Please click here for a copy of the RHA Constitution in a format better suited for viewing and printing.

In order to read this document, you must have Adobe Reader.
You can download it, free of charge, by clicking the icon below.

If you are looking for the By-Laws, please scroll down or click here.

---

Article I: Name

This body will be named the Cornell College Residence Hall Association, abbreviated as RHA.

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of the Cornell College RHA is to address the needs of the students living in the residence halls, as well as to act as a forum in which students may express their ideas and concerns about the residence halls. RHA will assist hall governments and increase awareness of its services.

Article III: Membership

Section A: Executive Board Membership

1. Membership for the RHA Executive Board is open to any student residing in campus housing.
2. The President must have experience on a House Council or in RHA.
3. An Executive Board officer may not represent a House Council in RHA.
4. The Executive Board will consist of the following: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Programming Director, and Communications Coordinator.

Section B: General Assembly Membership

1. A residence hall can only be represented in RHA when it has a House Council with a current constitution approved by RHA.
2. Each residence hall will be represented by one elected representative.
3. RHA will consist of the following: Executive Board, House Council Representatives (RHA Representatives), Secretary/Webmaster, RHA Advisor, and Student Senate Representative.

Section C: Voting Members

1. Voting members will consist of the RHA Executive Board and the House Council RHA Representatives.
2. The President shall vote only in the event of a tie.

Section D: Non-Voting Members

• Non-voting members will consist of the following: RHA Advisor, Secretary/Webmaster, and Student Senate Representative.

Article IV: Duties and Responsibilities

Section A: Duties of the President

1. Presides over General Assembly, Executive Board, and President's Council meetings.
2. Votes only in the event of a tie.
3. Forms committees as necessary to govern RHA effectively with the approval of the majority of the Executive Board.
4. Supervises committees.
5. Appoints RHA members to serve on campus-wide committees as necessary.
6. Represents RHA to the Cornell College administration, faculty, and staff.
7. Coordinates the Executive Board transition.
8. Delegates any unassigned duties to any member of RHA General Assembly or Executive Board.
9. Organizes RHA training with the Programming Director and the Advisor.

Section B: Duties of the Vice President

1. Presides over meetings in the absence of the President.
2. Organizes and facilitates RHA elections.
3. Represents RHA at weekly Student Senate meetings.
4. Chairs the Housing Committee.

Section C: Duties of the Treasurer

1. Chairs the Appropriations Committee.
2. Prepares an annual budget with the Executive Board prior to the first meeting of the RHA General Assembly.
3. Appropriates funds according to the discretion of RHA.
4. Presents weekly budget at RHA meetings.
5. Deposits all funds at the Cornell College Business Office and disburses checks drawn upon the RHA account.
6. Maintains a financial history of the organization for five (5) years.
7. Maintains an inventory of all equipment and its condition.
8. Prepares purchase orders, requisition forms, or supply requests.
9. Maintains a working relationship with the Cornell College Business Office.

Section D: Communications Coordinator (CC)

1. Submits National Information Center (NIC) Report to the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) if nationally affiliated. This decision is to be made annually by the Executive Board.
2. Prepares and heads delegations for conferences if nationally affiliated.
3. Responsible for re-affiliation process with Mid-West Association of College and University Residence Halls (MACURH) and (NACURH) if nationally affiliated.
4. Serves as liaison between NACURH, MACURH, and the Cornell College RHA.
5. Works with the treasurer to pay any outstanding debts or re-affiliation fees to MACURH and NACURH if nationally affiliated.
6. Chairs the Constitution Committee.
7. Trains the new CC.
8. Responsible for knowing all procedures and duties as outlined in the RHA Constitution and serves as a reference during General Assembly meetings and Executive Board meetings.

1. Coordinates and publicizes campus-wide RHA events.
2. Must organize at least one RHA event or activity per semester.
3. Assists the residence halls with programming.
4. Chairs the Programming Committee.
5. Organizes RHA training with the RHA President and the Advisor.

Section F: Duties of the RHA Representatives (House Council Representatives)

1. Represents the needs, thoughts, and concerns of the students living in the residence halls from which they are elected.
2. Reports to RHA about House Council meetings.
3. Reports to House Council about RHA activities, meeting topics, and meeting times.
4. Publicizes RHA and RHA events in their respective residence halls.
5. Required to serve on at least one RHA committee.
6. Collects information from residents and House Councils regarding thoughts and concerns on issues for which RHA is responsible.

Section G: Duties of House Council Presidents

1. Represents the residence hall from which they are elected.
2. Attends Presidents' Council meetings once per block.
3. Coordinates with RHA Representatives concerning RHA and RHA events in their respective residence halls.

