Student Government Association By-Laws

Revised 9/29/2010



100.0 General Rules

  • The By-Laws of the Student Government Association shall govern the operation of the Student Government Association under the Constitution of the Student Government Association.
  • Nothing in these By-laws shall conflict with the Student Government Association Constitution, the College Code of Conduct, and/or the statutory laws of the State of Pennsylvania.
  • Rules for Parliamentary Procedure shall follow those set out in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

 

200.00 The Executive Council

  • The Executive Council will be comprised of the duly elected President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Student Government Association.
  • The Vice-President shall oversee the annual VolleyRock event, coordinate the Standing Committees, and oversee the Senate yearly project groups and any other duties as assigned.
  • The Treasurer shall be responsible for any and all duties as assigned.
  • The Secretary shall post the minutes immediately following the SGA meeting and any other duties as assigned.
  • The outgoing Executive Council shall have a transition period which would include but not be limited to; 1) training weekend, 2) shadowing of newly elected members, 3) transfer of all files.
  • All newly elected members of the Executive Council must attend a mandatory training weekend on the weekend immediately following the Executive Council election.

201.00 All members shall maintain a minimum of five office hours per week. These hours shall be done between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. All office hours shall be posted by no later than the second week of each semester on the SGA Office door, announced at the Senate Meeting, and given to the SGA Advisors. These hours are in addition to required attendance at Executive Council meetings and SGA meetings.

202.00 The Executive Council shall create, but shall not be limited to, the following Student Standing Committees: Academic Affairs, Finance, Public Relations, Judicial, Special Events, and Diversity.


300.00 The Executive and Student Standing Committees

  • The Executive Committee shall consist of the chairs of Judicial, Special Events, Academic Affairs, Finance, and Public Relations, Diversity, as well as any additional chairs of standing committees created by the Executive Council acting under the auspices of the Constitution of the Student Government Association and in accordance with these by-laws.
  • Chairs of the Standing Committees shall be nominated by the Executive Council at the time of Executive Council Elections and shall be approved by the Senate immediately after installation of the new Executive Council.

301.01 All members shall maintain a minimum of four office hours per week. These shall be done between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. All office hours shall be posted by no later than the second week of each semester on the SGA Office door, announced at the Senate Meeting, and given to the SGA Advisors. These hours are in addition to required attendance at Executive Council meetings and SGA meetings.

302.01 The outgoing Executive Committee shall have a transition period which would include but not be limited to; 1) training weekend, 2) shadowing of newly elected members, 3) transfer of all files.

302.02 All newly elected members of the Executive Committee must attend a mandatory training weekend on the weekend immediately following the Executive Council election.


400.00 Standing Student Committees

  • Academic Affairs Committee shall be responsible for all matters concerning the student’s relationship to the faculty and academic curriculum and policies. This includes but is not limited to conducting the Annual College Bowl and conducting the elections for the student representatives to the Standing Faculty Committees, Councils and Boards.
  • Finance Committee shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to monetary allocation made by the Student Government Association to groups requesting SGA funding. This includes but is not limited to conducting annual audits of organizations receiving SGA funding and conducting annual allocations of organizations applying for SGA funding.
  • Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for all Student Government Association publicity including elections, forums, special events, and any other duties as assigned.
  • Student Concerns Committee shall be responsible for all matters of policy within the Student Government Association. This includes but is not limited to organizing all elections and dealing with all matters of the Constitution and By-Laws, in addition to coordinating the Food Service Advisory Committee. It is also responsible for addressing student concerns pertaining to issues outside the classroom.
  • Special Events Committee shall be responsible for, but is not limited to, organizing homecoming activities, assisting with SGA sponsored events, and planning any trips to off campus cultural and entertainment events.
  • Diversity committee shall be responsible, but not limited to promoting existing diversity on campus and encouraging future diversity. This includes but is not limited to attending meetings of existing diversity groups, reporting back to the senate, and planning diversity events.
  • Special Senate Committees: The Senate shall have the power to create any committee and/or work group it deems necessary.
  • Standing Faculty College Committees, Councils, and Boards: The Senate shall assign at least one student Senator to each Standing Faculty College Committee, Council, and Board in which students are members.


500.00 Special Senate Officers

  • The Parliamentarian shall be elected by the Senate from among the Senate membership and will serve the same term as the Senators.
  • The Parliamentarian shall advise the President on all questions of order and shall judge all points of order.
  • The Chaplain shall be elected by the Senate from among the Senate membership and will serve the same term as the Senators.
  • The Chaplain shall offer the prayer during each Senate meeting. If absent, the President may designate another person to carry out the responsibilities of the Chaplain.


600.00 Elections

600.00 On the last day of classes of the first semester, a slate that is planning to run for the coming election must file a form, by noon, in the Student Affairs Office, declaring the members of their executive council. The executive council consists of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. At this time those individuals must remain on the slate and cannot be changed. A copy of the guidelines for campaign elections must be given to those who have filed a platform.

