SECTION 1

The official name of the organization shall be the Black Student Psychological Association, hereafter BSPA.

SECTION 2

The primary mission of the Black Student Psychological Association shall be to effectively serve and retain Black students studying Psychology (and in related areas) by holistically enhancing their academic experience through the following systems of support:

1. INFORMATIONAL: provide and exchange basic information about, but not limited to, the history, objectives, and activities of BSPA, relevant political and structural matters, Michigan Student Assembly guidelines, activities of the university and psychology department, and research and employment opportunities and other information that specifically addresses the interests of Black psychology students.
2. ACADEMIC: provide meaningful assistance and informal opportunities in research development and presentation via an updated organizational filing system containing copies of BSPA members' independent research (e.g., 619's, Prelims, Dissertation proposals, drafts, and unbounded versions) and through informal gatherings and colloquia.
3. SOCIAL/INTERPERSONAL: provide, outside the academic domain, social outlets for interpersonal contact, cultural bonding, and emotional support specifically as they relate to Black students' transition to and experience in graduate school.
4. COMMUNITY SERVICE: provide resources (e.g., intellectual, social, psychoeducational, emotional, financial support and/or assistance) in an effort to give back to the Black community. Through this endeavor, we recognize our responsibility to and interconnectedness with the Black community.

SECTION 3

BSPA commits itself to the national recruitment of qualified Black applicants to doctoral programs in Psychology (and related areas).

SECTION 1

Any Black graduate student in psychology at the University of Michigan (including those students in combined and joint programs of psychology) shall be eligible for membership in BSPA.

SECTION 2

Full membership shall be determined by active participation in organizational functions (e.g., meetings and/or social & academic events) and complete payment of dues (amount so determined by Executive Board). Full members of BSPA have the right to vote, hold office, participate in all BSPA committee activities and other functions, and freely contribute to all proceedings of the organization.

SECTION 3

Any Black undergraduate student at the University of Michigan who is majoring or interested in psychology shall be eligible for affiliate membership. Any graduate student at the University of Michigan who is enrolled in a recognized program focusing on psychological issues shall also be eligible for affiliate membership. All affiliate members of BSPA shall have the right to participate in all BSPA committee activities and functions and to freely contribute to all proceedings of the organization, but may not vote or hold office.

SECTION 4

Loss of membership, both full and affiliate, shall occur when, after one semester, a member has made no reasonable effort to pay dues in full and has failed to attend at least one organizational function.

SECTION 1

General Body meetings shall be held monthly during the Fall and Winter Terms (September through April) and periodically throughout the Summer/Spring Term (as determined by the Executive Board). At least 24 hours notice must be given to all BSPA members prior to any scheduled meeting. Notice may be given either by mail or telephone.

SECTION 2

Executive Board Meetings shall be held monthly prior to the General Body Meetings. Only members of the Executive Board shall attend, unless otherwise invited by a member of the Executive Board. The President (or designee) shall be responsible for setting the meeting and informing all Board members.

SECTION 3

Emergency and other meetings shall be held on call of the President or a majority vote of the membership.

SECTION 4

At least two executive board members and two other full members present will constitute a quorum (the required number of members who must be present to vote).

SECTION 1

The officers of BSPA shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Program Chairperson, Recruitment Chairperson, Social Chairperson, Funding Chairperson, and Outreach Chairperson. These officers shall comprise the Executive Board.

SECTION 2

DUTIES/POWERS OF THE OFFICERS:

(Refs. Handbook of Parliamentary Procedure, Davidson, H.A., The Ronald Press Company: New York, 1968; Rules of Order-Newly Revised, Roberts, H.M., Scott,Foresman: Glenview, IL, 1990.)

PRESIDENT:

• shall serve as main liaison between BSPA and the psychology department and the University community at large.
• shall preside over all executive board and general body meetings.
• shall be responsible for the formulation and implementation of the policies
• outlined in the Constitution/By-laws of BSPA.
• (with the Treasurer) shall be responsible for the disbursement and maintenance
• of organizational funds.
• shall be the official BSPA spokesperson and motivator; and be responsible for
• the maintenance of peace and a positive atmosphere at BSPA events.

VICE-PRESIDENT:

• shall assume all presidential duties in the absence of the President.
• shall work in close cooperation with the President on all organizational duties.
• (with the Recruitment Chair) shall be responsible for coordinating and
• overseeing all recruitment and admissions activities.
• shall notify members of election and appointments to office.

SECRETARY:

• shall be responsible for the retrieval and dissemination of all correspondences
• relating to the organization.
• shall maintain and read minutes of meetings.
• shall notify members of all general body meetings.
• shall maintain a liaison with chairpersons to ensure that all instructions and
• reports are accounted for and recorded.
• shall maintain an updated list of full members' names, addresses, phone
• numbers, and other relevant information.
• (with the Historian) shall ensure that copies of meeting agenda and reports are
• placed in the file.

