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Home > Student Life > Student Handbook > Student Senate Constitution
{ Student Senate Constitution}

As Last Amended Spring 2007.

Preamble
We, the students of Ripon College, in order to provide a legitimate representative forum for the student voice at Ripon College; ensure equal treatment and justice for all Ripon College students; engender a constructive relationship and dialogue among the student body and the administration, faculty, staff, and community for the purpose of attaining the institution’s larger goals; administer and be responsible for the student activities fee budget; and promote the general welfare of the student body, institution, and community as a whole, do hereby ordain and establish this Constitution of the Student Senate of Ripon College, which shall always remain representative of and responsible to the students of this institution.

Article I — Membership and Structure

A. Membership

Membership in the Ripon College Student Senate is open to all students without regard to gender, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, or disability. Certain academic qualifications, as found in the Student Senate Operating Rules, must be met to hold an Executive Board position.

B. The Executive Board

The members of the Executive Board will be those students who are elected via the annual campus-wide election held by the end of the first full week of March to hold one of the following positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The members of the Executive Board will be non-voting members of the Student Senate. Executive Board members may be removed from office pursuant to the procedures outlined in the Student Senate Operating Rules. A description of the duties for these positions follows.

1. PRESIDENT

  1. The President shall be the chief representative of the student body and is responsible for directing the Student Senate and presiding over its meetings.
  2. The President is the chairperson of the Executive Board.
  3. The President may initiate policy in areas of student concern, formulate proposals and refer them to a standing committee or representative, to the Student Senate, or to the Executive Board for examination and possible action.
  4. The President has the power to call meetings as needed and to determine the agenda for Student Senate meetings.
  5. The President is responsible for the administration of all campus elections.
  6. The President shall hold regular meetings with the advisor
  7. The President shall be responsible for administering a special discretionary fund for emergency situations. The amount of this discretionary fund will be calculated as 0.5 percent of the total Student Activities Fund. The President must obtain the signatures and approval of two other members of the Executive Board and one disinterested Senator before allocating more than $100 from this fund for any one purpose.
  8. The President shall temporarily assume any of the duties and responsibilities of the Treasurer should the Treasurer become incapacitated.
  9. The President is responsible for parliamentary procedures. If desired, he/she may appoint a parliamentarian to aid in this function with the advice and consent of the Executive Board and the Student Senate.
2. VICE PRESIDENT
  1. In the event that the President is unable to fulfill the necessary duties and responsibilities of the office of Student Senate President, the Vice President shall assume the office of President for the duration of the term.
  2. In the event that the President is unable to preside over a specific meeting, the Vice President shall take his/her place for that meeting only.
  3. The Vice President shall serve as a liaison between the Student Senate, Student Organizations, SMAC, Student Senate Representatives to College Organizations, and the Special Graduate Trustees.
  4. The Vice President shall serve as the chair of the Council of Student Organizations (CSO) (see CSO addendum).
  5. The Vice President shall be responsible for conducting a budgetary review of all Student Senate Funded Organizations during the fall and spring semesters of each year.
  6. The Vice President shall be required to observe and report on the activities of SMAC to the Executive Board and to the Senate by specific request.
  7. The Vice President shall keep an up-to-date list of the heads of the Student Senate Funded Organizations for access by the President, Treasurer, or any Senator by specific request.
  8. The Vice President shall assist the President in any duties he/she deems appropriate or necessary.
  9. The Vice President shall regularly attend Student Media and Activities Committee meetings so as to be aware of matters pertaining therein.

