THE BYLAWS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO STUDENT ASSOCIATION OF DISABILITY AWARENESS (ADW)
ARTICLE I. Purpose
The purpose of ADW is foster positive attitudes and changes in the lives of students through advocating for students'
rights, expanding educational awareness, modeling leadership skills, encouraging personal growth, providing
campus/community services, and broadening career opportunities. ADW's goals are designed to support the
academic mission of the University of New Mexico by fostering the development of the whole student. ADW
promotes an environment in which the intellectual, social, recreational, and personal development of the student
can thrive. ADW goals are designed to facilitate fuller participation in the campus, to promote a sense of civic
responsibility, and to provide skills addressing the challenges of academic life and the life-long process of self-
development, interpersonal effectiveness, citizenship, and respect for individual differences. ADW will work
toward these goals by:
A. To provide an opportunity for members to mentor other students of all ages by creating
educational support groups between students and ADW members by meeting with UNM
students and talking with other students on campus.
B. To contribute to our campus and community by providing volunteer services.
C. To invite representatives of the University of New Mexico staff, faculty and other club
members to join us in these goals.
D. To arrange and participate in "family" activities and
E. By raising funds for events or services agreed upon by ADW membership that is not
covered by UNM Federal Funding.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.. Membership in ADW shall be open to any active UNM student. Active students are defined as:
A. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA.
B. Students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours.
Section 2. Only UNM members have voitng rights (top)
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP FEES
Section 1. There is not membership fee. Monies will be raised through fund-raising activities.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of ADW shall be the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
The creation of additional officer positions must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the active
membership and with the support of the Advisor.
Section 2. Only UNM students may serve as officers.
Section 3. The duties of the President shall include:
A. Coordinating weekly meetings of ADW.
B. Chairing all meeting of ADW.
C. Calling emergency meetings.
D. Providing leadership to the club.
E. Working directly with the ADW Advisor to ensure the club is operating withing the
expectations of the University.
F. Acting as the chief spokesperson of ADW.
G. Establishing an effective working realtionship with Student Government.
Section 4. The duties of the Vice-President shall include: (top)
A. Assiting the President with the fulfillment of his/her duties.
B. Overseeing any committees.
C. Providing support for the development of planned club activities.
D. Working with the Advisor and Treasurer to establish the budget.
Section 5. The duties of the Treasurer shall include:
A. Keeping a record of all ADW financial transactions.
B. Meeting with the Advisor on a monthly basis to review account balances and financial
transactions.
C. Preparing any and all budgets, financial budget requests/appeals, etc.
D. Working with the Advisor and Vice-President to establish budgets for events and projects.
Section 6. The duties of the Secretary shall include:
A. Keeping detailed minutes of all meetings.
B. Coordinating club announcement, and posting them on the UNM Web Page.
C. Ensuring that all changes of officers are reported to teh appropriate Student Government
officers.
D. Maintaining detaled membership records. (top)
ARTICLE V. OFFICER ELECTION/IMPEACHMENT
Section 1. All club officers shall be elected before May 31 and will serve a term of August 1-July 31 of
the following year. The time between elections and July 31st shall serve as a transition period for new
officers. Vacancies of the ADW officers caused by a student's resignation, etc., shall be filled for the
remainder of the un-expired term by appointment by the remaining Executive Committee members.
Section 2. Officer elections will consist of the following three-step process: (1) Nominations,
(2) Elections, (3) Run-off elections (if needed).
A. Nominations-Nominations will be held the meeting prior to the scheduled date of elections.
Any active club member may nominate a fellow club member to any of the club officer positions.
Nominations will only be accepted during the meeting prior to elections. Candidates can be
nominated for more than one position, however, candidate may hold only one position a year.
Students may nominate themselves for a position if another member does not nominate them.
B. Elections-Elections will consist of each candidate speaking for up to five minutes, followed by up
to three minutes of questions and answers from the club membership. Only ADW members
present at the meeting shall cast a vote, and only these votes shall count toward the computation
of the 50% + 1 required margin for election to office. The order of elections shallbe as follows:
President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. (top)
C. Run-Off Elections-In the event no cadidate receives at least 50% + 1 of the vote ot the currently
active ADW members, a run-off election shall beh eld between the two candidates receiving the
most votes.
Section 3. In the event that an officer is judged to be deficient in his/her duties (as decided by a
unanimous agreement of the three other club officers and Advisor), he/she may be removed by a
two-thirds vote of ADW's membership. The Advisor shall oversee the impeachment process to
ensure a fair and speedy trial.
ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the ADW officers: President; Vice-President;
Treasurer; Secretary and Advisor.
Section 2. This committee shalla ct on behalf of ADW when time contraints prevent convening or
canvassing the members. (top)
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall assist the Treasurer in the preparation of the budget,
ensure that the budget is based on complete and accurate information, and conduct budget
reviews as needed.
