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The Constitution of the Laila Machado Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary

Updated on: May 15, 2020, October 1, 2020 | Adopted on: October 1, 2020

Preamble

We, the members of the University of Houston Laila Machado Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary, in order to honor and recognize outstanding members of the residence hall system, and to promote a higher quality and standard of involvement and interaction in the residence hall community and the city of Houston community, do hereby establish and uphold this constitution.

Article I Name of Organization

The official name of this organization shall be the Laila Machado Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary at the University of Houston, hereafter referred to as NRHH. NRHH is affiliated with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls, Inc. (NACURH) and the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (SWACURH) within NACURH.

Article II The Purpose

NRHH is a leadership-based honorary comprised of exemplary residential students who value service and recognition. The purpose of this organization shall be to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated positive leadership and outstanding service to residence hall life at the University of Houston to serve as a stimulus for developing residence hall involvement, and to uphold the values of Service, and Recognition. Through these stated purposes, the NRHH strives to improve the quality of residence hall life on the University of Houston campus. This organization is a not for profit organization.

Section A: Vision

NRHH advocates for the interests and welfare of residence hall students, provides opportunities for their personal growth and development and strives to provide recognition for individuals who have contributed to the advancement of university housing. NRHH also promotes student growth through many service initiatives.

Section B: Mission

As an honorary, NRHH provides a dynamic leadership experience by promoting service and recognition. Through this, the Laila Machado Chapter of NRHH offers our members diverse avenues to grow and succeed in the residence halls and as engaged members in their communities.

Section C: Non-Discrimination Clause

As a registered Student Organization at the University of Houston, we adhere to the University of Houston’s Non-Discrimination Policy. The University of Houston is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution. The University provides equal treatment to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status except where such distinction is required by law. Additionally, the system prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Section D: Anti-Hazing Clause

This organization will not initiate, participate in, or be witness to any act that inflicts or intends to inflict physical or mental harm or discomfort or which may demean, disgrace, or degrade any person, regardless of location, intent, or consent of participant(s).

Article III Executive Structure

The Executive Board shall consist of the following offices: President, Vice President of Service, Vice President of Recognition, Vice President of Membership, Vice President of Records.

Section A: Powers and Duties

1. The Executive Board

  1. No member of the Executive Board may serve as a member of a Hall Council.
  2. An Executive Board member must have lived on campus for at least one semester at the time of their appointment.
  3. An Executive Board term is the length of the academic year for which they are appointed.
  4. An Executive Board member must live on campus for the duration of their appointment.
  5. No member of the Executive Branch may concurrently hold a housing compensated position through the Department of Student Housing and Residential Life.

2. President
The powers and duties of the President shall be:

  1. To uphold this constitution.
  2. To preside at all regular, special, and executive meetings.
  3. To serve as, or appoint, the primary liaison to the regional and NACURH AD- NRHH officers.
  4. To serve as, or appoint, the NRHH representative to all regional and NACURH conferences.
  5. To serve as the liaison during RHA General Assembly
  6. To ensure NRHH maintains good standing with NACURH and the University of Houston.
  7. To be a non-voting ex-officio member of all committees.
  8. To appoint, remove, or oversee committee chairs. This duty can be delegated to another Executive Board officer at the discretion of the President.
  9. To work with the Vice President of Membership to coordinate the recruitment process and chair the recruitment committee.
  10. Oversee NRHH Chapter meetings and Executive meetings.
  11. Assist the RHA National Communications Coordinator with the annual NACURH/SWACURH affiliation process.
  12. Oversee all membership processes with the assistance of the Executive Board.
  13. Other duties as assigned.

3. Vice President of Service
The powers and duties of the Vice President shall be:

  1. To act in the capacity of the President in their absence.
  2. To establish service projects for the chapter throughout each semester.
  3. Shall submit reports of service projects each semester.
  4. Shall have the authority to appoint members in charge of service projects.
  5. Shall establish and enforce the rules of signing up for service projects and the consequences of missing them.
  6. Other duties as assigned.

