Constitution

Language and Literacy Education Graduate Organization (LLEGO) Constitution

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be:  Language and Literacy Education Graduate Organization (LLEGO).

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of LLEGO is to advance the study of a variety of aspects within the discipline of language and literacy education, to provide networking and social opportunities, conduct professional development series, and encourage cross-disciplinary study.

Article III: Membership

Membership shall be limited to regularly enrolled (full- or part-time) graduate students of The University of Georgia graduate students in the Language and Literacy Education (LLE) department as well as graduate student alumni of the University of Georgia Language and Literacy Education department.

1. Membership and all privileges, including voting and officer positions, must be extended to all students without regard to race, color, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. 

However, religious student organizations will not be denied registration solely because they limit membership or leadership positions to students who share the same religious beliefs.

1. Membership and all privileges, including voting and officer positions, must be extended to all students as stated in the University of Georgia Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy. Title VIof the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects people from discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Article IV: Dues and Payment

There will be no dues collected from LLEGO members.

ARTICLE V: Faculty Advisor(s)

LLEGO will be advised by a Faculty Advisor or team of Faculty Advisors from the Language and Literacy Education department. The Faculty Advisor(s) must be a current faculty member of the department.  The Faculty Advisor(s) will be chosen by the LLED faculty; the Leadership Team may recommend a potential Faculty Advisor to the faculty if they choose. The Faculty Advisor(s) may be removed from the position at any time by a 2/3 majority vote via secret ballot of either the LLEGO Leadership Team or the LLED faculty, with votes counted by the LLED Department Head.

Responsibilities of the Faculty Advisor(s):

1. Advocate for LLEGO in LLED, the COE, and UGA, and to national/international constituents.

2. Advise the President, Treasurer, and Leadership Team as needed in their management of the organization and its various component responsibilities.

3. Assist with fundraising by appealing to LLED, the COE, UGA, and other institutions for financial support and other resources.

Article VI: Officers

President

An eligible President will be required to be an enrolled graduate student in the Language and Literacy Education LLED department during the term of the election and the following academic year in which they will serve. An open call for presidential elections will take place through the listserv each spring. Interested candidates will submit election materials, including their CV and a statement of relevant experience, which will be made available to LLEGO members. Members will then vote for candidates based on a review of these materials. To be elected President, a candidate must receive the highest number of votes. In the case of only one presidential candidate, that candidate will be elected to office. The President will serve as the chief officer to the organization for one year with the option of being re-elected for one year.  If the President does not fulfill the responsibilities of scheduling and informing members of professional development and social events, s/he may be removed by a secret ballot vote of 2/3 of current student members. Should the President not be able to perform the tasks of president due to removal or resignation, the treasurer will become President. 

Responsibilities of President:

1. Set time and agenda and lead Leadership Team meetings

2. Communicate clearly and frequently, insuring communication among Leadership Team members, and addressing communications problems on the Leadership Team. The Faculty Advisor(s) may be asked to become involved if communication problems persist within the Leadership Team

3. Check email sent to the LLEGO listserv and LLEGO email account on a regular basis and respond promptly to all inquiries

4. Work with Faculty Advisor and Treasurer to create a budget for LLEGO, using input from other leadership team members and the two previous academic years’ budgets as guides

5. Work with Leadership Team members to maintain a wiki and/or website for LLEGO-member use and reference

6. The President will be responsible bringing a relevant speaker to campus, using funds from the budget accorded to LLEGO as a UGA Student Organization. The President will work with Leadership Team members and the Faculty Advisor to identify and contact possible speakers. In the event that the President does not wish to invite a speaker to campus, another Leadership Team member may by selected by a 2/3 vote to do so. The speaker budget may be used for transportation and hotel fees for the speaker, to rent facilities and equipment, and to otherwise support an academic meeting designed to serve the UGA community. All spending must work in accord with the specifications of the Student Organization office and its stipulations for budget expenditures.

Vice President

An eligible Vice President will be required to be an enrolled graduate student in the LLED department during the term of the election and the following academic year in which s/he will serve. An open call for Vice President elections will take place through the listserv each spring. Interested candidates will submit election materials, including their CV and a statement of relevant experience, which will be made available to LLEGO members. Members will then vote for candidates based on a review of these materials. To be elected Vice President a candidate must receive the highest number of votes. In the case of only one candidate, that candidate will be elected to office. The Vice President will hold their position for one year with the option of being re-elected for one year. If the Vice President does not fulfill the responsibilities outlined below, s/he may be removed by a secret ballot vote of 2/3 of current student members.

