FORENSIC SCIENCE ASSOCIATION










FSA Constitution

Article I

Name of Organization: The name of the organization shall be the Forensic Science Association (FSA) at the University of Central Florida.

Article II

Preamble: The purpose of the Forensic Science Association is to provide exposure to the field for those interested in pursuing a career in forensic science and to provide assistance to students in the Forensic Science Program.

Article III

Officers: In order to hold a leadership postion in this organization, members shall be required to meet the minimum leadership requirements as stated in the Golden Rule. The current minimum requirements to have a leadership position are:

  • 1. During fall and spring semesters, be currently enrolled as an activity-fee paying part-time student (currently defined as at least 6 credit hours as an undergraduate degree-seeking student or a post-baccalaureate student or at least 3 credit hours in a graduate degree-seeking program). During summer session, all students must be enrolled for at least 3 credit hours in at least one of the terms.
  • 2. Have an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and an average of at least 2.0 for all work attempted while in attendance at UCF.
  • 3. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined in the current Undergraduate Catalog and the current Graduate Catalog, as appropriate.
  • Be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University of Central Florida, defined as not being on academic or disciplinary probation.
  • Be free of any holds on university records.

All officers must be eligible for membership as defined in article IX. The officer positions of the Forensic Science Association shall include:

President: The President shall be responsible to:

  • 1. Attend and run all meetings
  • 2. Set meeting times and place
  • 3. Coordinate all outings and activities
  • 4. Establish committees as required
  • 5. Mediate discussions during meetings

Vice President: The Vice President shall be responible to:

  • 1. Preside over meetings in absence of President
  • 2. Preside over the activities of all committees
  • 3. Oversee outings and activities
  • 4. Review financial bookkeeping
  • 5. Attend all meetings

Secretary: The Vice President shall be responible to:

  • 1. Record the minutes of each meeting and post for review of all members
  • 2. Handle public relations i.e. post flyers, oversee web page updates
  • 3. Head call committee
  • 4. Maintain records of members including their attendance to meetings and activities and way to contact the members
  • 5. Attend all meetings

Treasurer: The Vice President shall be responible to:

  • 1. Maintain and record all financial transactions
  • 2. Head fundraising committee
  • 3. Actively collect dues
  • 4. Attend all meetings

Article IV

Selection of Officers: Nominations shall take place during the month of March. Only current members of the Forensic Science Association can be nominated. The offices of President and Treasurer must be recognized as having at least a junior status and will attend the full academic term. The office of Vice President must be recognized as having at least a sophomore status. The office of Secretary must be recognized as having at least a freshman status. The nomination occurs when the party asks to be considered or accepts the nomination by another member. The election will take place after each nominee has had five minutes to speak on his or her behalf. The current secretary will then announce the name of each nominee, for each position, and ask for all in favor of electing that person. Voting shall be via secret ballot. The officers shall be elected by a majority vote of members present. An official count will be declared for each officer. The newly elected officers shall be considered 'elect' until taking office in May of the academic year i.e. 'president-elect'. An officer may only hold one position during a current year. No absentee or proxy ballots can be used.

Article V

Term of offices: The length for the term of office shall be for one academic year beginning in May.

Article VI

Removal of officers: A motion to remove an officer can be made at formal meetings by any member in good standing. The officer in question, as well as any member, shall be given ample time to present his/her case. The officer in question may not vote. Present members will officially recognize the expulsion of an officer with a 2/3 vote of total attending members of the meeting when the issue is addressed. Officers who fail to meet the Golden Rule requirements must be removed.

Article VII

Voting Powers of Officers: The President shall vote only in the event that his/her vote will change the outcome of a vote (break a tie). The Secretary, Vice President and Treasurer retain normal voting privledges.

Article VIII

Vacancies: Resignation of an officer shall be by written notice to the remaining officers. When an officer resigns or is removed, the vacancy shall be filled through the process as described in Article IV. The vacancy shall be replaced within one calendar month of the resignation/removal. The term of the replacement officer shall be the remainder of the current term of office.

Article IX

Membership: Membership is limited to all students who have paid fees and are enrolled at the University of Central Florida. No discrimination shall be made on the basis of sex, race, age, creed, religion, disability, sexual preference, national origin, marital status, parental status, or veteran's status. No hazing or discrimination will be used as a condition of membership in this organization.

Membership shall become active after payment of their dues. Membership shall remain active for one academinc year or until May. Active voting membership must be limited to the University of Central Florida students in good academic and social standing as stated in the Golden Rule.

Membership shall be revoked by a simple majority vote of eligible members. Members no longer active with the organization through resignation or removal must completely disaffiliate with the organization.

Article X

Dues: Dues will run from August of each year to the end of July the next year. Dues will be as follows: $20 for new members, $15 for returning, and $10 for those who recruit a new paying member. Dues are non-refundable.

Finances: The Treasurer is responsible for monitoring the budget, requisition of additional funds from the Student Government, and answering questions regarding the budget. No funds may be spent without the knowledge and approval from the Vice President. The Forensic Science Association may raise additional funds for t-shirts, awards, travel, advertisements, and banquets. The Advisor shall monitor the transfer of funds from one treasurer to the next.

Article XI

Committees: The said committee shall be composed of those members in the association who show interest in participating in the committee to the President. The President shall appoint a chairperson from the committee unless otherwise stated. The chairperson shall hold meetings for the members of the members of the committee and communicate to the President the upcoming events organized by the committee for approval. The established committees of the organization shall include but are not limited to:

  • 1. Activity Committee: The purpose of the committee is to organize social events for the association members to attend.
  • 2. Career Committee: The purpose of the committee is to organize events pertaining to the field of Forensic Science for the association members to attend.
  • 3. Study Group / Internship Committee: The purpose of the committee is to organize study groups for interested members and supply members with all internship information available through the association.
  • 4. Call Committee: The purpose of the committee is to communicate upcoming events to the association members. The chairperson of the committee shall be the Secretary and he/she shall hold meetings as he/she deems necessary. The call committee will also be in charge of notifications by email.
  • 5. Fundraising Committee: The purpose of the committee is to raise funds for association needs and activities. The chairperson of the committee shall be the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall hold meetings as he/she deems necessary.

Article XII

Meetings: Meetings will be held as necessary at the discretion of the officers. All members in good standing as well as prospective members may attend general meetings. Information about all association activities will be provided at these meetings.

Officer meetings will be held before general meetings or as determined by the President. Only association officers may attend these meetings, unless invited. Agendas for the general meetings will be discussed and decisions will be made to determine what activities the club will actively participate in. The officers also approve the annual budget for the upcoming year.

Articel XIII

Advisor: The advisor does not have voting privledges and does not need to attend meetings. The advisor does have final approval over the annual budget.

Article XIV

Publications: All publications of the organization must comply with the Golden Rule"advertising and signs" and other regulation in this document. Publications of the group shall be formally approved by the officers.

Article XV

Amendments: In order to amend this constitution, three-fourths (3/4) of attending or present members in good standing must approve the amendment. Ratification of this constitution must be approved by three-fourths (3/4) of all eligible members present. Voting shall occur at the meeting following the proposal of changes.
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