In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE MUSLIM STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON; ARLINGTON, TEXAS



TABLE OF CONTENTS



SECTION A – CONSTITUTION


SECTION B – BYLAWS

SECTION A – CONSTITUTION

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE MUSLIM STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION

UTA CHAPTER


CONSTITUTION

We, the Muslim students at the University of Texas at Arlington hereby resolve to establish a non-profit, non-political, educational and religious organization reaffirming our Islamic faith and beliefs; therefore, we adopt and give ourselves this constitution of the Muslim Students' Association, UTA Chapter, Arlington, Texas.

Article I: Name

The name of the association shall be the "Muslim Students' Association, UTA Chapter." Hereafter, it is referred to as the Association.

Article II: Purpose

Whereas, the members of the Association recognize Islam as a total way of life based on Qur’an and authentic Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed (SAW), the Association is organized exclusively for religious and social activities in accordance with the Islamic principles based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah. In particular, the Association will strive for the following objectives:
2.1 Strengthening and reinforcing the faith of all Muslims in Allah (SWT), His Prophet Mohammed (SAW) and the Holy Qur’an.
2.2 Provide an Islamic atmosphere for the students of UTA where they can learn and participate in Islamic activities.
2.3 Promoting better relations and understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims
2.4 To abide by the policies of the University of Texas at Arlington

Article III: Membership

3.1 All students subscribing to the purpose of the Association as set forth in Article II will be eligible for membership. Membership in the Association will be subject to the Bylaws of the Association.
3.2 Non-Muslim students may become Associate members with non-voting privileges.
3.3 Staff and Faculty members of UTA may become honorary members with non-voting privileges.
3.4 All membership applications will be submitted to the Executive Committee.

Article IV: General Body

4.1 The General Body will consist of all members of the Association who have fulfilled the requirements for membership as stated in the Bylaws.
4.2 Twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting members will constitute a quorum for the General Body meetings.
4.3 General Body will meet as required by the Bylaws.
4.4 The Executive Committee, the governing body of the Association, will be formed by and answerable to the General Body.
4.5 Emergency meetings of the General Body may be requested by a simple majority of the Executive Committee or by twenty-five percent (25%) of the General Body voting members.
4.6 General Body meetings will be held at least twice per long semester. At these meetings, the Executive Committee will present reports to the General Body. Additionally, the elections for the Executive Committee will be held during the last General Body meeting of the Spring semester. The agenda for general body meetings will be circulated twenty-four (24) hours in advance.

Article V: Voting Rights

5.1 All members will have voting rights provided they have fulfilled the requirements for membership set forth in the Bylaws of the Association.
5.2 Each voting member will be entitled to one (1) vote on each matter submitted for the vote of the General Body.

Article V1: Organization

6.1 The Executive Committee will have the highest organizational responsibility vested to it by the General Body. The Executive Committee will be responsible to:
  • Develop, plan, and implement programs and activities, and provide procedural guidelines for such programs and activities and perform such acts that may be necessary for the achievement of the Association.
  • Administer the day-to-day affairs of the Association.
  • Safeguard the ideological integrity of the Association.
6.2 All members of the Executive Committee will be full or part time students of UTA who have spent at least one (1) full academic year at UTA.
6.3 No part of the Association funds, property, and facilities will be used for the benefit of or be distributed to any member(s) of the Executive Committee.
6.4 In case a member of the Executive Committee openly and persistently commits an act or is involved with an act that is defined as a major by the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) or consistently fails to do his/her appointed duties as defined by the Bylaws of the Association, the Executive Committee will appoint an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of three (3) Executive Committee members to be chaired by the Advisor of the Association. On the recommendations of the Committee, the Executive Committee may proceed to expel the said Executive Committee member from the Executive Committee.

Article VII: Executive Committee

7.1 The Executive Committee will consist of nine (9) members as follows:
  • The nine (9) members elected to the Executive Committee by a majority of the General Body.
  • The elected members of the Executive Committee can hold only one office in the Association.
7.2 The term of the nine (9) elected Executive Committee members will have a term of one (1) calendar year.
7.3 Eligibility: Candidates for the Executive Committee must have been:
  • Students at UTA for two long semesters
  • Must be full members as explained by the Bylaws of the Association
7.4 Responsibility and authority of the Executive Committee will be defined by the Bylaws of the Association.

Article VIII: Advisor

8.1 The Association shall have at least one advisor, amongst UTA faculty, selected by the Executive Committee.
8.2 The advisor may sit in any one of the meetings regular or special, of the General Body or the Executive Committee.
8.3 The advisor is to help interpret the University’s policies and regulations to organization members.
8.4 The advisor is to work with officers to maintain standards and behavior.
8.5 The advisor is to arbitrate disputes that arise within the organization.
8.6 The advisor is to suggest ways in which the organization could better attain its established goals.
8.7 The advisor is to assist the leadership in learning more effective ways to manage the organization.
8.8 The advisor is to supply expert knowledge and the insights of experience.
8.9 The advisor is to approve or disapprove of documents pertaining to room reservations, money withdrawal, or any documents, needed to be approved by the advisor, pertaining to Association related events.