Responsibilities of Vice President:

1. Attend LLEGO leadership meetings

2. Assist with annual speaker, organizing for events, and other duties as needed

3. Send requests through the LLEGO listserv for graduate students to submit questions, requests, concerns, etc. related to the LLE department to be brought to the LLE faculty before each faculty meeting.

4. Present students’ questions and concerns to the LLE faculty.

5. Take notes during the LLE faculty meetings.

6. Have LLE department head approve faculty meeting notes.

7. Following department head approval, alert LLEGO members via the LLEGO listserv and share those notes with LLED graduate students via a binder in the LLED office.

8. Present LLEGO-specific requests (e.g., funding, facilities, participation, etc.) to the LLED faculty as needed.

Treasurer

An eligible Treasurer will be required to be an enrolled graduate student in the LLE department during the term of the election and the following academic year in which s/he will serve. An open call for Treasurer elections will take place through the listserv each spring. Interested candidates will submit election materials, including their CV and a statement of relevant experience, which will be made available to LLEGO members. Members will then vote for candidates based on a review of these materials. To be elected Treasurer, a candidate must receive the highest number of votes. In the case of only one candidate, that candidate will be elected to office. The Treasurer will hold their position for one year with the option of being re-elected for one year.  If the Treasurer does not fulfill the responsibilities outlined below, s/he may be removed by a secret ballot vote of 2/3 of current student members.

Responsibilities of Treasurer:

1. Create a budget for LLEGO, using input from the current leadership team and the two previous academic years’ budgets as guides

2. Attend the budget meeting (usually held early September) to represent the organization and secure funding for proposed activities

3. Communicate financial status to the leadership team after budget meeting

4. Keep up with any expenses LLEGO incurs as the academic year progresses

5. Fill out paperwork (as needed) for payment of expenses for LLEGO

6. File paperwork for expenses with College of Education (COE) accountant for student activities

7. Follow-up with COE accountant for student activities to be sure expenses are paid in a timely manner

8. Communicate any “left over” funding (should there be any) to the leadership team so that they can decide how to spend it before the deadline

Communications Chair

An eligible Communications Chair will be required to be an enrolled graduate student in the LLED department during the term of the election and the following academic year in which s/he will serve. An open call for Communications Chair elections will take place through the listserv each spring. Interested candidates will submit election materials, including their CV and a statement of relevant experience, which will be made available to LLEGO members. Members will then vote for candidates based on a review of these materials. To be elected Communications Chair, a candidate must receive the highest number of votes. In the case of only one candidate, that candidate will be elected to office. The Communications Chair will hold their position for one year with the option of being re-elected for one year.  If the Communications Chair does not fulfill the responsibilities outlined below, s/he may be removed by a secret ballot vote of 2/3 of current student members.

Responsibilities of Communications Chair:

1. Attend LLEGO leadership meetings

2. Create work that is used to advertise and broadcast LLEGO events (such as e-vites, e-posters)

3. Update LLEGO calendars as needed

4. Help manage LLEGO social media accounts including Facebook

5. Help maintain the LLEGO wiki 

6. Communicate to the LLEGO listserv as needed

7. Assist with all LLEGO technology needs

Article VII: Meetings

In the least, LLEGO will have one major meeting in each of fall and spring semesters. In addition, we LLEGO will meet according to the needs of the organization and work with the Language and Literacy Department, LLE department faculty, staff, and students and their affiliated organizations to determine those needs. Only the President can call a meeting, and it will be announced to all its members in LLEGO leadership positions (i.e. via Internet or email).

Article VIII: Quorum

2/3 officers must be present to transact business.

Article IX: Amendments

Any amendment to the constitution requires a 2/3 majority vote of Leadership Team members.

Article X: Ratification

A draft of the constitution written by the officers will be made available to all members of the organization. Any concerns must be conveyed to the officers within 7 business days. After the 7 day period, officers will take members’ concerns into consideration and vote on the constitution as written. If the draft fails to be ratified, a new draft must be put forth for a new vote.

BY LAWS

1. Members have the right to be protected under all University policies.

2. If members have concerns about the business operations, those concerns should be brought to the attention of the faculty advisor.

3. All officers are held accountable to the honor system in business and financial proceedings. All business transactions must be made public upon the advisor’s request.

4. Amendment to the bylaws follow the same procedures as amendments to the constitution (i.e. 2/3 majority vote).