CONSTITUTION OF THE

RESIDENCE HALL ASSOCIATION

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC
Revised April 25, 2016
MISSION
The mission of the Residence Hall Association (RHA) of the University of the Pacific is to
promote advocacy between university residents and administration, promote leadership
opportunities through responsible campus collaboration and residential programming, assist in
building a diverse community, and network with other higher educational institutions.
ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP
1) Every resident at the University of the Pacific, in a university-owned residential
community, that pays the appropriate housing fees, as established by the Residential Life
and Housing Office, shall be considered a member of RHA.
a. Residential communities shall be defined as University-owned Residence Halls,
University-owned Greek Houses, and University-owned
Apartments/Townhouses.
2) Students considered to be Resident Assistants (RAs) and Greek Community
Assistants (GCAs) shall be given voting and representation rights as part of the given
amount of votes per community. However, RAs and GCAs may not serve as an
Executive Board member to RHA.
ARTICLE II: REPRESENTATION
1) Representation shall be defined as two (2) RHA representatives per residential
community. Communities shall be determined by the placement of the Residence
Directors (RDs) community assignments. Representative communities must remain in
good standing in order to receive the benefits of membership to RHA (ex. trip
participation, financial allocations, voting, etc.). Good standing shall be defined by the
standing policy of RHA. (See Art. IV)

ARTICLE III: VOTING

1) Voting rights shall be granted to the RHA representatives, additional community
members, and RHA Executive Board. The RHA President holds no voting power except
in the event of a tie.
a. In the event an RHA representative is unable to attend a General Body meeting,
the representative may proxy their vote to a member of their community. The
RHA Secretary must be notified of this prior to the scheduled time of the General
Body meeting.
2) Quorum shall consist of fifty percent of the RHA representatives plus one (50%+1) in
order to conduct official business; the Executive Board will not count towards quorum.
3) Each community is permitted one (1) vote for each member present at the meeting. No
community will be permitted more than four (4) votes.
ARTICLE IV: GOOD STANDING
1) Good standing shall be defined as:
a. Having fewer than three (3) absences total without a proxy per community per
semester from official meetings.
b. Satisfactory performance of positional duties and responsibilities. (see Art. V.)
2) A community will fall into bad standing for the semester if they fail to perform Art. IV,
1. To be removed from bad standing: The Hall Government must write at least a 300
word Letter of Reinstatement and come before the General Body to submit and defend
their request.
a. The Letter of Reinstatement should address the following: reasons for why the
community is in bad standing, what steps the community will take to re-establish
good standing, and accountability.
b. The Hall Government must gain approval from the Executive Board before the
Letter of Reinstatement will be heard at the General Body meeting.
ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
1) It shall be the duty of each representative to uphold and abide by the Constitution,
bylaws, standing policies, rules, and regulations of RHA and of the University policies
and procedures.
2) Representatives are to attend all General Body meetings, assigned committee meetings,
and other meetings as assigned by RHA.
3) Representatives shall report on the activities of their community during roll call of each
General Body meeting.
4) It is the responsibility of the representatives to give reports to their respective Hall
Governments as to the happenings, issues, and programs of RHA.
ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE BOARD

1) The RHA Executive Board shall be composed of the following officers:

