Section Nine: Student Government Organization Constitution

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Preamble

Students of Carroll Community College, in the belief that the college experience offers many and varied opportunities for students to develop an awareness of their rights and responsibilities as members of the community, do hereby establish this constitution for the Student Government Organization.

Article I. Name

The name of the organization, for all official intents and purposes, shall be the Carroll Community College Student Government Organization, hereafter referred to as the SGO.
The name of the organization’s governing body, for all official intents and purposes, shall be the Carroll Community College Student Government Organization Board, hereafter referred to as the Governance Board.

Article II. Membership

Every enrolled credit student of Carroll Community College, both full and part time, is a member of the SGO, and eligible for the Governance Board, without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnic background, national origin, age, disability, or religion.
To participate in SGO, those students who have completed a total of 24 term credit hours at any accredited undergraduate institution shall be considered second-year students. Those students who have completed fewer than 24 term credit hours shall be considered first-year students.

Article III. Objectives

The primary objectives of the SGO and its appointed members are to:

Ensure the privileges, rights, and responsibilities of all students as stipulated in the Student Bill of Rights.
Acknowledge and support student clubs and organizations on campus that present themselves to the SGO for approval.
Provide leadership and guidance to committees and clubs so they may organize and direct meetings and events that comply with the objectives of the organization’s constitution.
Assist in explaining administrative views and policies to the student body.
Seek problem areas in which student views and feedback can be represented either to faculty or administration.
Actively encourage student involvement in all clubs, organizations, and activities and foster volunteerism both on and off campus.
To develop a degree of professionalism in its members.

Article IV. Constitutional Authority

This constitution shall be the fundamental law governing the actions of the entire student body; this includes the student government as well as any and all student clubs and organizations.

