In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

Southern Methodist University

Muslim Student Association

Constitution

 

Faith * Community * Leadership

 

Article I Name of Organization

The organization name shall be Southern Methodist University Muslim Student Association. It shall henceforth be referred to as the "MSA" for the remainder of this document. It shall be a non-profit organization.

Article II Affiliations

The MSA is affiliated with Southern Methodist University, the SMU Student Association, MSA National, TX MSA Council, Campus Ministry Council, Dallas Central Mosque, and is housed in the Office of the Chaplain of Southern Methodist University.

Article III Mission and Purpose

The mission of the MSA chapter at SMU is to unite and serve the needs of the SMU Muslim community. Our main goals are to promote the Qur'an and Sunnah among the Muslim community, as well as serve as a source of information about Islam for the entire SMU community. We accomplish this by conducting and administrating the following:

.  Provide for prayers (salat), this includes daily and Friday prayers.

.  Conduct Islam Awareness Week

.  Provide for activities during the month of Ramadan including, but not limited to, Iftaars and prayer (salat) arrangements, as well as the annual Fast-a-Thon and Ramadan dinner.

.  Maintain an active website and email listserv.

.  Participate in various areas of student life and religious life in the SMU community.

.  Contribute to the activities of the Greater Dallas-Muslim community.

.  Provide for or participate in community service activities.

.  Provide resources for Muslim and non-Muslim members of the SMU community.

.  Increase awareness of Islam to the SMU community through educational and social activities as decided by the MSA.

Article IV Membership

MSA membership is open to all Muslim students, staff, and faculty members affiliated with Southern Methodist University. SMU MSA activities and events are open to all members of the SMU community as well as any one who wishes to participate. SMU MSA shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, veteran status, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation. MSA membership is comprised of three levels. All members will have the power to vote, ratify, and submit changes to the MSA Constitution.

.  Executive Member

The Executive Committee includes the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Chair(s), Graduate Chair, Webmaster, Historian, Jummah Chair and any other appointed committee chairs as approved by the Executive committee. This is the decision-making body of the organization. The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Public Relations Chair(s) positions must be filled, or in the process of being filled, each year in order for business to be transacted, as they have voting privileges in all executive decisions. Any resignation must be submitted to the President in writing.

.  Active Member

Active members are those SMU students who have participated in the administration and/or planning of at least 2 organizational events, meetings, or activities. They shall have the privilege to file for reconsideration of any executive officer recommendations made by the selection committee. Active membership status will be determined by the Executive Committee. They shall be allowed to submit executive complaints, petition against any executive decision, as well as propose Constitutional amendments and changes as referenced in Article IX.

.  Inactive Member

Inactive members consist of members such as alumni, or those who have not participated in the administration and/or planning of at least 2 organizational events, meeting, or activities. All MSA resources are available to them. They will not be allowed to file for reconsideration of the executive officer recommendations of the selection committee. An inactive member can submit complaints as reference by Article X, but cannot petition against any executive decisions or submit Constitutional amendments and changes.

 

Article V               Executive Committee  

 

The Executive Committee includes the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officers, International Chair, Webmaster, Historian, Jummah Chair and any other appointed committee chairs as approved by the Executive committee.  They shall have the responsibility of guiding the organization in a direction consistent with the Qur’an and Sunnah.  All complaints and/or ideas for the organization must be referenced by Article XI.  They are required to attend all MSA activities and events.  An attendance policy may be instituted at the Executive Committee’s discretion.  This Committee will administer the responsibilities and functions of the organization.  They will represent the organization at all appropriate forums. 

 

A.      Term of Office

The Executive officers shall serve a one-year term beginning from the last Jummah of the Spring semester to the last Jummah of the following Spring semester.  The outgoing executive committee must hold a mandatory training session for the incoming executive committee prior to turn over. 

 

B.      Selection Process

 

It is encouraged that great attention be given to diversity of the Executive Committee to ensure a variety of activities, ideas, and to ensure fairness in all decisions. All members of MSA, Executive, Active, and Inactive are eligible to apply for an Executive position.

New officers will be selected by an application and interview process.

The Executive committee will present a recommendation of a selection committee, consisting of at least three and no more than nine individuals, and designate a chair. The selection committee can be Executive members not reapplying, a faculty/staff member, and if needed, graduating active members. Active members will then vote on each proposed member of the selection committee. The proposed Chair of the selection committee will keep final count of all votes. If a proposed selection committee member is not confirmed, he or she cannot serve on the selection committee. The Chair (or next senior member of the confirmed selection committee) can nominate another member to adhere to the size requirements of the selection committee. This or these nominee(s) will need to be confirmed.

