Section 1

The name of the organization established by this constitution shall be the Association of Students from India here in referred to as ASI.

Section 2

Purpose of this Organization:

•  To share the cultural, ethnic, traditional interests for the cultural diversity, traditional multiplicity and social values from the country.

•  To promote friendship and goodwill between students from India and other nationalities in the university.

•  To organize cultural and social activities in the university campus facilitating better and deeper understanding and appreciation.

•  To organize activities for charitable causes

•  To provide help to fresh incoming students from India so that they are better prepared for the transition.

Section 3

The organization shall operate as a non-profit organization and abide by the applicable rules and regulations of North Dakota State University pertaining to student organizations.

Membership

Section 1. NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

ASI is fully committed to equal opportunity in cultural programs and activities in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, and including appropriate affirmative efforts, for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap, age, Vietnam Era Veterans status or sexual orientation. 

Section 2. MEMBERSHIP

•  Membership is open to all full/part time students, faculty and staff of North Dakota State  University , Moorhead State University and Concordia College .

•  A membership fee as decided by executive committee will be charged to the anyone wanting to be a member of ASI.

•  Each member must maintain a GPA of 2.0 and comply with the rules and policies of NDSU.

•  Others from the NDSU community can become ASI members but will have no voting rights.

Section 3. REMOVAL OF MEMBERS

Grounds for removal of members:

•  Failure to adhere with university student conduct policies as stated in the bylaws

•  Abuse of ASI Listserv

A member may be removed by the following process:

•  A petition to remove the member should be submitted to the President or Faculty Advisor. When such a petition is received, the President shall call an executive committee meeting and then of the organization to decide upon removal.

•  The grounds for removal are to be presented by the President at a special meeting of the organization. The member in question shall be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing.

•  A quorum of two-thirds votes of the members present, shall decide upon removal, with voting not to occur sooner than one week after the presentation of the grounds and defense have been made.

Section 4. APPEAL OF REMOVAL OF MEMBERS

Any member can voluntarily relinquish his or her membership at any time of the year with the prior notification to the President or Faculty Advisor of the ASI.

•  Members may appeal their removal by submitting a written request to the President within two weeks for the vote for removal by requesting the President to call a special executive committee meeting.

•  The President shall notify all members of this meeting after the appeal request is received for approval and inform the ASI community through the List Serv within two weeks after the executive meeting.

Section 1. ASI BOARD

The executive committee consists of

•  President

•  Vice-President

•  Public Relations Officer

•  Cultural Secretary

•  Administrative Secretary

•  Treasurer

•  Congress of Student Organization Representative

•  Web Designer

Section 2. QUALIFICATIONS

Students holding elected or leadership positions must meet the following academic and good conduct eligibility standards:

•  Must have attained and maintain a minimal cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and credit load requirements during the term.

•  Must be in good conduct standing with the Office of Dean of Student Life.

•  For the posts of President, Vice-President or Public Relations Officer, the candidate should be a graduate student member, volunteered for the previous ASI committee and been with NDSU for at least a year.

•  For CSO Rep, an undergraduate student member is preferred.

Section 3. NOMINATIONS

Nominations must be filed as per as dates and deadlines decided by the executive committee. A list of nominations will be revealed to the ASI community by the executive committee before elections. No nominations will be accepted at the time of the elections.

Section 4. ELECTIONS

•  The officers of the organization shall be elected for a term of one year. The Faculty Advisor to ASI will have tenure of three years.

•  Any office bearer may resign from their position at any given time, however, must submit a formal resignation letter, which needs to be approved by both the faculty advisor and President.

•  No Executive committee member may hold office for more than two consecutive years in the same position.

•  Elections will be held in the last week of September or as decided by the executive committee.

•  Election to office will be by simple majority/vote of the members present.

Section 5. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

President

•  The President shall represent the association, distribute work among committee/s and preside over general body meetings and functions and managing public relations. Perform other duties as specified by the bylaws.

•  The President shall preside over executive committee meetings. In the event that the President cannot attend such meeting, the Vice President shall preside over that meeting.

•  The President, along with the Treasurer is responsible for formulating budgets for the duration of the tenure, and for the special events; maintaining proper financial records and for keeping track of the account(s) and other funds or the property owned or in possession of the organization.

•  The President could be removed from the office only by impeachment, for which a motion to that effect shall be carried out at the General Body meeting and voted for.

