Clarify.

Communic
ate.
Collaborat
e.

Constitution Development Guide: Page 1

Office of Student
Involvement
Constitution Development
Guide

Constitution Development Guide: Page 2

Office of Student
Involvement
Constitution Development
Guide
A constitution marks the authenticity of an organization and presents as a
document of actuality and sometimes a reality of a dream. This constitution
development guide is a resource to be used for organizations that need assistance
in developing a structure to start or grow a student organization. While this
document is lengthy, there are three key reasons in using this resource as you
prepare to build an organization or look to redevelop the mission of your
organization.
1. Campus and Organization Resource
Through the use of this guide, individuals should be able to create a
document that helps to meet the needs of each student organization. It is
recognized that every organization will have similarities and differences in the way
the constitution is created and thus it is noted how to develop a constitution for a
specific organization.
2. Assist with the Challenge
Writing a constitution can be one of the most challenging parts of starting a
student organization, but also can act as one of the most important resources for a
student organization.
3. Creating History
As previously stated, a constitution is the foundation of a student
organization for which student build and learn from. While this document will not
remain the same throughout its life, creators and editors of a constitution help to
create the path that will guide an organization through its history.
This guide goes through each of the key components of a constitution and
includes a sample constitution and a checklist of the components required to be
recognized as an organization through the Office of Student Involvement at
Kalamazoo College.

Constitution Development Guide: Page 3

Preamble
This statement acts as the introduction to the constitution. It can be brief or
as long as a paragraph, but essentially it will introduce a reader to the
organization. Starting with We the members of (Name of Organization), of
Kalamazoo College, and followed by a description of the purpose of the
organization
Mission Statement:
A mission statement is clear and concise declaration of the goals and
makeup of the organization. While the constitution outlines the specifics of
an organization, the mission statement directly represents the long term
goals and identity that the organization will have in the campus community.
In some cases this can be the most important part of the constitution as the
mission statement will reflect to overarching plan for the organization for the
present and future.
Nondiscrimination Clause:
In order to promote equity, inclusion, and safe spaces, organizations are required to include
a nondiscrimination clause in their constitution. This statement can be as simple as stating
that any individual is member can join no matter their identity or as complex as explaining
the history behind the organizations support for social inclusion.
Article I: Name/Identification
The first article of the constitution is seen as the introduction to the organization and
states the official organization name. An organization can use the following phrase or one
similar: The name of this organization shall be (Name of Organization) at Kalamazoo
College. If the organization will be called by any other name, abbreviation, or initial
throughout the document this would also be a time to outline that in a sub-section. For
example:
2) Throughout this document, this organization shall me referred to as RHA or the
Residence Hall Association.
If your organization has any affiliation to other university department or national
organizations, this would be outlined in a subsection of the Name/Identification article.
Article II: Purpose
The purpose of (Name of Organization) shall be
Using this statement, your organization should prepare the core reasoning behind the
establishment and continued recognition as a student organization. Why does the
organization exist on the Kalamazoo College campus? What services are you providing for
the student body or for your membership? What events or programming will you provide?
Unlike your mission statement, the purpose reflects specifics about the organizations
culture in its present state.
Article III: Membership
Section I: Types of Members
This article is designed to help individuals who are trying to find an
organization to fit their identity to know whether they are eligible for the organization or for
current members to check their status within the organization. The first subsection should

Constitution Development Guide: Page 4

outline the types of members within an organization and the role that each type plays with
the organization. You may have active, honorary, inactive, associate, alumni, and a host of
other types of members. Depending on the number of types of members you may choose to
outline the qualifications for membership, voting privileges, and removal of membership
sections as subsection for each type of membership. Here is an example of the difference of
format:
Membership-Broken down by type of member
A. Active
1. Qualifications
2. Rights/Privileges
3. Removal
B. Alumni
1. Qualifications
2. Rights/Privileges
3. Removal
C. Honorary
1. Qualifications
2. Rights/Privileges
3. Removal
D. Early Alumni
1. Qualifications
2. Rights/Privileges
3. Removal

Membership-Broken down by section

A. Qualifications
1. Active
2. Alumni
3. Honorary
4. Early Alumni
B. Rights and Privileges
1. Active
2. Alumni
3. Honorary
4. Early Alumni
C. Removal of Membership
1. Active
2. Alumni
3. Honorary
4. Early Alumni

