Student Education Association’s Local Chapter Constitution and By-laws

Earl A. Johnson Chapter of the Student Education Association
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Preamble

            We, the students of Ball State University, being members of the Earl A. Johnson Chapter of the Student Education Association, in order to bring those interested in education into closer relationship with each other and with the state and national education association, to extend the spirit of professional unity and purpose, to influence the conditions under which prospective teachers are prepared in order to permit maximum professional competence, to stimulate the highest ideals of professional ethics, standards, attitudes, and training, to develop leadership, to provide for education students a local, state, and national voice in matters affecting their education and the profession, and to secure increased public interest in support of education, do hereby adopt and approve this constitution of the Earl A. Johnson chapter of the Student Education Association. 

Article I
Name, Office

. SECTION 1. Name- The name of this association shall be the Earl A. Johnson chapter of the Student Education Association, known commonly as the Ball State Student Education Association or SEA. 

. SECTION 2.  Office- The registered office of SEA shall be the office of the Faculty Advisor.  The mailing address shall be Ball State University, TC 1008 Dean's Office, Muncie, Indiana 47304. 

Article II
Affiliation

. SECTION 1. Affiliation- SEA is unified with Indiana Student Education Association (ISEA) and the National Education Association Student Programs (NEASP), and is affiliated with Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) and National Education Association (NEA).

. SECTION 2.  Affiliation- SEA must affiliate with ISEA by returning a statement of affiliation each year when membership has reached ten (10) members or more.   

Article III
Membership and Dues

. SECTION 1. Membership- Any Ball State student who is interested in or preparing for a teaching profession shall be eligible for membership in the Earl A. Johnson chapter of the Student Education Association. Individuals who are eligible for full membership in ISTA/NEA through a local classroom teachers association are not eligible for membership in ISTA/NEA as a student education association member.  Membership of SEA shall not be denied on the basis of age, race, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, ethnic background, or religion.  Students who are not members of the organization may also participate in programs and activities sponsored by SEA.

. SECTION 2. Affiliation- In addition to being a member of SEA, each member can be affiliated with the State and National Student Programs. 

. SECTION 3. Dues- Dues for SEA shall be determined by the Executive Committee (see Article II of By Laws) each year with respect to any changes which might be made on the local, state, or national levels.  Persons joining SEA shall pay dues collectively for three levels: NEASP, ISEA, and SEA/BSU.  Membership on all three levels is mandated by the ISEA and the NEASP constitutions. 

. SECTION 4. Membership Year- The membership year shall be from September 1 to August 31. 

Article IV
Officers

. SECTION 1. Responsibilities- The officers of SEA shall be responsible to the membership in all matters concerning the discharge of their duties.

. SECTION 2. Officers- The officers of SEA shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, Publicity Coordinator, and a Historian.  

Article V
Elections

SECTION 1. Elections-

. PART 1.  President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Coordinator, and Historian shall be elected by secret ballot at a monthly meeting, no later than February 28^th, by a simple majority of the voting members present.

. PART 2. Qualifications- To be eligible for office, an individual must be a member of the student body of Ball State University and a paid member of SEA in the year of the election.  Nominees for president of SEA shall have at least one year of prior experience on the Executive Committee of the SEA.

. PART 3. Nominations- Nominations shall be made from the floor at a regular chapter meeting in January.  In addition, nominations can be made up until the day of the meeting in which elections are held in the month of February by means of contact with the faculty advisor or President in order to be on the printed ballot. Write-in nominations may be made the day of the election at the member meeting. Persons are able to nominate themselves or be nominated by another memeber of SEA.

. PART 4. Any position which remains unfilled after the election process can be appointed by the President, provided that the person meets the eligibility requirements to hold a position.

Article VI
Organization

. SECTION 1. Executive Committee- There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the officers, President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Coordinator, Historian, and the local advisors.