Network for Environmentally
Educated Dragons
ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section A. Name
1. The name of this organization shall be Network for Environmentally Educated Dragons or NEED.
Section B. Purpose
1. The purpose of NEED shall be to practice the idea of environmental sustainability throughout Minnesota State University Moorhead while maintaining a balance between being stewards of the earth and fiscally responsible members of the university.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Section A: Membership Eligibility
1. Membership in NEED at Minnesota State University Moorhead shall be open to any and all currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Section B: Membership Criteria
1. Membership criteria in NEED includes:
a. Attend in at least one meeting a month
b. Involvement with one project a semester
c. Signing of sustainability pledge
d. Subscribing to NEED list serve
Section C: Non-Discrimination Statements
1. Equal Opportunity Statement:
Minnesota State University Moorhead is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment and education opportunity. No person shall be discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment, personnel practices, or access to and participation in, programs, services, and activities with regard to race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or membership or activity in a local commission as defined by law.
Section D: Student Conduct Code Statement
1. This organization shall abide by the Minnesota State University Moorhead Student Conduct Code.
Section E: Statement of Non-Hazing
1. Hazing is prohibited by MnSCU Board of Trustee’s policy. Minnesota State University Moorhead will investigate all allegations of hazing and will utilize appropriate judicial, disciplinary and criminal processes in our efforts to eradicate hazing. The MnSCU Board of Trustees Policy and the MSUM Student Code of Conduct define hazing as an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a person, subjects a person to public humiliation or ridicule, or which destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student group, organization, or athletic team. Such activities and situations include, but are not limited to sleep deprivation or causing excessive fatigue; engaging in public stunts, jokes, or degrading games and activities; compelled ingestion of any substance; forced servitude; paddling in any form; forced tattooing or branding; or late night activities that interfere with academic and occupational activities. The express or implied consent of the victim to any activity covered by the foregoing definition does not validate or excuse the activity.
Section F: Affiliations
1. This organization is not affiliated with any local, state, or national group.
Section G: Voting Privileges
1. Any enrolled student at Minnesota State University Moorhead is eligible to be an active member, may vote, and may hold office.
2. Non-students that meet the organization’s criteria may act as associate members, but may not vote, hold office, or act on the organization’s behalf.
Section H: Member Removal
1. Any member may be removed from the organization:
a. For actions which violate the purposes of the organization
b. For actions which violate MSUM Student Conduct Code
c. For actions which violate University policies
d. When no longer enrolled as a student
2. Members may be removed by the following process:
a. Written charges by a member are to be presented to the Executive Board.
b. The Executive Board will notify the member of an opportunity for the member to respond to charges at the next regular meeting.
c. The meeting must have quorum present and only active members may participate in the vote.
d. Voting for removal is to be done by secret ballot within two weeks of the meeting.
e. A simple majority vote is required for removal.
f. The member must be notified immediately of the outcome of the vote.
Section I: Member Appeal
1. If the member wishes to appeal the vote for removal they must send a written letter of appeal to the NEED advisor within two weeks of the decision.
2. The advisor and Executive Board will review the appeal and notify NEED and the member in no more than one week of the decision.
ARTICLE III. ELECTIONS
Section A. When Elections are Held
1. Annual elections shall be held during the last two weeks of March or first two weeks of April. The officers shall be elected by means of a secret ballot.
Section B. Nominations
1. Nominations of candidates for NEED officer positions shall be self-nomination or by a NEED active member. Nominees for officer positions must be NEED active members for one semester prior to nomination.
Section C. Announcement of Elections
1. Elections shall be announced by e-mail and word of mouth 2 weeks prior to election date.
Section D. Election Procedure
1. Voting shall take place after the close of nominations for each office. Officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote of those NEED active members present, provided quorum is met.
Section E. Term of Office
1. The term of office for all officers shall be one year.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
Section A. Officer Qualifications
1. MSU Moorhead requires a minimum 2.5 Cumulative GPA for all officers.
Section B. Officer Duties
1. The officers shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer. The officers shall be responsible for all administrative duties of NEED. Elected officers and the advisor shall make up the Executive Board
2. The president shall have the power to:
a. Establish and maintain operation procedures of NEED
b. Call meetings
c. Vote in all decisions affecting NEED
d. Call additional meetings or special meetings as needed
e. Notice of additional meetings must be given to all members in the most timely manner possible but not less than one week.
f. Create and send out meeting agenda’s
3. The vice president shall:
a. Assist the president with all administrative duties and assume those duties in the absence of the president
b. Vote in all decisions affecting NEED
c. Assist in creating meeting agendas
d. Serve as project manager for the group performing the following duties:
• Maintaining that projects are on time
• Maintaining that projects are being properly documented
• Serve as tie breaker in any project vote
• Report to president on progress of all projects
4. The secretary shall:
a. Keep accurate and detailed records of all meetings and affairs
b. Send/transmit all official NEED correspondence
c. Vote in all decisions affecting NEED
d. Coordinate preparation and distribution of NEED flyers, handouts, and publications
5. The treasurer shall:
a. Receive and distribute NEED funds upon the authorization of the president and advisor, in accordance with the financial rules and regulations of the University
b. Make financial reports at the regular meetings of NEED
c. Vote in all decisions affecting NEED
d. Coordinate all budget requests
e. If the student organization receives Student Activity Budget Committee funding, the treasurer will remain in contact with the Activities Business Manager.