Section II: Qualifications for Membership

Usually compiled in a list or with bullet points, this section should outline any
barriers for entry that an individual may face when joining the organization. Topics that may
be beneficial to list as qualifications include who is eligible for membership, number of
members allowed to be in the organization, class standing, grade point average, number of
course units completed or enrolled, membership to a particular college or major, or
generally interest or objective to membership into the organization. To promote
sustainable organizations, each registered organization is required to have four
Kalamazoo College student members including a President and Treasurer.
Section III: Voting Privileges
While not all organizations take part in organization or meeting models that
require a regular vote, it is important to have a procedure in place in case of the necessary
circumstances. This section should directly explain which members will be eligible to vote
and also what stipulations may be set for an individual to not have a right to vote.
An example of this would be an organization that does not allow members to receive
voting rights if the member has not attended the past three meetings. This stipulation would
be in place because members may not fully be educated on the issues if they had not been
in attendance at the meetings. Voting privileges may also vary on position, year at K, and a
bevy of others.
Section IV: Removal of Membership
This final section will outline two separate subsections: withdrawal and
termination. While retention is important to an organization, individuals will have reasons to
no longer be involved in an organization. In this section it is important to detail any steps or
processes that an individual should take part in to leave an organization. This could include,
but is not limited to: writing a letter of removal, requesting to be removed from a listserv, or
announcing withdrawal at a general body meeting.
The second type of removal that should be explained is that of termination.
This subsection should include reasons why a member may be removed from an

Constitution Development Guide: Page 1

organization. It is also important to provide the individual due process by explaining the
procedures for removal including the percentage of votes needed, how the information will
be provided, and how the individual will be notified of results of the termination process.
Article IV: Officers/Executive Board/Leadership Team
This article is essential to building the infrastructure of an organization because it will
outline the tasks and duties for each individual leader in an organization. By providing this
information each new set of student organization leaders will be given a guide to assist them
in fulfilling their job responsibilities within an organization. Below is an example of how this
could be set up with an explanation of the construction of each element.

A.

Section I: This section is a list of all

Section I: The Executive Board shall consist of:
leadership roles or committee leaders
President (Required)
within an organization.
B.
Vice President
C.
Secretary
At a minimum an organization must
D.
Treasurer (Required)
have a President and Treasurer or the
E.
Public Relations Chair
equivalent.
Section II: A member of the Executive Board must: Section II: To help in defining the role of
A.
Be an active memberbeing a member of the leadership team,
B.
Attend all meetings this section outlines the requirements
i. Excused vs. Unexcused that every individual seeking a leadership
ii. Executive board
role requires.
iii. Absences
iv. General assembly
This can include requirements that apply
C.
Attend all sponsoredtoevents
all members of the executive board like
D.
GPA Requirement class standing, but can also include duties
E.
Office Hours
like holding office hours each week.
F.
Transition Requirement
i. In an effort to support the continued growth of
your organization, the Office of Student
Involvement requires that each executive board
completes and submits and End of the Year
Transition Report.
Section III: Positional Requirements
A. President
1.
Preside over all organizationSection
meetings
III: The final section of this article should be
2.
Act as official spokespersonspecific duties required of each individual who holds a
leadership role within the organization.
B. Vice President
1.
Preside over meetings in the absence
of the
President
This section
should
be reviewed annually by the
members who fill these positions to make sure that the
C. Secretary
duties align with the work that is being accomplished.
1.
Preside over meetings in the absence of the President and the Vice
Each position outlined should include specifics on a
D. Treasurer
variety of topics from responsibilities of programming,
1. Preside over meetings in the absence
of the
President,
Vicemeetings,
and
office hours.

