UIA Constitution

Constitution of the University Interfaith Association at the Ohio State University

ARTICLE 1: DEFINITION AND MISSION
The University Interfaith Association (UIA) consists of representatives from the various faith traditions serving students, faculty, and staff of The Ohio State University. It is dedicated to coordination of involvement of faith communities and their traditions in the life of the university. The UIA works to build an environment in which students, faculty, and staff feel comfortable participating in the faith they prefer and collaborates with various offices of The Ohio State University in providing spiritual service when needed. Members of UIA commit themselves to working in cooperation with one another.

ARTICLE II: GOALS
The goals of UIA are:

1. To provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to grow spiritually according their own faith preference
2. To develop a climate in which all faiths are valued
3. To provide spiritual support to individual students, faculty, and staff or to the campus community as appropriate to help work through adverse events
4. To serve as a resource for and an advocate to the campus community for programs/activities that help develop faith and spirituality
5. To provide mutual support and professional growth for members

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

1. To qualify for Full Membership one must:
   1. Be designated as an official spiritual leader for a campus constituency by his or her religious group or serve as faculty/staff adviser to an OSU student organization with a religious focus;
   2. Have attained a bachelor's degree or its equivalent number of hours from an accredited college or university;
   3. Annually affirm his/her agreement with the UIA covenant and code of ethics and
      provide a copy of the mission statement of his or her religious constituency or
      organization;
   4. Pay the annual Full Membership dues as due, and as set by the membership;
   5. Attend at least half of the UIA meetings each school year and support UIA goals and activities;
   6. Accept the UIA philosophy of working in an interfaith manner
   7. Be approved for Full Membership by a majority affirmative vote of the members present
   8. Apply to and receive the endorsement of the Executive Committee for any exception to one or more of the above.
2. Full Members may
   1. a. vote at UIA meetings
   2. hold office
   3. receive all UIA mailings
   4. and are entitled to recognition by The Ohio State University for rights and privileges at the university, to the extent granted by the university to UIA members.
3. Emeritus Membership is a special category of membership for UIA to recognize faithful participation in the activities and projects of UIA. Emeritus members are exempt from dues and are entitled to all rights and privileges of Full Membership as outlined in 2 above. To qualify one must:
   1. Have previously been a Full Member
   2. Annually affirm his/her agreement with the UIA covenant
   3. Be approved for Emeritus Membership by a majority affirmative vote of the members present.
4. Adjunct Membership is a special category of membership for UIA designed to accommodate student interns, short term volunteers, parish associates, etc.
   1. To qualify as an adjunct member one must
      1. Be recommended to UIA by a Full Member
      2. Pay the annual Adjunct Membership dues as due, and as set by the membership
      3. Attend UIA meetings when possible
      4. Be approved for Adjunct Membership by a majority affirmative vote of the members present
   2. Rights and privileges available to Adjunct Members:
      1. Will receive all UIA mailings
      2. Recognition by The Ohio State University for rights and privileges at the university, to the extent granted by the university to UIA members.
      3. A request for additional benefits may be made to, and acted on, by the Executive Committee. These requests, however, must be submitted through and recommended by a Full Member.

ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES

1. All committees shall contain representatives from at least two faith traditions and shall be constituted to represent to reasonable extent diverse viewpoints.
2. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the four officers of UIA and up to three additional members. If membership is expanded beyond the four officers of UIA, at least three faith traditions shall be represented. The Executive Committee will meet regularly to plan the meetings and to arrange the programs for UIA. It will also receive all applications for membership and will report them to the members for action, with recommendations for approval or denial. The Executive Committee may recommend exceptions to the qualifications for Full, Emeritus, or Adjunct membership stated in Article III. The committee is responsible for the general welfare of UIA and will provide it with appropriate leadership.
3. Other committees (such as Education, Public Interface, and spiritual sharing) may be established to promote the goals of UIA. These committees shall function as needs are identified and the membership informed of such committee work.

ARTICLE V: FINANCES

1. The dues shall be set annually during the Winter Quarter by the UIA membership for the following membership year. Members will be certified to the University when the yearly dues are paid.
2. The fiscal year of UIA shall be July 1 through June 30.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

1. The meeting dates of UIA will be established by the Executive Committee and approved by the membership.
2. Programs for UIA meetings shall implement the goals described in Article II. Ample time during the meetings shall be allowed for organizational concerns and notices of general interest.
3. Meetings are open to all interested persons.

ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS

1. A nominating committee shall be appointed each April whose task it shall be to recommend a slate of candidates for the membership year.
2. Candidates for office need to have been a Full Member of the UIA for a minimum of one year.
3. Candidates shall be nominated and officers elected during May of each year and shall be installed before the end of the Spring Quarter.
4. Officers shall serve for two years with expiration of terms staggered. The Executive Committee shall recommend to the membership appointments to fill unexpired terms of office.
5. Annually, after the installation of its new members, the Executive Committee organizes itself as follows:
   1. President: shall plan and preside at meetings and oversee and coordinate the work of the committees.
   2. Vice President: shall execute the duties of President in the President's absence and perform such other duties as are requested by the President.
   3. Recording Secretary: shall provide written notices and regular reports of UIA meetings, shall oversee the process associated with the religious' preference cards, and oversee proper listing of UIA members' groups in university listings and publicity.
   4. Treasurer: shall be responsible for the monies of UIA, provide a regular financial report, and manage membership application and renewals.
6. The Executive Committee shall appoint chairpersons of all committees of the UIA, with the consent of the membership, and shall appoint persons to such other area committees, councils and boards as necessary and/or appropriate.

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS

1. Proposed changes to the constitution must be in the hands of all UIA Full and Emeritus members in writing at least two weeks in advance of the date on which voting for or against the changes takes place.
2. Approval by two-thirds of those present shall be required for any changes to the constitution.

(Revised: May, 2002)

Last modified on: Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:04:50 PM

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