4. Vice President of Recognition:
The power and duties of the Vice President of Recognition shall be:

  1. To coordinate the OTM process and chair the campus OTM committee.
  2. To send all OTM information to the regional and NACURH levels.
  3. To record OTM Submissions and rankings and report them to the President.
  4. To be responsible for recognition activities.
  5. Other duties as assigned.

5. Vice President of Membership:
The power and duties of the Vice President of Membership shall be:

  1. To act in the capacity of the President and/or Vice President of Service in their absence.
  2. To serve as the recruitment officer and create a recruitment plan, with the help of the President and Advisor.
  3. To secure all the necessary paperwork for candidate members, as required by NACURH.
  4. To maintain the current roster and membership records at all times.
  5. Other duties as assigned.

6. Vice President of Records
The power and duties of the Vice President of Records shall be:

  1. To keep an accurate record of the proceedings of all chapter meetings.
  2. To record the attendance at all meetings.
  3. To distribute the minutes of the meetings in a timely fashion to the chapter.
  4. To coordinate all technology, website updates, and social media.
  5. To serve as parliamentarian at all meetings.
  6. To coordinate NRHH socials for members.
  7. Other duties as assigned.

Section B: Vacancy of Office

1. President Vacancy

  1. Should the office of the President become vacant, the Vice President of Service shall become the president unless the Vice President of Service fails to meet residency eligibility requirements.
  2. The residency eligibility requirements may be suspended by a ⅔ majority vote of the members present at a general meeting in the case of a vacancy in the President position after the Executive Officer election in the Spring.
  3. Should the Vice President of Service not become the President, the process outlined in Article VI must be followed to fill the vacancy in the President
  4. An Executive Board member must live on campus for the duration of their appointment.

2. Other Executive Board Vacancy

  1. In the event that an officer leaves office, the Executive Board shall appoint a n On-Campus or Off-Campus member who is considered a currently enrolled University of Houston student to finish that officer’s term.
  2. This appointment must be made within two weeks following the officers vacancy.
  3. Approval of this appointment shall be made by the membership, with a vote of a simple majority of the voting members present.
  4. In the event that the approval is not granted, the floor shall be opened for nominations, and an election shall be held.
  5. This election shall be governed by the election code in Article VI.

Section C: Removal of Officers

1. Grounds for impeachment of the officers of NRHH shall be:

  1. Misfeasance - the performance of a lawful action in an illegal or improper manner.
  2. Malfeasance - wrongful conduct, especially by a public official.
  3. Nonfeasance - failure to perform the assigned duties.
  4. An Executive Board member must live on campus for the duration of their appointment.

2. Any voting member who is considered a currently enrolled University of Houston student member may move for the impeachment of an Executive Board member.

3. The member recommending the impeachment of an Executive Board member must submit a written statement to the President or the highest-ranking officer not accused consisting of reasons for removal and the signatures of 20% of the current voting membership. A copy of this statement shall be delivered to the Executive Board member in question and the Advisor at least one week prior to the statement’s presentation at the next general meeting.

4. In order for the impeachment proceedings to proceed, the matter of impeachment must be presented at the next general meeting. A special meeting must be called by the President or the highest-ranking officer not accused and must be approved by a simple majority of the voting membership. The meeting must occur within one week of the general meeting and may be held concurrently with the general meeting.

5. The Executive Board member in question may speak to the general membership on their behalf and may present any witnesses he/she desires.

6. A ⅔ majority of voting members present is required to remove a person from office.

7. Any impeached officer can be reinstated by a ⅔ vote of the voting membership.

Article IV The NRHH Chapter Adviser

The NRHH Advisor shall be appointed by the Associate Director of Student Housing and Residential Life and/or the Assistant Director for Leadership and Learning Programs from the current professional staff members of the Student Housing and Residential Life department. Their responsibilities are as follows:

Section A: Powers and Duties
The power and duties of the Advisor shall be:

  1. To advise all officers of NRHH.
  2. To evaluate the actions of NRHH to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
  3. To hold regular meetings with the President.
  4. Serve as an ex-officio non-voting member of the General Assembly.
  5. Answer questions from both the General Assembly and the Executive Board.
  6. Serve as the mentor of the organization to ensure forward progress, while addressing unique interests of the Executive Board and other student leaders.
  7. Shall serve as the liaison between NRHH and the Student Housing and Residential Life Department, sharing updates between the parties.
  8. Promote the interests of the organization in all professional settings.
  9. Maintain the organizational master budget and travel plans.
  10. Shall provide weekly updates in Executive Board meetings and biweekly updates at General Assembly.

