7/28/2019 2012 Constitution of the Student Body of Georgia Highlands College

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ConstitutionoftheStudentBodyofGeorgiaHighlandsCollege

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Preamble

We,theStudentsofGeorgiaHighlandsCollege(hereinafterreferredtoastheCollege),doherebyordain

andestablishthisConstitutionoftheStudentBodyoftheCollegeinordertoupholdtheidealsof

responsiblecitizenshipofthiscampus,tofosterleadership,tofacilitatebettercommunicationbetween

studentsandadministrationandfaculty,andtomaintainanenhancedatmosphereoflearning.This

ConstitutionwillalsorecognizethatStudentsmaybecomeveryinvolvedintheeffortsofindividualsand

organizationstoimprovephysicalandsocialconditionsoftheCollege,toincreaseeffectivenessofthe

learningprocessesandthedevelopmentofmaturity,andtocreateopportunitiesforself-governance

characterizedbyorderlyproceduresandmaturejudgment.ThisConstitutionalsoassumesthepower

andresponsibilityofself-governancedelegatedtousbythePresidentoftheCollegeandtheBoardof

RegentsoftheUniversitySystemofGeorgia.

ArticleI

Membership

Section1.Composition

MembershipintheStudentBodyshallbecomposedofallofficiallyregisteredandenrolledstudentsat

theCollege.

Section2.Privileges

Anyofficiallyregisteredandenrolledstudentshallbeentitledtovoteinstudentelectionsandtomake

nominationsforsaidelections.

ArticleII

Organization

Section1.NameofOrganization

ThegoverningstudentorganizationfortheCollegeshallbeknownastheStudentGovernment

Association,hereafterreferredtoastheSGA.ThedutiesandfunctionsofthisOrganizationaresuchas

arehereinconferreduponit.

Section2.Membership

ParagraphA.TheSGAshallconsistofalldesignatedstudentleaders(Presidents)ofallregistered

studentorganizations(RSO)(ortheirdesignatedrepresentative),CoordinatorsofStudentLifeforeach

GHClocation,theVicePresidentofAcademicandStudentAffairs(oradesignatedStudentAffairs

representative),theVicePresidentofFinance(oradesignatedrepresentativefromAccountingServices)

andonefacultymemberperGHClocationasnominatedbytheVicePresidentforAcademicand

StudentAffairs.

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ParagraphB.VotingRightsforSGAmemberswillbeestablishedbythecriteriathatdeterminesathow

manyGHClocationsaRSOmaintainsactivityfoundinArticleX.

Section3.SGAOfficers

ParagraphA.TheChairpersonoftheSGAwillbenominatedandchosenfromthestudentmembersofSGA.TheChairpersonwillbeanon-votingmemberexceptasatiebreaker,andshallresignhis/her

representationofaRSOtoserveasanunbiasedmemberoftheSGA.

ParagraphB.TheSecretaryoftheSGAwillbenominatedandchosenfromthestudentmembersofthe

SGA.TheSecretaryshallretainallregularvotingrightsandwillnotberequiredtoresignhis/her

representationofanRSO

ParagraphC.AssociateChairsshallbeselectedforeachGHClocationthatisnotthehomeofthe

Chairperson.ThedutyoftheAssociateChairwillbetorepresenttheinterestsofhis/herGHClocation

duringSGAmeetings,andtofillinasneededfortheSGAChairperson.AssociateChairsshallretainall

regularvotingrightsandwillnotberequiredtoresignhis/herrepresentationofanRSO,unlesstheyare

fulfillingthedutiesoftheChairperson.

Section3.UltimateAuthority

ThePresidentoftheCollegeshallhaveultimatediscretioninapprovinganydecisionsor

recommendationsmadebytheSGA.

ArticleIII

DutiesandFunctionsoftheStudentGovernmentAssociation

Section1.Purpose

ParagraphA.ThePrimarypurposeoftheSGAshallbetohelpformulatejustandproperregulation

pertainingtostudentgovernmentandtoassistthosepersonsdesignatedtoenforcetheregulations.

