Bylaws, Officer Oath, and Member Pledge

Tarrant County College Northwest

African American Student Organization Bylaws, Officer Oath, and Member Pledge

Updated: April 6, 2023

Article I: Name, Mission, and Motto

Section 1: The name of this organization is African American Student Organization (AASO) at Tarrant County College Northwest.

Section 2: Our mission is to help increase the academic success, retention, and degree completion of African American students through tutoring, campus involvement, socializing, and utilization of campus resources while demonstrating leadership not only campus-wide but also in the community and promoting meaningful relationships between African American students.

Section 3: The motto of the AASO is: “Breaking Barriers and Making Progress, Together.”

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Any registered student (full or part-time) at Tarrant County College Northwest who is in good standing with the College and fulfills the membership requirements which coincide with the purposes of the organization is eligible for membership.

Section 2: Privileges of active members include community and campus activities, voting, nominations, serving as an officer, meeting attendance, and fundraising efforts.

Section 3: General members must attend 50% of meetings (5/10) per year to remain in good standing. Members also attend project subcommittee meetings as needed. Officers will hold separate planning meetings once a month, minimum. Officers can miss 25% of meetings (5/20) per year and remain in good standing.

Section 4: Members must sign a pledge that describes member roles and responsibilities.

Section 5: In order to guarantee equal rights to all members of the Tarrant County College Northwest student body, equal opportunities shall be afforded to all students without regard to race, color, national/and or ethnic origin, religion, creed, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, veteran status, or physical disability.

Article III: Officers

Section 1: The elected officers of the African American Student Organization shall be as follows: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Officer, and Historian. These officers will serve as the Executive Committee of the organization.

Section 2: Together, the executive officers are considered the executive committee. The executive committee is responsible for implementing the overall bylaws, directing the AASO’s initiatives, leading AASO meetings, and delegating responsibilities to AASO members.

Section 3: Except for the power to amend the articles of bylaws, the executive committee shall have the authority to act on behalf of and in the interest of the AASO in the intervals between general meetings.

Section 4: Officer Requirements

Registered student in good academic standing at Tarrant County College Northwest
Commitment to serve in the elected position throughout the office’s term.
Ability to conduct oneself in ways that reflect positively on the image of the organization, its members, and Tarrant County College Northwest.
Officers must sign a pledge that spells out their specific officer duties.

Section 5: Length of Term

The length of term for appointed offices will be one academic year.
Upon completion of the term, officers who wish to maintain the same position must be re-elected.
An officer’s term may be extended until a successor has been elected.
A term begins on September 1 and continues through August 31 of the following year.

Section 6: Officer Duties

The President sets the agenda and presides over each general meeting, calls and presides over executive committee meetings, and coordinates activities for AASO.
The Vice President assumes the duties of the President due to absence and assists the President in coordinating activities for AASO; the Vice President is the designated point person for major projects and initiatives.
The Secretary maintains minutes of membership and officer meetings. The Secretary also conducts meetings in the absence of the President and Vice President.
The Treasurer will keep all financial records, notifies the organization of financial issues, and prepares budget/allocation requests in coordination with the faculty and staff Advisor(s).
The Communications Officer presides over all publications, advertisements, and all promotional activities for the organization. This includes but is not limited to, the posting of flyers around campus. The Communications Officer shall have all documents reviewed and approved by the Office of Student Activities prior to distribution. The Communications Officer assumes the role of the Secretary in their absence.
The Historian maintains a chronological list of all AASO activities, prepares and maintains a photo and documentary record of AASO events, and provides a report of chronological updates to the general membership. The Historian works with the Communications Officer to ensure that activities are appropriately recorded.

Section 7: Managing Terminations and Vacancies

If an officer is not performing his/her duties, he/she may be removed by a four-sixths (4/6) vote of the executive board.
When an officer vacancy exists, the Secretary must inform members of the vacancy and request nominations to fill the vacancy from voting members. These nominations shall be sent out to the membership with the regular board meeting announcements, to be voted upon at the next regular meeting. In the absence of any nomination, the President may appoint a voting member to serve the remainder of the term for said vacancy.
If an Advisor is not performing his/her duties, a four-sixths (4/6) vote of the executive board should prompt a request for a consultation with the Office of Student Activities.

Article IV: Advisor(s)

Section 1: Faculty/staff advisor(s) must be assigned to AASO each year.

Section 2: Advisor(s) of AASO shall work with the Executive Committee in coordinating campus activities, meetings, community service projects, and other functions to ensure that AASO achieves its objectives.

Section 3: Faculty or staff advisor(s) must be present at all AASO on and off-campus functions.

Section 4: Advisor(s) shall be responsible for providing guidance and leadership to AASO members, approving appropriate activities, and overseeing the finances of the AASO.

Article V: Elections

Section 1: Nominations

All members may nominate and vote in an election. Elections for Executive Committee officers will take place within the first month of the semester.

Section 2: Method of Nomination

An active member of AASO can nominate a student to candidacy with an explanation of why they feel that individual is qualified to fill the specified position. The nomination is to be followed by a motion to support given by another active member. Each position within the Executive Committee shall be voted upon separately.
All active members of AASO shall be allowed to vote anonymously by casting individual votes.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1: AASO will hold general meetings once per month, minimum (approximately ten per year). General members must attend 50% of meetings (5/10) per year and remain in good standing. Members also attend project subcommittee meetings as needed. Officers will hold separate planning meetings once a month, minimum. Officers can miss 25% of meetings (5/20) per year and remain in good standing.

Section 2: AASO shall meet for planning and sharing of information. General meeting dates and times will be announced at the start of the year and upcoming meetings will be announced at each forthcoming meeting.

Section 3: Emergency, special interest, or additional meetings shall be confirmed by the President and/or Vice-President with approval of Advisors. Attendees will be given at least 3 days prior notice of meeting time, date, and objective.

Article VII: Finances

Section 1: Fiscal Operating Year for the Tarrant County College System runs from September 1 through August 31.

Section 2: No money shall be spent or guaranteed without the approval of the President, Vice President, and Advisor.

Section 3: Approval for financial spending or earning (fundraising) must include the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Advisor(s) by way of at least two signatures on all original documents. All fundraising must be approved by the Office of Student Activities, and may require additional approval.

Article VIII: Amendments

Section 1: Amendments to the organization’s bylaws can only be made by a vote. All amendments shall be proposed and discussed during a regular meeting.

Section 2: If approved, Secretary will provide copies of the amended bylaws must be provided to the Advisor(s) and the Office of Student Activities for administrative approval.

Article IX: Ratification and Enactment

Section 1: The bylaws and amendments become effective immediately upon their approval by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of members and administrative approval from the Office of Student Activities.

Section 2: Once approved, the bylaws shall become the official governing document of the African American Student Organization AASO at Tarrant County College Northwest.

Addendum:

African American Student Organization – Officer Oath of Office

I, _______, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties prescribed by me by the bylaws of the African American Student Organization at Tarrant County College Northwest. I will, to the best of my abilities, fulfill all responsibilities expected of me as (title of office). I also commit to preserve, protect, and enforce the organization’s bylaws for as long as I hold office.

African American Student Organization – Member Pledge

By accepting this invitation to membership, I, ________, pledge to uphold the bylaws of the African American Student Organization at Tarrant County Northwest. I will, to the best of my abilities, commit to support and uphold the principles of the organization’s bylaws for as long as I serve as a member.