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By-Laws page 3
III. Responsibilities of the Undergraduate Student
Senate Members
A. Formulate a monthly written report to be
presented at public
meetings.
B. Maintain a minimum of 25 regular office
hours per week, to insure sufficient accessibility to constituents
and University officials. 10 of these hours shall be set and
15 shall be floating.
C. Serve on internal committees so as to insure
a balanced work load among all nine members.
D. Participate in the Allocations Process at the request of
the Senator for Business and Finance.
E. Attend all Student Activities training workshops
and seminars which are intended to increase proficiency and
efficiency in service to one's office.
F. Attend all briefings and public meetings.
G. Adhere to all Senate rules, regulations,
policies, and procedures.
H. Shall assist every other Senator in the performance of
the duties of the Undergraduate Student Senate.
I. Must have a working knowledge of Robert's
Rules of Order.
J. Must have a working knowledge of the Charter
of the Undergraduate Student Body,
the Student Senate By-Laws, the Guidelines for
the Allocation and Use of
Student Activity Fees, and the Capital
Purchase Guidelines.
K. Shall arrive on campus one week prior to
the beginning of Fall Semester.
L. Shall attend and participate in all Inauguration
ceremonies.
M. Coordinate all publicity pertaining to her/his
own position with publicity director.
N. Oversee the budget of all projects under
her/his purview, expending money with the advice and consent
of the Executive Director to assure that expenditures are
supportive of the goals of the Senate and within the Guidelines
for the Allocation and Use
of Undergraduate Student Activity
Fees. Shall submit expenditures to the full Senate
for approval by majority vote in the event of disagreement
with the Executive Director as to the appropriateness of the
expenditure. Shall notify the
Finance Director of all expenditures.
O. Prepare and interview for all allocation requests for projects
under her/his purview on behalf of and with the consent of
the Senate.
P. All senators assume duties of their chair
immediately following Inauguration.
Q. Each outgoing Senator and Senator Elect must participate
in the transition program.
R. Review and update as necessary the By-Laws and job descriptions
of the Senate.
IV. Duties and Responsibilities for Senators
A. Executive Director- the Executive
Director of Senate is responsible for administrative functions
of the Senate. As such this Senator's duties shall include
the following:
1. Maintain 30 office hours per week over summer.
2. Serve as the chairperson of Senate.
3. Serve as a representative to Ohio Student Association board
of Presidents.
4. Shall be responsible for bringing to the
attention of the Senate and the Office of Campus Life, the
following:
a. Alleged violations of the Charter, By-Laws,
Senate Legislation, and the Guidelines for the Allocation
and Use of Undergraduate Student Activities Fees;
b. For working with the Office Of Campus Life
in investigating the alleged violations; and
c. Implementing sanctions imposed by Senate
for such violations.
5. Coordinate Senate's communication with the
President of the University and other members of the administration.
6. Oversee Senate's communication with the
Daily Kent Stater and all other media.
7. Function as the chief spokesperson for the
Senate, representing the views of Senate.
8. Appoint a Senator to sit on the Credit Union Board of Directors.
9. In order to continue a smooth transition
between academic years
the Executive Director of the senate must have 30 office hours
during the summer dedicated to representing the students;
this
position will be compensated through the student activities
fee
account.
10. Represent Senate at the(UPBAC) University Priority Budget
Advisory Committee meetings and report pertinent information
to Senate.
11. Shall act as a liaison between the Student Trustees and
Senate.
B. University Affairs- the Senator for University
Affairs is responsible for student representation on all university
committees and monitoring all matters that deal with Kent
State University and the administration of the University.
As such, this Senator's specific duties include the following:
1. Coordinate a presentation of the Senate
and its functions to orientation classes.
2. Maintain general knowledge of the University's
policies, rules, and guidelines as well as University services
for referral.
3. Shall nominate student members to all Senate standing committees
with the exception of committees serving under the Business
and Finance Chair and all other University committees. These
recommendations shall then be forwarded to Senate for final
approval. The appointments must be passed by a majority of
Senate. The committee will be delegated to appropriate senate
position.
a. Committee members must complete committee reports for the
Undergraduate Student Senate after each committee meeting.