Article V: Meetings

Constitution Development Guide: Page 2

While this article may seem very basic, this will serve as a tool for members and also
potential new members to an organization. Here the time, date, and location of general body
meetings are listed. It is also important to note whether the meetings will take place weekly,
biweekly, monthly, etc.
This is also a good time to discuss how meetings will run and be organized for the
organization. Will a President or Vice President run the meeting? Will it be informal or run
using parliamentary procedure? Who will be responsible for cancelling or scheduling
meetings? Who will be responsible for disbursement of notes and important information? If
the organization is making a decision, how will a vote be taken (secret ballot, hand, verbal,
etc.)?
Article VI: Elections and Terms of Office
For many organizations, this article is the most important of any constitution. This will
contain a specific outline of all procedures and policies when it comes to elections of
leadership roles within the organization. It is very important that this section is detailed
because it is often political and can often raise conflict. Please take time and put detail into
this article to make sure that any question can be answered by looking at the organizations
constitution.
Section I: Election of Officers/Executive Board
A. Nominations- Explain the timeline and process for which nominations
will be taken for each position or how an individual would apply for
candidacy into a specific position.
B. Elections Timeline- Outline the specific week and quarter in which the
annual election will take place for the organization. If different positions
will be elected at different times during the year, share which positions
will be up for election at what times.
C. Elections Code- This subsection should outline the steps of the election
and what will happen on the day of the election.
i. Speeches/Announcements/Campaigning/Debates-What preelection activities will the candidates participate in?
Depending on the type of organization, this section could
simply share that they will have three minutes to speak to
the general body or outline a weeks worth of campaign
management.
ii. The Vote-This should include the specifics of how the votes
will be taken and who will be allowed to vote in the election.
D. Annual Term- As required for the 2016-2017 academic year, the
following statement or one similar is required to be included in
your constitution: All members elected will serve one year
from the date of the election.
Section II: Appointment of or Provision for Filling Vacant Positions
A. In the event or a resignation, impeachment, or other form of removal
from a position; this section will outline the procedure for filling the
role. This is up to the discretion of the student organization and can be
done by appointment, midyear election, or other form.
Section III: Impeachment
A. The impeachment process is often a complicated and conflicted
process. This section should outline the details of the process and how
it may begin and the processes that it will include. Some suggestions
to include are communication with the executive board and advisor,
the vote needed to complete an impeachment, special
accommodations for the individual who is responsible for upholding
elections code, and the vacancy election timeline.

Constitution Development Guide: Page 3

Article VII: Advisors
As required for the 2016-2017 academic year, every student organization
will be required to include this section in their constitution as an advisor is
required to register as an organization.
A. With the above requirement it is important for advisors to know what
will be expected of them during the academic year. This article is an
opportunity for your organization to set clear expectations for this
individual. Are they required to be at all meetings or events? Should
they meet with the executive board members weekly or bi-weekly?
What forms of support does your organization require of the advisor?
Article VII: Finances
A. This article does not have to be an exhaustive list of budget or financial
information, but should instead be direct in providing the sources of
the organizations budget. Whether this is from an academic office, the
Office of Student Involvement, or through fundraising, this should be
directly stated.
B. It may also be helpful to share information on how budget decisions
are made for the organization and how reallocation of funds would be
processed.
C. If your organization has any other special needs for budget these
processes should be expanded upon.
Article IX: Amendments
A. The final article of a constitution should outline the timeline and
process of making edits and amendments to its original or current
form. How long will the process take? Will the general body or
executive board vote on the edits? What percentage of the vote is
required for the amendment to pass? These questions and any other
clarifications should be explained in this article. If an amendment is
made the following note should be made at the end of the document
noting the record of amendments.
Proposed Revision (Date Submitted)
Submitted by: (Name, Title in Organization)
Amendments Approved: (Date Vote Passed)
Amended: (Date Vote Passed)
Amended: (Date Vote Passed)

Constitution Development Guide: Page 4

Sample Constitution
Below is a sample constitution from a fictional organization. This should
only be used as a guide and is not a sample of the perfect constitution for
your organization. Please note that additional articles have been added
because of the organizations function. Constitutions should reflect the
identity of the campus and also of the personal mission and objectives of
the organization.