ParagraphB.TheSGAshallpromotecampusactivitiesandeventsinamannerthatwillresultinthe

greatestpossibleadvantageandsatisfactiontoeachstudentasbothanindividualandasapartofthe

StudentBodyasawhole;andtopromotetheCollegeasaleadinginstitutionofthecommunity.

Section2.Meetings

ParagraphA.TheSGAshallmeetatleastonceamonthduringeachacademicterm,oratthecallofthe

ChairoranyCoordinatorofStudentLife.

ParagraphB.Thequorumnecessaryforbusinessshallconsistofamajorityofthemembershippresent

atthecurrentmeeting.

ParagraphC.Monthlymeetingsduringthesummertermshallbewaivedasneededororderedbythe

ChairoranyCoordinatorofStudentLife.

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Section3.Functions

TheSGAshallspecificallyhavethesemajorfunctions:

1.  ToacceptanddiscussmattersofinterestandconcernpresentedtoitfromtheStudentBodyandbyvariousregisteredstudentorganizations,andtopresentproposalssubjecttotheapprovalofthePresidentandFacultyoftheCollege.

2.  TodeterminethebudgetfortheOfficeofStudentLifeusingthestudentactivityfees,andsubmitthisbudgetfortheapprovalofthePresidentoftheCollege.

3.  TorecommendrecognitionofnewstudentorganizationsfortheCollegecampus(es)subjecttotheapprovaloftheStudentAffairsCommittee,Faculty,andPresidentofthe

College.

4.  Toestablishpolicyrelativetostudentactivities,subjecttoapprovalofthePresidentandFacultyoftheCollege.

5.  Toadjudicatetrafficappeals.ArticleIV

StudentMembershipintheStudentGovernmentAssociation

StudentrepresentationandmembershipintheSGAshallconsistofallPresidents(ordesignee)ofall

registeredstudentorganizationsoftheCollege.

Section1.StudentRepresentationMembership

ParagraphA.MembershipontheSGAwillconsistofallcurrentregisteredstudentorganization

presidentsfromallGHClocations.

ParagraphB.Forstudentsinterestedinparticipatinginstudentgovernmentandarenotapresident(or

designee)ofaRSO,Student-At-Largepositionswillbeavailable.Twostudent-at-largepositionswillbe

reservedforeachGHClocation.StudentsinterestedinapplyingfortheAt-Largepositionsmust

completeanapplicationandinterviewprocessthroughtheOfficeofStudentLifeathis/herrespective

location.TheStudent-At-Largepositionswillhavealltherightsandresponsibilitiesplacedwiththeother

membersoftheStudentGovernmentAssociation.

ParagraphC.IfforanyreasontheRSOpresidentisnotabletoserve,thepresidentmaydesignate

anotherclubmembertoserveinhis/herplace.Thereplacementrepresentativewillnothavethepower

tovoteunlesshe/sheisthepermanentdesignee.

ParagraphD.TheRSOrepresentative(Presidentordesignee)mustbeconsistentthroughouttheschool

year,andwillbedeterminedbythefirstSGAmeetingofeachsemester.

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ParagraphE.EachRSOpresident,andonlyitspresident,willhaveone(1)vote.IftheRSOpresident

wishestoabdicatehis/hervotingprivilegestoapermanentdesignee,itmaybedone.

ParagraphF.ThetermofservicewillbefromJuly1toJune30.

ParagraphG.ThecombinedSGAmembersshallhavethepowertoremoveamemberoftheStudentGovernmentAssociationbyunanimousconsentoftheremainingmembersoftheSGAforjustcause

throughappropriatedueprocess.

