[Tricia Smith]

Tamra, I am also interested in this information! Please share. This is an interesting topic that has come up a few times over the last year or so on my campus. We’ve been able to work through mediation but I that won’t always be the case. Student leaders assume they are just allowed to “kick” someone out.

——————————
Tricia Smith
Salisbury University
Salisbury MD
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 12-07-2022 12:22
From: Tamra Bates
Subject: Removing Members from Organizations

I am looking for examples of language or policies around removing a student organization member from an organization.  We have an impeachment for officers written into organization charters, but have been hit with a flood of cases where organizations are looking to get rid of a member and I have nothing around whether they can or cannot and the process for doing so.  Please email me directly and thank you in advance for your help!

——————————
Tamra Bates
Director of Student Engagement
Smith College
Northampton MA
——————————

[Kevin Merrill]

Hello!

 

This is a section we developed for this scenario that appears on our sample constitution:

 

Section 2: Removal

1. Reasons for removal may include, but are not limited to, use of derogatory language, bullying, harassment, theft, repeated disruptions during meetings, or any other action deemed unacceptable by the current Student Disciplinary Regulations (Code of Conduct).
2. The removal process may be initiated by any member of the organization.
• A formal call for removal must first be brought to the officers of the organization. A member may call for removal of another member by emailing the President of the organization and requesting to discuss their concerns at the nearest officer meeting.
• Officers must have a majority vote of approval to move the removal process to a general membership vote. Officers will vote by show of hands.
3. Membership may be revoked by a majority vote of club membership present at the voting meeting.
4. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot at a general meeting.
• The voting method will be an anonymous virtual form or secret paper ballot (method decided by organization officers).
5. The member in question must be provided a summary of the reasons for removal at least one week in advance of the general membership vote.
6. The vote will be announced at least one week prior to the meeting with a summary of the reasons for removal.
7. The member will be allowed to speak to the membership for a maximum of 5 minutes before voting occurs. The member in question will be asked to leave the meeting while deliberation and voting commences. The member in question will be informed of the results and be allowed access to the ballots if requested.
8. The member in question may attempt to appeal the results of the vote by contacting the Advisor of the organization and submitting a written statement. The advisor must respond with their decision within 10 days. No secondary appeals will be permitted.
9. Member in question may request reinstatement 365 days after removal.
• Member must submit a written request for reinstatement to officers.
• Officers must reach a unanimous vote through a show of hands to reinstate member.

 

More can be found here: https://studentengagement.iastate.edu/student-organizations/resources-for-organizations/constitution-guidelines/

 

-Kevin

 

Kevin Merrill Assistant Director for Student Organizations, Leadership, and Service
he, him, his

 

 

Iowa State University

1560 Memorial Union

2229 Lincoln Way

Ames, IA 50014

 

 

P        515-294-4055

W       http://www.studentengagement.iastate.edu/

E        kmerrill@iastate.edu

Book a virtual appointment

 

——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 12/9/2022 4:11:00 PM
From: Tricia Smith
Subject: RE: Removing Members from Organizations

Tamra, I am also interested in this information! Please share. This is an interesting topic that has come up a few times over the last year or so on my campus. We’ve been able to work through mediation but I that won’t always be the case. Student leaders assume they are just allowed to “kick” someone out.

——————————
Tricia Smith
Salisbury University
Salisbury MD
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 12-07-2022 12:22
From: Tamra Bates
Subject: Removing Members from Organizations

I am looking for examples of language or policies around removing a student organization member from an organization.  We have an impeachment for officers written into organization charters, but have been hit with a flood of cases where organizations are looking to get rid of a member and I have nothing around whether they can or cannot and the process for doing so.  Please email me directly and thank you in advance for your help!

——————————
Tamra Bates
Director of Student Engagement
Smith College
Northampton MA
——————————

[Geoff Pimlatt]

Hi Tamra.

We have a section in our Clubs Operating Policy dealing with those cases. Here’s the except:

8.00 REMOVAL OF MEMBERS
8.01 A Club member, including a member of the Executive, may be given notice of removal.
Removal will be considered where the member commits an act that negatively affects the
interests of the Club and its members, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Non-disclosure of a significant or continuing conflict of interest.
(2) Violation of the University’s Code of Student Conduct.
(3) Misuse of Club funds or financial transactions in a manner not communicated to the
Executives or members of the Club.
(4) Violation of the USC Community Standards Policy.
(5) Violation of a USC or University Policy or Procedure that harms the reputation of
either organization and/or exposes either organization to financial or legal liability.
(6) Any violation committed by a Club that the Clubs Governance Board has
determined to be the responsibility of a single Club member or group of Club
Members.
(7) Gross negligence in the fulfillment of an executive’s duties and/or obligations as per
the club’s constitution.
8.02 Members and Executive members, as outlined in the clubs constitution, may be removed
by a 2/3rds majority vote of at least 25% of all members.
(1)The names of the removed individuals are to be submitted to the Student
Organization Support Staff for removal of all club privileges.
8.03 Notice of removal shall be delivered jointly by the Club’s President and the Associate
Vice-President, Clubs. If the member being removed is the Club President, notice shall be
delivered by the Associate Vice-President, Clubs.
(1) The individual will have five (5) days to appeal to CGB.
8.04 A Club Executive may be removed from their position on the Executive without being
removed from the Club for reasons outlined in, but not limited to, section 8.01.
(1) This section does not preclude removal of an Executive from the Club.
8.05 Any member that is removed from a Club shall lose all privileges associated with
membership in said Club.
8.06 Any member that is removed from a Club shall not be refunded any membership fees paid.

As noted above, we have a Clubs Governance Board that oversees this Policy and acts as a appeals board. I’ve attached the Terms of Reference for the Board, along with the full Operating Policy.

Hope this helps!
Geoff

——————————
Geoff Pimlatt
Senior Manager Information Systems
University Students’ Council
University of Western Ontario
London ON
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 12-07-2022 12:22
From: Tamra Bates
Subject: Removing Members from Organizations

I am looking for examples of language or policies around removing a student organization member from an organization.  We have an impeachment for officers written into organization charters, but have been hit with a flood of cases where organizations are looking to get rid of a member and I have nothing around whether they can or cannot and the process for doing so.  Please email me directly and thank you in advance for your help!

——————————
Tamra Bates
Director of Student Engagement
Smith College
Northampton MA
——————————

Clubs-Operating-Policy.pdf 88 KB PDF - Click to view

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2016-CLUBS-GOVERNANCE-COMMITTEE-TERMS-OF-REFERENCE_.pdf 68 KB PDF - Click to view

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