Section H: Duties of the Secretary/Webmaster

1. Records and maintains minutes of all RHA Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.
2. Sends minutes to all appropriate members and institutional staff.
3. Keeps attendance records.
4. Distributes RHA information to RHA members.
5. Posts current minutes on the RHA website and the RHA bulletin board in the Commons.
6. Maintains the RHA website.
7. Provides and distributes agendas at every General Assembly meeting.
8. The Secretary/Webmaster is a paid position, and as such the Secretary/Webmaster shall have no vote in the RHA General Assembly.

Section I: Responsibilities of the Advisor

1. Represents the Residence Life Office.
2. Attends Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.
3. Works with the Treasurer to maintain the budget, to disperse checks, and to serve on the Appropriations Committee.
4. Organizes training with the Programming Director and the President.
5. As a staff member, the official advisor shall be a non-voting member of RHA.

Article V: Constitutions

Section A: Constitutional Revisions

1. All House Council Constitutions must be revised a minimum of every two (2) academic years. A revised constitution must be presented to the Constitution Committee before approval. Approval requires a majority vote of the Constitution Committee before it can be approved by the General Assembly.
2. The RHA Constitution must be revised a minimum of every two (2) academic years. A revised constitution must be presented to the General Assembly, the Advisor, and the Director of Residence Life before approval.
3. Approval of the RHA Constitution requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the General Assembly and approval by Student Senate.

Section B: Amendments

1. Any voting member or the President may propose an amendment to this constitution.
2. Amendments must be ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) vote by the General Assembly.
3. The Advisor and the Director of Residence Life must approve all amendments.
4. The amendments must then be approved by Student Senate.

Article VI: By-Laws

A. Any voting member may propose a by-law to be added to the Constitution.
B. The by-law must be submitted in writing to Representatives one week before voting.
C. The by-law must receive a two-thirds (2/3) vote by the General Assembly in order to pass, and a simple majority in order to be revoked.

---

Section I: Elections for Executive Board Members

A. Petition forms will be available two weeks prior to the election.
B. The petitioner must have ten percent (10%) of the students living in the residence halls sign a petition and must submit an essay concerning the reasons for running for the position.
C. The candidate essays must be made available to all voters prior to the election. They will be hung in the residence halls where all students living on campus may have access to them.

Section II: Attendance, Vacancies, and Dismissals

A. Attendance Requirements

1. The Executive Board and RHA Representatives and Secretary/Webmaster must attend all RHA meetings. If a General Assembly member cannot attend, a proxy must be present unless otherwise stated.
2. If a member will not be in attendance, the RHA Secretary/Webmaster must be notified 24 hours in advance.
3. If a proxy fails to attend, it will be considered an unexcused absence for that RHA member.
4. Two unexcused absences will warrant a warning letter (may be in electronic format). A third unexcused absence will warrant further actions by the RHA Executive Board, or the RHA General Assembly, including the possibility of dismissal.
5. In the case of the removal of an RHA Representative from RHA, that House Council must fill the position within two weeks.
6. The attendance policies outlined above also apply to committee meeting attendance, with the Committee Chair being notified rather than the Secretary/Webmaster.
7. Presidents of each hall, the RHA President, and any other Executive Board members whose attendance is deemed necessary, will be required to attend the monthly Presidents' Council meeting at a time and date to be set by the President of RHA.

B. Vacancies within the Executive Board

1. Vacancies shall be filled within two meetings of the executive board after position becomes available.
2. In the event that an Executive Board member is absent, an Executive Board member shall assume the responsibilities of the vacant member, until which time the absent member resumes duties or a newly elected member acquires the position.
3. If a member of the Executive Board is going to be absent for the period of one (1) block, then the Executive Board may appoint a temporary replacement. The appointee must receive a simple majority vote from the Executive Board prior to installation.
4. The position of President will be filled by the Vice President for the duration of a one (1) block absence.

C. Dismissal

1. A petition signed by a minimum of one-half (1/2) of the General Assembly, and submitted to the President or Vice President, shall be grounds to initiate dismissal.
2. A vote open to the General Assembly shall then take place. A three-fourths (3/4) majority shall be grounds for removal of said Executive Board member.
3. The aforementioned procedure shall be used to dismiss members of the General Assembly. They may also be removed based on the requirements and criteria outlined in their respective House Council Constitutions.

Section III: Committees

A. Duties of all Committee Chairs

1. Hold meetings as necessary.
2. Report to General Assembly.

B. Duties and Powers of the Appropriations Committee

1. To be chaired by the Treasurer.
2. To evaluate requests from recognized student organizations seeking RHA funding using appropriations procedures.
3. To make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding appropriations.
4. To review annually established appropriations guidelines and to recommend necessary changes or amendments to the General Assembly for approval.

