Bylaws
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be as the Walsh College Student Government; herein after it shall be referred to as the Government.
ARTICLE II - ADDRESS
The principle office of the Government shall be located at 3838 Livernois Road P.O. Box 7006, Troy, Michigan, 48007-7006 on the campus of Walsh College at the same address.
ARTICLE III - ACADEMIC YEAR
The academic year of the Government shall be from the first day of the fall semester of the academic year to the end of the summer semester.
ARTICLE IV - PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
It shall be the purpose and the responsibility of the Government:
1. To represent the views of the student body in a concerted fashion to the college administration,
2. To explore areas of student need and desire, and to implement such programs,
3. To assist the administration in providing activities and services for the student body,
4. To continually monitor and evaluate the direction and implementation of the services provided to the student body, and
5. To provide an environment that encourages communication and teamwork for students of all majors.
ARTICLE V - JURISDICTION
The Government shall be the official voice of the students in all affairs between them and the college.
ARTICLE VI - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. The membership of the Government shall consist of those students elected by the student body at large.
SECTION 2. Nominations for the Government membership shall take place during the first 14 days of the academic year. Names will be posted of those nominated. The election process will take place during the following week.
SECTION 3. Term length for all student government officers will be the academic year. The officer must remain as an advisor for one semester following their tenure.
SECTION 4. Former Government members may serve as advisors upon request of the Government. The advisors shall have no vote unless reelected by student body.
SECTION 5. It is recommended that there be at least one Government member for every one hundred (100) students attending Walsh College.
SECTION 6. Membership of any member shall cease upon and a vacancy created by a member's:
1. Inability, mental or physical, to carry on duties,
2. Resignation,
3. Dismissal for unexcused absences (Article VIII, Section 6),
4. Disassociation with the College and non - student status, and
5. Dismissal for lack of interest (Article VIII, Section 7).,
SECTION 7. A vacancy shall be deemed created if there is not at least one Government member for each one hundred fifty (150) students in attendance at Walsh College.
SECTION 8. Should a vacancy arise in an officer position a new officer shall be elected by the student government and from within the student government through a nomination process for the duration of the academic year.
SECTION 9. Any member desiring to run for office of the Government cannot be an officer in any other Walsh College Club or organization. Membership in other Walsh College Clubs or organizations is acceptable.
SECTION 11. Any Student Government member who takes part in the unauthorized use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages during any Student Government function will be expelled from Student Government and referred to the Executive Vice - President of Administration as outlined in the student policies and procedures section of the Walsh College catalogue. Walsh College students who are not members of Student Government that take part in the unauthorized use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic will be referred to the Executive Vice - President of Administration. The President of the college or his delegate shall have final authority with regard to disciplinary action that will be taken.
ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The Government shall have a President, Vice - President, Treasurer, Director of Marketing and New Technologies, Curriculum and Policy Officer, and a Director of Public Relations and Communications, and other such officers as the Government may provide by election. The Government may have a consultant if applicable. Each officer automatically becomes chairperson of his/her committee (e.g. Director of Marketing and New Technologies is the Chairperson of the Marketing Committee). It is the chairperson's duty to delegate to delegate various tasks that need to be accomplished to their committee members.'
SECTION 2. Student Government Officers shall be elected by the past semester's Student Government and its newly elected members. The Officer's term of office will begin at the start of the next semester unless there is an immediate vacancy to fill.
SECTION 3. The election of Officers shall take place in the last month of the semester unless there is an immediate vacancy to fill. The length of an officer's term of office will have no limit provided that the Government members elect the officer and that the officer is in good standing. All new officer elects will train under the outgoing officer for one (1) semester before assuming the position.
SECTION 4. Only Government members will be allowed to hold an office position. In order to run for office, a member must be in good standing and have at least two semesters remaining at the College.
SECTION 5. The President of the Government shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Student Government. The President shall preside at all general meetings of the Government and set the agenda of those meetings. As CEO of the Government, it shall be the President's duty to see that all resolutions, recommendations, and actions of the Government are carried out. The President shall act as the liaison between the Government and Student Advising. The President shall keep the officers updated on any current or future tasks to be performed by them. Along with the Director of Marketing and New Technologies, the President shall be responsible for the marketing strategies targeted at the recruitment of new members. Finally, the President shall oversee the setting of the fiscal year budget and all other documents and items concerned with the overall focus, image, and viability of the Government.
The Vice - President shall preside in the absence of the President and assume all duties of the aforementioned. The Vice - President shall be the liaison between all the student organizations and the Government. The Vice - President will attend any intercouncil meetings, assist the President in carrying out the Government's endeavors, and sign with the President, in the name of the Government, all directives authorized and issued by the Government, and all other duties set forth above and below. In addition the Vice - President will be responsible for the Government's participation in the Book Buy Back run by the College Bookstore. Any aid that the Vice - President needs should be sought from the other elected officials of the Government.
