Mission
Statement
It is the goal
and mission of the IRC residents, as members of a global community, to spread
knowledge and understanding of ourselves to all cultures; to better ourselves through exposure and interaction with people of
various backgrounds; to translate social and cultural consciousness into
positive global action. With this mission in mind, the IRC endeavors:
1. To
promote culture exchange and awareness.
2. To
enrich ourselves and those with whom we interact through the celebration of
diversity.
3. To
facilitate a comfortable and healthy transition into the UVa
and Charlottesville communities.
4. To
support and serve like-minded groups in the UVa and Charlottesville community.
5. To
build a diverse, vibrant and participatory community.
Roles and Responsibilities
Composition
of the International Residential College Council:
No
person may hold more than one voting position on the IRC Council
A. Voting
Members
1. The five core members of the IRC Council include the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Foreign Minister, Treasurer, and Historian.
2. The
eight committee chairs for standing committees outlined in this constitution
include Academic Programming, Applications, Beautification, Entertainment,
Service, Social, Sports, and Website.
B. Non-Voting
Members
1.
Nine
halls representatives, one from each Resident Coordinator’s area of
responsibility.
a.
Shall
be a role model for the residents of the IRC, acting ethically and responsibly
with the best interests of the IRC in mind and in accordance with the values of
the IRC Mission Statement.
b.
Shall
bring concerns pertinent to their constituency to Council.
c.
Shall
inform their constituency of IRC events, news, and other important information.
d.
Shall
create programs for their constituency, working together with their Resident
Coordinators.
II.
IRC
Council
A. Prime Minister
1. Shall be a role model for the residents of the IRC, acting ethically and responsibly with the best interests of the IRC in mind and in accordance with the values of the IRC Mission Statement.
2. Shall create an agenda for all Council meetings and preside over the Council meetings.
3. Shall
establish ad hoc committees when necessary.
This includes creating a Constitution Committee whenever changes need to
be made to the Constitution.
4. Shall
ensure other Council members carry out their respective duties.
B. Home
Minister
1. Shall
be a role model for the residents of the IRC, acting ethically and responsibly
with the best interests of the IRC in mind and in accordance with the values of
the IRC Mission Statement.
2. Shall
compile weekly lists of events occurring within the IRC and distribute to the
Website Committee.
3. Shall
send weekly e-mails listing special events at the IRC.
4. Shall
take minutes at all Council meetings and post a
physical copy of the minutes in a location that is easily accessible to IRC
residents.
5. Shall
e-mail the minutes to Resident Coordinators, and shall keep the RCs informed of current IRC events.
6. Shall
conduct Council meetings in the absence of the Prime Minister.
C. Foregin Minister
1. Shall
be a role model for the residents of the IRC, acting ethically and responsibly
with the best interests of the IRC in mind and in accordance with the values of
the IRC Mission Statement.
2. Shall
be a liaison to external organizations.
3. Shall
work with the Application Committee to help promote the IRC to the greater
University Community.
4. Shall
be a liaison to any culture clubs that have events at the IRC.
5. Shall
conduct Council meetings in the absence of the Prime Minister and the Home
Minister.
D. Treasurer
1. Shall
be a role model for the residents of the IRC, acting ethically and responsibly
with the best interests of the IRC in mind and in accordance with the values of
the IRC Mission Statement.
2. Shall
create a budget at the start of each academic year.
3. Shall
accept and evaluate all requests for IRC funds up to $100.
4. Shall
accept and present to the Council all requests for IRC funds in excess of $100.
5. Shall
work with IRC administrative staff to update the budget.
6. Shall
be responsible for communicating budget information to the respective Committee
Chairs, Hall Representatives, and Core Council members.
E. Historian
1. Shall
be a role model for the residents of the IRC, acting ethically and responsibly
with the best interests of the IRC in mind and in accordance with the values of
the IRC Mission Statement.
2. Shall
be responsible for coordinating the creation and distribution of the IRC
Newsletter.
3. Shall
be responsible for coordinating the creation and distribution of the IRC
Yearbook.
4. Shall
attend and take pictures at as many IRC events as possible, and shall
coordinate photographers to take pictures in his/her absence.
5. Shall
share photos with the IRC Website Committee.
III.
Committees:
A. Academic
Programming
1. Shall
invite speakers to the IRC to discuss global/international issues, or anything
else of interest to IRC residents.
2. Shall
plan programs that promote the IRC mission, such as global awareness.
B. Applications
1. Shall
write the application for prospective IRC residents.
2. Shall
read submitted applications and select new residents to join the IRC.
3. Shall
maintain a database of IRC population demographics.
4. Shall
maintain a record of students who are accepted and denied from the IRC.
5. Shall
serve as a liaison to UVA Housing.
6. Shall
work with Housing to improve the selection process.
7. Shall
have closed meetings.
8. Attendance
is required to be a member of the committee.
C. Beautification
1. Shall
be responsible for purchasing and maintaining items that improve the appearance
of the IRC
2. Shall
sponsor projects and efforts to decorate common areas in the IRC.
D. Entertainment
1. Shall
run programs that promote IRC community through entertainment.
