded from membership on the basis of age, race, gender, disability, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation.
Section D: Dues – There are no Dues to join and become a member. However there is a fee of $20.00 that will cover your lifetime membership.
Article III: Officers
Section A: The executive committee shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section B: Chairs may be added on an as needed base with the vote of the executive committee.
Section C: Terms: Elections shall be held once a year in the month of September. The term will run from September to September. The members will vote for the candidates’ positions to be filled by members for President, Secretary, and Treasurer in the Month of September every year.
Section D: The elected my run as many times they so wish provided that they remain in good Standing, are an active student at Kaplan, and are able to fulfill the requirements for the year’s term.
Section E: The executive committee will be responsible in filling the positions that remain open or become vacant after an election.
Section F: Vacancy – If a vacancy occurs in the offices during the year the executive committee will appoint a person to fulfill the position until there is an election in the month of September.
Article IV: Duties of Officers
Section A: President – it shall be the duty of the president to:
• Preside at the meetings
• Vote only in a case of a tie
• Represent the association
• Appoint committee chairperson subjected to approval of the executive committee
• Serve as an Ex-officio member of all committees except the nomination committee
• Perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to the office
• Remains accountable to the Chair and the Student life and Kaplan University
Section B: Vice President – it shall be the duty of the Vice-President to:
• Preside in the absence of the president
• Serve as the chairperson of Program Committees and Fundraisers
• Remains accountable to the President of the Kaplan University Student
Military Association.
Section C: Secretary – It shall be the duty of the Secretary to:
• Record the minutes of all meetings
• Keep the files of the club
• Maintain a current roster of the members in the club
• Issues notice of meetings and conduct the general correspondence of the club
• Remains accountable to the President of the Kaplan University Student Military Association
Section D: Treasurer- it shall be the duty of the treasures:
• Student Life coordinator part of Kaplan University staff, will receive all funds and process request of payment, deposits slips and officer signature forms in conjunction with the treasurer and chair member.
• Keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures and make reports as directed.
• Coordinate with the student life coordinator in requesting funds, make payments or directing in how the payments are to be, distributed as directed.
• Make an accountability of all expenditures, distributions of money and money collected by new members, fundraisers and other, for monthly meetings.
• Liability and accountability is on Kaplan University and student life for the organization in referring the handling of the money received and expenditures that have not been, approved by the Kaplan University Student
Military Association as well as working with any banking issues that may arise.
• Remains accountable to the President of the Kaplan University Student Military Association.
Section E: Staff Advisor- A Professor that is part of the Kaplan University that works with the Kaplan University Student Military Association is a go between or connection between the organization and Kaplan University.
Section F: Student Life Coordinator- is not part of the executive committee and is only there to oversee the interest of Kaplan University and offer assistance as needed, as well as offering direction to stay within the regulations set by Kaplan University.
Article V: Meetings
Section A: Meetings – Regular meeting shall be held monthly during the regular approval of the Executive Committee. This has been set for the last Friday of every month.
Section B: Special Meetings – Special meeting may be called by the president with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Section C: Quorum- A quorum shall consist of fifteen members. The number required should be small enough to ensure that a quorum will usually be present but large enough to protect the club against decisions being made by a small minority.
Section D: Parliamentary Authority – Robert’s Rules of Orders, shall govern this govern this Kaplan University Student Military Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.
Article VI Executive Committee
Section A: Responsibility- Management Members of this club shall be vested in an Executive Committee and responsibility to the entire membership to uphold these bylaws.
Section B: Membership – This committee shall consist of the officers as listed in Article III and the faculty Advisor.
Section C: Meetings – This committee shall meet at least once between regular meetings of the Association to organize and plan future activities.
Section D: There will be no submissions to the student life for publication without the approval of the Executive Committee and accompanied by signatures of the President and Vice President.
Section E: The removal of the President or any executive member will require a 2/3 vote by the executive committee.
Section F: The Staff Advisor - A Professor that is part of the Kaplan University that works with the Kaplan University Student Military Association is a go between or connection between the organization and Kaplan University.
Section G:
• The Student Life Coordinator is not part of the executive committee and is only there to oversee the interest of Kaplan University and offer assistance as needed, as well as offering direction to stay within the regulations set by Kaplan University.