Section C. Vacancy in Office
1. Vacancies occurring in any of the elected offices other than the President shall be officially filled during a special election called for by the President.
2. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President will become the President and there will be a special election to fill the Vice-President office.
3. If the Vice-President declines to succeed, then a special election shall be held to fill the office of the President for the remainder of the unexpired term.
4. The election procedure for filling the unexpired term of a vacant office shall be the same as the normal procedure for elections.
Section D. Officer Removal
1. Any officer may be removed from office:
a. For failure to carry out the responsibilities of that office
b. For actions which violate the purposes of the organization
c. For actions which violate MSUM Student Conduct Code
d. For actions which violate University policies
e. When no longer enrolled as a student
2. An officer may be removed by the following process:
a. Written charges by a member are to be presented to the Executive Board.
b. The Executive Board will notify the officer of an opportunity for the officer to respond to charges at the next regular meeting.
c. Voting for removal is to be done by secret ballot within two weeks of the meeting.
d. The meeting must have quorum present and only active members may participate in the vote
e. The officer in question must be notified immediately of the outcome of the vote.
Section E. Officer Appeal
1. If the officer wishes to appeal the vote for removal they must send a written letter of appeal to the NEED advisor within two weeks of the decision.
2. The advisor and Executive Board will review the appeal and notify NEED and officer in no more than one week of the decision.
Section F. Issues of Equal Opportunity and Student Conduct
1. The officers must inform the members of the Issues of Equal Opportunity and Student Conduct at the initial meeting. Thereafter, all members shall be responsible for knowing and abiding by these policies.
ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES
Section A. Standing Committees
1. If no standing committees exist, the president or vice president may form special committees when necessary.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
Section A. Announcement of Meetings
1. The official means of notifying members shall be agreed upon at the first meeting held after the election of a new president.
2. The president and/or vice-president will be in charge of informing the members of the meeting by e-mail.
3. Official notice of the meeting at which the election of NEED officers will take place must be provided to all NEED members not less than two weeks prior to such meeting.
Section B. Quorum
1. Quorum shall be defined as simple majority of NEED members.
2. Quorum is needed for official votes to take place.
ARTICLE VII. FINANCES
Section A. Student Organization Accounts
1. All student organization accounts must be kept in an on-campus University account.
a. Student Activity Budget Committee funds will be kept an activity account.
b. All other student organization funds, whether fundraised, donated, or collected dues, will be kept in an agency account.
c. It is against University policy for student organizations to have off-campus accounts.
Section B. Dissolution of Organization
1. If this group dissolves, all monies allocated by the Student Activity Budget Committee shall be returned to the Student Activity Budget Committee. Any other funds will be dispersed as the group sees fit.
ARTICLE VIII. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Section A. Proposing Amendments
1. Any active member can propose an amendment to the constitution by submitting a written request to the Executive Board prior to the last meeting of the year.
Section B. Amendment Process
1. Once an amendment to the constitution is submitted to the Executive Board, the amendment must wait until the following meeting to be voted on.
Section C. Passing an Amendment
1. Amendments to this constitution shall be adopted by simple majority vote of the total active members.
Section D. Student Organization Advisory Committee Approval
1. All amendments must be submitted to the Student Organization Advisory Committee for final approval and a revised copy of the constitution will be placed on permanent file in the Office of Student Activities.
ARTICLE IX. ADVISOR
Section A. Role of Advisor
1. All student organizations are required to have a currently employed MSUM faculty or staff advisor working on-campus during the semester(s) of advisement.
2. If the student organization maintains a University account, the Advisor(s) is responsible for overseeing said account.
3. If the student organization receives Student Activity Budget Committee funding, the advisor will remain in contact with the Activities Business Manager.
Section B. Advisor Removal
1. An advisor may be removed from the position:
a. For failure to carry out the responsibilities of that position
b. For actions which violate the purposes of the organization
c. For actions which violate University policies
2. An advisor may be removed by the following process:
a. Written charges by a member are to be presented to the Executive Board.
b. The Executive Board will notify the advisor of an opportunity for the advisor to respond to charges at the next regular meeting.
c. Voting for removal is to be done by secret ballot within two weeks of the meeting.
d. The meeting must have quorum present and only active members may participate in the vote.
e. The advisor in question must be notified immediately of the outcome of the vote.
Section C. Advisor Appeal
1. If the advisor wishes to appeal the vote for removal they must send a written letter of appeal to the NEED Executive Board within two weeks of the decision.
2. The Executive Board will review the appeal and notify NEED and advisor in no more than one week of the decision.
ARTICLE X. RATIFICATION AND RECOGNITION PROCESS
Section A. Ratification
1. This constitution will be ratified by simple majority of organizations total active members.