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Residence Hall Association Constitution

Purposes:

To promote and encourage feeling of unity and purpose throughout the University of Central Florida;

To ensure just and equitable treatment for the residents of the residence halls in all interests;

To facilitate communications among the residence halls by serving as much as possible as a central communications system;

To provide educational and social programs to promote resident awareness.

Article I: Embodiment

Section 1: Name

Section 2: Membership

a) Composition

Membership is limited to all students who have paid fees and are enrolled with the University of Central Florida. No discrimination shall be made on the basis of sex, race, age, creed, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, sexual preference, parental status or veteran's status. No hazing or discrimination will be used as a condition of membership in this organization.

  1. All current residents in UCF Residence Halls shall be members of RHA.
  2. If at any time a student of UCF holds an office in an affiliated organization (see Article V), he/she shall be a member of RHA.
  3. If at any time a faculty or staff member of UCF holds an office in an affiliated organization, he/she shall be considered an Ex-officio Member of RHA.
  4. There shall be an Ex-officio Member of RHA who shall be the Advisor.
  5. Alumni Members shall be designated as those who no longer reside in the residence halls, or who have become Resident Assistants (RA).
    1. Alumni Members may not hold office.
    2. Alumni Members may not vote.
  6. Any non-residential student may attend RHA meetings but may not hold office and may not vote.

  1. Representation
    1. Each Member of RHA shall have one vote.
    2. Any one living in a Residence Hall may be on a committee created by RHA.
  2. Duties and Privileges
    1. Every member shall be expected to abide by this constitution an its by-laws as well as the rules and regulations enacted by RHA.
    2. Each RHA member shall be eligible to participate in the programs and activities instituted by RHA.
    3. Any residence Hall may dissociate itself with RHA by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of its qualified residents, voting in a Residence Hall wide referendum
    4. Any dissociated hall may petition for reinstatement; otherwise it is automatically reinstated at the beginning of the next Fall semester.
  3. Limitation
  4. The RHA shall act as a responsible organization and avoid degrading the integrity of the members. No constitutional changes, which are to be instituted by RHA, shall be decided outside of RHA by its members unless each member is present or is informed of the change.

Article II: Offices

In order to hold a leadership position in this organization, members shall be required to meet the minimum leadership requirements as stated in the Golden Rule.

  1. Executive Officers
    1. The President shall:
      1. Be the chief Officer of RHA and preside in the meetings of RHA;
      2. Officially act for and represent RHA;
      3. Appoint a Secretary, Treasurer, NCC, and Historian. The president may appoint any additional executive officers as deemed necessary, whose duties and privileges must be listed in writing;
      4. Be at all times responsible to RHA;
      5. Be entitled to vote only in the case of a tie;
      6. Be responsible for expenditures of Activity and Service Fee allocations;
      7. Call for meetings of RHA;
      8. Create special committees and appoint the committee chairperson;
      9. Be an Ex-officio member of the committees;
      10. May use Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, for the conduct of RHA meetings;
      11. Live in a residence Hall;
      12. Abide by all other duties and powers as described in the by-laws;
      13. Appoint a Parliamentarian if deemed necessary (see Article II, SI, G).
    2. The vice-president shall:
      1. Act as chairperson in the absence of the president;
      2. Attend all functions that the president cannot attend as the official representative of RHA;
      3. Assist the president in matters, as necessary;
      4. be responsible for arranging for equipment needed by the Executive Board sponsored guest speakers;
      5. Collect and file programming reports received from the halls;
      6. Write the monthly RHA report and submit it to Housing no later than the first fifth of the month;
      7. Be first in line of succession;
      8. Live in a residence hall;
      9. Abide by all other duties and powers as described in the by-laws.
    3. The National Communications Coordinator (NCC) shall:
      1. handle correspondence between state, regional, and national affiliations;
      2. submit the yearly national information center report by required deadlines;
      3. take on the responsibilities as described in the national information center NCC handbook;
      4. be second in the line of succession;
      5. live in a residence hall
      6. abide by all other duties and powers as described in the by-laws.
    4. The secretary shall:
      1. take the minutes of all business and general meetings of RHA;
      2. handle correspondence;
      3. Be responsible for the distribution of copies of the minutes to all Hall Presidents and Members of the executive board within seven days after each general meeting;
      4. live in a residence hall;
      5. abide by all duties and powers as described in the by-laws.
    5. The treasurer shall:
      1. be responsible for the records and handling of all RHA moneys, except as regulated by the UCF guideline;
      2. give a report of the financial situation at each general meeting;
      3. be responsible for monthly reviewing of the financial status of each member residence Hall;
      4. be responsible for the allocation and processing of Limited Purchase Orders (LPO's), except as regulated by the UCF guidelines. In addition he/she shall receive itemized LPO request forms that each hall must submit in order to obtain funds;
      5. be in charge of all RHA fundraising activities;
      6. live in a residence hall;
      7. abide by all other duties and powers as described in the by-laws.
    6. the Historian shall:
      1. keep an organized visual record of RHA activities;
      2. Oversee the publicity of Executive Board programs and RHA general meetings;
      3. create a monthly visual presentation which will be made available to any RHA member;
      4. be fifth in the line of succession;
      5. live in a residence hall
      6. abide by all other duties and powers as described in the by-laws.
    7. the parliamentarian, if appointed, shall:
      1. be chosen from the executive board elect by the executive president
      2. Be a member of the executive board who may keep order using Robert's rules of order, Newly revised as a guide for the conduct of RHA meetings.

