Health Administration Student Association

HASA Constitution

ARTICLE I. NAME 

The name of this organization shall be known as the West Virginia University Health Administration Student Association (HASA).

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES

To promote an environment conducive to educational and ethical development of professional, personal and social skills in a manner that will enhance the attainment of effective leadership in healthcare organizations.

To provide a vehicle for constructive student involvement, recognition, and representation in the profession of healthcare administration.

To develop an association with local and regional healthcare executive groups to enhance academic and career opportunities.

To establish congruence between undergraduate, graduate, and professional continuing educational activities to foster a collaborative approach to healthcare administration.

To provide students, faculty, and practitioners a forum for professional interaction and dialogue concerning issues in healthcare administration.

To contribute to the quality of educational programming in Health Administration at West Virginia University.

Objectives shall be accomplished through colloquia, research projects, community service, committee activities, university program activities, professional association activities, and/or other appropriate professional and educational endeavors.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP 

Section 1.  Any student currently enrolled in the West Virginia University Master of Health Administration (MHA) program or the Health Services Management and Leadership (HSML) bachelor program shall be eligible for Full Membership in HASA upon payment of membership dues in full (amount at the discretion of Leadership Council). Membership is open to all MHA and HSML full- and part-time students regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, race, color, national origin, veteran status, disability, or religion.

Section 2. Any student enrolled in a WVU degree or certificate program with an interest in healthcare shall be eligible for Affiliate membership in HASA upon payment of dues in full. Affiliate members will hold all rights and privileges of Full Members with the exception of the right to vote.

Section 3. All students will be asked to submit their contact information to the Secretary, who will then create an organizational roster to be utilized for HASA communication, record of attendance, and voting purposes.

ARTICLE IV. ELIGIBILITY 

Section 1. HASA shall seek to maintain membership representative of the student population and welcomes all MHA and HSML students interested in healthcare administration.

Section 2. To be eligible for any office in HASA, a member shall be:

  1. Elected into the position by the general membership body during the second to last month of the semester
  2. A graduate student with at least one semester of credits completed, in good academic standing with WVU and the School of Public Health
  3. An undergraduate student with at least one academic year of credits completed, in good academic standing with WVU and the School of Public Health

Section 3. To hold an elected, or appointed office in this organization, a member must have at least a 3.0 GPA at the time of election or appointment, and must be a full-time student. Furthermore, the member may not be on academic or disciplinary probation.

ARTICLE V. LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Section 1. The council shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and any HASA Committee Chairs. A council of no fewer than three members shall lead HASA. The council shall select representatives for the School of Public Health faculty committees which have the most direct impact on student life. Committee representatives must be full- or part-time students in the School of Public Health program in good academic standing.

Section 2. The School of Public Health faculty advisor and staff advisor shall serve as non-voting, ex-officio members of the Leadership Council, who should be consulted for advisory purposes only.

 Section 3. The Leadership Council will address the following as needed:

  1. Constitution - will retain the current constitution as well as copies of previous versions of the HASA constitution.
  2. Finance - will oversee all HASA finances and the manner in which funds are spent. Will be responsible for the organizational budget and for any fundraising that HASA may undertake.
  3. Officer Transitioning – will ensure that the officer transitioning process includes at least one in-person meeting with incoming and outgoing officers and transferring of position related files.
  4. Professional Development - will oversee activities designed to increase employment prospects (i.e., scholarship/grant announcements and job openings), as well as developing skills to thrive in the job market.
  5. Student Activities - will plan various activities focusing directly on students.
  6. Other relevant needs when considered appropriate.

ARTICLE VI. FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS 

Section 1.  One person, usually the Treasurer, is designated as the account manager. This person has primary authority to approve all the student organization’s expenditures.

Section 2.  All expenditures over $100.00 require two signatures: the account manager and the President. All expenditures over $250.00 require three signatures: the account manager, the President, and another executive board officer.

Section 3. All expenditures shall be reviewed by the organization’s faculty advisor.

Section 4.  The student organization’s advisor may request and review all financial documents at their discretion. Questions? Email mjsigler@mail.wvu.edu.

ARTICLE VII. OFFICERS 

Section 1.  The offices of this organization shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Undergraduate Liaison, and Committee Chairpersons (when appointed).

Section 2.  The offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be filled by graduate students in the Master of Health Administration program and shall be elected by such students. The office of Historian may be filled by either a graduate MHA student or an undergraduate student in the BS in Health Services Management program and shall be elected as such. The Undergraduate Liaison shall be filled by an undergraduate student in the BS in Health Services Management program and shall similarly be elected as such.

