Meet FEA

Constitution

• Preamble

  We the members of Future Education Association (FEA), and subscribing to the regulations and policies of Florida International University, establish this Constitution to govern the matters within our organization.

• Article I - Name

  Section 1 - The name of this organization shall be Future Education Association (FEA).

  Section 2 - This organization is a chapter of Educators Rising, a national organization that cultivates highly skilled educators by guiding young people on a path to becoming accomplished teachers.

• Article II - Purpose

  Section 1 - The purpose of this organization shall be to promote teaching as a career, provide experiences to help develop the qualities and aptitudes basic for effective teaching, to provide opportunities to network with top students, faculty and education leaders at FIU and in our broader community and to provide information on professional career opportunities.

• Article III - Membership

  Section 1 - Member Eligibility Requirements
  Members must be registered students at FIU and interested in Education as a profession. No discrimination shall be made on the basis of sex, race, age, religion, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or veteran's status. Hazing will not be allowed as a condition of membership in this organization. Members must be in good academic standing with the University.
  
  Section 2 - Additional Membership Requirements
  Membership will be based on a point system and members will be ranked as active, inactive and new. Active members must obtain a minimum number of points per semester through attendance and participation in selected events, identified by the Executive Board during the semester. Inactive members are those who have been part of the organization for more than one semester and do not accumulate the minimum required points in a semester to become active members. New members are members who join the organization in a given semester and have not accumulated enough points to become active members. There are no dues collected for this organization.

  Section 3 - Recruitment
  Recruitment shall take place throughout the year and membership is open at all times.
  
  Section 4 - Voting Rights
  Only active student members are eligible to vote.
  
  Section 5 - Revocation of Membership
  Membership may be revoked without mutual agreement for non-participation, misconduct, or violations of any provisions of the Constitution. The member will be notified in writing of the possible revocation at least 72 hours prior to the vote and will be allowed to address the organization in order to relate to members any relevant defense prior to the voting for removal. Membership can only be revoked upon a 2/3 affirmative vote of Executive Board members.
  
  Section 6 - Reinstatement of Membership
  Membership may be reinstated after one full semester has passed. The former member may submit a request for reinstatement to the President. At the next membership meeting, the organization must vote on the reinstatement request. Membership may be reinstated by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the Executive Board members.

• Article IV - Officers

  Section 1 - The officers of this organization shall consist of: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Marketing Director, Community Outreach Director and CSO Representative.

  DUTIES

  The President shall:

  • Preside over the Association Executive Board meetings and General meetings. Make all necessary arrangements for those meetings, including setting the agenda and conducting the business of the meeting in accordance with the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order and all provisions of the FEA Constitution.
  • Supervise and coordinate the activities of the organization.
  • Create temporary committees and appoint their individual committee chairs and members.
  • Maintain communication with the Council for Student Organizations (CSO) and ensure that all paperwork is current.
  • Attend CSO Executive Board Orientation at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters.
  • Be one of three signers on financial documents.
  • Be responsible for creating a budget at the beginning of each fall and spring semester, in conjunction with the Treasurer.
  • Maintain clear and constant communication with all executive board members and FEA advisor.
  • Ensure that all officers are familiar with this Constitution, via a review to happen within one month of officer installation.
  • Ensure that all officers are performing their duties as defined in this Constitution.
  • Participate in recruitment activities, including involvement fairs for incoming freshmen and transfers. 
  • Assign special projects to officers.
  • Set and maintain a minimum of 2 weekly in-office hours.
  • Be available to meet at designated meeting times.
  • Organize transition period training for new officers. Provide all documents and records pertaining to his/her responsibilities to the newly elected President.
  • Maintain a minimum 2.50 Grade Point Average while in office.

  The Vice President shall:

  • Assist the President in his/her duties.
  • Assume the President's responsibilities in his/her absence.
  • Assist in planning and facilitating general body meeting. Take attendance at general body meetings.
  • Work closely with the President, Treasurer, and Events Director on fundraising and chapter events.
  • Keep accurate records of all meetings in the Secretary's absence
  • Plan and be responsible for all retreats and training of the organization.
  • Work with Treasurer to submit File for Funds to CSO as needed.
  • Perform an audit of all financial transactions of the organization once per semester.
  • Participate in recruitment activities, including involvement fairs for incoming freshmen and transfers
  • Be available to meet at designated meeting times.
  • Set and maintain a minimum of 2 weekly in-office hours.
  • Take attendance at general meetings.
  • Keep accurate records of all meetings in the Secretary's absence.
  • Organize transition period training for new officers. Provide all documents and records pertaining to his/her responsibilities to the newly elected Vice President.
  • Assist in special projects as assigned by the President.
  • Maintain a minimum 2.50 Grade Point Average while in office

