Below is the Kent State College of Public Health Student Alliance Constitution (P.H.S.A.). Read through the information on this page to gain a solid understanding of how the P.H.S.A. can enhance your educational experience as you pursue your Public Health degree.

Want more information? Visit the College of Public Health home page today.

Preamble:
With the firm belief that student participation in the Kent State University College of Public Health is important in improving the quality of student life and representing students in decision making processes, the students of Kent State University College of Public Health hereby create this Constitution which shall be the bylaws of the Public Health Student Alliance of Kent State University.

ARTICLE I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Kent State University Public Health Student Alliance (hereinafter referred to as P.H.S.A).

ARTICLE II: Purpose

Section 1:
The purpose of the Public Health Student Alliance shall be:
1.    To promote the study of Public Health
2.    to promote academic and professional networking
3.    to provide current information about the public health field
4.    Develop a sense of community among all students and staff in the College of Public Health
5.    Expand opportunities for student professional development
6.    To promote social responsibility through community involvement and service
7.    To facilitate student dialogue with local, state, and national organizations
8.    To lend support to incoming and current public health students

Section 2:
The Public Health Student Alliance shall coordinate and promote activities, programs and fund-raising events which are of support to the goals of the organization.

Section 3:
Public Health Student Alliance shall operate as the central student government and the representative and coordinating organization of the students of the Kent State University, College of Public Health.

ARTICLE III: Membership

Section 1:
Membership in the Public Heath Student Alliance at Kent State University shall be open to any and all students, faculty, and staff at Kent State University who has an interest in public health. Any student interested in Public Health may attend meetings, but only members that pay dues will be granted active membership. Only those with active membership may become officers. Once a student graduates or ceases to be a student at the University, his/her active membership in the Public Health Student Alliance shall cease.  In the case of persons continuing to pay dues thereafter they shall be considered an active alumnus of the organization. 

Section 2: Affiliate Membership
An affiliate member is one who is taking less than three hours of University course work or one who is not currently enrolled. Such members may not outnumber student members, hold office, vote for officers, or vote on the expenditure of money. They may not schedule university facilities or services on behalf of the organization. Such members are expected to know, understand, and abide by all university rules and regulations.

Section 3: Removal
Any member may be removed from membership for violation of the purposes of the organization by a two-thirds vote of the active membership. All members must be notified of this pending action at least one week prior to the removal decision. Written charges by a member are to be presented to the Executive Committee who will notify the member in question with sufficient opportunity given for the member to answer charges at a meeting of the membership. Voting for removal from membership is to be done by secret ballot within 24 hours of the meeting. Only active members may vote. The member in question must be notified immediately of the outcome of the vote.

Section 4: Discrimination
It shall be stated as part of the policy of the Public Heath Student Alliance at Kent State University that there shall be no form or type of discrimination in the Public Health Student Alliance, whether it be due to one’s race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, handicap, or veteran’s status.

Section 5: Privileges
With active membership in the Public Health Student Alliance comes full floor and voting privileges on any and all items of Public Health Student Alliance business, including resolutions, items of legislation, bylaws, and elections.

ARTICLE IV: Degree Level Committees

Section 1:
The Public Health Student Alliance shall be comprised of two committees. The committees will be based on the degree levels within Kent State Universities, College of Public Health (and other colleges): Undergraduate and Graduate. The members of the Public Health Student Alliance shall belong to one of these committees based on their perspective degree level.

Section 2: Purpose
The purpose of the degree level committees is for students to have the opportunity to meet and network with their perspective degree level cohort.

ARTICLE V: Officers

Section 1:
The officers shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, graduate senator, and undergraduate senator. The officers shall form the Executive Committee and be responsible for all administrative duties of the Public Health Student Alliance.  The number of appointed officer positions can vary between semesters and can include all, some or none of the positions in sections 2 – 6 below. Additional appointed officer positions can be created by the Executive Committee. The additional position must be approved by a 3/5 vote by current active members.

Section 2: President
The President shall oversee the Executive Committee, general meetings and activities, and administrating policy for the organization.

Section 3: Vice President
The Vice President shall be responsible for organizing the officers, delegating responsibility to the officers and, in the absence of the President, assuming those duties.

Section 4: Secretary
The Secretary shall keep accurate and detailed records of all meetings and affairs, send/transmit all official Public Health Student Alliance correspondence, and coordinate preparation and distribution of Public Health Student Alliance flyers, handouts, and publications. Must keep track of member attendance and have a copy of the minutes from prior meetings available for members to view.

Section 5: Treasurer
The Treasurer shall receive and distribute Public Health Student Alliance funds upon the authorization of the Executive Committee, in accordance with the financial rules and regulations of the University and the laws of the State of Ohio, and make financial reports at all Executive Committee meetings, and at the regular meetings of the Public Health Student Alliance, and coordinate all fund-raising activities.

Section 6: Graduate and Undergraduate Senator
One senator will be elected for each of the two degree level committees (undergraduate and graduate) of Public Health Student Alliance. Senators will represent their committee during Public Health Student Alliance Executive Board Meetings. They will serve as the degree level committee head. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing committee activities (i.e. facilitating discussions), assisting in student recruiting, and recording minutes for individual committee meetings.  The senator must belong to the degree level he/she is a senator of.

