Constitution
Amended: August 20, 2001 / Ratified: February 24, 2003
Preamble
We, the occupants of the Residence Halls of West Virginia University, in order to foster a firm spirit of leadership and citizenship, provide a positive cultural, educational, and social atmosphere, to encourage participation in extracurricular activities, aid the housing administrators in improving living conditions, and to represent the residents of WVU housing, do hereby establish this Constitution of the Residence Hall Association of the West Virginia University.
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the West Virginia University Residence Hall Association, hereinafter referred to as “RHA.”
Article II - Purpose
Section A: Membership
All students who are residents of WVU housing shall be considered members of the RHA General Assembly and thus are eligible to hold elected office. Residence Life Staff may not hold any elected office in RHA, however they may hold appointments at the discretion of the President and/or General Assembly.
Section B: Duties
The duties RHA are as follows:
1. To provide quality programs to the residents of WVU housing.
2. To develop leadership skills necessary for the future of WVU and WVU student organizations.
3. To represent the best interest of the residents of WVU housing to the administration, and to the WVU community as a whole.
4. To improve the quality of life experienced by the residents of WVU housing.
Section C: Limitations
RHA shall not establish any policy, social or cultural activity, or rule, nor pass any motion that is in conflict with this Constitution, or in conflict with WVU policy.
Article III - Organization
RHA shall be composed of two separate branches, the executive and the “legislative.”
Article IV – Executive Branch
Section A
The Executive Branch shall consist of the President, the Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Historian, the Public Relations chairperson, the Freshman Representatives, the Residence Life Liaison (ex-officio), and all executive committee chairs and members, as may be established by executive order.
Section B: The President
1. The President shall be an elected member of the Executive Board.
2. Stipend: Room and Board for 2 semesters
3. The duties of the President are as follows:
1. Maintains ultimate responsibility for the operation of RHA.
2. Maintains contact with key administrators vital to the interests of the residents.
3. Serve as Chairman of the Executive Board
4. Serve as Chairman of the President’s Council
5. Establish committee chairs and other positions as provided elsewhere in this constitution. These spots shall be filled by the president through an executive order, with the advice of the executive board, and the consent of the President’s council.
6. Preside over all weekly Executive and/or Assembly meetings.
7. Call special meetings when necessary.
8. Meet monthly with the Director Residential Education.
9. Meet monthly with the Associate Director of Residential Education.
10. Meet weekly with the RHA Advisor(s).
11. Be a voting member of the RHA General Assembly only in the case of a tie vote.
12. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 while in office.
4. Veto power
1. The President may veto any motion that is passed by the General Assembly or President’s Council.
2. The President’s intent to veto any motion must be announced by noon on the date following the passage of the motion.
3. A veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly
5. Executive Order
1. The President is permitted to issue executive orders that he/she deems necessary to the best interests of the residents, or as necessary to provide for the efficient administration of RHA.
2. All executive orders shall be presented both to the General Assembly and the President’s Council at the earliest possible meeting.
Section C: The Vice President
1. The Vice President shall be an elected member of the Executive Board.
2. Stipend: $500 per semester
3. The duties of the Vice President are as follows:
1. Serve as advisor to each of the committees established by RHA.
2. Serve as Vice Chairman of the President’s Council.
3. Serve as an ex-officio member of each of RHA’s internal committees, with the exception of the President’s Council, of which he/she shall be a full member.
4. Serve as president in the event of the president’s absence or incapacitation.
5. Shall assume the office of president if that office is left vacant.
6. Coordinate an end-of-the-year recognition banquet, with the cooperation of NRHH.
7. Be responsible for overseeing the training of new officers in the Spring Semester after elections.
8. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 while in office
Section D: The Treasurer
1. The Treasurer shall be an elected member of the Executive Board.
2. tipend: $500 per semester
3. The duties of the Treasurer are as follows:
1. Shall keep accurate records of the status of each of the RHA accounts and provide them at all General Assembly and Executive Board meetings, or as directed by the President.
2. Shall serve as a financial advisor to both the Executive Board and President’s Council
3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the establishment and enforcement of RHA’s financial policies.
