Constitution & Bylaws

ARTICLE I  -  Name

 

The official name of our organization is the Benjamin J. Parvin Physician Assistant Student Society of Nova Southeastern University, or NSU-FL PASS. The society bears the name of a long-time leader of the PA profession in Florida.

 

 

ARTICLE II  -  Affiliations

 

The NSU-FL PASS is affiliated with NSU through the College of Allied Health & Nursing by virtue of our status as students in the NSU-FL Physician Assistant Program.  As a physician assistant student society, we are also affiliated with the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA).

 

The NSU-FL PASS is additionally affiliated with the Student Government of Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division and the NSU Student Affairs Committee, the campus-wide student government system.

 

 

ARTICLE III  -  Purpose

 

The purpose of NSU-FL PASS shall be:

 

*       To serve as the official organization for physician assistant students;

*       To promote academic achievement, clinical excellence, and professional growth;

*       To promote the Physician Assistant as a member of the health care team;

*       To provide NSU-Fort Lauderdale PA students and opportunity to interact with the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA) and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA); and

             *       To provide NSU-FL PA students an opportunity to interact with the Student Government of Nova Southeastern University.

 

ARTICLE IV  -  Activities

 

Section 1: General

 

NSU-FL PASS shall pursue opportunities to promote public awareness of the PA profession, participate in health fairs and other community service activities, sponsor fund raising activities.  Additionally the NSU-FL PASS shall participate in planned activities of the NSU Student Government, the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA), and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA).

 

Section 2: Activity Funding

 

Financial support shall be derived from donations, outside sponsors, fund raising activities, and NSU Student Government funding as available.  Any funding received from the NSU Student Government will be proportionally divided among the junior and senior class accounts.

 

 

ARTICLE V - General Policies

 

Section 1: Non-Discrimination

 

NSU-FL PASS shall not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.

 

Section 2: Nova Southeastern University Policies

 

NSU PASS shall adhere to the provisions of the HPD College of Allied Health & nursing Student Handbook and the other laws, rules, and regulations governing NSU and its students.

 

 

ARTICLE VI  -  Membership

 

Section 1: Active Membership

 

Active membership is limited to students currently enrolled in good standing in the NSU-FL PA Program.  All active members are eligible to vote.

 

Section 2: Recommended Organization Membership

 

It is strongly encouraged, but not required, that all NSU-FL PASS members become student members of the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA) and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA).  All NSU-FL PASS officers and board members MUST be student members of both AAPA and FAPA for the duration of their term in office.

 

 

ARTICLE VII  -  Dues and Fees

 

Section 1: Activation of Membership

 

Upon payment of tuition and student activity fees, currently enrolled NSU-FL PA students shall become active PASS members.

 

Section 2: Fees

 

The assessment of additional fees may be necessary for projects of the NSU PASS.  Fees may only be assessed upon the vote of a simple majority of society members present.  Notification of a fee assessment vote must be made in writing and posted to the membership at least 2 weeks prior to the vote.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII  -  Presiding Officers and Representatives

 

Section 1: Qualification for Officers

 

Active members, who are also current student members of the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA) and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA), may hold office in the NSU-FL PASS.  Presiding officers of the NSU-FL PASS shall be those of the junior (first-year) class. All officers must be members of SAAAPA and FAPA within 45 days of election.  Suspension from office, with loss of function, will occur if this is not accomplished.  The Board will accommodate for the loss with immediate elections for the position.

 

Section 2: Positions

 

The Presiding Officers for the NSU-FL PASS shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, AOR/HOD Representative, Alternate AOR/HOD Representative, Constituent Chapter Student Representative, Fundraising Coordinator Representative, and a Minority Affairs / Cultural Diversity Representative.

Any other positions that the NSU-FL PASS deems necessary may be established. The officers may, for example, hold elections for a Board of up to five (5) members. Board members may vote, chair committees, and assist with other PASS business. Elections for Board members should take place after election of PASS officers.

 

There shall be a Faculty Advisor of the NSU-FL PASS chosen from the NSU-FL PA Program faculty.

 

Section 3: Duties

 

The President shall preside over meetings, coordinate the meeting's agenda and submit the same to the Secretary for copy and distribution, assist in coordinating the activities of the student society's committees, and keep the membership informed of the activities of these committees.  The President shall, with the Vice-President, represent the PA student body to the University Student Affairs Committee.  The President of the junior class will represent the Nova Southeastern PA program at the Nova Southeastern University President's Advisory Committee.  In his / her absence, the Vice-President of the junior class will preside.

 

The Vice-President shall assist the President and preside in his / her absence and inform the membership on various student issues and activities.  The Vice-President shall, with the President, represent the PA student body to the Nova Southeastern University Student Affairs Committee.  In the absence of the President, the Vice-president shall represent the Student Society to the NSU President's Advisory Committee and preside at any other functions.

