Bylaws

Ethics Statement

The Louisiana Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators recognizes the
importance of ethical conduct by its members. The ethical behavior standards should relate to the
constituencies with whom student affairs professionals work (fellow professionals, students, educational
institutions, and society are specified). This ethics statement should guide the behaviors of student affairs
professionals in everyday practice. We, the members of LACUSPA, do hereby comply with the following
ethical principles:
1.    Act to Benefit Others: Student Personnel Administrators exist to promote total development of
students, contribute to the effectiveness of the institution, and provide programs and services
consistent with the purpose of existence.
2.    Promotion of Justice: Student Personnel Administrators are committed to fairness for all.
Impartiality, equity, and reciprocity are essential in the promotion of justice. Characteristics such
as age, culture, ethnicity, gender, disabilities, race, religion, or sexual orientation should never be
a factor in decision-making.
3.    Respect Autonomy: Student Personnel Administrators respect individual autonomy and privacy.
Student’s autonomy and privacy are not restricted unless their action interferes with the welfare of
others or the accomplishment of the institution’s mission.
4.    Be Faithful: Student Personnel Administrators are truthful, honor agreements, and trustworthy in
the performance of their duties.
5.    Do No Harm: Student Personnel Administrators do not engage in activities that cause physical or
psychological harm to others.

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CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purpose of this Association shall be:
•    To discuss and study the most effective methods of assisting students in their intellectual, social,
moral, and personal development.
•    To provide and stimulate leadership among persons engaged in the administration of student
personnel programs.
•    To maintain and improve professional standards in the field of student personnel administration in
the State of Louisiana.
•    To serve as a central clearing agency for information pertinent to present or contemplated student
personnel programs in Louisiana.
•    To stimulate creative and experimental programs in the student personnel filed.
•    To promote research in the student personnel work and in related areas.
•    To bring about recognition that many specialized abilities contribute to meeting student needs.
•    To enhance the role of student personnel administrators in higher education.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
Professional Membership. Membership shall be open to all student personnel administrators, to those
persons employed within the area of student affairs, and to educators who train student personnel workers.

Student Membership. Membership shall be open to all matriculated students (undergraduate or graduate)
who are interested in student personnel work upon the recommendation of a professional member.

Section 2
Student members are entitled to the following rights and privileges of this Association:
•    Participation in meetings;
•    Use of LACUSPA placement services;
•    Subscriptions to all publications of the Association and to all regular communications;
•    Membership on committees.

Section 3
The annual dues shall be determined by vote of the membership of the Association and payable to the
Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 4
Each member of the Association shall be entitled to vote.

Section 5
Balloting on Constitution, By-Laws, officers, and dues shall be mailed by Ballot.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
Section 1
Names. The officers of the Association shall be President, President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, and four At-
Large Executive Committee members. All the officers shall be elected by the voting membership in the
manner described in this Constitution.

Section 2
Qualifications. The officers of this Association shall be professional members in good standing of
LACUSPA and shall reside in the State of Louisiana during their term of office

Section 3
Election of Officers.
•    At least six (6) months prior to the annual meeting of the Association, the President shall appoint
an Election Committee to be composed of professional members and to be chaired by the
Immediate Past President. The Election Committee shall be composed of no more than five (5),
nor fewer than three (3) members, including the Chairperson.
•    The Election Committee shall submit to the membership by mail a Nomination ballot for the
following officers: President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer (when appropriate) and two At-Large
Members of the Executive Committee.
•    The election ballot shall be made up of nominees receiving the largest number of nominations.
Two (2) candidates for each office shall appear on the election ballot.
•    The Election Committee shall ascertain the eligibility of each nominee.
•    The Election Committee shall ascertain the eligibility of each nominee a willingness to stand for
election.
•    The Election Committee shall solicit from the candidates and provide to the membership
information relevant to the qualifications of each candidate.
•    Prior to the annual conference, the Election Committee shall conduct the election for
Association Officers.
•    Each officer shall be elected by a majority of votes cast by the appointed date set by the Election
Committee.
•    Eligibility of Voters. Each member of this Association shall be eligible to vote for the President-
Elect and Secretary-Treasurer (when appropriate). At-Large Members of the Executive Committee
may be voted upon only by those members at the same type of institution as defined as Article IV,
Section 5, Subsection E of this Constitution.

