Asian Health Professions Organization Constitution

Article I: Name and Goal

Section I: Name
The name of this organization shall be Asian Health Professions Organization.

Section II: Goal and Vision
The main goal of Asian Health Professions Organization is to provide students with peer support, advice, and information for future health professions careers. Asian Health Professions Organization will strive to develop leadership skills and character in each of its members to prepare them for future success. Its vision is to help each of their members successfully achieve individual goals in future careers by providing a knowledge base and community for interactions with similar students.

Article II: Operation

Section I: Student Organization
Asian Health Professions Organization shall be operated as a registered Professional Student Organization of the College of Natural Sciences in accordance with the rules and regulations of The University of Texas at Austin.

Article III: Membership

Section I: Open Membership
Membership shall be open to all students of The University of Texas at Austin regardless of race, national origin, creed or political affiliation, sex (in accordance with Title IX), sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or veteran’s status.

Section II: Limited Membership
Active membership status is reserved to the members that have fulfilled specified membership requirements. All students are welcome to attend general meetings. Select events, such as incentive events and the banquet, may be limited to active or paid members.

Section III: Active Membership Requirements
All members must pay dues in order to be active members of Asian Health Professions Organization. Dues will be used to pay for organizational socials, speaker gifts and expenses, and any other expenses and fees as deem necessary by the current administration. All itemized budgets can be viewed upon request. Officers, for providing their time and services to Asian Health Professions Organization, will be exempt from such membership fees.

Additional requirements (meetings, social events, volunteer events) are set forth by the current administration for each semester. The specified requirements must be fulfilled in order to become an active member, without exception. Special replacement requirements may be fulfilled if conflicts occur. Conflicts that arise will be deemed either acceptable or unacceptable by the current administration. Only active members will be eligible for certain benefits as deemed by the current administration.

Article IV: Officers

Section I: President Eligibility
The President must be an officer of good standing in Asian Health Professions Organization during the previous year.

Section II: Executive Adviser Eligibility
The Executive Adviser must have been an officer of good standing in Asian Health Professions Organization during a previous year. Nominations will be made by the newly elected President and the previous Executive Adviser. If both nominate the same person, approval will lie with a majority vote by the previous administration. If there is more than one nominee, a majority vote by the previous administration will determine the new Executive Adviser.

Section III: Elected Officers, Officer Eligibility and Responsibilities
Asian Health Professions Organization will consist of the following elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Volunteer Coordinator, Program Director, Social/Sports Director, Historian, and Webmaster. All, with the exclusion of President, are open to members with no previous officer positions held.

All candidates must be of active membership status before the last meeting of the spring semester. In addition, candidates must submit their intent to run to the Executive Adviser before the designated deadline. New officers will be elected by a 70% vote by the members and 30% vote by the officers at the last meeting of the spring semester.

Each officer’s absolute responsibilities are listed in the Bylaws of Asian Health Professions Organization. All officers are expected to contribute to other responsibilities when needed. Officers will assume the duties of their elected positions at the end of the spring semester.

Section IV: Voting Eligibility and Ballot Counting
Voting is limited to all paid members of Asian Health Professions Organization in attendance. Candidates must step outside while ballots are being counted. Ballots are to be collected and counted by the President and Vice President. If either should be running for a position, counting is passed down to the next available officer.

All ties between candidates will be voted on among current officers. Any further ties are broken solely by the President, taking into account seniority, ability to fulfill the position requirements, and activity in the club.

Section V: Removal of Officers
Removal from office may occur due to, but not limited to, unfulfilled duties, repeated absences, or lack of participation. A motion to remove an officer must be presented to the President with adequate reason and supporting evidence. An officer who is unable or unwilling to fulfill his or her duties may receive a strike, resulting from a two-thirds vote by the remaining officers. All officers must be fully notified of the situation before voting on the strike. An officer who gains three strikes will automatically be removed from office. Under no circumstance may the officer in question appeal the removal from office to the members.

Section VI: Replacement of Officers
If the President, Vice President, or Executive Advisor leaves office, the President may choose any remaining officers to fulfill the responsibilities of the vacant officer position. Approval will lie within a majority vote of the officers.

If the Secretary, Treasurer, Volunteer Coordinator, Programming Director, Social/Sports Director, Historian, or Webmaster leave office, an application for a new officer will be open to all paid members. All officers must review the applications. A new officer will be selected by majority vote from the current presiding officers. If no qualified candidate is present, the position may be vacant for the remainder of the term. During its vacancy, all remaining officers must help fulfill the vacant position.

Article V: Amendments

Section I: Procedure of Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution may be submitted in writing to the President at any time. Upon review by all officers, a majority vote is needed to deny or accept the proposed amendment. An amendment that is denied proceeds no further. An accepted amendment is taken to the members at the next general meeting. Two-thirds vote is required to ratify the amendment.