Professional Audio Student Organization

Constitution of the
Professional Audio Student Organization

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Article I – Name
The Name Professional Audio Student Organization has been designated for this student organization of Savannah College of Art and Design and may, for convenience be referred to as PASO.

Article II. – Purpose
Section 1.
A.    PASO exists for the purpose of familiarizing students with the ever-changing field of audio as well as providing accesses to professional organizations within the industry.  PASO will encourage students to learn through discussion about topics of interest specific to the industry and provide a forum for social networking that will benefit future careers.

Section 2.
The objectives of PASO shall be
A.    To engage students in discussion outside the classroom that will further individuals studies in audio.
B.    To provide a place for students to network for collaborations of shared interests.
C.    To provide a forum to debate current issues and trends in the audio industry that may not be covered in class.
D.    To develop workshops and events that explore areas of interest for students that go beyond and enhance the scope of the classroom.

Article III. Membership and Expectations
Section 1. General Membership
A.    All students who are currently enrolled in good standing at the Savannah College of Art and Design are eligible to be members.
B.    All members are expected to follow all SCAD policies and procedures.
C.    No person shall be denied membership on the grounds of race, religion, creed, gender, national origin, disability, age, and sexual orientation, be excluded from participation, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination as defined by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
D.    Students are encouraged to become involved with at least one of the professional societies of the audio industry.
Section 2. Voting Members
A.    Members eligible for voting must have been present at 75% of the meetings for that quarter.
B.    All voting members must be a current student in good standing (full-time status, 2.5 GPA cumulative, not on disciplinary, residence hall, or academic probation, etc.)
C.    In the event that a voting member cannot attend a meeting an alternative may not be sent in his/her place.
D.    Advisers are not granted voting privileges.
Section 3. Executive Officers
A.    The executive board consists of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Webmaster and ICC Liaison.
B.    All members of the executive board must have a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA.
C.    Members of the executive board are expected to attend, help organize and administer regular meetings.
D.    Term of office for all executive members will be one academic year.

Article IV – Officer Responsibilities
Section 1. President
A.    Primary official spokesperson for the organization.
B.    Chair general, executive and special meetings.
C.    Prepare an agenda for each meeting in conjunction with the executive board and adviser.
D.    Knowledge of the organization’s constitution, bylaws and procedures.
E.    Knowledge of SCAD policy and resources with regards to student organizations.
F.    Appoint, with the consent of the membership other officers and special committees, as the President deems necessary.
G.    Meet with the adviser on a regular basis as deemed necessary.
H.    Produce an end of the year report in regards to ICC.
I.    The President is the only officer with the authority to overturn or veto any decisions, presentations or club business s/he deems to be inappropriate or in conflict with the mission statement of the organization.
a.    This act can only be overturned by a 2/3 vote of general membership or a unanimous vote of the Executive Board.
Section 2. Vice President
A.    Chair meetings in the absence of the President.
B.    Assume all the powers and duties of the President in the absence of the President.
Section 3. Treasurer
A.    Prepares, with the Executive Board, an annual budget proposal.
B.    Will regulate incoming and outgoing funds.
C.    Will keep a ledger of the organization’s expenditures.
D.    Works with the office of student involvement regarding budget allocations, fundraising and the safekeeping of funds.
Section 4. Secretary
A.    To record and distribute minutes of all general and special meetings in a timely manner.
B.    Complete all necessary paperwork needed by the office of student involvement by the deadlines assigned.
C.    Work with the office of student involvement to maintain contact information for the organization.
D.    In the absence of the ICC Liaison, the Secretary will serve as the ICC Liaison.
Section 5. Webmaster
A.    Maintain all forms of electronic communication for the club.
B.    Keep the club blog, MySCAD Group and any other websites up to date with the most accurate club information.
C.    Create and maintain any internet based medium created for use by the club.
Section 6. ICC Liaison
A.    Attend regular ICC meetings and report to the executive board of PASO any relevant information discussed at ICC.
B.    Position may be filled by an other officer.

Article V – Adviser
Section 1. Adviser
A.    The adviser shall be a full-time faculty or staff member.
B.    Advisers of a major-specific student organization must have the approval of the Chair of that School’s department.
Section 2. Adviser Responsibilities
A.    Serve as a mentor to the organization; provide direction regarding the purpose and goals of the organization.
B.    Coordinate the training of officers maintaining group continuity, and continue traditions set forth by the organization.
C.    Attend all meetings and events and meet with officers on a regular basis.
D.    Serve as a liaison between the organization and the office of student involvement.
E.    Make sure that the organization is in compliance with SCAD and Student Involvement policies and procedures, the student handbook, and the student organization handbook.

Article VI – Selection of Officers
Section 1. Election of the Executive Officers
A.    Only voting members at the time of elections who have at least 3.0 GPA the previous quarter, can be elected for an executive office.
B.    Elections will be held annually during Spring Quarter.
C.    Elected officers shall receive a majority of the votes cast. If more than two people are nominated, a run-off shall occur between the two people who receive the most votes in the first round of voting, if in the first round one person does not receive a majority of the votes cast.
Section 2. Terms of Office
A.    The elected officers shall assume office immediately following election.
B.    The officers shall hold office for one academic year.

Article VII – Meetings
Section 1. Regular Meetings
A.    The organization shall meet bi-weekly on the first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth week of the quarter.
B.    The meeting schedule will be made available to all members before the last week of the previous quarter.

Section 2. Executive Board Meetings
A.    Executive Board Meetings will be held on a regular basis at least once a month.
B.    The executive board and the adviser will decide the time and place for these meetings.
C.    The President is the only Executive that may call an additional officer meeting.

Section 3. Attendance
A.    Attendance at each meeting is required for all representatives.
Section 4. Quorum
A.    A quorum is defined as more voting members present than absent. Excused absences are not included in the quorum count.
Section 5. Voting Rights
A.    Only the voting membership has a vote.
B.    Members and executives have equal vote.
C.    Advisers have no voting status.
D.    In case of a tie a revote will be cast; if a tie still happens the issue can be tabled until the next meeting for further discussion.

Article VIII – Dismissals and Vacancies
Section 1. Recall of Officers
A.    The membership may initiate a recall of any officer by two-thirds of the voting members present of the organization in closed session.
Section 2. Vacancies
A.    If a vacancy occurs in office through resignation, recall, non-enrollment in school or other reasons such as discipline issues, lack of fulltime status, GPA less than 3.0, etc. the next highest rank shall assume office.  The highest ranking officer will then step up elections for a new officer at the next regular meeting following the occurrence of the vacancy.

Article IX – Finances
Section 1. Dues
A.    There shall be no dues for membership for any student organization.
Section 2. Funding
A.    The primary source of funding shall be from individual fundraising.
B.    Supplemental sources of funding included yearly budget allocations from the Inter Club Council and grants made available through the office of student involvement.
Section 3. Fund Accounts
A.    Each student organization shall be appropriated individual accounts with the office of student involvement. Each organization shall manage its own finances through the office of student involvement with the guidance and approval of the coordinator of student programs.
B.    The President, Treasurer and Adviser are the only members of the organization allowed to deposit and allocate reimbursements for each student organization.

Article X – Amendment Process
A.    Proposed amendments to the constitution must be sent to the voting members of each organization at least one week in advance of the next regular meeting.
B.    At the next regular meeting, said proposed amendments to the constitution must be approved by two-thirds vote of the members.

Article XI – Adoption and Amending
The constitution of Audio Engineering Society was adopted and/or amended on January 27, 2008.