3. TREASURER

  1. The Treasurer shall manage the finances for the Student Senate.
  2. The Treasurer shall receive all requests for Student Senate money and bring these requests to the Executive Board and the Student Senate for review in a timely manner.
  3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for full and accurate accounting of all Student Senate funds.
  4. The Treasurer shall be a voting member of the Finance Committee and will serve as its chair.
  5. The official advisors to the Treasurer are the Comptroller of the College and the Vice President for Finance of the College.
  6. The Treasurer shall be required to submit a written budget report to the Executive Board of the Student Senate, the Comptroller of the College, or to the Student Senate as a whole upon the request of any of the above groups.
  7. The Student Senate may overrule any decision made by the Treasurer by a two-thirds majority vote.
  8. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the accounting of Student Senate-owned equipment allotted to student organizations. Should an organization no longer require a piece of equipment, the Treasurer shall attempt to find another organization that can make use of the item. If no organization wants the item, the Treasurer shall attempt to sell the item. If the item is not in sellable condition, the Treasurer will dispose of the item.
  9. All equipment availability and disposal will be reported to the Student Senate in a timely fashion.

4. SECRETARY

The Secretary shall perform all necessary clerical functions for the Student Senate and the Executive Board, including, but not limited to the items listed below.

  1. Taking and distributing the agenda and minutes of the Student Senate meetings to the Student Senators, the Student Senate appointed committee representatives, the Student Senate advisor, and the Ripon College newspaper in a timely manner, and the administration in a timely manner.
  2. Posting copies of the agenda and minutes around campus in a timely manner.
  3. Handling all correspondence as directed by the Student Senate and Executive Board.
  4. Keeping copies of agendas, minutes, correspondence, and other Student Senate papers on file.
  5. Making and posting posters and notices for meetings, elections, etc.
  6. Reserving meeting rooms for Student Senate functions.
  7. Insuring that Student Senate events are included in the College Calendar of Events.
  8. The Secretary shall be responsible for overseeing the Student Senate attendance policy.

If desired, the Secretary may form a committee to assist him or her in the performance of these clerical functions. The members of this committee must be approved by the Student Senate.

C. The Student Senate

  1. Representation
    1. Living Groups
      Each Greek organization, as recognized by the Dean of Students, will elect one Student Senator and one alternate.
    2. Hall Councils
      Each of the Hall Councils, as recognized by the Dean of Students, will elect one Student Senator and one alternate for every 40 members of their residence hall. A second Student Senator and alternate will be added if the residence hall exceeds 40 members so that the ratio of students to one senator is approximately 40:1 in each residence hall area.
  1. Responsibilities

           The following information also pertains to Student Senator alternates.

  1. Each Student Senator is a voting member of the Student Senate.
  2. Student Senators have the liberty to bring forth any new business or revisit old business at the appropriate time during a meeting.
  3. Each Student Senator is expected to express the ideas and opinions of their representative group. Student Senators should report the business of Student Senate meetings back to the group they represent. If feedback is desired on any order of business, each Student Senator should seek input from the members of the group they represent.
  4. Each Student Senator is allowed three unexcused absences throughout the academic year. An absence is considered unexcused if a Student Senator does not have his or her alternate attend or does not contact the Secretary prior to a meeting. In the case that a Student Senator exceeds three unexcused absences, two-thirds of the Student Senate can vote to remove the offending Student Senator. At this time, the group that the offending Student Senator represents will be asked to select a new Student Senator.