  The Treasurer shall:

  • Keep an accurate account of all funds received and expended. Present a budget report of deposits and expenditures to the Executive Board at least once per month.
  • Responsible for working together with the President to create a budget at the beginning of each fall and spring semester, and present it to the officers and advisor.
  • Attend CSO Executive Board Orientation at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters.
  • Manage and submit File for Funds to CSO in a timely manner and before the deadlines as requested by the Vice-President.
  • Work closely with the President, Vice-President and Events Director on fundraising events.
  • Be one of three signers on financial documents.
  • Participate in recruitment activities, including involvement fairs for incoming freshmen and transfers.
  • Be available to meet at designated meeting times.
  • Set and maintain a minimum of 2 weekly in-office hours.
  • Organize transition period training for new officers. Provide all documents and records pertaining to his/her responsibilities to the newly elected Treasurer.
  • Assist in special projects as assigned by the President.
  • Maintain a minimum 2.50 Grade Point Average while in office.

  The Secretary shall:

  • Must attend all general and executive board meetings and record minutes at all meetings.
  • Maintain accurate list of members and their contact information.
  • Update Registration Form when there are changes in organizational information over the course of the semester.
  • Establish and maintain all organization files and archives, including an attendance record.
  • Create polls/surveys and report results to E-Board.
  • Check eligibility for potential officers, prior to annual appointment/elections.
  • Participate in recruitment activities, including involvement fairs for incoming freshmen and transfers.
  • Be available to meet at designated meeting times.
  • Set and maintain a minimum of 2 weekly in-office hours.
  • Organize transition period training for new officers. Provide all documents and records pertaining to his/her responsibilities to the newly elected Secretary.
  • Assist in special projects as assigned by the President.
  • Maintain a minimum 2.50 Grade Point Average while in office.

  The CSO Representative shall:

  • Keep a record of all points for CSO recognition and funding per semester. Inform officers of deadlines for point submission. Work closely with CSO Representative to ensure that point forms are submitted by the deadlines.
  • Seek information of events that are going on on-campus and work with Marketing Director to advertise them.
  • Maintain all communication with CSO on behalf of FEA.
  • Attend CSO General meetings.
  • Attend CSO Executive Board Orientation.
  • Prepare and submit the organization's Registration Form to submit to CSO by 5:00pm on the first Wednesday of each semester.
  • Submit necessary forms, including point requirements and special request forms, online at a timely manner through Orgsync.
  • Coordinate that at least one E-board member attends OrgSync training within the academic year.
  • Submit FEA events to CSO for CSO's community calendar.
  • Be available to meet at designated meeting times.
  • Set and maintain a minimum of 2 weekly in-office hours.
  • Organize transition period training for new officers. Provide all documents and records pertaining to his/her responsibilities to the newly elected CSO representative.
  • Assist in special projects as assigned by the President.
  • Maintain a minimum 2.50 Grade Point Average while in office.

  The Communications/Marketing Director shall:

  • Develop marketing materials and marketing strategies to enhance interest in membership as well as attendance to events. Manage any public relations manner as well as advertising.
  • Work with Campus Life Publications office to create flyers for all events. Submit Publication Requests and supervise the making of all posters to make sure that the organization is represented appropriately.
  • Update OrgSync FEA portal weekly, update news, calendar, events, meetings, etc.
  • Respond to all general emails in a timely manner (within 2 business days of email sent). Tag/Star/Forward emails for the appropriate E-Board officer and maintain email inbox.
  • Update followers on all Social Media Accounts including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with upcoming meetings, events and photographs.
  • Coordinate all recruitment activities, including member participation in club fairs and involvement fairs for incoming freshmen and transfers.
  • Work closely with other E-board members for required information on all event updates and photographs.
  • Promote FEA events within the FEA membership as well as the FIU community.
  • Be available to meet at designated meeting times.
  • Set and maintain a minimum of 2 weekly in-office hours.
  • Organize transition period training for new officers. Provide all documents and records pertaining to his/her responsibilities to the newly elected Marketing Director.
  • Assist in special projects as assigned by the President. Maintain a minimum 2.50 Grade Point Average while in office.

  The Events Director shall:

  • Plan and carry out FEA events that promote FEA's mission, including Signature Events, Social Events, Community Service Events, FEA Day @ FIU, End-of-the-Semester Banquet, and University Events such as Homecoming week.
  • Manage committee to plan and facilitate FEA events and work with the Marketing Director to get the information out to all FEA members and in some cases, the FIU community.
  • Reserve all rooms and necessary AV equipment for meetings and other FEA events.
  • Maintain contact information of all vendors used for FEA events for future reference.
  • Participate in recruitment activities, including involvement fairs for incoming freshmen and transfers.
  • Be available to meet at designated meeting times.
  • Set and maintain a minimum of 2 weekly in-office hours.
  • Organize transition period training for new officers. Provide all documents and records pertaining to his/her responsibilities to the newly elected Community Outreach Director.
  • Assist in special projects as assigned by the President.
  • Maintain a minimum 2.50 Grade Point Average while in office.

