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Constitution of the Residence Student Association
University of Central Arkansas
Revised Fall 2003 

ARTICLE I.              NAME

This organization shall be known as the Residence Hall Association, hereinafter referred to as RSA.  The RSA shall operate under the powers and limitations of this constitution and the policies of the University of Central Arkansas.

 ARTICLE II.              PURPOSE AND GOALS

 Section I.        Purpose

The purpose shall be to represent and help provide for the needs and wishes of the residents of On-Campus Housing to Housing and Residence Life and the rest of the college

 Section II.       Objectives

  1. To plan, implement, evaluate and support a spectrum of services and programs that enhance the On-Campus Community.

  2. To serve as a liaison between on-campus residents, housing, University administration, and other student organizations on campus.

  3. To inform residents about campus and housing issues that will affect them and promote the most favorable environment possible in the residence halls on the University of Central Arkansas campus.

  4. To promote leadership within the residential community.

  5. To act as a forum for the exchange of ideas.

Section III.     Goals

  1. To assist and provide input to the Housing staff on issues and policies that will effect the community environment of residential students.

  2. To sponsor campus wide events pertaining to the residence halls as a whole.  Such events shall include programs of a social and instructional nature.

  3. To assist in individual hall activities such as individual hall programs or joint hall programs, which, while not including all residence halls, would be special activities of interest to those halls.

  4. To assist in the organization and promotion of approved hall intramural activities.

ARTICLE III             MEMBERSHIP

Section I.        Eligibility         

  1. Membership to RSA is open to all students enrolled at the University of Central Arkansas.

  2. Any member or officer having two unexcused absences a semester from any meeting or event may be removed from the organization.  A quorum of 50% + 1 of all voting members with at least 1/2 of all the halls represented and a two-thirds majority vote must be obtained to remove the individual.

ARTICLE IV             OFFICERS 

Section I.        Requirements for Officers

The officers of RSA, must meet the following requirements:

  1. Have a 2.50 cumulative grade point average during term of office.

  2. Be an enrolled student in good standing with the University of Central Arkansas.

  3. Must live in on-campus housing during their term of office.

  4. Must have at least one year of experience in Hall Council/RSA.

  5. Must be able to hold two office hours excluding executive board, general assembly, or other RSA meetings.

Section II.       Conditions Beyond Requirements

  1. In the event that candidates meeting requirements for positions as outlined in this constitution are not available, than RSA will accept applicants from members regardless of the length of time of their active participation for elections as outlined in Article IV and in the case of vacant position elections (Article V Section IV).

Section III.     General Functions

  1. Operating within the confines of the by-laws, the Executive Council shall insure that the purpose of the Residence Hall Association, as stated in the Constitution, is carried out.

  2. All Executive Members should have one vote in RSA Executive Council and General Assembly meetings except for the President.  The President shall only vote in case of a tie.

  3. The Executive Board must prepare an annual report of suggestions for the coming year, reflections of the previous year.

  4. The Executive Board shall confer with the treasurer and advisor as to major changes in the annual budget.

  5. The Executive Board must meet with an advisor on a weekly or as needed basis.

Section IV.      Officers and Duties

 1.      President

  1. The President shall preside over meetings of RSA and shall call special meetings as necessary and may increase regular meetings if necessary.

  2. The President shall be responsible for the administration and the enforcement of the RSA Constitution and by-laws.

  3. The President shall delegate appointments as agreed upon by a simple majority of the RSA.

  4. The President shall perform all other executive functions proper as chief executive officer of RSA.

  5. The President shall establish all committees and chairpersons.

  6. The President shall represent the Residence Hall Association in all official capacities in the university community.

2.      Vice President

  1. The Vice President shall preside over the Council in the absence of the President, and represent the RSA in all official and formal capacities at the University in the absence of the President.

  2. The Vice President shall be responsible for producing a newsletter in August, November, February, and April.

  3. The Vice President shall be responsible of all fundraising efforts.

  4.  The Vice President shall be responsible for the organization and distribution of Welcome Kits and Finals Kits.

3.      Secretary

  1. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings, an attendance roll, a report of excessive absences, and all correspondences of the RSA.

  2. The Secretary shall provide a copy of the minutes of each RSA meeting to all representatives, one to each Hall Coordinator, Area Coordinator, Associate Director and Director of Housing.

  3. The Secretary shall be responsible for compiling the RSA handbook, which shall be a complete compilation of all hall officers, their hall and room number, email addresses and phone numbers.

4.      Treasurer

  1. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all the financial matters of RSA.

  2. The Treasurer shall be able to inform RSA of its financial status at each meeting to the best of his/her abilities.

  3.  The Treasurer shall submit a written itemized sheet to the executive board each month on the organization’s spending that occurred during the month.

5.      National Communications Coordinator (NCC)

  1. The NCC shall be the link between the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) and its Southwest Atlantic Affiliate (SWACURH), and the UCA RSA.

  2. The NCC shall comply with all rules and regulations set up by the NACURH guidelines.

  3. The NCC shall attend NACURH, SWACURH, No-Frills and all in-state conferences during his/her term of office, provided funds are available.

