MCLA, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, MA.

"MCLA provides a practical education that challenges students to develop themselves as thinkers, readers, writers, communicators, and problem solvers. Moreover, the MCLA liberal education prepares students for personal and professional success, helping students to comprehend the world and make informed self-directed decisions, preparing them for lives of civic responsibility."

Charlotte Degen, Dean

CAB Constitution

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Commuter Advisory Board

By-Laws

Article 1

NAME – This organization will be know as the Commuter Advisory Board. Hereafter referred to as the CAB.

Article 2

PURPOSE – There are three purposes of this organization. First, it is our aim to provide a vehicle for social interaction between commuter students. Second, we wish to foster and support improved communications relating to college events and services to commuter students in ways deemed appropriate by this organization and the college. Third, we intend for this organization to serve as a voice for commuters, expressing commuters’ view on a myriad of subjects relating to their campus experience.

Article 3

MEMBERSHIP – This organization is specifically set up to address the needs of commuter students at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Membership is open to any commuter student who has paid his or her activities fee.

Article 4

OFFICERS – The officers of this organization shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Ombudsman. These officers shall form the Executive Board of CAB.

Article 5a

DUTIES OF OFFICERS – The duties of Officers are to act in the best interest of the organization as follows:

President – It shall be the responsibility of the president to preside over all meetings of the organization, serve as official representative of said in all matters thereto pertaining, and to exercise duties customarily associated with the office of the president.

Vice President – It shall be the duty of the vice president to preside in the absence of the president and assist the president as requested in the performance of his or her duties.

Secretary – It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep written records of all meetings of the organization, to oversee the dissemination of information relating to college events and services to commuter students, to provide updates to the commuter students’ webpage, and to maintain the history and records of the organization.

Treasurer – It shall be the duty of the treasurer to account for all income and expenditures, and to assist with yearly budget preparation and attend the finance committee meeting in the spring.

Ombudsman – It shall be the duty of the ombudsman to maintain an accurate and up-to-date list of commuter students (including names, addresses, and telephone numbers, interests, and concerns of members), to work with the secretary in disseminating information to commuter students, and to advocate for commuter students on campus as directed by the executive board.

Article 5b

COMMITTEES – The executive board shall form committees as needed to coordinate the organization’s campus activities. Committees may include, but are not limited to, academic, social, membership, volunteer service, and public affairs. Committee representatives shall make regular reports of committee activities to the executive board meetings as requested.

Article 6

ELECTIONS – Elections for the executive board positions shall be held at the beginning of each school semester. Commuter students may vote at either one of two polling places on campus – the Commuter Student Lounge (CC315) or Bowman Hall Lounge (First Floor). All officers shall serve for one semester, at which time they may stand for re-election.

Article 7

REMOVAL OF OFFICERS – Any officer may be removed from office by a special vote of two-thirds of the membership present at the meeting. If an officer is removed, their position will be filled by a volunteer member of the organization. In the absence of a volunteer, the board shall assume the duties of that officer.

Article 8

VACANCY – No office shall remain vacant longer than forty-five days. It is understood that the president may appoint a replacement only until elections may be held.

Article 9

AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS – These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at the meeting, so long as the amendments remain within the framework laid out by the Student Government Association.

Article 10

CAB ADVISOR – The CAB shall be represented by an advisor who is either a faculty member or an administrator at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In the event that the advisor should withdraw their services, the officers may appoint a new advisor with the approval of the membership.