Preamble
The mission of Southern Virginia University is to "prepare leader-servants in the workplace and the world, in the community and in the church, and in the home.” We, the associated students of Southern Virginia University, in order to more perfectly accomplish our mission to prepare leader-servants, do hereby ordain and establish this Constitution for the Southern Virginia University Student Association (SVUSA). The Southern Virginia University Student Government (SVUSG) is the representative body of the Student Association. The general purpose of the SVUSG is to represent student interests, provide a forum for student expression, serve as a reliable information source for the student body, secure an active role for students in the university’s decision-making process, promote and defend the honor of the SVU campus community, and foster academic excellence.
The Southern Virginia University Student Association recognizes that final authority belongs to the Board of Trustees and its designated representatives and asserts that this Constitution shall not limit the authority of university officials.
Article I. Membership
Section 1. All members of the SVUSA shall be enrolled in at least one class for credit at SVU.
Article II. The Executive Council
Section 1. The function of the SVUSG Executive Council (EC) shall be to supervise, organize and carry out all the affairs of student governance.
Section 2. The EC shall serve as a liaison for the Student Association to the community and other organizations and universities.
Section 3. Quorum can be declared when all but one of the currently elected Executive Council members are present.
Section 4. Motions may be passed by simple majority and, in the case of a division, the advisor may vote.
Section 5. The elected members of the Executive Council shall be the president, vice president of operations, vice president of honor, vice president of campus programming, vice president of finance and vice president of academics & enrollment.
Section 6. The appointed member of the Executive Council shall be the executive council secretary. The executive council secretary shall be appointed by the SVUSA president and ratified by simple majority of the SVUSG Executive Council.
Section 7. A member of the Executive Council may be removed for misconduct, negligence or incompetence in office by the dean of students or by a two-third (⅔) vote of the Senators of the SVUSG. Charges against any officer which may be brought by any member of SVUSG, must be brought to the SVUSG advisor or a member of the Executive Council. The Executive Council will determine the validity and severity of the charges by a two-third vote. If the Executive Council upholds the charges they will be brought to a regular meeting of the Senate.
Section 8. A member of the Executive Council may resign through the submission of a letter of resignation. The SVUSG shall follow all replacement procedures as stated in the by-laws when filling the vacant position.
Section 9. The Executive Council shall meet weekly at a regularly arranged time, and the vice-president of operations shall conduct those meetings.
Section 10. The president or executive council secretary must be notified of an absence prior to the Executive Council meeting. After one unexcused absence any member of the Executive Council is subject to dismissal from the Executive Council.
Section 11. The Executive Council shall have power to veto by a two-third vote on decisions of the Senate, which may be overridden by a two-third vote of the Senate.
Article III. The Senate
Section 1. The function of the Senate shall be to discover issues affecting the students, research and originate proposals conducive to the fulfillment of the SVU Mission and accomplishment of the SVUSG general purpose and to fulfill committee assignments.
Section 2. The Senate shall be comprised of elected representatives from the student body, namely: four (4) class presidents (one from each class), four (4) class senators (one from each class), an adequate number of district senators determined by the president and VP of operations, an honor senator, a service senator and an appointed senate secretary.
Section 3. The SVUSA president will serve as chair of Senate meetings with a voice and, in the case of a division, a vote.
Section 4. The Senate will meet bi-weekly, or as needed, during the academic year.
Section 5. The regular Senate meetings shall be open to all students, and club presidents shall be encouraged to attend.
Section 6. Quorum is declared when ¾ of the current senators are present.
Section 7. The Senate will run according to Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 10th Edition.
Section 8. The Senate shall have the power to overrule vetoes made by the Executive Council by a two-thirds vote.
Section 9. Each Senator will be allowed two unexcused absences during their term. The president or secretary must be notified of an excused absence prior to the meeting of the Senate. After two unexcused absences any member of the Senate is subject to removal from the Senate.
Section 10. The first Senate meeting shall be held no later than the first week after the election of the district senators, freshman class president and freshman senator in the fall term.
Article IV. Honor System
Section 1. The Honor System shall have an Honor Council and other committees as needed.
Article V. Advisor
Section1. In order to provide administrative assistance to the SVUSG, an advisor will be appointed by the dean of students to advise and recommend proper procedures to the SVUSG.