4. The Treasurer shall be responsible for preparing RHA’s annual budget, to be approved by the General Assembly.
5. Is responsible for coordinating and processing all appropriations requests for all RHA accounts.
6. Order supplies and equipment and process purchase requests.
7. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 while in office
Section E: The Secretary
1. The Secretary shall be an elected member of the Executive Board.
2. Stipend: $500 per semester
3. The duties of the Secretary are as follows:
1. Keep minutes of each General Assembly and Executive Board or President’s Council meetings.
2. Keep accurate records of all RHA business
3. Shall serve as an ex-officio member of the President Council’s.
4. Shall provide complete agendas for all meetings.
5. Coordinate the distribution of all RHA correspondence, including meeting minutes and thank-you notes.
6. Shall be responsible for the RHA calendar of events
7. Call attendance at each meeting and take the roll call votes.
8. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 while in office.
Section F: The Historian (National Communications Coordinator)
1. The Historian shall be an appointed member of the Executive Board.
2. Stipend: $500 per semester
3. The duties of the Historian are as follows:
1. Serve as a liaison between NACURH, Inc., CAACURH, and RHA.
2. Organize and submit at least one research or resource report to the National Information Center (NIC) by the due date established by NACURH, Inc.
3. Be responsible for making sure all affiliation dues to NACURH and CAACURH are paid.
4. Give reports on CAACURH and NACURH, Inc. at the assembly meetings if necessary.
5. Be responsible for the compilation of a yearly scrapbook of all RHA activities to be presented at the end-of-year recognition banquet.
6. Assist the Secretary and Public Relations chairperson in the distribution of all RHA-related materials (signs, web-page, etc.)
7. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 while in office.
Section F: The Public Relations Chairperson
1. The Public Relations Chairperson shall be an elected member of the Executive Board.
2. Stipend: $500 per semester
3. The duties of the Public Relations Chairperson are as follows:
1. Serve as editor of the RHA newsletter and head any committees that work on the newsletter.
2. Be responsible for submitting materials in a timely fashion for placement on the RHA Web Site.
3. Handle and coordinate any and all information-dispersal methods to promote RHA and its activities.
4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 while in office.
Section F: The Freshman Representatives
1. The Freshman Representatives shall be appointed members of the Executive Board.
2. Stipend: $400 per semester
3. The duties of the Freshman Representatives are as follows:
1. Represent the interests of freshman residence hall students in their respective halls to the Executive Board and General Assembly
2. Assist other officers as needed and assume any delegated responsibilities.
3. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 while in office.
Section G: The Residence Life Liaison
1. The Residence Life Liaison shall be an appointed member of the Executive Board.
2. Stipend: None
3. The duties of the Residence Life Liaison are as follows:
1. Serve as the liaison between the RHA Executive Board and General Assembly, to the Office of Residential Education, Resident Faculty Leaders, Residence Hall Coordinators, and Resident Assistants.
2. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board, or as directed by the President
3. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 while in office.
Article V – Legislative Branch
Section A
The “Legislative” Branch shall consist of the General Assembly and the President’s Council.
Section B: The General Assembly
1. RHA will hold an Assembly meeting once every week during the academic year, unless otherwise noted.
2. Each Residence Hall will be represented by three voting members as follows:
1. Two RHA Representatives to be elected from active Hall Council members will have one vote together.
2. An Officer of every Hall Council will have one vote.
3. These representatives will give a Hall Council report at the weekly RHA Assembly meeting.
4. These representatives will give an RHA report at each Hall Council meeting.
3. A quorum will be half plus one of the total voting body.
4. Voting on Funding Appropriations cannot take place without a quorum. A General Assembly meeting can be conducted without a quorum, however.
5. Attendance will be called at every Assembly meeting. If a voting member misses an outstanding number of Assembly meetings in a semester without a written proxy, that member will be contacted and his or her Hall Council Advisor will be notified.
6. The procedure for voting during Assembly meeting s will be:
1. RHA meetings will be conducted following the generally accepted format of parliamentary procedure and will refer to Robert's Rules of Order as needed.
2. Any RHA member can propose a motion to be voted on.
3. A motion on the floor must be presented with a second.
4. A motion which does not receive a second dies on the floor.
5. A motion that is presented with a second is open for debate.
6. Votes are verbal roll call or a show of hands, unless otherwise noted.
7. A motion must get a simple majority of the votes cast.
8. The Executive Board of RHA has voice but no vote, except to break a tie, in which the President casts the tie-breaking vote.
7. Written proxy requests must be presented no less than two (2) days prior to any General Assembly meeting, and must be received via email or postal mail to the RHA office or address.
8. The Executive Board reserves the right to refuse or disqualify a proxy vote.
9. Full Representation is defined as two (2) RHA Reps making one vote, and an officer of the hall council, preferably the President, being present at time of attendance records.
10. The President is REQUIRED to attend at least two (2) General Assembly meetings per month. An officer may stand in for the President in the other two (2) weeks, without prior written proxy information, provided that the representative IS AN OFFICER. Reps still must go through the proper proxy requirements.