4. Shall nominate four undergraduate students to the All University
Hearing Board each year. These nominations shall be forwarded
to Senate for final approval. The selected members must be
passed by a majority of the Senate.
5. Coordinate and update the Senate Committee handbook.
6. Shall organize the entire function of the
Student Advocate program including Discussion groups and all
training sessions.
a. Shall nominate all student advocates to assist students
in understanding the processes and possible sanctions of student
conduct court. These recommendations shall then be forwarded
to Senate for final approval. These appointments must be passed
by a majority of Senate.
7. Maintain a permanent committee to assist in dealing with
the numerous responsibilities inherent to this chair.
8. Represent Senate at the Universities Priorities Budget
Advisory Committee (upbac) meetings and report pertinent information
to Senate.
C. Community Affairs- the Senator for
Community Affairs is responsible for monitoring all local
legislation and acting as a liaison between the community
and the students. This Senator's specific duties include the
following:
1. Shall serve as a liaison to the city of
Kent, the county of Portage, and other related community organizations.
2. Consider and recommend positions to the
Senate on local matters of a political nature.
3. Communicate with, monitor, and lobby local
bodies and agencies regarding any action that may effect the
undergraduate student body.
4. Shall attend all Kent City Council meetings.
D. Governmental Affairs- the
Senator for Governmental Affairs monitors all National and
State legislation that may effect undergraduate students and
utilizes this information for the betterment and well being
of all undergraduate students. As such this chair's specific
duties include the following:
1. Shall serve as a liaison between the State
Legislature and function as a channel of communication between
the State Legislature and the campuses of Kent State University.
2. Communicate with, monitor, and lobby state
and federal governmental bodies and regulatory agencies regarding
any action that may effect the undergraduate student body.
a. Consider and recommend positions to the Senate on national
and state matters of a political nature.
b. Track and become familiar with legislation related to higher
education at the Federal and State levels.
3. Shall be familiar with Ohio governmental processes, politics
and history.
4. Serve as a non-voting member to the Ohio
Student Association.
5. Serve as liaison to the Board of Regents.
6. Shall organize and coordinate a voter registration drive.
E. Student Relations- the Senator for
Student Relations maintains open communication lines between
Senate, the student body, and student organizations. As such
this chairs specific duties include the following:
1. Coordinate the dissemination of information
pertaining to the
actions of the Undergraduate Student Senate to the student
body. (This may include, but not be limited to the Ask USS
board, The Senator, Organization Updates in the form of
memos, and all Internet possibilities such as E-mail, list
serves,
and web pages.)
2. Assist the Executive DirectorUndergraduate
Student Senate in all matters of public relations.
3. Conduct "Coffee with Cartwright,"and "Leaders
Lounge Lunch meetings."
4. Coordinate the meetings of the President's
Round-table, setting up dates with the President of the University
and notifying all participants of the meetings.
5. Responsible for al Undergraduate Student
Senate Personnel.
F. Research and Student Development- The Senator for
Research and
Student Development is responsible for conducting the research
necessitated by the various projects of the USS and for determining
student opinion on all matters of concern. As such, this Senators's
specific duties shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
1. Coordinate and implement a teacher
evaluation
program.
2. Poll and research student governments at
other colleges and universities to find ways to better this
Senate.
3. Conduct polls, forums, focus groups of Undergraduate
Students and report the information back to Senate.
4. Assists Senators with polling and research.
G. Student Advancement- the Senator
for Student Advancement will coordinate and oversee all areas
of projects that would benefit the undergraduate student body.
These projects in terms of facilities and capital construction.
As such this Senator's specific duties include the following:
1. Oversee the Student Senate Computer Lab,
Credit Union, and
any other Undergraduate Student Senate satellites.
2. Sit on University committees that foresee construction
and/or renovations of the campus (i.e. Capital Projects).
3. Sit on the Student Center Advisory Board.
4. Sit on the Student Quality Advisory Committee
5. Assist Student Quality Advisory Committee in coordinating
an open Student Forum where students may voice concerns.
H. Business and Finance- the Senator for Business
and Finance is the coordinator of the entire allocations process
which includes both summer and yearly allocations. As such
the chair's specific duties include the following:
1. Formulate a specific allocation process
which is to be presented in the form of a bill for the majority
approval of Senate. This must be done for the Yearly Allocations
Process and the Summer Allocations process.