a. President
b. National Communications Coordinator
c. Secretary
d. Financial Coordinator
e. Programming Coordinator
f. Marketing and Outreach Coordinator
g. National Communications Coordinator In Training (NCC-IT)
h. Co-Advisor
i. Advisor
2) Executive Board members must uphold the following general duties:
a. Maintain three (3) scheduled office hours per week, two (2) of which are the
General Body and Executive Board meetings, during the academic school year.
b. Attend all Executive Board and General Body meetings unless the absence is
excused by the President and/or advisors.
c. Must write one (1) OTM for the months of September, October, November,
February, March, and April.
d. Attend staff training and retreats.
e. Function as a representative of RHA to the University at large, the community,
and other colleges and universities.
f. Assist in establishing goals and objectives.
g. Keep open communication with staff and RHA officers.
h. Voice student opinions and concerns in a positive and professional manner.
i. Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with University Residence
staff, Hall Governments, SJCK Chapter of National Residence Hall Honorary
(NRHH), and Associated Students of University of the Pacific (ASuop).
j. Attend Hall Government meetings as determined by the Executive Board.
k. Assist with publicity for all RHA sponsored events.
l. Follow all rules, policies, and procedures as set forth by the NACURH and the
appropriate regional affiliates.
m. Establish and maintain individual committees, each headed by an Executive
Board member.
3) The duties and powers of the Executive Board shall be as follows:
a. President
i. Prepare for and preside over Executive Board and General Body meetings.
ii. Be the official representative of RHA when meeting with Administrative
members of the University.
iii. Meet weekly with the Advisor.
iv. Meet one-on-one, once per month or more as needed, with each Executive
Board member.
v. Oversee the offices of the other Executive Board members and Hall
Governments with the help of the RHA advisors.
vi. Interpret the constitution.
vii. Co-facilitate all retreats with the advisors and Executive Board.

viii. Meet as needed with the Division of Student Life staff to exchange
information.
ix. Administer the oath of office for the incoming Executive Board.
b. National Communications Coordinator (NCC)
i. Prepare for and preside over Executive Board and General Body meetings
in the event of the Presidents absence.
ii. Meet with the Advisor a minimum of once a month
iii. Follow all rules, policies, and procedures as set forth by NACURH and the
Pacific affiliate.
iv. Serve as the official Executive Board member in charge during any and all
NACURH affiliated conferences.
v. Work with the advisor(s) to arrange for transportation and logistics for
delegations to attend NACURH affiliated meetings.
vi. Report to and regularly communicate with the President on organization
matters.
vii. Serve as Director of Elections during RHA elections.
viii. Serve as morale monitor for meetings, conferences, and events.
ix. Maintain active participation & communication with the region and the
national association via listservs, NACURH.org, and the NACURH
forum.
x. Maintain and update the PACURH Regional Cheer Book.
xi. Maintain NACURH affiliation and submit proper documentation.
c. Secretary
i. Prepare for and preside over Executive Board and General Body meetings
in the event of the Presidents and NCCs absence.
ii. Meet with the Co-Advisor a minimum of once a month.
iii. Maintain accurate notes and minutes of all RHA meetings and distribute
them to the following: Executive Board members, General Body members
(with only General Body minutes), and Advisors.
iv. Type and distribute minutes within 36 hours of meetings.
v. Keep accurate records of RHA events throughout campus.
vi. Maintain a filing system of all RHA documents: minutes, publications,
etc.
vii. Keep records of Community of the Year (COTY) points.
viii. Handle all official correspondence as directed by the President.
ix. Check RHA mailbox in the Residential Life and Housing Office at least
three (3) times per week including the day of the Executive Board and
General Body meetings.
x. Maintain and inform affected parties on standing.
xi. Report to and regularly communicate with the President on organization
matters.
d. Financial Coordinator (FC)
i. Prepare for and preside over Executive Board and General Body meetings
in the event of the Presidents, NCCs, and Secretarys absence.
ii. Meet with the Advisor a minimum of once a month.

iii. Establish and adhere to the RHA Budget.