Article VI. Finances
Section 1. The fiscal year of the SVUSG shall be from July 1 to June 30 inclusive.
Section 2. The business office shall issue all checks on behalf of the SVUSG.
Section 3. All payments due to the SVUSG shall be made to the vice-president of finance who shall record them. Checks for payments shall be made payable to the appropriate vendors through the normal requisition process.
Section 4. The newly elected and outgoing vice-president of finance, in conjunction with the SVUSG advisor, and newly elected and outgoing SVUSA President, shall formulate a budget for the upcoming fiscal year prior to the end of the previous fiscal year. This budget shall be subject to the approval of the newly elected Executive Council and the Senate.
Article VII. Clubs and Other Student Organizations
Section 1. All newly formed student organizations may be granted up to $150 in "one time" start-up funds.
a) Each student organization receiving funds from the SVUSG will be audited by the university auditor and may be audited by the Dean of students, the Business office, or a representative of either. Each organization is required to maintain orderly financial records, including copies of any receipts and purchase orders.
b) No SVUSG funds shall be used in violation of the Southern Virginia University Honor Code.
c) The organization must use funds to conduct a public performance, display, activity or other project related to the student organization.
Section 2. Each student organization desiring funds from the SVUSG must meet the following criteria:
a) The organization must be recognized by the SVUSG as an official club of the school.
b) The organization must recertify annually with the department of student life.
Section 3. To be recognized by the SVUSG, each student organization shall complete the following steps:
a) Complete student organization application and turn it into the student government advisor or VP of finance.
b) Submit a constitution for the student organization to the advisor or VP of finance, who in turn will forward it to the Senate for review.
c) Present the idea before the Senate, answer questions and wait for adoption of the club by majority vote in a senate meeting.
Article VIII. Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed either by the Senate Issues Committee or the Executive Council.
Section 2. Proposed amendments must receive a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Council.
Section 3. Proposed amendments must receive a two-thirds (2/3) vote in the Senate.
Southern Virginia University Student Government By-Laws
Preamble
There are no by-laws for this Article.
Article I. Membership
There are no by-laws for this Article.
Article II. Executive Council
Section 1. The duties of the president shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Executive Council.
b) Sit with a voice and, in the case of a division, a vote on the Senate.
c) Chair and direct the affairs of the Issues Committee.
d) Chair and call regular and special meetings of the Senate and preside over the Executive Council.
e) Call all special meetings of the Senate.
f) At his or her discretion, excuse Senators from regular or special meetings of the Senate.
g) Represent the student body at official university functions.
h) Carry out all ordinances and legislation passed by the Senate.
i) Make all appointments pursuant to the SVUSG Constitution.
j) Serve as liaison with the administration, and when requested, serve on administrative committees or appoint students to serve on administrative committees.
k) Maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average during term in office.
Section 2. The duties of the vice-president of operations shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Executive Council.
b) Chair and direct the affairs of the Elections Committee or nominate a replacement.
c) Conduct all Executive Council meetings.
d) Fulfill all responsibilities of the president in the event of his or her absence.
e) Oversee publication of the student government newsletter to promote policy awareness, advertise SG events and defend student rights.
f) Assume the office of the president should that office become vacant, in which case the office of the V.P. of operations shall be appointed as stated in the by-laws.
g) Maintain the SVUSG section of the tri-ad including a section with information on the members of the student government, committees and meeting times and locations.
h) Maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average during term in office.
Section 3. The duties of the vice-president of honor shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Executive Council.
b.) Chair and direct the affairs of the Honor Council and Honor Council meetings or designate a replacement from among the members of the Honor Council if unable to attend.
c) Together with the honor senator, appoint members of the Honor Council and any other Honor Committees.
d) Together with the director of honor code affairs and honor senator, train and instruct members of the Honor Council.
e) Together with the director of honor code affairs, call all meetings of the Honor Council.
f) Other duties as outlined in the procedure manual of the honor system.
g) Maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average during term in office.
Section 4. The duties of the vice-president of campus programming shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Executive Council.
b) Chair and direct the affairs of the Campus Activities Committee.
c) Maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average during term in office.
