Student Association - Plattsburgh State University of New York
plattsburgh.edu/sa
We're Here For You!
As the student run government, our mission is to voice the concerns and interests of the students. We provide quality services, programs, and activities in a dynamic and diverse college community. Our vision is to be the most active and visible resource for students and the greater college community. Our core values are the students, education, diversity, and inclusion.
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. Name
This organization shall be known as the Student Association of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. (Student Association, S.A.)
Section 2. Purpose
The purpose of the Student Association shall be to promote the educational and general welfare of the students of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh; to anticipate and stimulate the interest of the students; to broaden the educational perspective of the students through a self- governing structure; to act as a unity factor for the student voice; and to formulate, with the faculty and administration, policies and procedures concerning the overall college life. All parts of the Student Association shall serve all students equally regardless of sex, age, color, creed, appearance and life style.
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. General Membership
All full-time and part-time matriculated undergraduates and graduate students of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, who pay the prescribed student activity fee, shall be members of the Plattsburgh State Student Association with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities in any activity to which the authority of the Constitution extends.
STRUCTURE OF THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION
Section 1.
The Officers of the Student Association shall be as follows: President, Executive Vice President, Vice President for Finances, Vice President for Activities, Vice President for Student Services, Vice President for the Arts, Vice President for Academics, Vice President for Organizations, and Vice President for Central Affairs.
Section 2.
The Student Association functioning structure shall be as follows:
1. Executive Branch
a. President
b. Executive Council
c. Committees which aid in the executive function
2. Legislative Branch
a. Student Senate
b. Committees which aid in the legislative function
c. The Student Forum
3. Judicial Branch
a.Student Court
b.Student Court of Appeals
QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICERS, TERMS OF OFFICE, VACANCIES OF OFFICE
Section 1. Qualifications for Officers
a.All candidates and officers must be students of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and general members as described in Article II.
b.The following officers shall be a student who has completed at least twenty-seven (27) academic credit hours at the time of his / her candidacy, and who has completed at least one semester of credit work at this campus: Members of the Executive Council and Justices of the Student Court of Appeals.
Section 2. Term of Office
a. Terms of office shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of that same year, except for members of the Student Court.
b. The term of office for the Student Court shall ordinarily begin on the first day of classes of the Fall semester, with the tenure of office limited to four (4) semesters.
Section 3. Vacancies in Office
a. Vacancies in office shall be filled for the remainder of the term as herein described:
1. In case of resignation, impeachment, or incapacity, vacancies are to be filled in the following way:
a. Vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Executive Vice President immediately upon occurrence of such vacancy.
b. Any other vacancies in the Executive Council shall be filled by a special election.
c. A vacancy on the Student Senate shall be filled for the remainder of the term through appointment by the Student Association President, and subject to 2/3 approval by the Student Senate and the Executive Council. The President must present his/her nomination for the vacancy within three (3) regularly scheduled Student Senate meetings of determination of the vacancy. The nominee for the position shall be present at the Senate meeting at the time of presentation of the nomination, with a petition signed by 250 Student Association members, and with the understanding that the nominee carries his/her own petition. If the nominee is rejected, that appointment procedure shall be reintroduced as prescribed above. If 1/3 of the Senators become appointed Senators, then a special election shall be held to fill any additional vacancies.
d. Any vacancies in the Student Court of Appeals shall be filled by a special election.
e. A vacancy on the Student Court shall be filled by an individual through appointment by the Student Association President. The President must present his/her nomination for the vacancy within five (5) regularly scheduled Executive Council meetings upon determination of the vacancy by the Student Court. The senate then has two (2) regularly scheduled meetings to confirm the nomination by 2/3 of the Senate present and voting. If the nominee is rejected then the appointment process is reinitiated.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH, MEMBERSHIP, DUTIES, POWERS, MEETINGS
Section 1.
a. The Executive Council shall be composed of the following Officers of the Student Association.
