Resources

LANGSA Constitution

The Constitution of the Languages Graduate Student Association of the University of Connecticut

Last Ratified October 28, 2025 by the LANGSA Executive Board

Table of Contents
Article I — Name and Affiliation
Article II — Mission Statement
Article III — Membership
Article IV — Officers
Article V — Operating Procedure
Article VI — Advisors
Article VII — Financial Statement
Article VIII — Non-Hazing Compliance Statement
Article IX — Enabling Clause
Signatures

Article I — Name and Affiliation

  1. Name
    1. The official name of this organization shall be the Languages Graduate Student Association (hereafter, LANGSA).
  2. Affiliation
    1. LANGSA is not affiliated with any national organization. It is local to the Storrs Campus.

Article II – Mission Statement

  1. The purpose of LANGSA shall be to:
    1. advance the critical study and research of cultural production in the languages of the University of Connecticut’s (hereafter, UConn or the University) Department of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages (hereafter, LCL or the Department);
    2. promote dialogue between graduate students and professionals of diverse academic interests and disciplines related to the fields of literatures, cultures, and languages;
    3. and foster the relationship between languages and cultures in order to promote a global perspective within the University community.
  2. LANGSA understands and is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities of abiding by UConn policies.

Article III — Membership

  1. Any graduate student in UConn LCL is an eligible voting member of LANGSA.
    1. LANGSA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, gender, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation.
  2. Any person may attend LANGSA meetings.
  3. An accurate listing of the membership is to be kept on the organization’s UConntact page and regularly submitted by way of the Re-Registration and Roster-Verification forms.

