{"id":29,"date":"2016-08-19T22:10:24","date_gmt":"2016-08-20T02:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/?page_id=29"},"modified":"2016-10-25T13:24:39","modified_gmt":"2016-10-25T17:24:39","slug":"constitution","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/about\/constitution\/","title":{"rendered":"Constitution"},"content":{"rendered":"

ARTICLE I. NAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section 1. The name of this club or organization shall be the Urban Planning Association (UPA),\u00a0\u201cthe Association\u201d hereafter in this Constitution.<\/p>\n

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE \/ MISSION STATEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section 1. The purpose of the Urban Planning Association shall be to create opportunities for students in the Master of City Planning, Master of Urban Affairs, and Bachelor of Science in Urban Affairs programs to get to know each other and explore their chosen career path. We take our love of all things urban out of the classroom and into casual conversation, the field, and beyond. The Association shall be also committed to host cross-cultural, social, service, learning, and networking events meant to bolster the sense of community within the programs, and to further student interests into the various fields of urban affairs and planning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Section 2. The Association, its members, officers, and advisors shall abide by all university\u00a0policies and procedures, including the Student Activities Handbook.<\/p>\n

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section 1. The Association offers three levels of membership.
\nA. Student Membership. To be eligible for Student Membership, members must be\u00a0matriculated Boston University students in the following programs: Master of City\u00a0Planning, Master of Urban Affairs, Bachelor of Science in Urban Affairs. Members must\u00a0be in good academic standing.
\nB. Alumni Membership. To be eligible for Alumni Membership, members must have\u00a0successfully graduated from BU with one of the following degrees: Master of City\u00a0Planning, Master of Urban Affairs, Bachelor of Science in Urban Affairs.
\nC. Associate Membership. Associate Membership is open to all students, staff, and\u00a0faculty of the Boston University community, the Boston Consortium for Higher Education,\u00a0and the local community (at the leadership\u2019s discretion) that have a demonstrable interest\u00a0in urban affairs and planning.<\/p>\n

Section 2. Membership in the Association is open to all meeting the above criteria, irrespective of\u00a0race, creed, color, gender, class, age, nation of origin, nationality, disability, marital status,\u00a0religion, veteran status, or sexual orientation.<\/p>\n

ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE BOARD \/ OFFICERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section 1. All members of the Association\u2019s Student Executive Board (SEB) will serve as liaisons\u00a0to the Department of Applied Social Sciences and the City Planning and Urban Affairs Programs,\u00a0and assist their senior faculty members as needed. The respective responsibilities of the board\u00a0members shall be as follows:<\/p>\n

A. President<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Presides over meetings of the organization
\n\u2022 Maintains contact with affiliated university department
\n\u2022 Maintains contact with organization adviser
\n\u2022 Provides encouragement and motivation to fellow officers and organization members
\n\u2022 Remains fair and impartial during organization decision-making processes
\n\u2022 Represents the organization to the University
\n\u2022 Serves as a spokesperson for the organization
\n\u2022 Represents the organization at official functions<\/p>\n

B. Vice President<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Assumes the duties of the President in his or her absence
\n\u2022 Facilitates election of officers
\n\u2022 Serves as parliamentarian
\n\u2022 Provides encouragement and motivation to fellow officers and organization members
\n\u2022 Remains fair and impartial during organizational decision-making processes
\n\u2022 Serves as a liaison with BU Career Services
\n\u2022 Serves as a spokesperson for the organization
\n\u2022 Performs other duties as directed by the President<\/p>\n