  4. The NCC shall be responsible for selecting and organizing conference delegations.

  5. The NCC shall prepare and preside over conference delegation meetings.

  6. The NCC shall keep communications with other schools and report that information to RSA general assembly.

6.  National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Coordinator

  1. The NRHH Coordinator shall be in link with the regional and national associations of National Residence Hall Honorary.

  2. The NRHH Coordinator shall be responsible for choosing Of The Months (OTMs), by a committee during his/her term of office.

  3. The NRHH Coordinator shall submit OTMs to the Regional Associate Director of NRHH by the 15th of each month for the previous month’s nominations (i.e. October OTMs are due November 15th)

  4. The NRHH Coordinator shall keep RSA and executive council members informed of NRHH activities locally, regionally and nationally.

7.      Programming Coordinator

  1. The Programming Coordinator shall have the power to appoint a programming committee of which at least half of the members shall be RSA representatives.

  2. The Programming Coordinator shall be responsible for coordination and advertising for all events and activities sponsored by the RSA Executive Council.

  3. The Programming Coordinator oversees all programming committees necessary for the execution of RSA sponsored events.

  4. The Programming Coordinator shall serve on campus-wide committees regarding programming events where RSA is co-sponsoring.

ARTICLE V               ELECTION, REPLACEMENT AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS        

Section I.        Election Process

  1. Elections shall be no later than the fourth week in March for the coming year.  The Executive Board members shall be elected by a vote of the student housing population.

  2.  The term of office for officers shall be two semesters.

Section II.       Line of Succession

  1. In the event the Campus-Wide President is incapable of completing their term of office, the line of succession will follow the order of Article IV Section IV.

Section III.     Removal of an Officer

  1. Officers are subject to removal from office by RSA and/or the RSA’s staff advisor should the requirements in Article IV, Section I, be violated.  A quorum (see Article VI, Section III) must be present at the meeting and a two-thirds majority vote obtained to remove an officer.

Section IV.      Replacement of Officer Vacancies

  1. In case of a vacancy in any office, a letter of resignation must be submitted to the Executive Council and General Assembly, and immediately upon resignation and a new officer shall be elected to complete the term within two weeks of the vacancy.  The vacancy will be advertised and applications will be accepted.  The RSA general assembly members will hold an election, after applications the application deadline.  The office of President, however, shall be occupied by the Vice President for the remainder of the term.  If the Vice President does not want the position, elections will be held.

Section V.       Appointment

  1. If the election processes fail to fill positions, even taking into consideration requirement exceptions as outlined in Subsection C of this article, than the RSA Executive Board shall fill the position with any resident at large or with any full-time undergraduate student by appointment and a 2/3 affirmative vote of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VI             MEETINGS 

Section I.  Regular Meetings

  1.  The regular meeting of the RSA at UCA shall be held once per week, time and place to be decided upon at the first meeting of the executive council at the beginning of the academic year.

  2. Meetings shall be held to discuss current issues, promote development, and/or plan programming. 

Section II.  Called/Special Meetings

  1. A called/special meeting of RSA shall be held when the officers vote to have one.  A called/special meeting shall be defined as any meeting other than a regular meeting.

Section III.  Quorum Defined

  1. A quorum shall consist of 50% + 1 of all voting members with at least 1/2 of all the halls represented to conduct business.

ARTICLE VII            ADVISOR

 Section I.  Selection

  1. The advisor must be a faculty/staff member.

  2. The Office of Housing and Residence Life staff will select the advisor every two years.

  3. The advisor shall attend business meetings and to the best of his/her ability, see that the organization’s purposes/activities are within University policy.

ARTICLE VIII    STANDING OR SPECIAL COMMITTEES/CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

                 Section I.  Standing/Special Committees

  1.   Committees may be created and/or dissolved by the Executive Council.  Such committees shall discharge such responsibilities as may be assigned by the Executive Council.   

 Section II.  Constitutional Revision

  1. The constitution may be revised or amended at any meeting provided notice has been give to members prior to that meeting as to the need for such revision or amendment.  Amendments will be submitted in writing to RSA at a regularly scheduled meeting. 

  2. After an amendment has been brought before the General Assembly and discussed, the representatives shall carry the amendment back to their respective hall councils for approval.

  3.  After being submitted to the residence hall councils, a vote will take place during an RSA meeting. 

  4. A proposed amendment will go into effect if approved by a two-thirds majority of quorum (see Article VI, section III).

ARTICLE IX       FINANCES

Section I.  Accounting Year

  1. The accounting year for RSA will be from July 1 to June 30th.  The funds of this organization shall be accrued by fees, fines, dues, and by such other means as the organization shall determine.

Section II.  Dues

  1. There are no dues for the organization.

Section III.  Monetary Transactions

  1. In order for a monetary transaction to take place (sign check, deposit, etc.) and be authorized, it must be approved by both Advisor and Treasurer.  All RSA transactions (should/must) have the signature of the Treasurer and Advisor.

Section IV.  Contracts

  1. In order for a contract to be binding, both advisor and President must sign the contract.

 Section V.  Dissolution of Organization and Allocation of
                           Remaining Funds

  1. Should the organization be dissolved for any reason, all the monies will go to the UCA Housing and Residence Life Office.

 

Contact Info
RSA
201 Bernard Hall
201 Donaghey Ave
Conway, AR  72035

Office:
(501) 450-5807

Fax:
(501) 450-5374

Email:
uca_rha@yahoo.com