Article IV — Officers

  1. Executive Officers
    1. President
      1. Presides over all LANGSA meetings.
      2. Always serves as the official representative of LANGSA and its Membership.
      3. Acts as the primary liaison between LANGSA and the Graduate Student Senate (hereafter, GSS), the Department of Student Activities, and other University officials and organizations.
      4. Oversees the execution of all LANGSA activities and ensures compliance with its Constitution.
      5. Completes all mandatory University workshops and trainings, including the Student Organization Leaders Intentional Development (hereafter, SOLID) workshops and trainings (see Art. IV § iii).
    2. Vice President
      1. Manages the internal functions of the organization.
      2. Assists the President in achieving the organization’s goals.
      3. Assumes the duties of President in the event of absence or vacancy.
      4. Completes all mandatory University workshops and trainings, including the SOLID workshops and trainings (see Art. IV § iii).
    3. Secretary
      1. Maintains accurate records of LANGSA’s activities and meetings.
      2. Prepares and distributes meeting minutes for all Executive Board meetings and General Assembly meetings.
      3. Ensures observance of LANGSA’s procedural rules at meetings.
      4. Maintains records of communications and official correspondences.
      5. Completes all mandatory University workshops and trainings, including the SOLID workshops and trainings (see Art. IV § iii).
    4. Treasurer
      1. Maintains accurate and up-to-date financial records.
      2. Reconciles LANGSA accounts with the Student Activities Banking Services (hereafter, SABS).
      3. Manages check writing, deposits, and financial transactions in the Business Office Account.
      4. Forecasts the annual budget and provides budgets for large events.
      5. Prepares budget requests to submit to the GSS.
      6. Creates a financial summary at the end of the Academic Year.
      7. Completes all mandatory University workshops and trainings, including the SOLID workshops and trainings (see Art. IV § iii).
  2. Supporting Officers
    1. Public Relations Chair
      1. Promotes events held by or sponsored by LANGSA.
      2. Manages the LANGSA website and social media accounts.
      3. Designs promotional materials for LANGSA events and, if necessary, any promotional materials for events sponsored by LANGSA.
      4. Completes all mandatory University workshops and trainings, including the SOLID workshops and trainings (see Art. IV § iii).
      5. May simultaneously hold another position in LANGSA.
    2. Hospitality Chair
      1. Prepares orientation materials for incoming graduate students.
      2. Facilitates communication between mentors and graduate students.
      3. Assists in planning and executing LANGSA events.
      4. Completes all mandatory University workshops and trainings, including the SOLID workshops and trainings (see Art. IV § iii).
      5. May simultaneously hold another position in LANGSA.
    3. LANGSA Representative to the Department
      1. Represents LANGSA and promotes its interests at LCL Department Meetings.
      2. Attends LCL Meetings and reports key updates to the Executive Board.
      3. Completes all mandatory University workshops and trainings, including the SOLID workshops and trainings (see Art. IV § iii).
      4. May simultaneously hold another position in LANGSA.
    4. LANGSA Representative to the Graduate Student Senate
      1. Represents LANGSA and promotes its interests in the GSS.
      2. Attends GSS Meetings and reports key updates to the Executive Board.
      3. LANGSA shall maintain at least one representative in the GSS to serve as the liaison between LANGSA and the GSS.
      4. Completes all mandatory University workshops and trainings, including the SOLID workshops and trainings (see Art. IV § iii).
      5. May simultaneously hold another position in LANGSA.
  3. Training of Officers
    1. All officers must complete all mandatory University workshops and trainings, including the following SOLID workshops and trainings:
      1. the SOLID Mission, Values, and Culture workshop;
      2. the SOLID 101 training;
      3. the SOLID Policies training;
      4. the SOLID Hazing training;
      5. and the SOLID Inclusion training.
    2. Executive Officers must complete additional training:
      1. The President must complete:
        1. the SOLID Executive Leadership workshop;
        2. and the SOLID Mental Health training.
      2. The Vice President must complete the SOLID Executive Leadership workshop.
      3. The Secretary must complete the SOLID secretary training.
      4. The Treasurer must complete the SOLID Treasurer training.
  4. Election of Officers
    1. Term of Office
      1. Each Executive Officer position shall be elected in the Spring Semester prior to the Academic Year of his or her tenure.
      2. Incoming Executive Officers shall serve from the first day of the Fall Semester until the annual LCL Graduate Orientation of the following Fall Semester.
      3. Each Supporting Officer position may be elected in the Spring Semester prior to the Academic Year of his or her tenure.
        1. If a Supporting Officer position is left vacant after the Spring Semester elections, it may be filled at any point during the Academic Year via the Election Procedure.
      4. Incoming Supporting Officers shall serve from the first day of the Fall Semester until the annual LCL Graduate Orientation of the following Fall Semester.
        1. Supporting Officers elected during the Academic Year shall serve for the remainder of that Academic Year, until the annual LCL Graduate Orientation of the following Fall Semester.
    2. Election Procedure
      1. Annual elections shall be held no earlier than the second week of the Spring Semester and no later than the first day of April of each Academic Year.
        1. The election date, time, and location shall be posted to the LANGSA membership (hereafter, the Membership) no later than two weeks prior to the election.
      2. All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of present, eligible voters of the Membership.
      3. The President will take nominations from the floor. The nomination process must be closed and the motion seconded. The nominated parties will be allowed to vote in a closed vote if they are eligible voting members.
      4. All voting shall be done via a fair and respectful method as determined by the President.
      5. No LANGSA officer has the right to veto any nomination.
      6. Newly elected officers will assume office during the annual LCL Graduate Orientation, except in the case of midterm elections.
      7. Midterm elections shall be held as needed on an ad hoc basis.
        1. Officers elected in midterm elections will assume office immediately after their election.
    3. Removal and Replacement of Officers
      1. If an Executive Officer resigns, the Membership shall be immediately informed of the midterm election date, time, and location.
        1. Executive Officers shall be replaced as soon as possible.
        2. If the Membership fails to elect a new Executive Officer for the remainder of the Academic Year, the Executive Board shall appoint a new Executive Officer.
      2. Any LANGSA officer in violation of the organization’s purpose or constitution, including failure to fulfill duties as stated, may be removed from office by the following process:
        1. A written request for removal must be submitted to the Executive Board and signed by no fewer than three members of LANGSA.
        2. The officer in question shall receive written notice of the request, which must include the stated reasons for removal and a requirement that the officer be present at the next scheduled meeting to respond to the charges.
        3. The Membership shall receive written notice of the removal request, the stated reason, and the date, times, and location of the next meeting.
        4. Removal of the officer requires a two-thirds (⅔) majority of the present, eligible Membership.
      3. We acknowledge that no member or officer shall be terminated without cause or due process.
        1. Due process shall be defined as “anyone who is being considered for termination due to unfulfillment of duties, breaking terms of membership, leadership, etc., must be given notice of why they are being considered for removal, then constitutional process shall be followed accordingly.”
        2. Removal of Executive Officers shall be consulted by the organization’s advisor or the SOLID support team.
        3. Records of any membership or leadership meetings shall be documented with detailed minutes.

