We, the students living in University Housing at Northern Kentucky University (hereafter referred to as NKU) desire to promote and maintain a spirit of unity and positive interactions among residents of University Housing (hereafter referred to as residents).  We hope to develop citizenship through self-government and promote the development of individuals. We will work to provide friendship, advocacy, and help build a community within the Residential Villages to improve the residential experience and connect residents with the larger NKU community.

Section 1:

The student organization for the residents of University Housing at Northern Kentucky University shall be known as the Residence Hall Association.

Section 1:

The purpose of the Residence Hall Association is to serve as a liaison between the residents, the Associate Director of Residence Life, and the staff of University Housing.

Section 2:

Residence Hall Association shall serve as a forum for residents to voice opinions and concerns while striving to improve the quality of residential living through policy review, programs, and promotion of diversity.

Section 3:

Residence Hall Association shall represent NKU at the campus, state, regional, and national levels.

Section 4:

Residence Hall Association values the following: Student Advocacy, Community Engagement, Student Development, and Student Success.

Section 1:

The Residence Hall Association receives its authority from residential students, University Housing, the Director of University Housing, and Northern Kentucky University.

Section 2:

Residence Hall Association receives its primary funding from University Housing. Residence Hall Association receives additional funding from care packages and linens which are held in the US Bank Account.

Section 3:

In the event additional funds are needed, Residence Hall Association shall be authorized to conduct fundraisers as approved by the University Housing and then further approval by a majority vote of the voting body.

Section 1:

Membership of this organization shall consist of residents living in University Housing.  All residents are members by way of residential status. Membership shall not exclude University Housing Student Staff (a University Housing Student Staff member shall be defined as anyone who receives compensation from University Housing for their contracted position).  University Housing Student Staff members shall recuse themselves from a vote in the event a conflict of interest arises. If they refuse or fail to do so, the advisors have the ability to mandate a recusal. 

Section 2:

Residence Hall Association Advisor(s) of University Housing shall be ex-officio member as voted by the Executive Board.

Section 1:

Voting privileges in Residence Hall Association general body meetings are restricted to Executive Board Officers, Building Representatives, and Residential Assistant Representatives.  The Executive Board reserves the right to handle voting grievances. 

Section 2:

A quorum shall consist of 60% of the voting members (those members who attended or were excused from the previous meeting).

Section 3:

Advisors shall break any ties within Executive Board meetings.

Section 4:

Executive Board members are considered voting members of the general body with the exception of the President. The President shall break any ties within the general body voting matters.

Section 5:

Election voting of Executive Board Officers and Buildings Representatives shall be exempt from the process outlined in this Article and will be defined in Article VIII and Article X of this portion of the document.

Section 1:

The Executive Board shall consist of the President, the Executive Vice President, the Development Coordinator, the Administration Coordinator, the Programming Coordinator, the NACURH Communications Coordinator, and the NACURH Communications Coordinator in Training.

Section 2:

The Executive Board shall consist of students who are residents in University Housing through the duration of their term in office.

Section 3:

The officers shall maintain a minimum semester GPA of 2.25 and a cumulative GPA of 2.5. If their cumulative GPA falls below a 2.5, but stays above a 2.0, they have the choice to step down or stay as an officer on academic probation of one semester. (Here is was suggested to have a higher GPA requirements). Officers may develop an academic support plan with the Residence Hall Association Advisor. An academic support plan consists of added steps, requirements, responsibilities, etc. that an officer will be required to complete. The goals of completing the academic support plan include (but are not limited to) reaching the grade requirements and securing his/her position within the current duration of employment.  The content of the academic support plan will be at the discretion of the Advisor. Officers can only be on an academic support plan for one semester for the entirety of their service on the board. In that time of one semester, their cumulative GPA must improve and meet the 2.5 average. If their cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0, they will be removed from office.

Section 4:

Officers must be in good standing with the University and maintain a full-time student status of 12 semester credit hours.

Section 5:

Officers must serve a minimum of two (2) office hours per week in the Residence Hall Association office located in Callahan Hall.

A. The President must serve a minimum of three (3) hours per week.

Section 1: Building Representatives

1. Each residential area shall be officially represented in the Residence Hall Association by a ratio of one Building Representative for every one hundred bed spaces of the corresponding Residence Hall. 
   • As of Fall 2021, these are the corresponding Building Representative maximums for each Residence Hall.
     • Callahan: 5 representatives
     • Commonwealth: 2 representatives
     • Kentucky: 2 representatives (encourage one representative from Cumberland)
     • Norse Hall: 3 representatives
     • Northern Terrace: 2 representatives
     • University Suites: 4 representatives
     • New Residence Hall: 3 representatives
2. The Executive Board shall review Building Representative absences on an individual basis. If there are three unexcused absences, the Executive Board may move to remove the Building Representative. Building Representatives attendance expectations can be found in the Bylaws Article III of this document. 
3. Election of Building Representatives will take place by the first week in September. Building Representatives will be elected by majority vote of the residents in their residential area.
4. Building Representatives must live in the building where elected throughout the duration of their term. Building Representatives who move out of the building where they were elected will be required to forfeit their standing.
   • In the event that a building representative wishes to represent their new residence hall, or a vacancy is present, they will meet with the corresponding Residence Life Coordinator to present their platform.  If Residence Hall Association receives a vote of confidence from the Residence Life Coordinator, then the representative may fill the open position.  If not, they must await until the next open Building Representative election time period.
5. Building Representatives must remain in good judicial standing with University Housing and Northern Kentucky University throughout the duration of their term.  Failure to do so may result in removal from office by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
6. Resident Assistants may not serve as Building Representatives.
7. The Building Representatives shall maintain a minimum semester GPA of 2.25 and a cumulative GPA of 2.5. If their cumulative GPA falls below a 2.5, but stays above a 2.25, they have the choice to step down or stay as an officer for a probationary time of one semester. In that time of one semester, their cumulative GPA must improve and meet the 2.25 average. If their cumulative GPA falls below a 2.25, they will be removed from office. Building Representatives will also be removed from office if they do not show progression towards a 2.25 by midterm of the second semester of their term.
   • Exception is first year students who have yet to earn a GPA.
8. Will give report to Residence Hall Association to inform about building programs and building concerns.

Section 2: Resident Assistant Representatives (RAR)

1. At least one Resident Assistant from each residential area may be assigned to the Residential Assistant Representative Position.
   • A maximum of two (2) Resident Assistant Representatives members will have the representative vote for their building in any official voting matter.
2. Will attend all Residence Hall Association meetings as a representative of their staff and participate in the organizations activities and committees with the option of conference participation.
3. Will give report to the Residence Hall Association to inform about upcoming programs and share concerns about the building that they represent.
4. Will report to their building’s staff about upcoming Residence Hall Association events and initiatives.
5. Collaborate with Building Representatives from their residential area to promote the Residence Hall Association.
6. Will act as a resource to their Building Representatives.

Section 1:

Executive Board Officer elections will take place in between the last of March and the first week of April.

Section 2:

The term of office for Executive Board Officers will begin at the close of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) annual conference, commonly held in May. 

Section 3:

Election of the Executive Board Officers will be determined by a majority vote of all University Housing residents. In the case that no candidate receives a majority, the general body will vote. In the case of a tie vote, the tie will be broken by the current standing Executive Board.

Section 4:

The President shall chair the election process, with the exception of the President’s position. If the President is seeking re-election, they will step down from the chair’s position, and the NCC will head the election process.

Section 1:

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Executive Vice President shall become the presiding officer of Residence Hall Association for the remainder of the year for which the previous President was elected.

Section 2:

In the event of a vacancy in any other elected office of Residence Hall Association, the President shall accept applications. They will review the applications with the Executive Board; submit them to the body upon which the awarding of the office will be pending the approval by simple majority of the body.

Section 3:

All vacancies shall be filled within two weeks of the announcement of the vacancy or nominations shall be open from the floor thereafter.

Section 4:

In the event that the presiding officer is unable to perform their duties at a given time, the chain of command will be as follows:

A.   The President

B.   Executive Vice President

C.   Administration Coordinator

D.   Programming Coordinator

E.   Development Coordinator

F.    National Communications Coordinator

Section 1:

Residence Hall Association General Body shall meet biweekly starting within the first two week of the fall semester in a place designated by the Executive Board and whenever deemed necessary by the President. All members must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of special meetings.

A.   In the “off weeks” of general body meetings, Residence Hall Association will meet and have community building nights as planned by the Executive Vice President. 

B.   For two of the “off weeks” of each semester, the Residence Hall Association will hold a Town Hall Forum for the residents of University Housing. 

Section 2:

The Residence Hall Association Executive Board will have the right to vote to cancel a meeting under special circumstances one week in advance.  In cases of unforeseen conditions such as inclement weather, illness, or other similar issues, a meeting may be cancelled without prior notice.

Section 3:

The Executive Board shall meet weekly.

Section 1:

The Residence Hall Association of Northern Kentucky University shall maintain its affiliation with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), thereby maintaining its regional affiliation with the South Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (SAACURH).