2. Shall
be in charge of the projector in the study lounge, which can be used for
presentations, movies, or special television events.
E. Service
1. Shall
sponsor community service projects with an emphasis on global issues/problems.
2. Shall
be the liaison to the International Rescue Committee and shall sponsor
joint-IRC events.
F. Social
1. Shall
run programs that promote IRC community through social events.
2. Shall
be in charge of any IRC parties or dances.
3. Shall
work with the Foreign Minister to accommodate cultural groups that hold events
in the IRC.
G. Sports
1. Shall
provide programs that promote IRC community through sports and other outdoor
activities.
2. Shall
plan athletic events and trips.
H. Website
1. Shall
create and maintain the IRC website.
2. Shall
meet regularly with IRC student and faculty leaders in order to update and
improve the website.
Procedures
I. Election
Procedures
No
person may hold more than one voting position on the IRC Council
A. IRC
Council Core Members
1. The
five core members of the IRC Council shall be elected in the spring semester
prior to the academic year in which they will fulfill the duties of the
position.
2. Intent
to run for a core Council position must be indicated prior to Spring
Break.
3. A
complete list of candidates will be published immediately following Spring
Break.
4. The
election will occur by April 1.
5. Candidates
will campaign in a respectable and ethical manner.
6. A
time slot will be set aside for campaign speeches before the voting week begins.
7. Voting
will take place electronically via a secure email account or survey system for
a period of one week. Only the first
vote sent will be processed per resident.
Votes must match the format provided.
8. Ballots
will be counted by voting council members who are not candidates.
B. Committee
Chairs
1. Any
current IRC resident may run for Committee Chair.
2. Committee
Chairs for the standing committees outlined in this Constitution will be
elected before final exams of spring semester in a closed meeting of Council.
3. The
Committee Chairs will be elected by the voting members of Council.
C. Hall
Representatives
1. Hall
Representatives will be elected in the fall of each academic year within two
weeks of courses beginning.
2. The
Home Minister will work with the Resident Coordinators to coordinate and
implement fair elections.
3. The
Home Minister will be responsible for general advertising of the need for hall
representatives.
4. The
Resident Coordinators will implement the election and report the elected
Representatives’ names to the Home Minister.
II. Meeting
Attendance
A. General
Meeting
1. The
IRC Council shall meet biweekly.
2. The
IRC Council voting members shall attend all regularly scheduled meetings. Failure to attend regularly scheduled
meetings shall be grounds for impeachment.
3. Hall
Representatives are encouraged to attend as many meetings as possible.
B. Voting
Procedures
1. Each
voting member shall get one vote.
2. Votes
shall be held by closed ballot.
3. A
majority vote is required to pass a vote, unless otherwise stated.
III. Impeachment:
A. Automatic
Impeachment
1. A
voting member of council is automatically impeached if he/she misses more than
one meeting per semester without a valid reason.
2. Appropriate
warnings of possible impeachment shall be given.
3. The
voting members of Council shall appoint a replacement within two weeks of
impeachment.
B. Impeachment
Process
1. Residents
of the IRC can initiate the impeachment process if they believe a voting member
has not fulfilled his/her duties.
2. The
impeachment process must be initiated through the Prime Minister or Director of
Studies.
3. A
panel of four members will initially review the impeachment request.
4. The
accused may defend him/herself in the closed meeting
of the panel.
5. The
panel shall consist of one member from each of the following:
a. Director
of Studies
b. Council
Member
c. Committee
Chair
d. Hall
Representative
6. A
3/4 vote by the panel is required to send the impeachment case to Council for
vote.
7. Until
the impeachment vote is sent to Council, the identity of the accused shall
remain confidential.
8. The
statement of complaint and a response by the accused member are read in
Council, after which a vote on removal from office is held.
9. A
3/4 vote in Council is required for removal of said member.
10. The
voting members of Council shall appoint a replacement within two weeks of
impeachment.
IV. IV. Budget:
A. Annual
Allocation of the Budget
1. Committees
should submit budget proposals within the first two weeks of the fall semester.
2. The
Treasurer shall evaluate budget proposals and submit a preliminary budget to
Council.
3. Committee
Chairs have the opportunity to provide explanations for their proposed budgets
in a Council Meeting.
4. Council
shall amend the preliminary budget and vote to approve the final budget within
the first month of the fall semester.
5. Council
shall reevaluate the budget at the beginning of the spring semester, making any
necessary changes.
B. Spending
Guidelines
1. IRC
student fees shall be spent to improve the well-being of IRC residents and to
promote the goals and mission of the IRC.
2. Any
IRC resident may request funding directly from the Treasurer and the Office
Manager for programs within the IRC.
3. Resident
requests for funding in excess of $100 shall be proposed to Council for vote.
4. Committee
spending in excess of $500 must be approved by Council.
5. Funding
requests by outside groups must be submitted to the Treasurer at least one
month prior to the date the money is needed.
6. Funding
will only be provided to outside groups for activities that tangibly benefit
IRC residents and help further the mission of the IRC.
7. Funding
to outside groups shall not exceed $500 unless numerous IRC residents will
benefit from the donation. Funding for
outside groups of over $500 must be passed by a 3/4 vote by the Council.