Writing Your Own Constitution
Using your own constitution instead of the standard constitution is great way to make your organization highly personalized. Sometimes certain parent organizations require smaller organizations to create a constitution that aligns with the national standards. Either way, this process can be very beneficial and rewarding for an organization's members, but will lengthen the approval process to approximately 2 months. Student Development and Campus Vibrancy is happy to aid you in writing your own constitution, and ask that you please follow the guidelines below, triple checking for work for errors and typos. Once it is completed, make an appointment with Student Development and Campus Vibrancy to begin the reviewal process.
Must have:
- The name of the organization
- A mission or purpose statement
- Description of rights for Stetson student members and non Stetson student members
- Following information about officer elections
- When during the year will they will occur
- All of the voting procedures
- How much notice will be given before voting to time, location, candidates
- What percentage of votes will be needed (specify votes of those present at voting OR votes of entire organization)
- Officer removal procedures
- Officer duties
- Advisor specifications
- How an advisor will be chosen
- Advisors duties
- Amending the constitution procedures
- The statement "Org will maintain contact with Student Development and Campus Vibrancy on a regular basis regarding organizational matters."
- The statement "Org shall comply with all federal, state, local, and University laws, policies, and procedures."
- The statement "Stetson University values the equality of all people, recognizing its responsibility to protect human dignity and promote positive personal growth, hazing is strictly prohibited by any member of the university community. Stetson defines hazing as an act that threatens the mental, physical, academic health, or safety of a student through actions or situations that endanger, embarrass, harass, demean or ridicule any person regardless of locations, intent or consent of participants."
- The statement "Org recognizes its role and responsibilities as a member of an engaged and inclusive University community."
- The statement "As a student organization of Stetson we agree to uphold Stetson University's nondiscrimination policy. It is the policy of Stetson University not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, age, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical characteristics, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law in its educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, employment, or other school-administered programs. The policy is enforced by Stetson and, where applicable, federal laws such as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. The University is an equal opportunity educational institution."
Should consider having:
- Reference to which officer will be responsible for S.A.F.A.C.
- Role and duties of SGA senator representative for organization
- How an advisor would be removed
- If the org will reference Robert's Rules of Order (or like system) for conducting meetings
- How many students will constitute quorum (what is required to conduct official business)
- Information about dues
Cannot have:
- Any faculty, staff, or off-campus persons as voting members or officers
- Any discriminatory language