TREASURER:

• shall keep a record of all BSPA income and expenditures.
• (with the President) shall safeguard and account for all BSPA funds.
• shall ensure that bankbook is balanced monthly.
• shall be responsible for giving a financial report at general body meetings.
• shall be responsible for collecting dues and enforcing dues payment.
• (with the Funding Chairperson) shall be responsible for all fundraising
• ideas/activities (when needed).
• shall be responsible for negotiating, requesting, and obtaining funds for
• committee activities (when necessary).
• shall present at the last general body meeting (in April) a complete financial
• report covering the year's financial activities.

HISTORIAN:

• shall be responsible for maintaining alliances and correspondence with alumni
• and other similarly-focused groups outside the University of Michigan.
• shall be responsible for maintaining the historical/cultural roots of BSPA by
• arranging for photographs, audio/video recordings, and the like.
• shall be responsible for Afrocentric and/or inspirational fervor at general body
• meetings.
• shall be responsible for giving a pictorial year in review at the last meeting of the
• year (in April).
• (with the Secretary) shall ensure that the BSPA files are kept up to date.

FUNDING CHAIRPERSON(S):

• (with the Treasurer) shall be responsible for all fundraising ideas/activities
• (when needed).
• shall be responsible for coordinating and writing funding proposals necessary for
• committee activities (when needed).

PROGRAM CHAIRPERSON(S):

• shall oversee the program committee.
• shall be the main coordinator(s) of all BSPA special projects (e.g., Installation &
• Awards ceremony, Black History Month programs, colloquiums, etc.).

RECRUITMENT CHAIRPERSON(S):

• shall oversee the recruitment committee.
• (with the Vice-President) shall be the main coordinator(s) of all recruitment
• programs and activities (e.g., Fall Recruitment Weekend, Admissions, Student
• Follow-up, etc.).

SOCIAL CHAIRPERSON(S):

• shall oversee the social committee.
• shall be the main coordinator(s) of all BSPA social functions (e.g. Kwanzaa
• events, informal gatherings, etc.).

OUTREACH CHAIRPERSON(S):

• shall notify members of community service opportunities.
• shall coordinate or appoint a coordinator for community service activities.

SECTION 3

TERMS & ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The Executive Board Officers shall hold office for one year (May 1st until April 30th), unless otherwise determined by a majority of the membership. In March nominations for official positions shall be accepted from the floor at the general body meeting, through the mail, and/or on secret nomination forms made accessible to all full members. At least one candidate shall be nominated for each office before more than one individual may be nominated to an official position. A final list of nominees shall be voted on in the April general body meeting. A plurality of votes from full membership is necessary for election to an official position. Following the April election within 30 days, the outgoing executive board members shall assist the newly-elected officers in assuming their respective duties.

SECTION 4

REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF OFFICERS

Should elected officers fail to perform the duties of their office adequately, they may be removed following a written grievance and a two-third (2/3) vote of the full membership.

Should for good reason, an elected officer resign before the start of the official Fall Term of the next academic year, the office shall be assumed by the candidate receiving, respectively, the most votes, in the April general election. A new election shall take place only if resignation has occurred after the beginning of the Fall term or if all candidates eligible to assume the vacant office have been selected to serve in another official BSPA position.

SECTION 5

In the absence of any officer, the following chain of command shall be observed:

President

Vice-President

Secretary

Treasurer

Historian

Committee Chairpersons

The President shall be responsible for assigning the duties of other executive board members in their absence when (s)he is unable to perform them.

SECTION 1

STANDING COMMITTEES

The Program, Recruitment, and Social Chairpersons shall ensure that the following standing committees are appointed each year (respectively): Program Committee, Recruitment Committee, and Social Committee.

SECTION 2

DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES

The Program Committee, chaired by the Program Chairperson(s), shall recommend, plan, and enact BSPA special events, including the annual Installation and Awards Ceremony to be held, ideally, in September of each year.

The Recruitment Committee, chaired by the Recruitment Chairperson(s), shall coordinate all BSPA recruitment programs, including the preparation of the yearly Recruitment evaluation and written proposal for the following year's recruitment activities.

The Social Committee, chaired by the Social Chairperson(s), shall recommend and coordinate all BSPA social functions, including the Kwanzaa Celebration and Potluck.

SECTION 3

Ad Hoc Committees may be created when a resolution has been passed by the membership or when deemed necessary by the President or the Executive Board. Ad Hoc Committees shall function as additional components to facilitate those activities and events not addressed by the aforementioned committees (i.e., an outreach committee may be formed for the purpose of providing specific community "service" opportunities for BSPA members, such as food/clothing drive, mentorship programs, and Adopt-A-Hall programs).

Any article or section of this Constitution/By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at any BSPA General Body Meeting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment(s) (has/have) been given in the notice of said meeting.

ARTICLE VII.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. The following procedural order of business shall be the agenda for all General Body meetings:
   1. The Reading and Approval of Minutes
   2. Treasurer Report (when appropriate)
   3. Committee Reports (when appropriate)
   4. Welfare (those issues that pertain to the internal development and well-being of the organization)
   5. DAP (recognition of achievements of BSPA members and alumni)
   6. A Poet's Moment/Inspirational Reading (joint effort of Historian and President)
2. Changes to the above agenda shall be at the discretion of the President.