Section 2. Membership, Duties, and Powers
a. President
1. Shall be the official spokesperson of the Student Association.
2. Call and preside over the meetings of the Executive Council.
3. Preside over the Student Forum in accordance with Article VI, Section 2.
4. May veto Student Senate Legislation prior to the next regularly scheduled Senate meeting after the passage of the legislation. The veto must be submitted in writing and must include specific justifications and recommendations. The Student Senate has the power to override the veto by a 2/3 vote of those present and voting, within three regularly scheduled meetings since receiving the veto, otherwise the veto remains in effect.
5. Shall serve as a voting member of the College Council.
b. Executive Vice President
1. To become president upon the resignation or incapacity of the President.
2. To perform the duties of the President in the absence or inability of the President.
3. To call and preside over meetings of the Student Senate.
4. To call a meeting of the Student Forum in accordance with Article VI
Section 2
c. Vice President for Finances
1. To be the financial officer of the Student Association and to administer the financial affairs of the Student Association.
2. Shall oversee income and expenses of all organizations of the Student Association.
d. Vice President for Activities
1. Shall be the officer responsible for the implementation of and coordination of social, cultural, and recreational programs to be sponsored by the Student Association.
e. Vice President for Student Services
1. Shall act as coordinator of all services offered to the membership of the Student Association.
2. Shall act as an Ombudsperson between the student body and administrative service aspects of the college.
3.To serve as a resource person for all Student Senate meetings in the area of student services.
f. Vice President for the Arts
1. Shall be the officer responsible for the coordination of all arts programs sponsored by the Student Association.
g. Vice President for Academics
1. Shall be the officer responsible for the coordination of all academic programs and affairs offered to the membership of the Student Association.
2. Shall act as an Ombudsperson between the student body and both the administration and the faculty's academic policy makers.
h. Vice President for Organizations
1. Shall be the officer responsible for representing the concerns and development of all clubs and organizations, including minority groups on campus with respect to Student Association policy.
2. Shall be an ex-officio to the Board for Evaluating Existing Organizations, and the Board for Evaluating New Organizations.
3. Shall be responsible for setting up the Organization Fair.
4. Shall assume the responsibility of liaison between the Student Association and the following organizations: Greek Council, Cardinal Points, and WQKE.
i. Vice President for Central Affairs
1. Shall act as an Ombudsperson between the State University of New York at Plattsburgh student body, and both SUNY Central and the New York State government.
2. Shall be the Plattsburgh representative on the Student Assembly of the State of New York.
3. Shall be the officer responsible for representing minority issues and women's concerns on this campus.
j. One faculty advisor approved by the Executive Council who will be a non-voting, ex-officio member.
Section 3. General Duties and Powers
a. Shall create committees with the Student Senate approval to aid in the administrative function.
b. Shall appoint individuals to aid in the administrative functions of the Student Association.
c. Shall draw up the budget and present in to the Student Senate for approval.
d. Shall enforce and effectuate all statutes of the legislative branch and all rulings of the judicial branch.
e. Shall recommend other needed legislation to the legislative branch.
f. Shall submit a written report to the Student Senate at each regular scheduled Senate meeting.
Section 4. Meetings
a. The Executive Council shall call a meeting once every week that the College is in session by the President at a regularly scheduled time and place.
b. Special meetings may be called by the President or by a request of a majority of the members of the Executive Council
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, MEMBERSHIP, DUTIES, POWERS MEETINGS
Section 1. The Student Senate
a. Membership
1. The Executive Vice President, who shall vote only in the case of a tie and then only in the negative.
2. The Student Senators with one vote per Senator
3. One Faculty Advisor, approved by the Student Senate, who shall be a non-voting, ex-officio member.
b. Representation
1. The Student Senate shall be composed of no more than fifteen(15) members to be elected at large.
c. Officers
1. The Executive Vice President of the Student Association shall be the Chairperson of the Student Senate.
2. A Parliamentarian (non-voting) who shall be appointed by the Executive Vice President and approved by the Student Senate, whose duties and powers shall be those normally associated with that office.