D. Student Senate Representatives to College Organizations

  1. The Executive Board shall be responsible to select students to serve in the following representative positions, with the advice and consent of the Student Senate by a two-thirds majority vote.
    1. Academic Standards (1)
    2. Alumni Board (4)
    3. Auxiliary Services (1)
    4. Caestecker Series (2)
    5. Campus Safety and Security (1)
    6. Educational Policy (1)
    7. Faculty (3)
    8. Motor Vehicle (1)
    9. General Committee on Information Services (1)
    10. Trustee Committee on Operations (2)
    11. Trustee Committee on Development (2)
    12. Trustee Committee on Academic Affairs (2)
    13. Trustee Committee on the Ripon Person: Subcommittee on Student Affairs (1); Subcommittee on Admissions (1)
    14. Ceremonial Committee (1)
    15. Honorary Degree Committee (2)
    16. Senior Class Fundraising Officers (up to 10)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
    1. Senior Class Fundraising Officers must be individuals who are in good academic standing with the College and will be seniors during their effective terms as Senior Class Fundraising Officers.
    2. Senior Class Fundraising Officers shall be responsible for coordinating the selection of the Senior Class Gift and soliciting donations toward the Senior Class Gift. Senior Class Fundraising Officers shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Assistant Director of the Annual Fund, that their decision with regard to the selection of the Senior Class Gift represents the concerns and interests of the Senior Class.
    3. Senior Class Fundraising Officers shall meet regularly with the Senior Class Board and the Assistant Director of the Annual Fund.
      4.                     
  1. Responsibilities
    1. Students holding a representative position are not required to attend weekly Student Senate meetings, but are expected to stay informed of Student Senate issues regarding their committee. These students are expected to attend all of their representative organization's meetings.
    2. If a representative has something to report from a meeting or needs Student Senate input on an issue, the representative is expected to attend the next scheduled Student Senate meeting.
    3. In the case that a student appointed to a representative position is not adequately fulfilling his or her duties, he or she can be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate. If this occurs, the Executive Board will appoint a new representative which must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate.

E. Senior Class Board
The members of the Senior Class Board will be those students who are elected by means of the annual Senior Class-wide election, which shall be held prior to the 15th of October. The Senior Class Board shall be comprised of five graduating seniors who are in good academic standing with the College, have held or are holding a leadership position in a campus organization or living group, and are elected by the members of the Senior Class. The Senior Class Board shall elect a chairman, following the election. All Board members will participate equally in the following responsibilities.

  1. Responsibilities
    1. Attending Commencement Planning Meetings.
    2. Attending regular meetings with representatives from the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, the Office of Student Activities and Orientation, and the Assistant Director of the Annual Fund.
    3. Assisting with choosing Commencement and Baccalaureate participants.
    4. Making arrangements for the 100 Days Party.
    5. Planning Senior Week activities.
    6. All other responsibilities the Board deems worthy of attention.
    7. In the event that a Senior Class Board Representative has information to report from a meeting or needs Student Senate input on an issue, the representative is expected to attend the next scheduled Student Senate meeting.
    8. In the event that a member of the Senior Class Board is not adequately fulfilling the duties of his/her position, or behaving in a manner inconsistent with the responsibility of holding this leadership position, he/she may be referred to the Student Judiciary Board for further investigation and possible action.

Article II — Standing Committees of the Student Senate

A. Student Media and Activities Committee (SMAC)

  1. This committee shall be presided over by the Student Media and Activities Committee (SMAC) President. The remainder of the SMAC Executive Board shall consist of the Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. SMAC will also consist of eight programming committees and at least two student representatives, whom are chosen by the outgoing SMAC Executive Board, the President of SMAC, and the advisor with the advice and consent of the Student Senate by a two-thirds vote.
  2. SMAC shall allocate funds for speakers, cultural events, and entertainment from the funds allocated to it by the Student Senate. Any student group may petition SMAC for equipment for activities.
  3. SMAC shall be required to report regularly to the Student Senate regarding organizational activities.
  4. Additional details concerning this committee may be found in the SMAC Constitution, which is available in the Student Senate Office.
  5. In addition to the Student Media and Activities Committee NACA advancement, the Student Media and Activities Committee shall submit a budget as scheduled by the budget committee for all organizations. This budget shall detail proposed committee and category expenditures dividing honoraria into separate committee funds.
  6. The Student Media and Activities Committee may reallocate funds within their budget with the co-signature of the Vice President and Treasurer, to be held accountable to the Student Senate.

