Article I: Name

The organization shall officially be known as the University Student Alumni Board and will be popularly known as and abbreviated the USAB.

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Article II: Purpose

The primary functions of the USAB are to:

• Improve the quality of campus life by organizing programs that directly benefit students, alumni, and the entire University community.

• Establish, maintain and promote the traditions of the University at Buffalo.

• S timulate the interest and encourage the participation of students and alumni in the life of the University by fostering interaction between the two groups.

• Work with the Office of Alumni Relations to provide programs and benefits exclusively for True Blue Herd members, the student members of the UB Alumni Association.

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Article III: Affiliations

A.  University at Buffalo Alumni Association

• The USAB shall be affiliated with and responsible to the University at Buffalo Alumni Association and Office of Alumni Relations, hereafter abbreviated the UBAA and OAR, respectively, and shall operate under its own as well as the UBAA By-Laws. The USAB shall do all things necessary to accomplish its purposes while abiding to all laws, rules and regulations of governments, authorities and organizations to which it and the UBAA are jurisdictionally subject.

• The USAB President shall serve as a voting member of the UBAA Board of Directors.

• Any USAB member may participate on any UBAA committee upon approval from the UBAA President.

B.   Association of Student Advancement Programs (ASAP)

• The USAB shall pay any and all membership dues to the ASAP pursuant to the By-Laws of said organization in order to receive the benefits of membership.

• The USAB Executive Board shall select no less than two delegates to represent the USAB at both the annual ASAP District 2 conference and the annual ASAP Network Convention. Details on selecting delegates are listed in the USAB By-Laws.

• The USAB may terminate its membership in the ASAP only upon the approval of a majority of active members.

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Article IV: Membership

Section 1:        Eligibility

• Membership in the USAB shall be open to any undergraduate, graduate or professional student enrolled in an approved, degree-granting program at the University at Buffalo.

• Neither membership in, nor services provided by the USAB will be denied to anyone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental handicap, age, sex, sexual preference, ancestry, or medical condition.

Section 2:        Active Member Status

Active member status will be required in order to receive special member-only benefits as well as participate in any voting matters brought before the membership. In order to be considered an active member, certain criteria must be met as outlined in the USAB By-Laws. The status of each member shall be reviewed at the end of each semester by the VP of Membership. Once a member is granted active member status they shall retain that status for the following semester only. In other words, a member will be considered active if they were granted active status at the end of the previous semester. At the end of each successive semester their status will again be reviewed. If any member does not agree with a decision made by the VP of Membership they may appeal to the entire Executive Board at a scheduled meeting of the Executive Board. If a general member does not achieve active member status after two semesters, they will no longer be allowed to participate in activities intended for USAB members only.

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Article V: Officers

Section 1:        Officers

Officers of the USAB include members of the Executive Board as well as Committee Chairs. The USAB Staff Adviser shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board. See the USAB By-Laws for a listing of officer positions and the duties and responsibilities of each position.

Section 2:        Term of Office

All officers of the USAB shall serve a term of one year. This term will begin on May 1 and end on the following April 30. If an officer assumes a position in the middle of a term, the officer shall serve only for the remainder of the term of his or her predecessor.

Section 4:        Resignations

Should any officer choose to resign from his/her position, they must submit a letter of resignation to the entire Executive Board, as well as the USAB Staff Adviser as soon as s/he has made their decision. The process for filling the position is detailed in Section 6 below.

Section 5:        Removal of Officers

• Impeachable offenses:
• Breach of code of conduct.
• Neglect of officer duties and responsibilities as listed in the USAB By-Laws.
• Misconduct.
• Misrepresentation of the USAB or the University.

B.   Process

• A petition to remove an officer must be submitted to the USAB Staff Adviser. The petition may be submitted anonymously. This petition shall provide the grounds for removal and the names of any members who are willing to step forward to support these claims. The USAB Staff Adviser will have five days to determine the validity of the petition. If the petition is found to be valid, the USAB Staff Adviser shall notify the officer in question that a hearing and vote will be scheduled for an upcoming General Membership meeting that is not less than fourteen (14) days after this notification. The USAB Staff Adviser shall then send a notice to all USAB members notifying them of the scheduled hearing and vote to remove the officer in question.

• There shall be debate and an opportunity for the officer in question to speak and present evidence on their own behalf. Whoever submitted the petition to impeach will have the opportunity to argue in favor of impeachment if they so choose. If there is no member willing to confront the officer in question, then the USAB Staff Adviser shall present the evidence as listed in the original petition.

• At the conclusion of the debate, a motion to dismiss can be raised by any active member. In order for the motion to pass it must be seconded by an active member then followed by a majority of active members present at the meeting. The vote shall be conducted by raise of hands.

• If no motion to dismiss is made and/or not passed, there will be a final vote on the articles of impeachment by secret ballot.  The officer shall be removed by a majority vote of the active members present at the meeting.

• Should the officer be removed, the process for filling the position is detailed in Section 6 below.

Section 6:        Vacancies in Office

Any officer vacancy, except that of the President, shall be filled by the President’s appointment of a successor with the Executive Board’s majority approval. Should there be a vacancy in the office of President, then the Senior Vice President shall assume the position of President, who shall then appoint a new Senior Vice President with the Executive Board’s majority approval. For Executive Board, any successor shall have been active in at least two previous semesters. For Committee Chairs, any successor shall have been active in at least one previous semester. Any and all successors shall serve only for the remainder of the term of his or her predecessor.

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Article VI: Finances

• The USAB budget should be complete by the beginning of the fiscal year which begins July 1. The budget must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
• All contracts or agreements must be approved by a majority of the Executive Board.
• Any expenditure of funds not explicitly listed in the approved USAB budget must be presented to and approved by a majority of the Executive Board.
• The V.P. of Finance shall present a budget report at least once per month at a general membership meeting.

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Article VII: Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any member of the USAB by presenting a draft proposal at a scheduled meeting of the Executive Board.  The draft proposal may be modified by the Executive Board, and the final draft must receive unanimous approval of the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall then distribute the final draft to the general membership for review and notify them that a vote will be held at an upcoming general membership meeting that is not less than fourteen (14) days after notification. Only active members shall be allowed to vote on the proposed amendment. The proposed amendment must receive approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the active members. Final ratification of the amendment must be made by the UBAA Board of Directors.

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