iv. Submit the current budget to the General Body weekly.
v. Maintain true and accurate financial records of RHA, including a filing
system for all receipts and funding requests.
vi. Be responsible for all financial transactions of RHA.
vii. Meet as needed with the Business Manager of the Housing Office.
viii. Monitor and maintain Funding Requests and Follow-Up Reports.
ix. Work closely and cooperatively with all Executive Board members for all
financial matters.
x. Monitor Funding Requests for proper and appropriate usage.
xi. Monitor and maintain proper and appropriate usage of all RHA funds.
xii. Act as a resource for Hall Governments for fundraising ideas.
xiii. Order supplies needed for RHA from the Residential Life and Housing
Office.
xiv. Report to and regularly communicate with the RHA President on
organization matters.
e. Programming Coordinator
i. Oversee and plan at least two (2) RHA programs per semester. Programs
must fall under one of the following categories: Diversity, Educational,
Social, Community Service.
ii. Meet with the Co-Advisor a minimum of once a month.
iii. Incorporate educational aspects during RHA programs.
iv. Be responsible for scheduling campus resources while working with the
appropriate Executive Board officer.
v. Develop and maintain an active record of RHA programs and associated
files.
vi. Stay informed on all activities sponsored by Hall Governments.
vii. Work in all matters pertaining to ASuop.
viii. Work closely with the Financial Coordinator in matters that may require
financial support and submit funding requests to the General Body to
program RHA events.
ix. Report to and regularly communicate with the President on organization
matters.
f. Marketing and Outreach Coordinator
i. Coordinate merchandising activities, including Executive Board clothing
and resident T-shirts.
ii. Meet with the Co-Advisor a minimum of once a month.
iii. Create and maintain the RHA newsletter (The Toilet Paper).
iv. Maintain the RHA website and social media.
v. Work with the Programming Coordinator on advertising and
communicating all RHA events.
vi. Communicate regularly with NRHH and act as the official liaison.
vii. Report to and regularly communicate with the RHA President on
organizational matters.
g. National Communications Coordinator In Training (NCC-IT)

i. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board.

ii. Learn the role of the NCC in RHA, NACURH, and the regional affiliate
under the direction of the current NCC.
iii. Attend all RHA and NACURH-affiliated conferences during their training
term as the NCC-IT.
iv. Attend RHA General Body and Executive Board meetings at the
discretion of the Executive Board.
v. Meet with the Advisor as needed.
vi. Elected into a three (3) semester term during the fall semester.
vii. Transition into the role of NCC after one (1) semester.
h. ASuop, Senator-at-Large, Residential
i. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board.
ii. Follow all rules, policies, and procedures as set forth by the Constitution
of the Associated Students of the University of the Pacific.
iii. Allowed to serve as a Resident Assistant (RA) or Greek Community
Assistant (GCA) during term of office.
iv. May attend RHA Executive Board meeting by invitation or request.
v. Does not hold voting power and attendance does not count towards a
communitys required representation during General Body meetings.
i. Co-Advisor
i. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board.
ii. Attend all Executive Board and General Body meetings.
iii. Must attend NACURH and its affiliated conferences if the Advisor cannot.
iv. Meet one-on-one with the Secretary, Programming Coordinator, and
Marketing and Outreach Coordinator a minimum of once a month.
v. Meet regularly with the Advisor.
vi. Be confirmed by 2/3 vote of the Executive Board each year.
j. Advisor
i. Appointed by the Residential Life and Housing Office.
ii. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board.
iii. Attend all Executive Board and General Body meetings.
iv. Handle all purchasing requirements of RHA.
v. Be responsible for seeing that the policies and mission of the University
are upheld.
vi. Responsible for attending all NACURH conferences and its affiliated
conferences with the RHA unless other arrangements are made with the
Co-Advisor.
vii. Administer the oath of office for the incoming President.
viii. Provide an effective transition for the newly elected Executive Board.
ix. Confer with RHA whenever it is deemed necessary.
x. Meet weekly with the President and at least monthly with the FC and
NCC.
xi. Hold veto power if a decision is deemed to be in violation of University
policies, procedures, or mission.
xii. Be responsible in assisting in all financial matters for RHA.

