Constitution

Preamble

Understanding that graduate students of African-American, Pacific Islander, Southeast Asian, Hispanic/Chicano/Latino, and American Indian decent descent are an underrepresented population and are collectively faced with issues unique to students of color; that the nation’s communities, schools, and industries are becoming increasing more diverse in populations, but not in voices; and that the University of Minnesota has a commitment to diversity, students of color here at the University of Minnesota do hereby organize Association of Multicultural Scientists.

Article I- General

Section 1: The official and permanent name of this organization shall be the Association of Multicultural Scientists (AMS).

Section 2: The association shall operate as a non-profit organization.

Section 3: The association shall operate as an affiliate of the Academic Health Centers (AHC).

Section 4: The association shall abide by the applicable rules and policies of the University of Minnesota pertaining to student organization and all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

Section 5: The purpose of this association is as follows:

1. Assist students in the successful completion of their graduate studies by offering activities and support which will meet academic, professional, and social needs in an atmosphere of cultural context and comfort.
2. Promote awareness within the university’s scientific community of the ever growing presence of qualified minority post doctoral trainees and faculty candidates.
3. Promote awareness of other minority programs on campus through joint sponsorship of activities.
4. Improve the general recruitment, retainment & support of underrepresented minorities in both student and faculty positions in the AHC graduate programs.

Article II-Membership and Impeachment

Section 1: Voting membership is open to all students in graduate or professional schools, faculty, staff and alumni and staff at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campus.

Section 2: No more than 1/3 of the voting membership shall consist of non-students.

Section 3: Membership is open to all students without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran’s status, creed, marital status, public assistance status, or sexual orientation.

Section 4: To become a member, one must fill out the membership application form and return it to the Records Chair.

Section 5: Each member is entitled to one vote, and decisions will be made, in general, by majority vote.

Section 6: It is understood that members will abide by this Constitution.

Section 7: Any member and/or officer may be impeached for misconduct (for example: failure to perform duties, misappropriation of association funds, etc.) The member and/or officer shall be given a seven-day notice and an opportunity to defend him/herself. The impeachment votes shall be conducted in a special session, consisting of voting members only, and requires 2/3 majority vote. No membership dues will be accepted at this time.

Article III- Administration

Section 1: The officers of this association shall consist of Administrative Chair, Records Chair, Fiscal Management Chair, Social Chair, and Professional Development Chair.

Section 2: All officers must be currently enrolled graduate or professional students at the University of Minnesota, voting members, and have attended three meetings in the academic year prior to assuming the position. All officers must know Robert’s Rules of Order and be familiar with this Constitution.

Section 3: Officers shall be elected during the March meetings, assume position on May 1st of that year, and shall serve for a period of one year. Officers shall be elected by plurality of the voting members present, providing that a quorum is present.

Section 4: The duties and responsibilities of the officers are as follows:

1. Administrative Chair- Preside over all meetings and act as the official spokesperson of the association. Initiate Executive Committee meetings and serve as the chairperson for the committee.
2. Records Chair- Handle all correspondence and record the minutes of all meetings. Be responsible for Constitutional knowledge, recommendations, updates, and re-ratification. Be responsible for organization registration. Develop recognition materials for students, administrators, and faculty members who experience personal or professional achievements.
3. Fiscal Management Chair- Secure funding, as needed. Maintain all financial transactions and produce semi-annual reports (or also upon request of the Executive Committee). Develop a budget for the organization for the next year and update as needed.
4. Social Chair- Coordinate social events, not related to professional development. Organize political activities as they come up. Plan community service activities within and outside of the university. Responsible for graduation celebration.
5. Professional Development Chair – Organize events that support students in their efforts to complete their graduate and/or professional degree.
6. Membership/Recruitment Chair- Develop and organize organizational pamphlets, fliers, and other information that is used to recruit new members. Maintain membership list. Develop organization’s newsletter once monthly. Be responsible for development and upkeep of the organization’s email account. Develop a website for the organization.

Section 5: The Administrative and Fiscal Management Chairs are the only persons authorized to make transactions of AMS accounts.

Article IV- Committees

Section 1: The standing committee of this association shall be the Executive Committee.

1. It consists of the Administrative, Records, Fiscal Management, Social, Professional Development, and Membership/Recruitment Chairs.
2. It sets meeting dates for the association, determines, committee assignments and objectives for each academic year.
3. It is accountable to the General Body and none of its acts shall conflict with the goals and objectives of the organization or the decisions made by the vote of full members.
4. It determines all questions of policy and will administer affairs of AMS.
5. It shall not spend more than a specified amount of AMS funds between General Body meetings without the approval of the General Body. The specified amount shall be determined by the incoming Executive Committee before the end of the fiscal year.

Section 2: Social and Professional Development committees may be established as determined by the respective Chairs.

Section 3: Special ad hoc committees may be established to carry out special assignments and may be convened by any Chair.

Article V- Meetings

Section 1: General body meetings shall be held quarterly during the calendar year. A special meeting may be called by the Executive Committee, or by a petition of ten percent of the voting membership.

Section 2: A quorum shall be present in order to conduct official business of the association. A quorum shall consist of three people.

Section 3: Decisions of the association shall be enacted by a majority vote of the voting membership.

Section 4: Meetings will not be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order-New Edition, except at the Chair’s discretion.

Article VI-Financial Matters

Section 1: The association shall not provide monetary gains, incidentally or otherwise to its directors or membership. This does not restrict the payment of wages, salaries, stipends or incentives b the association for services rendered.

Section 2: At the time of dissolution of the association, residual assets shall be distributed to the following not-for-profit organizations according to the proportions below:

1. Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation 25%
2. American Diabetes Association 25%
3. Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. 25%
4. Heart Fund 25%

Article VII-Bylaws

Section 1: By-Laws may be proposed by the membership and may be adopted by a majority vote of those present at the meeting when a quorum is present.

Article VIII- Amendments

Section 1: Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by any member of the association. Such proposals must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee for a first reading to the membership at the regular meeting prior to the meting at which the proposed amendment is to be voted on.

Section 2: Duty proposed amendments shall be submitted to a vote of the voting members providing a quorum is present. A 2/3 majority vote in favor shall be required for adoption for adoption of such amendments.

Section 3: The mission and purpose of the association shall be revisited each year.