Odette MBA Society – Odette School of Business
CONSTITUTION
Authority: Executive Council Effective: 11/01/2012
Ratified by: Executive Council
Article I – Name
I. The name of this society shall be the “Odette MBA Society”, hereafter referred to as the OMBAS. Article II: Aims and Purpose of the Society
I. To promote the interests of its student members.
II. To promote student-faculty cooperation, and to act as a medium between them.
III. To provide services that aim to enhance the student and educational experience of its student members.
IV. To represent its student members the University of Windsor’s Graduate Student Society. Article III: Membership
I. Members shall be full-time students registered in the Masters of Business Administration program in the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business.
II. Associate members shall consist of any student registered at the University of Windsor who has paid the stipulated associate membership fee.
Article IV: Membership Fees and OMBAS Finances
I. Active members pay a per semester fee levied as a component of tuition. II. Membership fees are allotted, in their entirety, to the OMBAS each semester.
III. The fee is subject to change on a yearly basis at the discretion of the Odette MBA Society. IV. Each OMBAS shall leave at least five-hundred dollars ($500.00) of surplus funds in the OMBAS
bank account by the first day of November in the year following their election.
V. The OMBAS shall determine which clubs or associations, if any, are funded on an annual basis. VI. There is no obligation for the OMBAS to fund additional clubs or associations.
VII. Any club or association to which the OMBAS provides funds shall provide a monthly report to the OMBAS Executive Council on a monthly basis.
Article V: Rights and Privileges of Members
I. Members are entitled to one vote in the annual election of the Executive Council, which takes place in the first October in their program.
II. All members are eligible to seek election for any position on the OMBAS Executive Council. III. Members are entitled to access OMBAS records upon request in the presence of an Executive
Officer; in the case of financial records, the Executive Officer must be the Vice-President Finance or President.
Article VI: OMBAS Positions
The elected, voting members of the OMBAS, hereafter referred to as Executive Council Officers, shall include:
I. President.
II. Executive Vice-President. III. Vice-President Finance. IV. Vice-President Academic.
V. Vice-President Marketing.
VI. Vice-President Communications.
The appointed, non-voting members of the OMBAS, hereafter referred to as Coordinators, shall include: I. Events Coordinator.
II. Sponsorship Coordinator.
III. Advertising and Promotions Coordinator.
Article VII: Roles of the Executive Council Officers and Coordinators The OMBAS Executive Council shall be responsible for:
I. Remaining a full-time, active member of the OMBAS with satisfactory academic standing. II. Fulfilling the aims and purpose of the OMBAS as outlined in Article II.
III. Shall be willing to fulfill their responsibilities during the entirety of the MBA program. IV. Fulfilling the responsibilities of their respective positions as outlined hereafter.
V. Holding the annual general election, or by-elections in the event of an impeachment or resignation.
PRESIDENT
Role: to provide leadership and strategic direction aimed at fulfilling OMBAS’ mission statement and vision, and to represent the interest of OMBAS’ members.
I. Shall act as the Chief Executive, Chairperson and Administrative Officer of the OMBAS. II. Shall be responsible for calling meetings and setting their agenda.
III. Shall act as the chief advocate and representative for OMBAS’ membership to stakeholders and partners.
IV. Shall facilitate and oversee the execution of priorities set forth by the Executive. V. Shall act as the primary spokesperson for the OMBAS.
VI. Shall provide support to and collaborate with constituent councils. VII. Shall attend meetings of relevant faculties and constituent councils.
I. Shall, with the VP-Finance, serve as an authorized financial signatory on behalf of the OMBAS. VIII. Shall uphold the constitution and Chair all meetings concerning its amendment.
IX. Shall be responsible for calling votes of confidence and applying disciplinary action where support is shown.
X. Shall be responsible for presenting at OMBAS events and activities. XI. Shall be responsible for leading the OMBAS Orientation team and efforts.
EXEUCTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT
Role: to support the execution of Presidential initiatives and ensure fair and transparent governance. I. Shall act as interim President in the event of the OMBAS President’s absence.
II. Shall be responsible for overseeing election, by-elections and appointment processes.
III. Shall assist in managing the execution of Presidential initiatives concerning OMBAS’ strategic direction.
IV. Shall assist in delegating responsibilities to VPs and Coordinators.
V. Shall be responsible for ensuring that the OMBAS Executives and Coordinator comply with society regulations.
VICE-PRESIDENT FINANCE
Role: to accurately account for and report on the financial transactions and planning of the OMBAS. I. Shall, with the OMBAS President, serve as an authorized financial signatory on behalf of the
OMBAS.
II. Shall be responsible for managing and reporting on the funds of the OMBAS. III. Shall provide documentation reporting on all financial transactions of the OMBAS.
IV. Shall provide reimbursements providing a two-thirds majority approval by the OMBAS Executive. V. Shall maintain proper books of account and report financial positions to the OMBAS membership
monthly.
VI. Shall prepare the OMBAS budget and make its content available and accessible to OMBAS’ membership.
VII. Shall produce year-end statements fairly representing the financial activity of the OMBAS. VIII. Shall recommend benchmarks for measuring financial and operating performance.
IX. Shall prepare financial outlooks and forecasts for contract negotiations and investment decisions.
VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC
Role: to advocate on educational and policy issues affecting the Odette MBA program.
I. Build and maintain relationships with government authorities in post-secondary education. II. Promote accessible, affordable and high-quality graduate education.
III. Represent Odette MBA students’ academic and educational interests.
IV. Advocate for greater student participation in academic and educational governance at Odette. V. Coordinate all academic functions sponsored by the OMBAS.
