Language Learning Institute
 
Constitution for the Texas A&M University - Language Learning Institute (TAMU - LLI) Article I. Name The name of this student organization shall be known as the Texas A&M University - Language Learning Institute (TAMU-LLI), formerly known as the Language Learning Institute. Article II. Purpose & Goals The main objective of the organization is to provide students, faculty, and community members with facilities to learn foreign languages and English. We aim to fulfill this goal by providing members an opportunity to learn languages free of charge from volunteer students, faculty, and students studying a foreign language. The secondary objective of the organization is to prepare Texas A&M University for an accredited and funded Language Institute. Officers are to keep close relations with Liberal Arts College staff in order to sustain awareness of language institute demand and progress. Article III. Membership There are three types of membership: student, instructor, conversational partner. Section I. Student Student membership is open to all students, faculty, employees of Texas A&M University, and individuals within the Bryan-College Station community. They are required to pay their semester membership dues. Section II. Instructor Instructor membership is open to all students, faculty, employees of Texas A&M University, and individuals within the Bryan-College Station community. Instructors are unpaid volunteers that teach in a classroom setting. Hence, they are not required to pay the semester dues since they are volunteers. Section III. Conversational Partner Conversational Partner membership is open to all students, faculty, employees of Texas A&M University, and individuals within the Bryan-College Station community. Similar to instructors, conversational partners are unpaid volunteers that teach outside a classroom setting and provide one-on-one instruction with a student member. Conversational Partners do not have to pay semester membership dues if they are able to establish a partnership with a student member. Section VI. Procedure for disciplining/removing a member: Any member having two unexcused absences a semester may be removed from membership in the organization. Members are to be informed in advance of these expectations. Should a member miss more than two meetings, they will be given an opportunity to account for their absences to the executive officer team. The executive officer team will review the situation after hearing from the member in question. A decision will be made expeditiously and the member will be contacted as to the outcome of the situation. A quorum of fifty percent plus one must be present at the meeting and a 2/3 vote must be obtained in order to remove the individual. Article IV. Officers Officers consist of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, public relations coordinator, human resources coordinator, curriculum coordinator, social event coordinator, student advisor, and webmaster. Section I. Requirements “The officers of this organization must meet the following requirements: (a) Have a minimum grade point ratio (GPR) as stated below and meet the minimum GPR in the semester immediately prior to the election/appointment, the semester of election/appointment and semesters during the term of office 1) For undergraduate students, the minimum GPR is 2.00. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (half-time credits) must have been taken for the semester under consideration. In one limited circumstance, summer semester hours may be applied to this provision. In order for summer coursework to qualify toward a grade point ratio prior to election/appointment, at least six credit hours must have been taken during the course of either the full or two summer session(s). 2) For graduate level students the minimum GPR is 3.00. In order for this provision to be met, at least four hours (half-time credits) must have been taken for the semester under consideration. In one limited circumstance, summer semester hours may be applied to this provision. In order for summer coursework to qualify toward a grade point ratio prior to election/appointment, at least six credit hours must have been taken during the course of either the full or two summer session(s) unless fewer credits are required as they complete the final stages of their degree. (b) Be in good standing with the university and enrolled: 1) at least half-time (six or more credit hours), if an undergraduate student (unless fewer credits are required to graduate in the spring and fall semesters) during the term of office, and 2) at least half time (four or more credit hours), if a graduate level student (unless fewer credits are required in the final stages of their degree as defined by the Continuous Registration Requirement) during their term in office. (c) Be ineligible to hold an office should the student fail to maintain the requirements as prescribed in (a) and (b).” Section II. Executive Officer Team and Duties • President: shall set agenda for the year and ensures that each officer is doing the job requested of them. The President is responsible for developing a weekly agenda, maintaining progress updates of officers, administering end of year elections with the vice president, and recognition requirements. • Vice President: shall assist the president and preside over meetings in the absence of the president, reserve rooms for events and meetings. The Vice President is responsible for administering weekly agendas to the representatives and ensuring they fulfill their responsibility, administering end of year elections with the president, and recognition requirements. • Secretary: shall record minutes at all