Section 4. The committee shall perofrm the following duties:
A. Approve subject of the event(s) and services(s).
B. Submit projects or endorse projects submitted by members.
C. Solicit volunteers for event(s) and services(s).
D. Select the recipients of ADW awards.
E. Actively promote membership in ADW and shall promote participation of ADW
members in the approved activities.
F. Establish special committees for a specific purpose within the purview of ADW.
Special committees shall be of limited and specified duration. In creating a special
committee, the Executive committee must approve a statement of its purpose and
duration.
G. Research and develop various fundraising projects for the purpose of support to
ADW members, subsidize group events, and services. (top)
ARTICLE VII. QUORUM
Section 1. 50% plus one of the ADW membershp shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.
A. For work groups and other bodies with unspecified membership a quorum is the
number of pwople attending the activity. (top)
ARTICLE VIII. FUNDRAISING
Section 1. Enhance ADW's financial bottom line by holding approved fundraising activities.
Section 2. Constantly monitor the distribution of funds related to specific budgetary purposes.
Section 3. Enhance ADW's ability to financially assist students for planned events or activities.
ARTICLE IX. EVENTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Section 1. Keep our membership aware of the diversity and timeliness of campus and
comunity service activities.
Section 2. ADW officers shall decide on a semester basis which special projects and events
need to be established in order to advance the club's position on campus and in the community.
A. Engage in at least on major campus or community service project each semester.
B. Proposed events and or special projects will be put to ADW membership for voting.
C. A budget will be presented to ADW officers and teh Advisor for approval. (top)
ARTICLE X. ADVISOR
Section 1. ADW officers shall unanimously agree upon and appoint an Advisor no later than July 15
to serve a term from August 1 to July 31 the following year.
Section 2. The ADW Advisor must be a full-time UNM Staff member. The ADW officers can ask
any staff or faculty of the campus to act as Advisor.
Section 3. The ADW Advisor's duties shall include:
A. Meeting with ADW officers on a regular basis.
B. Attending ADW meetings and club activities.
C. Keeping abreast of ADW issues and intentions
D. Meeting with the Treasurer on a monthly basis to review account balances and
financial transactions.
E. Assisting with theimplementation of an offer transition program. (top)
Section 4. The Advisor shall be an ex-officio member of the club, and, as such, shall not
have voting rights.
Section 5. The Advisor shall have veto power over nay decision made by ADW, which is in
direct violation of the University of New Mexico policies. This authority shall be used only in
circumstances where ADW officers knowingly intend to violate the above noted policies.
ARTICLE XI. MEETINGS
Section 1. ADE shall meet at least once per month. A listing of meeting dates shall be established
by ADW officers and shall be posted on the UNM Web site.
Section 2. All ADW meetings will be open to any UNM student who wants to attend, however,
only ADW member may vote at meetings. (top)
Section 3. In the event that an emergency meting of ADW needs to be held, the President shall
have the authority to call such meetings. All officers must agree in advance to the emergency
meeting and at least 24 hours notice must be provided to all active members by sending out
e-mails. Communication of emergency meetings will be the responsibility of the ADW Secretary.
ARTICLE XII. DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
Section 1. The Treasurer and Advisor must approve all disbursements of funds.
Section 2. Reimbursement for expenditures will only be accepted for members who have retained
an original, itemized receipt and a description of the expense incurred.
Section 3. Any expenditure in excess of $100 must be approved by a majority of the ADW officers.
Section 4. All financial transactions of ADW will be managed through ADW's bank account. (top)
ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These bylaws Amendments may be made to this constitution at any time by a two-thirds
vote of the ADW membership.
Section 2. Members interested in proposing amendments to the constitution at any time must submit
the proposed amendment to the President no later than ten days before ADW's next meeting.
Section 3. The proposed amendment shall be presented via e-mail to the active club membership
no later than five days before the meeting where the amendment will be debated. (top)
Section 4. Upon receiving a two-thirds affirmative vote in favor on a constitutional amendment/revision,
the President shall submit the amendment/revision in writing to Student Government for review/approval.
ARTICLE XIV. AFFILIATION WITH UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
Section 1. ADW is affiliated with the University of New Mexico. Should the University of New Mexico
no longer be active, it will be an independent club.
Section 2. When in conflict, The University of New Mexico policies shall supercede the policy of ADW. (top)
ARTICLE XV. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Any member, in writing or at a meeting, can propose revisions to the ADW bylaws.
Section 2. The proposed amendment will be distributed to all ADW members via e-mail at least
one week before the vote.
Section 3. The member(s) proposing the amendment will be provided a time to address the meeting
following the proposal. He/she will be allowed to speak for up to ten minutes, followed by up to five
minutes of questions and answers from ADW members. Only ADW members present at the meeting
shall cast a vote, and only these votes shall count toward the computation of the 50% + 1 to pass the
proposal. (top)