Article V. Organization

The affairs of the SGO shall be managed by a Governance Board, which will act as the principle student governing board of Carroll Community College, with all other student organizations subsidiary to it.
The SGO Governance Board shall consist of up to ten elected members.
1. There are five positions on the Governance Board that will receive financial compensation if all position duties are fulfilled and these positions are hereafter referred to as the Executive Officers.
2. The Executive Officers shall be comprised of five students currently attending Carroll in either first-year or second-year standing and shall be elected in the spring term for the following school year. Their roles as student leaders shall begin officially on July 1 of that year.
3. The following fall semester an additional five students will be elected to the Governance Board as senators. These students can be new students or returning students to the college.
4. These members shall be chosen by free election by the student body following a review by the SGO, as described in the Constitutional By-Laws.
5. All students who have completed college credits must have a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 and carry a minimum of 6 credits per term to be eligible for positions on the SGO.
6. Any Governance Board member who is absent without cause for three meetings throughout the term is immediately suspended. A clarification of cause of an absence must be decided by majority vote of the SGO. A two-thirds majority vote is required for the overturning of a suspension. Any result less than a two-thirds vote, member is expelled although they may run for office the following election. Any appeal by the suspended member will be heard one week after suspension.
Executive Officers of the Governance Board will be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Campus Events Coordinator. Executive Officers will be paid for an average of five (5) hours per week or ten (10) hours per pay period. The duties of these officers shall be as stated below:
1. President: The Student Government President presides over all Student Government meetings and ensures that parliamentary procedure and the Student Government Code of Ethics are followed. The president must serve as an official representative for all necessary functions and appoint an executive board member in their place if necessary. The president is also responsible for:
  1. Attending weekly SGO Meetings
  2. Serving as the student representative at the Board of Trustees meetings one Wednesday evening each month
  3. Serving as the student representative on the College Senate one Friday afternoon a month
  4. Holding two Student Life Office Hours per week
  5. Participating in a mandatory one-day Summer SGO Executive Board Retreat
  6. Planning and attending the Student Leadership Banquet in May
  7. Assisting with events and initiatives planned by the SGO executive board
  8. Providing feedback from the student body to the Student Life Office and campus administration
2. Vice-President: The Student Government vice president presides over Student Government meetings in the president’s absence and assumes powers of the president following dismissal, resignation, or impeachment. The Vice President is also responsible for:
  1. Attending weekly SGO meetings
  2. Serving as the student representative on the Planning Advisory Council which meets one Monday afternoon a month
  3. Holding two Student Life office hours per week
  4. Participating in a mandatory one-day Summer SGO Executive Board Retreat
  5. Participating in other SGO sub committees as assigned
  6. Planning and attending the Student Leadership Banquet in May
  7. Assisting with events and initiatives planned by the SGO executive board
  8. Providing feedback from the student body to the Student Life Office and campus administration
3. Secretary: The Student Government secretary records and distributes all minutes of the Student Government meetings. The secretary is also responsible for:
  1. Attending weekly SGO meetings
  2. Serving as the student representative on the Academic Council which meets one Friday afternoon a month
  3. Holding two Student Life office hours per week
  4. Participating in a mandatory one-day Summer SGO Executive Board Retreat
  5. Participating in other SGO sub committees as assigned
  6. Planning and attending the Student Leadership Banquet in May
  7. Assisting with events and initiatives planned by the SGO executive board
  8. Providing feedback from the student body to the Student Life Office and campus administration
4. Treasurer: The Student Government treasurer is responsible for maintaining accurate accounting of Student Government funds. The treasurer is also responsible for:
  1. Attending weekly SGO meetings
  2. Serving as the student representative on the Foundation Board
  3. Serving as the student representative on the Student Activities Finance Board which meets twice a semester and sporadically when necessary.
  4. Holding two Student Life office hours per week
  5. Participating in a mandatory one-day summer SGO executive board retreat
  6. Participating in other SGO sub committees as assigned
  7. Planning and attending the Student Leadership Banquet in May
  8. Assisting with events and initiatives planned by the SGO executive board
  9. Providing feedback from the student body to the Student Life Office and campus administration
5. Campus Events Coordinator: The Student Government campus events coordinator will work with the Student Life Office to identify, plan, and execute on and off-campus events for the student body. The campus events coordinator will also be responsible for:
  1. Attending weekly SGO meetings
  2. Holding two Student Life Office hours per week
  3. Assisting the Student Life Office with events on and off-campus as needed
  4. Participating in a mandatory one-day summer SGO executive board retreat
  5. Participating in other SGO sub committees as assigned
  6. Planning and attending the Student Leadership Banquet in May
  7. Assisting with events and initiatives planned by the SGO executive board
  8. Providing feedback from the student body to the Student Life Office and campus administration
The Governance Board will also consist of five senator positions. While students in these positions will not be financially compensated or required to hold office hours or participate in college-wide committees, they are encouraged to be involved in college happenings as much as possible.
1. Senator: The Student Government senators are responsible for serving as a liaison from the student body to the campus administration. They will also be responsible for:
  1. Attending weekly SGO meetings
  2. Participating in SGO sub committees as assigned
  3. Planning and attending the Student Leadership Banquet in May
  4. Assisting with events and initiatives planned by the SGO executive board
  5. Providing feedback from the student body to the Student Life Office and campus administration
For each Governance Board member, the term of office will run through the academic year. All members may hold any Governance Board position if re-elections make that possible. The SGO shall meet weekly, its time and date as determined by the President and Advisor based on SGO Governance Board availability. At least one meeting and retreat shall be held over the summer semester for the Executive Officers. The President has the authority to cancel or re-schedule meetings, however, they cannot cancel two consecutive meetings. To vote on an issue, a quorum of one-half of the voting SGO, plus one member must be present.

President:

Presides over all meetings of the SGO and ensures that Parliamentary Procedure and the Code of Ethics are followed.
Acts as official representative for all necessary functions or appoints any Governance Board member in their place.
Creates provisional committees.
Appoints provisional committee heads and members.
Schedules SGO meeting time for the present term.
Calls emergency SGO meetings.
May cancel/reschedule meetings.
Executes and enforces the provisions of the Constitution.
Serves as SGO representative to the Board of Trustees.

Vice-President:

Shall preside over SGO meetings in President’s absence.
Assumes powers of the President following dismissal, resignation, or impeachment of the President.