The exiting President, if still attending the College, can assume the position of Active Consultant with permission from the sitting President. Duties would include helping the previous Vice - President make the transition to President as well as helping the current Vice - President. The Active Consultant would help the Government carry out all activities that were started under his/her term of office, and would have all voting rights and privileges of an officer. Once the Active Consultant graduates he/she would become a Consultant, and if participates actively, would have all the benefits and privileges of the general members of the Government excluding voting rights. The Treasurer shall keep account of all funds of the Government, received or disbursed, and shall transfer all funds, as the Government shall designate. The Treasurer shall seek authorization from the Government for all required disbursements, and upon approval shall prepare and sign a voucher to be submitted to the College Business Office. Furthermore, all check requests for reimbursements to officers must also be signed by either the President or the Vice - President. Neither the President nor the Vice - President may be the second signature on their own check request.
The Director of Marketing and New Technologies shall be responsible for the upkeep of the Government web page, the exploration of new technology based marketing ideas, and to work in partnership with the President in the forming of a new member recruitment plan and other promotional activities as deemed needed by the President. In addition, this Officer shall also be responsible for keeping the Government on the cutting edge of any technology that will prove beneficial in the furthering of the Government.
The Director of Public Relations and Communications shall be responsible for all things concerning the promotion and furthering of the image of the Government. These duties include the writing of the monthly article for the College newsletter, the finding of various activities, be it charity focused or extracurricular based, that will promote the betterment of student life and the Government. This Officer will also be responsible for the obtaining of the proper level of recognition that is earned by the Government in all of its activities.
The Curriculum and Policy Officer shall be the spokesperson to the college for student appeals, be responsible for assembling evaluation packets for teacher evaluations, and compose amendments to the Government bylaws when deemed necessary. The Curriculum and Policy Officer's main job is to keep the roster and attendance records of current members of the Government, and maintain a record of member's accumulated points.
SECTION 6. No Officer shall receive any salary or other compensation for services to the Government.
SECTION 7. Any Officer who has three (3) unexcused absences from officer and/or general meetings during one semester will be asked to resign their position.
ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS
SECTION 1. The Government shall hold its meetings on the campus of Walsh College, or in case of necessity, in such other places as the President may select and determine. The Government shall determine the time of such meetings.
SECTION 2. Meetings will be monthly, unless otherwise scheduled. (see Article VIII, Section 2). There shall be at least two (2) meetings per month during the fall and winter semesters, and at least one (1) regular meeting per month during the summer semester. At least one (1) regular meeting per month shall be open to the student body and such other individuals as are interested. The first regular meeting of the Government shall be during the first or second week of the semester.
SECTION 3. Special meetings may be called by the President upon forty-eight (48) hours notice with either written or oral communication to all members.
SECTION 4. One half of the Government's membership that are members in good standing shall constitute a quorum.
SECTION 5. A Government member shall be allowed to vote by proxy, with prior approval of the Executive Board.
SECTION 6. Any member of the Government who shall be absent without having been excused by the President at two (2) meetings of the Government or the committee meetings may be deemed to have resigned and the vacancy thereby created may be filled according to Article VI, Section 7.
SECTION 7. Any member of the Government who has shown lack of interest in its affairs is subject to dismissal. Any member of the Government may call for a vote of dismissal and if upheld, written notice shall be made to the dismissed member. The said member may appeal the dismissal at the next meeting of the Government and another vote shall be taken for reinstatement, which shall be binding.
SECTION 8. The Director of Public Relations and Communications shall take minutes of all Government. Copies shall be distributed to and read by all Government members prior to the next meeting.
ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. The Government shall have committees, standing or special, as deemed necessary to carry out the work of the Government. Committee membership shall be held on a voluntary basis. However, the President may make appointments if necessary, which shall be subject to approval to all members. The President shall be an Ex Officio member of all committees. Committees may be required by the President to submit written or oral reports for presentation at a general meeting.
SECTION 2. The standing committees set forth expressly by the bylaws shall be a Marketing Committee, Public Relations and Activities Committee, and a Curriculum and Policy Committee.
SECTION 3. It shall be the Public Relations and Activities Committee's duty to plan and administer in organizing various extracurricular and charity events sponsored by the Government. It is also the duty of the aforementioned Committee to obtain the proper exposure that the Government has earned and to advertise all Government activities at the College.
SECTION 4. The Marketing Committee shall be responsible for the maintenance to the Government web page. In addition, the Director of Marketing and New Technologies shall work jointly with the President in the design and implementation of a recruiting strategy.
SECTION 5. The Curriculum and Policy Committee shall investigate student opinions, proposals, objections, and suggestions concerning all aspects of Curriculum and School Policy. Suggestion/Complaint forms are composed and made available by this Committee.
SECTION 6. There shall be at least two (2) Government members appointed to each committee. In addition, any interested Walsh College student may be appointed to serve on a committee with prior approval from the President.
SECTION 7. Any member that runs an activity shall fill out an activity planning guide. This guide will explain the activity's purpose, how it was implemented, and any problems encountered in the project along with recommendations for the improvement of future activities.
ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEESThe rules contained in current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, newly revised, shall govern the Government in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not consistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Government may adopt
ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTSThese bylaws can be amended at any regular meeting of the Government, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting. A majority vote of two - thirds of the Government will be required to amend these bylaws.