Student Accounting Association

I. Purpose

The purpose of the Student Accounting Association is to educate students about the field of accounting, career options in the field, and to provide networking opportunities with local businesses that offer careers in the field of accounting and finance.

II. Membership

Membership is completely open and encouraged for all students in every major within the Penn State Berks Campus. Official membership status requires attendance of at least two meetings during each semester. Two unexcused absences from scheduled meetings without notifying an officer will result in inactive status for a member and will revoke their ability to vote regarding any association matters during the current and subsequent semester (semesters are defined as the fall semester and spring semester of an academic year).

III. Officers

Officer positions include:

President - Oversees all Association operations, leads each Association meeting, and approves all matters of operation with the approval of the Association faculty liaison.
Vice President - Assists the President with all Association activities as required. Assumes the duty of the President if he/she is unable to fulfill the role due to absence, illness, or resignation.
Secretary - Maintains all of the Association's meeting minutes, documents and maintains membership and any Association voting activity, and is responsible for notifying all members of specific events, locations, times, cancellations, etc. The Secretary will also maintain all of the Association's social media resources, with the approval of the President and faculty liaison, in order to inform the university and community regarding association events and community involvement.
Treasurer - Responsible for maintaining the accounting books and records of the association including and cash receipts and disbursements.
SGA Representative - Responsible for attending weekly SGA meetings and maintaining/communicating any information received during the meeting. If the SGA Representative cannot attend he/she must have a member of the board attend in their place. Failure to not find someone to replace them at a meeting on more than one occasion will result in them losing their position.

The position of all officers will be voted upon by all eligible members each semester. The association's initial vote will take place during the fall semester of 2014 for the officers to be in place during the spring semester 2015.

IV. Meetings

There will be at a minimum three monthly meetings each semester. The date and time for each meeting will be scheduled by the President with the assistance of the faculty liaison. The Association will attempt to compile a meeting schedule for the next semester during the current academic semester; i.e. during the fall semester 2014, the meeting schedule will be developed for the spring semester 2015.

V. Voting

All members have the right to vote unless they miss two meetings during a semester. Each member's vote equals one vote. Members interested in a particular administrative position will inform the faculty liaison and a vote will be cast by the members either during a scheduled meeting or email. The candidates with the greatest number of votes for a position will become the elected officer. An official vote will require more than 50% of eligible members.

VI. Elections

Officer nominees will be limited to those students holding a junior or senior level status. Each officer's position is up for vote at the end of each semester for the subsequent semester; i.e., elections and voting to take place at the end of the fall semester 2014 will identify the officers for the spring semester 2015. In order for a member to be considered for election, the student must have a cumulative GPA no less than a 3.0 for the last semester completed. Any exception will be reviewed and approved by the existing President and consent of the faculty liaison.

VII. Finances

The Treasurer will manage the association's books and records including any receipts and disbursements. These documents shall be available to the President, faculty liaison, and any other Penn State University System organization upon request. The organization may collect donations from members in order to pay for additional incurred expenditures that are not covered under allocated funds. These donations are simply that, donations are not required by any of the members.

VIII. Affiliation with the PICPA

The Association will be an affiliate of the Reading Chapter of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). As a result, students are encouraged, but not required, to join the PICPA as a student member. Students that do not join the PICPA as a student member are still allowed to join and participate in Association meetings but will not be afforded the opportunity to participate in PICPA sponsored events or meetings.

IX. Amendments

Amendments may be made to the Charter whenever the Association sees fit and takes an appropriate vote. An amendment may be passed with a majority vote. The Charter will be reviewed on a regular basis (at least once per semester) and voted on by all Association members at the meeting where it is discussed. All Penn State Berks students including Association members and non-members as well as staff and faculty shall have access to the Association's Charter at all times.

X. Association Resources

Members shall have access to any and all Association resources. Officers are encouraged to maintain an ongoing relationship with Penn State Berks Student Government Association (SGA) and ensure that the SGA is made aware of the Association's activities. Association officers are also encouraged to engage SGA members to inquire about any funding available through the SGA for Association activities.