The Constitution
of the
Memorial Student Center
of
TexasA&M University

Preamble

"The Union is the community center of the college, for all members of the college family: students, faculty, administration, alumni, and guests. It is not just a building, it is also an organization and program. Together they represent a well-considered plan for the community life of the college...

As the 'living room' or the 'hearthstone' of the college, the union provides for the services, conveniences, and amenities the members of the college family need in their daily life on the campus and for getting to know and understand one another through informal association outside the classroom...

The union is part of the education program of the college. As the center of college community life, it serves as a laboratory of citizenship, training students in social responsibility and for leadership in our democracy. Through its various boards, committees, and staff, it provides a cultural, social, and recreational program aiming to make free time activity a cooperative factor with study in education. In all its processes it encourages self directed activity, giving maximum opportunity for self-realization and for growth in individual social competency and group effectiveness. Its goal is the development of the persons as well as the intellects." - Approved by the ACU-I in 1956 and reaffirmed in 1964.

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Article I
Name

The name of this organization shall be the Memorial Student Center, hereinafter referred to as the Memorial Student Center or MSC.

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Article II
Purposes

In accordance with the purposes of Texas A&M University, the Memorial Student Center establishes its mission through achievement of the following five directives:

Section 1: To insure the accessibility of facilities including lounges, meeting rooms, ballrooms, art galleries, office space, spaces to house essential services, etc., that serve the co-curricular activities of students and the university community.

Section 2: To insure the accessibility of certain essential services such as food services, bookstore, hotel, recreational equipment, music listening, printing operation, a banking service for student organizations, etc., to accommodate the needs of students and the university community.

Section 3: To provide a balanced and diverse program of social, cultural, recreational, and entertainment activities which complement the academic programs of the University and enhance the quality of life in the university community.

Section 4: To provide "hands on" leadership and managerial experiences that lead to the development of effective skills for student civic leaders through involvement in the management of the facilities, services, and programs.

Section 5: To encourage student leaders and the general student body to establish broad perspectives based on social and international awareness, and a commitment to civic service.

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Article III
Membership

The members of the MSC shall be the members and executives of all programming and Council areas.

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Article IV
Officers

Section 1: Officers of MSC
The following will constitute officers of the MSC:

Section 2: Qualifications of Officers
The MSC student officers and prospective student officers of the MSC must fulfill the requirements for officers of student organizations as stated in the University Rules and Regulations as well as the requirements which are consistent with MSC policy, as established by the MSC Council.

Section 3: Selection of Officers
The MSC President, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Chairs, and Directors shall be selected by a majority vote of the voting Council members present at an announced MSC Council meeting.

Section 4: Term of Office
All officers of the MSC shall hold office for one year terms, as specified by the MSC Council.

Section 5: Removal from Office
A. All officers of the MSC Selected by the MSC Council may be removed from their position by a two-thirds vote of the total voting membership of the MSC Council following the completion of established MSC review procedures.

B. All appeals made by Council officers shall be directed to the Director of the Memorial Student Center. All appropriate procedures as outlined in the University Rules and Regulations shall be followed.

Section 6: Responsibilities and Duties of Officers
MSC officers shall perform those duties as outlined in the MSC Bylaws.

Section 7: Filling Vacant Positions
A. The MSC President may appoint, with Council approval, an interim replacement for vacant officer positions. If the office of the President is vacated, the EVP for Human Resources shall assume the duties of the President on an interim basis.

B. The Executive Vice President for Human Resources shall, at the direction of MSC Council, hold a nominating round according to established MSC policy, and present a recommendation to Council. If the office of the President is vacated, the Director of the MSC shall appoint a voting student member of the Council to conduct the nominating round.

C. Under extraordinary time constraints, the MSC Council may accept nominations from the floor or empower MSC Council Executive Committee and any other voting member of the Council to serve as the nominating committee.
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Article V
Memorial Student Center Council


Section 1: Authority of MSC Council
The MSC Council and its bodies shall operate in accordance with the policies, procedures, and administrative direction of Texas A&M University through the MSC Director and the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Section 2: Purpose of MSC Council
The purpose of the MSC Council, which shall report to the President of the University through the MSC Director and the Vice President for Student Affairs, shall be to serve as the governing body of the MSC, to formulate MSC general and specific policies, to guide the MSC officers and programming committees, and to advise the MSC operating departments. It shall also be responsible for seeing that the financial operations are consistent with stated purposes of the MSC. The Council shall formulate its own Bylaws, within the University Rules and Regulations, subject to approval by the President of the University through the MSC Director and the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Section 3: Meetings
A. The MSC Council shall hold regular meetings at least once each month during the spring and fall semesters. Other meetings shall be called by the Chair of the Council. Parliamentary Procedure shall be used according the most recent revision of Robert's Rules of Order, when not in conflict with the MSC Constitution and Bylaws.

