MCSC Constitution 1 Constitution. MultiCultural Student Coalition at the University of Wisconsin- Madison Name MultiCultural Student Coalition (MCSC) Mission The MultiCultural Student Coalition is an alliance of students deeply committed to social justice and the principles of unity, integrity, responsibility and respect. MCSC values community and undertakes coalition- building, promoting excellence in scholarship and service among MCSC student staff as well as all students. MCSC s institutionalized working structure provides a healthy environment for students and the campus community to work together, learn about and from each other, and take an active role in enriching the UW Madison community. MCSC will enhance cross- cultural respect and understanding through building coalitions among students, faculty and staff, and between the campus and larger community. Coalition building among students will include facilitating cooperation within and among student organizations, recognizing the co- curricular contributions of students and student organizations, and empowering students to access existing academic and leadership development opportunities on- and off- campus. MCSC will also provide facilitation and guidance as students work through MCSC s working group structure on new and existing ideas. We will provide opportunities for students and the larger community to engage in meaningful cross- cultural dialogue and mutual learning about how issues of race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, social class, age, etc., impact the intersections of diverse peoples living together. We recognize that through the Wisconsin Idea the boundaries of its services are the boundaries of the state. Furthermore, MCSC believes that with the ever- growing global community, the boundaries of its services encompass the world. MCSC will work with the university administration, building constructive working relationships between students, staff and faculty to increase diversity education and work towards achieving social justice at UW- Madison. We will work strategically to coalition with Multicultural Student Center and other similarly committed organizations and units on campus. MCSC will also make connections with other higher education institutions in Madison, within the UW System and nationally, to partner with these institutions in advancing institutional change. MCSC will uphold the rights of students, under the principles of shared governance, to ensure their voice and participation in the governance of the university, as an institution that exists for none else but the education and well- being of students.
MCSC Constitution 2 Membership Membership is open to any enrolled UW Madison Student. An active member consists of both volunteers and paid members. Duties of paid members as well as volunteers are outlined in Staff / Volunteer contracts. Nondiscrimination Discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression or characteristics, religious belief or lack thereof, veteran status, marital, familial or parental status, age, physical appearance, ability, political affiliation, national origin, income level or source, residency status or geographic disadvantage shall not be tolerated. However, members must support the goals and mission of the MultiCultural Student Coalition. Finances 1. Budget (including, but not limited to Budget Alterations, Mid and End of the Year Reports, etc) a. MCSC requests to receive funding from the General Student Service Fund (GSSF) as well as through grant applications and donations. MCSC will familiarize itself with GSSF policies. b. Per the guidance of the Leadership Team, a Budget Steering Committee (BSC) exists to review past budgets and compile the future budget using the following process: i. There will be an evaluation of the differences between the proposed budget and the approved budget for the past fiscal year considering the following: 1. An analysis of the use of funds 2. Collaborations and communities reached 3. Proposed ways to increase effectiveness of certain aspects of the budget with emphasis placed on past experience with SSFC and perceived programming effectiveness. 4. BSC will create the forthcoming year's fiscal budget through individual and collective tasks 5. There will be one All- Staff Review during the spring semester, not including the final draft review. 6. Final budget must be approved by all paid staff c. Service Divisions will be updated monthly as to their current budget standing and during this process desired changes to the proposed budget will be gathered. d. It will be the primary responsibility of the Leadership Team to maintain an up- to- date working knowledge of the current and proposed budgets. 2. AUTHORIZED SIGNERS All Executives may be authorized signers for MCSC Decision- Making Members of the MultiCultural Student Coalition arrive at decisions via consensus of all paid staff members. Service Divisions
MCSC Constitution 3 Purpose: A service division is a set time and place where the members of MCSC can work on internal and external service needs, as well as teach other registered student organizations how to perform these services. ELIGIBILITY: all paid staff members must be in at least two service divisions. Volunteers and community members are encouraged to join and participate in any Service Division. Description and duties of Service Divisions o There will be ten Service Divisions: Planning & Program Development: to administer and organize the Idea and Project forms that support MCSC s internal workings; including targeting student of color organizations, as well as providing planning and program development support for ANY other students or organizational coalition partners. Projects & Information: To organize and administrate the research and documentation of all projects and events that impact or are relevant to the mission of the MCSC; as well as comprehensive information on those projects and events. Educational Support Services: To organize and administrate the development of academic links to student diversity education initiatives. This SD exist to be a bridge to connect the co- curricular student organizational work with the academic programs and majors pursed by the student body. It is designed to facilitate students access to existing academic and leadership development opportunities