Article V Elections

Section A: Eligibility

  1. Must be an enrolled student at the University of Houston.
  2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 during their term in office.
  3. Retain good standing with the University of Houston, as defined by the Dean of Students and Student Housing and Residential Life rules of conduct.
  4. All NRHH Officers must reside on campus in one of the Student Housing and Residential Life resident halls.
  5. Must be considered a voting member in good standing to be elected, as defined by the outgoing Executive Board.
    1. If newly inducted into NRHH as a voting member during that election semester, this is considered null and void.
  6. All NRHH Officers must be voting members during their term.

Section A: Election Procedure

    1. The Executive Officers shall be elected during the first general meeting following Spring Inductions.
    2. Election Process
      1. Elections shall occur in the following order: President, Vice President of Service, Vice President of Recognition, Vice President of Membership, Vice President of Records.
      2. Nominations shall be taken from Voting and Lifelong members who are considered currently enrolled University of Houston students at the election meeting. Should no qualified candidate accept nomination for an office, its election shall move to the end of the process.
      3. Officers must be elected by a simple majority of all voting members present at the elections.
      4. All votes will be taken by secret ballot.
      5. In the event of a tie, an immediate run-off shall be held between the top two vote receivers.
      6. The Executive Board shall decide the exact procedure for elections.
    3. Should no qualified candidate accept nomination by the end of the election process, the new executive board shall hold interviews and appoint an officer.
      1. This excludes the positions of President, Vice President of Service, and Vice President of Recognition which must be elected by a simple majority of all voting members present at the following general body meeting. Should there be no additional general body meetings, a special meeting may be called by the President or the highest-ranking officer.