Communications Officer:

Responsible for ensuring proper publicity for SGO related memorandums, announcements, calendars, meetings, activities, or events by either taking responsibility or appointing another board member to do so.
Responsible for maintaining the SGO Blackboard page and social media presence.

Secretary:

Records and distributes all minutes of the SGO meetings.
Responsible for generating a list of members of SGO which would include their names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Shall be responsible for ordering flowers, cards, or the appropriate action for students, faculty, or staff within the college community pending approval from the SGO.

Article VI. Student Activities Finance Board

The Student Activities Finance Board, hereafter referred to as the SAFB, is subsidiary to the SGO. The SAFB allocates funds to clubs and organizations for budget requests that have been determined to be programmatically appropriate by the SGO. The Student Activities Finance Board shall be appointed by the Director of Student Life.
The membership of the Student Activities Finance Board shall be:
1. Chair (non-voting): Director of Student Life
2. Vice Chair (voting): Student Life staff member overseeing clubs and organizations
3. Student Members (voting): SGO Treasurer
4. Non-Student Members (voting):
  1. Faculty Representative- Any regular full-time or part-time teaching professional.
  2. Administrative Representative - the Administrative Associate in the Student Life Office.
  3. Other members of the Student Affairs team may be offered a position on the SAFB, at discretion of the Director of Student Life.
5. Secretary (non-voting): The Director of Student Life shall provide the administrative support for the SAFB.
The SAFB shall be responsible for the following:
1. Yearly Budgeting Process-The SAFB shall coordinate the budgeting process each fall and spring term and the Student Life staff member overseeing clubs and organizations shall monitor the budget throughout the year.
2. Updated club budgets will be given to club representatives by the Assistant Director of Student Life.
Quorum for the SAFB shall be at least five voting members.
Meetings:
1. The SAFB shall hold budget hearings each fall and spring term. Requests for additional funds will be presented to the SAFB and voted on by members.
2. The meetings of the SAFB shall be open to the college community.
SAFB By-Laws.
1. The SAFB may review the by-laws and propose changes to the SGO as necessary. Any changes made to the SAFB By-Laws shall require a majority vote of the SGO.

Article VII. Campus Organizations

Clubs or special interest organizations may be formed if the creation coincides with the objectives of Carroll Community College for the general benefit of the student body. All clubs and organizations recognized by the SGO must be open to all current credit students without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnic background, national origin, age, disability, or religion.

Any new organization that requests recognition from the SGO must meet the following criteria:
1. At least three members that will act as a temporary steering committee and a consenting full-time faculty or staff advisor.
2. A written constitution that includes: the official name, purpose, membership, structure and organization, elections, duties of officers, finances (if applicable), affiliation (if applicable), and procedures for amendment.
3. A Budget Request Form detailing funds requested from the available Student Activities Fees for the remainder of the current academic year.
The organization shall be officially recognized by a simple majority of the SGO.
Existing campus clubs and organizations that have previously been approved operate under the following regulations:
1. All club participants must be current credit students at Carroll Community College.
2. Officers of campus organizations must possess and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0
3. Organizational funding shall be determined by the Student Activities Finance Board in accordance with the By-Laws established by the SGO. Any organization can request funds generated by student activities fees at an SAFB meeting, provided the SGO has approved the conceptual appropriateness of the request.
4. A member of the SGO Board who is also a club/organization president or a steering committee member for a club or organization must abstain from voting on issues which would directly benefit that club or organization.

Article VIII. Amendments

Any amendments to this Constitution, its By-Laws, or the Code of Ethics and Conduct, may be introduced by any member of the SGO.
Any amendment to the Constitution, its By-Laws, or the Code of Ethics and Conduct must be approved by the student body in a referendum a week following its introduction to the student body. A simple majority vote will allow the proposed amendment to pass to the SGO for approval.
Any amendment must be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote by the members of the SGO.
Any amendment to the By-Laws may be approved by a two-thirds majority of the SGO without referendum.

Article X. Ratification

Ratification of this Constitution for the Carroll Community College Student Government Organization, and the Code of Ethics and Conduct shall be established by a simple majority vote by the present SGO members, followed by a referendum majority vote of the student body.

