Student Handbook – SAVMA Constitution

Article I – Name and Authorization

Sect. 1 The name of this organization shall be the University of Missouri Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Sect. 2 MU SAVMA shall operate under an official charter granted by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Sect. 3 The Executive Board of MU SAVMA shall be the student council representing all students who are enrolled within the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Article II – Objectives

Sect. 1 To promote a spirit of friendly relations among the students and faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Sect. 2 To promote additional opportunities for its members to gain professional knowledge as well as increased understanding of professional ethics and conduct.

Sect. 3 To demonstrate the virtues of organized effort.

Sect. 4 To enhance the character of its members by the recognition of creditable efforts and by the discouragement of unworthy activities.

Sect. 5 To allow its membership the opportunity to participate in programs offered to MU SAVMA.

Article III – Membership

Sect. 1 Students eligible for active membership shall include all full-time students of veterinary medicine who are enrolled in a program of study leading to a professional veterinary degree to be granted by the University of Missouri- College of Veterinary Medicine.

Sect. 2 Membership shall be open to any currently enrolled student or employee of the University. As an organization we may narrow our membership if it does not discriminate on any of the areas found in
the anti-discrimination clause found in Article VII.

Sect. 3 To be considered “active”, a member must contribute to the financial support of MU SAVMA by payment of dues and fulfillment of obligations to the concession stand which includes working one full football game during the first year. Under executive board approval of extenuating circumstances, the student will pay restitution to MU SAVMA for missed income. Those students wishing to work all home football games in one year will have their MU SAVMA dues refunded at the end of the football season for that year.

Sect. 4 All dues must be paid by October 1 of each academic year. Dues total $55, $12 to cover national SAVMA dues and $43 for local MU SAVMA dues. Dues received after October 1 will be considered late and subject to a $50 late fee.

(a) If a VM1 does not work the concession stand at a home football game and was not previously approved by the Executive Board, a $150 fee will be due by the last day of IP-2. Failure to pay this fine will result in a loss of good standing with MU SAVMA and the student will not be eligible to participate in other organizations and clubs’ meetings and activities until the fine has been paid.

Sect. 5 Any individual experiencing inactive status in the chapter or a transfer student from another veterinary school must pay back dues and restitution for the concession stand during the missed period of eligibility to be considered active.

(a) Any transfer student with written proof of active status from their previous SAVMA Secretary or any transfer student from a school that did not have a SAVMA chapter will not be held accountable for past dues and concession stand restitution.

Sect. 6 In order to be considered a member in good standing upon graduation, a person must have attended one general assembly meeting in each of their first three years, fulfilled all of the previous requirements for active membership, and be a member of MU SAVMA for all four years of veterinary school.

(a) A student who is in “good standing” is defined as a student who has fulfilled their requirements as an active member (Article 3, Sect 2) attended the full-length of a general assembly meeting, and has worked a shift at one of the football games or pay the alternative fee (Article 3, Sect. 3).

(b) In order to be reimbursed for travel expenses, starting with the class of 2020,

(c) VM1: the individual must be an active member in good standing, participated in one approved community service event for the year.

(d) VM2: the individual must be an active member in good standing, participated in one approved community service event for the year and completed the requirements for VM1.

(e) VM3 and VM4: completed requirements for VM 1 and VM2 and attended a full length of a General Assembly meeting.

(f) In extenuating circumstances, a student may appeal to the Executive Board.

(g) In addition to the requirements above, a student must submit all required forms/receipts through Canvas and must give a presentation on requested travel reimbursement at a general assembly meeting.

1. 1. 1. Travel expenses that are approved will be reimbursed up to $ If attending the National SAVMA symposium of that year, a student can submit a request for reimbursement up to $150.
      2. A student can request up to two travel reimbursements per calendar year.

Sect. 7 Distinguished veterinarians and other prominent persons may be selected for honorary membership in MU SAVMA. Honorary members do not have voting privileges.

Sect. 8 SAVMA shall address code violations along with administration (student and academic affairs) of the CVM to approve/deny Dress Code. Failure to comply could warrant bad standing among SAVMA members. Pending further investigation on the matter.

Article IV – Officers

Sect. 1 The officers of MU SAVMA shall be a President, a President-Elect, a Vice President, Junior Delegate, Senior Delegate, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Immediate Past-President, and a Senior Past-President.

(a) Only “Active” MU SAVMA members shall be considered as nominees for MU SAVMA officers.

(b) Nominees for officers must not be on academic or honor code committee probation.

(c) Nominees for the office of MU SAVMA President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Junior Delegate shall be members of the first year class.

(d) The Senior Delegate shall be the Junior Delegate from the previous year.

(e) The Immediate Past-President shall be the President from the previous year. The Senior Past-President shall be the Immediate Past- President from the previous year. Both of these officers will serve a role of historian, providing a description of previous boards’ actions and opinions.

