The Constitution of the MIT Visiting Students Association (VISTA)

Article I: Purpose

The purpose of VISTA is to facilitate networking opportunities for Visiting Students by organising weekly events. Visting Students are highly motivated students coming from universities all over the world to write their Bachelor or Master Thesis at MIT, or to perform part of the research for their PhD Thesis at MIT. VISTA's goal is to create a welcoming and inspiring environment for these students. Through VISTA they can exchange ideas and experiences, inform each other about opportunities and resources, and make the most out of their limited time at MIT / in the US.

Aspired outcome scenarios include:

1. • Visiting Students being converted to PhD candidates, benefiting the MIT community.

   • Start-Ups or other impactful organizations emerging from the inspiring environment of VISTA at MIT

   • Visiting Students having a great time at MIT and donating back to the community later in their careers.

Article II: Membership

1. Eligibility: Any member of the MIT community is eligible to become a member of this organization. One is considered a member of VISTA in any given academic term if they have attended at least one club activity and one meeting in the preceding or current term.

2. Membership Composition: The organization's membership will at all times consist of at least five MIT students and be more than half MIT students.

3. Non-Discrimination: This organization will not discriminate based on any characteristic listed in MIT's Nondiscrimination Statement.

4. Dues: If this organization charges any monetary dues, exceptions will be made for students who cannot afford these dues.

5. Removal of Members: A member can be removed by a two-thirds vote of all the other members. The member to be removed will be given the opportunity to speak at the meeting at which the vote takes place.

Article III: Officers

1. Officer Positions: This organization will have at a minimum two officers: President and Treasurer. The President and Treasurer must be distinct current MIT students.

2. President

   • The President shall be a currently enrolled MIT student.

   • The President shall be the official representative of the group to any other organization and to MIT.

   • The President will preside over all meetings.

   • The President is responsible for determining when meetings are and publicizing this to the group.

3. Treasurer

   • The Treasurer shall be a currently enrolled MIT student.

   • The Treasurer shall be responsible for the finances of the group.

   • The Treasurer must approve all disbursements from the group's accounts, including reimbursements to members.

4. Additional Officers: Additional officers may be elected as deemed necessary by the organization.

5. Executive Board Composition: At least half of the individuals who are officers of this organization must be current MIT students.

6. Elections

   • Elections of officers shall occur annually during the last meeting of the spring semester or at a regular meeting during the academic year if a position is to become vacant.

   • Any member of this organization is eligible to run for any office.

   • Quorum for elections is two-thirds of the group.

   • Any member is elected if they win a majority of the voting members.

   • If more than two people are running and no one wins a majority, the person with the fewest votes is dropped from the ballot, and votes are recast.

   • The term of office runs from one election to the subsequent election.

7. Removal of Officers

   • Officers may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the members.

   • The officer to be removed will be given the opportunity to speak at the meeting at which the vote takes place.

Article IV: Meetings

1. Frequency: Meetings shall be held at least once a week during the academic year.

2. Presiding Officer: Meetings shall be presided over by the President, unless they are absent, in which case the Co-President or the Treasurer shall preside.

3. Decision-Making: All decisions shall be made by a majority vote of all members present.

4. Quorum: Quorum for a meeting shall be one-quarter of the members of the organization.

Article V: Amendments

1. Proposal: Amendments shall be presented by any member of the organization.

2. Approval: Amendments shall be passed by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

3. Quorum for Amendments: Quorum for amending this constitution shall be two-thirds of all members of the organization.

Article VI: ASA Governance Clause

The MIT Visiting Students Association (VISTA) agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Association of Student Activities and its executive board. This constitution, amendments to it, and the bylaws of this organization shall be subject to review by the ASA Executive Board to ensure that they are in accordance with the aforementioned rules and regulations.