Hispanic Business Student Association at the Ohio State University

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Constitution: Revised 2/7/99

Article I: Name and Motto

Section One: Name

The name of the organization shall be the “Hispanic Business Student Association” of The Ohio State University

Section Two: Motto

The organization Motto "type motto here in italics" was created on dd/mm/yy to assist in identifying the organizations purpose and ideals.

Article II: Origin and Purpose

Section One: Origin

The Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA) of The Ohio State University (OSU) was initiated on February 23, 1994 and is a local chapter of the National Hispanic Business Association (NHBA). NHBA and HBSA are 501(c) 3 tax exempt entities founded and incorporated to promote business education and the professional advancement of Hispanics. The organization is also affiliated with the Max M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University.

Section Two: Statement of Purpose

The goals and purposes of HBSA are to:

Increase enrollment of Hispanics in higher educational programs.
Assist organizations in recruiting, developing, and promoting Hispanic professionals.
Provide networking and career opportunities.
Enhance the visibility and recognition, by the local business community, of the accomplishments and professional stature of successful Hispanics.
Promote Hispanic business leadership and entrepreneuralship.
Voice the concerns of Hispanic students and alumni interested in a career as professionals in the business world.
Provide opportunities for continued professional development via speakers, seminars, etc.
Provide opportunities for members of the community with simular interests and objectives to meet, socialize and share resources.

Article III- Non-Discrimination Policy and Membership

Section One: Non-Discrimination Policy

The Organization and its members shall not discriminate against any individual(s) for reasons of race, color, creed, religion, sexual origin, sexual preference, marital status, political views, age, physical or mental disability or military veteran status. Any interested individual may become an active member of HBSA. Only currently enrolled Ohio State University students will possess voting rights. Faculty, alumni, professionals, etc. are encouraged to participate as non-voting associate or honorary members.

Section Two: Membership Classifications

Members of HBSA shall be defined by the following classifications:

Active Member:

Active members shall be those in good standing with HBSA by fulfilling the following obligations:

	Completion of the organizations "New Member Training Program".
	Attendance of the "General Membership" meetings.
	Payment of all membership dues and organizational debts.
	Have a minimum cumulative term grade point average of 2.2 on a 4.0 grading scale.
	Be enrolled at least half-time according to The Ohio State Universities credit system
	Inactive Members.
	Inactive members shall be members who do not meet the eligibility requirements for an active member due to grade point average, attendance, or payment of dues/debts.
	Inactive members shall not have voting or speaking rights at official HBSA meetings.

Alumni Members


	Alumni members shall be former active members who have received their prospective degree(s), and /or
	Are no longer attending an institution of higher education.
	If an active member transfers to graduate school, that member can elect to either remain an active member or become an alumnus.

Article IV: The Executive Board

Section One: Definition

The elected and/or appointed officers of the Hispanic Business Student Association shall be known as the Executive Board

Section Two: Membership

	The voting members of the Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Chairs of Fund Raising & Finance, Chair of Administration, Chair of Recruitment & Training, and Chair of Regional & National Affairs.
	Non-voting members of the Executive Board shall include any other appointed personnel deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

Section Three: Eligibility

The requirements of eligibility for an officer shall be the following:

	No candidate for an officer position shall expect graduation before expiration of term.
	All officers of the Executive Board shall be active members in good academic standing.

Section Four: Duties & Powers of Executive Board

A. Duties of the Executive Board

	Carry out the policies and regulations as established in the Constitution.
	Research and prepare appropriate programs for presentation to and edification of the membership.
	Presentation (either written or oral) of the business of their individual offices.
	Supervise all subsidiary councils or committees.
	Attend all meetings of the Executive Board.
	Recommendation of term dues.
	All proposals must come through Executive Board.

B. Individual Officers

President

	Must be enrolled in the Max Fisher College of Business.
	Acts as the principal spokesperson for the association.
	Ultimately and wholly responsible for all matters dealing with the organization.
	To expedite matters, he or she may assign tasks to any individual member.
	Plan and conduct regular and special meetings.
	Appoint committees and their chairpersons by the first meeting of the quarter or as necessary.
	Votes only in the event of a tie.
	Coordinate the duties of all the officers and insure that they are being performed properly.
	Chair the Executive Committees.
	Be responsible for the coordinating of a calendar of programs or projects to be undertaken by the organization for each academic quarter.
	Perform those other functions which shall be deemed necessary and proper by the organization at-large.

