CONSTITUTION

Article I : Name

The name of this organization shall be the Rhode Island Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Inc.

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of this Association shall be:

Section 1. To promote the professional preparation, effectiveness, recognition, cooperation and association of: A. Post-secondary student financial aid administrators, and B. Others in secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, government agencies, foundations and private and community organizations concerned with the support and administration of student financial aid. Section 2. To serve effectively the interests and needs of students, faculties, government agencies, and program sponsors through coordination of plans and programs pertinent to student financial aid.

Section 3. To assist education institutions, foundations, government agencies and private and community organizations to promote and develop effective programs of student financial aid. Section 4. To facilitate communication and cooperation among educational institutions and between these institutions and sponsors of student aid funds.

Section 5. To promote such systematic studies, cooperation experiments, conferences and other related activities as may be desirable or required to fulfill the purpose of this Association.

Article III: Membership

Section 1. Membership shall include persons engaged in the administration of student financial aid representing institutions of post-secondary education and representative of government agencies, foundations, lending institutions and private and community organizations interested in the promulgation of student financial aid. Membership shall be divided into (3) categories:

• Active Members: Includes Rhode Island institutions of post-secondary education and the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority, each represented by one institutional delegate and other administrative/managerial staff persons designated by those same institutions. Active members are entitled to vote for the election of officers. Active members may vote on all other matters brought before the Association except determination of annual institutional dues (see By-Laws, Article I, Section 2) and when five (5) institutional delegates unanimously request that a particular vote be restricted to institutional delegates only.
• Associate Members: Includes Rhode Island non-profit organizations whose primary responsibility is the administration of student financial aid programs for post-secondary education. Associate members will be entitled to hold office and vote for the election of officers and all matters brought before the Association excepted when five (5) active member institutional delegates unanimously request that a particular vote be restricted to institutional delegates only. Such non-profit organizations will pay regular institutional dues and designate one individual to vote on annual determination of dues as specified in By-Laws, Article I, Section 2.
• Affiliate Members: Includes representatives of lending institutions, government agencies, foundations, private community organizations, and other non-profit organizations involved in the promulgation of student financial aid. Such organizations will pay a reduced level of annual dues and designated individuals will be allowed to vote for the election of officers and all matters brought before the Association, except when five (5) active member institutional delegates unanimously request a particular vote be restricted to institutional delegates only.

Section 2. Other persons having an interest in student financial aid may attend meetings.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1. The officers shall be active and associate members of the Association and the officers shall consist of President, President-Elect, Past-President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers shall be from active member institutions of the Association.

Section 2. The President-Elect shall be elected each year, as specified in the By-Laws. The President-Elect shall succeed as President at the end of his or her term as President-Elect, and serve as Past-President for the following year. The Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected every two (2) years, as specified in the By-Laws. Officers of the Association may succeed themselves, with the exception of the President, pending the descretion of the executive counsel.

Section 3. The duties of the officers shall be as specified in the By-Laws and in the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association insofar as the latter does not conflict with the former. Section 4. Vacancies shall be filled as specified in the By-Laws.

Article V: Executive Council

Section 1. The Executive Council shall consist of the officers of the Association.

Section 2. The Executive Council shall act on behalf of the Association between meetings and report all actions to the membership.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held each year at a place and time determined by the Executive Council. Additional months will be reserved for various alternating training needs and priorities. The annual meeting will consist of a business meeting with a full day of professional trainings, etc.

Section 2. One-fourth (1/4) of the eligible voting members of the Association shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the Association.

Section 3. The Executive Council shall be empowered to call special meetings of the Association as it may determine to be necessary. Special meetings may be called by the President or by petition of three (3) members of the Executive Council.

Article VII: Amendments

Section 1. The Articles of Association on file with the Office of Secretary of State of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the designated Active and Associate members in attendance at a regular or special meeting provided that each amendment shall have been proposed in writing to the Secretary by the Executive Council, by a committee authorized by the Association or by a petition of any five (5) voting members of the Association, and provided further that a copy of the proposed amendment(s) shall have been mailed to each voting members of the Association at least thirty (30) days before the vote is called by the Executive Council.

Section 2. The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the designated Active and Associate members in attendance at a regular or special meeting provided that each amendment shall have been proposed in writing to the Secretary, by a committee authorized by the Association or by a petition of any five (5) voting members of the Association, and provided further that a copy of the proposed amendment(s) will be sent to each voting member of the Association.

Article VIII: Tax Exempt Status

Section1. The Association is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Section 2. No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not participate in, or intervene in ( including the publishing or distribution of statements ) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on ( a ) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) of the Internal Revenue Code, or Corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or ( b ) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 ( c ) ( 2 ) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future tax code.

Section 3. Upon the dissolution of the Association, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purpose.

Document revised on March 29, 2023