Section 3.  The duties and responsibilities of each role:

The duties of the President shall be:

  1. Lead all leadership and general meetings
    • Work with Vice President to determine when meetings are and with faculty advisor and staff advisor for event approvals
    • Prepare agendas for general body and Leadership Council meetings
  2. Serve as the official representative for HASA, including on the MHA Advisory Board
  3. Budget oversight and reporting
  4. Organize a team building activity at the beginning of the semester
  5. Liaison between student group and faculty
  6. Enforce the constitution of HASA
  7. Continue to seek ways of expanding scope and effectiveness of HASA
  8. Find ways to collaborate and partner with other organizations within the university

The duties of the Vice President shall be:

  1. Assume all duties of the President in their absence
  2. Organize a team building activity at the beginning of the semester
  3. Work with the HASA members to create events
  4. Oversees the various committees within HASA

The duties of the Secretary shall be:

  1. Record meeting minutes and attendance of members
  2. Coordinate general body meeting times – this includes but is not limited to room reservation, assisting with meeting agenda, coordinating refreshments for meetings (if applicable)
  3. Send out flyers, emails and other information to promote events
  4. Assist with organization scrapbooking over the term of office

The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

  1. Work with President and Advisor(s) to create a budget for each semester
  2. Responsible for attending (or sending a delegate to) any meetings regarding funding for student organizations
  3. Organize at least one HASA fundraiser per semester
  4. Must give a report on organization’s financial accounts
  5. Receive all monies into the organization (this includes, but is not limited to donations, dues and fundraised monies)

The duties of the Historian shall be:

  1. Record HASA events via photographs, videos, etc.
  2. Assist with organization scrapbooking over the term of office
  3. Assist with creating and distributing advertisements for HASA events
  4. Maintain HASA social media accounts

The duties of the Undergraduate Liaison shall be:

  1. Represent the BS in HSML students in organization decision making
  2. Assist the President and Leadership Council in planning activities
  3. Assist the Leadership Council in achieving the purposes of the organization.

Section 4.  Students on academic or disciplinary probation are ineligible to hold office. Council members shall serve a term of one full year beginning on May 1. Council members may be reelected for a successive term or for a separate term of office. Past council members may remain HASA members.

Section 5. Voting/Council Election

  1. Any HASA member may vote. (Affiliate members may not vote.)
  2. Any HASA member may volunteer for council office and is eligible for a leadership position.
  3. All HASA voting shall be conducted by electronic means and follow the application process.
  4. Selection of council members shall be held at the end of April. Term of office shall last one year, from May 1 through April 30.
  5. If a council member resigns or is removed from office, the President will appoint a HASA member to fill the vacant position pending the prospective officer is interested in the position and meets the requirements stated in Article IV, Section 2. This replacement must occur if such vacancy reduces total council membership to fewer than three members.

Section 6. Removal of a Council Member

  1. Council members may be removed for the following infractions:
    • Misappropriation of funds
    • Academic dishonesty
    • Violation of the School of Public Health Honor Code or the West Virginia University Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities.
  2. Council members may be removed through the following process:
    • A petition signed by one-fourth of the total membership shall initiate removal proceedings.
    • A vote of two-thirds of the total membership in favor of removal shall remove the member from council office.

ARTICLE VII. SPECIAL WVU REQUIREMENTS 

HASA shall maintain compliance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, the WVU Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and the academic and professional standards of the field of public health at all times.

ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS

Section 1.  The purpose of the general body meetings will be to inform the HASA about upcoming events, workshops, and community civic engagement opportunities. These meetings shall be held at least quarterly during the academic year, though they may be more frequent or as deemed necessary. The times and places of each meeting will be decided on by the availability of the HASA members.

Section 2.  The purpose of the Leadership Council meetings will be to plan and format ideas to discuss at the meetings. These meetings shall be held at least once per month during the academic year or as deemed necessary. The times and places of each meeting will be decided on by the President.

Section 3.  Special meetings may be called by the President, faculty advisor, or staff advisor.

Section 4.  Standing committees shall meet as necessary. The times and places of the each meeting will be decided on by the respective committee chairperson.

Section 5.  Quorum shall be constituted by two-thirds of the HASA members being present at the scheduled meeting.

ARTICLE IX. COMMITTEES

The need for and establishment of Committees shall be determined by the Leadership Council. Committee chairpersons shall be appointed by the President and approved the Leadership Council. These committee chairpersons will serve as members of the Leadership Council and hold committee meetings when chairpersons deem necessary.

ARTICLE X. POWERS

Section 1.  HASA shall have the power to propose, plan, and coordinate any programs that facilitate the realization of its purposes as enumerated above.

Section 2.  HASA shall advise on the expenditure of budget funds and shall appoint committees and committee chairpersons to assume designated responsibilities.

Section 3.  HASA shall maintain a budget statement available to all students in the School of Public Health at least once per year.

Section 4.  Liaison Powers:

  1. Any matter concerning students in the School of Public Health may be brought before HASA for discussion and recommendation.
  2. For School of Public Health matters not covered by the specific powers above, HASA leadership council shall consider itself advisory to the School of Public Health.

ARTICLE XI. PROCEDURE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Section 1.  The constitution must be reviewed yearly. Copies of the current and all previous constitutions must be kept for at least seven years.

Section 2.  Any HASA member may propose, in writing, an amendment to this constitution. Notice of intent to amend and the proposed amendment should be presented to the Leadership Council.

Section 3.  The proposed amendment shall be presented electronically to the council, who will make it available to all HASA members.

Section 4.  The council will open the proposal for discussion at the following general membership meeting, and shall call for a vote at the conclusion of the discussion. A majority vote in favor shall pass the proposal.

Section 5.  After passage, the changes will be made to the constitution and distributed among the membership.

Section 6.  All amendments to the constitution are subject to the approval of the Dean of Students and/or Office of Student Organizations.