I.     Name:   

The official name of this organization shall be the Special Libraries Association Student Chapter at UCLA.

II.    Purposes and Aims:    

The Special Libraries Association Student Chapter at UCLA shall promote the social and professional growth of its members and support the Department of Information Studies. It will also facilitate and encourage participation in the Special Libraries Association. It will encourage professional contacts within the field of librarianship with an emphasis on "non-traditional" settings, and will actively promote involvement in professional activities beyond the classroom.

III.    Membership:

A. All members of this organization shall be currently enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles. B. Membership in the Special Libraries Association is strongly encouraged. C. All Faculty of the Department of Information Studies are granted honorary membership and are entitled to all the privileges of membership with the exception that they cannot vote. D. Membership is open to all students, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, creed, handicap, sexual orientation, or age.

IV.    Activities:

A. There shall be a meeting of the membership at the beginning of each academic year and thereafter as necessary. B. Activities and programs shall be planned in accordance with the purpose set forth in Article II, Purposes and Aims. C. All financial records of the organization shall be made available upon request.

V.     Officers:

A. The officers of this organization shall consist of a President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. B. Responsibilities: The President shall preside at all of the meetings, direct the activities of the other officers, and oversee matters concerning membership, publications, and SLA sponsored projects and activities. The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in the latter’s absence and shall assume the office of the president should it become vacated during the stated term of office. The Vice-President shall assist the President with the duties of the executive office. The Vice-President shall also be responsible for maintaining minutes of all meetings, correspondence files, and records in good order to be passed on to the next Board. The Treasurer shall be responsible for financial matters pertaining to the organization, including fund raising and petitions to pertinent university organizations, and shall present a financial report at the beginning and end or her/his term of office.

VI.    Faculty Advisor:

A. The Faculty Advisor shall be recommended by the Chair of the Department of Information Studies and approved by the members of the Student Chapter. The Faculty Advisor shall act as a liaison between the Student Chapter and the Special Libraries Association and between the Student Chapter and the Department of Information Studies. B. The Faculty Advisor shall be an active partner with the Student Chapter membership in fulfilling the purposes set forth in Article II. Purposes and Aims.

VII.   Executive Board:   

The Executive board shall consist of the Officers and the Faculty Advisor as Member Ex-Officio.

VIII.  Elections and Terms of Office

A. Elections for the offices of President, Vice-President, and Treasurer shall be coordinated by the outgoing President and/or the Advisor and shall take place near the end of the year. The exact timing shall be at the discretion of the Advisor.

B. Only students at UCLA shall be able to serve as officers. Two individuals may hold an officer position jointly.

C. Elections shall take place if there are multiple candidates for the offices.

D. Terms of office for all offices shall be for one academic year, with no restrictions on the number of incumbencies.

E. The officer's terms of office shall begin on July 1st following the election and run until June 30th of the next year.

F. The Advisor shall be permitted to relieve any officer for malfeasance or conduct detrimental to the reputation of SLA. Such relief shall be considered extraordinary, but shall also be in the sole discretion of the Advisor.

G. Officer Vacancies will be filled in the sole discretion of the Advisor.

H. The Advisor may create new officer positions at any time.

IX.    Committees:    

Committees shall be appointed as necessary by the Executive Board.

X.     Parliamentary Procedures:   

All questions of parliamentary procedure shall be decided in accordance with the forms outlined in the most current edition of Roberts Rules of Order.

XI.    Amendments:   

Proposed amendments to this Constitution may be introduced by any member at any meeting and shall be decided by a majority vote of those present at the next meeting of the organization.

XII.   Ratification:   

Ratification of this Constitution shall be in accordance with the rules set forth for amendment to this document.

Ratified: October 19, 1999

Amended: Section VIII amended May 18, 2005

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Updated October 24, 2006