A.   In accordance with these affiliations, Residence Hall Association hereby maintains attendance to the Regional Business Conference (RBC).

a.    This shall be contingent upon budgetary restrictions.

b.    Given ability to attend, the NACURH Communication Coordinator and the RHA stake-holder will be the ones to attend unless further discussed with the Advisor.

Section 2:

The Residence Hall Association of Northern Kentucky University shall continually maintain its affiliation with the Kentucky Association of Residence Halls (KARH).

Section 1: 

Proposed amendments to the Constitution must be visually represented to the general body during the meetings when the amendment is being introduced, discussed, and voted on.

Section 2: 

Amendments may be added to this constitution by majority vote (two-thirds majority vote) of the general body.

A.   Building Representatives from each residential area must attend each Residence Hall Association meeting with absences being reviewed on an individual basis by the Executive Board.

B.   Shall put on at least four (4) programs for each semester.

a.    Two must be active programs.

b.    Two must be passive programs.

C.   Shall create a bulletin board display for their designated areas at least two (2) times a semester.

a.    This shall be decided by the Programming Coordinator.

D.   May request attendance at an Executive Board meeting as necessary.

E.   Must submit a monthly OTM.

F.    Must attend at least one Resident Assistant program per month.

G.   Shall participate in tabling for Residence Hall Association at least twice a semester. This time will be scheduled during the second month of a semester and no later than the second meeting after being elected.

A.   Shall attend all Residence Hall Association General Body meetings.

B.   Shall report to building’s RAs and Residence Life Coordinators about the meetings, programs, and initiatives. 

C.   Shall bring attention to building’s programs at the Residence Hall Association General Body Meetings.

D.   Shall bring forth fellow staff members’ concerns and suggestions to the meetings about their buildings.

E.   Shall assist Building Representative with the planning and execution of programs in their buildings. 

F.    Shall attend one Building Representative program per semester.

a.    Shall present feedback about the program during General Body meetings.

A.   Shall attend at least two General Body meetings per month.

B.   Shall attend all Executive Board meetings.

C.   Shall attend all conferences.

a.    If a stand-in is needed, they shall be appointed by the Advisor.

D.   Shall act as a resource for Housing policies.

E.   Shall have regularly scheduled one-on-one advising sessions with the President.

F.    Shall have monthly meetings with the Administration Coordinator.

G.   Shall serve in a mentoring role to members in the organization.

H.   Shall serve as an ex-officio member to the General Body and Executive Board.

I.     Shall break all ties within the Executive Board meetings.

J.    Shall check the grades of Building Representatives and Executive Board members at midterms and at the end of semesters.

K.   Shall, in coordination with the Associate Director of Residence Life, maintain any and all disciplinary actions toward the Executive Board members and Building Representatives. 

L.    Shall determine if an Officer is meeting their duties set forth by the constitution for their position in along with the Associate Director of Residence Life to establish status or need of removal from office.

Section 1:

If, for any reason, an officer cannot continue to serve in their position for the entire term of the office, they may voluntarily resign.

Section 2:

Resignation must be submitted, in writing, to the Executive Board and Advisor at least two weeks before they plan to resign.

Section 1:

Impeachment proceeding will begin after a petition has been signed by at least two-thirds of the active General Body members. The petition must be submitted to the Residence Hall Association Advisor(s).

Section 2:

Grounds for impeachment may include any of the following:

1. Accumulation of two unexcused absences in one semester.
2. Failure to fulfill the duties of the office.
3. Failure to maintain qualifications of the office.
4. Failure to actively participate in Residence Hall Association programs.
5. Failure to successfully and professionally represent Residence Hall Association, NKU Housing, and NKU as a University.

Section 3:

At the time the petition is brought forward, the petitioners have the right to state if they want to move forward to impeach or if they are willing to allow a probationary period. 

Section 4:

Procedures:

1. The Residence Hall Association President shall run impeachment proceedings. If the President is the one being impeached, NCC shall run the proceedings.
2. Impeachment hearings shall be announced one week in advance. Both sides may present views, with the originators of the petition going first.
   1. Each party must be notified of the time and place of the hearing at least one week prior to the hearing.
   2. The hearing will be conducted even if a party is absent. Failure to appear constitutes a waiver of rights in the hearing.
   3. Effort must be made for a date and time for both parties to attend.
3. The officer shall be impeached and removed by two-thirds vote by secret ballot by the active General Body members.
4. The impeached officer has the right to appeal to the Director of University Housing, Associate Director for Resident Life, and the Residence Hall Association Advisor. The above panel’s decision is final.

Section 1:

This is a period of time where, if given the opportunity, a Building Representatives or Executive Board member will be set in a probationary period to avoid impeachment or removal.

Section 2:

This is to be decided by the Executive Board if a Building Representatives must undergo removal.

Section 3:

This will be decided by the Advisor and the petitioner if impeachment is brought forth for an Executive Board official.

Section 4:

The Advisor will decide the appropriate remedial actions to be taken with an appeal option from the Associate Director of Residence Life.

Section 1:

The Administration Coordinator will be responsible for preparing an annual budget for Residence Hall Association, with the assistance of the Advisor, to be evaluated each semester.

Section 2:

The body will receive a copy of the budget one week before it is to be discussed.

Section 3:

The budget will be representative of all programs, purchases, conferences, and events expected for the year.

A.   Programming allocates 50% of the total departmental funds.

a.    Of this, 5% shall be allocated to Resident Assistant Programming funds.

i.    Any programs in question must already be approved by the Resident Assistant’s direct supervisor.

ii.    These programs must be community focused for either the entire building or all of campus residents.

1.    This cannot be for a program designated to the Resident Assistant’s personal floor or wing only.

b.    Of this, 10% shall be allocated to Building Representative Programming funds.

c.    Any surplus funds from the Resident Assistant or Building Representative programming funds still present will be redistributed to the Promotional and Publicity Materials

B.   Conferences allocate 25% of the total departmental funds.

C.   Professional Development allocates 15% of the total departmental funds.

D.   Promotional and Publicity Materials allocates 10% of the total departmental funds.

a.    This includes any branding merchandise, flyers for programs, giveaways, etc.

E.   In case of emergency, the funds needed for emergency situations will be taken from the Promotional and Publicity Funds before any other section.

Section 4:

The Residence Hall Association will have funding from the Office of University Housing as well as the funds in the US Bank Account gained from care packages, linens, and other fund-raising promotions for the organization.

A.   The funds in US Bank Account will be used for the following circumstances and any other as approved by the Advisor and the Assistant Director of Residence Life.

a.    Northern Kentucky University student organization registration.

b.    Programming not available through Departmental Funds.

i.    This does not include purchases not approved by Housing.  This is only for items that are approved, but unable to be purchased based on restrictions of the Department account.

c.    Any other purchasing needed as deemed necessary by the Advisor and Assistant Director of Residence Life.

Section 5:

Only the Administration Coordinator or the Advisor may write checks that come from the funds of the US Bank Account.

A.   If possible, the Administration Coordinator should be present for all Residence Hall Association purchasing.

Section 1:

Committees shall be comprised if deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

Section 2:

A committee report for all committees will be given at each general body meeting by a non-Executive Board member whenever possible.

Motivation. The Northern Kentucky University (NKU) community recognizes the importance of residence hall life in the collegiate experience. This understanding is reflected by the number of students who live within the seven residential areas on campus. In order to best reflect the NKU community’s belief in the broad power and vast educational potential of the residential experience by an institutional effort, led by student leaders, to cultivate a culture of appreciation, recognition, and service, NKU fuels the flame of recognition, leadership, innovation, and community-building in residence hall life to the Norse Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary, formally established in Fall 2018.

Statement. We, the members of the Norse Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary, in order to honor members of the undergraduate residential community who have afforded outstanding service and/or exceptional leadership in promoting residence life, and to promote a higher quality and standard of interaction and involvement in residence halls, do establish and maintain this Constitution.

Section 1. Organizational Name. This organization shall be called the Norse Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary, or NKU NRHH in short form, hereafter referred to as the Chapter. It shall be an honorary society at Northern Kentucky University, hereafter referred to as the University.

Section 1. Purpose. The purposes of this Chapter are: a) to honor those individuals who have most contributed to residence life for NKU students living in University Housing, b) to provide a forum for continued leadership development, service, and collaboration, and c) to recognize other individuals, groups, and programs, both formally and informally, for work in enhancing the residential experience.

Section 2. Values. NRHH is a leadership based honorary comprised of exemplary residential students who value recognition and service. These will be the governing principles of the Chapter in all of its undertakings. Members of the Chapter shall further endeavor to uphold the Chapter’s values of recognition and service to the various communities of which they are a part.

Section 3. Affiliation. Through the University and the Residence Hall Association (RHA), the Chapter will affiliate with the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) as part of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) in the South Atlantic Affiliate (SAACURH). The Executive Director and Advisor will work with NACURH to cull and provide necessary information for the continuing affiliation process, and act in accordance with any regulations stipulated by NACURH.

