The Constitution of the Student Housing Administrative Council
Preamble
We the representatives of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) University Housing, in
order to improve both academic and social quality of life, will, as a voice of the residents, work to
develop leadership skills, provide social and educational programming and ensure the rights, privileges
and freedoms of all residents, therefore, ordain and establish this Constitution.
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the Student Housing Administrative Council and shall hereinafter
be referred to as SHAC.
Article II – Assembly
A member of SHAC must be a student at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) who is a
current resident of University Housing and pays the mandated SHAC Fee (B:AIV.SI.C). No person
shall be barred from membership for reasons of race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin,
ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender characteristics, political affiliation, disability,
pregnancy status, marital status, parental status, or Veteran status.
Section I – General Body
The General Body of SHAC shall admit the following Members:
A. One resident from each individual house or community shall serve as Senator, representing
that house.
1. Two residents from Purin Hall shall serve as Senators, representing that hall.
B. One percent of the total population of a hall or tower shall be the maximum apportionment of
Senators-at-Large, representing the residents.
C. One member of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Panthers Chapter shall serve
as a voting liaison.
D. One Resident Assistant (RA) per hall or tower will serve as a voting liaison.
Section II – Executive Board
The Executive Board of SHAC shall consist of the following members:
A. One resident to serve as President (B:AI.SII)
B. One resident to serve as Vice President (B:AI.SIII)
C. One resident to serve as Business Manager (B:AI.SIV)
D. One resident to serve as Event Coordinator (B:AI.SV)
E. One resident to serve as National Communications Coordinator (B:AI.SVI)
F. One resident to serve as North Campus Coordinator (C:AII.SIII.A), (B:AI.SVII)
G. One resident to serve as South Campus Coordinator (C:AII.SIII.B), (B:AI.SVII)
H. One University Housing Professional Staff member to serve as Advisor (B:AI.SVIII)
Section III – North and South Campus
A. North Campus shall consist of those residence halls in which the constituency of SHAC
resides, specifically those residence halls that are situated geographically north of Locust
Avenue, Milwaukee, WI.
B. South Campus shall consist of those residence halls in which the constituency of SHAC
resides, specifically those residence halls that are situated geographically south of Locust
Avenue, Milwaukee, WI.
Section IV – Summer Coordinator
One member of SHAC residing in University Housing during the summer session shall oversee
operations during the same session (B:AII.SIV).
Article III – Elections
Section I – Senators
A. Each individual house shall elect a Senator
1. Purin Hall shall elect two Senators
B. Elections shall be conducted by the Executive Board in conjunction with the RAs during
Mandatory House/Community Meetings
1. These House/Community Meetings are expected to be conducted at the beginning of
the fall semester, and, therefore,
2. Elections shall be completed by the end of September
Section II – Senators-at-Large
A. Candidates for the position of Senator-at-Large shall be required to collect twenty signatures
from residents of University Housing to be considered.
B. The President of SHAC shall accept signatures on a “first-come, first-serve” basis until the
aforementioned quota is reached (C:AII.SI.B).
Section III – Liaisons
A. The NRHH Panthers Chapter shall select a member of their organization and inform the Vice
President of SHAC of the selection.
B. One RA per hall or tower shall be selected by the respective staff groups of respective
hall/tower.
Section IV – Executive Board
A. Individual members of the Executive Board will be elected according to the By-Laws of the
Independent Elections Commission (IEC).
1. Elections shall be conducted during the spring semester, and the Executives-elect
shall serve through the following fall and spring semesters.
B. North and South Campus Coordinators shall be elected according to the below section
(C:AIII.SV).
C. University Housing shall select the Advisor in consultation with the Executive Board as
needed.
Section V – North and South Campus Coordinators
A. North and South Coordinators shall be elected during the fall semester of the academic year,
prior to end of September.
B. Elections shall take place under direct supervision of the Executive Board at the first North
or South Campus Meetings of the fall semester (C:AVI.SI.C).
C. Candidates must have shown interest in or be Senators or Senators-at-Large.
D. The Senators and Senators-at-Large of North and South Campuses shall respectively elect
their coordinators.
Section VI – Summer Coordinator
A. Summer Coordinator shall be selected from the Executive Board and General Body at the
close of the academic year.