Section 5. The duties of the vice-president of finance shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Executive Council.
b) Chair and direct the affairs of the Appropriations Committee.
c) Provide necessary information to the business office as required (i.e. financial receipts and documentation).
d) Adhere to a sound economic policy and handle carefully and accurately all monies of the SVUSG.
e) Report the activities of the Appropriations Committee to the Senate at least once a semester.
f) Report monthly concerning any financial actions and the current status of SVUSG funds to the Executive Council.
g) Establish and maintain orderly records of all expenditures and receipts of monies of the SVUSG.
h) Oversee the certification and auditing process of student clubs and organizations which have received appropriated SG funds during the school year.
i) Plan and oversee at least one (1) fundraiser and/or charity event per semester. **
j) Maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average during term in office.
Section 6. The duties of the vice-president of academics & enrollment shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Executive Council.
b) Chair and direct the affairs of the Academics & Enrollment Committee.
c) Serve as a liaison between the students and admissions office.
d) Serve as a liaison between the students and the Academic Affairs Council.
e) Work together with the Vice President and enrollment servicer to discover, research and address issues regarding enrollment and academics.
f) Serve as requested on administrative committees regarding academics and enrollment.
g) Maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average during term in office.
Section 7. The duties of the Vice President of Athletics shall consist of the following:**
a) Sit with a voice on the Executive Council.
b) Chair and direct the affairs of the Athletics Committee.
c) Serve as a liaison between the students and Athletics Department.
d) Work together with the Athletic Director, coaches, and other athletic personnel to discover, research and address issues regarding athletics.
e) Organize and oversee the SVU “Superfan” club by appointing two co-chairs and direct the affairs of the club and meet with these co-chairs monthly to ensure quality and control.
f) Work to promote support and awareness for athletics, performing arts, community events, etc.
g) Serve and/or attend any meetings regarding athletics as relevant to students.
h) Maintain a good standing with the Registrar’s office, Dean of Students, and the Southern Virginia University community while maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA and striving to live the honor code and uphold the core values of the university.
Section 8. The duties of the executive secretary shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice on the Executive Council.
b) Together with the V.P. of operations develop agendas for Executive Council meetings.
c) Take and distribute minutes for each meeting of the Executive Council within 48 hours of the meeting.
d) Keep attendance at Executive Council meetings and report any member who has one unexcused absence to the president.
e) At his or her discretion, excuse Executive Council from regular or special meetings of the Senate and inform the president of the absence before the Executive Council meeting.
f) Assist the president and other Executive Council officers** as needed.
g) Shall report actions and decisions of the Executive Council to the Senate. **
h) Meet bi-weekly with the Senate secretary to update constitutional changes, and report on any senatorial absences. **
i) Maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average during term in office.
Article III. Senate
Section 1. The duties of the class presidents shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Student Senate.
b) Represent and promote unity within their respective classes.
c) Bring concerns of their classes before the Senate.
d) Hold class meetings each semester to address concerns of class members and discuss service projects, funding and possibilities relative to the class gift.
e) Senior and junior class presidents shall serve on the graduation committee.
f) Serve on additional committees as appointed by the SVUSA president.
g) Assist class senator with planning and organizing an assigned dance.
h) Maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average during term in office.
Section 2. The duties of the class Senators shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Student Senate.
b) Assist class president in planning and organizing a dance.
c) Maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average during term in office.
Section 3. The duties of the honor senator shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Student Senate.
b) Represent the honor system.
c) Promote the honor code on campus.
d) Together with the Dean of Students and V.P. of honor plan and promote Rise Up for Honor.
e) Plan and prepare honor week with the V.P. of honor.
f) Maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average during term in office.
Section 4. The duties of the service senator shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Student Senate.
b) Chair and direct the affairs of the Service Committee.
c) Plan and create an awareness of service opportunities on campus and in the community.
d) Maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average during term in office.
Section 5. The duties of the district senators shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and a vote on the Student Senate.
b) Bring concerns of their district to the Senate.
c) Serve on at least two standing committees.
d) Maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average during term in office.