Section 4. Relationship with the University. Recognizing the primary purpose of University Housing to enhance and develop residence life, the Chapter will collaborate heavily with that office through the Chapter’s Advisor as much as reasonable. Additionally, the Chapter will abide by all established University policies in its operation, including the Housing policies.

Section 1. Candidate Membership. The Candidate Member is a pre-membership status in which the student has shown interest through intent to become an NRHH Member. The following conditions are applicable to the Candidate Member:

Subsection A: The Candidate member must submit a formal intent of pre- membership to the Chapter.

Subsection B: The Chapter must confirm status of pre-membership to candidate member.

Subsection C: The Chapter must educate the candidate on the following topics before the candidate can be inducted:

- NRHH History
- OTM’s
- Membership Qualifications
- Membership Selection Process
- Additional requirements as deemed necessary by the Chapter, if any

Subsection E: Before a Candidate Member can be inducted, they must meet the following requirements:

- A Candidate Member seeking induction must be a student of the college or university with which the Chapter is affiliated.
- “Student” shall be defined by the Chapter’s host institution.
- Students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional degrees are all eligible for induction.
- At the time of induction, the Inductee must be a student possessing at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalency.
- Candidate member must be living in institutionally owned or contracted housing and has lived in institutionally owned or contracted housing for at least one academic term, as defined by the affiliated institution, upon induction.
- Candidate Member must have made positive contribution to the residence hall system through engagement with the values of recognition and service.

Subsection F: Once a candidate member has met all NACURH and Chapter requirements, they will be eligible for induction.

Section 2. On-Campus Membership. An On-Campus member of the Chapter is one that has been inducted into the Chapter and currently resides in a building owned or contracted by the NKU corporation and operated by University Housing. Temporary leaves from campus housing, such as, but not limited to, academic breaks, internships, and study abroad, will not affect an On-Campus member’s membership status, but the Director of Membership must be notified in writing of any such leaves. On-Campus members have full suffrage. An On-Campus member who does not satisfy the requirements of membership as expressed below (except in the semester they are inducted) automatically receives probationary standing, as described in Section 5 below, for the completion of the semester in which they did not satisfy the requirements (as applicable, depending on the requirement or requirements not satisfied) and the following semester or, if on temporary leave from housing (for, e.g., study abroad, an internship, etc.) in the following semester for such an extent that would prohibit them from fulfilling the requirements of probationary On-Campus and active standing, the semester in which they return to housing. An On-Campus member graduating from their school who does not satisfy the requirements of membership (as expressed in this section) during their final semester in housing before graduation will automatically become a lifelong member as described in Section 4 but may not receive member recognition, as detailed in the Bylaws. An On-Campus member must:

Subsection A. Be a full-time, degree-seeking student of Northern Kentucky University, with ‘full-time student’ defined by the particular school.

Subsection B. Have lived in NKU Housing (institutionally owned or contracted) for at least one academic semester.

Subsection C. Have made and will continue to make positive contributions to residence life on campus, as determined in other articles through engagement with the values of recognition and service.

Subsection D. Have and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA on the 4.0 scale, as determined by the University. At the beginning of each semester, the Director of Membership will instruct the Advisor to determine whether this requirement was met by returning On-Campus members during the previous semester.

Subsection E. Be in good judicial and disciplinary standing with the University and their school — to be specific, members must not be on academic probation and must not have been suspended or expelled from the school.

Subsection F. Attend at least two meetings per semester, or otherwise abide by the attendance requirements provided in the Bylaws.

Subsection G. Participate in the Of-the-month (OTM) program by submitting at least 2 OTMs a semester and partake in the monthly voting process.

Subsection H. Abide by any additional requirements as deemed necessary by the Chapter, if any.

Section 3. Off-Campus Membership. An Off-Campus member of an NRHH Chapter is a member that does not live in institutionally owned or contracted housing and meets the Chapter and NACURH membership qualifications. An Off-Campus Member must:

Subsection A. Be a full-time, degree-seeking student of Northern Kentucky University, with ‘full-time student’ defined by the particular school.

Subsection B. Have and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA on the 4.0 scale, as determined by the University. At the beginning of each semester, the Director of Membership will instruct the Advisor to determine whether this requirement was met by returning Off-Campus members during the previous semester.

Subsection C. Be in good judicial and disciplinary standing with the University and their school — to be specific, members must not be on academic probation and must not have been suspended or expelled from the school.

Subsection D. Have made and will continue to make positive contributions to their community, as determined in other articles through engagement with the values of recognition and service.

Subsection E. At the discretion of the Chapter, up to 15% of the Chapter’s membership cap may have the same voting rights and ability to serve on campus- level executive boards as an on-campus member. An Off-Campus member must submit a NACURH written pledge for accountability approved by the Chapter Executive Director and Advisor.

Subsection F. An Off-Campus Member with voting rights does count towards the membership cap, but an Off-Campus member that participates with no voting rights does not count towards the membership cap.

Subsection G. Attend at least two meetings per semester, or otherwise abide by the attendance requirements provided in the Bylaws.

Subsection H. Participate in the Of-the-month (OTM) program by submitting at least 2 OTMs a semester and partake in the monthly voting process (if a voting member).

Subsection I. Abide by any additional requirements as deemed necessary by the Chapter, if any.

Section 4. Lifelong Membership. A member of the Chapter, once inducted, may be a member of the society, in some form or other, for life. Once an individual has shown dedication and commitment to the values of the NRHH and is inducted, they are automatically a member for life unless removed. The following conditions are also applicable to Lifelong Membership:

Subsection A. A Lifelong Member is a member of NRHH that is no longer affiliated with their host institution as a student due to either graduation or a discontinuation of education.

Subsection B. Anyone who leaves the Chapter and institution in institutional good standing and meets the Chapter’s requirements for membership for life would become a Lifelong Member.

Subsection C. By becoming a Lifelong Member, a member would have to uphold the lifelong commitment to the NRHH Values of recognition and service.

Subsection D. Lifelong Members are eligible to participate in Chapter-specific and NACURH activities at the discretion of NACURH Leadership and their Chapter, respectively.

Section 5. Probationary Standing. A member that receives probationary standing is a member of the Chapter that has been inducted into the Chapter as an On-Campus or Off- Campus member, but has not met the requirements of membership for a given semester and does not meet the requirements for lifelong membership. The Director of Membership shall issue a written warning to such members as they enter probationary status. Members with probationary standing have full suffrage. A member with probationary standing must satisfy the same requirements as those of On-Campus or Off- Campus members as applicable throughout the full semester after the semester in which they did not satisfy the requirements of membership and received probationary standing, or face removal as described in Section 7 below. A member with probationary standing who does satisfy such requirements for a semester at any point during the term of their probationary membership automatically becomes a member in good standing again.

Section 6. Membership cap. The total active membership of the Chapter shall be no more than 1% of the total residence hall population that year, or 20 members, whichever is greater. University Housing is defined as any residential space provided or contracted by the department, encompassing seven residence halls enumerated on the University Housing website. This capacity does not include lifetime members.

Subsection A. Northern Kentucky University can house a total of 2000 residential students, therefore making the Norse Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary membership cap 20 students.

Section 7. Member removal. On-Campus or Off-Campus members with probationary standing who do not satisfy the requirements of membership during the term of their probationary standing may be recommended for removal, to be supported by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Directorate. If such a vote fails, such members shall remain members with probationary standing. Members (including members with probationary standing) who no longer meet the requirements for membership may be recommended for rare, immediate removal, to be supported by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all those voting members present at any regular meeting of the Chapter. For each member with probationary standing recommended by the Directorate and/or recommended by the Chapter for removal, the Executive Director will submit to the regional NRHH Associate Director a Member Removal Application and follow all other procedures as required by national policy. Voting members that are removed no longer count towards the membership cap. Members who are removed no longer have any of the rights of membership.

Subsection A. The number of members for removal is up to the discretion of the Chapter.

Subsection B. It is the right of the regional ADNRHH to deny requests for removal for reasons including:

- Submission of an incomplete application form.
- The Regional ADNRHH dos not believe that sufficient measures have been taken by the Chapter to address the member’s inactivity or ineligibility within the Chapter prior to the submission of the application.

Subsection C. If the member and/or Chapter wish to appeal the decision, they may appeal to the Regional ADNRHH through written request as to why the candidate deserves to continue as a member of NRHH.

Section 8. Reconsideration of removed members. Individuals who have been removed from the Chapter may be reconsidered for membership via the regular selection process, but not until the semester following their removal.

Section 9. Membership transfer. Active members of the Chapter and of other chapters of the NRHH who are transferring schools at any educational level may apply to have their NRHH membership transferred from their outgoing institution’s chapter to their incoming institution’s Chapter. The Chapter shall facilitate, insofar as possible, chapter transfer for its own active members. Any student wanting to transfer their membership must:

Subsection A. Be fully matriculated at their new institution.