Student Organization for Students Constitution

We the members of the Student Organization for Students of Kalamazoo College, in reason to
provide recognition for those students living in the residence halls who have shown outstanding
service, recognition, commitment, and who have provided important leadership in the
advancement of Kalamazoo College as well as commitment and dedication to their academics,
do install and establish this Constitution for the Student Organization for Students.
Mission Statement:
The Student Organization for Students, all of the students and stakeholders at Kalamazoo
College, will show commitment to leadership development, service to community, and
recognition in Kalamazoo. As an organization we strive to uphold excellence in the four pillars
of the Student Organization for Students: Leadership, Recognition, Service, and Scholastics.
Nondiscrimination Clause:
OSIDSD is a student-run organization whose members purpose is to provide communication, education, and
leadership development opportunities for student leaders across the country and around the world. The students
who comprise our organization represent different abilities, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions, ages,
genders and political affiliations. As such, OSIDSD represents a truly multicultural population in which individual
differences are accepted and welcomed. We strongly encourage member schools to build conference delegations that
are representative and inclusive of the diversity of people from their individual campuses. Ultimately, we strive for
an appreciation, understanding, and acceptance of diversity. Finally we encourage member schools to work
together to provide a unified front in order to achieve our basic goal of improving campuses nationwide, and
internationally.
Article I: Membership
Section I: Qualifications for Membership
A. Reside in Kalamazoo
B. Have resided in a residence hall for at least one year prior to the time of the selection
C. Be a student in good standing with the university
D. Maintain a minimum of a 3.00 accumulative grade point average
E. Have made a positive contribution to the college campus
Section II: Members
A. Active
1. Undergraduate or graduate level students currently living at Kalamazoo College
2. The rights of active members shall be:
i. To vote
ii. To serve on one or more of the active committees

Constitution Development Guide: Page 5

iii. To participate in organization meetings, functions, leadership
conferences, and social events
B. Alumni
1. Members who permanently leave campus through graduation
2. The rights of alumni members shall be:
a. To speak openly during proceedings and discussions
b. To serve on any of the active committees
c. To participate in organization meetings, functions, leadership conferences,
and social events
3. Once inducted into Student Organization for Students, it is a lifelong membership.
C. Honorary
1. Those who do not meet the criteria to be an active member, but have shown
outstanding service and devotion to the interests of Kalamazoo College program
aside from his or her official capacities or regular duties. In order to qualify for
honorary membership a person must:
a. Be a faculty member, staff member, or fellow student who does not reside
on campus, or another contributing volunteer
b. Must not be a member of Student Organization for Students at Kalamazoo
College or any other institution.
c. Have made positive contributions to the college community.
D. Early Alumni
1. Members who cannot participate actively in Student Organization for Students due
to circumstances beyond their control.
2. Early alumni status is coordinated by the Vice President and confirmed by the
Regional Associate Director of Student Organization for Students prior to the
selection meeting.
3. Early alumni members do not count toward organization numbers, and have no
organizational rights to speak of.

A.
B.

C.
D.
A.
B.

Article II: Nomination

Section I: The Nomination Form
Forms will go out as early as the second week of the fall and/or spring quarter
The people that have the privilege of nominating persons they feel deserve the
recognition of being nominated to membership of the Student Organization for Students shall be:
1. Student Commission Executive Board Members
2. Student Activities Committee (SAC) Executive Board Members
3. Community Association Executive Board Members
4. Student Organization for Students Members
5. Housing and Residence Life Leadership
6. Resident Managers
7. Community Aides
8. Resident Assistants
9. Multi-Cultural Advisors
10.Kalamazoo College Affiliate
11. Academic Peer Mentors
Forms are to be sent via email by a predetermined date to the Selection email account.
Nominations should include these nominees name, address, and a brief explanation of
why the individual is deserving of the nomination
Section II: The Application Form
The application form must go out no later than the sixth week of the fall and/or spring
quarter
The Application Form for Student Organization for Students will consist of questions that
allow the applicant to express:

Constitution Development Guide: Page 6

1.

Information about the outstanding service, commitment,

recognition, and leadership skills of the applicant at Kalamazoo College

Article III: Selection

Section I: Selection Process
A.
The selection process allow seven persons to serve as members of the selection
committee with the presence of an Advisor(s) at all meetings
B.
The committee shall consist of the following seven people
2.
Chairperson
a. The Chairperson shall be the Vice President of Student Organization for
Students
b. In the event that there is no Vice President, the President will appoint
another member as Chairperson
c.
Shall only vote in the case of a tie
3.
Four Active members who are elected by a simple majority of
the membership
a. These members must be selected no later than the 7th week of the fall and/or
spring quarter
b. These members must, to the best of their ability, attend all meeting pertinent
to the selection process.
4.
The Commitment Committee Induction Representative
C.
Each nominee may attend the Prospective Member social, which will be held no
later than the eighth week of the fall and/or spring quarters.
D.
The nominee shall submit his or her application for membership no later than
the Friday of the eighth week of the quarter during which he or she was nominated.
E.
In conjunction with the nomination letter each voting member of the selection
committee will review each application and at the discretion of the committee will
develop a system of selection that best suits the needs of that selection committee.
F.
Any active member of the Student Organization for Students shall make
honorary membership nominations no later than thefifth meeting of the fall and/or spring
quarter. An explanation explaining why the potential honorary member should be
selected will follow their nomination.
1. At the sixth meeting, voting members shall vote on all honorary membership
nominations
2. The membership may choose to induct six individuals per academic school year.