601.00 Platforms are due by noon of the 1st Friday of the Spring Semester. Executive Committee Chair positions are still not permitted to be changed.

602.00 Debate and Elections Time Table

  • 602.10 If two (2) slates file; a debate between the two slates will occur on the Tuesday of the 4th full week of classes. Elections will then be held from Wednesday to Friday of the same week.
  • 602.20 If three (3) or more slates are formed; an event can be held to allow the slates to present their platforms. A debate will then occur on the Tuesday of the 4th full week of classes, consisting of only the executive Council members; President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Elections will then be held from Wednesday to Friday of the same week.

603.00 Shadowing Officers, Banquet, and Transition Meeting

  • 603.10 New Officers will shadow the Executive Council for one meeting - ideally the 5th Wednesday of the Spring Semester.
  • 603.20 Before the shadowing meeting, the Senate will gather for the SGA Banquet where the newly elected Executive Council will be sworn in.
  • 603.30 Executive Council and Committee Chairs shall conduct transition meetings the following Saturday.

604.00 Senator Elections for Spring Semester

  • 604.10 The newly elected Executive Council and approved Executive Committee shall conduct Senator Elections for the calendar year. Applications for Senators shall be accepted on the Thursday and Friday of the 5th week of classes.
  • 604.20 Elections for the new Senators will take place on the Monday and Tuesday of the 6th week of classes, with the new Senators to be sworn in at the meeting on Wednesday of the 6th week.

605.00 1st year Senators for Fall Semester

  • 605.10 1st year student elections will take place no later than the 3rd week of September.

606.00 Committee for Slate Elections
606.00 The Committee for Slate Elections will be formed every year in October.

  • 606.10 Members of the committee will be those that are not running on a current slate and consist of the Student Concerns Committee Chair, current SGA President, and one (1) Senator from each class voted on by simple majority vote of the Senate.
  • 606.20 Removal of an individual from this Committee occurs by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate.
  • 606.30 The Committee for Slate Elections will review all election policies and schedule by the end of October and make recommendations for changes to the Senate for approval by Thanksgiving Break. A simple majority vote of the Senate is required.

607.00 The Committee for Slate Elections will coordinate and oversee the election process, determine consequences for infractions, and make decisions on the slate election process as needed.

  • 607.10 The Committee will plan all events for the election process including the Debate.
  • 607.20 The Student Concerns (Chair) should be the moderator of the Debate.
  • 607.30 Consequences for infractions by a slate will be first addressed by a formal warning letter from the committee. Any subsequent violations may result in the Committee's recommendations to the Senate for disqualification from election to be approved by two-thirds (2/3) vote.

608.00 An individual not on a slate who is caught damaging campaign property or otherwise violates College policy on behalf of a slate(s) in their campaign efforts may face disciplinary action by the College.


700.00 Meetings

700.00 Regular meetings of the Senate shall be held every week during fall and spring semesters, on the same day of the week which is to be determined during the Spring Semester by the newly elected Executive Council.

701.00 The order of business for a regular meeting shall be as follows: prayer, roll call, approval of the minutes, officer reports, standing student committee reports, old business, reports from Standing Faculty College Committees, Councils, and Boards, new business, announcements, and adjournment.

702.00 Minutes of each regular meeting shall be kept by the Secretary, or his/her designate.

703.00 Fifty percent (50%) Senator attendance shall constitute a quorum for a regular meeting.

704.00 Special meetings may be called by a majority vote of the Senate, the Executive Council, or by the Executive Committee. The Executive Council must call a special meeting if one is requested, in writing, by at least 15 Senators. The purpose of the meeting shall be included in the call and no business may be transacted at such meeting except that which is contained in the call. Senators shall have written notice of such a meeting in their e-mail at least one full day before the meeting.

705.00 A Senator and a chair of a Standing Student Committee wishing to resign must submit a formal written letter of resignation to the Senate two meetings prior to the time of his/her departure.

706.00 Senators and chairs of Standing Student Committees are required to attend all Senate meetings unless excused by the Executive Council prior to the meeting. After one unexcused absence, a warning letter will be sent to the Senator and/or chair.

707.00 Members of the Executive Council, members of the Executive Committee, members of the Senate, and members of Standing Faculty College Committees, Councils, and Boards may be relieved of his/her duties for causes defined as follows:

707.01 Failure to maintain a 2.00 QPA;

707.02 Failure to perform the duties of his/her position;

  • Four absences (see Section 710.00 and 711.00) in one (1) academic semester

707.04 Nonfeasance or malfeasance in office

708.00 Nonfeasance or malfeasance of office and /or the failure of a member to perform the duties of his/her position shall be grounds for removal from office. These statutes (707.02 and 707.04) shall be defined under Section 900.00 Impeachment and Suspension

709.00 If a vacancy occurs in a Senator's seat during the academic year, the President will nominate a replacement from the list of students who were not elected to the Senate. If a vacancy occurs in a chair position, the chair will be replaced as originally selected. The nominee must be approved by a majority vote of the Senate.