Article VI Qualifications and Responsibilities of Membership

Section A: Types of Membership

  1. There shall be five kinds of NRHH membership: Candidate Membership, On-Campus Membership, Off-Campus Membership, Lifelong Membership, and Honorary Membership.
  2. The total membership of a chapter may include up to, but no more than 1% of the total residence hall population that year, or 20 members, whichever is larger. The total 1% membership does not include Candidate Members of Lifelong Members.
    1. Residence halls being defined as any college and university housing unit.
    2. The 1% membership cap is defined as a proportion of the total housing census of the residence halls.
      1. Upon request, the NACURH Association for NRHH (NAN) may exempt a chapter from this requirement, allowing the chapter to exceed the membership cap. Such an exemption is limited to the time period between the request being made and the chapter’s next induction ceremony at which time they must return to their membership cap
  3. Basic eligibility for membership is defined as:
    1. Must be enrolled student at the University of Houston.
    2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
    3. Retain good standing with the University of Houston, as defined by the Dean of Students and Student Housing and Residential Life rules of of conduct.
  4. Candidate Membership
    1. The Candidate Member is a pre-membership status in which the student has shown interest through intent to become an NRHH Member.
    2. The chapter must educate the candidate on the following topics before the candidate can be inducted:
      1. NRHH History
      2. OTMs
      3. Membership Qualifications
      4. Membership Selection Process
        1. Additional requirements as deemed necessary by the chapter, if any.
    3. Before a Candidate Member can be inducted, they must meet the following requirements:
      1. A Candidate Member seeking induction must be a student of the college or university with which the chapter is affiliated with.
      2. “Student” shall be defined by the chapter.
      3. Students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional degrees are all eligible for induction.
      4. At the time of induction, the Inductee must be a student possessing at least a 2.5 GPA.
      5. Candidate Members must be living in institutionally owned or contracted housing for at least one academic term, as defined by the affiliate institution, upon induction.
      6. Candidate Members must have made a positive contribution to the residence hall system through engagement with the values of service and recognition.
      7. Additional requirements as deemed necessary by the chapter, if any.
      8. Once a candidate member has met all NACURH and chapter requirements, they will be eligible for induction.
    4. Additional requirements as deemed necessary by the chapter, if any.
      1. Once a candidate member has met all NACURH and chapter requirements, they will be eligible for induction.
  5. On-Campus Membership
    1. An On-Campus member of an NRHH chapter is a member that lives in institutionally owned or contracted housing and meets the chapter and NACURH membership qualifications.
    2. On-Campus Members must meet the following requirements to maintain their membership:
      1. The On-Campus Member must be a student of the college or university with which the chapter is affiliated.
      2. “Student” shall be defined by the chapter’s host institution.
      3. The On-Campus Member must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.
      4. On-Campus Members must be living in institutionally owned or contracted housing.
      5. On-Campus Members continue to make a positive contribution to the residence hall system through engagement with the values of service and recognition.
      6. Additional requirements as deemed necessary by the chapter, if any.
  6. Off-Campus Membership
    1. 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.
    2. Off-Campus Members must meet the following requirements to maintain their membership:
      1. The Off-Campus Member must be a student of the college or university with which the chapter is affiliated.
      2. “Student” shall be defined by the chapter’s host institution.
      3. The Off-Campus Member must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.
      4. Off-Campus Members must continue to make a positive contribution to their community through engagement with the values of service and recognition.
      5. Additional requirements as deemed necessary by the chapter, if any.
      6. At the discretion of the chapter, up to 15% of the chapters membership cap may have the same voting rights and ability to serve on campus-level executive boards as an on-campus member.
        1. An Off-Campus Member must submit a NACURH written pledge for accountability approved by the chapter President and Advisor.
      7. An Off-Campus Member with voting rights does not count towards the membership cap, but an Off-Campus Member that participates with no voting rights does count towards the membership cap.
  7. Honorary Membership
    1. An Honorary Member of The Laila Machado Chapter of NRHH can be anyone who lives on or off campus.
    2. Honorary Members do not have any voting privileges.
    3. An Honorary Member is appointed by the Executive Board.
        1. Individuals who could qualify for Active Membership, with the exception of graduating seniors, cannot be inducted as Honorary Members.
        2. The number of Honorary Members the chapter shall be able to induct per academic year will not exceed 10% of the chapter’s membership cap.

      Once an individual has shown dedication and commitment, will become an NRHH Member for Life.

  8. Lifelong Membership
    1. 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 discontinuation of education.
    2. 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.
    3. By becoming a Lifelong Member, a member would have to uphold the lifelong commitment to the NRHH Values of Service and Recognition.
    4. Lifelong Members are eligible to participate in chapter-specific and NACURH activities at the discretion of NACURH Leadership and their chapter, respectively.

Section B: Outstanding Service Award Process

  1. 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.
    1. 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.
  2. The maximum number of Outstanding Service Awards which may be given in a year is equal to the number of regional affiliates within NACURH.
  3. The chapter must create a process to outline how Outstanding Service Awards can be given to individuals at their institution.

Section C: Membership Capacity

  1. The total voting membership of a chapter may include up to, but no more than 1% of the total residence hall population that year, or 20 members, whichever is larger. The total 1% membership does not include lifelong members, off-campus members (who do not have voting rights) or honorary members.
    1. A list, or unambiguous description, of all on-campus housing units that counts towards the membership cap. The chapter description must include all of the institution’s residence halls and may include any institution owned housing units or institution contracted housing units.
    2. The number of beds in all resident halls will contribute towards the membership cap (i.e., 1% of that number, or 20 members, whichever is greater), but the constitution itself need not include number of beds, either in each unit or in total.Definition of on-campus housing units that contribute to the membership cap.

Section D: Voting

  1. Each voting member has one vote in any official NRHH Business.
  2. Candidate Members do not have voting rights in official NRHH (OTM) Awards.
  3. On-Campus Members who are considered currently enrolled University of Houston students and have earned the required good standing points as defined by the NRHH President have one vote in any official NRHH Business and have one vote in Of-The- Month (OTM) Awards.
  4. Off-Campus Members who are considered currently enrolled University of Houston students and have earned the required good standing points as defined by the NRHH President have one vote in Of-The-Month (OTM) Awards.
    1. Off-Campus Members that gain full voting rights by completing off-campus pledge, on the NACURH Website also have one vote on any official NRHH Business.
  5. Lifelong Members do not have voting rights in Official NRHH Business but have one vote in Of-The-Month Awards.
  6. Eligibility to vote for recruitment and elections shall be the On-Campus and Off-Campus Members who are considered currently enrolled University of Houston students and have earned the required good standing points as defined by the NRHH President.