Subsection B. Contact the Chapter’s President or equivalent and Advisor in writing detailing why they want to transfer their membership, how they benefitted their previous chapter and residence hall system, and how they hope to be involved in the new Chapter. This written request must include a letter of recommendation from their outgoing chapter’s President or equivalent.

Subsection C. The Executive Director may, at the Director of Membership’s advice and consent, accept or reject transfer members who have requested transfer in writing and provided the letter of recommendation.

Subsection D. If approved, the student and/or new Chapter must complete the membership transfer application as follows:

- The membership transfer application may be obtained from the Regional ADNRHH.
- The membership transfer application shall include signatures from the incoming Chapter’s President, the incoming Chapter’s Advisor, and the NRHH member who is seeking the transfer.

Subsection D. It is the right of the Regional ADNRHH to deny requests for reasons including, but not limited to:

- The application form is incomplete.
- Adding new member(s) puts the Chapter over its member cap.

Subsection E. If the member and/or Chapter wish to appeal the decision of the Regional ADNRHH, they may appeal to the entire NNB. The decision of the NNB shall be final. In the event of an appeal to the NNB:

- Each ADNRHH shall have one vote.
- A simple majority shall be necessary, with the tie-breaking vote when necessary.

Section 1. Recruitment of nominations. Each academic semester, the Chapter shall solicit from the entire residential community nominations for new members. The Directorate shall each semester designate a regular meeting of the Chapter, no later than the second-to-last such meeting, as the new member selection meeting for that semester. Any affiliate of the University, including but not limited to current members of the Chapter, RHA members, and University Housing staff, may submit a nomination, but nominees must be eligible for a membership class as described in Article III. Furthermore, nominations of students who are in their first semester as a student at NKU (first-years and transfers) shall not be accepted for fall induction to membership, and nominations of students who will graduate in the spring shall not be accepted for spring induction to membership. Nominations must be substantive as formulated by the Directorate on the advice of the Chapter, and shall be due in the semester of induction by a date to be specified by the Director of Membership no later than one week before the new member selection meeting. All nominations will be made available to the entire Chapter at least one week before the new member selection meeting.

Section 2. Selection committee. The Chapter shall elect a five-person selection committee from its members no later than its regular meeting immediately preceding the new member selection meeting. The Director for Membership shall serve as ex officio chair of this committee, but will not have a vote in the committee, and will not count as one of its five members. Once all nominations have been collected, the selection committee will meet at least twice before the new member selection meeting, substantively review all nominations and determine a slate of recommended inductees, not to exceed the membership cap less the number of active members.

Section 3. Voting on the recommendation. The selection committee will present its slate of recommended inductees to the Chapter at the new member selection meeting. The Chapter, having reviewed all nominations and the recommendation of the selection committee, will proceed to discuss and vote on the recommended slate. If the slate is accepted, its members shall be offered induction into the Chapter. If the slate is not accepted, the Chapter will proceed to discuss and vote on offering membership to each member of the slate in turn. Each member approved by the Chapter shall be offered induction into the Chapter, and each member not approved shall not be offered induction into the Chapter.

Section 4. Voting on other nominees. Nominees formally nominated by the process described above, but not included on the recommended inductee slate of the selection committee, may then be proposed as potential inductees by any member of the Chapter, provided that the membership cap has not been reached. Each member approved by the Chapter shall be offered induction into the Chapter, and each member not approved shall not be offered induction into the Chapter.

Section 5. Offers of induction. Immediately following the selection of selectees, the Directorate will communicate an offer of membership in the Chapter to those selectees, granting a one-week response period. In being offered membership, all selectees shall especially receive from the Directorate a full description of privileges, responsibilities, and expectations that accompany the class of membership each member is offered, along with a description of the goals of the Chapter and NRHH. All those selectees who accept the offer of membership within the response period shall be inducted into the Chapter; all those who refuse the offer of membership, do not respond, or are not offered membership shall not be inducted into the Chapter.

Section 6. Induction. Induction of all new members, including On-Campus and Off- Campus, shall take place in a formal ceremony before the Chapter’s last regular meeting of the semester of induction, and before the last day of classes as established by the University. Inductees shall be required to take the following oath: “I, (name), do solemnly agree to uphold and honor the principles and values of the National Residence Hall Honorary at Northern Kentucky University. I agree to satisfy the requirements of membership, and will continue to enhance the residential experience by affording and promoting leadership, recognition, and service. In my efforts to serve the Norse Chapter, I will uphold its Constitution and Bylaws, and represent the Chapter to the best of my abilities.”

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Chapter shall be, in order of precedence, the Executive Director, the Director of Recognition, the Director of Membership, the Director of Operations, the Director of Leadership, the Director of Media and Marketing, and the Director of Service. No person shall hold more than one office at the same time (interim and pro tem offices excluded). Such officers must be active members during the semester in which their election takes place, and must remain active members in good standing (i.e., satisfy the requirements of active members—On-Campus or Off-Campus) for the duration of their term. If such an officer is not in good standing, or changes membership class to probationary membership or lifetime membership, the Directorate shall declare their office vacant and the Chapter shall elect a new officer in accordance with Article VII, Section 4. The duties of all officers shall include:

Subsection A. Attendance at, or excused absence (as provided in the Bylaws) from, all regular meetings of the Chapter and Directorate.

Subsection B. Attendance at, or excused absence (as provided in the Bylaws) from, induction ceremonies and any other ceremonies or programs of the Chapter such as the Directorate may reasonably require.

Subsection C. Assumption of additional duties and committee chairpersonships devolving from each office, or assigned as collaterals, such as the Directorate may reasonably require.

Subsection D. Satisfaction of job description and other such responsibilities. Failure to satisfy these standards shall be grounds for a disciplinary meeting between the officer and Advisor separate from the general student conduct process, and may be grounds for the Advisor to recommend changes in the officer’s conduct, or to recommend they resign.

Subsection E. Completion of transition reports upon leaving or resigning office.

Subsection F. Maintenance of academic responsibilities as students in good standing.

Section 2. Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be the presiding and executive officer of the Chapter. They shall determine the date and time for all meetings on the advice of the Chapter, set the agenda for business at meetings, preside over all Chapter and Directorate meetings or, in the event that both they and the Director of Recognition are unable to attend, designate another Presiding Officer from the Directorate to do so in their place, liaise with the NRHH regionally and nationally, represent the Chapter at regional and national conferences or, if unable to attend, designate a Representative to attend on behalf of the Chapter, develop community and camaraderie among members, and work with the Director of Leadership to coordinate all leadership development exercises of the Chapter. The Executive Director shall also oversee all voting done by the Chapter except in elections, including in recognition with the support of the Director of Recognition. They themselves shall not vote on any matter before the Chapter or Directorate except to break a tie, provided that they shall not vote to break a tie where tiebreaking is elsewhere provided for in this Constitution or the Bylaws. The Executive Director shall be responsible for upholding and interpreting this Constitution, the Bylaws, and the rules of order and standing rules, provided that such an interpretation may be overridden by simple majority vote of the Chapter at a regular meeting at which a quorum is present. Additionally, they shall oversee and support the work of the six Directors of Communications, Operations, Leadership, Membership, Recognition, and Service. The Executive Director shall also preside over any committees that may be established such as Outreach Committee, Alumni Involvement Committee, OTM Committee, and Service Committee.

Section 3. Director of Recognition. The Director of Recognition shall be responsible for coordinating formal and informal recognition operated by the Chapter, including Of-the- Month and Of-the-Year awards. They shall be especially responsible for collecting, redacting, and presenting nominations for Of-the-Month and Of-the-Year awards to the Chapter, for facilitating discussion on such awards before voting, for administering incentives to nomination submitters, for communicating with nominees and winners after each award cycle, and for presenting Of-the-Month and Of-the-Year awards with the Executive Director of the Chapter. The Director of Recognition shall also preside over the OTM Selection committee and is required to report back at Directorate meetings and assign someone to report back at the Chapter meeting which follows the Committee meeting. Additionally, the Director of Recognition shall preside over the Chapter or Directorate in the absence of the Executive Director.

Section 4. Director of Membership. The Director of Membership shall be responsible for keeping the membership roster of the Chapter including all Candidate, On-Campus, Off-Campus, and Lifetime members (explicitly to include name, contact information, school and class year, date of induction, and involvement in the residential community), maintaining a public list each semester of active members and their degree of satisfaction of the requirements of active membership in that semester and updating said list at least monthly, taking attendance at all meetings of the Chapter, and working with the Executive Director and Advisor to recommend any member removal motions to the Chapter. Additionally, the Director of Membership will coordinate the new member selection committee process as described above.

Section 5. Director of Operations. The Director of Operations shall be responsible for negotiating the annual budget of the Chapter with University Housing, disbursing all funds of the Chapter at the direction of the Directorate, providing a semesterly financial report to the Chapter, and coordinating monetary program co-sponsorships with other organizations and offices. The Director of Operations also oversees any constitutional revisions and submissions for editing in conjunction with the Executive Director.