Impeachment

Impeachment procedures of any member who isn’t upholding the Constitution, By-Laws, or the Code of Ethics and Conduct can be initiated by any member, and executed by the SGO, in accordance with the By-Laws.

Student Government Organization By-Laws

Impeachment procedures of any member who is not upholding the Constitution, By-Laws, or the Code of Ethics and Conduct can be initiated by any member, and executed by the SGO, as follow:

Article I. Impeachment

Impeachment procedures of any member who isn’t upholding the Constitution, By-Laws, or the Code of Ethics and Conduct can be initiated by any member, and executed by the SGO, as follows.

If a member of the Governance Board would like to impeach another member, they must approach the advisor or president with specific violations of the guiding documents.
The member charged will be contacted by the advisor and/or president with notice of the hearing and charges.
The member charged will have at least a week to prepare a response, which they will present at the next SGO meeting.
The member charged may by ousted by a two-thirds vote.
If the member charged is not impeached, they shall be encouraged to implement constructive criticism given at the hearing.
If found guilty, they may be given the opportunity to resign, otherwise, they will be expelled.

Article II. Student Election Guidelines

All persons interested in running for office have a week to campaign during elections.
All candidates may use flyers, posters, and other advertising material on the campus grounds, provided they are approved by the Student Life Office.
Elections will be run on the SGO Blackboard site during the week of elections, 8:00 AM Monday through 5:00 PM Friday.
Returning students who wish to run for SGO may participate in elections the week prior to finals during the spring semester. New students who wish to run for SGO may participate in and interview during the third full week of the fall semester followed by elections during the fourth week.
Applications for Candidacy shall be available in the Student Life Office four weeks prior to elections week.
All applications will be reviewed by the SGO members and SGO Advisor. Eligible candidates will be interviewed and selected by the SGO one week prior to elections week.
Criteria for selection includes: demonstrated commitment to support the best interests of the student body at Carroll Community College, emerging leadership skills, integrity and the ability to be collaborative. The Elections Committee shall seek Executive Board members with diverse experiences, areas of study, and points of view.
The SGO shall elect a qualified person to fill any vacancy in membership. Notification of any vacancy must be made public to the student body immediately, and the SGO will vote two weeks following submitted applications. A candidate for any vacancy must complete an Application for Candidacy Form, including a petition and signatures of at least 10 members of Carroll Community College. An application for any vacancy will be available from the Office of Student Life.
The SGO President and Vice President must be of returning student standing and their positions shall be filled by the second meeting following the spring elections. The positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and Campus Events Coordinator may be either a returning or new student and shall be filled by the second meeting following the fall elections. The SGO Executive Board positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Campus Events Coordinator will be decided by plurality vote of the five members from the spring election.
In the case that one or more SGO Executive Board positions are not filled in the filled spring semester elections, the open position(s) will be advertised along with the Senator positions in the following fall semester. The number of senators elected will be equal to the amount of open positions total. Once elected, the senators will be given one week’s notice to prepare a statement for the open position(s). The election will take place in an anonymous format among the SGO Governance Board members. Voter decisions should be anonymous and only visible to the Advisor

Article III. Requests

Any presentation made to the SGO must be presented in writing with each SGO Board member receiving a copy of the proposed idea. No request will be considered without written copies distributed and presented by a member of the group requesting consideration.