B. The Summer Coordinator position shall first be offered to the Event Coordinator, then the
President, and then shall be offered to remaining members of SHAC.
Section VII – Terms of Office
A. Executive Board
1. All Executives shall serve until the conclusion of the academic year for which they
were individually elected.
2. Executives-elect shall take office during the last SHAC General Body meeting of the
academic year.
a.North and South Campus Coordinators shall take office immediately after
their respective elections during the fall semester.
3. SHAC Executives, with exception to the North and South Campus Coordinators, shall
arrive no less than ten but no more than twelve days early for transition, training, and
preparation for the academic year.
B. General Body
1. Members of the General Body shall serve until the end of the academic year in which
they were elected.
Article IV – Vacancies
Vacancies due to resignation, impeachment, or removal shall be filled as soon as possible according to
the following procedures:
Section I – General Body
A. Senator Vacancies
1. Vacancies shall be filled at the discretion of the Executive Board.
2. Candidates must reside in the house/community where the vacancy exists.
B. Senator-at-Large Vacancies
1. Senators-at-Large Vacancies shall be filled through the same method as election
(C:AIII.SII).
C. Liaison Vacancies
1. Liaison vacancies shall be filled at the discretion of the organization in which a
vacancy exists.
2. The Vice President of SHAC shall be informed of any changes in liaisons/
Section II – Executive Board
A. In the event of an Executive vacancy, the line of succession (C:AIV.SIII), with exception to
the North and South Campus Coordinators, shall be adhered to until the position is filled. The
SHAC Advisor shall oversee the process to ensure efficiency and transparency.
B. Coordinators
1. In the case that the position of Event Coordinator or National Communications
Coordinator is vacant, the following procedure shall be followed:
a. The Executive Board shall inform the General Body and general population of
University Housing of the vacancy and allow at least one business week for
applications.
b. The Executive Board shall interview and select two candidates from submitted
applications.
c. The General Body shall vote between the two selected candidates.
i. The President shall vote in case of tie.
2. In the case that the position of North Campus Coordinator or South Campus Coordinator
is vacant, the procedure for election of the respective coordinators shall be followed, at
the discretion of the Executive Board (C:AIII.SV).
C. President, Vice President, Business Manager
1. In the case that the position of President is vacant, the Vice President shall assume the
duties of the presidency for the remainder of the academic year.
2. In the case that the position of Vice President is vacant (either due to Presidential
succession, personal resignation or removal), the position of Vice President shall first be
offered to the Business Manager.
a. In the case that the Business Manager does not accept the position, the procedure
for filling Coordinator positions shall be followed (C:AIV.SII.B).
3. In the case that the position of Business Manager is vacant (either due to Vice
Presidential succession, personal resignation or removal), the position of Business
Manager shall be filled according to the procedure for filling the Coordinator positions
(C:AIV.SII.B).
Section III – Executive Line of Succession
Until an Executive vacancy can be filled, the following line of succession shall be followed with
respect to the procedures in place above (C:AIV.SII.C):
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Business Manager
4. Event Coordinator
5. National Communications Coordinator
Article V – Removal and Impeachment
Section I – Removal of General Body Members
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A. Senators may either be removed by their individual constituencies or on disciplinary grounds
at the discretion of the Executive Board and Advisor, including but not limited to three
unexcused General Body and/or respective Campus Council absences and failure to comply
with other duties spelled out in concurrent governing documents (B:AII.SI) and (D:AI).
B. Senators-at-Large may be removed on disciplinary grounds at the discretion of the Executive
Board and Advisor, including but not limited to three unexcused General Body and/or
Campus Council absences and failure to comply with other duties spelled out in concurrent
governing documents (B:AII.SII) and (D:AI).
C. Liaisons may be removed by their respective affiliated organizations or on disciplinary
grounds at the discretion of the Executive Board and Advisor, including but not limited to
failing to comply with other duties spelled out in concurrent governing documents
(B:AII.SIII) and (D:AI).
Section IV – Removal of Executive Board Members
A. Removal of Executive Board Members shall be overseen by the President and/or Advisor of
SHAC.