Section 6. Director of Leadership. The Director of Leadership shall be responsible for coordinating at least two leadership or professional development opportunities for the Chapter each year. They shall work with University departments, pre-professional groups, and alumni in order to secure the resources necessary for said development opportunities. They shall further coordinate development and networking activities with alumni members of the Chapter, and work with other residence-based stakeholders to engage faculty and alumni in the residential experience. The Director of Leadership shall also lead over all Chapter fun and team-building opportunities. The Director of Leadership will be responsible for securing all resources and materials needed for these activities such as booking a room, purchasing supplies, reaching out to campus and community partners, etc.

Section 7. Director of Media and Marketing. The Director of Media and Marketing shall be responsible for recording minutes of the Chapter and of the Directorate or, in their absence, appointing another officer to do so, communicating minutes of the Chapter to the Chapter and public, and working with the Advisor to communicate with the campus residential community through social media outlooks and emails. The Director of Media and Marketing will also update the NRHH website, submit all programs and events on MyEngagement, assist the Executive Director in writing reports and press releases, and promote and market events and projects of NRHH. They shall work with the Advisor to reserve rooms, tables, and banner spaces, be the historian of events by capturing photographs and videos, and oversee all advertisements and marketing for recruitment and selection.

Section 8. Director of Service. The Director of Service shall be responsible for coordinating at least two community service projects per semester which the Chapter’s members may participate in, and for coordinating an additional yearly campus-wide service project in which all residents will be encouraged to participate. The Director of Service shall also manage any philanthropic efforts of the Chapter. They shall also communicate with the region to ensure collaboration to regional philanthropy and service efforts.

Section 9. Advisor. The Advisor to the Chapter shall be a staff member of University Housing appointed by the Director of University Housing at University commencement. They shall be responsible for coordinating the joint efforts of the NRHH and University Housing, for working with the Director of Communications in communicating with residents (especially for Of-the-Month and Of-the-Year awards), and for overseeing elections. The Advisor shall not have a vote in any Directorate, Chapter, Of-the-month, or Of-the-year processes.

Section 10. Directorate. The Directorate of the Chapter will consist of all of the officers of the Chapter. The Directorate shall meet at least every two weeks for at least half an hour to share updates and ideas on work done by each member on behalf of the Chapter and consider executive motions. The Executive Director shall preside over all such meetings in consultation and collaboration with the Chapter Advisor.

Section 1. Committees. The only permanent committee that shall form each semester is the OTM Committee and is comprised of every voting member in NRHH including the Directorate and will be chaired by the Director of Recognition. The Chapter may establish any additional permanent or ad hoc committees and chairs of those committees by simple majority vote at a regular meeting at which a quorum is present at any time. All ad hoc committees shall be tasked with mandates no longer than one academic semester in length, and shall be dissolved at the end of each academic semester. Any permanent committee propositioned shall be legislatively proposed and voted on by the Chapter with a simple majority ruling. If the committee propositioned is not voted through by the Chapter the committee shall not be formed. If the committee propositioned is voted through by the Chapter the proposer shall work with the Director of Operations to have the constitution revised to include the newly formed committee.

Section 1. Term length. Officers shall hold their offices for terms that shall expire within one calendar year and at the end of the NACURH Annual Conference that falls within that time. Elections for officer positions shall take place at the last regular meeting of the academic year. Candidacy shall be announced to the Advisor to the Chapter by application.

Section 2. Campaigning. Campaigning, in any form, is strictly prohibited. Violation of this policy, as determined by the Advisor to the Chapter, will result in immediate disqualification. Appeal to such a disqualification is at the discretion of the Chapter.

Section 3. Elections. Elections shall occur in the order of precedence as established in Article V. For each position, each candidate will be given two minutes to speak on their qualifications and ideas. After all candidates have spoken, the Chapter will vote by secret ballot, and the Advisor will tally and announce the results. Any losing candidate may drop down to another election, provided they have indicated on the candidacy application that they are interested in the second office.

Section 4. Resignations and vacancies. The members of the Directorate are encouraged to be active for an entire term. In the event that an officer is unable to complete their term and resigns, the Directorate will appoint a member as interim replacement, but a special election to fill the office in accordance with election regulations must take place within two (2) regular meetings of the notice of resignation. In the case that immediately after an election a vacancy results from lack of interest, the Directorate may choose to declare that position vacant until spring elections. In that case, the Directorate may ask that another member or members take on the duties of the vacant office, or ask University Housing to appoint a staff member to subsume those duties. In either case, the member or members, or the staff members, shall be considered officers pro tem(pore), and shall be nonvoting ex officio members of the Directorate.

Section 5. Officer removal. If an officer, pro tem officer, or interim officer is not fulfilling their duties satisfactorily, a member may write to the Advisor with the specific complaint(s). The Directorate and Advisor shall investigate such concerns and decide whether to hold a hearing on the officer’s removal by simple majority (51%) vote. The officer in question must excuse themself from all discussions on whether to hold a hearing, and recuse themself from the vote. If the Directorate decides to hold a hearing, they shall give notice to the Chapter of a hearing on the removal of the officer at the next meeting of the Chapter with quorum not falling within one week (7 days) of the decision. Such notice and hearing shall particularly include the findings of their investigation. The officer in question may be present throughout the hearing and present their defense. The officer will then be removed, their office declared vacant, and a replacement elected, only by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Chapter. As a last resort, the remaining active members present at a regular meeting with quorum may, by unanimous vote, impeach the officer in question, declare the office vacant, and elect a replacement.

Section 1. Parliamentary procedure. Meeting business of the Chapter will take place in accordance with the most recently published version of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

Section 2. Chapter meeting quorum. Meetings of the Chapter will require at least 1/3 of all active members as quorum. The quorum shall be necessary for all actions of the Chapter, including both legislative actions (e.g., amendments to this Constitution or the Bylaws) and judicial actions (e.g., member or officer removal motions). Excepted, that voting on formal recognition (e.g., Of-the-Month and Of-the-Year awards) shall not require a quorum, insofar as absentee voting shall be explicitly provided for in the Bylaws. Further excepted, that the quorum shall not be necessary for the Chapter to receive reports of officers and committees, or for substantive discussion on Chapter business, or for the proposal of Bylaws or amendments to this Constitution or the Bylaws to be voted upon by all active members via electronic ballot.

Section 3. Directorate meeting quorum. Meetings of the Directorate will require a simple majority of its members as quorum. The quorum shall be necessary for all executive actions of the Directorate as a whole. Excepted, that the quorum shall not be necessary for the reports of officers or committees, or for substantive discussion on Chapter business, whether or not that shall lead to executive action by an individual officer or officers within their individual duties as outlined in Article V.

Section 4. Division of powers. All legislative and judicial powers of the Chapter not explicitly enumerated in this Constitution or the Bylaws shall be vested in the Chapter itself. All executive powers of the Chapter not explicitly enumerated or vested in a single officer in this Constitution or the Bylaws shall be vested in the Directorate, as outlined in Article V.

Section 5. Meeting frequency. The Chapter shall meet at least every month in a meeting scheduled for an hour long. Each semester the Executive Director shall call the first meeting’s date and time in accordance with the availability of a quorum of members, at least 10 days in advance of the meeting. At that meeting, the Executive Director shall propose a calendar of dates and times for meetings in the semester, and the Chapter will resolve such a calendar before the meeting adjourns.

Section 1. Dues. No dues shall be charged of any member as part of their membership or office in the Chapter.

Section 2. Finances. All funding required by the Chapter will be provided by, and on the advice of, the Office of University Housing, including but not limited to induction expenses, service project funds, recognition and recognition ceremony materials, and a semesterly social event. The Director of Operations shall be responsible for coordinating the budget allocation process with University Housing, as detailed above. Additional funds are available through the Office of Student Engagement due to the Norse Chapter being a registered student organization at NKU.

Section 1. Proposal of Bylaws and amendments. Bylaws and amendments to this Constitution, and amendments to the Bylaws, may be proposed by a) any member in writing to the Directorate at least 10 days in advance of a regular meeting of the Chapter, such that the Executive Director shall communicate such a Bylaw or amendment to all active members at least one week in advance of the meeting, or b) any member in business at a regular meeting of the Chapter.

Section 2. Voting on Bylaws and amendments to this Constitution. Bylaws and amendments to this Constitution proposed in advance of a meeting at which a quorum is present will be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of all those active members present. Bylaws and amendments to this Constitution proposed at a meeting, or proposed in advance of a meeting at which a quorum is not present, will be approved by a two- thirds (2/3) majority of all active members of the Chapter voting on the motion, with all active members, present or absent, given ample opportunity to vote (or abstain) via electronic ballot as detailed in the Bylaws.

Section 3. Voting on amendments to the Bylaws. Amendments to the Bylaws proposed in advance of a meeting at which a quorum is present will be approved by a simple (1/2) majority of all those active members present. Amendments to the Bylaws proposed at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of all those active members present. Amendments to the Bylaws proposed at or in advance of a meeting at which a quorum is not present will be approved by a simple (1/2) majority of all active members of the Chapter voting on the motion, with all active members, present or absent, given ample opportunity to vote (or abstain) via electronic ballot as detailed in the Bylaws.