Article V — Operating Procedure

  1. Meetings
    1. A meeting of the Executive Board shall be held no less than monthly and no more than weekly.
    2. A meeting of the General Assembly shall be held no less than once per semester.
  2. Decision-Making Process
    1. The Executive Board must be in attendance to vote on a decision. Proposed decisions will become effective following a two-thirds (⅔) majority of the Executive Board.
  3. Amending the Constitution and Bylaws
    1. Amendments to this Constitution may be made at any point, but must be ratified either unanimously by the Executive Board or by a two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of a quorum (66%) of the Membership.

Article VI — Advisors

  1. Requirements of the Faculty or Staff Advisor
    1. The advisor must be a faculty or staff member on the Storrs Campus.
    2. The advisor may also be a Graduate Student as long as he or she also serves as a Graduate Assistant (GA) or Teaching Assistant (TA).
  2. Duties of the Faculty or Staff Advisor
    1. The advisor shall be available to mentor the students in the general membership and assist them with procedures when necessary.
    2. Advisors do not have voting rights.

Article VII — Financial Statement

  1. Dues
    1. The dues for members of LANGSA shall be no more than ten dollars ($10) per semester and shall be collected before the fourth week of the semester.
  2. Funding
    1. LANGSA shall hold fundraisers as necessary to support its activities. These activities may include but are not limited to:
      1. the Annual LANGSA Graduate Conference;
      2. LCL Graduate Student mixers and get-togethers;
      3. and professional development opportunities.
    2. LANGSA shall submit a budget to the GSS on an annual basis to request appropriate funding for the effective operation of the organization for the Academic Year.
    3. LANGSA shall submit a written proposal to the UConn Humanities Institute (hereafter, UCHI) to receive funding for the Annual LANGSA Graduate Conference.
      1. The proposal shall contain an overview of the conference, including theme, scope, and projected budget.
      2. The proposal shall be submitted to UCHI by the deadline stated on the UCHI website (https://humanities.uconn.edu/).
  3. Beneficiary Addendum
    1. Should LANGSA cease to exist, all our funds shall be donated to UConn LCL.
    2. The address of this beneficiary: Susan V. Herbst Hall, Room 207, 365 Fairfield Way U-1057, Storrs, CT 06269.

Article VIII — Non-Hazing Compliance Statement

  1. LANGSA maintains a strong commitment to not engaging in any activities that could be considered or construed as hazing by any legal party or the University of Connecticut Office of Community Standards.
  2. Hazing is defined as “any activity without reasonable or legitimate education value expected of someone for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization that humiliates, degrades, or risks emotional, psychological, and/or physical harm, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.
  3. In cases of individual violators, appropriate disciplinary action may be imposed as outlined in The Responsibilities of Community Life: The Student Code. In cases where the entire organization has authorized such conduct, loss of privileges, temporary suspension of registration, rescission or termination of registration may be imposed.
  4. Such penalties shall be in addition to any penalties pursuant to penal law (Public Act No. 88-328) which violator or Registered Student Organization may be subject.

Article IX — Enabling Clause

  1. This Constitution was reviewed and ratified by the Executive Board on April 23, 2025, at a regular body meeting.
  2. The entire Membership and Executive Board are in agreement with this document.

Signatures

Joshua Duvall, President

Elisabeth Scharnhorst, Vice President

Brendan Cole, Treasurer

Rojda Idil Arslan, Secretary

Past Boards

PresidentJoshua Duvall
Vice-PresidentAnnabelle Hicks
TreasurerRahul Koonathara
SecretaryRojda Idil Arslan