on and off- campus Human Resources & Development: This SD organizes and administers all MCSC s personnel matter, including building committee capacity to recruit, orient, develop and ultimately retain student into the organization. This entails the maintenance of all personnel information of student and DES staff; maintaining payroll/timesheet information for all student staff positions; developing and maintaining a system of effective communication between and within MCSC service divisions; developing and maintaining effective communication systems for students and organizations using the MCSC resources and services. Finance: To organize and administer he skills, knowledge, and information involved with all aspects of budgeting. All aspects include writing grants and funding proposals; requisition writing and processing; provide information which helps students understanding of university student fee operating systems and distribution units. Media: Works proactively to build a positive image of MCSC, ALL student of color organizations, and ALL student lead efforts to improve campus climate through media; focusing on newsprint, film, theater production, and radio. Management of Information Systems and Technology: Organizes and administers all MCSC s information systems and technological resources; including but not limited to web page development and maintenance, management of the MCSC computer network and all technological support. Housing: Organizes and administers the management of all MCSC efforts involving University housing. The working group/service division will also organize and administer an off- campus Housing Resource base for students of color. Diversity Education Field Team: To organize and administer MCSC s efforts to enhance ethnic and racial diversity awareness and knowledge through educational
MCSC Constitution 4 workshops, conferences, discussion panels, lectures, meetings, etc. In addition, the team will work vigilantly to ensure there is a safe space for understanding, respecting, and accepting the multiple social identities present within communities of color. DEFT works towards ensuring that there is an opportunity for the abuses and oppressive circumstances targeting students of color on campus to be acknowledged, addressed, and that those situations become learning experiences, available to all. Support Staff & Recruitment: Recruits, informs, organizes, and trains support staff and all volunteers for all planned MCSC events and programs. A primary goal of this SD is that every program and event is organized to bring together a coalition of UW Madison students, so that they gain the gain the experience of learning teamwork principles of unity through working together to support each other s evens. Advisor 1. COMPOSITION: A team of MCSC staff and Center for Leadership and Involvement (CfLI) will work together to find an advisor. 2. VACANCY: The role of the Advisor shall be fulfilled at all times. In the case of a vacancy, MCSC will receive support from CfLI and Multicultural Student Center (MSC) for support with duties and tasks with finding a replacement. 3. TERM: varies 4. DUTIES: a. The advisor shall assist the group in their execution of roles and responsibilities. b. The advisor shall provide feedback to MCSC regarding its operation and functioning. c. The advisor shall serve as a resource. d. The advisor should provide advice upon request, and also should share knowledge, expertise, and experience with the group. e. The advisor will be a nonvoting member of the organization. f. The advisor will be a support for academic guidance and assistance. Leadership Team (LT) 1. Structure of Leadership Team: MCSC shall have a Leadership Team consisting of Executives, and if desired, the Advisor a. Members of the Leadership Team should be enrolled at the University of Wisconsin Madison 2. Eligibility: Must understand the variety of responsibilities/operations of MCSC, and who are dedicated individually and as a team to being responsible and accountable for everything that MCSC is a part of. 3. Duties a. The Executive Board will be responsible for overseeing the operations of MCSC Service Divisions and Steering Committees. b. COMPOSITION: There will be 6-7 LTs when staff exceeds 20 individuals, and oversee ALL MCSC operations, including SD s, projects, policies, outreach, budget responsibilities, staff management, DEP relations, etc. These will be student leader who work as a team (who are always on the same page) to understand the big picture of MCSC in order to help the
MCSC Constitution 5 administrative staff make decisions for their work, as well as, make collective decisions as MCSC s executive body for the organizations success. i. Members of the Leadership Team, after approval from all staff, self- select into these positions. c. Each member of the Leadership Team must: i. Work 20 hours per week ii. Have an in- depth understanding of MCSC operations iii. Be willing to represent MCSC in a wide variety of situations iv. Etc. 4. TERM: The term of office shall be indefinite, and depends on a number of factors including, but not limited to: availability to complete tasks, staff turnover, etc. 5. REMOVAL: A LT may be removed from positions if group and individual decides it is necessary for the benefit of the group. 6. VACANCY: At all times, LTs must be fulfilling the responsibility of understanding the big picture, delegating tasks, duties, and responsibilities, and overseeing projects. Hiring All- Staff have the right to hire a limited time employee (LTE) for special circumstances as agreed on by the all- staff. Based on the terms agreed upon by the all- staff members, Executive team and the person in question. Meetings 1. SCHEDULE: Weekly All- Staff meetings shall occur at a time available for the majority. All staff are expected to attend. For illness, staff must contact Human Resources and at least 1 hour prior to the meeting. 2. NOTIFICATION: At least 2 days notice shall be given for each regular business meeting. Special or emergency meetings may be called with no less than 24 hours notice by the Leadership Team 3. STRUCTURE: The meetings shall include order of business and disposition of the minutes. Amendments Amendments to this constitution are possible whenever all- staff deems it necessary, and will require a consensus of all paid staff members.