Model Student Bylaws and Constitution
CONSTITUTION IABC/Communication University
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the International Association of Business Communicators/
Communication University, herein after referred to as IABC/CU. IABC/CU shall be affiliated
with the International County chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators,
herein after referred to as IC/IABC.
Article II - Purpose and Objectives
- The purpose of IABC/CU shall be to expose communication students to the professional
standards and practices of communication within business, industry and associations.
- This purpose shall be carried out through the following objectives:
- To advance understanding, cooperation and an exchange of ideas among members.
- To promote interaction between students and professionals.
- To learn and promote the development and application of improved methods and
programs of communication.
- To demonstrate, within the academic and professional environment, the practical
value of effective communication.
- To enhance the training and development of individual members through the
collection and dissemination of information of value and interest to members.
- To enhance career opportunities for prospective business communicators.
- To advance the academic and professional development of members.
- To strive for the highest ethical standards in carrying out these purposes.
Article III - Membership
- Membership shall be open to students of Communication University.
- Members shall be eligible to vote, hold office and receive the benefits and services
of membership in the organization.
Article IV - Officers
- The elected officers of IABC/CU shall be President, Vice President/Programs, Vice
President /Membership, Vice President/Communication, Secretary, and Treasurer.
- The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers, one faculty adviser and
the IC/ IABC educational relations chairperson.
- Election of the officers shall be by ballot. The ballot shall be dispensed with
when there is but one candidate for the office.
- Officers shall be elected to one-year terms.
Article V - Meetings
- The Executive Board shall hold a minimum of three (3) meetings per semester.
Executive Board meetings shall be open to the general membership.
- IABC/CU shall hold a minimum of three (3) general meetings of the membership per
semester. Date and location of the meetings shall be established by the Vice
President/ Programs with the approval of the Board. Additional meetings may be
called by the President with the approval of the Board.
Article VI - Finances
- IABC/CUshall obtain its income from the assessment of dues, proceeds from fundraising
activities and donations.
- The Treasurer shall be directly responsible for managing the finances of the organiz-
ation. The Treasurer shall maintain records of receipts and expenditures. The
Treasurer shall issue reports of account at each Board meeting.
- In the event of dissolution of IABC/CU, its remaining assets shall be transferred to
IC/ IABC, and none of such assets shall revert to or be held for the benefit of any
individual(s).
Article VII - Amendments
- This constitution may be amended at any general meeting by a two-thirds vote of the
membership present, provided that: 1) At least one-third of the total IABC / CU
membership is present, 2) The proposed amendment has had the approval of both the
IABC/CU and IC/IABC Executive Boards, and 3) A copy of the proposed amendment(s) has
been sent to each member at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
- Amendments may be proposed to the Executive Board by any member at any time, either
in person or in writing. The Board shall act on any proposed amendment within sixty
(60) days of the submission of such amendment(s).
BYLAWS IABC/CU
Section 1 - Membership
- Membership shall be open to full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate CU students
working toward a degree who are interested in the field of organizational communication
and who are not in the organizational communication profession. Any student taking
nine (9) units or less must be approved for membership by the IC/IABC Executive Board.
- Membership shall be forfeited, upon approval of the IABC/CU Executive Board, for nonpayment
of membership dues within sixty (60) days of written notification of dues. The Vice
President/Membership shall contact each member thirty (30) days prior to expiration of
membership.
- Membership shall be for one year.
Section 2 - Government
- Both the administrative and fiscal years of IABC/CU shall begin June 1 and end May 31.
- The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
- President - Shall preside at all Executive Board and general membership meetings;
may, at the discretion of the IC/IABC board, be a voting member of the IC/IABC
Executive Board; shall appoint heads of committees to carry out the business of
the organization; shall appoint, with the approval of the Board, successors to
elected members of the Board who vacate their position for any reason; shall
recommend such action as deemed necessary for the benefit of the organization;
and shall perform all other duties incident to the office.
- Vice President/Programs - Shall plan and organize all general membership meetings,
subject to the review and approval of the Executive Board; shall preside at meetings
in the absence of the President; shall, with the approval of the Board, assume the
duties of the President as Acting President if that office is vacated for any reason;
and shall perform all other duties incident to the office.
- Vice President/Membership - Shall serve as chairman of the Membership committee;
shall maintain the membership roster; shall be responsible for the recruitment
of new members; shall provide report of prospective members to the IC/IABC Vice
President-Membership; and shall perform all other duties incident to the office.
- Vice President/Communication - Shall publicize all Chapter events; shall maintain
the IABC/CU bulletin board; and shall perform all other duties incident to the
office.
- Treasurer - Shall keep records of receipts and expenditures of the organization;
shall submit financial reports to the Executive Board; shall disburse all funds
incident to the operation of the organization; and shall perform all other duties
incident to the office.
- Secretary - Shall record minutes of Executive Board and general membership meetings;
shall be responsible for all correspondence and files of correspondences; and shall
perform all other duties incident to the office.
- Faculty Adviser(s) - Shall serve as consultant(s) and counselor(s) to the Executive
Board; shall oversee the operation of IABC/CU; and shall be a CU Communication
Department faculty member.
- Professional Adviser - Shall serve as a liaison between IABC / CU and IC/ IABC; and
shall be the IC/IABC Educational Relations Chairperson.
- Officers may continue in office after graduation until either their term of office or
their membership expires.
- With the approval of the Executive Board, the immediate Past President, if still a member,
may become an officer and member of the Board, with all rights, privileges, and
responsibilities thereof.
- The immediate Past President shall serve as International Liaison with other IABC
student chapters. If the immediate Past President is no longer a member, the current
President may appoint a member as International Liaison.
Section 3 - Elections
- Election of all members of the Executive Board shall be held at the May meeting. They
shall take office as of June 1. With the approval of the membership, the previous officers
shall continue to hold office until the new officers are able to assume their responsibilities.
- Candidates for officers shall be nominated from the floor at the May meeting. Ballots
must be cast secretly, in writing by the members, at that time. Candidates must have
at least one semester remaining before graduation.
- If, for any reason, an officer is unable to hold office, selection of a replacement
shall be made by the President or Acting President and approved by the Executive Board.
Section 4 - Parliamentary Authority
Robert's Rules of Order, Revised shall govern the conduct of all meetings of IABC/CU and
Executive Board, except as otherwise provided herein.
Section 5 - Amendments
- hese bylaws may be amended at any general meeting by a two-thirds vote of the membership that:
- At least one-third of the total IABC/CU membership is present,
- The proposed amendment has had the approval of both the IABC/CU and IC/IABC Executive Boards, and
- A copy of the proposed amendment has been sent to each member at least two
(2) weeks prior to the meeting.
- Amendments may be proposed to the Executive Board by any member at any time, either in
person or in writing. The Board shall act on any proposed amendment within sixty (60)
days of the submission of such amendment(s).
Section 6 - Non-Discrimination
IABC / CU does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, national
origin, or handicap. Only the membership standards, covered in Section 1 of these Bylaws,
apply toward membership status in this organization.
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