Purpose1. MissionThe mission of the Wharton Council is to foster a more rewarding co-curricular experience for the Wharton undergraduate community. 2. Vision We envision a vibrant Wharton community of students with positive shared experiences. II. Membership1. EligibilityAll Freshman and Sophomore Wharton undergraduates in good academic and disciplinary standing are eligible to apply for membership on the Wharton Council. Once members are selected, they will serve on the Council until the date of their graduation. 2. DutiesWharton Council members are expected to show full dedication and commitment to the organization. Each member is expected to assume multiple leadership roles throughout their tenure on the Council, whether it be through chairmanship on traditions, chairmanship of the Clubs or Finance Committees, or chairing internal initiatives. Members are required to attend all General Body Meetings, , in addition to all Council-wide traditions and meetings (i.e. meetings with administrators, etc.). Committee or event planning meetings must be attended by members on those committees. Members not immediately involved with the planning of a tradition or initiatives are expected to fully ?? supportive of ?? said initiatives and be actively involved in their execution. In addition to executing Council-wide initiatives, members will also act as a liaison to a certain number of clubs. Each members must, in good-faith, strive to establish positive working relationships with their club leaders, support clubs in their initiatives, promptly respond to emails and other communications, and offer assistance wherever needed. Council members must meet with their club leaders at least once a semester to ensure active achievement of the club’s goals and proper use of Council funding. Members are encouraged, though not required, to attend their club events and provide feedback where possible. 3. SelectionNew membership selection will take place the spring of each academic year. Applications will be made available to the undergraduate community, and an application process will ensure that all students are fairly considered for membership. Candidates are required to go through a formal selection process that may include multiple individual and group interviews, an informal case study (or “smoker”), and other interactive activities. New members will be chosen by majority vot by standing Wharton Council members. 4. ImpeachmentImpeachment, though always a last resort, can be achieved when a standing Council member has continually failed to live up to the standards and responsibilities set forth in Article II.2, or has acted in such a way that is deemed unethical, injurious to peers, or otherwise reflects poorly on the Council at large. Members who have acted in such a way previously characterized will first receive written warning by the Director of Student Life or then advisor to the Council, detailing the member’s infractions and outlining a plan for improvement. Continued infraction after this written warning will result in a meeting with the Director of Student Life or Council advisor, and a formal impeachment hearing at the Council’s next General Body meeting. The impeachment hearing will begin with a formal debriefing of the member’s history on Council and relevant infractions by the advisor and any involved parties. The Council member will be then be allowed to state his or her case. He or she will then be directed to leave the room, at which point the Council will vote on impeachment. Impeachment of a Council member requires a 2/3 majority vote. III. Structure1. General Body MeetingsGeneral Body Meetings will occur weekly. The meetings will be chaired by rotating members of the Council. The chair will solicit items for the meeting in advance. Any member can add items of business to the agenda. The primary purpose of the General Body Meetings will be the monitoring and reporting of the Committees, the administration of Council-wide business, and the opportunity for discussion and debate of relevant student life issues. Any votes besides those of impeachment hearings will be settled by a majority vote. All Council members are required to attend all General Body meetings. At the beginning of each semester, a weekly meeting time will be established that is congruent with each Council member’s academic schedule. In establishing a meeting time, the Council will only consider academic, work-study, and extraordinary scheduling conflicts. Wharton Council meetings and obligations will supersede responsibilities to all other student organizations. Members may only miss General Body meetings due to exam conflicts, religious holidays or short-term illness. Members will be allowed two unexcused absences. Members who reach this level are placed on automatic Council probation and must meet with the Wharton Council advisor. Other scheduled absences will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but are subject to Council wide approval. Other absences should be immediately made aware to the WC advisor and related parties, as well as the Council member taking minutes for that week. Quorum: Meeting quorum is established when 2/3 of all standing Wharton Council members, excluding those abroad, are present at the meeting. Initiatives or issues requiring a Council vote may only take place if quorum has been established. 2. Committee MeetingsAny item of business that is unfit to be settled in the General Body Meetings will be addressed in a Committee. Committees will be formed by a Charter which will be ratified by the Council in the General Body Meetings. Each Committee will have one or two Chairs which will report back to the Council regularly in General Body Meetings. 3. Executive Committees The Council will have two standing Executive Committees, the Finance Committee and the Clubs Committee. The Finance Committee is charged with the maintenance, distribution, and allocation of club budgets; the monitoring and maintenance of traditions budgets; the general allocation and distribution of discretionary funding; and the maintenance and formation of Wharton Council Funding Policies. The finance committee will be comprised of the two co-chairs and any general Council members that wish to be involved. Two Council Members will be elected to act as Co-Chairs of the committee. To be eligible, a Council member must have served as a general member of the committee for at least one semester. At the beginning of each semester, the Co-Chairs will coordinate with the administration of the Undergraduate Division to allocate each clubs semester budget. The Finance Committee will be governed by the formal set of Finance and Funding procedures agreed upon by the Council. To ensure quality participation and equitable distribution of responsibility, a Council member may not be a member of both committees. The Clubs Committee is charged with the general maintenance of all Wharton Council recognized clubs. This duty includes the management of club recognition rules and procedures, supervision of the liaison program, and oversight of the general system of club rules and procedures within the Wharton Undergraduate Program.. Two Council members will be elected to act as Co-Chairs of the Clubs Committee. The Clubs Committee will be governed by the formal set of Recognition and Registration policies agreed upon by the Council. 4. Faculty AdvisorThe Director of Student Life will be the faculty advisor for the Wharton Council. The Director of Student Life will attend General Body Meetings, oversee the workings of the Council, and provide guidance on Council activities. Each year, the Director of Student life will appoint a graduate assistant to assist in the day to day operations of the Council. IV. Procedures1. Other PoliciesCodified policies will govern certain activities of the Wharton Council. Examples of these policies include club rules, funding protocols, committee charters, and the Operating Principles. Individual committees will be responsible for maintaining clear and effective policies and procedures for activities in which they are involved. 2. CustomsCustomary rules will dictate the rules, decorum, and procedures for the Wharton Council when codified rules do not apply. When customary rules are contested, points of contention will be settled by majority vote. V. Amendments1. ProposingAmendments to the Constitution will be proposed and discussed in a General Body Meeting. 2. RatificationRatification of any Amendments will require a 2/3 majority vote.
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Our Constitution