Section 7: Elected Officers
All elected officers must meet all requirements for holding office as stated in the Digest of Rules and Regulations and the University Policy Register.

ARTICLE VI: Elections

Section 1: Appointment and/or Election
The Executive Committee shall be appointed, unless there is more than one qualified and interested candidate(s). In this event the position is chosen by election. The appointed or elected officer will be conferred by the current active members of the Public Health Student Alliance to serve a term of one year. Annual elections and appointments shall be held during the spring semester. The officers shall be elected by means of a secret ballot. The term of office for all officers shall begin on the first day of conferment and end upon the next election the following Spring Semester.

Section 2: Nomination
Nominations of candidacy for Public Health Student Alliance officer positions shall be from the floor of the meeting by a Public Health Student Alliance active member. Nominees for officer positions must be a Public Health Student Alliance active member.

Section 3: Voting
Voting shall take place after the close of nominations for each office. Officers shall be elected by majority vote of those Public Health Student Alliance active members present, provided quorum is met. Affiliate members are ineligible to vote for officers.

Section 4: Succession
The order of succession shall be: (1) president, (2) vice president, (3) secretary, (4) treasurer.

Section 5: Office Vacancies
Vacancies occurring in any of the elected offices shall be officially filled at the next regular Public Health Student Alliance meeting following the occurrence of such a vacancy or vacancies. The order of succession shall be followed in the filling of any vacant office during any unexpired term. If an officer declines to succeed to a vacant office, then an election shall be held to fill the vacant office for the remainder of the unexpired term. The election procedure for filling the unexpired term of a vacant office shall be the same as the normal procedure for elections.

ARTICLE VII: Appointments

Section 1:
The Executive Committee shall appoint, with a 3/5 approval vote of the active members, such positions as may contribute to the successful operation of the Public Health Student Alliance. Examples include, but are not limited to, program chair, fund-raising chair, etc.

ARTICLE VIII: Removal From Office

Section 1:
Any officer may be removed from office for failure to perform his/her prescribed duties by a two-thirds vote of the active membership, provided that all members are notified of this pending action at least one week prior to the removal decision. Removal from office can occur for failure to carry out the responsibilities of that office, for actions which violate the purposes of the organization, or for actions which violate University Rules and Regulations. Written charges by a member are to be presented to the Executive Committee who will notify the officer in question with sufficient opportunity given for the officer to answer charges at a meeting of the membership. Voting for removal from office is done by secret ballot. Only active members may participate in this vote, affiliate members are ineligible to vote.

ARTICLE IX: Meetings

Section 1: General Membership Meeting
General membership meetings shall be held minimum of once a month, with additional meetings called by the Executive Board or president as needed. Notice of additional meetings must be given to all members in a timely manner. The official means of notifying members shall be member’s Kent State e-mail.

Section 2: Degree Level Committees Meeting
The Degree Level Committees shall have an allotted amount of time to meet during each General Membership Meeting. The Degree Level Committees may meet outside of General Membership Meetings if the committee desires to. All meetings minutes must be recorded and reported to the secretary.

Section 3: Executive Committee Meeting
The Executive Committee frequency of meeting shall be decided by the Executive Committee members. Executive Committee must meet a minimum of twice a month.

Section 4: Election Meeting
Official notice of the meeting at which the election of Public Health Student Alliance officers will take place must be provided to all Public Health Student Alliance members not less than one week prior to such meeting. All individual committees meeting minutes must be recorded and turned into the secretary.

Section 5: Quorum
Quorum shall be defined as fifty percent plus one of the total of the Public Health Student Alliance active membership.

ARTICLE X: Funding

Section 1: Dues
Dues shall be charged for membership in the Public Health Student Alliance. The amount of dues charged for each year/semester will be determined at the first meeting of the Fall Semester. Semester memberships will expire on the first day of the next semester. Yearly memberships will expire on the last day of the second semester (including summer) after the semester in which dues are paid. Membership dues can be paid during any semester and will be collected by the treasurer. Students who do not pay their membership dues will lose their privileges of membership, including voting rights.

Section 2: Fund-Raising
The Public Health Student Alliance will, as it deems necessary, undertake fund-raisers for its own purposes. All fund-raising shall be conducted in accordance with University policies and procedures.

ARTICLE XI: Amendments

Section 1:
Amendments to this constitution shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the active members present at two consecutive meetings at which the amendment has been read.

Section 2: submission of approved amendment
Once approved by the active membership, amendments shall be submitted to the Office of Campus Life of Kent State University.

ARTICLE XII: Jurisdiction

Section 1:
The Public Health Student Alliance is subject, as a registered student organization, to the rules, regulations, and policies of Kent State University and the laws of the State of Ohio. The rules, regulations, and policies of Kent State University shall hold precedence over any and all rules, regulations, and policies applying to the Public Health Student Alliance, including those of national organizations with which the Public Health Student Alliance is associated.