 

The President and Vice-President will additionally act as the Student Representative to the University Student Affairs Committee.  They shall serve as the student society's voting representatives and inform the membership of the various student issues and activities of the University Student Affairs Committee.  This Committee is primarily the Health Professions Division Student Government.

 

The Secretary shall maintain all records of the student society, record minutes of meetings, notify members of forthcoming meetings, and carry on the general correspondence of the student society.  The Secretary will maintain a continuous Notebook of Meeting Minutes and will transfer these documents to the incoming Secretary at the end of his / her term.  Meeting Minutes will be emailed monthly to the Faculty Advisor.

 

The Treasurer shall coordinate the collection of any dues, maintain the student society account, report to the membership the student society's financial status at each general meeting, and file an additional copy with the Secretary for inclusion in the PASS Notebook of Meeting Minutes.  The Treasurer will oversee all fund raising activities and coordinate any committees created to function in fund raising activities.  Full reporting of all income & expenses must be made at least quarterly to the Faculty Advisor.

 

Payments not to exceed $250.00 may be authorized from the respective PASS account by a simple majority vote of the board members.  Requests for funds in excess of $250.00 shall be voted on by a required quorum of at least 51% of active members present; approval shall be by a simple majority and recorded as such in meeting minutes by the secretary.

 

The AOR/HOD Representative shall be the liaison between SAAAPA and the NSU-FL PASS.  He / she shall serve as the Student Delegate to the SAAAPA Assembly of Representatives (AOR) as a first year student and the AAPA House of Delegates (HOD) Representative as a second year student.  In the event that he / she are unable to attend the AAPA’s Annual Conference, the designated alternate AOR/HOD representative will assume those duties.  After the alternate, the Constituent Chapter Student Representative will fill those duties.

 

The Alternate AOR/HOD Representative shall, in the event that the AOR/HOD Representative is unable to attend the annual/regional conference, assume those duties.  In the event that the Constituent Chapter Student Representative is unable to attend the regional meetings, the alternate AOR/HOD Representative will fill his/her place at that designated meeting.  The Alternate AOR/HOD Representative is required to inform the elected AOR/HOD Representative/ Constituent Chapter Student Representative of the business conducted at the meetings attended.

 

If our society is chosen by lottery (as practiced by the AAPA) to send an additional representative to the AAPA Annual Conference to serve as a delegate or alternate in the formal meetings of the AAPA House of Delegates (HOD), the alternate national representative or the State Representative will fill those duties in the HOD and the SAAAPA Representative will fill the duties in the AOR. Every effort will be made to send a representative to the HOD that has first served in the AOR.  In the event the Representatives are unable to fill the duties described, these positions will be filled by the Board of PASS or by an election.

 

The Constituent Chapter Student Representative shall be the liaison between FAPA and NSU-FL PASS.  He / she shall attend all FAPA Board of Directors meetings, or obtain a written report from the Student Representative from another Florida Physician Assistant school, and report back to NSU-FL PASS.  An alternate will be elected for this position to assist and fill in as necessary.

 

The Fundraising Coordinator Representative shall coordinate all activities that involve raising funds for their represented class.  He/She has the power to appoint and/or elect a committee consisting of up to three persons to assist in organizing fundraising activities.  He/She is required to coordinate with the treasurer to allocate funds.

 

The Minority Affairs Representative shall provide direction to issues involving minority students in the NSU-FL PA program.  This individual shall provide insight and coordination to all activities related to minority affairs and act as liaison to the Student Minority Affairs Committee, chaired by the Student Minority Affairs Director of SAAAPA.  The Minority Affairs representative will keep the board and PASS members informed of all minority issues related to PA education and the PA profession.  This individual will also distribute information from the FAPA Cultural Diversity Committee and attend all meetings.

 

Board members shall attend all meetings of the NSU-FL PASS and assist in general duties as necessary.

 

The Faculty Advisor shall provide insight and direction into the proper, ethical, and professional standards of the Physician Assistant.  He / she shall be responsible for disseminating copies of the existing bylaws to the newly matriculating PA class.  He / she shall have no voting right or privilege but may make recommendations and suggestions for consideration of the board.  The Faculty Advisor shall maintain all continuing records for the society.  The Faculty Advisor must be a fellow member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). The Faculty Advisor shall be appointed by the PA Program Chair.

 

 

ARTICLE IX.  Elections

 

Section 1: Procedure

 

All Student Society Presiding Officer nominees shall be full time students in good standing in the

NSU-FL Physician Assistant program. As specified in Article VIII, Sec. 1, all officers must be, or become within 45 days, members of both FAPA and SAAAPA.

 

Elections will be held within ninety (90) days of matriculation. Officers of the previous year and / or the Faculty Advisor shall be responsible for distributing and tabulating ballots.

 

Tabulation must be done immediately, the election results posted, and winners notified. In the event of a tie, a run-off election shall be held immediately.

