Student Nurses' Association

Salisbury University

By Laws

Article I- NAME

 

The name of this organization shall be the Salisbury University Student Nurses Association.

 

Article II- PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

 

A.    The purpose of the SU Student Nurses Association shall include the following:

• To assume responsibility for contributing to nursing education in order to provide for the highest quality health care;

• To provide programs representative of fundamental and current professional interest and concerns; and

• To aid in the development of the whole person and his/her responsibility for the health care of people in all walks of life.

B.     The function of the SU Student Nurses Association shall include the following:

• To have direct input into standards of nursing education and influence to education process;

• To influence health care, nursing education and practice through legislative activities as appropriate;

• To promote and encourage participation in community affairs and activities towards improved health care and the resolution of related social issues;

• To represent nursing students to the consumer, to institutions, and to other organization;

• To promote and encourage students’ participation in interdisciplinary activities;

• To promote and encourage recruitment efforts, participation in student activities, and educational opportunities regardless of person’s race, color, creed, sex, lifestyle, national origin, age, or economic status;

• To promote and encourage collaborative relationships with MANS and NSNA.

Article III - Members

 

A.    Membership to the SU SNA is open to any full time student of Salisbury University.

B.     All members shall have voting rights and privileges of membership after attending two (2) consecutive meetings of the Student Nurses Association.

C.     Size of membership- The SU SNA shall be composed of at least 10 members. 

Article IV - Officers and Committee Chairpersons

A.    The executive officers of the SU SNA shall be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, public relations,  events coordinator, and breakthrough to nursing (BTN).

• Eligibility- Only persons who have been members in attendance of the SU SNA throughout a full semester are eligible for the offices of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, public relations, and activities coordinator.

• A vacant executive officer position will be appointed solely on letters of intent received by stated deadline. In the case that executive positions are appointed, eligibility criteria will no longer be used.

B.     The committee chairpersons of the SU SNA and any other head of committee shall be deemed appropriate by the constituency during the academic year.

• For election to a committee chair position, any vacant position at the start of the academic year will be filled through an election held at the first meeting.

C. Term of Office- the term of office shall be one year from the adjournment of the annual meeting at which officers are elected to the adjournment of the annual meeting. Officers shall be elected one month before the end of the semester in order to allow time to prepare for their upcoming duties as officers of SNA.

D.    Duties of Officers - Please reference Officer Responsibilities on the side bar to the left.

E.    The officers shall submit to the treasurer a report of their expenses with receipts.

F.    Officers shall submit to their successors an organized account of all records, papers, and other property belonging to the SNA by the end of the transition period.

 

Article V- NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

A.    Individuals interested in running for office shall submit a letter of intent for the desired position.

•  Letters of intent are to be delivered to the organization’s faculty advisor or current president of the Salisbury University SNA by email or to the organization's campus mailbox.  All letters of intent are to  be received by the stated deadline.

• A slate of nominations will be posted on the SNA bulletin board.

• Faculty interested in the advisor position shall submit a statement of intent to have their name on the ballot.

• Nominations can also come from the floor at the beginning of the annual meeting prior to voting.

• A plurality vote shall elect; tie votes shall be decided by a re-vote.

Article VI- MEETINGS

 

A.    Regular meetings of the SU SNA will occur monthly at minimum, not to exceed 2 per month on a day and time agreed upon by the majority of the members of the SNA Excutive Committee.

B.  The final meeting of the semester will be held before the beginning of final examinations.

C.  Delegation Representation:

• The voting body at meetings of this Association shall consist of the elected officers, and those voting members present and voting;

• The privilege of making motions and voting shall be limited to the voting body.  A voting member shall have but one vote in any election or on any question;

• All meetings of the SU SNA shall be open.

D. Quorum-A quorum at meetings shall consist of the president or vice president and one other officer and all those present and voting.

E.  Special Meetings:

• A special meeting may be called by the Executive Committee and shall be called by the president upon written request of five (5) or more members.  Notice of time, place, and purpose of the meeting shall be sent to all members not less than three (3) days prior to the meeting;

• The voting body shall be the same, insofar as possible, as that in a regular meeting.

Article VII- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

A.    The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected or appointed officers and the faculty advisor(s), all of whom have full voting rights.

B.     All the powers of the Association are vested in and shall be exercised by the Executive Committee during the interim between meetings of the Association, except that the Executive Committee shall not nullify nor modify any action taken by the general body.

C.     The Executive Committee shall not be responsible for any contract, claim, or obligation of any kind incurred or for any position taken by any officer or member of constituent unless the Executive Committee duly authorized the same in writing.

D.    Management of the Executive Committee shall include the following duties:

• Review and approve the terms of official relationships established with other organizations singly or in coalition;

• Approve any commitment in the form or action, statement of policy or position, or financial obligations involved in SU SNA relationship with other organizations;

• Approve the SU SNA budget;

• Have the power to fill vacancies for the unexpired term, regardless of rules of eligibility stated in the by-laws so long as student is declared Pre-Nursing or Nursing major at Salisbury University and he or she has been appointed by plurality vote of the executive board;

• Have the power by ¾ vote to declare an office vacant;

• In case of an emergency, the Executive Committee, provided the material is sent in the same words to each member may take votes by referendum.

E.       Meetings:

• Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held prior to regular Association meetings and at such times as deemed necessary by a majority of the Executive Committee.  The president shall determine the date and place of meetings;

• The quorum shall be a majority of the voting members of the Executive Committee including the president or vice president and one Faculty advisor.

Article VIII- FACULTY ADVISORS

 

A.    There shall be at least one but no more than two Faculty advisors.  Both Faculty advisors shall be members of the SU Nursing Faculty.

B.     The Faculty advisor(s) shall:

•   Be responsible for providing for the interchange of information between the student body and the faculty;

• Serve as resource person consulting with the Executive Committee, members, and staff;

• Attend meetings of the SU SNA.

C.     Faculty advisors shall be elected at the annual business meeting.  Faculty advisor with the highest number of votes shall be elected as an advisor. 

 

Article IX- COMMITTEES

The Executive Committee, as its discretion, shall establish committees deemed necessary to carry on the work of the Association and determine the functions, terms and membership of the committees.  A quorum for committee meetings shall be a majority of the members.

Article X- PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

 

All meetings of this Association shall be conducted according to parliamentary law as set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised where the rules apply and are not in conflict with these bylaws.

Article XI- AMENDMENTS

 

A.    A 2/3 vote of those present and voting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment(s) has been circulated to all members at the last meeting or at least 14 days before voting on the amendment may amend these bylaws at the next meeting.

B.     Proper amendments shall be submitted, in writing, carrying proponent’s signature, to the Executive Committee for review at least six (6) weeks prior to the annual meeting.  Only the Executive Committee, a committee or a member of the SU Student Nurses Association may submit proposed amendments.