The selection committee must make use of a rubric, which is modeled on Texas MSA Lone Star Council criteria, and accountability forms for all Executive members reapplying during the interview process.

The Selection committee will only recommend an applicant for the positions that they have applied for on their application. Selection committee's recommendations will be submitted to the Active members by the third Friday of April.  Along with the recommendations, the selection committee will publish each recommended candidates’ goals that he or she submitted in their application.  Active members will have 48 hours from the announcement of the recommendations to file a written reconsideration with the MSA President, if they are displeased with any of the recommendations.
 

Reconsideration:

A reconsideration enables an applicant to be reevaluated for a position whether due to the position being left vacant or awarded to another applicant. The Selection Committee (minimum of 3) will reconvene with the applicant and a presiding moderator: Chaplain of the University, MSA’s faculty advisor or an SMU staff member. If the applicant is filling a reconsideration for a position recommended to another candidate, the recommended candidate will need to be present as well. Active members must be notified of a filed reconsideration.

 

The applicant will present to the moderator why he or she best qualifies for a certain position and the Selection Committee will share the applicant’s application, rubric, accountability forms and justification with the moderator. The moderator in accordance to the MSA Constitution will make the final decision for or against the applicant. A positive recommendation will result in awarding of the position and a negative recommendation will retain the Selection Committee’s decision. The moderator’s decision is final and a new reconsideration cannot be filed.

 

Selection Timetable:

4th Friday of March – Distribute Application (Hardcopies at General Body Meetings and
                Online)

                1st Friday of April – Selection Committee Confirmed / Applications due

2nd Friday of April – Hold Interviews
               
                3rd Friday of April – Announce new Executive Committee

 

The following must be done prior to the 4th Friday of April
                -Reconsiderations filed (if necessary)
                -Hold Mandatory Training Session for New Executive Officers
                -New Executive Committee shadows outgoing Executive Committee’s last
                meeting and prepares for Jummah the following week

4th Friday of April – Executive turnover and Final Jummah

Should an Executive committee member be unable to complete his/her term, the Executive committee will conduct interview/selection as they deem fit.

President:  The president is the visionary of the MSA. He/She is responsible for maintaining an active and open relationship with the SMU community. He/She is responsible for maintaining good relations with the DFW Community, including active involvement in the DFW MSA network. He/She organizes activities, oversees all chartership requirements including attending the MOM meetings, CMC meetings, and making sure the yearly budget is turned in on time. He/She ensures that other officers act in accordance with SMU policies as well as with MSA policies. He/She will maintain the MSA listserv. He/She chairs and prepares hard copy agendas for all meetings. He/She shall have the power to call meetings, as he/she deems necessary. He/She represents all Muslims on campus. He/She will chair the Executive Committee.

 

Vice-President:  The vice-president is responsible for coordinating with the president to share organizational responsibilities and overseeing Executive committee accountability.  He/She will chair the IQRA Committee.  If the President is unable to fulfill his/her duties, the vice-president shall assume these duties.

 

Treasurer:  The treasurer is responsible for preparing the annual budget, possessing all financial transactions, including donations and check requests.  He/She will chair the Fundraising Committee.  He/She will update the executive committee, as needed, on the availability of funds for programming purposes.            

 

Secretary:  The secretary is responsible for recording Executive and General Body meeting minutes, submitting room reservations (including logistics and AV needs) for all MSA events, maintaining a list of active and inactive members, in addition to the organizational liability waivers, emailing occurrences within the MSA Executive (such as meeting minutes and To Do’s), and composing the MSA Weekly to include upcoming MSA events and announcements emailed via the list serve every week of the academic calendar.  He/She will submit Coke requests for MSA events.  He/She will co-chair the IQRA Committee.

 

Public Relations Officers:  The public relations (PR) officers are responsible for communications, maintaining contact with the greater Dallas community.  The PR Officers will chair the Outreach committee.

 

International Chair:  The international chair will coordinate with and represent the interests of MSA’s international members.  He/she will be responsible for reporting to the Executive Committee on concerns and ideas of the international student population.  He/she will also serve as co-chair of the Outreach Committee.

 

Webmaster:  The webmaster is responsible for maintaining the MSA website with current contact information and activity updates.  He/She will also co-chair the Research & Development Committee.

 

Jummah Chair: 

He/She is directly responsible for making sure that all aspects of the Friday congregational prayers are maintained, including arranging for a weekly speaker, prayer rug maintenance, etc.  While the Jummah Chair’s primary responsibility does lie with insuring Jummah is always on time and successful, the Jummah chair is expected to adapt to any needs and duties the MSA might have at present or in the future.  He/She will chair the Community Service Committee.