  Section 2 - Potential officers must have a 2.50 or greater FIU GPA. The requirements of this section may be waived by a 2/3 affirmative vote of Executive Board members and Faculty Advisor, prior to nominations and elections.
  
  Section 3 - Term of office shall be one year. Officers may serve successive terms.
  
  Section 4 - Leadership may be revoked without mutual agreement for non-participation, misconduct, failure to fulfill job duties, or violations of any provisions of the Constitution. The officer will be notified in writing of the possible removal from office at least 72 hours prior to the vote and will be allowed to address the organization in order to relate to members any relevant defense prior to the voting for removal. Any officer may be removed from office upon a 2/3 affirmative vote of active student members. The removed officer shall provide all documents relating to the organization and brief his/her replacement of current projects in his/her care. 

• Article V - Elections

  Section 1 - Election of officers shall be held each academic year at the membership meeting held in March. One of the officers not running for office shall facilitate the nomination and election process at this meeting. If this is not possible, the facilitator will be selected by a majority vote of active student members. Any active student member present may nominate someone or him/herself for office by verbally nominating the individual during this procedure. However, the nominee must be considered eligible for an officer position. Absentee/proxy ballots are not permitted in the nomination process.

  Section 2 - Provisions for filling vacancies. In the event an officer (besides President) is removed or resigns, the remaining officers will decide if the position is to be filled. If it is to be filled, the nomination and election process will take place at the next membership meeting. The officers may appoint an interim officer to serve in the vacant position until the next membership meeting. If the President is removed or resigns, the Vice President will assume the role of President upon a majority confirmation of the remaining officers. If not confirmed, the position of the President will be filled as per the paragraph above.

  Section 3 - The procedures for voting shall be at the membership meeting held in March The order of elections shall be: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Historian. The organization may not proceed to the election of the next officer until the current one has been resolved. The nominated candidates for each office will be given a chance to address the organization to discuss their qualifications and reasons why they should be selected to that office. Candidates will speak to the organization in alphabetical order by last name. Once each candidate for that office has had the opportunity to speak, all active student members present (minus the nominations/elections facilitator described above) will have the opportunity to vote by secret ballot. Absentee/proxy ballots are not permitted in the election process. The nominations/elections facilitator will tabulate all votes immediately, in the presence of the organization. A candidate shall be elected by a majority of all votes cast by active student members. If no candidate receives a majority of votes, the top two candidates will immediately enter into a run-­off election. In the event of a tie, the nominations/elections facilitator shall cast a vote to break the tie. The nominations/elections facilitator will announce the new officer and ask if any active student member contests the count. If no active student member contests the count, the new officer shall take office as per Article V, Section 4. If an active student member contests the count, each candidate may select an active student member to supervise the recount. The nominations/elections facilitator will immediately recount all votes in the presence of the selected representatives. Once an officer is confirmed, the organization will proceed to elections for the next officer.

• Article VI - Meetings

  Section 1 - Regular meetings of this organization shall be held biweekly during the fall and spring semesters. Meetings are open to those defined in Article III, Section 1, and officers (except the President, unless otherwise stated) and active student members (unless otherwise stated) are allowed one vote per motion. The quorum required to conduct business is a majority of the officers and organization’s active student members. Unless otherwise stated in this constitution, a motion is considered passed with a majority vote. 

  Section 2 - A quorum shall consist of 2/3 of voting members present at any meeting.

• Article VII - Advisors

  Section 1 - There shall be at least one full time faculty/staff advisor at all times in the organizations.

  Section 2 - The advisor shall serve as a mentor to the organization, providing guidance to the officers and members in the development and implementation of programs and activities, as well as FIU policy and procedure. Additionally, the advisor will monitor expenditures of the organization. The advisor has no voting rights. The advisor must be willing to obtain an appropriate level of experience, resource information, and knowledge related to the mission, purpose, and activities of the organization.

• Article VIII - Amendments

  Section 1 - he Constitution may be amended at any general meeting provided that the proposed amendments have been presented to the Executive Board in writing at least 14 days prior to the meeting. The Executive Board shall review propped amendments and present them to members with the E-board’s recommendation for accepting, rejecting or altering the proposal. The Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 affirmative vote of active student members.

  The Executive Board may not alter or discard a proposed amendment without the consent of the originators.