B. A quorum in Council meetings shall be a majority of the total voting membership. During the summer, Spring Break, and Christmas holidays, a quorum of the Council shall be seven voting members, of whom at least five members shall be students and one member shall be a non-student.

C. The Council may conduct poll votes with respect to specific types of decisions.

D. The MSC Council shall conduct closed session meetings for the sole purpose of discussing confidential personnel matters. These sessions shall include only the voting members of the Council. Additional members, with the approval of 2/3 of the voting members present, may be allowed to attend a closed session.

Section 4: Membership of MSC Council
The MSC Council shall be made up as follows:
A. The following shall be voting members:
B. The following or their representatives, shall be non-voting members:

Section 5: Standing and Ad Hoc Committees
The MSC Council may create and appoint personnel to standing and Ad Hoc Committees.

Section 6: Duties of the MSC Council Members (Voting and Non-voting)
To attend Council Meetings and actively participate in discussion

To reflect the views of the members of their constituent organizations and the student body/university community

To serve on any standing and/or ad hoc committees as assigned by the Chair of the Council

To Support MSC Programs and provide constructive evaluations and feedback through appropriate channels.

Section 7: Selection of MSC Council Members
A. All members of Council will be members on the basis of their selection to their respective positions, except the former students and faculty members.

B. The former student members shall be recommended and approved by a majority vote of the Council.

C. The faculty members shall be recommended and approved by a majority vote of the Council.

Section 8: Term of Office for MSC Council Members
A. All Council members will serve on Council for the duration of time they are in their respective position, except the former students and faculty members.

B. The former student members and faculty members shall serve two-year staggered terms.

Section 9: Removal of MSC Council Members from Council
A. All Council members, with the exception of the MSC Director and the Faculty and Former Student members, may be removed from the MSC Council by a two-thirds vote of the total voting membership of the Council.

B. Faculty members of the Council may be removed from their positions upon recommendation of two-thirds of the total voting membership of the Council and the approval of the President of the University.

C. Former student members of the Council may be removed from their positions upon the recommendation of two-thirds of the total voting membership of the Council and the approval of the Board of Directors of The Association of Former Students.

D. All appeals made by Council members shall be directed to the Director of the Memorial Student Center. All appropriate procedures as outlined in the University Rules and Regulations shall be followed.
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Article VI
MSC Programming Committees


Section 1: Purpose and Appointment of MSC programming Committees
MSC Programming Committees and their respective purposes shall be established and abolished by a two-thirds vote of the total voting membership of the Council. Programming committees shall plan and implement programs under their respective jurisdictions, according to regulations and procedures established by the MSC Council.

Section 2: Membership of MSC Programming Committees
A. The Committee Chair and the MSC staff advisor shall be responsible for selecting their respective committee members and officers from the Texas A&M University student body under MSC Council guidelines.

B. The qualifications of the committee members must meet requirements as stated in the University Rules and Regulations. Any non-students chosen for membership must be approved by the MSC Director, with advice from the MSC Council.

Section 3: Qualifications of MSC Programming Committee Officers
All Programming Committee Chairs and prospective Chairs, as well as all committee officers and prospective officers, must fulfill the requirements for officers of student organizations as stated in the University Rules and Regulations as well as the requirements which are consistent with MSC guidelines.

Section 4: Removal of Programming Committee Members and Officers
A. The MSC Programming Committee Chairs, with the advice of their respective MSC Staff advisors, may remove committee members and committee officers at their discretion, with cause consistent with the goals of the MSC and eligibility criteria outlined in the University Rules and Regulations.

B. All appeals made by committee members and committee officers shall be directed to the Executive Vice President for Human Resources.
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Article VII
MSC Staff and Advisors


Section 1: MSC Staff
A. Responsibilities
MSC staff are employees of Texas A&M University. They shall be responsible for the duties outlined in their job descriptions.

B. Hiring
The MSC staff and the MSC officers shall serve as a screening committee for the hiring of all professional positions. The MSC Director shall recommend these candidates to the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Section 2: MSC Committee Advisors
A.MSC Committee Staff Advisors
The MSC Director, with the advise of MSC Officers, shall assign MSC Staff Advisors to the Committees.

B.Committee Faculty/Staff Advisors
The MSC Director, with the advise of the committee Chair, MSC Committee Staff Advisor and appropriate deans and department heads, shall appoint committee faculty/staff advisors.
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Article VIII
Amendments to the Constitution

Amendments to this Constitution shall be approved by a two-thirds vote of the total voting membership of the Council at an announced meeting. Any changes approved by the Council shall be forwarded to the President of the University, through the MSC Director and the Vice President for Student Affairs, for final approval.

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