Constitution

I. Name
The name of this organization shall be Universities Allied for Essential Medicines at the University of Florida, hereafter referred to as UAEM-UF.
II. Purpose
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines has a two-fold mission:
1. To determine how universities can help ensure that biomedical end products, such as drugs, are made more accessible in low- and middle-income countries, and
2. To increase the amount of research conducted on neglected diseases, or those diseases
predominantly affecting people who are too poor to constitute a market attractive to private-sector
R&D investment.
In both cases, universities are well-placed to make a difference. University scientists are major contributors in the drug development pipeline. At the same time, universities have an avowed commitment to advancing the public good. As members of these universities, our fundamental goal is to hold them to this commitment. UAEM-UF strives to work within the community in an ongoing discussion and collaboration between students, faculty, and staff in order to make our goals a reality. This organization shall be not for profit or non-commercial in nature and is affiliated with the international organization of the same name.
III. Membership
a. Members
Full membership shall be limited to registered students of the University of Florida who have attended at least three meetings during the semester.
b. Associate Members
Faculty, staff, the spouses of members, and other students may be associate members. Associate members may not hold office or vote on matters concerning this organization.
c. Dues
There shall be no dues required for membership in this organization.
d. Conventions
Executive Board members will select attendees for national conferences with preference given to the Chairperson of the board should he or she choose to attend. Group decisions and initiatives will attempt whenever feasible to adhere to national policies, goals, and practices.
e. Dissociation
Members are free to leave and disassociate without fear of retribution or harassment.
IV. Code of Conduct
This organization shall conform to the regulations prescribed by the Student Guide and other laws and rules governing the University of Florida and its students.
a. Hazing
Hazing is, by all means, prohibited.
b. Discrimination
This organization, including all of its members, will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.
V. Officers
a. Executive Board
The officers shall be the Chairperson, the Public Relations Officer, the Financial Officer, the Administrative Officer, and the Research and Development Officer, who together shall constitute the Executive Board.
b. Term of Office
Officers will take office in the beginning of the Spring semester following their election and shall hold office until the beginning of the next Spring semester. There is no limit on the number of terms a member may serve; however, one individual may not hold more than one elected office within the organization simultaneously.
c. Roles of the Officers
1. The Chairperson takes on the typical responsibilities of a president and acts as liaison to National UAEM, spearheads all group meetings and initiatives, assigns duties as needed, acts as representative and external communications of the group to the greater community, acts as co-liaison to university administration and staff, and fulfills other general duties as needed in the capacity of Chairperson.
2. The Public Relations Officer creates and distributes press releases and acts as a liaison to the media, produces materials for recruitment, acts as internal communications among group members, acts as co-liaison to university administration and staff, assists with preparation of all necessary material for presentation of all group initiatives, and fulfills other general duties as necessitated.
3. The Financial Officer takes on the typical responsibilities of a treasurer and handles all applications for internal and external funding for the group, internal funding requests from group members, grants, and budgetary responsibilities of the group, oversees events-planning and funded initiatives, reimbursements, and all other duties relating to the financial management of the group.
4. The Administrative Officer maintains and updates all group materials and records, develops all necessary administrative forms including, but not limited to permitting and office logs, provides group updates to the national website, posts meeting minutes on internal group site, and fulfills other duties in the administration of the group.
5. The Research and Development Officer researches and updates group on current trends (internal and external trends) in furtherance of the group goals and mission, provide minimum monthly reports to the group and national chapter, and other research and development as needed.
d. Impeachment
1. The impeachment of an officer can only occur when a member files a written complaint alleging the officer is not fulfilling his/her duties.
2. The complaint will be reviewed by the Executive Board, excepting the impeached offer. The Executive Board may question the member filing the complaint, the impeached officer, or any others as part of the review. The Executive Board will write an evaluation of the complaint and the impeached officer’s performance, along with their recommendation of whether or not to remove the impeached officer from office (as determined by 2/3 vote).
3. The Administrative Officer (or, in case of impeachment of the Administrative Officer, the Chairperson) will schedule a meeting to discuss the impeachment and notify members thereof.
4. The vote to remove the impeached officer shall be put to the full membership, following the presentation by the Executive Board of their evaluation and a brief presentation of defense by the impeached officer, if he/she wishes to present one.
5. If 2/3 of the membership vote to remove the officer, the officer will be removed.
VI. Faculty Advisor
a. Role
The Faculty Advisor(s) will support members in fulfilling the purpose of the organization, act as a resource for members, and represent the club to the community and the University of Florida as appropriate.
b. Selection
The office of Faculty Advisor(s) is to be chosen by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board. The Faculty Advisor(s) shall be selected no later than 30 days after the Executive Board assumes office; that is, no later than 30 days after the start of each Spring semester. The faculty advisor(s) ideals should be aligned with the organization’s purpose and is willing to serve as a source of information and advice for the club.
c. Term
The Faculty Advisor(s) shall serve for two semesters. The Executive Board may select a new faculty advisor at any time.
VII. Election of Officers
a. Scheduling
Elections of new officers will take place annually in the last month of the Fall semester, as scheduled by the Administrative Officer.
b. Nomination
A member may be nominated for office by any member of the organization at an organizational meeting preceding an election. Nominations may be made in oral or written form, as determined by the Chairperson.
c. Nominees
Members who are running for office must accept their nomination. Members running for office will be permitted to address voters in a manner decided by the Chairperson.
d. Voting
Officers must be elected by the vote of a simple majority of members, by secret ballot.
e. Replacement
If an officer leaves office, another officer will fill the position, as decided by the officers. The Administrative Officer shall schedule a meeting at which nominations may be made to fill the office, and an election to fill the office. If the Administrative Officer leaves office, the Chairperson shall perform these duties. Nominations and voting shall proceed as in a regular election.
VIII. Committees
a. Formation
Committees may be formed at any time, according to the needs of this organization, by vote of the Executive Board.
b. Appointment of Coordinators
The Executive Board shall appoint a coordinator to the committee.
c. Role of Coordinators
The coordinator will be responsible for coordinating volunteers working on the committee, communication with the Executive Board and the organization, and accomplishing the aims of the committee.
d. Term of Coordinators
The coordinator shall serve until his/her resignation, the completion of the aims of the committee, or recalled by the Executive Board.
IX. Amendments
a. Proposing Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution may be suggested by any member of this organization. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board.
b. Review
The proposed amendment will be reviewed by the Executive Board. The Executive Board will write a brief evaluation of the effect of the amendment on the organization, the legality of the amendment, and possible alternatives or changes to the amendment, along with their recommendation of whether or not to pass the proposed amendment (as determined by 2/3 vote).
c. Voting
1. If the proposed amendment is submitted during the Fall semester prior to nominations for elections, the proposed amendment shall be furnished, along with the Executive Board’s evaluation, at the nominating meeting. Members may then vote on the proposed amendment during regular elections.
2. If the proposed amendment is submitted after nominations, the Secretary shall schedule a date in the Spring to present the proposed amendment and evaluation to members, and a date for voting on the proposed amendment. No more than one such election shall take place in any Spring semester. No such election shall take place later than 30 days prior to the last day of class of the Spring semester.
d. Adoption
If the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 vote of the membership, it is approved.