Section 2 hall officers

the hall and representative shall:

  1. officially represent their residence hall's wishes on matters before RHA;
  2. work cooperatively with the executive board in implementing the affairs and functions of RHA;
  3. perform any other duties assigned to him/her by the president or germane to his/her position.

Section 3 the advisor

the advisor shall:

  1. be appointed by the director of housing and residence life with the approval of the RHA executive board.
  2. be the official liaison between the housing administrators and RHA;
  3. advise RHA in all matters when consulted;
  4. have the right to initiate the recall process;
  5. not have any voting privileges
  6. abide by all other duties and powers as described in the by-laws

section IV election of officers

  1. executive board

appointment of RHA officers, with the exception of the president and vice-president, may take place at any time after the election of the new president, but no later than the third week of the fall semester.

  1. the president and vice president of RHA shall be elected no later than March 21st. The period between the election and the beginning of the summer semester shall be an interim period for training and transition. Officers-elect are expected to attend executive board meetings, but have no voting privileges unless they are already voting members of the executive board;
  2. officers shall assume their respective offices at the beginning of the summer semester. Any other officer who will not be a registered student of the University of Central Florida during the summer shall be replaced by an interim officer who shall be appointed by the president-elect;
  3. if an executive officer resigns, is impeached, or is otherwise unable to fulfill his/her duties, the vacant position may be filled by:
    1. current officer(s) moving up in position;
    2. appointment by the executive president.
  4. in the event that all executive board offices are vacant, the advisor may appoint an interim president until elections can be held.
  5. eligible for appointment are all past and present members of RHA who meet the following qualifications:
    1. live in a residence hall
    2. any other qualifications as listed in the constitution an the by-laws
  1. hall officers an representation
    1. the following hall officers must be elected no later than the fourth week of the Fall semester: President, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and historian;
    2. hall representatives may be elected and/or appointed by the hall president at any time;
    3. the duties of hall officers will be described in the Handbook of hall officer duties;
    4. if a hall officer resigns, is impeached, or is otherwise unable to fulfill his/her duties, the vacant position may be filled by:
      1. current officer(s) moving up in position;
      2. appointment by the Hall president;
      3. appointment by the executive president
    5. hall officers must reside in the hall in which they hold office;
    6. hall officers must abide by all other duties and powers as described in the constitution and the by-laws;

Article III: The RHA

Section I: function

  1. The RHA shall:
    1. Have the authority to pass any rules or regulations which it deems necessary and proper for the most efficient conduct and operation of RHA, be they not contrary to this constitution;
    2. Elect, by a majority vote, a president and vice-president of the RHA;
    3. Enact, by a two-thirds vote of members present at the meetings, amendments and by-laws to this constitution after seven days written, posted notice;
    4. Request and budget all moneys received from the activity and service fee;
    5. abide by all other duties and powers as described in the constitution and the by-laws.
  2. Quorum, at general meetings, shall consist of at least three Executive Board members, and at least twelve voting members who are not members of the executive board.
  3. Quorum, at general meetings, during the summer, shall consist of at least two Executive board members, and at least four voting members who are not members of the executive board.
  4. The executive board members of RHA shall not serve as an officer in any hall government.

Article IV.

Section 1: Any officer under this constitution and by-laws may be impeached.

Section 2: To recall an officer, a petition signed by twenty-five voting members, stating the reasons for requesting recall, is necessary to institute proceedings.

Section 3: Petitions shall be submitted to the advisor, who shall form a committee to investigate the charges and report its findings. The committee must include the highest ranking Executive board officer who is not involved in the deposition.

Section 4: The report shall be submitted to the members within two weeks of receiving the petition

Section 5: A two-thirds vote of members present at a general meeting shall remove the officer or member from office.

Section 6: The Advisor may also begin the recall process.

Article V: Affiliation

Section 1: This organization may be associated with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls.

Section 1: This organization may be associated with the South Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls.

Section 1: This organization may be associated with the Florida Association of Residence Halls.

Section 1: This organization may be associated with other organizations that promote residence hall leadership and/or student development.

Article VI: Miscellaneous

Section 1: All property purchased with RHA funds shall remain the property of the RHA.

Section 2: If any part of this constitution becomes null and void due to changes in University Policy or National, State, or local law, then the remainder of the constitution shall remain effective, and said clause shall be removed by amendment as soon as possible.

by-laws

  1. The Executive vice-president, secretary, and Historian shall collaborate in publishing a newsletter as deemed necessary by the executive president.
  2. A standing committee shall be the Welcome to UCF committee whose duties shall include but not be limited to:
    1. The organization of elections in each Residence Hall;
    2. The organization of programs at the beginning of the Fall semester to welcome new and returning students.


This constitution was ratified on September 27, 1992