ARTICLE I

Name of Organization

Section 1:        The name of this organization shall be USP E.P.I.C. (Expressions of Philadelphia’s Indian Culture).

ARTICLE II

Function of this Organization

Section 1:        USP E.P.I.C. must have 10 active members to remain a recognized organization by the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP).

Section 2:        The function of this organization is to educate interested people about the different cultures which comprise India.  USP E.P.I.C. will also help to not only unite the community but also to allow the rest of the community to experience the Indian culture that so many do not know much about. As a non-profit and university organization, one of the goals of USP E.P.I.C. is to give back to community by working with various charities to help those in need.

Section 3:        The benefits of this organization include increased awareness of the Indian culture, experiencing the Indian culture, networking with other students, and being able to give back to the community through community service projects.

 

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1:        USP E.P.I.C. must have 10 active members to remain a recognized organization by the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP).

Section 2:        As members of a recognized student organization at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, we admit students to our organization without regard to race, age, religion, color, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origins.

Section 3:        100% of active membership must be University of the Sciences in Philadelphia students.  Associate membership may be granted to non-USP students (USP faculty and staff).

Section 4:        Dues in the amount of $5.00 must be paid on a yearly basis.  These dues payments will be used for funding of activities, and are payable until the end of September. Late fees are $8 and are due by the end of October. Membership is also available at the beginning of the spring semester for $8 until the end of February.

Section 5:        Active membership at least is defined as: one who pays dues, attends 75% of the meetings or events, and aids in the preparation/organization of activities.

 

ARITCLE IV

Quorums

Section 1:        A quorum shall consist of 50% + 1 of the active membership (as defined under Article III, Section 5).

 

ARTICLE V

Hazing

Section 1:        This organization prohibits its members, both individually and collectively from committing any acts of hazing as defined herein: 

'Hazing' means any action or situation, which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with this organization.  Such term shall include, but not be limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other forced activity which adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.

 

ARTICLE VI

Officers and Representatives

Section 1:        The Executive Officers of this organization include a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and student government association senator.

Section 2:        The duties and responsibilities of each office are as follows:

President:        Shall be the executive head of the organization.  He/she      shall oversee the goals and fulfill the purpose of the organization.      Shall have the power to delegate responsibilities and appoint            committees.   Shall call, plan, organize, preside and maintain           order over all executive and general meetings and special             activities of the organization. Shall attend all university functions     as required by the administration and/or appoint another member    to represent the organization.  He/she will meet with the           organizational advisor regularly and keep him/her informed of the          activities and goals of the organization.

Vice President:            Shall assist the president in fulfilling his/her responsibilities.  The vice president shall take the role of president in the event of his/her absence.  He/she shall also be required to take the minutes and attendance at meetings if the secretary is unavailable.

Secretary:       Shall perform administrative duties by keeping a record of all the minutes and attendance of the meetings and special events. Shall submit a membership registration form to the Student Life Office each year. Shall or delegate a member to take pictures during the year and submit them to the Yearbook staff for publication in the yearbook. 

Treasurer:       Shall perform all financial aspects of the organization.  Complete Student Government required forms, if applicable and submit all receipts in a timely fashion.  He/she shall be required to submit an annual budget to Student Government with the approval of the advisor and other officers each April.  The treasurer shall work closely with the Advisor concerning all financial aspects.  All funds from fundraisers, etc. for the organization must be placed with the controller office under the guidance of the Advisor. All funds shall be recorded and kept track of in an organized matter.

SGA Senator: Shall perform all the responsibilities set forth by SGA.          Shall keep informed the organization of all events and concerns         discussed in the Student Government meetings.  He/she shall be            required to attend and assist with Incoming Student Orientation as described in the SGA constitution and bylaws.

Section 3:        Executive officers (president, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, and SGA senator) must maintain GPAs required by their major. Students on academic probation can not run for office or serve as an officer.

Section 4:        All officers shall be limited to a maximum of one term which begins May 1 and ends May 1 of the following school year.

Section 5:        Members may not hold more than one office position at a time.

Section 6:        Officers are expected to attend all meetings. Should an officer miss two consecutive meetings, without a valid excuse, the organization has the right to elect a new officer with the approval of a quorum.

Section 7:        An officer may be removed from office if he/she does not fulfill the role he/she was elected to perform according to Constitution and Bylaws by a quorum vote of the active membership.

Section 8:        If an officer is removed from office, his/her replacement will be voted upon by a quorum vote of the active members.

 

ARTICLE VII

Election of Officers

Section 1:        Election of officers will be held the last week of March and shall be voted on by a quorum.

Section 2:        The nomination period shall run (2) weeks.  At the end of the two weeks, nominations will be closed and at that time nominations shall be announced to the membership.

Section 4:        Newly elected officers will be installed before May 1. Previous officers will stay in office until May 1.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Committees

Section 1:        Committee chairs and freshmen representatives shall be selected by the executive board and serve on the executive board and will be appointed by the new president by May 1 of the previous year and serve on the executive board for one term (as defined in Article VI, Section 4)..

Section 2:        Committee chairs will select committee members will serve as the following:

Social Chair:   Will work with committee to brainstorm ideas for social events at least once a month. Responsible for reporting ideas to the rest of the board. Responsible for organizing social events among our members.

Public Relations Chair:           Responsible for publicity and promotion of the organization and its events to the university and community. Responsible for all relations with professional companies. Will work with a committee to advance our organization to the community. Responsible for reporting all work done to the rest of the board.

Community Service Chair:     Responsible for organizing community service projects and organizing ongoing charity donations. Will work with a committee and will report ideas to the rest of the board.

 

Section 2:        Two freshmen representatives will be selected by the executive board in the Fall and serve on the executive board for one term (as defined in Article VI, Section 4). Responsibilities of the freshmen representatives include being responsible for publicity and promotion of the organization and its events specifically to the freshmen class

 

ARTICLE IX

Advisor

Section 1:        The advisor must be a faculty or administrator at the University of Sciences in Philadelphia.

Section 2:        The advisor or another faculty/staff designee must attend all special functions held on campus. (e.g. events held in the ARC, STC-145, Wilson Hall, etc.)

 

Section 3:        The advisor shall work closely with the treasurer concerning all financial aspects. 

Section 4:        All monies from fundraisers, etc. for the organization must be placed with the controller office under the guidance of the Advisor.

Section 5:        The advisor must be reinstalled as advisor to the organization each year by a quorum of the membership.

 

ARTICLE X

Meetings

Section 1:        Meetings shall be called by the president, advisor, or quorum of the executive board.

Section 2:        A minimum of one week’s notice must be given before a special meeting in case of an emergency.

Section 3:        Executive board meetings will be held weekly and general meetings will be held monthly.

Section 4:        Attendance at meetings is mandatory for all officers.  Attendance for members and advisor is desired.  If an officer is more than two un-excused absences, an alternative will be appointed by the President.  (Excused absence is an absence pre-approved by the President.)

Section 5:        Active members must attend at least two-thirds of all meetings.

Section 6:        Meetings will be held under parliamentary procedure.