About Us: Our Constitution

Section 1: Name

• Hispanic/Latin American Faculty and Staff Association of the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Section 2: Membership

1. Membership Eligibility: Any Faculty and staff of the University of Missouri-Columbia and founding members, including any persons who were once employed as such by the University of Missouri-Columbia, who are interested in the goals of the Association.
2. Active Membership: Any eligible member whose dues are current.
3. Honorary Membership: All other University and community members who are concerned with Hispanic/Latin American affairs.

Section 3: Objective

• Communicate concerns, interests, and awareness of Hispanic/Latin Americans at the University of Missouri.
• Act as an advocate for recruitment and retention of Hispanic/Latin American faculty, staff, and students.
• Significantly increase the number of Hispanic/Latin American faculty, staff, and students at the University of Missouri.
• Foster the educational missions of the University of Missouri.
• Enhance upward mobility of Hispanic/Latin American faculty and staff.
• Advance the recognition and status of Hispanic/Latin Americans as viewed by the administrators, faculty, staff, and students of the University of Missouri and the surrounding community.

Section 4: The Executive Board

• The Executive Board shall be composed of immediate past President, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Faculty Representative and Staff Representative.
• The Executive Board shall carry out the administrative responsibilities of the Hispanic/Latin American faculty and Staff Association. The Hispanic/Latin American Executive Board will work to develop and implement the goals and objectives of the Association.
• The Executive Board shall be able to amend Section 4 (1) (Membership of Executive Board) by majority vote.

Section 5: Duties of Each Officer

• President

  • The President shall preside at all meetings of the Hispanic/Latin American Faculty and Staff Association.
  • The President will handle special concerns and implement programs as directed by the Executive Board.
  • The President will co-sign with the Treasurer in financial transactions made on behalf of the Executive Board.

• Vice President

  • The Vice President will perform the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President.
  • The Vice President will be responsible for all functions associated with the membership of the Hispanic/Latin American Faculty and Staff Association.

• Secretary

  • The Secretary will maintain accurate records and minutes of all Assembly and Executive Board Meetings.
  • The Secretary will notify the Executive Board and Association Members of all correspondence that pertains to the Hispanic/Latin American Faculty and Staff Association of the University of Missouri.

• Treasurer

  • The Treasurer will execute the duties essential for disbursement of Association funds.
  • The Treasurer will maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records.
  • The Treasurer, along with the other Executive Board officers, will investigate sources of funding to develop the Hispanic/Latin American Faculty and Staff Association.

• Historian

  • The Historian will maintain historical records of Association events, documents, and activities - including videos and photos.
  • The Historian will provide public relations services for activities and events of the Hispanic/Latin American Faculty and Staff Association at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

• Faculty/Staff Representative

  • The Faculty/Staff Representative is responsible for informing the Association of the problems, interests, and concerns of the Hispanic/Latin American constituents.

Section 6: Dues

• The amount of annual dues will be $3.00 for all members (both active and associate). Dues do not necessarily cover the costs of individual activities and events.

Section 7: Elections

• Elections will be open to all active members of the Hispanic/Latin American Faculty and Staff Association.
• Active members will be notified by mail of the upcoming election meeting prior to the day of the election. Both nominations and the casting of ballots will take place at this meeting.
• All active members will be able to nominate any active member for an Executive Board office.
• The term of office for all elected officers shall be one (1) year with the possibility of no more than three (3) additional years (or three additional terms).

Section 8: Amendment to the Constitution

• Amendments to this constitution may be initiated by the Executive Board, or any active member with must be accompanied by a petition signed by at least ten percent (10%) of all active members.
• After a petition for amendment is made, the proposed amendment will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Executive Board.
• A majority vote of those present at the meeting shall be required to amend the Constitution.

Section 9: Impeachment

• Any officer who commits an act that jeopardizes the integrity and cause of the Hispanic/Latin American Faculty and Staff Association of the University of Missouri can be impeached.
• A petition for impeachment may be presented to the Executive Board to act upon. The petition must have, at a minimum, signatures from one-fourth (25%) of the total number of active members accompanied by a statement of grounds for removal.
• The Executive Board shall move to impeachment proceedings upon a majority agreement from Executive Board.
• A meeting will be called for all active members and at that meeting the officer in question will be given the right to refute all allegations against him/her.
• A ballot will be taken at that time for the removal of the said officer.
• The officer shall be removed from office if a majority vote from all active members in attendance is rendered.

--Adopted November 10, 1999

--Amended in March 17, 2006