COSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION PREMEDICAL CHAPTER OF

 INDIANA UNIVERSITY-PURDUE UNIVERSITY AT FORT WAYNE

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the American Medical Student Association, hereafter referred to as AMSA, IPFW Premedical Chapter.As a matter of practical purpose, it may be addressed as the AMSA Premed Club of IPFW.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSES

The purposes of this organization shall be:
  1. To facilitate medical community exposure and promote medically oriented experiences for its members.
  2. To provide support and guidance for the application processes to allopathic and osteopathic schools of medicine.
  3. To provide course counseling and guidance for MCAT preparation.
  4. To provide social-academic activities and support for all club members.
  5. To provide an environment that supports the creative ideas of all club members.
  6. To increase knowledge of health information among members and the general public.
  7. To periodically re-evaluate the above purposes and ensure that they are carried out in a proper fashion.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

A. Eligibility

Students enrolled at IPFW who are either current affiliate members of AMSA or in the process of applying to AMSA, and have paid current chapter dues shall be considered active members of AMSA IPFW Premedical Chapter.Members of the above named organization shall be accepted without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, disability, sex, sexual preference, age, creed, marital status, parental, or veterans status.Furthermore, it is understood that members of the above organization will not, at any time, engage in hazing.

B. Types of Membership

  1. Active voting membership shall be open to all students currently enrolled in at least one (1) credit hour at IPFW, and who have paid club dues. Each voting member must maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA at IPFW.
  2. Inactive, non-voting membership shall be open to interested individuals; however, they may not hold office. Inactive members shall not compose more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total membership.

C. Dues

The AMSA national dues are currently set at $20.00 annually.The AMSA officers of IPFW shall determine the dues for membership to AMSA IPFW Premedical chapter.Local chapter dues shall be $5.00 per academic year and are subject to change by the executive committee. Dues will be collected during the second meeting of the fall semester.Dues may be paid at a later date; however, active voting membership will not be granted to any member until such time that his/her dues are received.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

A. Titles

The officers of an executive board of an AMSA national premedical chapter shall include:President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms.

B. Duties of the Officers

  1. The President shall:
    1. Preside at all general membership and special meetings.
    2. Call special and executive meetings.
    3. Appoint committees and appoint committee chairpersons with the consent of the membership.
    4. Serve as a chapter delegate to the Premedical Caucus at AMSA’s National Convention each March (or select a surrogate if he/she is unable to attend).
  2. The Vice President shall:
    1. Be an aide to the president.
    2. In case of absence or disability of the president, assume the duties of the president.
    3. Oversee the coordination of all projects.
  3. The Secretary shall:
    1. Maintain a list of active members.
    2. Record and make public to the organization the minutes of regular and executive meetings.
    3. Notify the membership of the time and place of meetings.
    4. In case of absence have a substitute appointed that day by any member of the executive committee.
  4. The Treasurer shall:
    1. Maintain an accurate record of receipts and disbursements of funds.
    2. Maintain the organization’s account in accordance with university regulations.
    3. Submit to the appropriate office financial statements as are requested.
    4. See to the best of his/her ability that the money used on behalf of the chapter is used wisely and in a manner which suits the purposes of this chapter.

  1. The Sergeant in Arms shall:
    1. Call all local premedical chapter meetings to order, and shall adjourn each said meeting.
    2. See to it that all activities taken by the chapter are in accordance with the bylaws of the constitution.
    3. See to it that all members are given a chance to speak and be heard at all general meetings.
    4. Supervise elections to assure that they are carried out in accordance with the bylaws of the constitution.

C. Officer Qualifications

Officers must:
  1. Hold an active, voting membership in the AMSA IPFW Premedical chapter.
  2. Be currently enrolled in at least twelve (12) semester hours during the fall and spring semesters while in office.

D. Terms of Office

Once elected, the officers of this organization shall take office during the last meeting of the spring semester and remain in office for the following academic year, or until such time as they fail to comply with the stated qualification or membership standards.

E. Nominations and Elections

  1. The voting members shall make nominations for offices of this organization at the meeting two (2) weeks previous to the last meeting of the spring semester.
  2. Nominated candidates shall be elected by a secret, simple majority vote of the voting members in attendance during the last meeting of the spring semester.
  3. Officers may only serve two terms in the same office.

F. Voting Powers of the Officers

Officers retain the right to vote, but the President often votes only in the event of a tie.

G. Vacancies in Office

  1. In the event that the President of this organization can no longer assume the duties of his/her office, the Vice President shall become President.
  2. In the event that a vacancy occurs in any office other than that of the Presidency, the voting members will follow the normal nomination and election process to fill this vacancy. The nominating and election meetings, in this case, will be held as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

A. Time and Place

This organization shall hold at least one (1) regular meeting per month during the normal academic year.The time and location of regular meetings shall be determined at the beginning of each semester by the Executive Committee.All members will be notified of the time and place of the meetings at least five (5) days prior to the meeting.