4) All officers of RHA must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 while in office.
5) Officers may not hold more than one (1) position on the Executive Board.
6) Officers may not be considered both a community representative and an Executive Board
member.
a. The NCC-IT may serve as a community representative and retain voting rights
during General Body meetings.
7) Executive Board members shall be paid a stipend of $500 per fall and spring semester.
8) The term of office for all RHA Executive Board members shall be from April 1 to March
31 of each academic year. A transition period shall be in effect where both boards work
concurrently from March 31 to April 30, each academic year.
9) In the event of a vacant Executive Board position, a special election shall be called within
one month of the vacancy. A secret ballot shall take place to determine the new officer.
The confirmation shall be made with a 50%+1 vote of the General Body.
10) Failure to fulfill the duties of the assigned position can result in further action to be
determined on a case by case basis in consultation with the advisor(s).
ARTICLE VII: ELECTION AND IMPEACHMENT
1) Elections, with the exception of the NCC-IT and the NCC, shall take place at least two
weeks prior to the Priority Housing Sign-Up period from the Residential Life and
Housing Office.
a. The NCC-IT election shall take place at least 2 weeks after the PACURH
conference.
2) The advertising and application period shall begin no later than one month prior to
elections.
3) Each prospective Executive Board member shall apply to be placed on the ballot with a
completed application and a fifty (50) resident signature petition. Election into the
positions one year does not guarantee placement in future years.
4) Election Guidelines:
a. The NCC shall be the official person who oversees the entire election process.
b. The advisor(s) shall be the only member(s) of RHA that are allowed to certify the
vote.
5) The voting guidelines will follow those of NACURH.
6) The Impeachment Process shall be done as follows:
a. Any member of the Executive Board or General Body can be impeached for
misconduct.
i. Misconduct shall be defined as any action contrary to the mission,
policies, or purpose of RHA or any action that is in violation of University
policies and procedures.
b. A petition can be drafted and presented to the Advisor(s) of RHA for review. The
advisor will then meet with the President and NCC to see if there is relevance in
the complaint. In the event that the complaint is directed at one of those
individuals, then only the other and advisor(s) shall review the impeachment
draft. Should there be relevance, the Executive member in question will be

notified of the complaint by the advisor(s). The petition shall then be forwarded to
the General Body for consideration.
c. A meeting of the General Body will be convened. The charges against the person
shall be announced to the body with an opportunity for the Executive member in
question to defend themselves. Comments of positive and negative nature shall be
made by the President, NCC, and advisor(s). No member of RHA shall be
removed without a 2/3 majority vote by the General Body.
d. Should the Executive Board wish to impeach an advisor then the petition of
impeachment shall be sent to the President and forwarded to both the Associate
Director of Residential Life and then the General Body if deemed appropriate.
The Associate Director of Residential Life and President shall review the petition
to see if there is relevance. The complaint will be handled within the Residential
Life and Housing Office.
ARTICLE VIII: FINANCE
1) There shall be $500 cap on funding requests brought to the RHA from Hall Governments
for community events and for outside organizations. Each funding request shall be
detail-oriented and should be reasonable in nature.
a. An organization shall be required to gain approval from the Executive Board
before the funding request will be heard at the General Body meeting.
i. In order for a funding request to be presented to the General Body for
voting, a representative from the organization/community which seeks
funding must be present at the following General Body meeting.
ii. Fifteen (15) copies of a formal budget proposal, stating in detail where
RHA funds will go, must be presented during the funding request
presentation.
iii. The requesting outside organizations shall be responsible for proving that
at least 25% of the total cost shall come from sources other than RHA;
communities shall be responsible for proving that at least 10% of the total
cost shall come from sources other than RHA.
iv. All organizations/communities must submit complete and correct funding
requests at least two (2) weeks prior to event date.
b. For Residential Communities: Requests that exceed the amount of the cap must
have the appropriate sponsorship from the Hall Governments, and they must
submit a 200-word explanation as to why they are exceeding the funding cap.
i. If a community requests more than $500 for a single program, it must be
open to every Pacific student residing in a residential community.
ii. Funding requests sponsored by Greek organizations will be considered as
funding requests from outside organizations. The funding requests will be
capped at $500.
c. Sponsored events shall be required to display the RHA logo in a manner that is
visual and openly acknowledges RHAs sponsorship. Failure to do so may result
in not receiving full funding from RHA, and final decisions will be determined by
the FC and General Body members. Documentation must be submitted.