Sect. 2 All nominations for President-Elect, Vice President-Elect, Secretary-Elect, and Treasurer-Elect shall be made by the time of the November meeting, and will be accepted electronically through November 30. Voting will take place during the first week of December. Write-ins will be permitted on the ballot. Any active member may present nominations or write-ins.

Sect. 3 Voting shall be by secret ballot. If a candidate wins and is found to be ineligible, the runner up shall be considered the winner. Active members on free block may request an absentee ballot to be returned prior to the election.

Sect. 4 Elections should always be conducted electronically, so that all four classes are able to participate. Voting shall be by simple ballot. Voting will remain open for a minimum of 3 days.

Sect. 5 Only “Active” MU SAVMA members shall be privileged to vote.

Sect. 6 The term of office for the Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be one year, beginning on June 1. The President-Elect shall serve a five month term beginning on January 1 and shall advance to the office of President on the following June 1.

(a) The Vice President-Elect, Secretary-Elect, and Treasurer-Elect will be non-voting, ex-officio members of the Executive Board beginning on January 1 and shall advance to their respective offices on the following June 1.

Sect. 7 Duties of the officers (see By-Laws)

Sect. 8 When the President shall be absent from any meeting and the President-Elect will be present, the President shall appoint another active member to serve as President-Elect while he/she is away. The appointed must be approved by the Executive Board.

Sect. 9 When the President and President-Elect shall both be absent from any meeting, they shall appoint another Executive Board member to serve in their respective office while they are away.

Sect.10 When the President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer shall be absent from any meeting, they shall appoint another Executive Board member to serve in their respective office in their absence.

Sect.11 Any officer placed on academic or honor code committee probation must resign from their officer position.

(a) GPA requirement for all officers is a 2.2 minimum. If any student holding a position doesn’t meet this requirement they will be required to step down.

Sect.12 Any vacancy in an office shall be filled by selection of an active member of MU SAVMA by the Executive Board immediately, and approved by two-thirds of the Executive Board members. This position shall be held by this individual until a general election can be held as described in Article IV Section 2 and 3.

Sect. 13 Officers may be removed for unsatisfactory performance as voted by three-fourths of the Executive Board.

(a) Grounds for removal of an officer include the inadequate fulfillment of aforementioned duties or the violation of regulations described in the Guidelines for Recognized Student Organizations, University policies or any federal, state or local laws.

Sect. 14 Any Executive Board member cannot hold more than one Executive Board position.

Article V – Faculty Advisors

Sect. 1 MU SAVMA shall have two or three Faculty Advisors. Advisors shall hold the rank of Instructor or above and must be active members of the American Veterinary Medical Association. One Advisor must be classified as employed full time (75% FTE).

Sect. 2 One Advisor shall be elected every two years, at the same time as MU SAVMA officer elections. Term of office shall be four years, with reelection of effective Advisors allowed the Advisor with the longer period of service shall be distinguished as the Senior Advisor.

Sect. 3 The duties of the Advisor are determined by the AVMA and the regulations of the University of Missouri.

Sect. 4 Grounds for removal of an advisor include the inadequate fulfillment of aforementioned duties or the violation of regulations described in the Guidelines for Recognized Student Organizations, University policies or any federal, state or local laws.

Article VI – Meetings

Sect. 1 The annual schedule of MU SAVMA regular meetings, including dates, times, and locations shall be determined by the President with approval of the Executive Board.

Sect. 2 Special meetings may be called at any time by the MU SAVMA President or President-Elect, with the approval of the Executive Board. The time, location and intent of special meetings shall be adequately publicized before the meetings.

Sect. 3 Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the meetings of MU SAVMA in all cases in which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of MU SAVMA.

(a) Documents outlining Robert’s Rules of Order can be found on the MU SAVMA Canvas page.

Sect.4 Any individual, member or non-member of MU SAVMA is welcome to attend MU SAVMA meetings.

Sect. 5 Failure of any MU SAVMA member to attend a general assembly meeting for which they have committed to will result in the member being billed for the cost of food. Failure to pay will result in loss of good standing until fine is paid.

Article VII – Anti-Discrimination Clause

MU SAVMA shall not deny membership or officer status on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, and any other status protected by applicable state or federal law.

Article VIII – Compliance Clause

Sect. 1 MU SAVMA will abide by all state, federal, local and university policies.

Sect. 2 We agree to abide by all regulations described in the Guidelines for Recognized Student Organizations, all University policies, in addition to all federal, state and local laws.

Article IX – Amendments

Sect. 1 The constitution may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members in attendance at a regular MU SAVMA General Assembly meeting.

Sect. 2 Proposed constitutional amendments may be presented at any regular MU SAVMA General Assembly meeting after having been presented at an Executive Board meeting. Final action on the proposals shall not be taken prior to the following MU SAVMA General Assembly meeting.

(a) A constitution review meeting shall be conducted annually by the Executive Board between April 1 and June 1.

Sect. 3 MU SAVMA Secretary shall advise the AVMA Executive Vice President of any amendments to the Constitution. Such amendments must be approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the University of Missouri Organization Resource Group (ORG) before they are effective.