 

Article VI              Committees Roles and Responsibilities

 

A.   IQRA Committee

a.        Roles

                                                                                                   i.      Chaired by Vice President

                                                                                                 ii.      Co-chaired by Secretary

b.        Responsibilities – IQRA Initiatives

                                                                                                   i.      Coordinate informal weekly discussion groups, to serve the purpose of educating members of different aspects of Islam

                                                                                                  ii.      Coordinate weekly Surah readings, to serve the purpose of educating members on verses of the Holy Quran.

                                                                                                iii.      Coordinate Seerah readings every Friday prior to Jummah prayer, to serve the purpose of educating members on the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

                                                                                                iv.      Relate a “Hadith of the Week” and relevant current events at weekly general body meetings, to serve the purpose of communicating the Sunnah of the Prophet to our members.

                                                                                                 v.      Informing members of important dates within the Islamic calendar, via updates to the MSA Weekly

                                                  

B.   Fundraising Committee

c.        Roles

                                                                                                   i.      Chaired by Treasurer

d.        Responsibilities – Fundraising Initiatives

                                                                                                   i.      Coordinate fundraising events to build MSA’s checking account, to serve the purpose of providing more resources for members

                                                                                                  ii.      Work with local non profit charity organizations to lead fundraising projects, to serve the purpose of giving back to the community

                                                                                                iii.      Utilize and maintain a donor contact list (parents, local businesses, organizations, alumni), to serve the purpose of underwriting costs for MSA events and programs

 

C.      Outreach Committee

a.        Roles

                                                                                                   i.      Chaired by Public Relations Officers

                                                                                                  ii.      Co-chaired by International Chair

b.       Responsibilities – Outreach Initiatives

                                                                                                   i.      Coordinate publicity campaigns (banners, posters, stake signs, etc.), to serve the purpose of boosting attendees at MSA events and programs

                                                                                                  ii.      Evaluate best publicity practices, to serve the purpose of strengthening outreach efforts

                                                                                                iii.      Design MSA T-shirts, to serve the purpose of uniting members and promoting the MSA on campus

                                                                                                iv.      Maintain contact with SMU’s Daily Campus for the purpose of ensuring event and program media coverage

 

D.      Research & Development Committee

a.        Roles

                                                                                                   i.      Chaired by Historian

                                                                                                  ii.      Co-chaired by Webmaster

b.        Responsibilities – Research & Development Initiatives

                                                                                                   i.      Undertake creative work on a systematic basis in order to develop MSA’s historical progress, via a semesterly scrapbook, including, but not limited to event pictures, programs, and significant media coverage

                                                                                                 ii.      Conduct research on learning best practices of MSAs across the state and nation, with the aim of contributing to the advancement of the Muslim Student Association

                                                                                                iii.      Communicate with Texas Lone Star Council and MSA National on networking events and strengthening MSA events and programs

                                                                                                iv.      Evaluate MSA programs via surveying members, including feedback on new initiatives and projects

 

E.       Community Service

a.        Roles

                                                                                                   i.      Chaired by Jummah Chair

b.        Responsibilities – Community Service Initiatives

                                                                                                   i.      Coordinate Community Service activities for the MSA to participate in, for the purpose of contributing to our community both on and off campus

 

Article VII            Advisor

The official advisor of the MSA shall be the Chaplain of the University.  The MSA will also choose a Muslim faculty/staff advisor if available.  Any questions regarding Qur’an and/or Sunnah will be referred to the Imam of the Dallas Central Mosque.

 

Article VIII           Meetings

Weekly Friday (Jumaah) prayers will occur each week the University is open and shall serve as a forum for the Muslims students of SMU to meet each week. 

Executive Officer meetings will be held on a weekly basis.  These meetings should be scheduled so that the maximum number of officers can attend.  An emergency meeting may be called at the request of a simple majority of the Officer members.

The President will call all Executive meetings based on the availability of all Exec members and Member meetings as he/she deems fit, with a minimum of two general and executive members.

 

Article IX              Quorum

The Executive committee requires at least three members to conduct business.  Any votes within the general body will require a simple majority of those present.

 

Article X               Amending the Constitution

Amendments to the Constitution can be submitted in writing by any active member of the MSA to the president of the MSA.  A two-thirds vote of the Officers present in the Executive Committee Meeting shall be necessary for the proposing of an amendment.  The Executive Committee, after approving a proposed amendment, shall present it to the members at the general meeting, and will pass with a 2/3 vote.

 

Article XI              Complaints and Petitions

 

All complaints or petitions should be submitted in writing to the MSA.  The president will then meet with the complainant and will address the issue with the rest of the active members. 

 

Article XII            Ratification

Ratification of the Constitution requires a 2/3 majority of all participating voters.  This includes Executive, Active, and Inactive members.