d. RHA shall sponsor University recognized organizations and offices. However, no

funding will be made available to an event that rightfully should be funded by
academic sources such as a class.
2) If a community or organization proposes an event for under 20 students, it must fit the
following guidelines:
a. The request cannot exceed the amount of $145 (number of students multiplied by
the student fee, $7.25.)
b. The community or organization must submit a 200-word explanation as to why
they are exceeding the cap for such a small student population.
3) Community Tee-Shirts:
a. Communities wishing to submit funding requests to assist in the purchase of
tee-shirts must have a design submitted by an announced date recommended by
the RHA executive board.
b. RHA will only fund $2.50 per shirt of a communitys tee-shirt order up to 35% of
the community.
4) The RHA budget shall be divided with 30% of the overall budget being placed into an
account for RHA general operational funds and 70% to program funding (including
community tee-shirts). The split shall be made after Executive Board stipends are
removed.
a. Each academic school year, a motion to authorize an amount from operational
funds to attend conferences must be completed no later than the meeting of the
General Body one month prior to the conference.
b. A formal funding request must be completed and approved by the General Body
if the requested amount for conferences exceeds available operational funds.
ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS
1) The President of RHA, in cooperation with the Advisor(s), shall hold the first meeting for
each semester no later than three weeks from the start of classes.
2) Weekly meetings of RHA, including Executive Board meetings and General Body
meetings, shall be held during the regular academic year, excluding holidays and final
examination periods.
3) Special meetings may be called by the President or Advisor(s) at any time, and must be
called by the President at the request of 1/3 of the voting members.
a. Forty eight (48) hours notice of special meetings requiring community
representation shall be given to the representatives of each Residence Community
and to the designated Advisor(s).
4) General motions are approved by a fifty percent plus one (50%+1) vote in favor of the
representatives in attendance.
5) Meetings shall utilize a modified version of Roberts Rules of Order for all meetings.
6) Executive Board meetings shall not last more than one and one half hours unless
extended by a motion. The Executive Board may motion to extend the meeting no more
than once per meeting.

7) General Body meetings shall not last more than one hour unless extended by a motion.
The General Body may motion to extend the meeting no more than twice (2x) per
meeting.
8) Meetings cannot occur without an Advisor present, unless arrangements have been made
by the Co-Advisor or Advisor.
9) The Executive Board shall have the full voting authority of the General Body to make
and approve motions in the absence of the General Body. This can occur only by calling
a special meeting and with the approval of the General Body if at all possible.
10) General Body members will be given recognition pins at the RHA/NRHH Banquet.
a. Members that attend 80% of General Body meetings for at least one semester
shall receive a first-year RHA pin.
b. Members that attend 60% of General Body meetings for at least one semester, and
who have already earned the first-year RHA pin, shall receive a second-year RHA
pin.
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS
1) The constitution may be amended by a 2/3 vote of all RHA representatives, provided the
proposed amendment has been submitted in writing at an RHA meeting at least one (1)
week before the vote is taken.
2) Each year at least one member of the Executive Board, as determined by the President,
shall head the Constitutional Review Committee. The purpose of this committee shall be
to review and update the constitution as necessary. The Constitutional Review Committee
shall consist of at least the Executive Board Member as well as any other interested
parties from General Body. Though the President may not be considered the head of the
Constitutional Review Committee, the President will be permitted to be a member of the
committee.
a. The Revised RHA Constitution may be able to be adopted in full as a single
amendment without approving each individual change separately.
i. This requires a 2/3 majority of present voting members.