Article I: Name, Purpose, and Objectives

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be:

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine House Staff Association (SIU-HSA)

Section 2.The purpose and objectives of this Association shall be to:

1. Promote improvements of house staff employment conditions
2. To promote resident well-being
3. To minimize impediments of the house staff in their medical, surgical and ethical training
4. To be an advocate for patient care and forbid work stoppages as a negotiating tool
5. To encourage active membership and participation in constituent societies of organized medicine
6. Education of residents on issues affecting them
7. Represent the interest of its members in deliberations with affiliated hospitals on issues regarding working conditions and benefits
8. To create an independent and non-affiliated organization for these purposes
9. To provide a forum for Association members to discuss grievances and concerns of a non-academic nature
10. Appoint members to grievance committee hearings
11. Provide member representatives to the GMEC

Article II Membership

Section 1. Membership

The membership shall be comprised of all physicians holding an internship, residency, or fellowship appointment at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and its affiliated hospitals and clinics.

Section 2. Rights of Membership

Physician members in good standing shall be entitled to all privileges of membership as provided in the constitution of the association, including the duty to vote and the right to hold office and attend meetings.

Section 3. Termination of membership

Membership shall be terminated upon:

1. Written resignation
2. Death of a member
3. Completion of training program
4. Transfer or dismissal from training program

Article III Meetings

All regular meetings of the Association shall be conducted following the guidelines of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 1. Annual Meeting

A meeting to discuss general business of the Association will be held when deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. The time and place of the meeting will be determined by the Board. All members of the Association may attend.

Section 2. Board meetings

The Board of Directors shall meet at least six times annually, and other times as deemed necessary by the President. Any member who wishes to participate in discussions of an agenda item must be invited by a member of the Board.

Section 3. Committee meetings

Committees will meet as often as deemed necessary by the committee chairperson. Committee chairs shall be appointed by the President or Vice President.

Section 4. Quorum

No meeting of the Association or Board of Directors shall take place nor shall any business of the Association be conducted in the absence of a quorum as defined by this constitution. A quorum at membership meetings will be 10% of the membership, or 25 members. A quorum at Board meetings will be 25%.

Article IV Board of Directors

Section 1. Election of Board members

One Board member shall be nominated and elected (by ballot voting) from each Residency Program by the First of August.

Absentee voting may occur during the thirty days immediately prior to the election.

Election will be determined by majority of votes received. Run-off elections will be held if no candidate receives a majority vote.

Section 2. Term of office

Each Board member will be elected for a two-year term.

Section 3. Attendance

Board members are strongly encouraged to attend meetings in an effort to represent every program. In the event that a Board member is unable to attend a meeting, notification should be given to the President, Vice President, or Office of Residency Affairs. Greater than 50% absenteeism within a six-month time period may be grounds for removal from the Board.

Section 4. Duties

1. Advise the officers on matters brought to the Association’s attention.
2. To aid in developing policy that shall guide the affairs of the House Staff Association.
3. To assist in the dissemination of information to the Association and serve as a voice from their represented departments.
4. To assist in the dissemination of information to residents in their respective programs.

Article V Officers

Section 1. The general officers of the Association shall be a President and a Vice President

1. Board of Directors shall nominate and elect candidates for the offices of President and Vice President. No nominee shall become a candidate for election unless his/her nomination is seconded.
2. All officers shall hold their office until a successor is elected and assumes the office.
3. A vacancy in the office of any officer may be filled by a qualified person elected to the Board of Directors who shall hold office until his successor is elected and assumes office.
4. The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Association.

Section 2. Officers

1. President

The President shall preside at Annual membership meetings and at meetings of the Board of Directors. He/she shall convene meetings of the Board at least six times per year, and on the request of not less than one-third of the members of the Board of Directors.

1. The President shall appoint all committees not otherwise provided for by this Constitution.
2. The President shall have such further powers, in addition to those enumerated herein, as are usual to his/her office. He/she may delegate any of his/her powers and duties under this Constitution, subject to disapproval by the Board of Directors.
3. The President shall make a report of his/her activities to each member annually and to each meeting of the Board of Directors for approval.

2. Vice President

The Vice President shall assume all of the duties of the president in the event of absence or resignation of the President. He/she shall serve a Parliamentarian and Membership Coordinator. He/she shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. He/she shall prepare the agenda and/or program for the Annual Membership Meeting.

Section 3. Terms

Officers shall be elected or appointed for the term of one academic year

Section 4. Qualifications

Candidates for elected or appointed offices shall be a member in good standing.

Section 5. Vacancies

Elected or appointed offices will be considered vacant when an officer ceases to perform their duties secondary to death, resignation, removal and/or disqualification.

Section 6. Removal of Officers

An officer may be removed during any Annual or Board meeting by a simple majority vote. The officer shall be afforded due process prior to any dismissal proceedings. Any officer who disqualifies from membership immediately ceases to be an officer.

Article VI Committees

The committees of the Association shall be composed of members of the Association.

Article VII Amendments

The House Staff Association Constitution may be amended at any meeting of the Board of Directors.

Proposed amendments to the constitution shall be presented in writing to the Board of Directors and publicized to the membership at least one month before the proposed amendment shall be considered.

Members of the Board of Directors in good standing may vote in absentee with a signed letter to be opened only at the time of counting votes.

An amendment to the Constitution must be approved by a 2/3 majority of the Board of Directors’ voting membership in order to pass.

Amendments involving the assignments of monetary dues and funding must be approved by 2/3 majority of the House Staff Association.

Changes to the constitution shall be forwarded to the SIU School of Medicine Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs upon their passage.

Approved by House Staff Association May 16, 2000
Amended and approved May 7, 2001
Amended and approved January 14, 2002
Last edited:05/05/2006