Section A - Name
Part 1. The name of this
organization is "Dakota Wesleyan University Student Association," here
after referred to as the "Association."
Section B - Membership
Part 1. Full time students are required to pay full
student association fees. Payment of fees establishes
membership.
Part 2. All students paying full Association fees
shall be considered full members of the Association and shall be
entitled to all rights and privileges accorded by the Association and
Constitution.
Section C - Meetings
Part 1. The Association shall meet:
A. At the call of the President of the Association
and Senate.
B. At the signed request of ten percent (10%) of the members of the
Association; such request shall be presented to an officer of the
Association, and indicate the purpose of the meeting. The
meeting shall be called within five school days.
ARTICLE II
Section A - Student Senate
Part 1. The Association shall conduct its affairs
through a standing body of elected and appointed students. This
body shall be known as the Dakota Wesleyan University Student
Association Senate, here after referred to as "Senate."
Section B - Purpose
Part 1. The Senate shall be the governing body of the
Association.
Part 2. The purpose of this Senate shall be to
represent the opinions of the the students, in conformity with this
Constitution, current By-laws, and existing university policies.
Part 3. It is the duty of the Senate to serve as the
medium through which student opinion and desires are presented to
faculty, staff, and administration.
Section C - Powers and Responsibilities of the Senate
Part 1. The Senate shall be responsible for all
disbursements from Student Association Fees.
Part 2. The Senate may support with financial
assistance any campus activities, clubs, and organizations it
considers appropriate and of merit.
Part 3. The Senate may also aid in the funding of
equipment or supplies for the university or any student activity which
it deems appropriate.
Part 4.It is the duty of the Senate to consider and
act upon matters referred to it by the faculty, staff, administration,
organization or any student.
Part 5. The Senate has the power to create and
establish special committees and task forces.
A. The President with the approval of the Senate must
appoint a chairperson.
B. At least one Senator must sit on the committee.
C. Any Association member may sit on the committee.
D. The committee or task force will exist until purpose is completed
or end of the current year, which ever comes first.
E. A committee which needs to continue longer must be re-appointed at
the beginning of the next year.
Part 6. Senate has specific authority over the
following events.
A. Blue & White Days. The responsibility for
homecoming activities rests with the Senate, accomplished through the
Homecoming Committee.
1. A Homecoming Committee Chairperson shall be elected
by the Association.
2. The Elections Committee shall supervise the election of a
Homecoming King and Queen as well as a Beanie King and Queen.
3. Refer to Election and Homecoming guidelines for further
instruction.
B. Selection of the Scotchman and Miss Wesleyan.
The responsibility for selection of these honors rests with the
Senate, accomplished through a selection committee.
1. The Election Committee shall supervise the
nominations of candidates for Scotchman and Miss Wesleyan.
2. The Election Committee shall pass the slate of candidates on to the
Final Selection Committee.
3. Refer to the Scotchman and Miss Wesleyan and Elections Committee
guidelines for further instructions.
Part 7. The Senate reserves the right to grant
permission for fund raising.
A. The Senate Vice President must be notified of any
on campus fund raising to prevent conflict between organizations.
B. In the event of conflict, the matters shall be brought to the vote
of the Senate.
C. Any off campus fundraising activity should be cleared with the Vice
President for Campus Life.
Section D - Officers
Part 1. The officers of this Association and Senate,
also known as the Executive Council, shall be:
A. President
B. Vice President
C. Secretary
D. Treasurer
E. Parliamentarian
Part 2. The five officers must have sat on the Senate
for one year previous to election or appointment.
Part 3. The office of President and Vice President are
limited to those persons who are academically Juniors and Seniors
during the year the office is held.
Part 4. All candidates must have a cumulative grade
point average of 2.50 or better.
Section E - Duties of Officers
Part 1. Duties of Officers of the Association and
Senate are defined in the Senate Bylaws.
Section F - Members of the Senate
Part 1. The Requirements of election are contained in
the Election Committee guidelines.
Part 2. The following shall be recognized as Senators
on the Senate.
A. Elected chairpersons of the following standing
committees:
1. Homecoming
2. Student Activities Board
3. Religious Life Council
B. Representatives from the following standing
committees:
1. Publications Board
2. Recreational Sports
C. One At-Large for every 100 members or part thereof
of the Student Association to be determined after fall registration.
D. One representative from each Student Association recognized club or
organizations.
E. One Senator from each class.
Part 3. Non-voting members
A. Officers of the Student Association and Senate
B. Faculty and/or Staff advisors
C. Vice President for Campus Life
Part 4. Length of Term
A. The length of term for the voting members shall be
one academic year.
B. The following will be elected in the spring semester to begin
serving ceremonially at the Spring Transitional Meeting, officially on
the following June 1:
1. At Large Senators (4)
2. Class Senators, except Freshman Class
3. Executive Officers
4. Homecoming Chairperson
5. Religious Life Council Chairperson
6. Student Activities Board Chairperson
C. The Freshman Class Senator and remaining Senators
at-large shall be elected in the fall of the following year to serve
until the Spring Transition Meeting.
Section G - Senate Committees and Organizations
Part 1. Standing Committees
A. Association Property Committee
B. Bylaws
C. Elections Committee
D. Finance Committee
E. Homecoming
F. Personnel Committee
G. Publications Board
H. Recreational Sports
I. Religious Life Council
J. Student Activities Board
Part 2. Recognized Organizations
A. Organizations must present bylaws and be formally
recognized by a vote of the Senate.
B. To receive Senate Funding, these organizations must submit a
written budget request two weeks prior to the scheduled Finance
Committee Budget Meeting.
C. Refer to Senate Bylaws for procedure and policy regarding
organization recognition.
Section H - Removal from Office
Part 1. For a just cause, any officer of the
Association or Senate may be removed from office by a two-third
majority vote of the voting Association.
Part 2. The vote may be initiated by action of the
Senate itself, by petition presented to the Senate which is signed by
at least ten percent (10%) of the members of the Association. When so
petitioned, it is mandatory that the Senate call for and conduct such
a vote within seven to ten school days.
Part 3. See Personnel Committee guidelines for further
instruction on removals of office.
Section I - Filling of Vacancies
Part 1. Vacancies in an office shall be filled by the
Senate through special election of any full time member of the
Association.
Section J - Elections
Part 1. Elections of the new Senate shall take place
at least three weeks prior to the last day of classes.
Part 2. The Elections Committee shall be responsible
for holding Senate elections for the next year.
Part 3. Refer to the Elections Committee guidelines
for further direction concerning election.
Section K - Financial Obligations
Part 1. The Senate shall grant Leadership Scholarships
as compensation, as determined by the Senate prior to the general
special election, at the end of each semester.
Part 2. The Senate shall absorb the cost of the
Association and Senate Office clerical work.
Part 3. Refer to Senate Bylaws for further information
of Senate financial obligations.
Section L - Special Meetings
Part 1. The President has the right to call Senate
meetings any time he/she deems necessary.
Part 2. A quorum of current Senators has the ability
to call a Senate meeting.
Part 3. Senators must have written notice of regular
Senate meetings within 24 hours; emergency meetings shall be the
exception to the rule.
Part 4. Senate meetings shall follow general
parliamentary procedure at the discretion of the president and consist
of old and new business as well as reports from the following:
Officers, appropriate Senate Standing Committees, Special Committees,
Recognized Organizations.
ARTICLE III
Section A - Amendments and Changes
Part 1. Amendments and Changes may be made to this
Constitution with a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate and an
approval of the Association.
