LAS Council is a Registered Student Organization within the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that serves students with programs to enhance their liberal arts education, meetings to identify college or campus issues, and opportunities to increase student involvement in the college.
MISSION STATEMENT & PURPOSE
Our mission is to improve undergraduate Liberal Arts and Sciences students’ skills through professional development, leadership, and service. LAS Council acts as the bridge between the LAS administration and the student body by facilitating communication and involvement within the college. We serve our members by providing leadership and volunteer opportunities. LAS Council offers LAS majors a chance to network with others in LAS, and serve the College throughout outreach with both on and off-campus community events.
Leadership: LAS Council offers a variety of leadership positions(Executive Board, Committees, etc.) within the organization that can provide valuable skills for future prospects. Although we consider previous experiences, we focus more on the current abilities and goals when reviewing applicants. Professional Development Our meetings often consists of speakers and resources that are aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of our members. This includes information about research, internships, resume workshops, etc. Service A key aspect of our organization is service. We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities aimed at keeping our members active in their community and college.
ARTICLE I-Nature and Function Section 1. Name The name of this organization shall be the Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Student Council. Hereinafter to be referred to as LAS Council in this document. Section 2. Objects The LAS Council shall enhance and support the education of the students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Any matter that can be decided or considered by an officer, office, or official body within the College, or that directly affects the quality of undergraduate education or life, falls within the Council’s jurisdiction. Section 3. Authority The authority of this constitution is the standard for the operation of all business in this Council. The Council may, by a two-thirds vote, adopt or amend Bylaws. The Executive Board may establish temporary rules or guidelines. Such rulings are subject to full Council veto, in the form of a majority vote. The Council is a Registered Student Organization with authority vested in its members and elected officials. Section 4. Nondiscrimination policy The Council shall not discriminate, and shall discourage discrimination on the basis of ancestry, nationality, creed, philosophy, economic disadvantage, physical disability, mental illness or disorders, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
ARTICLE II-Membership Section 1. Participation All students shall be welcome to attend full body meetings. However, active membership as outlined below is required in order to cast a vote in full body decision-making processes. Section 2. Active Membership A student earns active member status if the student has fulfilled all of the following requirements: a) Have contacted the Secretary with their email and netID in order to be added as a member. b) Accumulate at least 20 points per semester - General meetings are 3 pt.s each and other event are evaluated based on their length or importance. e) Payment of dues: $10 per year, or $6 per semester ARTICLE III-Election of Officers Section 1. Officers The Officers of the Council shall be President and the Executive Board of Vice-Presidents serving in the following areas: Secretary, Finance, Resource and Outreach, Media and External Relations, Social, and Volunteer. Section 2. Tenure All Officers are elected for a term of one (1) year, beginning officially at the end of the fall semester. An overlap of officers between the election and the end of the fall semester may exist to allow for a smooth transition of policy and information. Section 3. Candidate Requirements Candidates must be enrolled in good standing in the College of LAS, have at least one (1) semester of active LAS Council membership as outlined in Article II, Section 2. Petitions for office shall be submitted via the online application. On the date of election, each slated candidate shall give a short oral presentation outlining the candidate’s goals for the Council to the current President and Advisors in a private interview. Section 4. Election During the fall semester in mid-November, elections shall be determined by the current President and Advisors based on candidates’ submitted online applications and presentations during the private interviews. A candidate may cascade through positions on election day if unable to achieve his/her initial position choice. A candidate may hold no more than one (1) Council office. The President position can only be given to an active member that has served at least one semester as an executive board member. If a circumstance arises where there are no available executive board member, any active member may be able to take the role of President, and the tenure of this position and the tenure of the new executive board may be longer in order to maintain a stable transition. Section 5. Vacancy If an Officer must leave office during his/her term: a) The vacancy must be announced during the next full body Council meeting. b) A vacancy in the Executive Board is filled by an active Council member elected by the process outlined in Article III, Sections 2 and 3. c) A vacancy in the President’s office shall be filled by a member of the Executive Board, to be selected by the Advisors. Section 6. Emergency In the unforeseen and unavoidable need to restructure the Executive Board, the current Executive Board reserves the right to decide the proper course of action. ARTICLE IV-Officer Responsibilities Section 1. Responsibilities and Duties President Serves as general representative and official spokesperson of LAS Council and greater student body – Discuss college and student concerns at monthly Lunch meeting – Present award at College of LAS Banquet – Presides over the Council and Executive Board – Manages Executive Board positions – Meets with Advisors regularly – Creates agenda for general meetings – Organizes speakers for general meetings – Delegates any responsibility whose exercise is not otherwise assigned VP Finance – Updates financial data on a monthly basis or as per event – Collects member dues and reports payments to VP Secretary for record keeping – Understands all SORF rules and procedures – Writes reimbursement checks for Council expenses VP Outreach and Development
Arrange speaker, time, location for general meetings Order supplies and tallies votes if necessary for general meetings
Plan panel for student, advisor and dean presentations
Collect and distribute resources pertaining to our members' professional development
Come up with ways to continue the growth and development of LAS Council as an organization
VP Social and Volunteer – Arranges monthly social/volunteer/community events in order to foster friendship and goodwill among Council members Section 2. Executive Board The Executive Board shall collectively: a) consist of the President and Vice-Presidents b) meet during the off-weeks of the full body meetings c) maintain a functional relationship amongst all Council members d) propose and discuss goals of the Council e) create and disband committees as necessary f) review and amend the Constitution as necessary g) be the interpreter of this Constitution h) review this Constitution annually All Officers shall individually: a) miss no more than one (1) general meeting per semester without valid cause. See Article IV, Section 3 below b) miss no more than one (1) Executive Board meeting without valid cause c) maintain good academic standing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Section 3. Valid Causes and Vacancy An officer shall become ineligible to hold office and the vacancy shall be filled as outlined in Article III, Section 4, in the case of any of the following: a) The officer fails to meet the requirements as outlined in Article IV, Section 1and 2 above b) A majority of the Executive Board deems the officer unfit to hold office. Reasons for replacement include failure to fulfill responsibilities of the office as utlined in Article IV, Section 1 c) The officer leaves campus due to early graduation, study abroad, or other reasons The Executive Board shall confer on matters of valid cause and shall excuse such absences or failures as they deem appropriate. ARTICLE V-Amendments and Official Procedure Section 1. Voting Of the active members present (Article II, Section 2), two-thirds shall be necessary to ratify amendments to this Constitution. Section 2. Amendments Proposed amendments shall be presented to the Executive Board by Council members only. The Executive Board shall review the proposed amendment and evaluate its potential impact prior to presentation to the general Council membership for ratification. The opinion of the Executive Board shall be presented to the Council prior to voting.