Constitution of the
Frances Perkins Scholars Association of Mount Holyoke College

 

Statement of Purpose
We, the Frances Perkins Scholars Association, have come together to establish ourselves as an integral, dynamic and visible organization of the Mount Holyoke Community. As a formally established group, we commit to achieve our goals of celebrating unity in our diversity, sharing experiences, offering support to one another, interacting with the rest of the student body, and contributing to student life.
Article I—Name and Affiliation
The name of this organization shall be the Frances Perkins Scholars Association or FPSA. The FPSA is solely affiliated with and unique to Mount Holyoke College.
Article II—College Policies
Members of the FPSA adhere to all Mount Holyoke College rules, regulations and policies, including the honor code.
Article III—Membership
The Frances Perkins Scholars who have paid their activities fees and are currently enrolled at Mount Holyoke College shall be ipso facto, active members of the FPSA.
Article IV—Executive Board
Section A: Composition: The Executive Board shall consist of

1. President (chair) of the FPSA
2. Vice President of the FPSA
3. Secretary of the FPSA
4. Treasurer of the FPSA

Section B: Qualifications of Officers

1. Any Frances Perkins Scholar who has been an active member for one or more semesters may run for a position on the Executive Board. All nominees will agree to hold proposed office for one full school year.
2. Co-officers, (i.e. co-presidents, co-vice presidents, etc.), may run for any Executive Board position as long as both members are willing to hold that position for an entire school year.
3. Executive Board Officers may only hold office for (1) school year.

Section C: Duties of the Officers: The Executive Board shall

1. Execute the policy determined by the Members.
2. Report regularly to the Members on its activities.
3. Appoint necessary ad hoc or standing committees.
4. Preside over all necessary meetings of the FPSA.
5. Review all proposals submitted by any member of the FPSA.
6. As necessary, refer pertinent issues to the Steering Committee.

Article V—Election and Removal of Officers
Section A: Time of Election

1. President and Vice President shall inform all members of the time, date and place of voting.
2. Nominations for new officers will be collected during the first week of April and announced the following week.
3. There will be a two-week grace period between announcement and elections.
4. Elections will be held the first Monday and Tuesday following the grace period.
5. New officers will be announced the Wednesday morning following elections.

Section B: Election Procedures

1. Nominations and voting for the Executive Board positions shall be made by written, secret ballot.
2. Absentee votes may be obtained from the FP office three days before voting days. They must be returned no later than the last scheduled day of the vote in a sealed, unmarked envelope.
3. The candidate who receives the majority of votes for an office shall be elected to that office. If no candidate receives a simple majority, the President and Vice-President shall supervise run-off elections.
4. In event of a special election, the previously identified election procedures will be followed within three to four weeks of the removal of said officer.

Section C: Procedure for removal and replacement of Officers

1. A petition “For loss of confidence” in any member of the Executive Board must be signed by at least 20% of the members of the FPSA, and submitted to the Director of the Frances Perkins Program.
2. Approval of the petition will require a vote of 75% of the FPSA members attending a special meeting called within two weeks of submission of the said petition.
3. In the event that the President or Vice President is unable to hold office or is removed, a special election will be held to fill the position.
4. In the event the Secretary or Treasurer is unable to hold office or is removed, the President and Vice President have the power to call a meeting and appoint a new member of the Executive Board with the approval of 75% of the members attending.

Article VI—Meetings and Procedure
Section A: General Meetings (open to all members) * Also includes e-mail communications on the FP list (fp-l@mtholyoke.edu).

1. * General meetings shall be called by the President and Vice President at their discretion or upon the petition of 10% of the members of the FPSA
2. It is the duty of the Secretary of the FPSA to notify members of the time and place of meetings.
3. Purposes of the *General Meeting will include:
1. Discuss matters relating to the FPSA
2. Solicit member's opinions on the issues
3. Inform members of pertinent campus and FPSA activities, plans and issues.

Section B: Executive Board Meetings (FPSA Officers)

1. There shall be two mandatory meetings of the Executive Board
1. September: For the purpose of reorganizing
2. April: For the purpose of conducting elections

2. Other meetings may be called as deemed necessary.
Article VII—Quorum
Section A: A quorum is necessary and defined in the above sections.
Section B: The Executive Board may waive quorum, after consultation with the Director of the Frances Perkins Program.
Article VIII—Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by a majority vote of the FPSA, or by a petition addressed to the Executive Board of the FPSA and signed by at least 20% of the members of the FPSA. All amendment proposals shall be valid when passed by a majority vote of the members in a special meeting called for the purpose of said amendment(s).
By-Laws of the
Frances Perkins Scholars Association
of Mount Holyoke College

1. OFFICERS: Individual duties of office

PRESIDENT:

1. Acts as head executive officer of the FPSA.
2. Calls and presides over activities and meetings.
3. Oversees the FPSA representative(s) to the Student Government Association.
4. Performs all other duties and exercises other powers conferred upon her by the FPSA constitution.

VICE PRESIDENT:

1. Acts as President in case of temporary inability of the President to serve.
2. Acts as liaison to the Office of Communications and the Mount Holyoke News.
3. Coordinator of Committees.
4. Assists the President whenever called upon to do so.

SECRETARY:

1. Makes public all general meetings of the FPSA
2. Conducts the correspondence of the Association and files the records of the FPSA.
3. Records and files the minutes of the general meeting and of the meetings of the Executive board.
4. Assists the Vice-President whenever called upon to do so.

TREASURER:

1. Oversees all financial aspects of the FPSA, to include:
1. Records all financial transactions of the FPSA
2. Keeps a balance of all bank statements belonging to the FPSA checking accounts
3. After approval of the President, writes and signs checks paying all invoices and reimbursement requests of FPSA members.
4. Writes and signs checks, paying all invoices in a timely manner.
5. Is the financial liaison with the SGA and Student Programs Organization.
6. Attends all college financial meetings involving the FPSA.

II COMMITTEES

1. Responsibilities of SGA committee
1. Report to the FPSA about developments in SGA meetings and any legislation as it pertains to the FPSA
2. Attend all SGA legislative meetings or appoint an alternate in her place.
3. Represent the FPSA and vote the will of the FPSA members in the Student Government Meetings.
1. Committees formed by Vice President to include but not limited to:
1. Fund-raising committees (i.e. Tag-Sale Committee)
2. FP House committee
3. Special Events committee
4. Senior Breakfast committee
5. FP T-Shirt Committee

All Committees will be headed by a chair person who reports back to the Vice President on all activities and decisions that need to be made within the committee.
II AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed by a majority vote of the FPSA or by a petition addressed to the Executive Board of the FPSA and signed by at least 20% of the members of the FPSA. All amendment proposals shall be valid when passed by a majority vote of the members in a special meeting called for the purpose of said amendment(s).
This Frances Perkins Scholars Association Constitution was revised on November 15, 2002 by the FPSA Constitution Committee of 2002.

Committee Members:
Kathleen Brennan
Marty Rhodes Figley
Cynthia Woerdeman

FPSA Constitution

 

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