constitution
PREAMBLE
We, the students of Ball State University, being members of the Earl A. Johnson Chapter of the Student Education Association, in order to bring those interested in education into closer relationship with each other and with the state and national education association, to extend the spirit of professional unity and purpose, to influence the conditions under which prospective teachers are prepared in order to permit maximum professional competence, to stimulate the highest ideals of professional ethics, standards, attitudes, and training, to develop leadership, to provide for education students a local, state, and national voice in matters affecting their education and the profession, and to secure increased public interest in support of education, do hereby adopt and approve this constitution of the Earl A. Johnson chapter of the Student Education Association.
ARTICLE I. NAME
SECTION 1. The name of this association shall be the Earl A. Johnson chapter of the Student Education Association, known commonly as the Ball State Student Education Association or SEA.
ARTICLE II. OFFICE
SECTION 1. The registered office of SEA shall be the office of the Faculty Advisor. The mailing address shall be Ball State University, TC 1008 Dean's Office, Muncie, Indiana 47304.
ARTICLE III. AFFILIATION
SECTION 1. SEA is unified with Indiana Student Education Association (ISEA) and the National Education Association Student Programs (NEASP), and is affiliated with Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) and National Education Association (NEA).
SECTION 2. SEA must affiliate with ISEA by returning a statement of affiliation each year when membership has reached ten (10) members or more.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP Any Ball State student who is interested in or preparing for a teaching profession shall be eligible for membership in the Earl A. Johnson chapter of the Student Education Association. Individuals who are eligible for full membership in ISTA/NEA through a local classroom teachers association are not eligible for membership in ISTA/NEA as a student education association member. Membership of SEA shall not be denied on the basis of age, race, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, ethnic background, or religion. Students who are not members of the organization may also participate in programs and activities sponsored by SEA.
SECTION 2. AFFILIATION In addition to being a member of SEA, each member can be affiliated with the State and National Student Programs.
SECTION 3. DUES Dues for SEA shall be determined by the Executive Committee (see Article II of By Laws) each year with respect to any changes which might be made on the local, state, or national levels. Persons joining SEA shall pay dues collectively for three levels: NEASP, ISEA, and SEA-BSU. Membership on all three levels is mandated by the ISEA and the NEASP constitutions.
SECTION 4. MEMBERSHIP YEAR The membership year shall be from September 1 to August 31.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
SECTION 1. RESPONSIBILITIES The officers of SEA shall be responsible to the membership in all matters concerning the discharge of their duties.
SECTION 2. OFFICERS The officers of SEA shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, Publicity Coordinator, and a Historian.
ARTICLE VI. ELECTIONS
SECTION 1. PROCESS President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Coordinator, and Historian shall be elected by secret ballot at a monthly meeting, no later than February 28th, by a simple majority of the voting members present.
SECTION 2. QUALIFICATIONS To be eligible for office, an individual must be a member of the student body of Ball State University and a paid member of SEA in the year of the election. Nominees for president of SEA shall have at least one year of prior experience on the Executive Committee of the SEA.
SECTION 3. NOMINATIONS Nominations shall be made from the floor at a regular chapter meeting in January. In addition, nominations can be made up until the day of the meeting in which elections are held by means of contact with the faculty advisor or President in order to be on the printed ballot. Write-in nominations may be made the day of the election at the member meeting. Persons are able to nominate themselves or be nominated by another member of SEA. Any member may only be nominated for and hold one (1) office, unless there are not enough eligible people to fill each office, in which case two (2) or more offices may be combined.
SECTION 4. UNFILLED POSITIONS Any position that remains unfilled after the election process can be appointed by the President with the support of the Executive Committee, provided that the person meets the eligibility requirements to hold a position.
ARTICLE VII. ORGANIZATION
SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the officers, President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Coordinator, Historian, and the local advisors.
SECTION 2. RESPONSIBILITIES The Executive Committee shall discuss and outline those matters of business to come before the meeting. They shall plan the efficient organization and management of the chapter and shall present their recommendations to the chapter.
SECTION 3. CHAIRPERSON The President shall be the chairperson of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS
SECTION 1. MEMBER MEETINGS There shall be a minimum of six (6) meetings of SEA within one membership year, which is open to all of Ball State University and may include both members and non-members. Notice of all meetings shall be posted in the Ball State University Teachers College and email messages sent to members prior to the meeting date.
SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS Special meetings shall be held at the call of the President, a majority of the Executive Committee, or upon the written request of two-thirds (2/3) of the members. These meetings will consider only items specified in the call for such a meeting and shall deal with important matters, that arise between regular meetings and that urgently require action.
SECTION 3. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS There shall be an Executive Committee meeting held in preparation of each member meeting. Additional meetings of the Executive Committee can be called at the request of the president or at least two (2) officers of the Committee at any time.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENT PROCESS
SECTION 1. VOTING This Constitution may be amended at any Executive Committee meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting. Members not present for the voting shall be notified via email by the Secretary within one (1) week after voting.
SECTION 2. SUBMISSION Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Secretary and read aloud prior to voting.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE Any amendment(s) to the Constitution shall become effective immediately upon approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present.
SECTION 4. POSTING The amended constitution will be posted on the SEA website for both members and non-members to review. The President will distribute a paper copy to any member upon written request.
ARTICLE X. SUSPENSION OF RULES
SECTION 1. Any section of any article of this Constitution may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at any general meeting, provided that any request for suspension must be accompanied by a statement of the purpose for the suspension of the rules.