C. Public Affairs Officer<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2022 Leads the creation of a communications plan including strategy, goals, budget and tactics<\/span>
\n\u2022\u00a0Executes strategies to create and uphold a positive public image for the UPA and its stakeholders<\/span>
\n\u2022\u00a0Generates networking opportunities by working and forming relationships with various members of the media, private sector, academia, government, and general public\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u2022 Proposes and organizes academic, social and technical events that benefit the BUCPUA community\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u2022 Works with the Marketing and\u00a0Communications Officer to increase the visibility of the UPA to the public using different communication channels<\/span>
\n\u2022 Ensures that the communication strategy is consistent with the organization’s mission and strategic vision<\/span>
\n\u2022 Leads the creation of content for press releases, byline articles and keynote presentations
\n\u2022\u00a0Evaluates opportunities for partnerships and sponsorships on an ongoing basis<\/span>
\n\u2022\u00a0Maintains a keen understanding of industry trends affecting stakeholders and makes appropriate recommendations regarding the communication strategy around them\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

D. Secretary<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Prepares an agenda with the President for all meetings
\n\u2022 Records and distributes minutes of each meeting of the organization
\n\u2022 Ensures leadership is adhering to the Association\u2019s Constitution
\n\u2022 Reserves appropriate facilities and equipment for organization activities
\n\u2022 Keeps a list of all members of the organization, including alumni, and their contact\u00a0information
\n\u2022 Keeps a record of all activities of the organization, and ensures a seamless transition of\u00a0record-keeping responsibilities to the succeeding Secretary
\n\u2022 Distributes invitations and administers surveys as needed
\n\u2022 Serves as a liaison for community service
\n\u2022 Performs other duties as directed by the President<\/p>\n

E. Treasurer<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Manages all financial aspects of the organization, and ensures a seamless transition of\u00a0record-keeping responsibilities to the succeeding Treasurer
\n\u2022 Pays organization bills
\n\u2022 Prepares an annual budget proposal for leadership approval
\n\u2022 Facilitates reimbursements
\n\u2022 Performs other duties as directed by the President<\/p>\n

F. Marketing & Communications Officer<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Creates an annual marketing plan
\n\u2022 Manages email, social media, website, and newsletters
\n\u2022 Coordinates the executive board \/ officer transitions
\n\u2022 Prepares organization\u2019s calendar of events
\n\u2022 Serves as a liaison between MET Marketing to manage BU website
\n\u2022 Informs members of upcoming elections and candidates
\n\u2022 Keeps the organization informed of both organization and university business
\n\u2022 Maintain creative system of gathering and analyzing member feedback
\n\u2022 Serves as a liaison with BU Today and other educational newsletters and newspapers<\/p>\n

G. International Affairs Officer<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Serves as a liaison for all international students
\n\u2022 Is intimately familiar with paperwork, processes, and timelines specific to international\u00a0students
\n\u2022 Is intimately familiar with the job application process in the U.S.
\n\u2022 Serves as a liaison between the ISSO and international students in the program<\/p>\n

Section 2. Officers can be either full-time or part-time students, but they must be matriculated\u00a0graduate degree candidates for either the Master of City Planning or Master of Urban Affairs.<\/p>\n

Section 3. Once elected, officers will hold their position until they graduate or voluntarily give up\u00a0their seat on the SEB. Outgoing officers will remain in their office until a handover can be\u00a0conducted with their successor, at which time their terms will expire. In the event that an officer\u00a0must voluntarily give up their seat on the SEB for any reason ahead of schedule, the President will\u00a0identify another officer as the interim to manage the outgoing officer\u2019s duties until the next\u00a0elections cycle.<\/p>\n

Section 4. An officer may be removed for cause upon the vote of the majority of the members of\u00a0the SEB. Some of the reasons to remove an SEB officer are: continuously missing or being late to official SEB meetings without a valid reason, disrespecting other SEB officers\u2019 opinions, violating SEB agreements, and incessantly failing to comply with the duties, tasks, and responsibilities that being an SEB officer entails.<\/p>\n

Section 5. Each member of the SEB will keep and maintain their respective Continuity Book,\u00a0maintaining the relevant records, rosters, tips, and information to help orient their successor to the\u00a0role.<\/p>\n

Section 6. Several reports will be distributed to members throughout the academic year. All\u00a0publications will be uploaded to the Association\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