B. The Finance Committee

  1. The Finance Committee shall be composed of the members of the Student Senate Executive Board. The chairperson shall be the Treasurer.
  2. It shall be the purpose of the Finance Committee to allocate the Student Activities Fee to Student Senate-funded organizations, and to investigate requests by campus organizations for Student Senate funds over and above budgeted amounts before such funds are allocated by the Student Senate. The Finance Committee shall recommend to the Student Senate, after investigation, whether all, part, or none of the requested funds should be allocated. The Student Senate will then vote on this matter.
  3. All grievances set forth by any representative of any Student Senate-funded organization in regard to financial matters shall be handled by the Finance Committee.
  4. The Finance Committee shall also be responsible for investigating illegal budget expenditures and accounts of delinquent repayments. The Finance Committee shall recommend to the Student Senate appropriate penalties for the violators. Prior to enforcement, a penalty must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate.
  5. The Treasurer and the members of the Finance Committee shall each have one vote in all matters where a vote may be required. Whenever a vote is required, three-fifths of the Finance Committee must be present.
  6. Finance Committee meetings shall be closed to all but committee members, but the committee may ask persons to testify at its meetings, and any person may attend and speak at Finance Committee meetings by prior arrangement with the Treasurer.

C. The Budget Committee

  1. During budget hearings the Budget Committee is chaired by the outgoing Treasurer. The newly elected Executive Board shall constitute the remainder of the Budget Committee. The outgoing Executive Board may serve as non-voting advisory members of the Budget Committee at this time.
  2. It shall be the purpose of the Budget Committee to allocate the Student Activities Fee to Student Senate-funded organizations and to conduct all budget hearings.


Article III — Funding of the Student Senate

  1. The Student Senate shall receive its funds from that part of each student’s comprehensive tuition fee designated as the Student Activities Fee.
  2. There shall be a standing restricted account of the Student Senate to be designated as the Student Senate One-Fund Account, which shall contain all funds received from the Ripon College Advancement Office, as well as any other financial gifts donated to the Student Senate not already earmarked for a specific account. Other restricted accounts can be established by the Student Senate. Funds contained within the Student Senate restricted accounts shall be released only with the approval of the Student Senate and with the signature of the Treasurer.
  3. Student Senate-recognized organizations may keep one restricted account (meaning it is for their organization’s budget and funds for the year) with the Business Office, once that group has been approved by a two-thirds majority vote by the Senate. Funds contained within this account may only be released with the signature of the Student Senate Treasurer.
  4. At the end of the fiscal year, all balances in Student Senate-funded organization accounts, with the exception of the restricted accounts set up by the Student Senate, shall be deposited into the Student Senate One-Fund Account. The balance of the Student Senate One-Fund Account at the end of one fiscal year shall be the starting balance of the Student Senate One-Fund Account for the next fiscal year.
  5. There shall exist a Student Senate Contingency Account, Intramural Sports Programs Account, Residence Life Account, and the Dean’s Discretionary Account. The amount of percentage taken from the Student Activities Fees is specified in the Student Senate Operating Rules.
  6. The Student Activities Fee recommendation shall come from the Finance Committee and must be approved by the Student Senate. If approved, the recommendation shall be presented to the President of the College by the date determined by the Vice President for Finance of the College in order that it shall have ample time to be received and reviewed by the Board of Trustees of the College. The amount charged as the Student Activities Fee should be reviewed on an annual basis.


Article IV — Student Senate-Funded Organizations

  1. Any organization wishing to be allocated a regular budget from the Student Senate must be a Recognized Student Organization. The procedure for becoming a Recognized Student Organization is on file in the Student Senate Office and the Student Activities and Orientation Office. Members of the Ripon College community may submit a One-Fund request as long as the One-Fund in question benefits the Ripon College community.
  2. Recognized Student Organizations must follow the guidelines found in the Operating Rules for Budgeting of Student Senate-Funded Organizations in order to receive/spend money from the Student Senate.
  3. Any campus club or organization that receives funding from the Student Senate is expected to fulfill any requirements and participate in any activities as determined by the Student Senate. Failure to do so shall result in a penalty to be determined by the Student Senate.
  4. Student Senate funded organizations that are not meeting their requirements will be penalized by either removal as a recognized organization or be given a budget of no more than $100 for the following school year. Not filing registration information with the Student Activities and Orientation Office and/or not submitting a budget request for two consecutive years will result in an automatic disbandment of the organization.