2. Update the Guidelines for the Allocation
and use of Undergraduate Student Activity fees, submitting
them for approval to Senate and forwarding them for review
to the Vice Provost and Vice President for Academic
Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.
3. Plan and implement a mandatory financial workshop per
semester for the treasurers, programmers, advisors and other
officers of student organizations eligible for funding. Any
organization that violates allocation guidelines must meet
with
the Senator for Business and Finance before further funding.
4. Negotiate all contracts pertaining to the
Allocations Process.
5. Notify all student organizations of all
pertinent information and deadlines regarding the Allocations
process.
6. Responsible for nominating members of all
Allocation related committees and presenting these recommendations
to Senate for final appointment/approval. Appointments must
be approved by a majority of Senate.
7. Responsible for the coordinating the application and interview
process of the ACPB Director of Programming.
8. Present a financial report to U.S.S at each public meeting.
I. Academic Affairs- the Senator for Academic Affairs
is responsible for student input into academic policy. As
such this chair's specific duties include the following:
1. Monitor proposals affecting quality and
emphasis of academic curriculum and make recommendations as
to Senate's position on these proposals, but limited to advising
and academic standards.
2. Shall act as a liaison between Senate and the departmental
and college advisory groups.
3. Assist students with academic problems that
are brought to the Senate.
4. Shall serve as an ex-offecer, non-voting
member and liaison between Senate and the Faculty Senate.
Shall attend all Faculty Senate meetings and give a brief
report on USS concerns.
a. Recommend Senate response to all proposals for change in
academic policy set forth by the Faculty Senate.
b. Draw on proposals and submit them to the Senate for approval,
then present them to the appropriate body or administrator.
V. Resignation or other vacancy on Senate.
A. A Senate member's resignation is to be submitted
in writing to the Executive Director, who shall make public
notice of the resignation at the next regular Senate meeting
or briefing. The resignation is considered valid and final
upon its presentation to the Executive Director and may not
be rescinded thereafter by any parties concerned.
B. Should the Executive Director resign her/his
position, she/he will submit a written resignation to the
Senate at the following Public Meeting.
C. Upon public announcement of the resignation
or other vacancy, the Executive Director or her/his designee
shall implement the following procedure:
1. The USS shall hold a special election for
the assignment of that
particular USS position.
2. The vacancy shall be publicized through all media available,
especially the Daily Kent Stater.
3. Applications are to be made available in the Kent Student
Center/Undergraduate Student Senate Office with the deadline
for applications being made known through all available media,
especially the Daily Kent Stater. The
deadline is to be established by the Executive Director, or
her/his designee and shall be no later than fifteen (15) academic
class days after
the public announcement of the vacancy.
4. Any undergraduate student who applies for
a vacant USS
position must be registered in accordance with University
Policy
on participation in activities, and use the standard petition
form
from the Ticket Office, collect the required printed names,
valid
handwritten signatures, and student identification numbers
of
one (1) % registered undergraduate students.
5. In the event that a USS chair is not filled
during a special
election, the USS shall appoint by 3/4 majority vote, a person
to
fill each vacancy within fifteen (15) academic class days.
E. No Senate action may be taken to interfere with any resignation.
F. Should circumstances arise that compel the
Executive Director to take a leave of absence or require her/his
absence for any reason, the Senate shall choose, by majority
vote, another Senator to act as her/his proxy.
VI. Implementation
A. These By-Laws take effect upon a majority
vote of Senate.
B. These By-Laws supersede all previous legislation.
C. Any provision of these By-Laws may be waived by majority
vote of the Senate for good cause shown.
D. The Senate reserves the right to make any
grammatical changes as long as it does not affect content.
VII. Amendments
A. These By-Laws may be amended by a majority
vote of Senate.
Approved by Undergraduate Student Senate on:
4/22/96.
Amended by Undergraduate Student Senate: 1995-1996.
Amended by Undergraduate Student Senate: 1997-1998
Prior Amendments: November 1, 1979; April 30, 1980; October
7, 1980;
September 23, 1982; November 4, 1982; September 22, 1983;
April 2, 1987;
April 22, 1987; September 22, 1987; September 20, 1989; March
4, 1998.
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