meetings, maintain a log of items discussed at all meetings, inform officers of meeting and event summaries, check attendance at functions, and receive and review excuses for absences. The Secretary is responsible for the member list, the organization and maintenance of important documents, and storage of language books and material. • Treasurer: shall collect dues, pay bills, oversee other monetary transactions including fund raising and social activities, and prepare and maintains the annual budget. • Public Relations Coordinator: shall network and maintain relationships with the University and surrounding community, develops surveys of language demand within various organizations, schools, departments, and services. The Public Relations Coordinator is responsible for speaking in the Student Senate for language related issues when asked, and works coincide with Social Events Coordinator in marketing. • Human Resources Coordinator: shall be responsible for organizing registration results, contacting language instructors bi-monthly for progress reports and ensures accommodations of preparedness, and resolving other issues. The Human Resources Coordinator works closely with the Curriculum Coordinator in providing instructional seminars, teaching material, and classroom reservations. • Curriculum Coordinator: shall develop material for instruction, sets agendas for instruction during semester, and finds suitable books and online supplementary materials for teachers. Curriculum Coordinator works closely with the Human Resources Coordinator in providing instructional seminars for teaching. • Social Event Coordinator: shall share responsibility with the Treasurer for fund raising. The Social Event Coordinator is responsible for t-shirts, outreach and community events, community service events when deemed applicable, administering agenda to liaison representatives, and shares responsibility with Public Relations Coordinator in marketing. • Student Advisor: Provides insight and advice for events and ideas. Arbitrates internal and external disputes if necessary. • Webmaster: shall maintain the website, adds and updates information when necessary. The Webmaster is responsible for maintaining the registration system, listservs, and distribution of information to the listservs when required. Section III. Officer Selection Election shall be held at the first regular meeting during the month of April. A quorum must be present and a simple majority vote will win. The vote will be conducted by an Australian ballot. Newly elected officers shall assume responsibility at the first meeting of the fall semester. Section IV. Officer Removal Any officer having two unexcused absences may be removed from position within the organization. Officers may also be removed from membership if they fail to fulfill their duties as outlined within the constitution. The officer in question is to be informed in advance of these expectations. Should an officer’s position be reviewed for possible removal, he/she will be given an opportunity to account for their situation to the remaining executive officer team. These officers will review the situation after hearing from the officer in question. A decision will be made expeditiously and the officer in question will be contacted as to the outcome of the situation. A quorum of fifty percent plus one must be present at the meeting and a 2/3 vote must be obtained in order to remove the officer from his/her position. Article V. Advisors Section I. Expectations • The advisor to the Texas A&M University - Language Learning Institute shall be a Texas A&M University employee as defined by the Human Resources Department. The advisor will be willing to obtain an appropriate level of experience, resource information and knowledge related to the mission, purpose and activities of the club. • The advisor will regularly attend executive and general meetings. They will be available for consultation outside of these meetings. • The advisor will assist the organization with the development of goals and the objectives for the academic year. The advisor will also assist the organization with even planning and facilitation. When necessary, the advisor will be willing to attend events as identified by the planning process. • The advisor will be aware of the University Student Rules and will assist the organization with adherence to these expectations. Section II. Replacement If for any reason the advisor is no longer willing and/or able to fulfill the responsibilities, they will formally communicate this to the student organization and the Department of Student Activities in writing. The organization will then determine the appropriate course of action for replacing the advisor. Article VI. Finances Section I. Dues Dues shall be determined per academic year and will be collected from all members of this organization. Dues will be allocated and used accordingly to every member and executive benefit. Section II. Financial Transactions All monies belonging to this organization shall be deposited and disbursed through a bank account established for this organization at the Student Organization Finance Center and/or the Fiscal Office. All funds must be deposited within twenty-four hours after collection. The advisor to this organization must approve and sign each expenditure before payment. Article VII. Amendments and Revisions Section I. Amendments This constitution may be amended at any time by a 2/3 vote of the active membership, subject to the approval of the Department of Student Activities. Section II. Revision This document is to be reviewed every year and resubmitted to the Department of Student Activities.
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