Bio Chem Constitution

College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University

CONSTITUTION

Biochemistry Peer Mentorship Club

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: Name

The CSB/SJU Biochemistry Peer Mentorship Club further referred to as the Biochem Club.

Section 2: Purpose/Mission

-To advance the scientific knowledge of each member through the development of communication and study skills

-To provide opportunities for work and career planning in biochemistry

-To familiarize members with other biochemistry students and bring unity to the CSB/SJU Biochemistry Program through peer mentor-mentee relationships

-To facilitate student body involvement, more enrollment and a higher retention rate in biochemistry

Section 3: Affiliation

The Biochem Club will not be affiliated with any outside organizations at its initiation.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility for Membership

The Biochem Club is open to any CSB/SJU student. Faculty may be affiliate members.

Section 2: Voting Member Criteria

For official voting membership, club participants must be current mentors or mentees

Section 3: Removal of Members

The member to be removed will be notified via email after a decision by the executive board. The person has the right to defend their position in front of the club and needs a majority vote by the club to remain a member. The person can also appeal to the faculty advisor within one week.

Article III: Officers

Section 1: Officer Qualifications

Officers will be selected from the current year’s club members.

Section 2: Elected Officers

There will be six officers including one president, one vice-president, one secretary, one treasurer, one mentor liaison and one mentee liaison.

Section 3: Duties of Officers

President: preside at meetings, schedule meetings, primary contact with the institutions, establish mentor-mentee pairs and plan mentor information sessions

Vice-President: assume President’s duties in his/her absence, schedule meeting rooms, primary contact with the Joint Club Board, establish mentor-mentee pairs and plan mentor information sessions

Secretary: takes and distributes minutes of all Biochem Club meetings, record keeper (current and past members, mentor/mentee pairs, files minutes), notify members of meetings, handles the official correspondence of the club

Treasurer: keeps all financial records, submits monthly audit statements to Co-Funding Board contact, notifies organization of financial issues, prepares budget/allocation requests to Co-Funding Board

Mentor Liaison: officer representing mentors

Mentee Liaison: officer representing mentees

Section 4: Vacancy in Office

In the event that a vacancy occurs the following is the process to fill that vacancy. If the President leaves or is removed the Vice-President will assume those duties, and a Special Election will be held. If the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Mentor Liaison or Mentee Liaison leaves or is removed, other officers will share those duties until a Special Election is held. Special Elections will be held according to the provisions of Article IV, Section 3.

Section 5: Removal of Officers

A petition to remove the officer in question must be submitted to another officer. This petition must contain the signatures of 75% of official voting members. When such petition is received, the officer shall call a meeting of the club to determine whether or not the officer should be removed. Grounds for removal are to presented by the officer in charge at a regular or special club meeting. The officer in question shall be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing. A quorum shall be present, and a 2/3 majority vote of the voting members shall decide upon removal. The club advisor must be notified of the issue and decision.

Section 6: Appeal of Removal of Officers

The removed officer can make an appeal to the executive committee with the faculty advisor present.

Article IV: Elections

Section 1: Nomination Process

Officer candidates will be nominated by current officer/members or by self-nomination. The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Mentor Liaison and Mentee Liaison will be chosen from current sophomores or juniors.

Section 2: Election

An email soliciting nominations will be sent to club members the second Saturday in March. A meeting will be held the following Wednesday for officer nominees to provide a brief summary of their intentions for the coming year. Each club member will vote via email ballot by Friday of that week. Student Activities will be notified by April 1^st of new club officers. Officers will serve from April 1^st to March 31^st of the following year.

Section 3: Special Elections

The procedure for special elections will follow directly from the provisions in Article IV, Sections 1 and 2. This will occur in the case of an officer leaving or being removed within two weeks of the vacancy.

Article V: Advisor

Section 1: Selection

The club advisor will be chosen by the officers from CSB/SJU faculty.

Section 2: Duties

The advisor will meet with the executive board of the Biochem Club as necessary and will help guide the direction of the mentorship program. They will also be the primary liaison with biology and chemistry faculty. They will be welcome at club meetings as affiliate members.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1: Regular Meeting/Club Activities

Club meetings will be held once every month or as needed. Mentors and mentees will be sent a survey in the middle of September for matching purposes. The target date for matching mentors and mentees will be October 1^st, approximately two weeks after Involvement. All members will be notified of meetings via email. Mentor information sessions will be held the first week of October.

Section 2: Special Meetings

Special meetings will be called if issues arise that cannot wait until the monthly meeting to be addressed.

Section 3: Parliamentary Authority

The meetings will be informal. Questions and concerns can be brought to officers after the main affairs for the month have been addressed.

Section 4: Quorum

⅔ of official members must be present for voting to take place.

Article VII: Committees

Section 1: Committee Structure

We will have no committees.

Section 2: Special/Ad-Hoc Committees

Special/ad-hoc committees may be formed if needed.

Article VIII: Finances

Section 1: Co-Funding Board

Biochem Club will apply for Co-Funding Board monies and will follow all C0-Funding Board and institutional regulations.

Section 2: Honorariums

No honorariums will be given.

Section 3: Dues

No dues will be taken.

Article IX: Amendments

Section 1: Ratification

In order for a constitutional amendment to occur a 2/3 majority vote of the voting members is needed. Any voting member may propose a constitutional amendment. At the following meeting a vote by the voting members will be taken. 2/3 majority vote is necessary for the ratification to occur. Upon completion of 2/3 majority vote the constitution will be ratified at the following meeting.

Section 2: Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board

Any changes made to the constitution must be submitted to the department of student activities and the Joint Club Board.

Article X

The Biochem Club admits students without regard to their race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and other activities, generally accorded or made available to members of the organization.

Article XI

The Biochem Club considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity, which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. The Biochem Club recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes all forms of hazing.

Article XII

The Biochem Club agrees that its activities, mission statement and goals are consistent with the Benedictine Values.

Date of creation:

February 24, 2017