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Constitution

Accounting Society

Article I
Name and Purpose
Section A. The name of this organization shall be Accounting Society, (“AS”)

Section B. The mission of the Accounting Society is:
• To promote the study and practice of professional fields related to accounting and finance;
• To promote opportunities for self-development and association among members, accounting faculty and practicing accounting professionals;
• To provide opportunities for service learning at the university through tutoring accounting and to provide service opportunities outside the university; and
• To offer an active organization for students with similar interest, to promote an atmosphere conducive to achievement in accounting, and to promote companionship among accounting students and other campus organizations.

Section C. The Accounting Society shall comply with all local, state and federal laws, as well as all Florida Gulf Coast University regulations, policies and procedures. Such compliance includes the Student Code of Conduct and the Student Organization Handbook.

Section D: This organization is a nonprofit organization.

Section E: Definitions

Active Member: A member who actively participates in at least two meetings/events per semester. Active member status is calculated per semester.

Actively participates: includes attending a meeting/event either in person or via electronic medium (when available). Members sign in to each event to show evidence of participation. When participating via electronic medium at an event, the member needs to ensure participation is recorded by a member of the executive board so as to get credit for participating. Participation also includes assisting in AS meetings/events by working or helping to prepare/organize the event(s).

Alumnus: any former member, in good-standing, of the AS.

Appointed Officer: an Active Member who is appointed by the Executive Board to fill a vacated AS officer position. Appointed Officers may run for the same position in which they were appointed, if desired, during the election cycle preceding appointment. If elected, an appointed officer will be able to hold the re-elected position for the entire term of office.

AS: Accounting Society

AS Officer Position: President, Treasurer, Secretary and Associate BAP President.

Executive Advisor: any person appointed by the president to assist the president as needed.
Executive Board: is comprised of the AS officers as well as associate secretary, associate treasurer, associate vice president, faculty advisors, and executive advisor, if any.

Majority Vote: more than 50% of vote of members voting (also known as “simple majority vote”).
Member: See Article II, Section A. The members of the AS shall be those persons who have been included in Canvas-Accounting Society.

Simple Majority Vote: more than 50% of vote of members voting (also known as “majority vote”).

Article II
Membership

Section A. Membership in Accounting Society is limited to any Florida Gulf Coast University student enrolled in a degree-seeking program as an undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate student and our registered with the AS in Canvas/Eaglelink.

Section B. Accounting Society shall not haze any prospective member for the purpose of admission into or affiliation with the organization. Members of the Accounting Society are free to leave or dissociate without fear of retribution or harassment.

Section C. Accounting Society in order to comply with the University's commitment to non-discrimination, no discrimination shall be made on the basis of gender, race, color, creed, age, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, parental status or veteran status.

Section D: Membership is open anytime throughout the semester.

Section E: All members may attend AS meetings, speak on items on the agenda at meetings, and participate in club events. Only Active Members shall receive voting privileges.

Section F: Membership shall be revoked when proper attitudes and procedures are not followed when representing the AS. The process to revoke membership:
1. Recommendation and approval (by majority vote) of the Executive Board to send the vote to revoke membership to the Active Members; if majority agrees, the vote goes to Active Members.
2. Active Members will vote, (either in person or via Canvas or other internet based system in effect), to revoke membership.
3. At least 25% of the Active Members need to vote to revoke membership for the vote to be official.
4. The majority of the vote prevails. If more than 50% of voting Active Members are in favor of revoking membership, the membership will be revoked.

Article III
Officers

Section A. The officers of the AS shall be President, Treasurer, Secretary, Associate BAP President and the Executive Board. The Executive Board is made up of the four AS officers as well as associate secretary, associate treasurer, associate vice president, faculty advisors and executive advisor, if any.

Section B. Officers will hold office from May 1st to April 30th.

Section C. In order to comply with the University's Student Activities Eligibility Regulation, (FGCU-PR4.005), effective Fall 2011, the Accounting Society, undergraduate student leaders will be registered for at least nine (9) credits each regular semester, and enrolled in a credit bearing course in either summer term A, B or C, and maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative FGCU GPA. Graduate and professional students must be registered for six (6) credits per semester, and maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative FGCU GPA in order to hold an Executive Officer Position.