Section E: Good Standing

  1. For a member to be considered in good standing for the current semester, that member must have paid all necessary payments, and must complete the good standing requirements as determined by the NRHH Executive Board.
    1. The good standing requirements will be presented at the first meeting of every semester. The good standing requirements will be voted on by the body by a majority vote.

Section F: Honor Cord

  1. Upon achieving eligibility, all University of Houston NRHH members of NRHH are able to receive an honor cord and an NRHH pin. To receive an honor cord, members must meet the following:
    1. Members must be eligible and intend to graduate at the end of the current semester.
    2. Members must be in good standing for a majority of the time between induction and graduation, as defined by the current Executive Board.
      1. If a member is inducted during his/her final semester, that member is automatically eligible to receive his/her honor cord
      2. If a member is inducted during his/her penultimate semester, that member must maintain good standing until graduation to receive his/her honor cord.

Section G: Selection of New Members (Recruitment)

  1. Recruitment Schedule
    1. Once the NRHH Executive Board sets the schedule, it must be approved at an NRHH meeting by a majority of the vote.
    2. Once the schedule is set, it may not be deviated from, without advanced notification to the NRHH body.
  2. Nominations
    1. Nomination forms shall be distributed to:
      1. NRHH Members
      2. Housing Professional Staff
      3. Housing Graduate Staff
      4. Residence Halls Association Executive Board
      5. Any other person as deemed appropriate by the chair of the recruitment committee.
  3. Eligibility for Recruitment
    1. In order to be selected as a voting member of NRHH, a nominee must:
      1. Possess a minimum 2.5 GPA.
      2.  
      3. Have completed at least one semester (including the current semester) of service to housing.
    2. In order to be selected as an Off-Campus Honorary Member of NRHH, a nominee must:
      1. Possess a minimum 2.5 GPA.
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      3. Must not currently be on conduct probation at the University of Houston.
      4. Have completed at least two semesters (including the current semester) of service to Housing.
  4. Applications
    1. Application forms shall be sent to all eligible nominees.
    2. Applications must be submitted on a form approved by the chair of the recruitment committee.
    3. One recommendation form shall be required from one who has supervised and/or worked with the nominee and at least one of which is in a housing setting.
    4. All forms must be turned in by the deadline established by the chair of the recruitment committee.
    5. Any exceptions must be approved in advance by the chair of the recruitment committee.
  5. Recruitment
    1. The process of voting on the nominees will be completed at the discretion of the chair each semester.
    2. The chair will present the process each semester and the body will approve it by a majority vote.
    3. Quorum for this meeting shall be ⅔ of those with the ability to vote in official NRHH Business and who have participated within the current or previous semester in an NRHH activity or meeting, as defined by the NRHH President.
    4. A nominee must receive at least a ⅔ majority vote of all voting members within recruitment.
    5. In the event that more nominees apply than seats are available, those nominees with the highest vote ratio (affirmative/negative) shall be inducted. In the event that there are still too many nominees, there shall be a revote on those who created the tie.
    6. No more than ⅔ of the open seats shall be filled in the Fall or Spring recruitment process.
  6. Recruitment Notification
    1. Nominees for recruitment will be notified of their status within one week of the completion of the recruitment.
  7. Chapter Induction Ceremonies
    1. Inductions will be held 2 times throughout the year, in the fall and spring semester(s), if needed.
    2. The induction oath shall be:
      1. “I (state your name), agree to uphold and honor all the principles, values, and beliefs of the University of Houston’s Laila Machado Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary at the University of Houston. I promise to continue the tradition of service and recognition. In my efforts to serve this chapter, I will uphold the NRHH constitution to the best of my abilities.”