710.00 If for any reason members of the Executive Council, Executive Committee, or Senate cannot attend the regular SGA meeting, it will be counted as an absence.

711.00 During the regular SGA meetings, any member of the Executive Council, Executive Committee, or Senate may depart the meeting earlier than Adjournment without being penalized as long as the following requirements are met:

711.01 The member submits a written excuse to the Secretary explaining why there is a need for the member to depart prior to the beginning of the regular SGA meeting;

  • The Secretary approves the excuse;
  • The total number of excused members does not exceed five (5) (taken on a first come, first serve basis).

711.04 Any member requesting to depart after the first five (5) have been approved by the Secretary will not receive permission and shall be charged one absence.

711.05 The member must be present for no less than forty-five (45) minutes of the regular meeting's duration in order to be excused.


800.00 Budgeting

800.00 The yearly budget shall consist of two segments; the SGA operating budget and the grant fund budget.

801.00 The yearly budget shall be derived from the College's Activities Fee revenue.

802.00 The yearly budget of the SGA shall be presented by the Executive Committee to the Senate for approval in the spring semester preceding the academic year for which the yearly budget is prepared.

803.00 In order for an organization to submit a request for an allocation, the student organization must be officially recognized by the College.

804.00 An organization must also comply with the guidelines for SGA funding.

805.00 Notification shall be sent to all student organizations about the process of application to the grant fund.

806.00 All other projects, organizations, and individuals must apply for funding through the grant fund during the academic year. The Finance Committee will evaluate the petitions and make a recommendation regarding them to the Senate.

807.00 Any officially recognized student organization may petition for an appropriation from the grant fund at any time during the academic year. The Finance Committee will evaluate the petitions and make a recommendation regarding them, to the Senate.

808.00 The Finance Committee shall propose to the Senate the student organization's request after providing an opportunity for each organization which applied for funding to meet with the committee to discuss its budget.

809.00 All requests for funding from the grant fund shall be approved by a majority vote of the Senators present.

810.00 The student organization receiving SGA appropriation shall be notified in September of each year of the process by which funds will be allocated to the organization.

811.00 Audits of student organizations receiving SGA appropriation, may be performed at the discretion of the Executive Council. Audits will be performed by the Finance Committee.

812.00 At the conclusion of the SGA fiscal year, designate 50% of SGA capital from programs not to exceed $8,000.00 to the Drinko Center for the purpose of covering registration fees and travel costs for student presentation at regional and national conferences.


900.00 Impeachment and Suspension

  • Any elected or appointed member of the Student Government Association may compose a letter of impeachment calling for the removal of a fellow elected or appointed member.
  • The letter shall outline offenses regarding nonfeasance or malfeasance of office as mentioned in section 700 of these by-laws and shall recommend a course of action.
  • Charges are to be brought before the Senate during a formal meeting and are to be immediately referred to the Student Concerns Committee for consideration and review.
  • The Student Concerns Committee shall review the charges and afterwards shall exercise one of the following actions:
    • Refer the charges as they stand to the full Senate.
    • Amend the charges in committee and refer the amended charges to the full Senate.
    • Dismiss the charges and report to the full Senate as to why the charges were dismissed.
  • If the Student Concerns Committee finds that the submitted charges warrant referral, as they stand or as amended, to the full Senate for a vote of action, then the following procedure shall be followed:
    • Once the charges have been referred before the full Senate, the accused shall be granted one week to prepare his/her letter of defense. Such a letter shall be submitted at the next formal meeting.
    • The charges shall be read aloud to the entire Senate. Immediately after the reading of the charges, the letter of defense shall be read as a rebuttal to the charges.
    • A formal questioning period will follow on the Senate floor. Any Senator may question the accused. Senators are allotted only one question. After questioning, a vote of confidence shall follow.
    • The vote of confidence shall be by secret ballot with all Senators voting either Confidence or No Confidence. There are no abstentions.
  • A 2/3 vote of No Confidence of the Senate shall result in the removal/censure of the accused from his/her office or position. If a vote of 2/3 of No Confidence from the Senate is not reached, then the stated charges will be dropped.


1000.0 Amendment / Suspension of By-laws

  • Amendments to these bylaws shall be submitted in writing before a formal vote can be conducted. Amendments to these bylaws shall be passed, only in presence of a quorum, by an affirmative vote of Two-Thirds the members present.

1002.0 These bylaws may be suspended, only in presence of a quorum, by an affirmative vote of Two-Thirds the members present.