Article IV
Officer Position/Qualifications

Section A: Officer duties by category are as follows:

President:
1. Preside at AS meetings or co-preside at meetings when AS/BAP meetings occur at the same time.
2. Co-Preside with the Associate BAP president at meetings of the Executive Board.
3. Represent the AS wherever such representation may be required.
4. Positively impact the awareness of the accounting profession at FGCU and locally.
5. Assist in providing professional speakers at AS meetings.
6. Appoint all executives advisors with the approval of the Associate BAP President.
7. Sign for the disbursement of all AS funds held by Student Government in conjunction with another designated Executive.
8. Maintain good relations with the Lutgert College of Business, BAP, and associated students.

Treasurer:

1. Keep accurate records, control of the receipts and disbursements of the AS.
2. Assist in getting reimbursements from Student Government.
3. Assist in ordering food/drinks for meetings and reimbursement of expenses.
4. Prepare the budget (with the assistance of the AS officers and AS Advisor).
5. Represent the AS at budget meetings when required by Student Government.
6. Be in charge of processing financial data.

Secretary:
1. Maintain accurate minutes of the AS meetings/events and provide minutes to the associate secretary to be included in Canvas.
2. Provide attendance sign-in sheets at all AS meetings/events.
3. Maintain and keep current a list of Active Members, by semester.
4. Edit outgoing correspondence and internal correspondence.
5. Be responsible for re-chartering the AS every fall semester with Student Government.
6. Be responsible for advertising club meeting/events to FGCU students.
7. Be responsible for other duties determined by the AS President

Associate BAP President
1. Co-Preside with the AS president at meetings of the Executive Board.
2. Represent the AS wherever such representation may be required.
3. Positively impact the awareness of the accounting profession at FGCU and locally.
4. Be responsible (with the assistance from other officers) for providing speakers at the professional meetings of the AS.
5. Approve all executives advisors.
6. Sign for AS funds held by Student Government in conjunction with other designated Executives.
7. Maintain good relations with the Lutgert College of Business, FGCU BAP, and associated students.

The Executive Advisor:
1. An Executive Advisor shall be appointed by the President, when deemed necessary, to serve in an ordinary capacity on the Executive Board.
2. An Executive Advisor should have served previously as an officer of the AS or as an associate officer.
3. An Executive Advisor's duties shall be determined by the President.
4. The Executive Advisor's term is determined by the current President.
 
The Faculty Advisor
1. Assist the AS President and officers, when needed.
2. Assist in coordination between the AS and the associate officers for cohesive union.
3. Assist in maintaining Canvas-Accounting Society.
4. Oversee activities of the AS.
5. Participate on the Executive Board.
6. Set-up election in Canvas-Accounting Society.
7. Assist in setting up surveys in Canvas-Accounting Society, when needed.

Section B: Qualifications for holding office:

1. To be eligible for an Officer Position a member must have been an Active Member for the semester, an exception applies to Appointed Officer position.
2. No person shall hold the same Officer Position for more than an academic school year (May 1st – April 30th), with the exception of an Appointed Officer (see Article III, Section 3, item 5).
3. Should a vacancy in any office occur, it will be filled by appointment of the Executive Board, (via majority vote of the Executive Board).
4. An appointed Officer Position may be filled by any current Active Member (the previous semester requirement does not apply) deemed appropriate by the Executive Board.
5. The term of office for any Officer Position shall be from May 1st – April 30th. Appointed Officers will complete the term of office of the vacated position and will be eligible to run for the same position in the next election cycle.
6. Elected Officers assume their duties on May 1; if a vacant Officer Position is filled, the appointed officer will assume their duties upon appointment.

Article V
Officer Elections

Section A: Elections for the Officer Positions will be held before May 1.