Article V — Student Senate Meetings

  1. The time, place, and location of regular meetings are established by the President. The President and Secretary are responsible for making this announcement in such a way that all Student Senators have an opportunity to know of a meeting.
  2. Special meetings may be called by the President or by a quorum of the Student Senate. A 24-hour written notice must be provided to all Student Senators for a special meeting.
  3. A quorum for a Student Senate meeting is a majority of its voting membership.
  4. The Order of Business for a Student Senate Meeting is:
    1. Call to Order
    2. Approval of Minutes From Previous Meeting
      1. Additions, corrections, changes, and approval.
    3. Committee Reports
      1. Student Representatives from Committees as well as Executive Board report at this time.
    4. Old Business
      1. Previous meeting’s business to be taken up again, approved a second time, or otherwise.
    5. New Business
      1. This is the time for one-funds to be discussed, constitution revisions and approvals, budgets, and other matters only if they are approved as agenda items by the executive board. Items for addition to New Business are at the discretion of the chair and executive board.
    6. Announcements
      1. Events and news on campus.
    7. Open Forum
      1. This is the time for subcommittee selections, and other tasks that are official senate business. No business may be brought up that requires funding and approval of that funding that meeting.
    8. Adjournment
  5. The parliamentary code for meetings is the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, unless otherwise directed by the President, with approval of the Student Senate.


Article VI — Student Senate Calendar
The following dates serve as a guideline for the completion of annual Student Senate activities.

  1. The first Student Senate meeting shall be held no later than the second full week of classes during both the fall and spring semesters.
  2. The election of the Senior Class Board of Representatives shall be completed prior to October 15th.
  3. The election of the Student Senate Executive Board and Special Graduate Trustee for the next academic year shall be completed by the end of the first full week in March. At the first Student Senate meeting after April 1st, the new Executive Board shall assume office.
  4. Student Senate representative positions for the upcoming academic year should be appointed and approved by the end of April.
  5. Budget Hearings shall be carried out between April 1 and April 14.


Article VII — Constitutional Amendments

  1. Any member of the Student Senate may propose an amendment to this Constitution.
  2. The amendment will be reviewed by the Executive Board and a recommendation made to the Student Senate.
  3. The approval of a proposed amendment or revision to this Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote of the Student Senate at two consecutive Student Senate meetings.
  4. This Constitution is to be reviewed every two years and updated or revised if necessary.

 

Article VIII — Council of Student Organizations

  1. The Council of Student Organizations (CSO) shall be a standing body under the joint administration of the Student Activities Office and the Student Senate.
  2. The advisor to the CSO will be the Student Activities Director or the Director's appointed representative.
  3. The membership of the CSO shall be composed of the duly authorized member of Student Senate Recognized Organizations (SSRO).
  4. The leadership shall consist of a member-elected chair and the Vice President of the Student Senate. 

              1.  The chair shall be charged with the scheduling and conduct of meetings and shall serve as the chief advocate of the combined Student Senate Recognized Organizations.

              2.  The Vice President of the Student Senate shall serve as the primary officer of Senate oversight for SSROs. This shall consist of monitoring SSRO activity and providing assistance in the interest of the proper functioning of SSROs.

  5. The purpose of the council is to create an opportunity for interaction between body representatives for the purposes of offering opportunities to share resources, receive information and training beneficial to SSROs, and ensure resource accountability.
  6. Leaders of SSROs shall appear before the Student Senate for a "What's Up With Your Group?" presentation. The Vice President of Student Senate shall be responsible for scheduling these appearances.
  7. The semester schedule for CSO meetings shall consist by default of three mandatory meetings. The CSO may add more or less by simple majority vote with the approval of the Student Senate. Should an emergency arise that requires the presence of the SSROs at an additional meeting, with no opportunity to seek consent from the CSO, Student Senate may call a mandatory meeting with a 2/3 majority vote. This requires at least 72 hours advance notice and the consent of the CSO chair.


Article IX — Suspension of the Constitution
In accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, the Constitution of the Ripon College Student Senate cannot be suspended under any circumstances, including a vote by the senators.

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