F.

Article IV: Executive Board

Section I: The Executive Board shall consist of:
President
G.
Vice President
H.
Secretary
I.
Treasurer
J.
Public Relations Chairperson
K.
Family Relations Coordinator
Section II: A member of the Executive Board must:
A.
Be an active member of Student Organization for Students
B.
Attend all meetings called on by the president and called upon
when needed by the organization
i. The President and Vice President shall deem if an absence is excused or
unexcused for a meeting
ii. Where the President will give at least 4 days notice before the meeting is
held
iii. At least 24 hours notice must be given to receive an excused absence
iv. With 2 unexcused absences the impeachment process will begin

Constitution Development Guide: Page 7

C.

Attend all Student Organization for Students sponsored events and

functions

D.
Attend bi-weekly meetings with an advisor
E.
The Executive Board has the power to create ad-hoc committees
F.
Shall hold a weekly scheduled office hour
Section II: Positional Requirements
A. President
1.
Preside over all organization meetings
2.
Act as official spokesperson for the organization
3.
Vote only in the case of a tie
4.
Create an agenda for all organization and executive board meetings
5. Shall attend GLOSI, OSIDSD, and the MIOSI conferences as well as any
organizational meeting where Student Organization for Students is requested to
represent itself.
6.
Be the Liaison from the organization to the Region and the Nation
7. Will assist with the facilitation of bid writing in conjunction with the Kalamazoo
College National Communications Coordinator (NCC)
8. Shall be the liaison to the Student Commission and will remain in constant
communication with the NCC in regards to all conference and business meeting
information and preparation.
9.
Shall have the power to appoint all vacancies that cannot be filled by special election with
the approval of the executive board.
10. Shall assist the NCC to re-affiliate the organization during the OSIDSD conference
11. Shall chair all End of the Year Leadership Reception
B. Vice President
2.
Preside over meetings in the absence of the President
3.
Sit as chairperson of the selection committee
4. Advise all committee chairs and hold a monthly meetings/communication with the
chairs
5. Coordinate the Student Organization for Students office (supplies, letterhead,
communication, and technology)
6. Facilitate and interpret parliamentary procedure during business and committee
meetings
7. Coordinate updates in the constitution with and at the discretion of the President
8. Have the first option to chair or appoint a chair to any Ad-Hoc Committees
9. Take Executive Board and Committee Chairperson attendance at all Organization,
Executive Board, and other meetings
C. Secretary
1. Preside over meetings in the absence of the President and the Vice
President
2. Take minutes at Executive Board and organization meetings
3. Distribute minutes to the appropriate members
4. Assist the Vice President in coordinating office functions
5. Maintain and updated the organization website in cooperation with
the Public Relations Representative
i.
Minimum requirements for the website:
1.
Organization Minutes
2.
Committee Descriptions
3.
Executive Board Contact Information
4.
Active Membership List
6. Maintain and update the following files:
i. Constitution
ii. Executive Board Minutes
iii. Minutes of organization meetings
iv. Current budget
v. Contact list for members

