There are two separate processes that must be followed to start a Hall Council each year:

1. President Interviews
2. Hall Council Elections

The President's term lasts for one academic year; the term for all other positions is one semester. President interviews are conducted at the beginning of each academic year; an election for all other positions is held at the beginning of each semester.

President Interivews

All Hall Council members are elected positions except for the President. Before general elections can take place a President must be selected for each hall.

1. At the beginning of the Fall semester, signs should be posted in each hall announcing interviews.
2. All residents who would like to interview for the President position must turn in an application and sign up for an interview time.
3. RHA will distribute interview forms with a list of questions that each candidate will be asked during his/her interview.
4. The RHC for the hall and a representative from RHA will interview all the candidates.
5. The RHC and RHA rep will then select a President from the candidates and post an announcement for the hall.

Hall Council Elections

All residents of the halls (including President candidates who were not selected) are eligible to run for any ONE Hall Council position. Election procedure may differ by hall, but in general include:

1. Election announcement posted with deadlines for turning in Intent to Run forms and day of election.
2. Interested students must fill out and turn in an Intent to Run form (very short form that only requires name and desired position).
3. President collects Intent to Runs.
4. President creates ballot after the deadline for turning in Intent to Run forms has passed.
5. President coordinates election, which takes place on one day from 7:00am to 7:00pm.
6. Students must show ID and have their names crossed off a roster so that they are only permitted to vote one time.
7. President collects ballots and counts them.
8. Winners are announced.

The RHC acts as advisor to Hall Council. Advising duties include:

1. Meeting with the Hall Council President on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
2. Meeting with the Hall Council Treasurer on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to review the programming budget and check requests.
3. Attending weekly Hall Council meetings.
4. Offering ideas and guidance for hall programming efforts.

Some RHCs may feel comfortable allowing RHCAs to help with advising duties, but this should first be checked with the RHC's supervising Coordinator.

Funding

Hall council programming budgets receive funding from two sources:

1. Each hall is designated funds on a per resident basis. Halls such as Chapultepec and Cuicacalli have larger programming budgets because they have more residents.
2. Each hall receives a percentage of the revenue from the vending machines in the halls.

Both the per resident and vending machine funds are allocated in the middle of the fall semester. RHCs need to make sure there is money left in the budget at the end of the year to roll-over for opening for the upcoming year.

Budget Process

Each RHC oversees his/her hall's programming budget with the help of the Hall Council Treasurer. Here is how the Hall Council budget process works:

1. Residents who have been approved to receive funds from Hall Council (typically RAs and Hall Council members) must first fill out a Check Request form and submit it to either the Treasurer or the RHC.
2. Copies of Check Request forms can be found on the server.
3. The Treasurer and RHC then meet once a week to review and approve Check Requests.
4. The Treasurer then enters a line item for each approved check in the hall's account ledger.
5. Once a month each RHC receives an invoice from USE Credit Union. The RHC (not the Treasurer) compares the ledger and the invoice to check for discrepancies and uncashed checks.
6. At the end of each semester the RHC prepares a financial statement summarizing the hall's total revenue and expenditures.