Student OrgsHabitat for Humanity

Constitution of Gustavus Habitat for Humanity Preamble Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that helps build decent and affordable houses and has served 62 million people worldwide since 1976. It was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller, whose vision (a world where everyone has a decent place to live) is still the vision of Habitat for Humanity today. The Gustavus chapter of Habitat for Humanity is an official Campus Chapter.

 A campus chapter is defined as, “a student-led, student-initiated organization on a high school or college campus that partners with the local Habitat affiliate to fulfill the four functions of a campus chapter.” These four functions are: 1. Building 2. Fundraising 3. Advocating 4. Educating Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. The Gustavus Adolphus College Campus Chapter contributes to these objectives by sending students on Collegiate Challenge trips nationwide, coordinating Act! Speak! Build! Week, and volunteering locally. 

Article I – Name 1. The name of this organization shall be Gustavus Habitat for Humanity. 2. This organization is affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota (Habitat SC), as well as the programs within them. 1. This organization shall also be recognized as Gustavus Adolphus College Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter (the official name given by Habitat for Humanity International), GAC Habitat, and Habitat (the shortened name). 

Article II – Purpose 1. The purpose of this organization shall be to make Gustavus students active in the attempt to ensure that decent housing is available to everyone. 2. This organization shall adhere to Habitat for Humanity International’s mission statement, which reads, “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, community, and hope.” 

Article III – Composition 1. Membership is open to all Gustavus students who support the mission of Habitat for Humanity and wish to provide affordable housing for those in need. All members must be in good standing with the college. The following categories of membership exist within the organization: a. Executive Board Officers b. Volunteers 

Article IV – Executive Board 1. The following officer positions shall exist in the organization: President(s), Public Relations, Spring Break Coordinator(s), Fall Break Coordinator(s), Habitat Trip Liaison, Act! Speak! Build! Week Coordinator. All executives must be full-time students in good standing at Gustavus Adolphus College.  The Executive Board shall consist of the following officers, whose duties and responsibilities are detailed below. a. President or Co-Presidents: i. To organize and preside over weekly executive board meetings. ii. To act as liaisons between Gustavus Habitat for Humanity and: 1. Habitat for Humanity International 2. Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota 3. The Center for Servant Leadership (CSL) 4. The organization’s advisor 5. The Student Activities Office 6. All other affiliations and partnerships iii. To oversee all programming done by the organization. b. Public Relations: i. Educate and update the student body on all Habitat news and opportunities. ii. Keep the Drive up to date and make space for uploading archival works such as photos and videos. iii. Send emails to students and act as the general communications lead. iv. Create posters and content about upcoming opportunities. v. Connect with Gustavus Marketing as needed, specifically for Habitat Trips. c. Spring Break Coordinator(s): i. To coordinate and plan spring break trips (officially known as Collegiate Challenge trips) by determining site locations, van reservations, and communicating with HFH affiliates and public relations coordinators to organize promotion of the trips. ii. To be a trip leader on the spring break trips. iii. If one cannot fulfill the role of leading a trip, they may be replaced, but they are required to be involved in the process of selecting the new trip leader. d. Fall Break Coordinator(s) i. To coordinate and plan fall break trips by determining site location(s), van reservation(s), and communicating with HFH affiliates and public relations coordinators to organize promotion of the trips. ii. To be a trip leader on the spring break trips. iii. If one cannot fulfill the role of leading a trip, they may be replaced, but they are required to be involved in the process of selecting the new trip leader e. Habitat Trip Liaison i. Assist the Trip Leads in connecting with sites through the Collegiate Challenge to plan future trips. ii. Oversee trip details (trip meeting schedule, payments, forms, van reservations, advisor applications, etc.) to ensure a smooth and accurate process. iii. Attend and support all executive board programs and activities. iv. Check in frequently with Trip Planning Coordinators.  f. Act! Speak! Build! Week Coordinator i. To plan and execute events spanning at least 1 week to promote advocacy for affordable housing and participation within Habitat for Humanity. ii. To work with the advisor and Co-Presidents to plan events such as tabling, fundraising, site release events, and community engagement. g. Advisor i. Meet weekly with the leadership board to discuss and plan for upcoming events, projects and trips. ii. Facilitate reflection and remind students of the purpose of Habitat. iii. To attend board meetings and events as necessary. iv. To serve as a liaison between the Gustavus Chapter and other Habitat Chapters as needed. v. Plan advisor details for trips like hotels, Wells Fargo card budgets, and communicate other necessary safety and precautionary information that needs to be shared 3. Executive board members must have been active with Habitat the semester prior to the start of their term. 4. To be eligible for Co-Presidency, one must have served at least one year on the executive board prior to the start of their term. 5. Office terms shall last one calendar year, with the month of May as a transition month between old and new officers. 6. Prospective executives must apply at the beginning of April, the year before their anticipated year of service. The Board will elect (and will hold interviews if necessary) during April. President(s) elect will vote on membership, and applicants will be notified no later than one week after the last interview. 7. Officers may be removed at the discretion of the co-presidents. 8. All Executive Board members must attend all meetings, events, and tabling activities unless previously communicated and approved by the President(s).

Article V – Meetings 1. Meetings will be held weekly during the academic year 2. President(s) will be responsible for scheduling weekly meetings that all board members can attend regularly. 3. Decisions shall be made by voting—a majority shall allow the vote to pass. 4. Any executive board member may request for a special meeting to be held. If a majority of board members agree to hold a special meeting, it shall be held. 5. President(s) shall begin each meeting by facilitating reflection as needed and giving an overview of what is to come, followed by updates from other board members, and a review of what the next meeting will consist of. Meeting time may be used to work on projects as a group. Voting will take place as necessary. 6. The executive board should always be working on something. If a project does not exist, they should be willing to assist others who may need help. 7. President(s) and interested board members shall be responsible for facilitating reflection and talking about issues related to Habitat for Humanity. Ideally, each meeting should be meaningful in some way and continuously make progress towards Habitat’s mission and purpose.

Article VII – General Volunteers 1. Any Gustavus student may volunteer with Habitat for Humanity at any time, as determined by the executive board. 2. Volunteers are not required to participate in any set amount of service. 

Article VIII – Finances 4. Funds for the organization shall be obtained through fundraising and the Gustavus Student Senate, along with support from the Student Engagement Center. 5. Upon dissolution of Gustavus Habitat for Humanity, any financial assets will be credited to Habitat for Humanity International 6. The Treasurer, in conjunction with the President(s), shall be responsible for handling all financial matters.

Article IX – By-Laws 1. By-laws may be established by board members and reviewed each September or as needed. They will be prepared for voting by the executive board and submitted to members in writing prior to the meeting where voting is to take place. 2. All board members in good standing are eligible to vote, but must be present at the meeting to do so. A majority vote is needed to allow the by-law to pass. 

Article X – Amendments 1. All executive board members who are in good standing may propose amendments. The proposed amendments will be reviewed by the executive board members and submitted to members in writing at least two weeks before voting is to take place. 2. All members in good standing are eligible to vote, but must be present at the meeting to do so. A two-thirds (2/3) majority is needed to allow the amendment to pass. 3. If amendments are passed, they take effect at the end of the meeting during which they are passed. 

Date of Ratification: Thursday, April 24th, 2025 by President Hannah Brenke and Advisor Eavan McCormick