Constitution Development Guide: Page 8

D. Treasurer
1. Preside over meetings in the absence of the President, Vice-President, and
Secretary.
2. Formulate a budget at the beginning of the year to be presented and approved no
later than the fourth week of the fall quarter
3. Take care of all financial transactions for the organization
4. Provide a detailed report to the executive board and organization twice per
quarter
5. Submit the books for review to the advisors monthly
E. Public Relations Representative
1. Publicize all Student Organization for Students events to the campus and
individual members
2. Plan and execute alumni social
3. Maintain and update a directory of active, honorary, and alumni members contact
information
4. Maintain contact with alumni members
5. Liaison with Residence Hall Leadership
6. Create and maintain calendar of events
7. Work with Secretary to maintain website
8. Maintain contact and communication with Alumni members
F. Family Relations Coordinator
1. Facilitate the Family Program
2. Keep track family members, parents, and grandparents
a. Ensure that families have parents (family student leader/s)and grandparents
3. Create and maintain calendar of events for families
4. Provide assistance to family parents/grandparents in planning a program each month.
5. Maintain the family budgets and assistance with the transactions processed by families
6. Act as liaison between parents/grandparents and the executive board
Article V: Special Working Committees
A.
Rug Burn
1.
The Rug Burn Committee Chair will be responsible for the annual
carpet sale held opening
week of the fall quarter.
2.
Elections for the Rug Burn Committee Chair will take place at the same time as executive board
elections
3.
The chair will be responsible for communicating with On Campus
Marketing, getting
volunteers, and the process of delivery.
4. The chair should be available during the summer following the election
Article VI: Election and Terms of Office
Section I: Election of Officers/Executive Board
A. The first week of nominations for the President will be taken the meeting prior to Spring
Break with the election being held the first meeting after Spring Break.
B. Elections shall be held in the spring quarter following the induction of new members
with the exception of President.
C. Nominations shall follow the following format in order:
2. Nominations will be taken for two weeks
3. Nominations will close on the second week with presentations following this
criteria:
i. Nominees may give a three minute presentation.
ii. A five minute question and answer session will be held.
iii. An open forum five-minute discussion on candidates for each position
will occur after all nominees have presented.
D. All members elected will serve one year from the date of the election.

Constitution Development Guide: Page 9

E. In result of a midyear election, all vacant positions will be up for election at the same
time.
Section III: Impeachment
A.
In the event of behavior unbecoming of an officer or
chairperson, the Executive Board (after consulting with the advisors) will make a
recommendation to the body.
B. To be removed from a position requires a 2/3 majority vote of active members present at
the meeting.
C. A special election will be held at the next meeting to fill any such vacancy with the
exception of the President and shall be held following the process in Article VII, Section
1, Letter C.
D.
In the case of the Presidents resignation or removal from
office the Vice-President will assume the position of President. A special election will
then be held to fill the vacancy of the Vice President.
Section IV: The Advisors
A. Attend all organization and committee meetings as necessary
B. Meet with his or her designated advisees as deemed necessary
Article VII: Organization Meetings
A. Student Organization for Students meetings will be held weekly
B. Special meetings may be called by any member of the Executive Board
C. The official meeting time shall be Monday at 5:15 p.m.
D. Roberts Rules of Order shall serve as a guideline for business procedures at all meetings
and will be enforced by the Vice President.
Article VIII: End of the Year Awards
A. Nominations for the following awards should be taken the first week in
April.
1.
A written reason should be presented to the selector(s) by the
nominator.
2.
The people that have the privilege of nominating persons they feel deserve the recognition by
the following awards shall be:
i.
Student Commission Executive Board Members
ii.
Student Activities Committee (SAC) Executive Board Members
iii.
Community Association Executive Board Members
iv.
Student Organization for Students Members
v.
Housing and Residence Life Leadership
vi.
Resident Managers
vii.
Community Aides
viii.
Resident Assistants
ix.
Multi-Cultural Advisors
x.
Kalamazoo College Affiliate
xi.
Academic Peer Mentors
3. In the case that the President is nominated, the next eligible executive board
member in the line of succession will assume the role as Selection Chairman
B. Matthew Stovcsik Award
1.
Selected by the Advisor(s) and President before the end-of-the-year
banquet
2.
Criteria for choosing nominees are, but not limited to
i. Involvement for more than one year, not necessarily consecutive
ii. Must be an active or alumni member of the Student Organization for
Students
iii. Be involved in their respective committee
iv. Have good attendance
v. Takes advantage of outside opportunities
C. Outstanding Member Of the Year Award

Constitution Development Guide: Page 10

1. Selected by the Executive Board one week after nominations are due.
Criteria for choosing nominees are, but not limited to
Must not be a current Executive Board Member of Student Organization for Students
Be involved in their respective committee
Have good attendance
Takes advantage of outside opportunities
Must be an active or alumni member of the Student Organization for Students
Has gone above and beyond what is expected from an Student Organization for