Section 4
Terms of Office
•    The President and the President-Elect shall serve a one (1) year term of office.
•    The At-Large Members of the Executive Committee shall serve a two (2) year term of office.
•    The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve a two (2) year term of office.
•    An officer may not succeed oneself after two (2) consecutive terms.

Section 5
Duties of Officers/Appointed Persons
•    President. The President shall be the chief officer of the Association, shall be chairperson of and
preside over the Executive Committee and the annual conference. The president shall have the
authority to appoint committees and commissions and shall be an ex-officio member of all
committees.
•    President-Elect. The President-Elect shall succeed the President of the Association at the end of
the president’s term or upon the death or resignation of the President. In this case the President-
Elect shall serve for the unexpired term of the president replaced and the elected term. The
President-Elect shall also perform the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the
President and shall serve as coordinator of the commissions and committees as an ex-officio
member.
•    Secretary-Treasurer. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep the records of the Association and shall
be responsible for the following:
•    Recording minutes of all business meetings of the Association;
•    Recording minutes of all Executive Committee meetings;
•    Maintaining current lists of the membership with mailing addresses;
•    Maintaining an accurate list of professional membership;
•    Billing and receiving membership dues at the beginning of each fiscal year;
•    Distribution to the membership of all publications and/or regular communications to
include any mailed ballots to the membership.
•    Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President shall serve as Chairperson of the
Election Committee and perform such other duties as delegated by the President or the Executive
Committee.
•    At-Large Executive Committee Members. The At-Large Executive Committee Members shall
participate in all activities of the Executive Committee, shall accept such responsibilities as are
consonant with their office in transacting the business of the Association, and shall serve a two (2)
year term.
•    One member shall be elected to represent all two-year institutions (community/junior
colleges or technical colleges) by the membership of the above-mentioned institutions
and shall be elected in even numbered years.
•    One member shall be elected to represent all private institutions by their represented
membership and shall be elected in odd numbered years.
•    Two members shall be elected to represent all four-year institutions (to include any
institution offering a baccalaureate or higher degree) by the membership of the above
institutions and shall serve two-year terms—one being elected even numbered years and
one being elected in odd number years.
•    Faculty Representative : The Faculty Representative shall be appointed by the President to serve
a term of two (2) years. This member will represent student affairs, counseling and higher
education related graduate training programs in Louisiana .
•    All officers shall assume their offices at the end of the annual conference.

Section 6
The Executive Committee. The Executive Committee of the Association shall be composed of the
President, President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, four (4) At-Large Members, and Immediate Past President.
The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the Association between annual meetings,
administer policy, make recommendations to the membership, and fill all vacant offices with the
exception of the President-Elect.

ARTICLE V: ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Annual Conference. There shall be annual conference of the Association.
•    The time and site of the annual conference shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
•    The Conference Local Arrangements Chairperson shall be appointed by the Executive Committee
and shall be responsible to the Committee and for planning and coordinating activities.
•    The Conference Program Chair shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and will solicit
program proposals, coordinate the proposed review process, and generate the program for the
annual conference.

ARTICLE VI: BY-LAWS
By-laws consistent with this Constitution shall be adopted or amended by a majority vote of the
membership casting mailed ballots—deadline to be determined by the Election Committee.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS
Section 1
Amendments to this Constitution may be initiated by the Executive Committee or upon petition to the
Executive Committee by ten (10) percent of the professional membership.

Section 2
Proposals to amend this Constitution must be distributed with the ballots to the professional membership of
the Association at least thirty (30) days prior to the established deadline for posting ballots.

Section 3
The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the ballots received.

ARTICLE VII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1
All meetings of this Association shall be conducted according to the procedures specified in the most
recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 2
The presiding officer at any meeting of the Association may appoint a parliamentarian to advise the
presiding officer on parliamentary matters.

ARTICLE IX: FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Association shall be January 1 though December 31.