Vice-President

	Discharge all of the duties and responsibilities of the President in the President's absence.
	Coordinate the activities of all the committees and insure that they are functioning properly.
	Chair the Steering Committee.
	Maintain a permanent file of project reports within the offices of the organization and be responsible for issuing the acceptability of those reports submitted by the membership in regard to accepted format.
	Perform those other functions as directed by the President and as are deemed necessary and proper by the organization at-large.

Chair of Fund Raising & Finance

	Help their region raise funds if asked to do so by the National Council.
	Create ideas for national fundraising.
	Help their local region raise funds to attend National Conference, frequent updates on conference, etc.
	Perform those other functions as directed by the President and as are deemed necessary and proper by the organization at large.
	Be responsible for the accounting of all of the financial affairs of the organization.
	Chair the Financial Affairs Committee.
	Be responsible for reporting the financial status of the organization on a weekly basis during general membership meetings or as requested by the President and/or Vice-President.
	Ensure that all checks are signed by President and Chair of Finance.
	Review all proposed projects and financial requests.
	Be responsible for the creation of yearly budgets for the organization, as well as overseeing the incomes and expenditures of the organization at large.

Chair of Administration

	�Keep the minutes in a permanent written form of all the meetings of the Body, Steering Committee, and Executive Committees
	Send all official correspondence of the organization.
	Be responsible for the courtesy cards of the organization.
	Maintain a consecutive roll book which shall be signed by each member when he/she attains active or faculty/staff status.
	Send reports of the various committees to all members of the Executive Board.
	Bind the entire year's minutes at the end of each administration and keep same on permanent file within the offices of the Hispanic Business Student Association.
	Maintain a file of all the past minutes of the organization, bound in a permanent fashion within the offices of the Hispanic Business Student Association and send a duplicate of the same to be recorded with the University Archives.
	Have certificates printed four (4) weeks prior to the scheduled Annual HBSA Recognition Banquet for those who have become active members during the past year.
	Allocate all office work to be done.
	Discharge all of the duties and responsibilities of the Vice-President in the Vice-President's absence.
	Perform those other functions as directed by the President and as are deemed necessary and proper by the organization at large.

Chair of Recruitment and Training

	Establish and maintain a quarterly recruitment and training budget in conjunction with the Treasurer and Fund Raising Officer.
	Propose and implement an approved recruitment plan for each academic quarter.
	Responsible for designing or developing any literature or materials to be officially distributed by the organization for promotional and recruiting purposes.
	Develop and implement a "New Member Orientation" process to include a formal presentation by the existing membership.
	Develop a formal training plan for the incumbent administration by the third week of the Fall quarter or as required for newly elected/appointed officers.
	Propose and schedule all approved business oriented training sessions for all members.
	Implement and inspect a system of "Standard Operating Procedures" (SOPs) for all executive positions and inspect them on a quarterly basis.
	Perform those other functions as directed by the President and as are deemed necessary and proper by the organization at large.

Chair of National and Regional Affairs

The Regional Representative will be selected by the National Council and by the recommendation of the current regional representative for that area to serve a two year term. The following is a list of the National/Regional Representative responsibilities:

	Serve as a liaison between local chapters, state representatives, National Council, and National Office.
	Have constant communication with local affiliates and their region (i.e. telephone, direct mail, e-mail, monthly meeting)
	Seek the recruitment of new affiliates within their region. This involves helping new student groups form and become a part of NHBA.
	Serve as liaison between the school hosting National Conference and schools in their local region.
	Ensure that all NHBA missions and purposes are being fulfilled.
	If selected as State Representative, be able to serve as an officer on the National Council.
	Encourage local affiliates to submit articles to National Office for National Newsletter.
	Encourage communication between local schools and regions.
	Implement a welcome letter program with their local schools to ensure that incoming Hispanic business students are aware of NHBA and its Purpose.
	Evaluate all local chapter's past year's performance.
	Perform those other functions as directed by the President and as are deemed necessary and proper by the organization at large.