C. Duties and Powers of the Constitution Committee

1. To be chaired by the Communications Coordinator.
2. To review any and all changes to House Council Constitutions.
3. To review any and all changes to the RHA Constitution.
4. To make recommendations for approval of constitutions to the General Assembly.

D. Duties and Powers of the Housing Committee

1. To be chaired by the Vice President.
2. To work with the Office of Residence Life and to address specific housing issues and concerns.
3. To seek feedback from other students regarding housing issues and concerns.
4. To function as the Room Change Appeals Board in conjunction with the Office of Residence Life.

E. Duties and Powers of the Programming Committee

1. To be chaired by the Programming Director.
2. To organize RHA programs and events.
3. To assist residence halls with programs and events when needed.

Section IV: Appropriations

A. General

• Groups failing to abide by these by-laws will be placed under review and may be susceptible to a loss of future funding.

B. Basic Funding Requirements

1. Groups seeking RHA funds must demonstrate to RHA that they have made an effort to find the lowest cost.
2. A representative of the group requesting funds must attend the Appropriations Committee meeting and the General Assembly meeting at which the request is presented.

C. Funding Restrictions

1. RHA encourages fundraising by individual groups, as RHA is not meant to be a sole source of financial support for all groups. Money earned through fundraised or other outside sources should be noted as such in the group's record keeping.
2. RHA will not fund any group that does not benefit students of the residential community.
3. No groups may award RHA funds as a cash prize.
4. Residence hall equipment purchased with RHA funds must remain in the residence halls for future residents.
5. RHA funds may not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages.
6. RHA may not appropriate funds to groups for the purpose of gifts or donations. RHA reserves the right to donate funds in the name of RHA and the Residents of Cornell College.

D. Records

1. All groups funded by RHA are responsible for maintaining accurate financial records.
   a. Accurate financial records include all receipts and invoices associated with the RHA funds.
   b. Groups receiving RHA funds must file a financial report with RHA before the end of ninth block including:

i.   A detailed list of RHA funds spent.

ii.  Copies of receipts and invoices.

iii.  Remaining RHA funds.

iv.  Amount of money earned through fundraising in account.

v.  An inventory of all equipment owned by the group.

2. RHA reserves the right to examine all records for any RHA funded organization at any time. If discrepancies are found, RHA also reserves the right to turn the matter over to the Office of Residence Life and/or the Dean of Students Office.

E. Budget Process

1. By the end of first block, the Appropriations Committee will make an appropriation form available.
2. RHA, with the assistance of Residence Life, shall present information on the appropriations process at the first President's Council meeting. The RHA Representative to the Living and Learning Council shall present the appropriate information to the Living and Learning Council concerning their appropriations process.

Section V: Meetings

A. Executive Board

1. A meeting of the Executive Board, including the Secretary/Webmaster and the Advisor shall be conducted the first three weeks of the block and as necessary on the fourth week.
2. A regular time, date, and location shall be determined by the President.

B. General Assembly

1. A meeting of the General Assembly shall be conducted weekly except for during the final week of each block.
2. A regular time, date, and location shall be determined by the President.

C. Presidents' Council Meeting

1. Once per block, a Presidents' Council meeting shall be held, consisting of all House Council Presidents, the RHA Advisor, the RHA President, and other members of the Executive Board of RHA as necessary.
2. A regular time, date, and location shall be determined by the President of RHA.

Section VI: Order of Meetings

A. The Secretary/Webmaster will produce a written agenda, in a format as follows, for General Assembly meetings.

I. Call to order
II. Officer and Committee reports

A. President

• Presidents' Council

B. Vice President

• Housing Committee

C. Treasurer

• Appropriations Committee

D. Communications Coordinator

• Constitution Committee

E. Programming Director

• Programming Committee

F. Secretary/Webmaster

III. Hall Reports

A. Pfeiffer
B. Tarr
C. Dows
D. Bowman-Carter
E. Rood
F. Merner
G. Olin
H. Pauley-Rorem
I. 8th Avenue Apartments, 10th Avenue Apartments, Harlan House

IV. Student Senate Representative
V. Advisor
VI. Old Business
VII. New Business
VIII. Open Agenda
IX. Adjournment

Section VII: Voting Procedures

A. In order to vote at any General Assembly meeting, there must be a two-thirds (2/3) representation of the General Assembly.

B. A voting issue that involves residence halls must be given to the RHA Representatives one week before voting so that House Councils may discuss the issue.

C. A simple majority vote is required for the motion to pass unless otherwise noted in the RHA Constitution.

Section VIII: Secretary/Webmaster

• The Secretary/Webmaster is a paid position. She/He shall be paid $225 per year, to be distributed $25 per block. This position will be appointed by a majority vote of the Executive Board.