Vice-President

•  The Vice-President shall be responsible to the President in regards to the records and affairs of the Association and notification of meetings to the members.

•  The Vice President shall be removed from the committee by the other members by voting in favor of the dismissal. In such an event, the President or any executive member appointed by the President shall assume the responsibilities of the Vice President.

Public Relations Officer

•  The Public Relations Officer (PRO) shall be responsible to promoting the name of the organization, communicating its interests and goals within the organization and outside.

•  The PRO shall be removed from the committee by the other members by voting in favor of the dismissal. In such an event, the Vice-President shall assume the responsibilities of the PRO.

Cultural Secretary

•  The Cultural Secretary shall be responsible for the cultural component of ASI programs and co-ordinate participation by members.

•  The Cultural Secretary shall be removed from the committee by the other members by voting in favor of the dismissal. In such an event, the Vice-President shall assume the responsibilities of the secretary with the consent of the President.

Administrative Secretary

•  The Administrative Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes during meetings, preparing announcements of meetings and other activities, preparing newsletters.

•  The Administrative Secretary shall be removed from the committee by the other members by voting in favor of the dismissal. In such an event, the Vice-President shall assume the responsibilities of the secretary with the consent of the President.

Treasurer

•  The Treasurer, along with the President will report to the advisor of financial matters and will keep other members informed about the financial status of the organization.

•  The Treasurer shall be removed from the committee by other members by voting in favor of the dismissal. In such event, the President shall automatically assume the responsibilities of the treasurer.

Congress of Student Organization representative (CSO Rep.)

•  The CSO rep acts as the liaison between ASI and NDSU.

•  The CSO rep shall be removed from the committee by the other members by voting in favor of the dismissal. In such an event, the President shall assume the responsibilities of the CSO rep.

Web Designer

•  The Web Designer shall be responsible for the overall maintenance and design of the website for of the Organization.

•  The Web Designer shall be removed from the executive committee by the other office bearers by voting in favor of the dismissal. In such an event, the President or any other member of the executive committee nominated by the President shall assume the responsibilities of the Web Designer.

Section 6. ADVISOR

•  The Advisor will be responsible to promote harmonious existence of the organization.

•  The Advisor should meet with the executive committee concerning activities and be aware of what projects and events are being planned.

•  The advisor will be nominated by the President after consultations with the executive committee.

•  In the event, faculty advisor resigns or is removed by the executive committee before the completion of his/her tenure, a new advisor will be nominated by the President.

Section 7. VACANCY OF AN OFFICE

•  In the office of the President before the expiration of a full term, the Vice President or any member of the executive committee nominated by the Advisor shall assume the duties of the President.

•  In the event of a vacancy in an office other than the President before the expiration of a full term, the position is filled within two weeks as stated under Article II, Section 5.

•  In the event a decision cannot be made to fill the vacancy of any office, a special meeting of the organization maybe called by the executive committee or faculty advisor.

Section 8 REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

Grounds for removal of an officer included:

•  Violation of University Policy

•  Failure to perform the duties of the office as set forth in the constitution and bylaws of the organization.

An officer may be removed by the following process:

•  A petition to remove the officer in question must be submitted to President or Faculty Advisor. When such a petition is received, the President shall call a meeting of the organization to decide upon removal.

•  The grounds for removal are to be presented by the President at the executive committee meeting. The officer in question shall be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing. A two third majority will decide the removal of the officer.

Section 9 APPEAL OF REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

An officer may appeal his/her removal within two weeks of the vote for removal by requesting an executive committee meeting. The President shall notify all members of this meeting within two weeks after the appeal request is received.  The decision to uphold the vote for removal lies with the executive committee and Advisor.

Section 10 APPOINTMENTS

• The Executive Committee may create additional posts/subcommittees in order to for various ASI projects from time to time depending on the needs of the association for the conduct of special activities and major events. The Executive Committee shall notify all the members of the ASI about such posts and invite volunteers from them. However, on all the operational matters pertaining to the ASI, the decision lies only with the Executive Committee.

• The Executive Committee can appoint more than one Advisor to assist them with different aspects of ASI (financial, scholarship, programming, etc). It is up to the executive committee and the Advisor to set the parameters of involvement.

ASI LISTSERV

•  The President and/or any executive committee member appointed by him/her will serve as the moderator of ASI Listserv.

•  Abusing or misusing the server so as to cause damage, program disturbances, or harassment to other persons is prohibited.