Section 4. Spirit. All amendments must be made in the spirit of the NRHH as expressed in the Preamble and affirmed by the regional Associate Director-NRHH.

Section 1. Ratification This Constitution shall be ratified upon the votes of two thirds (2/3) of active members present at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Chapter.

Section 1. Of-the-Month awards. A designated portion of the Chapter will meet at least at the end of each of the following months or periods (or the immediate beginning of the following month or period): August-September, October, November, December-January, February, March, and April. At each such meeting and in the days immediately following each such meeting, the Chapter shall award, by simple majority vote, and based on community nomination as delimited by Section 3, Of-the-Month awards for each of those periods, and the Director of Recognition or their designee shall in a timely manner submit the winners for regional and national recognition. Monthly recognition on the Chapter level will be based on, though not necessarily equivalent to, the categories of recognition by the NRHH nationally.

Section 2. Of-the-Month award committee. A committee shall be determined each semester which will have to meet the following week in which the OTMs are due. They will spend at least an hour discussing each nomination and narrowing down the ballot. The chair of the committee will then send out the new ballot to the Executive Director, by 2pm, which will be disseminated to the rest of the Chapter. The OTM committee will be required to vote every single month and the rest of the Chapter will be expected to vote as often as possible.

Section 3. Of-the-Month award categories. The categories of recognition in Of-the- Month awards shall be as follows (in order of presentation):

Subsection A. Student of the Month. Recognizes an individual resident for their active work in fostering a sense of community at NKU, especially during the month of the award. Nominees could include, but are not limited to, students who have made a significant contribution to their floor or hall through leadership in programming, volunteering, advocating, and/or role modeling for other residents.

- Short Description. Any upperclass student who is especially active in the community and made a great impact during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. The awardee must be a full-time student at NKU and a contractual resident of an NKU residence hall. The awardee must not be an RA in University Housing but can be a Peer Mentor (PM).

Subsection B. First Year Student of the Month. Recognizes an individual resident who is in their first year at NKU (including new transfer students) and excels at adapting to a new environment in their residence hall, taking an active role in their community, and positively impacting those around them. Nominees could include, but are not limited to, first year students who have made a significant contribution to their floor or hall through leadership in programming, volunteering, advocating, and/or role modeling for other students.

- Short Description. Any first-year student (including new transfers) who is especially active in the community and made a great impact during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. The awardee must be a first-year student at NKU and a contractual resident of an NKU residence hall. The awardee must not be an RA in University Housing but can be a Peer Mentor (PM).

Subsection C. Executive Board Member of the Month. Recognizes an individual executive board member of an NKU student organization who in the month of nomination made significant contributions to their specific community or the community as a whole. Nominees should have gone above and beyond the capacities of their roles on the executive board, and demonstrated a commitment to leadership, involvement, and/or mentorship.

- Short Description. Any student who serves as an officer of a student organization and made a great impact during the month of nomination.

Subsection D. Resident Assistant of the Month. Recognizes an individual Resident Assistant (RA) for their instrumental work in programming, education, community development, and/or crisis response. Nominees should have gone above and beyond the duties of their job in supporting residents in the communities in which they work, supported their fellow staff, RHA, or NRHH and/or made outstanding contributions to the hall in which they work during the month of nomination.

- Short Description. Any Resident Assistant (RA) who goes above and beyond in support of residents during the month of nomination.

Subsection E. Advisor of the Month. Recognizes an individual staff Advisor who created a supportive environment for student leaders to grow, learn, and develop, especially during the month of nomination. Nominations should focus on the work of the nominee in directly advising University Housing student staff, NKU RHA, the Norse Chapter of the NRHH, and/or any other student organization.

- Short Description. Any full-time staff employee for directly advising a group of students who made a great impact during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. The awardee must be an employee of University Housing. (NB: Academic advisors, faculty advisors, study abroad advisors, etc. are not as such eligible for this award. For other NKU faculty or staff notable for advising support, see Subsection G, University Faculty or Staff of the Month.)

Subsection F. Residence Life/Housing Staff of the Month. Recognizes an individual employee of the University Housing/Residence Life who was a significant aid to residents during the month of nomination. This category is intended to recognize the Residence Life Staff who are not eligible for the Advisor of the Month category (if, for example, they did not advise students directly) and who have made significant contributions to the residence life community.

- Short Description. Any University Housing full-time staff member who primarily aided students outside of advising who made a great impact during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. Resident Assistants (RAs) are not eligible for this award (see Subsection D, Resident Assistant of the Month).

Subsection G. University Faculty or Staff of the Month. Recognizes Northern Kentucky University educators and other employees outside of University Housing who aid students in their academic and/or personal affairs. This category is intended to recognize institutional faculty who have contributed to the NKU community both in and out of the classroom. Examples include, but are not limited to: Professors, Instructors, Teaching Assistants, Academic Advisors, Student Affairs or Academic Affairs Staff, Facilities/Maintenance Staff, NKU Police Officers, Dining Services/Chartwells staff, and Health, Counseling, and Student Wellness staff.

- Short Description. Any faculty or staff member (e.g. instructors, Academic Advisors, Facilities workers, NKU PD, or Dining staff) who significantly contributed to the community and made a great impact during the month of recognition.

- Restrictions. Employees of University Housing are not eligible for this award (see Subsection F, Residence Life/Housing Staff of the Month).

Subsection H. Organization of the Month. Recognizes organizations that have actively contributed to student leadership and involvement, recognition, or other aspects of communal life during the month of nomination. This award recognizes the organization as a whole, not just the accomplishments of a few members. Emphasis is placed on the successes of the organization in residence communities as well as how they have shaped campus life in general. Nominees could include, but are not limited to: Executive Boards, Student Councils, Activities Boards, and in general, any organizations outside of University Housing that positively impact students.

- Short Description. Any student group that has actively contributed to community-building and student leadership during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. NKU RHA (as a whole) and the Norse Chapter of NRHH are not eligible for this award. LLC are not eligible for this award (see Subsection I, Residential Community of the Month).

Subsection I. Residential Community of the Month. Recognizes residential communities, such as floors, suites, and halls. Nominations should emphasize what specifically a community has done within the month of nomination as well as how it has supported others, both within and outside their community. A successful nomination will additionally illustrate what brings such a group of individuals together and how they worked together as a group to accomplish their goals during the month of nomination. Living Learning Communities (LLC) are eligible for this award.

- Short Description. Any specific group of students united by where they live that provided mutual support and/or supported other students and went above and beyond during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. The nominee must not be a Greek organization (see Subsection H, Organization of the Month).

Subsection J. Community Service Program of the Month. Recognizes a service project that had an exceptional impact on the lives of others, including service or philanthropic programs that benefit groups, charities, or other organizations. The program must have been initiated by a residence-based organization or must otherwise have emphasized the importance of the student body giving back to the broader communities in which they live. Also recognizes the program’s organizer(s).

- Short Description. Any program which served the public in an impactful and intentional way during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. Any program which fits this description is primarily a community service program.

Subsection K. Diversity Program of the Month. Recognizes a program that challenged students around issues of race, religion, sexuality, socio-economic status, gender and other identities and their relation to power and privilege. Such a program must have illustrated the importance of promoting diversity in residence halls/on-campus as well as embracing diversity in the every-day lives of residents. Also recognizes the program’s organizer(s).

- Short Description. Any program which challenged students around topics of identity and group membership during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. Any program which fits this description is primarily a diversity program.

Subsection L. Educational/Academic Program of the Month. Recognizes a program that engaged students in education about a topic, idea, or issue beyond their classroom settings. Programs nominated for this category may include but are not limited to educational excursions, academic success programming, leadership development, speaker series, career planning, or promoting global citizenship. Also recognizes the program’s organizer(s).

- Short Description. Any program which educated students outside the classroom about ideas, topics, or issues.

Subsection M. Passive Program of the Month. Recognizes any program that did not require anyone to actively run or administer it for people to participate in it. This category is generally intended to recognize residential programming that occurs through bulletin boards, newsletters, pamphlets, and social media. Also recognizes the program’s organizer(s).

- Short Description. Any program that did not require its organizers to actively staff it that went above and beyond during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. Any program which fits this description, and is not eligible for the Community Service or Diversity Program of the Month awards, is primarily a passive program.

Subsection N. Social Program of the Month. Recognizes a program that helped build community or transition students to a new environment, with a particular emphasis on programs that focus on resident interaction. Social programs may range in scale from residence hall floor to campus. Also recognizes the program’s organizer(s).

- Short Description. Any program that built interaction and community among residents that went above and beyond during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. Any program which is eligible for another Program of the Month award is not eligible for this award.

Subsection O. Spotlight of the Month. Recognizes any outstanding individual or group contribution to the NKU community that is ineligible for any other category of award but is still worthy of attention and appreciation.