Section C: The President’s Council
1. Membership on the President’s Council is as follows:
1. RHA President, Chairman
2. RHA Vice President, Vice Chairman
3. Presidents of each hall council
4. RHA Secretary, ex-officio
5. RHA Advisor(s), ex-officio
2. The purpose of this body is to promote communication and cooperation with each individual hall council.
3. The rules of procedure for RHA General Assembly meetings are waived for these meetings.
4. The Council will meet at the discretion of the RHA President, taking the place of a normal Executive Board meeting.
Article VI - Advisor Responsibilities and Duties
1. At least one RHA advisor should be present at all Assembly meetings and President’s Council/Executive Board meetings.
2. RHA Advisor(s) will be placed in primary consideration as chaperones for trips and/or conferences.
3. RHA Advisor(s) will meet monthly with each of the Executive Board Officers. This will be used to serve the student leaders in learning how to better operate in their positions, as well as increasing team morale between the advisor and members of the Executive Board.
4. RHA Advisor(s) will assist in the coordination and organization of leadership conferences for Hall Council Officers and coordinate additional training, as needed, throughout the academic year.
Article VII - Adherence to WVU Policy
1. The Residence Hall Association agrees to act within and abide by all West Virginia University policies as outlined in the West Virginia University student handbook.
2. The Residence Hall Association will adhere to the West Virginia University Code of student Rights and Responsibilities.
3. The Residence Hall Association agrees to act within and abide by all policies as outlined in the "Eyes an 'Eers" handbook.
4. The Residence Hall Association will not deny membership on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color or national origin. This is the Affirmative Action Policy for West Virginia University.
Article VIII - Elections
- The RHA Advisors will establish a timeline for elections during the Spring semester. This timeline will be voted upon by the General Assembly requiring a majority vote to go into effect. This timeline will outline: the date applications are released and date applications are due; the length of time applicants may campaign; the dates voting will occur; and any other miscellaneous dates necessary for the election.
- The Executive Board will post applications giving a minimum of two (2) weeks for applicants to complete and resubmit said applications to the Executive Board.
- Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to hold office:
- Applicants must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA
- Applicants must present themselves to the Executive Board and the General Assembly simultaneously. These presentations will be arranged through the Executive Board.
- Applicants who fail to meet any of these requirements will be void and disqualified from the election.
- Voting will take place online via MIX. All current students residing in the residence halls and those who are returning to the hall that have previously lived in the residence halls at least one (1) semester prior to the election may vote.
- All elected officers shall serve a one year term, starting May 1 st and ending April 30 th of the following year.
- This amendment formally replaces all former election procedures and goes into effect immediately upon being approved.
Article IX – Funding Appropriations
1. RHA will appropriate funds according to the discretion of the RHA Assembly. The procedure to follow will be:
1. A Funds Appropriation Form will be filled out and submitted IN WRITING to the Treasurer at least two (2) days in advance of the meeting where they wish to speak. This will ensure them proper placement on the agenda for the meeting. No proposals will be considered without this procedure.
2. The person(s) requesting funds will be given the opportunity to speak on their behalf. However, the person requesting funds will not be present during the roll call vote.
3. A vote as described in Article V will be taken with the exception that the motion can be amended by the Assembly and then passed.
2. Full representation (defined in Article V Section B) is required from the hall council for two (2) General Assembly meetings directly, consecutively, PRIOR to the meeting where the appropriation will be passed or denied. Failure to attend for two (2) consecutive meetings directly prior to meeting where the proposal will be presented will result in the appropriation being delayed until the requirements have been fulfilled.
Article X - Resignation
1. Any member of RHA may resign from his or her position as long as a formal letter of resignation stating sufficient reasons is presented to their Hall Council’s Executive Board.
2. Should a voting member resign from RHA, it is the responsibility of the President or Advisor of their Hall Council to see that the vacancy is filled.
3. Should an Executive Board member other than the President resign his or her position, nominations and elections for the new officer will take place at the following Assembly meeting.
4. Should the President resign, the Vice-President will become the new President, and a new Vice-President will be elected by the General Assembly at the next meeting.
Article XI - Constitutional Amendments
1. This Constitution will be amended by a 2/3-majority vote of the RHA Assembly.
2. Amendments to this Constitution must be submitted to the Executive Board one week in advance of the Assembly voting.
Article XII - Constitutional Ratification
This Constitution must be ratified by a 2/3-majority vote of the RHA Assembly.