Course Syllabus

The following guidelines are suggestions and in no way does the Student Activities office wish to impede upon the individuality of the organization.

 

Preamble

 We the members of Tarrant County College TACHE (Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education and OLAS (Organization of Latin American Students) student club at TCC South Campus, establish this constitution as means for promoting the Hispanic/Mestizo Culture and its interest in higher educational opportunities for Hispanics throughout Texas.

 

Article I. Name of Organization   The name of this student organization will be Tarrant County College TACHE-OLAS (Organization of Latin American Students), referred to as OLAS as it will appear throughout the constitution. 

 

Article II. Membership

1. The members can be the students of Tarrant County College who are interested in promoting the purpose of this organization. Any interested student must turn in his/her name, address, electronic mail and telephone number to the secretary or president of TACHE-OLAS Student Club. The members do not have to be of Hispanic heritage.
2. All members shall follow the club constitution and the college’s “Student Organization Rules and Regulations”. If a member violates a rule or regulation, it is up to the advisor to take necessary action if necessary.
3. The group includes this non-discrimination clause: “(OLAS) does not deny membership to anyone based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, gender, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or age.”

 “All students at TCC South Campus shall be eligible for membership.”

 

Article III. Officers

Contains a list of officers, titles, and the terms of office for the group.  It should be up to each organization to state the qualifications/or duties of its officers.  The constitution should also contain a statement of when and how often elections are to be held giving definite dates for terms of office and stating specifically the powers of each officer (usually stated in the by-laws). 

1. The organization will have at least five main positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Historian.
2. The President will be responsible for all the activities of the organization. The vice-president will be the assistant to the president, preside over the meetings if the president is absent and substitute for the president incase of renunciation or if he/she becomes ineligible. The secretary will keep the minutes of all the meetings update the membership list and notify members of meetings in person/virtual, through email and or telephone. The Treasurer will do the accounting of the funds of the organization. The Historian will take pictures on special occasions and during activities to create a memory book at the end of each academic year.
3. The officers will be the students of Tarrant County College, have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and must meet the requirements for student organizations according to the Tarrant County College Student Organization Rules an Regulations catalog. If a student does not meet the requirements, he/she may not become an officer but can still be a member of the club.
4. The officers will keep their position in the club the entire two semesters of the school year. This will give the club better stability.
5. Procedure for filling vacated offices will be voting before the semester ends to fill this officers roles.
6. Procedures for removal of officers, the president and both advisors will work collaboratively on removal decisions.
7. Appeal Process will go through both advisors to make final decisions.

Article IV. Elections

1. Time and period when elections occur

Elections shall be held in April of each school year. Newly appointed officers will begin their positions in Fall of the next school year.

 

1. Nominations

Nominations of candidates for the Club officer positions can be made by any organization member. Nominees for officer positions must be organization members.

 

1. Notification and posting of elections

Notification and posting of elections shall be made no later than two weeks before election day. The Secretary shall oversee the notification and posting of elections.

 

1. Election procedures

The procedures of election shall be: (1) The President, (2) The Senator, (3) The Secretary.

The election will be done by private ballot and counted by an independent council of general members.

 

 

 

Article V. Advisors

The choice of advisors is left to the organization. Provisions for election and term of office should be clearly stated as prescribed in the officer’s clause.  Non-student advisors not affiliated with the college may be accommodated for, provided the faculty advisor serves as the official advisor of the organization. 

 

1. The organization is free to select any eligible employee to serve as the advisor to the Club.
2. The advisor to the club must be a full-time faculty or a staff member at TCC South Campus.
3. The advisor may be confirmed yearly by the general membership of the Club. Should the club choose not to confirm the advisor, the Club must select another employee to serve as the advisor and have the advisor approved by TCC.
4. The advisor shall provide feedback to the organization regarding its operation and functioning.
5. The advisor shall serve as a resource to the Club in areas of need for activities, events, needed materials, etc.
6. The advisor should provide advice upon request, and should share knowledge, expertise, and experience with the group.
7. The advisor shall not be a part of the membership and unable to vote in elections or membership

Article VI. Meetings

1. Types of meetings

All meetings shall include activities of experiencing and discussion related to Hispanic culture.

 

1. Time and occurrence of meetings

General membership meetings shall be held weekly on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM, with additional meetings called by the President as needed.

 

1. Special meetings

Special or emergency meetings may be called with at least twenty-four hours’ notice by the Executive Committee.

 

1. Quorum

Quorum shall be defined as fifty percent plus one of the totals of the organization membership. Quorum is needed for official votes to take place.

 

1. Meeting and records

Meeting minutes and records shall be maintained by the Secretary.

Article VII.  Amendment

A Two-thirds majority can amend this constitution

 

Article VIII. Ratification

May or may not be necessary.  If more than a majority of those present desire, a special article should be included.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample By-Laws

Sections of the By-Laws deal with the following:

1. Detailed material concerning members; that is, right duties, resignation and expulsion procedures.

 

2. Provisions for initiation fee, dues and assessments should be covered here (low enough so as not to restrict membership). Also, details regarding delinquencies. 

 

3. Date and method of electing officers and duties of officers. (Organizations are encouraged to hold annual elections during the early or middle part of the spring semester. Some organizations elect new officers each semester.)

 

4. Duties, authority and responsibilities of the executive committee.

 

5. The names of the standing committees and the method of choosing chairpersons and committee members. The duties of the committees should also be stated.

 

6. A provision for some accepted rules of order or parliamentary manual as Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.

 

7. The number constituting a quorum. (Usually one over one-half of members in good standing.)

 

8. Provisions for honorary members or honorary officers if the group so desires. (Usually stated to provide for non-student or alumni members.)

 

9. A method to amend the by-laws, usually a majority vote of total members in good standing. Amending the constitution should not be too simple a process for the sake of stability of the group/organization.  It should be possible to amend the by-laws with greater ease.  The constitution should always carry the date it was last revised.  It is a good idea to insert in parentheses after an amendment the date it was passed.

 

10. Some provisions should be made for the disbursement of funds in case the organization becomes defunct (i.e., all remaining monies are to be given to some specific charitable organization or scholarship fund at TCC.)