Section H: Membership Transfer Policy

  1. NRHH members that are transferring schools at any educational level, including incoming graduate students and incoming doctoral students, are able to apply to have their NRHH membership transferred from their outgoing institution to their incoming institution, if having a chapter.
  2. Each NRHH chapter is able to accept/reject transfer members at their own discretion. If accepted, these members shall become voting members of the new chapter. The membership Transfer Policy must be outlined according to the following:
    1. The student applying to transfer their membership must be fully matriculated at the new institution.
    2. The student seeking to transfer their membership must contact the chapter President and Advisor in writing detailing why they want to transfer their membership, how they benefited their previous chapter and residence hall system, and how they hope to be involved in the new chapter.
  3. If approved, the student and/or new chapter must complete the membership transfer application.
  4. The membership transfer application may be obtained from the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls AD-NRHH.
  5. The membership transfer application shall include signatures from the following individuals:
    1. The incoming chapter’s President.
    2. The incoming chapter’s Advisor.
    3. The NRHH member who is seeking to transfer their membership.
  6. The completed application shall be submitted to the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls within NACURH AD-NRHH for approval.
  7. It is the right of the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls within NACURH AD-NRHH to deny requests for reasons including, but not limited to:
    1. The application form is incomplete.
    2. Adding new member(s) puts the chapter over its member cap.
  8. If the member and/or chapter wish to appeal the decision of the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls within NACURH AD-NRHH, they may appeal the entire NNB. The decision of the NNB shall be final. In the event of an appeal to the NNB:
    1. Each AD-NRHH shall have one vote.
    2. A simple majority shall be necessary, with tie-breaking vote when necessary.

Section I: NRHH Removal Member Policy

  1. The Removal Policy may be enacted if a member can no longer meet the chapter membership expectations.
  2. If a member is removed, they no longer count towards the 1% membership cap.
  3. The following guidelines apply to the procedure for the removal of a voting member:
    1. The member and/or chapter must complete the NRHH Member Removal Application.
    2. This form can be obtained from the regions AD-NRHH.
    3. The form must include the electronic signatures of the Chapter President and Chapter Advisor.
    4. This form must be submitted electronically.
    5. The completed member removal application shall be submitted to the regions AD-NRHH for approval.
  4. The completed Member Removal Application shall be submitted to the regions AD- NRHH for approval.
  5. The number of members for removal is up to the discretion of the chapter.
  6. It is the right of the regions AD-NRHH to deny requests for removal for reasons including, but not limited to:
    1. Submission of an incomplete application form.
    2. The regions AD-NRHH does not believe that sufficient measures have been taken by the chapter to address the member’s inactivity or ineligibility within the chapter prior to submission of the application.
  7. If the member and/or chapter wish to appeal to the Regional AD-NRHH through a written request as to why the candidate deserves to continue as a member of NRHH.

Section J: Off-Campus Membership Pledge

    1. NRHH members that do not live in institutionally owned or contracted housing are able to apply to have voting rights within their chapter.
    2. If a member is granted voting rights, they will count towards the 1% membership cap.
    3. 15% of the entire chapter membership may have off-campus voting rights.
    4. The member and/or chapter must complete the NRHH Off-Campus Membership Pledge.
      1. This form can be obtained from the regions AD-NRHH.
      2. The form must include the electronic signatures of the Chapter President and Chapter Advisor.
      3. This form must be submitted electronically.
    5. The completed Off-Campus Membership Pledge shall be submitted to the regions AD- NRHH for approval.
    6. It is the right of the regions AD-NRHH to deny requests for removal for reasons including, but not limited to:
      1. Submission of an incomplete application form.
      2. The regions AD-NRHH does not believe that the member applying for voting rights has provided sufficient evidence of their ability to serve the on-campus body or fulfill the requirements of the honorary.
    7. If the member and/or chapter wish to appeal the decision of the regions AD-NRHH, they may appeal to the entire NNB. The decision of the NNB shall be final. In the event of an appeal to the NNB:
      1. Each AD-NRHH shall have one vote.
      2. A simple majority shall be necessary, with tie-breaking vote when necessary.