Article IX: Mediation and Arbitration

9.1 Any dispute between individual members of the Association, related to any matters of the Association, will be referred to the Executive Committee.
9.2 Any dispute between individual members of the Association or the members of the Executive Committee, related to any matters of the Association and not resolved by the Executive Committee, will be referred to the Advisor.
9.3 The Advisor may, from time to time, form an outside Arbitration Committee to resolve issues, if he or she deems it necessary.
9.4 The Arbitration Committee of (3) members will consist of the President of the Association, the Advisor, and one other Muslim faculty member of the Advisor's choosing.
9.5 The Arbitration Committee may solicit assistance from other Local Muslim organizations, if deemed necessary.
9.6 The Arbitration Committee will have the final and binding authority to impose its decision and corrective action, as it deems fair. When the Arbitration Committee renders such decisions, they will be deemed final and binding to all members.
9.7 The members of the Executive Committee, the Advisor, or the Arbitration Committee will not be individually liable for their collective decisions and actions.

Article X: Amendments

10.1 Amendment(s) to the Articles of the Bylaws will be recommended by two-third (2/3) majority of the Executive Committee and will be approved by the Advisor.
10.2 Amendment(s) to the Articles of the Constitution will be recommended by two-third (2/3) majority of the Executive Committee and the Advisor and will be approved by two-third (2/3) majority of the General Body voting members, provided such amendment(s) are circulated at least thirty (30) days prior to the General Body meeting to vote on the amendment(s).



SECTION B - BYLAWS

THE BYLAWS OF THE MUSLIMS STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION

UTA CHAPTER


I. Membership and Contributions

  • Members: All students, full-time or part-time, will be eligible for membership of the Muslim Students' Association, UTA Chapter (henceforth referred to as the Association) subject to the following conditions:
    • A member needs to turn in a membership form to be a member for a year
    • A member needs to pay ten US dollars ($10) to be a member for a year
    • A member needs to take part in two (2) dawah events, not including meetings, during the year in order to vote in general elections.
    • A member needs to complete five (5) hours of community service.
  • Non-Muslims and Faculty:
    • Non-Muslims may be members without voting privileges.
    • Non-Muslims have to follow the same conditions as a Muslim to be a member
    • Faculty may be honorary members.
    • Faculty or Staff members do not have to follow the same conditions as anyone else in order to be a member.

II. General Body

The General Body will meet twice every long semester (Fall and Spring) or as directed by the Executive Committee. The date, time, and place of the meetings will be decided by the Executive Committee and all members of the Association will be notified through appropriate means which may include any or all of the following: notice board, announcements, newsletter, phone calls, voice mail, e-mail, or postal mail, etc.

III. Fiscal Year

  • The end of the year will be at the end of the month of April, during which the last General Body meeting for the Spring semester will be held and the Executive Committee will present the annual reports to the General Body. At this meeting the annual general election will also be held.
  • The beginning of the year will be the month of May after the annual general election.

IV. Executive Committee

  • The Executive Committee will be responsible to:
    • Develop, plan, and implement programs and activities, and provide procedural guidelines for such programs and activities and perform such acts that may be necessary for the achievement of the overall objectives of the Association.
    • Administer the day-to-day affairs of the Association.
    • Implement the decisions of the General Body.
    • Keep the Advisor apprised of the Association activities, challenges, and accomplishments.
  • The Executive Committee is empowered to establish an annual budget of the Association as well as appropriation for improvement of its activities.
  • Six (6) members will constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee.
  • A member of the Executive Committee may lose his or her office if he or she is absent for three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the Executive Committee without prior notification to the President or Secretary.
  • The Executive Committee will meet at least once a week or as directed by the President.
  • A majority of Executive Committee members may request the Secretary to call a special/emergency meeting on three (3) days' notice.
  • The Executive Committee will be divided into two parts:
    • The Board members, which consist of the following:
      • President
      • Vice President
      • Secretary
      • Treasurer
    • Members of the Executive Committee, which consist of the remaining five (5) spots on the Executive Committee.

V. Responsibilities of Executive Committee

PRESIDENT:

  • Conduct all meetings of the General Body and the Executive Committee.
  • Authorized to spend not more than $300 in any semester.
  • Serve in an advisory capacity to all committees
  • Make all logistical arrangements for review and/or approval of all amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws by the General Body in accordance with Articles 10.1 and 10.2 in the Constitution.
  • Prepare and maintain an MSA Operations Handbook that will contain day-to-day operational procedures for the various activities of the Association e.g., fundraising, account, preparation for activities, etc.
  • Sign all disbursements.
  • At the end of President's term, the President will transfer the Operations Handbook to the successor and can participate on the Executive Committee as a consultant and advisor and a non-voting member for the next term.

VICE PRESIDENT:

  • Perform the responsibilities of the Executive Committee President in President's absence.
  • Perform any special assignments assigned by the President.

SECRETARY:

  • Prepare agenda and record the minutes of all meetings of the General Body and the Executive Committee including any specially called meeting.
  • Execute all correspondence of the Association.
  • Issue notices for all the meetings of the General Body and the Executive Committee, at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting.
  • Maintain all the Association's records and transfer the same to his or her successor.

TREASURER:

  • Collect all dues and donations for the Association.
  • Keep complete records of all expenditures and income for separate accounts e.g., charity, event costs, food, etc.
  • Authorized to make appropriate payments in accordance with the established annual budget and for the expenses incurred by the President without the prior approval of the Executive Committee.
  • Present financial report of the Association to the Executive Committee and General Body at their meetings.
  • Ensure that all check withdrawals over $300 have dual signatures (treasurer and another Executive Committee member who has been authorized by the Executive Committee to co-sign the checks).
  • At the end of his/her term, get all the accounts in order, have the account book signed off by the President, and transfer all financial and accounting records to the successor.