VI. Serve as the official liaison between the OMBAS and the Faculty of Business Administration. VII. Serve as the OMBAS student representative on the Undergraduate Committee when required. VIII. Attend faculty meetings and represent OMBAS members’ interests.
IX. Represent the OMBAS on the Graduate Student Society (GSS), attend its meetings, and report on GSS developments.
VICE-PRESIDENT MARKETING
Role: to assist in promoting OMBAS events and activities, and to lead, manage and grow its branding strategy.
I. Shall promote all events of the OMBAS and Odette Commerce Society to media partners. II. Shall be responsible for the sale of advertising space in OMBAS publications and branding
opportunities.
III. Shall produce and design promotional materials and programs. IV. Shall oversee the Advertising and Promotions Coordinator.
V. Shall manage and update the OMBAS Blog and Website.
VI. Shall manage the OMBAS’ social media identities, through which, promoting OMBAS activities and events.
VII. Shall assist in the branding of OMBAS services and products.
VICE-PRESIDENT COMMUNICATION
Role: to act as the spokesperson of the OMBAS, and to develop and organize communications on its behalf.
I. Shall act as Secretary of the OMBAS, and produce and distribute minutes to OMBAS members hours following meetings.
II. Shall support the Executive Council in their efforts to communicate with students and the community.
III. Shall ensure the OMBAS remains aware of media and communication regulations set forth by the University.
IV. Shall oversee OMBAS public relations efforts. V. Shall manage all OMBAS correspondence.
VI. Shall work in association with the VP-Marketing to manage social media identities and the OMBAS website.
EVENTS COORDINATOR
Role: responsible for overseeing event planning, both general and philanthropic. SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR
Role: responsible for negotiating and securing sponsorships from corporate partners. ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR
Role: responsible for helping produce and distribute marketing and media material. Article VIII: Election Procedures
I. The term of an OMBAS Executive Council shall begin on the first day of November in the same year following their election and/or acclamation, and shall end on the last day of October in the year following their election.
II. The election shall be organized by the incumbent OMBAS Executive Council. III. The election shall be made by secret ballot.
IV. The election shall take place no later than the fourteenth (14th) day of October. V. Nominations for election shall be open for two business days.
VI. Nominations for election shall close at noon at least one week prior to the election. VII. Campaigning may begin no earlier than one week prior to the election.
VIII. Candidates are entitled to send a scrutinizer to the ballot-counting process; the scrutinizer must be a member of Faculty or Staff at the University of Windsor.
IX. Candidates may submit an appeal or request for recount through written submission; the incumbent Executive-Vice President is responsible for ruling on the appeal/recount.
X. The incumbent Executive Vice-President shall announce election results immediately following the counting of ballots, and shall report on the actual results of the election.
XI. Ballots shall be kept for ninety-six (96) hours following the election. Article IX: Meetings
I. Meetings of the OMBAS are called by the President, or upon written application of at least three active members of the society.
II. There shall be at least one meeting of the OMBAS Executive Council each month.
III. Meetings are Chaired by the OMBAS President, and shall proceed according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
IV. Quorum shall consist of two-thirds of the Officers of the Executive Council.
V. Votes shall be submit in person, in writing and signed; proxy votes will be accepted in the event that an Executive Officer is unable to vote, pending prior approval of the intent to submit a proxy vote by the OMBAS President.
VI. In the case of an emergency declared and agreed upon by the President and VP-Finance, the President and/or VP-Finance are authorized to expend up to two-hundred dollars ($200.00) without prior approval of the Executive Council.
Article X: Constitutional Amendments
I. Constitutional amendments can be proposed by any active member of the OMBAS.
II. Constitutional amendments shall be adopted upon a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council Officers.
Article XI: Impeachment of Executive Council Officers and Coordinators
I. The OMBAS Executive may, by a two-thirds vote, impeach any member of the OMBAS for: I. Willful misconduct;
II. Willful misuse of funds (upon positive proof), also met with calls for disciplinary action from the Program Director, the Dean of the Odette School of Business, and other University of Windsor authorities.
III. Willful neglect of Constitutional duties (providing an in-camera meeting is called, and the member in question is afforded an opportunity to defend him/herself).
IV. Absence from two or more meetings of the OMBAS without prior approval.
II. Motions for impeachment may also be made by the general membership of the OMBAS pending a two-thirds vote.
III. Impeachments will take effect immediately, and the OMBAS Executive Council shall be responsible for fulfilling vacated posts within two weeks thereafter.
Article XII: Disciplinary Action
I. Any OMBAS member against whom disciplinary action is being pursued shall have the opportunity to defend him/herself in a closed meeting before the OMBAS Executive Council.
II. Any OMBAS member against whom disciplinary action is being pursued shall be notified at least one week prior to their in-camera meeting date.
III. If the accused does not contest the disciplinary action, the OMBAS Executive Council shall administer disciplinary action as deemed fit.
Article XIII: Resignation
I. In the event an Executive Council Officer or Coordinator resign, the vacant position must be filled in a by-election (pursuant to procedures outlined in Article_: Elections).
II. If the resignation occurs during the last three (3) months of the term of office, the vacant position may be filled by appointment by the President pending a two-thirds (2/3) vote of approval. III. During the time between resignation and the election/appointment, the President shall delegate
the duties of the position.
Article XIV: Availability of OMBAS Documents
I. The OMBAS Constitution, monthly financial reports and annual budget shall be made available to any active member of the OMBAS immediately upon request.
II. The aforementioned documents are to be made available online via the OMBAS website.