Article VII  Committees

Section A: Standing Committees

    1. The President shall appoint all committee chairs with the concurrence of the Executive Board.
    2. In the case of a committee chair vacancy, the President shall appoint a committee chair from the voting and lifelong members who are currently enrolled University of Houston students within two weeks of the vacancy. Should the President not be able to find a suitable appointment, the President may appoint an Executive Board Member to be the committee chair until the next induction
    3. Ad-Hoc committees may be appointed at any time by the President, or by a majority vote of NRHH.

Section B: Powers and Duties of Committees

    1. The OTM Committee
      1. The OTM Committee shall be responsible for the Of-The-Month selection process.
      2. The OTM Committee shall consist of members who are interested.
      3. The Vice President of Recognition shall chair the committee.
    2. Recognition Chairs
      1. Coordinate a minimum four (4) “Of The Months (OTMs)” submission per month for the Hall Council.
      2. Serve on the NRHH Recognition Committee which works on developing recognition and service projects for their residence hall.
      3. Encourage positive relationships between Hall Council and NRHH at the individual and organization levels through NRHH event attendance and participation, and organizational collaboration.
      4. Organize at least one (1) recognition event per month for their community.
      5. Perform at least one (1) service event with their Hall Council/community a semester.
      6. Recognition Chairs shall act as the liaison between NRHH and their designated Hall Council.
      7. Recognition Chairs shall be encouraged to get involved with NRHH throughout their term.
      8. Recognition Chairs have the opportunity to be inducted as a full member of NRHH, in the Spring, dependent on their involvement throughout the Fall semester. Induction approval to be determined by the President and Advisor.

Article VIII  Parliamentary Procedure

Section A: Procedure

  1. All rules of parliamentary procedures shall be decided by the chair’s interpretation of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
  2. Quorum for all meetings, except where otherwise noted, shall be 50% plus 1 of the voting members and Lifelong Members of NRHH who are considered currently enrolled University of Houston students who have participated within the current or previous semester in an NRHH activity or meeting, as defined by the NRHH President.

Article IX Meetings

Section A:

  • NRHH shall hold at least 1 meeting a month, unless more frequent meetings are deemed necessary.
  • The time and place of said meetings will be determined by the NRHH Executive Board.
  • The purpose of these meetings is to discuss and disseminate pertinent information to the NRHH members.

Article X NRHH SHRLies Awards

SHRLies awards are to be given yearly to those members of NRHH who are eligible for nomination. Awards are to only be given if there is enough active membership within the chapter and the NRHH Exec Board is allowed to not award any awards at their discretion.

Section A:

  • Unsung Hero – recognizes the writer of the most Of The Month (OTM) nominations.
  • NRHH Volunteer of the Year – recognizes the member of NRHH who has volunteered the most service hours.
  • NRHH Member of the Year – recognizes the member of NRHH who has had the most contribution to the organization and that has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Article XI Chapter Pin Awarding Procedures

Section A:

  1. The requirement for the Membership Pin is membership induction into the University of Houston Laila Machado Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary.
  2. The requirement for the White Leadership Service Pin is a prominent display of leadership ability at the University of Houston (as assessed by the current NRHH Executive Board) or placement on the NRHH Executive Board.
  3. The requirement for the Bronze Pin is at the discretion of the NRHH and RHA Presidents. These pins are to recognize individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to NRHH, RHA, SWACURH, and/or NACURH. The University of Houston can only give out eight Bronze Pin Awards per year.

Article XI  Affiliations

Section A:

  1. NRHH shall be a dues-paying member of NACURH.
  2. NRHH shall remain in good standing with the National and Regional Offices of the National Residence Hall Honorary, the recognition branch of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls.

Article XIII  Amendments

Section A:

  1. Any amendments to this Constitution must be announced and presented to the NRHH membership at least one week prior to the meeting at which it will be voted on.
  2. Any member in good standing can propose an amendment.
  3. Amendments must be presented in writing at the meeting.
  4. Any amendments must pass a ⅔ vote.
  5. If any part of this constitution becomes a violation of NACURH Policy, the Vice President of Records shall have the right to adjust the governing documents without following the traditional amendment process. Any changes in this manner must be communicated at or before the next general meeting of NRHH.