• Student Life is responsible for all moneys of the association and must provide a monthly statement of all transactions to the Chair, President, Vice President and the Treasurer.
Article VII: Advisor
Section A:
Selection – there shall be a faculty / staff advisor who shall be selected each year by the members of the Kaplan University Student Military Association that is based on a voluntary, non-paid bases for the position of, Chair for the, Kaplan University Student Military Association.
Section B: Duties – The responsibilities of the faculty advisor shall be to:
• Maintain an awareness of the activities and programs sponsored by students clubs.
• Meet on a regular basis with the leader of the student club to discuss upcoming meetings, long ranges plan, goals, and problems of the club.
• Attend regular meetings, executive board meetings as often as schedule allows.
• Assist in the orientation of new officer.
• Explain and clarify campus policy and procedures that apply to the association.
• Maintain contact with the Students Life Office
• Provide direction in the area of parliamentary procedure, meeting facilitation, group building, goal setting, and program planning.
• Assist the club treasurer in monitoring expenditures, fundraising activities, and corporate sponsorship to maintain as accurate and up- to- date account ledger.
• Inform club members of those factors that constitutes unacceptable behavior on the part of the club members, and the possible consequence of said behaviors.
• The Chair will not implement anything or take over anything at any time without the written consent of the President and Vice President of the Kaplan University Student Military Association.
Article VIII: Committees
Section A: Other Committees- List other committees germane to the club such as finance publicity, membership, professional relations, social, etc.
Section B: Special Committees- the President shall have the authority to appoint any special committee with the approval of the Executive Committee, from time to time as need demands.
Article IX: Handling of Funds
Section A: The organization’s on-campus / On-Line account will be managed primarily by the Kaplan University Student Life Florida and the Kaplan University Student Military Associations Treasurer/Financial officers.
Section B: The registration form will indicate to Kaplan University Student Life staff which officers are authorized to sign any transactions authorized by the Kaplan University Student Military Association - Treasurer/Financial officers, President and Vice President signature for payments to be made.
Section C: The Kaplan University Student Life will proved and provide accurate record of the account upon a request to whom has paid their dues, fundraising, or other and the amount of money in the account and what has been paid out on behalf of the Kaplan University Student Military Association request.
Section D: Kaplan University Student Life will provide a monthly statement to the chair, The President, and the Treasurer/Financial officer, in regards to all new members, (i.e. all that have paid their dues, and any transactions that have taken place). The bank statements to the account; belonging to the Kaplan University Student Military Association.
Section E: Kaplan University and Kaplan University Student Life will apply and follow all related Statutes and Rules of Law that govern financial transactions of the Association and are held reliable for all banking accuracies and issues with the banking industries that they associate with in handling or in the conducting of the Business of the Kaplan University Student Military Association.
Section C: All monies collected MUST BE POSITED into the organization’s account.
Article X: Amendments and Revisions
Section A: These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the chapter members.
Section B: All members shall receive advance notice of the proposed amendments at least five days before the meeting. The time may be extended to the following meeting.
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By-Laws For The Kaplan University Student Military Association
Article I: Dues
• Officers of the Association will not be responsible for dues. All funding will come from donation and fundraising and lifetime membership fees.
• All officers are also members of Student Life COCO and are required to attend their meetings as well.
Section A: General membership meeting will be held monthly.
Section B: Officers will be consistently as specific meeting times.
Article II. Meetings
Section A: General membership meeting will be held monthly.
Section B: Officers will be more consistently as specific meeting times
Article III. Committees
Committees will be formed by the Vice President on a need-be basis.
Article IV. Amendment to By-Laws:
Section A: Amendment to the by-laws may be presented by any member in good standing
Section B: Amendment to the by-laws shall be adapted by a 2/3 vote of the voting body.
Article V. Member may remain after their leave of the Kaplan University as alumina that may also run for office or hold an office within the Association.
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The executive committee, Chair and student life coordinator have received a copy of this proposal.
This constitution was approved as printed above on the date of ____, December 2009
Revised on, 20 August 2010; Last one lost.
Revised on 15 February 2011, New Leadership and changes
President of the Kaplan University Student Military Association
Mariam Torres 15 February 2011
Vice President of the Kaplan University Student Military Association Agrees with and is accepting of the revisions of the KUSMA
Signature: _____________________________________________
Date: On this __________Day of _____________ in the Year of ________________