Section 6. The duties of the SVUSA president (in relation to the Senate) shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice and, in the case of a division, a vote on the Student Senate.
b) Chair the Senate.
c) Call additional Senate meetings as needed.
d) Develop the Senate agenda with the Senate Secretary.
e) Assign Senators to serve on standing committees.
f) Reserve the right to make any changes to any committee assignments.
g) In the absence of the Executive Council Secretary, the Student Body President shall assign a member of the Executive Council to report actions and decisions of the Executive Council. **
Section 7. The duties of the senate secretary (appointed by the SVUSA president) shall consist of the following:
a) Sit with a voice on the Student Senate.
b) Take minutes at all Senate meetings and send those minutes to all Senate members and to the V.P. of operations within 48 hours of the meeting.
c) Create agendas under the direction of the president.
d) Keep attendance at Senate meetings and report any member who has two unexcused absences to the SVUSG president.
e) At his or her discretion, excuse senators from regular or special meetings of the Senate.
f) If asked by the president, serve as parliamentarian of the senate meetings.
g) Meet bi-weekly with the Executive Council Secretary to update constitutional changes and report on any senatorial absences.**
h) Maintain a good standing with the Registar's Office, Dean of Students, and the Soutern Virginia University community while maintaining a minimum 2.5 GPA and striving to live the honor code and uphold the core values of the university.**
Article IV. Honor System
Section 1. For additional guidelines see the procedure manual of the honor system.
Article V. Adviser
Section 1. In case of a division in an Executive Council vote, the adviser may vote.
Article VI. Finances
There are no by-laws for this Article.
Article VII. Elections and Appointments
Section 1. The Elections Committee shall supervise all election procedures.
Section 2. The sitting Executive Council shall have authority to:
a) Reject any applications for candidacy by 2/3 majority vote if a potential candidate is believed to have failed in meeting the eligibility requirement outlined in Article 8.
b) Authorise the candidacy of individuals who fail to meet one or more of the eligibility requirements outlined in Article 8 by a 2/3 majority vote (applicable to Executive Council and Senate elections).
c) Organize and facilitate special elections:
i. Primary Elections, in the event of 3 or more candidates running for the same position. the top two candidates with the most votes advance to the final elections. (Elected candidates will be determine by the largest number of votes in the final election.)
ii. Runoff Elections in the event of two candidates receiving less than a different of 3% (applicable to Exective Council and Senate Elections) **
Section 3. The newly elected members of the SVUSG shall be installed by the out-going SVUSG officers at the last regular meeting or at a specially designated ceremony.
Section 4. Elections shall be conducted in a way to assure fairness and equality, maintain eligibility criteria, and allow ample time for training of the elected officers by their predecessors. Campaign guidelines shall be established by the Elections Committee.
Section 5. Elected candidates shall be elected by plurality.
Section 6. Elections for honor senator, service senator and all class presidents and class senators (except for the freshman class president and freshman class senator) shall be held after the Executive Council Elections.
Section 7. Elections for the freshman class president and freshman class senator and the district senators shall be held no later than 30 days into the fall term.
Section 8. In the event of a vacant Executive Council position, the office shall be filled in no more than three weeks either by special election or appointment according to the discretion of the Executive Council. Appointments to the Executive Council must be ratified by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Executive Council.
Section 9. In the event of a vacant senatorial position, the office shall be filled in no more than 30 days by special election or appointment according to the discretion of the Executive Council. The appointment must be ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate.
Article VIII. SVUSG Eligibility
Section 1. All candidates for elected or appointed positions must:
a) Be enrolled in at least one class credit at SVU.
b) Be a student in good standing at SVU and not on academic probation.
c) May only run for one position at a time.
d) Shall not have a departure date prior to the expiration of his or her term in office.
e) Candidates for the office of Vice-President of Honor are required to have served on the Hono Council for at least one semester. **
f) Candidates for the office of Vice-President of Campus Programming are required to have served on the Campus Activities Committee for at least one semester. **
g) Candidates for the office Vice-President of Academics and Service are required to have served on the Service Council for at least one semester. **
Section 2. All candidates for all Senate positions, whether by election of appointment, must:
a) Candidates for Class President shall be a member of the class they are representing for at least one semester during their term.
b) Candidates for Class Senators shall be a member of the class they are representing for at least one semester during their term.
c) Candidates for the office of Honor Senator shall be approved by the Vice-President of Honor.
d) Candidates for the office of Service Senator must have attended SVU for at least one full semester.
e) Candidates for the office of District Senator shall reside in the district they represent. **
Article IX. Standing Committees
Section 1. Membership
a) Any member of the SVUSA may serve on the senate committees at the discretion of the committee chair, the final size of each committee being determined by the respective chair.
b) Student volunteers on the committees serve with a voice.
c) Senators are appointed to serve on committees by the SVUSA president.