Social Chair


	Promote the organization to other student organizations.
	He/she will furthermore dispense information to on and off campus groups, enlightening them of the organization's existence.
	Must attend and meet with University-wide Council of Hispanic Organizations (UCHO) membership regulations and policies.
	He/she should inform the organization of the Que Pasa, OSU? magazine deadline.
	Serve as a liaison between UCHO and HBSA.
	He/she should submit quarterly articles to the Que Pasa, OSU? magazine when requested by the Executive Board / President and to meet with UCHO's membership policies.

Webmaster


	Shall maintain the organization's web page and update it's content as necessary.
	The web page content will reflect the organization and special interests in order to promote the organization and its overall goal of serving its current and future members.
	Shall have a calendar of events prior to the beginning of each quarter.

Section Five: Removal from Office

A. Any officer may be removed from office for any of the following reasons:

	Non-performance of duties, including unexcused absences from more than two (2) meetings of the Executive Board.
	No longer meeting the eligibility requirements as stated in ARTICLE II and/or ARTICLE III.
	Conduct unbecoming of an officer of the association.

B. Any member may initiate impeachment procedures.

	Written notice of motion to remove must be presented to the Executive Board.
	Executive Board shall notify officer in question in writing.
	Executive Board shall notify the entire membership of the motion to remove at least one week prior to vote.

C. General Assembly will vote on removal.

	Vote to remove must take place no later than three weeks after receipt of written notice.
	Vote shall be by secret ballot.
	Two-thirds majority is needed to remove member from office.
	Written notice of results must be presented to officer in question within one week of decision unless extenuating circumstances persist. In which case, notification shall be made as soon as possible.

Section Six : Resignation

A member of the Executive Board may resign by submitting a written statement to the Executive Board.

Section Seven: Vacancies

	Vacancies shall be temporarily filled through Presidential appointment and Executive Board approval.
	Regular procedures shall be used to permanently fill the vacancy if deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

Section Eight: Nominations-Election Procedures

Nominations may be accepted from the floor at the time of the election or at any time after a declared vacancy of office is confirmed.

Article V: Advisor(s)

Section One: Election

	At least one but no more than two member(s) of the University faculty or administrative/professional staff will be elected annually to advise the group.
	The election of the Advisor(s) shall be conducted in conjunction with general executive elections.

Section Two: Responsibilities

	The Advisor(s) are responsible for guiding and adding insight to the goals and objectives set to meet the Association's purpose.
	The Advisor(s) is/are encouraged to attend the Executive Board meetings and General Assembly meetings.
	The Advisor(s) shall have non-voting authority.
	The Advisor(s) shall have no liability in the financial activity of the Association.
	Perform those duties as required by the University of a Faculty Advisor.
	Perform those other functions which shall be deemed necessary and proper by the organization at large.

Article VI: Quorum

Section One: Requirements

Two-thirds of the membership constitutes a quorum. All elections will be held by secret ballot.

Article VII: Amendments

Section One: Amending Procedures

	The introduction of a proposed amendment shall constitute the first reading. The purposed amendment will be read at the next regular meeting following its introduction at which time debate and final action on the purposed amendment shall be in order.
	The proposed amendment shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the total active membership.
	Amendments to the Constitution shall be dated and written in as amendments preserving the out-of-date article. Revised and approved: DD/MM/YY

Article VIII: Dissolution

Section One : Prerequisites

This organization may be dissolved after dissolution is approved by the officers and by a 2/3 vote of its members, provided that notice of a vote on dissolution is furnished to the members at least sixty (60) days prior to the vote.

Section Two: Thereafter

Upon dissolution, the officers shall utilize the assets of the organization, including those arising from dissolution and distribution. The balance, if any, shall insofar as possible be distributed equally among the contributing factors.

Article IX: Vacancy

Section One : Definition

Whenever a vacancy in an officer’s position occurs, a special election will be held to fill the position as quickly as possible.

Article X: Parliamentary Authority

Section One:

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern this organization in all cases to which they are applicable unless they are inconsistent with the constitution and bylaws and special rules of this organization.