B. The grounds for impeachment or termination shall include but not be limited to:
1. Failure to fulfill the duties of office as spelled out in concurrent governing documents
(B:AI)
2. Abuse of the powers of office
3. Failure to faithfully expedite requests for change from the General Body
4. Fraudulent use of funds
5. Acts of dishonesty
6. Misrepresentation or acting as a negative role model of SHAC, University Housing,
and UWM.
C. Procedures of Impeachment
1. Any member of the General Body or Executive Board shall submit substantial
impeachment charges to the Advisor or President.
2. Impeachment Charges must first receive a two-thirds vote in the Impeachment
Review Committee (B:AIII.SII.B) before being presented to the General Body.
3. Impeachment Charges then must receive a two-thirds vote in the General Body, to be
made by secret ballot.
D. Continued failures and shortcomings in the position shall be dealt with at the discretion of the
President and/or Advisor according to the “Disciplinary Action” spelled out in concurrent
documents (D:AII).
Article VI – Meetings
Section I – Regular Meetings
A. The General Body shall meet at least once per month during the fall and spring semesters at
the discretion of the Executive Board.
B. The Executive Board shall meet weekly at the discretion of the President.
C. North and South Campus Coordinators shall conduct Council Meetings of their respective
Senators, Senators-at-Large and Liaisons, at least twice per month during the fall and spring
semesters (B:AIII.SIV).
1. The Executive Board shall facilitate the first North and South Campus Meetings.
Section II – Special Meetings
A. Emergency General Body Meetings shall be called by the President.
1. The President shall notify the General Body at least two business days prior to the
proposed Emergency Meeting.
B. The President must call a Special General Body Meeting upon receiving a written petition of:
1. two-thirds of the General Body
2. one-fifth of the residents.
Section III – Visitors
A. All SHAC meetings shall be open to residents. Residents may speak if the floor is yielded to
them or if recognized by the President.
B. All SHAC meetings shall be open to guests. Guests may only speak if the President
recognizes them.
Section IV – Quorum
Voting Quorum for all matters of SHAC shall be fifty percent of the SHAC General Body.
Section V – Parliamentary Authority
SHAC’s Rules of Order shall be used as the procedure for meetings and decision-making in
SHAC. All procedural questions shall either refer to a question of decision by the members of
SHAC or Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be consulted. Parliamentary authority
rests in the hands of the President or designated chair of the meeting; if the President or
designated chair is incapable or does not have full understanding of SHAC’s Rules of Order or
consequent Rules of Order, another Executive shall be consulted or a Parliamentarian shall be
appointed (R:AI).
Article VII – Reserved Powers
Any power not defined by this Constitution or any Concurrent Governing Documents (C:AVIII) shall be
reserved by the Executive Board.
Article VIII – Concurrent Governing Documents and Amendments
Section I – Supremacy
A. SHAC shall have Concurrent Governing Documents that shall help interpret and guide the
organization.
1. These Concurrent Governing Documents shall, at the time of ratification of this
Constitution, consist of Bylaws, Position Contracts, Disciplinary Action, and a Rules of
Order of SHAC, further enumerating and explaining the duties, responsibilities, and
procedures of SHAC.
2. These shall be denoted in referential form throughout the Governing Documents with the
following codes:
a. Constitution shall be denoted by C:
b. Bylaws shall be denoted by B:
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c. Position Contracts shall be denoted by P:
d. Disciplinary Action shall be denoted by D:
e. SHAC’s Rules of Order shall be denoted by R:
f. Article shall be denoted by A.
g. Section shall be denoted by S.
h. All additional clauses shall be denoted after the Article and Section has been
denoted by their respective clause letter or number.
B. The Constitution shall be considered the supreme governing document of SHAC.
Section II – Approval
All Concurrent Governing Documents shall have approval by two-thirds of the General Body.
Section III – Amendments
A. Any member of the General Body or Executive Board may submit amendments.
B. The Constitution shall be amended at any time by a two-thirds majority of the General Body.
C. Amendments shall be signed and enforced by the President.
Article IX – Enactment
Section I – Ratification
This Constitution shall be ratified upon approval by two-thirds of the General Body and the
Director of University Housing. Section III – Nullification
All previous governing documents are hereby null and void.