- Short Description. Any group or individual contributing to the community that is ineligible for any other category and went above and beyond during the month of nomination.

- Restrictions. Any nominee eligible for any other category of award is ineligible for this category.

Section 4. Of-the-Month award nominations. Nominations for Of-the-Month awards shall be open to any affiliate of the University, but particularly solicited from residents, employees of University Housing, and residential community affiliates. If there are no nominations for a particular category in a given month, there shall be no award in that category. Nominees that are not explicitly mentioned in business (discussion) about a specific category shall be ineligible for that award.

Section 5. Of-the-Month award recognition protocol. The written protocol for the Of- the-Month awards process, from solicitation of nominations to communication of results, distributed as the “OTM Recognition Protocol,” is to be considered a further part of these bylaws, and shall therefore be made available for public knowledge.

Section 6. Traveling Recognition Award. The Traveling Recognition Award shall recognize the contributions of a specific residential community towards the NRHH's mission of building a culture of appreciation within the NKU community at large. Every month of nomination, the Traveling Recognition Award shall be awarded to a different community based on the following formula: every OTM nomination for the given month associated with a community shall increase the point score for that community by 1 point; every OTM winner for the given month associated with the community shall increase that community's point score by an additional 5 points; the total point score shall then be divided by the number of residents within the community. The community with the highest such "weighted score" shall win the Traveling Recognition Award for a given month. The Director of Recognition shall complete this point calculation and notify the Chapter and OTM awardees of the Traveling Recognition Award recipient. They shall then print and sign the award, certificate and place it and the trophy at the main desk of the residential community that won for that month.

Section 7. Of-the-Year awards. The Chapter in association with NKU RHA will meet at the end of the spring semester to discuss the formal annual recognition—the “Of-the- Year awards (OTYs).” NKU RHA and the Norse Chapter of NRHH shall form as one committee for the OTY process. At each OTY meeting and in the days immediately following each such meeting, the Chapter in conjunction with RHA shall award, based on community nomination as delimited by Section 7, Of-the-Year awards for each of those periods. Such awards shall be determined by instant runoff vote as follows: each member shall rank their choices, or their top five (5) choices for categories that have more than five (5) nominees. The number of first-choice votes cast for all nominees shall be tallied, and the nominee(s) with the least number of first-choice votes will be eliminated. Then the remaining first-choice votes will be tallied together with the second-choice votes of the members who ranked that/those eliminated nominee(s) as their first choice, and the nominee(s) with the least number of such combined votes will be eliminated. This process shall continue until one nominee has the greatest number of votes, or the process results in a tie, to be broken by the Executive Director of NRHH and the President of RHA by consensus. Annual recognition on the Chapter level will be independent of monthly recognition. Though every monthly recognition shall be entered into the OTY pool.

Section 8. Of-the-Year award categories. The categories of recognition in Of-the-Year awards shall be as follows (in order of presentation):

Subsection A. Student of the Year. Recognizes an individual resident for their active work in fostering a sense of community at NKU, especially during the academic year of the award. Nominees could include, but are not limited to, students who have made a significant contribution to their floor or hall through leadership in programming, volunteering, advocating, and/or role modeling for other residents.

- Short Description. Any upperclass student who is especially active in the community and made a great impact during the academic year of nomination.

- Restrictions. The awardee must be a full-time student at NKU and a contractual resident of an NKU residence hall. The awardee must not be an RA in University Housing but can be a Peer Mentor (PM).

Subsection B. First Year Student of the Year. Recognizes an individual resident who is in their first year at NKU (including new transfer students) and excels at adapting to a new environment in their residence hall, taking an active role in their community, and positively impacting those around them throughout the academic year of the award. Nominees could include, but are not limited to, first year students who have made a significant contribution to their floor or hall through leadership in programming, volunteering, advocating, and/or role modeling for other students.

- Short Description. Any first-year student (including new transfers) who is especially active in the community and made a great impact during the academic year of nomination.

- Restrictions. The awardee must be a first-year student at NKU and a contractual resident of an NKU residence hall. The awardee must not be an RA in University Housing but can be a Peer Mentor (PM).

Subsection C. Executive Board Member of the Year. Recognizes an individual executive board member of an NKU student organization who in the academic year of nomination made significant contributions to their specific community or the community as a whole. Nominees should have gone above and beyond the capacities of their roles on the executive board, and demonstrated a commitment to leadership, involvement, and/or mentorship.

- Short Description. Any student who serves as an officer of a student organization and made a great impact during the academic year of nomination.

Subsection D. Resident Assistant of the Year. Recognizes an individual Resident Assistant (RA) for their instrumental work in programming, education, community development, and crisis response. Nominees should have gone above and beyond the duties of their job in supporting residents in the communities in which they work, supported their fellow staff, RHA, and/or made outstanding contributions to the hall in which they work during the year of nomination.

- Short Description. Any Resident Assistant (RA) who went above and beyond in support of residents this academic year.

Subsection E. Hall Director of the Year. Recognizes an individual Assistant Residence Life Coordinator (ARLC) or Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) who created a supportive environment for student leaders to grow, learn, and develop, especially during the year of nomination. Nominations should focus on the work of the nominee in directly advising University Housing student staff, NKU RHA, or the Norse Chapter of NRHH.

- Short Description. Any Assistant Residence Life Coordinator (ARLC) or Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) who went above and beyond their duties during the academic year of nomination.

Subsection F. Organization of the Year. Recognizes organizations that actively contributed to student leadership and involvement, recognition, or other aspects of communal life during the year of nomination. This award recognizes the organization as a whole, not just the accomplishments of a few members. Emphasis is placed on the successes of the organization in residence communities as well as how they have shaped campus life in general. Nominees could include, but are not limited to: Executive Boards, Student Councils, Activities Boards, and in general, any organizations outside of University Housing that positively impacted students.

- Short Description. Any student group that has actively contributed to community-building and student leadership during the academic year of nomination.

- Restrictions. NKU Residence Hall Association (RHA as a whole) and the Norse Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) are not eligible for this award. Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are also not eligible for this award (see Subsection G, Residential Community of the Year).

Subsection G. Residential Community of the Year. Recognizes residential communities, such as floors, suites, and halls. Nominations should emphasize what specifically a community has done within the year of nomination as well as how it has supported others, both within and outside their community. A successful nomination will additionally illustrate what brings such a group of individuals together and how they worked together as a group to accomplish their goals during the year of nomination. Nominees can include but are not limited to individual floors, entire residence halls, Living Learning Communities, NKU RHA, and NKU NRHH (LLCs).

- Short Description. Any specific group of students united by where they live that provided mutual support and/or supported other students during the academic year of nomination.

- Restrictions. The nominee must not be a Greek organization (see Subsection F, Organization of the Year).

Subsection H. Program of the Year. Recognizes a program that demonstrated outstanding leadership in the NKU residential community and was ideated, planned, and executed in line with the mission of the Norse Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary to recognize “the broad power and vast educational potential of the residential experience,” as well as the University Housing values of growth, achievement, leadership, and respect.

- Short Description. Any program that significantly and positively impacted the community during the academic year.

Section 9. Of-the-Year award nominations. Nominations for Of-the-Year awards shall be open to any affiliate of the University, but particularly solicited from residents, employees of University Housing, and residential community affiliates. The Director of Recognition shall contact all those who nominated for Of-the-Month awards in the current year, and encourage them to nominate for Of-the-Year awards. If there are no nominations for a particular category in a given year, there shall be no award in that category. Nominees that are not explicitly mentioned in business (discussion) about a specific category shall be ineligible for that award.

Section 10. Ethical and inclusive recognition. The “Ethical and Inclusive Recognition Guidelines” distributed to members, containing restrictions specific to submission of Of- the-Month and Of-the-Year award nominations, discussion of those nominations, and voting on those nominations, both to be designed for the most effective possible minimization of bias and conflicts of interest in award Of-the-Month and Of-the-Year awards, are to be considered a further part of these Bylaws, and shall therefore be made available electronically for public knowledge. Such guidelines shall be binding; members who commit severe, intentional infractions of the guidelines may be met with formal censure by the Chapter.

Section 11. Redaction guidelines. Guidelines to redaction edits, to be made in the pursuit of minimizing voter bias, distributed as the “Redaction Guidelines,” are to be considered a further part of these bylaws, and shall therefore be made available for public knowledge.

Section 1. Membership expectations. The expectations and responsibilities of NRHH active members, as distributed to selectees as NRHH Membership Expectations, are to be considered a further part of these Bylaws, and shall therefore be made available electronically for public knowledge. Any amendments to this document will enter into force at the beginning of the academic semester following their passage.

Section 1. Meeting attendance. For the purpose of determining active member fulfillment of membership requirements (not for the purpose of determining quorum), at each meeting of the Chapter or Directorate, the Director of Media and Marketing shall record members’ attendance as follows:

Subsection A. Attendees. A member attends a meeting if they arrive within 10 minutes of its published start time. If a member in attendance leaves before the close of the meeting (or before one hour past the published start time of the meeting, whichever shall come earlier), especially without communicating with the Director of Media and Marketing, the Director of Media and Marketing may, on the advice of the Directorate and at their own discretion, change the recording of that member’s attendance as “attendee” to “tardy attendee.”