ArticleV

QualificationsforStudentMembershipontheSGA

Section1.Eachstudentmembershallcomplywiththequalificationshereinstated:

ParagraphA.Allcandidatesmusthaveaminimumcumulativegradepointaverage(GPA)of2.25for

workattemptedattheCollegeandmustbefreeofjudicialprobation.Exceptionstothisrulearefirst

timefreshmanstudentswhohavenotyetearnedaGPAattheCollege,inwhichcasethefinalhigh

schoolcumulativeGPAwillbeconsidered.

ParagraphB.AllmembersmustbecurrentlyenrolledstudentsattheCollegeduringtheirterminoffice.

ParagraphC.Eachmembermustcarryaminimumofsix(6)creditsemesterhoursduringeachacademic

semesterduringhisorhertermofoffice.

ParagraphD.AtanytimeshouldthecumulativeGPAdropbelowa2.25,themembershallbeplacedon

academicprobationforonesemester.Probationisonlyallowedonesemesterduringthemember’s

termofoffice.ThecumulativeGPAmustreachorexceed2.25bythefollowingtermorthemember

shallberemovedfromofficeatthebeginningofthesubsequentsemester.Membersonprobationwill

havefulldutiesandprivilegesoftheoffice.

ParagraphE.IfaSGArepresentativeisplacedonjudicialprobationduringhis/hertermthe

representativeshallberemovedfromoffice,andanewrepresentativeforthatRSOshallbenamed.

ParagraphF.Summersemesterenrollmentisoptional,howevermembersshouldbewillingto

participateinanysummertrainingsessionsorleadershipretreats.

ArticleVI

RegisteredStudentOrganizations

Section1.ApplicationtoForm

AllstudentshavetheprivilegetoorganizeandregisterstudentorganizationsthroughtheOfficeof

StudentLife.AnapplicationthatstatestheintenttoformmustbecompletedasspecifiedintheCollege

StudentHandbook.

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Section2.Approval

ThecompletedNewOrganizationApplicationwillbesubmittedtotheCoordinatorofStudentLifeatthe

respectiveGHClocation.TheCoordinatorofStudentLifewillpresentthedocumentstotheSGAfor

reviewandapproval.FollowingSGAapproval,theapplicationisforwardedtotheStudentAffairs

Committeeforreview.TheStudentAffairsCommitteeshallreviewtheinformationandsubmititfor

considerationtotheFacultyoftheCollege.FollowingthevoteoftheFaculty,theStudentAffairs

Committeewillpresenttheirdecisionwithawrittenrationalastowhythegroupisapprovedordenied.

ThisrecommendationwillthenbesenttothePresidentoftheCollegeforfinalapproval.

Section3.Membership

NoapprovedRSOcandiscriminateonthebasisofsex,race,religionorotherprotectedclasses.Any

currentlyenrolledstudentattheCollegeiseligibletojoinaclubororganization;however,individual

groupsmayspecifycriteriaand/orrequirementsthatmustbemet.

ParagraphA.RSOofficersmusthaveandmaintaina2.25orbettercumulativeGPAandbefreeof

academicand/ordisciplinaryprobation.

ParagraphB.AstudentmayjoinasmanyRSOsashe/shewouldlike,howeverastudentshouldnothold

thepresident’sofficeinmorethanone(1)RSOperyear.Astudentmayholdotherofficerpositionsin

multipleRSOs.

Section4.Advisor(s)

Afaculty/staffadvisorisrequiredforallregisteredstudentorganizationsbyadministrativepolicy.Full-

timeCollegeemployeesmustbetheleadormainadvisorforeachRSO.Part-timeCollegeemployees

mayserveasanadditionaladvisortoassisttheleadormainadvisor.Theadvisor(s)willberesponsible

forcheckingstudents’eligibilityandwillguidetheRSO’sactivities.Theadvisorwillnothavethepower

tovoteontheSGAwiththeexceptionoffacultyselectedtoserveontheSGA.