We, the students of Ball State University, being members of the Earl A. Johnson Chapter of the Student Education Association, in order to bring those interested in education into closer relationship with each other and with the state and national education association, to extend the spirit of professional unity and purpose, to influence the conditions under which prospective teachers are prepared in order to permit maximum professional competence, to stimulate the highest ideals of professional ethics, standards, attitudes, and training, to develop leadership, to provide for education students a local, state, and national voice in matters affecting their education and the profession, and to secure increased public interest in support of education, do hereby adopt and approve this constitution of the Earl A. Johnson chapter of the Student Education Association.
ARTICLE I. NAME
SECTION 1. The name of this association shall be the Earl A. Johnson chapter of the Student Education Association, known commonly as the Ball State Student Education Association or SEA.
ARTICLE II. OFFICE
SECTION 1. The registered office of SEA shall be the office of the Faculty Advisor. The mailing address shall be Ball State University, TC 1008 Dean's Office, Muncie, Indiana 47304.
ARTICLE III. AFFILIATION
SECTION 1. SEA is unified with Indiana Student Education Association (ISEA) and the National Education Association Student Programs (NEASP), and is affiliated with Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) and National Education Association (NEA).
SECTION 2. SEA must affiliate with ISEA by returning a statement of affiliation each year when membership has reached ten (10) members or more.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP Any Ball State student who is interested in or preparing for a teaching profession shall be eligible for membership in the Earl A. Johnson chapter of the Student Education Association. Individuals who are eligible for full membership in ISTA/NEA through a local classroom teachers association are not eligible for membership in ISTA/NEA as a student education association member. Membership of SEA shall not be denied on the basis of age, race, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, ethnic background, or religion. Students who are not members of the organization may also participate in programs and activities sponsored by SEA.
SECTION 2. AFFILIATION In addition to being a member of SEA, each member can be affiliated with the State and National Student Programs.
SECTION 3. DUES Dues for SEA shall be determined by the Executive Committee (see Article II of By Laws) each year with respect to any changes which might be made on the local, state, or national levels. Persons joining SEA shall pay dues collectively for three levels: NEASP, ISEA, and SEA-BSU. Membership on all three levels is mandated by the ISEA and the NEASP constitutions.
SECTION 4. MEMBERSHIP YEAR The membership year shall be from September 1 to August 31.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
SECTION 1. RESPONSIBILITIES The officers of SEA shall be responsible to the membership in all matters concerning the discharge of their duties.
SECTION 2. OFFICERS The officers of SEA shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, Publicity Coordinator, and a Historian.
ARTICLE VI. ELECTIONS
SECTION 1. PROCESS President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Coordinator, and Historian shall be elected by secret ballot at a monthly meeting, no later than February 28th, by a simple majority of the voting members present.
SECTION 2. QUALIFICATIONS To be eligible for office, an individual must be a member of the student body of Ball State University and a paid member of SEA in the year of the election. Nominees for president of SEA shall have at least one year of prior experience on the Executive Committee of the SEA.
SECTION 3. NOMINATIONS Nominations shall be made from the floor at a regular chapter meeting in January. In addition, nominations can be made up until the day of the meeting in which elections are held by means of contact with the faculty advisor or President in order to be on the printed ballot. Write-in nominations may be made the day of the election at the member meeting. Persons are able to nominate themselves or be nominated by another member of SEA. Any member may only be nominated for and hold one (1) office, unless there are not enough eligible people to fill each office, in which case two (2) or more offices may be combined.
SECTION 4. UNFILLED POSITIONS Any position that remains unfilled after the election process can be appointed by the President with the support of the Executive Committee, provided that the person meets the eligibility requirements to hold a position.
ARTICLE VII. ORGANIZATION
SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the officers, President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Coordinator, Historian, and the local advisors.
SECTION 2. RESPONSIBILITIES The Executive Committee shall discuss and outline those matters of business to come before the meeting. They shall plan the efficient organization and management of the chapter and shall present their recommendations to the chapter.
SECTION 3. CHAIRPERSON The President shall be the chairperson of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS
SECTION 1. MEMBER MEETINGS There shall be a minimum of six (6) meetings of SEA within one membership year, which is open to all of Ball State University and may include both members and non-members. Notice of all meetings shall be posted in the Ball State University Teachers College and email messages sent to members prior to the meeting date.
SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS Special meetings shall be held at the call of the President, a majority of the Executive Committee, or upon the written request of two-thirds (2/3) of the members. These meetings will consider only items specified in the call for such a meeting and shall deal with important matters, that arise between regular meetings and that urgently require action.
SECTION 3. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS There shall be an Executive Committee meeting held in preparation of each member meeting. Additional meetings of the Executive Committee can be called at the request of the president or at least two (2) officers of the Committee at any time.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENT PROCESS
SECTION 1. VOTING This Constitution may be amended at any Executive Committee meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting. Members not present for the voting shall be notified via email by the Secretary within one (1) week after voting.
SECTION 2. SUBMISSION Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Secretary and read aloud prior to voting.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE Any amendment(s) to the Constitution shall become effective immediately upon approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present.
SECTION 4. POSTING The amended constitution will be posted on the SEA website for both members and non-members to review. The President will distribute a paper copy to any member upon written request.
ARTICLE X. SUSPENSION OF RULES
SECTION 1. Any section of any article of this Constitution may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at any general meeting, provided that any request for suspension must be accompanied by a statement of the purpose for the suspension of the rules.