The University of Oklahoma Student Veterans Association Bylaws
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this student organization shall be The University of Oklahoma Student Veterans Association [OU SVA].
ARTICLE II
Aim
The aim of the OU SVA is to provide student veterans an environment to succeed with academic and personal goals. Today’s veterans face tremendous obstacles in their path to degree attainment. These challenges range from missing sense of camaraderie to a lack of understanding by university faculty and peers. When coupled with the visible and invisible wounds of war, a college degree often seems an elusive goal for men and women entering or returning to college from military service. The OU SVA seeks to help make that goal a reality. Our vision is that all veterans will succeed in higher education, achieve their academic goals, and gain meaningful employment. Our mission is to provide military veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation.
ARTICLE III
Membership
SECTION I
Full Membership shall be based on criteria established by the President and approved by the Advisor in accordance with the aims of the organization. The criteria are as follows:
1. The University of Oklahoma students, either full or part-time, who are veterans of any military branch based on the FEDERAL DEFINITION: served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. (Discharges marked GENERAL AND UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS also qualify.) or who support the mission of the United State Department of Defense. Also included in membership are OU ROTC, OU students, faculty, and staff who support student veterans in the OU SVA vision, mission, and goal.
2. No person is charged a fee to join the OU SVA. “Student Veterans of America does not charge our members or member chapters membership dues. We recognize that the cost of a college degree is rising and many of our members have educational debt.”
SECTION 2
All candidates shall be duly initiated according to the rites of the society.
ARTICLE I V
Governing Board
SECTION 1
The Governing Board shall include faculty, staff, and student members.
SECTION 2
The Governing Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary, chairpersons of any standing committees, and Advisor.
SECTION 3
The Governing Board can establish standing committees, all of which are encouraged to include faculty, staff, and student members.
SECTION 4
The OU SVA shall have as an advisor a full-time member of The University of Oklahoma faculty or staff.
ARTICLE V
Officers
SECTION 1
The elected officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The positions shall be occupied by a Student Veteran unless no interest then a non-student veteran may apply. Candidate must have completed a minimum of 20 hours of community service work prior to running for an officer position.
SECTION 2
The President shall serve a one or two-year term. Preside over meetings of the society, and appoint committees with the approval of the Governing Board. The President coordinates elections at the end of his/ her term and ensures the transfer of all paperwork regarding the OU SVA.
SECTION 3
The Vice President shall serve a one or two-year term and preside in the absence of the President and the President-elect.
SECTION 4
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall handle chapter communications. In lieu of committees, the secretary shall create/ maintain social media presence for members, while following University policies.
SECTION 5
The Treasurer shall create an annual budget asking for funds from various resources, create/ maintain a bank account for the OU SVA, and report on all monies collected or disbursed.
ARTICLE VI
Committees
SECTION 1
The possible committees of the OU-SVA may include the following:
· Membership Committee
· Program Committee
· Publicity Committee
Other committees may be established by the Governing Board as needed.
SECTION 2
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall attend events where student veterans may be present and recruit to increase and maintain membership as the Governing Board determines.
SECTION 3
Program Committee
The Program Committee shall plan activities for the OU SVA in accordance with University policies. They will adhere to University policy regarding building and classroom use and other University policies.
SECTION 4
Publicity Committee
The Publicity Committee shall create and maintain social media sites as well as plan and arrange for the publicity of the activities and accomplishments of the OU SVA in accordance with University policies.
ARTICLE VII
Elections
SECTION 1
Elections will be conducted by secret ballot at the annual Spring meeting of the OU SVA and shall include a provision for write-in candidates and proxy votes.
SECTION 2
Election to office will require an absolute majority of the valid ballots cast.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendment of By-Laws
SECTION 1
Proposed amendments to the By-Laws must be presented in writing at least one month before they may be voted upon.
SECTION 2
Approval by two-thirds of the voting members shall be required for passage of a proposed amendment. The amendment shall be put into effect immediately unless otherwise stipulated in the amendment.
ARTICLE IX
Meetings
SECTION 1
There will be at least two meetings of the Chapter per year.
ARTICLE X
Parliamentary Authority
SECTION 1
Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the society in all cases to which they are applicable.
ARTICLE XI
Organizational Compliance
SECTION 1
If there is a conflict between our national parent organization’s rulings, constitution, or direction and The University of Oklahoma Student Code, the Student Code preempts the national or parent ruling.
SECTION 2
The OU SVA is subject to Local, State, and Federal Laws.
SECTION 3
Membership in, association with, and benefits emanating from this student organization and its related activities shall be based upon such considerations as performance, educational achievement, and other criteria related to the goals of this organization and purposes of its activities. Judgments in this regard based solely on an individual’s race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, or political belief are not judgments based on such considerations. Further, the purpose of this organization shall be consistent with public policy as established by prevailing University Community standards.
Adopted: 3 February 2012
Revised: 12 September 2014