2.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
Students member
D. Leadership and Service Pins
1.
Selected by the Advisor(s) and President, with recommendations
any active member, before the end-of-the-year banquet
2.
The President is not eligible to be awarded a Leadership and
Pin
3.
Can be awarded up to eight (8) active members
4.
Criteria for choosing nominees are, but not limited to
i.
Has shown commitment to Student Organization for Students
E. Ruth Peters Achievement Award
1.
Selected by the Advisor(s) and President before the end-of-thebanquet
2.
Criteria for choosing nominees are, but not limited to
i.
Must live in the Residence Halls when nominated
ii.
Must have completed 30 credit hours
iii.
Must have at least a 2.75 GPA
iv.
Must have residence hall involvement
v.
If a RA is nominated, must go above the duties of the RA
3. The recipient of this award does not have to be a member of Student
Organization for Students
F.
1.

from
Service

year

position

Senior Cords
Anyone that is graduating from the organization shall receive a set of
Honors Cords, as a gift, from the organization.
2. These Cords will be presented at the induction ceremonies prior to the members
graduation

Article IX: Pillar Points

Section I: Pillar Point System
A. Pillar Points are earned by showing outreach in any of the Student Organization for Students
Pillars
B. The Commitment Chairperson is in charge of keeping track of member pillar points
C. Any member can earn pillar points
D. If a member earns 150 points for commitment activities, 50 points for leadership activities, 50
points for recognition activities, and 50 points for service activities; that member will receive
a Pillar Pin at the End of the Year Student Leadership Reception.
E. Once members have received their pillar pin they will be able to receive awards at the End of
the Year Student Leadership Reception for these respective point totals: 500 points, 750
points, and 1,000 points.
Article X: Conferences and Business Meetings
Section I: Representing Student Organization for Students
A. The President will serve as the Student Organization for Students Communication
Coordinator at all affiliated conferences and business meetings
B. If the President is unable to attend a conference or business meeting, the President can
appoint an organization representative as a proxy

Constitution Development Guide: Page 11

C. All costs incurred by the President or delegated organization representative for OSIDSD
or GLOSI conferences shall be taken from the Organization budget.
Article XIII: Finances
D. The organization is responsible for holding fund raising projects with the proceeds going
to either the organization or a charitable cause, or scholarship. All proceeds must be lineitemized in the budget.
E. The budget must reflect a carry-over line of at least 25% of the total budget each year
F. Any reallocation of money must be approved by 2/3 of the membership present at the
organization meeting
G. The organization must approve any line item that is overspent by a 2/3 vote of the
membership present at the organization meeting.
Article XIV: National Affiliation
A. This honorary is a university affiliate of the Student Organization for Students. In order
to remain a member of the Student Organization for Students, this organization must
follow the rules and by-laws of the Student Organization for Students Constitution.
Article XV: Amendments to By-Laws
B. Amendments must be submitted to the Executive Board in writing two weeks prior to
voting by active members.
C. Two readings of the amendment must occur before the amendment is voted upon
D. No discussion is permitted after the first reading of the amendment.
E. Amendments to this constitution may be ratified by a 2/3 vote of the active membership
present at the first reading meeting.
F. Any active or alumni member of Student Organization for Students can submit
legislation.
Proposed Revision July 1, 2014
Submitted by: Tyler Sanders, President; Molly Wiener, Vice President; and Eric Hilldorfer, Member
Amendments Approved: November 14, 2015
Amended: March 26, 2016
Amended: September 24, 2017

Constitution Development Guide: Page 12

Constitution Checklist

Organization constitutions MUST include the following articles:

Organization Name
Non-Discrimination Policy/Clause
Purpose
Membership Qualifications
Minimum Number of Members of 4
(Required for the 2015-2016 Academic Year)
Leadership/Officers/Executive Board Position Responsibilities
President and Treasurer Position Responsibilities
(Required for the 2015-2016 Academic Year)
Election Procedures
Annual Term Elections
(Required for the 2015-2016 Academic Year)
Transition Process and Procedures
(Required Form Submission for the 2015-2016
Academic Year)
Advisor Expectations
(Required for the 2015-2016 Academic Year)
Amendment Procedures