Article IV. Budget Guidelines

Memberships to any club or organization financed through the Student Government Organization must be open to all current credit students at all times. Club meetings must be also open to all current credit students at all times.
The entire credit-seeking student body is eligible to participate in any activity financed through the SGO.
Clubs and organizations are not eligible for allocation from the SGO if their membership or philosophy implies bias in sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnic background, national origin, age, disability, or religion.
Any activities, programs, or clubs that do not abide by the SGO policies will not receive funds, and will be automatically cut off from using funds already received.
Clubs and organizations may request supplemental funds of the SAFB at any time.
Decisions on monies allotted by the SGO will be given within a two-week period.
All activities financed through the SGO and held on campus will be free of charge and open to all Carroll Community College students who have paid an activity fee. Exceptions may be made on petition to the SAFB.
Funds presently available for allocation to student organizations consist solely of student activity fees. All income derived from outside sources by organizations receiving allocations from SGO must be deposited into the organization’s SGO account.
Monies generated through outside sources must be allocated to those activities that fall within the constitutional and budget guidelines of SGO.
Transfer of money from one account or organization to another must be approved by the SAFB. The SAFB reserves the right to disapprove any such transfer.
Each club or organization receiving funds should maintain separate and detailed records of its expenditures for each event.
A portion of the total student activity fee will be placed into a contingency fund to pay for items and events not already budgeted.
All requests for funds must be submitted in writing to the SAFB members. Requests not submitted in writing and/or distributed to each SAFB member present will not be considered.
No SGO monies shall be spent on alcohol.
No club or organization shall receive monies for refreshments at club meetings. Funding for banquets or refreshments for other activities/events shall be considered a low-priority item and will be approved at the discretion of the SAFB.
Money will not be budgeted for equipment, supplies, or programs whose primary use is for classroom instructional purposes.
Advisors and students will not be paid from student activity fees for contracted services rendered for the normal operation of student clubs and organizations.
Contracted personnel must have advance approval from the SAFB prior to approval of contracts for services to student clubs and organizations. All contracts must go through the Office of Student Life, who will forward them to the Office of Risk Management for review and approval. All contracts must be signed by appropriate college officials. Students do not have the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the SGO or the College under any circumstances, no exceptions.
No person using SGO funds shall have any interest in, or derive any profit from, any contract or purchase from such funds.
Guests will pay the full cost of an event unless approved otherwise by the SAFB.
Fees collected from guests must be deposited in the club’s deposit account established for that event.
All completed receipts for expenditures incurred during the event must be submitted to the Student Life Office immediately upon completion of the event.
No money shall be reimbursed to individuals or groups without a receipt and/or prior approval.
No money shall be refunded to anyone who signed up for an event and did not participate in that event unless a refund is granted by a two-thirds majority vote of the SGO. The unused money is forfeited and goes toward payment of that event.

Article V. Mileage Expenses

Every effort should be made to reserve campus cars or vans for SGO business. If using personal vehicles, expenses shall be reimbursed by the SGO to the person responsible for the transportation of the materials documented via a Monthly Expense Voucher (available in the Administrative Services Office or the Office of Student Life). The current mileage reimbursement amount shall be paid to the person for every mile driven, starting location being Carroll Community College for reimbursement purposes.

Article VI. Fund Raisers

Clubs and Organization may have fund-raisers provided they comply with the following:

A Fund-Raising Form must be completed and presented by a member of the club or organization to the Student Life Office before a fund-raiser can be approved.
Monies generated must be used to benefit a club/organization activity or event in which the nature of the event/activity was approved by the SGO, but sufficient funds were not available or supplied, OR, monies generated will go to a charitable organization.
Campus Police must be notified, using the Campus Events Form for Money Exchange on Campus and be present for any money exchange on campus.

Article VII. Appeals Process

Appeal original action to the Student Activities Finance Board.
Appeal secondary action to the Student Government Organization.
Appeal the decision of the SGO to the Director of Student Life.
Appeal the decision of the Director of Student Life to the Associate Provost of Student Affairs.
In the appeals process, members of the SAFB, SGO Governance Board, and appellant are to be present.

Article VIII. Voting Procedures

Any voting that takes places within the SGO Governance Board shall be anonymous. Voter decisions should only visible be to the Advisor.

Article IX. SGO Committees

Committees must be proposed and voted into existence by majority vote of the SGO Governance Board. SGO Governance Board members may make suggestions to revise the committee’s prospective ideas and actions.
Committees must have a minimum of two SGO Governance Board members who are committed.
Committees have the option to open membership to any current credit student at Carroll.
Committee chairs and co-chairs will be elected by the SGO Governance Board members. Those interested will be given at least a week’s notice to prepare a statement for the open position. Voter decisions should be anonymous and only visible to the Advisor.