 

Election of Presiding Officers shall be determined by a simple majority vote of members present at the time of the vote.  Proxy votes will be accepted upon submission to the Faculty Advisor for tabulation.

 

Section 2: Elections for Vacant Office

 

Should a Presiding Officer or Representative position become vacant during the elected term, a special election to fill the vacant position shall be held no later than two weeks after the position has been vacated.  Term of office shall be for the remainder of the period of enrollment.

 

Vacancy in the Faculty Advisor position shall be filled or designated by the Physician Assistant Department Chair.  In the absence of the Program Chair, the position shall be filled or designated by the Associate Department Chair.

 

Section 3: Notification

 

Once elections have been completed, the "Student Society Roster Form” must be completed and returned to the AAPA national office within thirty days.  This form officially activates the student society with SAAAPA.

 

Section 4: Term

 

Each officer will serve for a one-year term of office commencing immediately upon election and terminating after the new officers for the following year have been elected and oriented by the outgoing officers.

 

The senior officers will remain as advisors to the incoming officer board and retain the title in which they were elected, plus the term "Past”.  The outgoing officers will be referred to as past-president, past-vice president, etc.  Outgoing officers will have the voting rights extended to all student members of the society.

 

Section 5: Removal of Officers from Office

 

Any elected Presiding Officer may be removed from his or her position by a 2/3-majority vote.  A proposal for impeachment must consist of a written petition signed by 25% of the NSU-FL PASS membership and submitted to the Faculty Advisor, and subsequently brought to a vote by the entire NSU-FL PASS.

 

 

ARTICLE X  -  Committees

 

Section 1: Ad Hoc Committees

 

The Presiding Officers shall designate ad hoc committees as the need may arise.  Examples of such committees include, but are not limited to, fund raising, public relations, social, yearbook and community service.

 

The Presiding Officers shall appoint each committee chairperson with consultation from the class at large as necessary.  Committee members shall be volunteers from the student membership and shall operate under the guidance of the Chairperson.

 

Section 3: Committee Reporting

 

All committees shall report their activities to the student society officers on a continuing basis, and to the general membership at the PASS meetings.  All committees shall submit a written report at the end of the leadership year describing activities.

 

ARTICLE XI  -  Amendments and Parliamentary Source

 

Section 1: Amendment Procedure

 

The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of the total active membership of the NSU-FL PASS, provided all amendments proposed are submitted to the President at least one month prior to a scheduled student society meeting and are in turn submitted to all of the active membership at least two weeks prior to the vote.  Adoption of bylaw by the incoming officers will occur no later than 20 days after election.

 

Section 2: Alternate Approval of Amendments

 

In addition to the procedure in Section 1, any bylaws necessary to supplement this Constitution may be discussed and approved at a monthly meeting and voted upon at the following monthly meeting.

 

Section 3: Parliamentary Source

 

The Parliamentary source use by the NSU-FL PASS shall be Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure or similar standard parliamentary procedures manual.  In all proceedings, the Constitution and Bylaws of this student society shall take precedence.

 

 

ARTICLE XII  -  Charter Updates

 

Section 1: AAPA Annual Charter Update

 

The elected presiding officers’ and representative's first responsibility after their election will be completing the American Academy of Physician Assistants  "Student Society Charter Annual Update" form as an "affiliated" member and sending it to the AAPA's national office no later than two weeks after the date of elections.

 

Section 2: NSU Annual Charter Update

 

The elected officers and representatives must also meet any requirements for registering organizations imposed by NSU Office of the Student Activities.  To this end, the President of the NSU-FL PASS should contact the College of Allied Health & Nursing Director of Student Services as soon as possible after the elections.

 

 

ARTICLE XIII -  Meetings

 

Section 1: Meetings

 

Meetings of NSU-FL PASS shall be held monthly, beginning in September.  The dates and times of the meetings shall be posted on the PA Program PASS website.  All presiding officers are required to attend these meetings. The Faculty Advisor will be advised of all meetings and will attend if requested. Meeting dates, times and locations may be modified to accommodate the business and schedule of students.

 

Section 2: Additional Meetings

 

Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the Presiding Officers provided that no less than one week's notice has been given to the membership in writing and/or by phone.  All student society Presiding Officers are required to attend all meetings held.

 

All Presiding Officers have equal voting privileges with the exception of the President, who shall have the tie-breaking vote when necessary.  A quorum for a board meeting shall constitute no less than 3 Presiding Officers and votes will be by simple majority.

 

 

ARTICLE XIV  -  Officer Training

 

Section 1: Transfer of Responsibility

 

It will be the responsibility of the outgoing Presiding Officers to familiarize the new officers with their duties and responsibilities and the materials needed to perform their jobs.  This should include, but not be limited to, official title description and rules of the corresponding governing position as described in the Bylaws. Training must be completed within thirty days of elections requiring a scheduled meeting with the outgoing officers and newly elected officers.  This may require allotment of time by outgoing officers separate from clinical rotation responsibilities.