Section5.SocialActivitiesandEvents

AllRSOsmustsubmitaproposalforanyCollegeactivitybyfilingaStudentLifeEventForm.Thisrequest

mustbeturnedintotheOfficeofStudentLifeatleasttwoweeksbeforetheeventforreviewand

approvalbytheCoordinatorofStudentLifeattheGHClocationoftheproposedactivity.Anyquestions

regardingtheeventmustbesettledpriortoapprovalbeinggranted.Substantialchangestoanapproved

eventmayrevokepreviousapprovalandrequireadditionalreviewbytheCoordinatorofStudentLife.

ArticleVII

Amendments

Section1.Proposal

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ParagraphA.AnamendmenttothisConstitutionmaybeproposedbypresentingaclearstatementof

theamendmentwiththesignaturesof50currentlyenrolledstudentstotheSGA.Theproposalmustbe

consideredfortwoconsecutivemeetingspriortothecalltovote.

ParagraphB.AnymemberoftheCollegestudentbody,facultyorstaffmayproposeanamendment.

Section2.Vote

AnyproposedamendmenttotheConstitutionreceivingatwo-thirdsmajorityofthevotecastbythe

SGAandthenamajorityofthevotescastbytheStudentBodyshallbedeclaredratified.ThePresident

ofGeorgiaHighlandsCollegeobtainsultimateauthorityoverthestudentgoverningbody.

ArticleVIII

Quorum

Section1.NumberforQuorum

Aquorumshallberequiredtopassanylegislation,resolutionorrecommendationproposedbytheSGA.

Quorumisequaltofifty(50)percentplusoneofallvotingmembersoftheSGA.

Section2.VotingTiebreaker

TheChairoftheSGAwillcastthedecidingvoteinanytieinvoting.

ArticleIX

RulesofOrder

Section1.EditionofRules

ThelatesteditionofRobert’sRulesofOrdershallgoverntheprocedureoftheSGA.

Section2.Attendance

AllmeetingsoftheStudentGovernmentAssociationshallbeopenforattendancetoallmembersofthe

StudentBodyaswellasthefacultyandstaffoftheCollege.

ParagraphA.StudentmembersoftheSGAmustattendatleast51%ofallSGAmeetingsheldduring

theirterminofficeinordertoreceiveavoteduringtheannualStudentActivityFeeBudgetProposaland

HearingProcedures.

ArticleX

ActiveClubsandBudgetHearingsandReporting

Section1.InorderforaRSOtobelistedasactiveacrossdifferentcampusesand/ortorequestfunding

attheSGA’syearlybudgethearingstheRSOwillneedtomeetthefollowingbenchmarksforeach

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campusforwhichtheywishtobelistedasactiveand/orfundsarebeingrequested.TheRSOmust

providedocumentationforeachbenchmarktotheCoordinatorsofStudentLifeandtheSGA.

ParagraphA.MeetingsonCampus-EachRSOmusthaveatleastthreescheduledmeetingsper

semesteronthecampusesthattheyarerequestingfundingfor.Thesemeetingsmusthavebeen

advertisedtothestudentbody.Advertisingroutesaretheweeklystudentlifeemail,theFlushFlash,

flyers,orotherapprovedmeansofcommunicationtostudents.

ParagraphB.EventsonCampus-ARSOrequestingfundingforspecificcampusesmusthaveatleasttwo

eventformsonfilewiththeCoordinatorofStudentLifeateachrespectiveGHClocationincludedinthe

fundingrequest.

ParagraphC.ActiveAdvisors-TheremustbeanadvisorpresenceateachactiveRSOlocation.The

advisorhavinginteractionwithRSOmembersandtheOfficeofStudentLifeateachactivecampus

definesanadvisorpresence.

ParagraphD.MembersperLocation-EachRSOmustsubmitarostertotheOfficeofStudentLifeby

October1&March1ofeachyear.Therostermusthaveaminimumof5activememberspercampus.

Rostersmustincludethestudent’sname,emailaddress,andatelephonenumber.