Section B: Election Procedures:

1. An Active Member can be nominated for an AS office by any active member including him or herself.
2. The accounting department chair reserves the right to screen potential candidates.
3. Nominations for Officer Positions shall be made in person during a regularly scheduled AS meeting held prior to May 1. Once the nominations are accepted and seconded, the nominated individuals will be cleared by the accounting department chair, if necessary.
4. If needed, a special meeting held at least one day before elections shall be scheduled to hear candidates’ speeches. Candidates for Officer Positions may campaign in person or written format (including electronic format).
5. Voting will be held in Canvas following the candidate speeches. Voting will be open for a limited period of time in Canvas. The faculty advisor will inform members via Canvas stating voting is open and the closing date/time of elections. The faculty advisor or the accounting department chair will count votes and identify the candidate with the most votes. Special precautions will be taken to ensure that only Active Members vote, and that no Active Member is allowed to vote more than once.
6. Election for the Officer Positions will be by whoever receives the highest number of votes.
7. All officers are subject to a recall election initiated by either of the following:
a. The Executive Board (by a majority vote of the Executive Board)
b. A petition signed by 50% or more of the Active Members
i. The offense(s) must be in writing and submitted by an Active Member.
ii. A recall election shall be held at a special meeting after presentation of the recall petition and shall be conducted as Article V Section B, Item 5 specifies. Recall will require a favorable vote of more than 50% of all Active Members.
Article VI
Removal of Officers and Vacancies

Section A. Cause for removal shall be defined as violation of school policy, behavior unbecoming of an officer, or lack of involvement.

Section B. The officer will be asked to resign their position. If the officer chooses not to resign, a vote of no confidence will be taken by the Active members.

Section C. A vacancy shall be declared when an officer resigns or is removed from office.

Section D. A “no confidence” vote shall be held at a special meeting after presentation of the no confidence and shall be conducted as Article V Section B, Item 5 specifies. No Confidence from 50% of Active members must be met to remove the officer from his/her position.

ARTICLE VII
Committees

Section A: The Executive Board shall appoint Directors for any and all committees deemed necessary.

Section B: Each Director shall have the right to appoint their committee members.

Section C: The AS President shall have the power to appoint and define the duties of a special committee with the approval of the Executive Board.

Article VIII
Faculty/Staff Advisor
Section A. The Faculty/Staff Advisor is to be an employee of Florida Gulf Coast University. The Faculty Advisor of the AS shall be a faculty member from the accounting department in the Lutgert College of Business, Florida Gulf Coast University. In an event the advisor steps down a new advisor will be selected with the help of the accounting department chair as soon as possible.

Article IX
Organization Meeting

Section A. The organization shall hold meetings that the majority of our members can attend. Prior to the beginning of the semester a survey will be provided in Canvas to determine the best meeting times for the semester. Meetings will be held monthly (1 – 3 per month) during the semester.

Section B: The time, date and place of regular meetings shall be determined to maximize student participation.

Section C: At least 8 active members must be present in order to make decisions. All members are encouraged to participate in discussions related to decisions. Only Active members can vote on decisions. If an Active Member cannot attend a meeting in which decisions are being made, member can vote by absentee ballot if ballot is given to a member of the Executive Board prior to the meeting. If voting by absentee ballot, the absent member will be contacted by a second Executive Board member to ensure the ballot was voted correctly.

Section D: Simple majority is used to make decisions.

Section E: The Executive Board shall call a special meeting whenever deemed necessary. Special meetings will be announced via E-mail to the AS members.
Article X
Dissolution of Organization

Section A. The Accounting Society may be dissolved at the request of the Office of Student Involvement or by a two-thirds vote of its members, provided that notice of a vote on the dissolution is furnished to the members at least sixty (60) days before the vote is taken.

Section B: The AS fiscal year shall be from June 1 to May 31st. For reporting and budgeting purposes, financial statements, if needed, will be prepared on a semester basis in accordance with the calendar of the University.

Section C: The AS shall not provide monetary gain, incidentally or otherwise, to any of its Members.

Section D: In the event the organization dissolves, funds from Student Government must be returned to student government; any other funds, if any, shall be given to the University Foundation for the benefit of the Lutgert College of Business Accounting/Finance Department.

Article XI
Amendments

Section A: This Constitution may be amended provided all eligible voting members are notified in writing of the proposed change at least one week prior to the date of the vote. Eligible Active Members have the right to vote upon the proposed amendments.

Section B: Ratification of an amendment is by 2/3 votes of all eligible voting members that vote on the proposed amendments. This change shall be put into effect immediately unless otherwise stipulated in the amendment.

Section C: A copy of any alteration to this document must be filed in the Department of Student Life at FGCU.