A. Semester Letter \u2013 Farewells outgoing officers, introduces new officers, summarizes\u00a0the Association\u2019s business (including the Budget Statement), and discusses upcoming\u00a0events; distributed at the beginning of each semester – September, January, June.<\/p>\n

B. Semester Budget Statement \u2013 Provides details behind the Association\u2019s budget and\u00a0initiatives, and is based on information gathered from officers and committees.<\/p>\n

C. Monthly Newsletters \u2013 Announces upcoming events, solicits feedback via\u00a0polls\/surveys, includes job\/internship offers, and lists reminders for upcoming events.<\/p>\n

D. Welcome Letter \u2013 Introduces and explains the Association to newly admitted students\u00a0in the Master of City Planning, Master of Urban Affairs, and Bachelor of Science in Urban\u00a0Affairs programs; distributed at the beginning of each semester – September, January, and\u00a0June \u2013 as needed.<\/p>\n

ARTICLE V. ELECTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section 1. Upcoming vacancies must be identified at the start of each semester to provide ample\u00a0time for prospective candidates to decide if they want to apply for a seat and outgoing officers to\u00a0update their Continuity Book. Following this, the leadership shall prepare an announcement to\u00a0inform members of vacancies and their associated responsibilities, and then ask prospective\u00a0candidates to identify themselves.<\/p>\n

Section 2. Under the condition that no candidate wins, members of the SEB will make a decision\u00a0based on an assessment of candidate qualifications. Also, in the event that no one is willing to\u00a0apply for a vacancy, the SEB will ask for volunteers and\/or modify the duties of current board\u00a0members to account for the unfilled position.<\/p>\n

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section 1. The Association will hold SEB meetings on the first Friday of each month. Informal\u00a0meetings vis-a-vis, via email correspondence, or through virtual platforms will occur as needed.\u00a0Each member of the SEB and the Faculty Adviser has authority to call meetings. The individual\u00a0calling the meeting shall notify each member expected to attend the meeting via email at least four\u00a0days prior to the meeting date. This way the member that is seeking the meeting can provide details\u00a0about the purpose of the meeting. Otherwise, the Secretary shall email regular meeting\u00a0notifications as reminders to each member.<\/p>\n

Section 2. Quorum shall consist of at least 3 of the 6 voting members.<\/p>\n

ARTICLE VII. ADVISERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section 1. At least one full-time or exempt Boston University faculty or staff must advise the\u00a0Association. Therefore, the faculty coordinator for the City Planning and Urban Affairs programs\u00a0will serve as the official adviser to the Association. In the event of a transition between faculty\u00a0coordinators, the Chair of the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Metropolitan College will\u00a0serve as the adviser to the Association.<\/p>\n

Section 2. The faculty coordinator for the Association shall be responsible for the following:
\n\u2022 Advise the SEB as required in all Association affairs in which s\/he may have experience\u00a0or expertise, upon request of the board
\n\u2022 Provide suggestions pertaining to budgetary allocations, fund-raising and general\u00a0Association activities, such as professional and social networking, alumni outreach, event\u00a0planning, advertising and branding, and community and professional outreach and\u00a0academic learning activities. However, such suggestions are not binding at any time
\n\u2022 Attend at least one meeting of the Association\u2019s members per semester
\n\u2022 Help to arbitrate disputes in the Association if called upon by the SEB to do so
\n\u2022 Promote and encourage the growth and well being of the Association\u2019s members at all\u00a0times<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ARTICLE I. NAME Section 1. The name of this club or organization shall be the Urban Planning Association (UPA),\u00a0\u201cthe Association\u201d hereafter in this Constitution. ARTICLE II. PURPOSE \/ MISSION STATEMENT Section 1. The purpose of the Urban Planning Association shall be to create opportunities for students in the Master of City Planning, Master of Urban […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11703,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11703"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":286,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions\/286"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/upa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}