Subsection B. Tardy attendees. A member is tardy for a meeting if they arrive between 10 and 20 minutes of its published start time. The Director of Media and Marketing shall record each such tardy attendee’s arrival time in the minutes.

Two such recordings of “tardy attendee” shall be equivalent to a single unexcused absence (odd numbers being rounded down so that a single recording of “tardy attendee” is equivalent to a single recording of “attendee”, three recordings of “tardy attendee” are equivalent to an unexcused absence and a single recording of “attendee”, etc.). If a member tardy for a meeting leaves before the close of the meeting (or before one hour past the published start time of the meeting, whichever shall come earlier), especially without communicating with the Director of Media and Marketing, the Director of Media and Marketing may, on the advice of the Directorate and at their own discretion, change the recording of that member’s attendance as “tardy attendee” to “unexcused absentee.”

Subsection C. Absentees; excused and unexcused absences. A member is absent from a meeting if they do not arrive within 20 minutes of its published start time. Their absence may be excused upon request received within twenty-four (24) hours of the scheduled close of the meeting, or as otherwise required in this section. A request for an absence to be excused must indicate the reason a member could not attend the meeting, and is subject to denial at the discretion of the Director of Membership on the advice of the Directorate if the absence is not excused. Absences may be excused for one or more of the following reasons:

- Absence for any reason from the Greater Cincinnati Area for at least three (3) hours during the day of the meeting, including during the meeting itself,

- Illness, or the death or illness of a family member or loved one,

- Presence at a meeting, scheduled before the announcement of the NRHH meeting date and time, of another extracurricular activity for which the member is an officer or chairperson and is required to attend,

- Presence at a job or internship, or interview therefore,

- Presence at a medical or psychiatric appointment,

- Presence at a meeting of any University class, or at a meeting of a seminar scheduled before the announcement of the meeting date and time,

- Presence at an athletic event or practice, scheduled before the announcement of the meeting date and time, in which the member is required to participate,

- Presence at a conference or University-sponsored event scheduled before the announcement of the meeting date and time,

- Any University Housing-associated appointment, staff meeting, or one- on-one meeting scheduled before the announcement of the meeting date and time,

- Required presence at the immediate execution of an event or program for the direct benefit of residents, scheduled before the announcement of the meeting date and time, or

- Presence at a wedding, family visit, or similar social event scheduled before the announcement of the meeting date and time, provided that the member informs the Director of Membership at least one week prior to the meeting.

- Absences shall be unexcused if they are not excused. One unexcused absence shall count as two excused absences.

Subsection D. Extended excused absences. If a member cannot abide by the three excused absence limit due to extenuating circumstances, the member can reach out to the Director of Media and Marketing to be excused from more meetings in the semester. The member will describe the nature of their circumstances to the Director of Media and Marketing, and the Director of Media and Marketing will present this information anonymously to the directorate board. The directorate board will then vote to permit extended absences to the member, granted if a simple majority is met, The member is required to reach out to the Director of Media and Marketing about their circumstances by the second meeting of the semester. In cases of emergency or unforeseen complications, the member may reach out to the Director of Media and Marketing after the second meeting of the semester.

Section 2. Absentee voting on Of-the-Month and Of-the-Year awards. The Executive Director of the Chapter shall provide for electronic absentee voting for Of-the-Month and Of-the-Year awards. All ballots shall be due within seventy-two (72) hours after the scheduled meeting close, or the distribution of electronic ballots, whichever shall come later.

Section 3. Absentee voting in elections. Because candidates for office are allowed to drop down, members may apply for absentee ballots for elections, but those absentee ballots shall include all those positions for which a candidate is running. Absentee ballots shall be administered two days in advance of the meeting at which elections will take place, and must be submitted before the meeting starts. Only those votes a candidate receives for a particular office will count towards the election of that officer. Absentee ballots for elections require an excused absence.

Section 4. Absentee voting on amendments. When electronic balloting on Bylaws or amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws is required by the Constitution, the Executive Director will send to the appropriate parties the electronic ballots containing the content of such Bylaws or amendments, to be due within seventy-two (72) hours of the scheduled meeting close or the sending of the ballots, whichever is later.

Section 5. Absentee voting on other questions. At the majority vote of a quorum of active members present at any meeting of the Chapter, any other question may be transferred to electronic format and opened to voting of all members including absentees. In all such cases, except as provided herein and in the Constitution, the motion must specify how long a period, not to exceed one (1) week, the question is to remain open, whether or not absentees without excused absences will be permitted to vote, and who of those voting and not voting will count towards the majority requirement of a question.

Section 1. Honor cords. Honor cords recognize membership in the National Residence Hall Honorary. Active members will receive honor cords if each semester they were an active member they maintained good standing (i.e., met the requirements of active membership). Lifetime members will receive honor cords if each semester they were an active member they maintained good standing (i.e., met the requirements of active membership) and if they are in their year of graduation. Lifetime members will not receive honor cords after graduation ceremonies have completed. All such members in good standing will receive such honor cords no later than one (1) week before their graduation from Northern Kentucky University.

Section 2. Bronze pins. A NACURH Bronze Pin is the highest honor an individual can receive from the National Association of College and University Residence Halls at the local level. It is awarded to individuals who have provided leadership and direction to their campus organizations. The maximum number of pins that may be given out in a year is equal to the number of regional affiliates in NACURH (currently 8). The Executive Director may therefore award up to four (4) such pins each year, and the Executive Director of the Residence Hall Association (RHA) may award up to four (4) such pins each year. The Chapter shall pay the cost of all such pins from the NACURH Services Recognition Office. Such pins must only be awarded to NKU students, faculty, or staff, and shall be presented at the annual spring induction.

Section 3. Outstanding Service Award. An Outstanding Service Award is designed to recognize those who have demonstrated outstanding support and service to the residence hall students. This may include, but is not limited to housing personnel, instructors, and college or university staff. Individuals who could qualify for membership including first term students, with the exception of those graduating in the current academic term, cannot be given an Outstanding Service Award. The maximum number of Outstanding Service Awards which may be given in a year is equal to the number of regional affiliates within NACURH.

Subsection A. The Outstanding Service Award Process shall be decided upon by a majority vote of the Chapter at a general body meeting prior to the semester’s induction ceremony.

Section 4. Diamond Award. The NRHH Diamond Award is an honor bestowed upon individuals who have made outstanding strides reaching beyond their on-campus community while exemplifying the values of NRHH. The award recognizes outstanding achievements and/or collaborations linking members of their Chapter to that of their campus community and other college and university NRHH Chapters across NACURH. Awards are determined every year by the NRHH National Board (NNB). Any member of the Chapter may nominate another member for the award (self-nominations are explicitly not accepted by national policy), and is encouraged to seek logistical, but not substantive, assistance of the Directorate in such nomination.

Section 1. Motivation. The Residence Hall Association (hereafter referred to as “RHA”) is a student leadership organization that represents residents in the NKU community in community development, active leadership, and responsive governance. The Chapter and RHA have differing missions, but as the Chapter recognizes leadership in the residential community, and RHA is an organization providing many opportunities for leadership in the residential community, the two organizations’ memberships overlap greatly, and both benefit from close work.

Section 2. Regional and national involvement. The NACURH Communication Coordinator (NCC) of RHA and the Directors of Operations or the equivalent of both the Chapter and RHA shall work to affiliate the University, RHA, and the Chapter with NACURH, SAACURH, and KAHR every year. The Director of Membership shall maintain rosters of membership to be used in such affiliation. The NCC and the Directors of Operations or the equivalent shall also together advocate for budget allocations from the University to be used for such affiliation and for attending the semesterly SAACURH Conferences every year. The Chapter can submit up to two delegates for conference not including an Advisor and shall finance fully their registration and travel. RHA will oversee the submission and funding of the other delegates.

Section 3. Bidding on regional and national awards. In line with its mission to recognize leadership within the NKU community, the Chapter shall maintain records of all NKU bids for KAHR, SAACURH, and NACURH awards, as well as compilations of resources for bidding, and at minimum provide said resources to advise RHA on any future bids they intend. The Chapter shall work with RHA in submitting formal bids for state, regional, and national awards.

Section 4. Recognition collaboration. The Director of Recognition shall work with RHA to identify and spread awareness of RHA-sponsored programs which have enhanced the residential experience. RHA is responsible for advocating to its members to submit for Of-the-month and Of-the-year award submissions and also advertise at their meetings for any Chapter service-related activities.

Section 5. Ratification and amendments. This agreement shall be ratified when it is approved by both organizations. Amendments to this Bylaw, or to an equivalent bylaw of RHA, must be made in good faith by an agreement of both the Chapter and RHA, and unless equally effected by appropriate legislation of both organizations, shall be null, void, and of no effect.