CONSTITUTION OF THE
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION OF
CLEVELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PREAMBLE

In order to promote better student government and unite the Student Body as a common bond, the Student Government Association shall strive to: represent the individual thinking, the integrity, the ideas and the interests of the students within Cleveland Community College; encourage cooperation between students and College personnel; sponsor activities or endeavors that will be of benefit to the students, the College, and the community; and do all things necessary to promote the welfare of the students.  All currently enrolled curriculum students are members of the SGA and they are represented by elected officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian) and selected Senators through the election and selection processes outlined in the SGA Constitution.

ARTICLE I NAME

Section A: The name of this organization shall be the Student Government Association of Cleveland Community College (hereafter referred to as the SGA). 

Section B: The SGA of Cleveland Community College shall be a member of the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association.

ARTICLE II PURPOSE

Section A: The SGA shall be responsible for making requests and recommendations which reflect the ideas and opinions of the Student Body to the College Administration. 

Section B: The SGA shall be responsible for planning events and projects which reflect the ideas and opinions of the Student Body. 

Section C:  The SGA shall propose the budget detailing expenditures of the Student Activity fees and shall submit it to the College Administration for approval. 

Section D: The SGA shall pass approval of all newly forming campus organizations.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

Section A: Any currently enrolled curriculum student is a member of the Student Government Association and will be represented by the elected officers and selected Senators.

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS

Section A: The offices of the SGA shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parlimentarian.

ARTICLE V RULES OF ORDER

Section A: Robert’s Rules of Order newly revised shall govern this organization.

ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT

Section A: Any amendment or revision of this Constitution must be approved by the Vice President of Student Services, the SGA Advisor, and a majority vote of the SGA Executive Council.

ARTICLE VII RATIFICATION

Section A: This Constitution shall be ratified by the Student Body and the Administrative Council of Cleveland Community College.
 

       Revised/Approved February 1, 2006


 

BYLAWS

CLEVELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Title I.  Purpose of the Bylaws of the SGA
The Bylaws will be working rules of the SGA and will be subject to change by the approval of a simple majority vote of the SGA Executive Council with approval of the Vice President of Student Services and the SGA Advisor.

Title II.  Officers
The officers of the SGA shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian.  These offices shall be considered the Executive Council.  The elected officers shall exhibit a true interest in the welfare of the Student Body.

Section A: Procedure for Election of Officers
1. The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by the Student Body near the end of the Spring Semester.  The Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the SGA advisor near the end of the Spring Semester.  

2. In order to run for the office of President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer, a student must submit a petition with 25 signatures of currently enrolled students at Cleveland Community College and a completed "Officer Application".  Petitions and applications shall be filed with the SGA Advisor at least three weeks prior to the election of officers.  The office of President requires that the student have prior experience as an SGA officer, Senator, or committee member.  Relevant high school or other college experience may substitute for Cleveland’s SGA involvement if determined so by the Executive Council and the SGA advisor. 

3. Applicants for officer positions will not have been convicted of a violation of any law, with the exception of minor traffic violations and must grant permission to do a criminal background check. 

4. All officers shall maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.  Any officer running for re-election will need only the approval of the SGA Advisor and the Vice President of Student Services.  The SGA Advisor will closely monitor officers’ GPAs and participation.  If, at any point, the Advisor feels that an officer is not carrying out his/her appointed duties, a new officer will fill that position by appointment by the Executive Council, the SGA Advisor and the Vice President of Student Services. 

5. The officers shall be either day or night students. 

6. The term of office shall be for one year, beginning in the Summer Semester and concluding in the Spring Semester of the next year. 

7. Officers of the SGA shall not hold office in other campus service organizations. 

8. Officers must be enrolled in at least six semester hours of study during the Fall Semester and the Spring Semester. The hours of study must lead to the completion of the officer’s academic program.

Section B: Procedure for Replacing an Officer
1. If the President is unable to complete the term of office, the office shall be filled by the Vice President. 

2. If the Vice President is unable to complete the term of office, the Executive Council, the SGA Advisor, and the Vice President of Student Services shall appoint a replacement. 

3. If the Secretary or Treasurer is unable to complete the term of office, the Executive Council, the SGA Advisor, and the Vice President of Student Services shall appoint a replacement.

Section C: Responsibilities of the Officers
1. The President shall:
a. Preside at all SGA meetings and serve as liaison between the students and the College Administration.

b. Be responsible for seeing that all committee duties and obligations are completed.

c. Appoint Senators to campus committees.

d. Be responsible for the general welfare of the SGA.

e. Serve as the thirteenth member of the Board of Trustees (ex officio, non voting).

f. Appoint a replacement to preside at any meeting in the event that the officers cannot be present.

g. Uphold the Student Code of Conduct.  If found guilty of a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the student holding the position of President shall be dismissed from the position.