B. Quorum

Fifty percent (50%) of the voting members shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI. ADVISORS

At least one faculty member or administration staff member of Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne shall be invited by this organization to serve as its advisor.More than one advisor may serve the organization at any given time.The advisors shall serve as advocates for the organization and ensure that business conducted by the group meets university standards.The organization agrees to keep its advisors informed of all activities, meetings, plans, and events.

ARTICLE VI.IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL

  1. Officers and members of this organization may be impeached for malfeasance in office, dereliction of duty, or by failing to comply with the purposes of this organization.
  2. A petition signed by fifty percent (50%) of voting members of this organization shall initiate the impeachment process.
  3. The member in question shall be notified in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting scheduled to discuss his/her impeachment. The time, location, and allegations shall be specified in this correspondence. During this meeting, the member in question shall be provided with an opportunity to address the allegations.
  4. In the event of impeachment proceedings, an advisor will chair the meeting.
  5. In the event that an officer is impeached and removed from office, he/she will not remain as a voting or nonvoting member in this organization.
  6. A two-thirds secret cote of the total voting membership shall constitute removal. This vote shall only be cast at the impeachment proceedings.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

  1. The executive committee shall present a calendar of annual goals at the beginning of each year to the general members. The president shall then appoint committees and committee chairpersons to oversee the accomplishment of these goals.
  2. Committee chairs will present a written report at the beginning of each general meeting outlining the progress of said goals and an indication of any actions to be taken in the future to attain such goals.

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS

  1. All amendments to this constitution shall be introduced in writing at an organizational meeting and lie over at least one week. The amendment will then be reread and voted upon at the next organizational meeting.
  2. Each amendment having been passed by a three-fourths vote of the total voting members shall become effective only after the IPFW Student Senate has granted its approval.

ARTICLE IX. RATIFICATION

This constitution shall be officially ratified when signed by at least three-fourths of those in attendance during its review meeting, and the Student Senate of IPFW grants its approval.

ARTICLE X. ENABLING ACT

Upon ratification and approval of this constitution by the AMSA IPFW Premedical Chapter and the IPFW Student Senate, this constitution shall become effective immediately.Those officers elected during the formation of this organization shall remain in office until the last meeting of the spring semester in the academic year in which it was enabled, or until such time as the officers are no longer able to comply with the stated qualifications and membership standards.

ARTICLE XI. EXTERNAL AFFILIATIONS

The IPFW Premedical Chapter of the American Medical Student Association is affiliated with the national American Medical Student Association.Premedical AMSA IPFW is governed by AMSA laws and its own.Premedical AMSA IPFW is free to govern itself under the guidelines set forth in this constitution.Premedical AMSA IPFW will meet with AMSA once a year at the Annual Convention.The American Medical Student Association is located at the following address:

1902 Association Drive

Reston, VA 20191

1-800-767-2266

members@www.amsa.org

BYLAWS OF THE IPFW PREMEDICAL CHAPTER OF THE

AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I. FEES AND DUES

AMSA national at IPFW premedical chapter shall levy local dues which shall be set at $5.00 per academic year, levied at the time each student joins premedical AMSA.The privileges are outlined in the Constitution.

ARTICLE II. MEETINGS

  1. Ample notification shall be given to all local members regarding meetings held by the executive board or other committees appointed by the President.
  2. General membership meetings shall be held at the set location to be announced prior to each meeting.
  3. Annual election meeting: The annual election meeting shall be held at the beginning of April and shall be executed by the president and the sergeant at arms. Only active members may vote. Candidates receiving a simple majority vote shall be declared victorious.
  4. Special meetings can be called by any member of the executive board or any five members of the general membership. The purpose of the special meeting shall be stated in the announcements of the general meeting.
  5. Executive board meetings:
1.The executive board shall convene once a month on a date to be decided among the members of the executive board.
    1. The executive board shall consist of the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, sergeant of arms, and any other positions the chapter wishes to create.
    2. Quorum of the executive board meetings shall consist of 50 percent of the voting members of the executive board.

ARTICLE III. APPOINTED OFFICERS

At the request of the executive board, the premedical advisor shall be an affiliate member of premedical AMSA IPFW, and an ex-officio of the executive board.The advisor shall oversee the executive board and general membership of the organization on matters relevant to the purposes set forth in this Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV. ELECTIONS

Nomination shall be taken two weeks before election day by ballot and made public for everyone’s awareness.If the nominee chooses to accept the nomination he/she will have the option of giving a short speech on the day of election. The annual election meeting shall be held at the general membership meeting in April.If only one name is submitted for a position, the vote may be taken vocally.In other events, the vote shall be taken by secret ballot and counted immediately.Candidates receiving a simple majority vote will be declared the winner.The newly elected members of the executive board must meet with the previous board members for transition of chapter functions.

ARTICLE V. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

The rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall guide this organization in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws and special rules of order the organization may adopt.

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS

Amendments to these bylaws may be adopted at any general membership meeting by a majority vote, provided that the amendment proposed has been submitted in writing to the executive board and is posted at least two weeks prior to the meeting.