Section 2. Standing Committees shall be Academics & Enrollment, Appropriations, Communications, Campus Activities, Elections, Graduation Issues and Services.
a) Academics & Enrollment Committee shall be chaired by the V.P. of academics & enrollment. Duties are to discover, research and make proposals to address academic and enrollment issues of the school. Work together with the dean of admissions and provost to address relevant concerns. The committee will report actions and decisions of the committee to the Senate. Research and create specific proposals for the Senate relative to the committee. The committee should consist of at least 3 senators with the option to include other students chosen from the general student body according to necessity.
b) Appropriations Committee: Shall be chaired by the V.P. of finance. The committee should consist of at least two appointed senators with the option to include two other students chosen from the general student body. The committee will serve the purpose of approving and allocating funds to student organizations and preparing the end of year financial report. The committee will work together with the advisor to establish the budget for the current school year and prepare it for proposal to the senate. The committee will also seek to organize fundraisers for the SG. These funds will then be put into a separate budget from the regular SG budget. The committee will report actions and decisions of the committee to the Senate.
c) Communications Committee: Shall be chaired by the V.P. of operations and work with the director of events and scheduling to ensure clear communication between administration and SG regarding SG sponsored events. The committee will ensure that SG meetings are advertised and help other SG committees advertise events as requested. The committee will be responsible for the maintenance of the SG section of the tri-ad advertisement board and the creation of the SG bulletin board with information on SG members, committees, meeting times and locations, and other relevant material. The committee will also be responsible for the monthly publication of the SG newsletter to to promote policy awareness, advertise SG events and defend student rights. The committee should consist of at least 6 senators with the option to include other students chosen from the general student body according to necessity.The committee will report actions and decisions of the committee to the Senate.
d) Campus Activities Committee shall be chaired by the V.P. of campus programming. A representative of the dean of students and other interested senators and students shall serve on it. It shall be responsible for planning and coordinating all SVUSG sponsored campus activities and assist other campus organizations in planning activities as needed. The committee should consist of at least 6 senators, at least one senator from each class, with the option to include other students chosen from the general student body according to necessity.
e) Elections Committee shall be chaired by the V.P. of operations. The committee should consist of two senators and other students chosen from the general student body according to necessity for the purpose of coordinating all election efforts of student government officers. Any candidate running for office is prohibited from serving on the elections committee during that semester. The committee shall be formed by January 20 for Spring semester and by April 20 for the following Fall semester. The duties of the Elections Committee include:
i) Collection of votes, counting and distribution of the results.
ii) Coordination of the fall and spring election processes.
iii) With the Registrar check eligibility of all candidates.
f) Graduation Committee: A member of the student life staff serves as a chair of the graduation committee for the purpose of assisting the graduating class and organizing and coordinating the upcoming graduation.
g) Issues Committee shall be chaired by the SVUSG president. Three other senators shall serve on it for the purpose of doing necessary research on issues brought before the Senate not pertaining to other Standing Committees and to report their findings to the Senate to assist them in making decisions.
h) Service Committee: The chair of the Service Committee shall be the service senator who will report to the V.P. of campus programming. The freshman class president and senator shall serve on the committee. The committee shall help to make students aware of on- and off-campus service opportunities.
Article X. Ad Hoc Committees
Section 1. Ad Hoc Committees shall be formed as needed by the Executive Council or Senate.
Section 2. The chair of any Ad Hoc Committee will be selected by the Executive Council or by the Senate with the approval of the Executive Council.
Section 3. At the formation of Ad Hoc Committees, the responsibilities of each committee must be outlined and presented to the Senate in writing.
Section 4. Chairs of Ad Hoc Committees shall report to their respective Executive Council members.
Article XI. Amendments
Section 1. All amendments to the by-laws shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Council and Senate to become valid.