2. The Vice President shall:
a. Preside in the event that the SGA President is not available.

b. Take the office of the President in the event that the President cannot complete his/her term.

c. Uphold the Student Code of Conduct.  If found guilty of a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the student holding the position of Vice President shall be dismissed from the position.

3.  The Secretary shall:
a. Keep the minutes and records of each meeting.  They shall be up-to-date and given to the SGA President to be counter-signed and filed. 

b. Inform all members of any upcoming meetings and forward the minutes of each meeting to each representative.

c. Uphold the Student Code of Conduct.  If found guilty of a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the student holding the position of Secretary shall be dismissed from the position.

4. The Treasurer shall:
a. Work with the Comptroller of the College and keep all financial records of spending up-to-date.

b. Serve as Chairperson of the Finance Committee.

c. Uphold the Student Code of Conduct.  If found guilty of a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the student holding the position of Treasurer shall be dismissed from the position.

5.  The Parliamentarian shall:                                                                                          
a. Call meetings to order and to close.                                                                                      
b. Ensure the meeting is conducted using parliamentary procedures.                                 
c. Hold at least one Parliamentary procedures workshop a semester.                                
d. Maintain the order in the meetings.                                                                                        
e. Serve as the 5th member of the executive council                                                           

6. The Executive Council shall:
a. Determine and carry out the Strategic Vision, goals, objectives, and strategies of the SGA Plan.
b. Appoint the Chairperson of each Standing Committee.
c. Meet prior to each regular meeting of the SGA Senators to outline the agenda for each meeting.

Title III. Senators
The number of Senators composing the SGA shall be no less than five and no more than thirteen, and they shall be selected by vote of the Executive Council.  The Senators shall exhibit a true interest in the welfare of the Student Body.

Section A:  Procedure for Selection of Senators
1. The Senators shall be selected in the third week of the Fall Semester.

2. The term of office shall be for one year, beginning in the Fall Semester and concluding in the Summer Semester.

3. If the Senator is unable to complete his/her term of office, the executive council shall appoint another Senator with majority vote.

4. Students who wish to be selected must complete a “Senator” Application by the middle of the third week of the Fall Semester.

5. Applicants for the position of Senator will not have been convicted of a violation of any law, with the exception of minor traffic violations and must grant permission for a criminal background check.

6. Senators must be enrolled in at least six semester hours of study during the Fall Semester and the Spring Semester.  The hours of study must lead to the completion of the Senator’s academic program.

Section B: Responsibilities of the Senators
1. Maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and uphold the Student Code of Conduct.

2. Actively serve on a committee.

3. Perform duties in the SGA office as assigned.

4. Attend, if possible, at least one N4CSGA conference.

5. Attend, as many as possible, activities sponsored by the SGA.

6. Serve as the liaison between SGA and his/her fellow students.

7. Perform other duties as needed to maintain an active and effective SGA.

Title IV. Attendance and Meetings
Section A. Attendance Policy
1. The Executive Council and Senators shall attend all regular or special SGA meetings.

2. The SGA shall meet at least once a month and as needed.

3. Instructors shall excuse attendance of students for all SGA conventions or meetings whether regular or special called meetings.

4. An absence of any Senator or officer must be excused by the President of the SGA.

5. An absence of the SGA President must be excused by the SGA advisor.

6. After two (2) unexcused absences, the SGA Executive Council will meet and decide the status of the Senator.                                                                    

7.  After three (3) unexcused absences, the SGA executive Council shall appoint a new senator; officers will be asked to resign. 

Title V. Committees
Section A. Standing Committees
The Executive Council shall appoint the Chairperson of each Standing Committee.  Each Chairperson will be responsible for selecting four committee members from the Student Body (with the exception of the Inter-Club Committee).

1. Inter-Club Committee (ICC)
a. The ICC shall coordinate the efforts of all clubs on any campus-wide project.  Members shall be the President of each officially recognized campus organization. 
b. The ICC will meet at least once each semester.

2. Publicity Committee
a. The Publicity Committee shall prepare and release bulletins and posters announcing SGA functions and activities. 
b. The Publicity Committee shall present a written report of SGA happenings to all College personnel, to the community at large, and to the College’s Director of Public Information for inclusion in Cleveland Links, a monthly student newsletter. 
c. The Publicity Committee shall be responsible for the upkeep of the bulletin board for SGA news. 
d. The Chairperson of the Publicity Committee shall be considered the reporter for the SGA. 
e. The SGA Advisor shall assist the Publicity Committee.

3. Activities Committee
a. The Activities Committee shall plan and supervise all SGA sponsored and co-sponsored functions. 
b. The SGA Advisor shall assist the Activities Committee.

4. SGA Finance
The allocation of SGA funds is determined by the entire SGA with the assistance of the SGA advisor at the summer retreat. 

Title VI. Due Process
Due Process Procedures on Grievances are found in the General Information section of the Cleveland Community College Academic Bulletin & Student Handbook.

Title VII. Advisor
The Advisor for the SGA shall be appointed by the Vice President of Student Services.