3. A Secretary (non-voting) who shall be appointed by the Executive Vice President with the approval of the Student Senate.
4. A Senator shall be elected Senator Pro-Tem, by the Student Senate, to act as Chairperson in the absence of the Executive Vice President.
d. Meetings
1. Meetings shall be held at least once every two weeks that the College is in session at a regularly announced time and place.
2. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Vice President or by a majority of the Student Senate.
3. A quorum is needed to conduct all business.
4. A quorum will consist of a majority of the voting members of the Student Senate.
e. Powers and Duties
1. To initiate and act upon legislation for the general welfare of the membership of the Student Association.
2. To investigate and act upon all policies and procedures which affect the membership of the Student Association.
3. To act upon proposed legislation of all committees under the jurisdiction of the Student Association.
4. To establish boards and committees which will aid in the legislative process.
5. To establish a student assessment fee which will be collected by an agent appointed by the chief administrative officer of the College of his/her designee.
6. Shall have the final responsibility to determine total dollar allocations for all Student Association funded organizations.
7. To approve the establishment, by the Executive Council, of all the executive boards and committees.
8. To confirm the existence of all Student Association organizations.
Section 2. The Student Forum
a. The membership of the Student Forum shall be as follows: any member of the Student Association.
b. The duties of the Student Forum shall be able to make recommendations on all matters related to the Student Association as described in Article II.
c. A meeting of the Student Forum may be called by the Executive Vice President or by a petition of 5% or more of the members of the Student Association as described in Article II.
d. All meetings of the Student Forum shall be chaired by the President.
JUDICIAL BRANCH, MEMBERSHIP, OFFICERS, MEETINGS POWER AND DUTIES
Section 1. The Student Court
a. Membership and Officers
1. The Student Court shall be composed of a Chief Justice and six (6) Associate Justices all of whom are to be free of any elected office of the Student Association.
2. The Chief Justice shall appoint a Court Clerk who shall be a non-voting member, whose duties are to keep complete and accurate records of all meetings of the Student Court and the cases before it.
b. Meetings
1. A business meeting of the Student Court can be called by either the Chief Justice or a majority of the Associate Justices of the Student Court.
2. The Student Court shall convene for the purpose of a hearing or a case upon the submission of a written request to the Court Clerk by a member of the Student Association.
3. All official actions of the Student Court shall become a matter of public record. 4. A quorum of the Court is necessary to conduct all official business. A quorum shall consist of ¾ of the Justices of the Court.
c. Powers and Duties
1. Questions of a disagreement as to constitutionality, legality, jurisdiction, of non-performance of a constitutional of statutory mandate must be referred to the Court upon receipt of any written request for a ruling of the Court. Reason for decisions must be rendered in writing.
Section 2. Student Court of Appeals
a. Membership and Officers
1. The Student Court of Appeals shall be composed of a Chief Justice and four (4) Associate Justices.
2. The Chief Justice shall appoint a Court Clerk who shall serve as a non-voting member whose duties are to keep accurate and complete records of meetings of the Student Court of Appeals and the cases before it.
b. Meetings
1. A business meeting of the Student Court of Appeal can be called either by the Chief Justice or a majority of the Associate Justices of the Student Court of Appeals.
2. The Student Court of Appeals shall convene a preliminary hearing upon the submission of a appeal to the Court Clerk for the purpose of determining validity of the request for an appeal. Upon determining the validity of the request for the appeal, The Court shall convene a hearing.
c. Powers and Duties
1. To determine the validity of all requests for appeals submitted to the Court.
2. To act after hearing on any and all appeals received with a binding and final decision.
AMENDMENTS, ELECTIONS, REFERENDUMS
Section 1. Referendums and Elections
a. All Referendums and Elections shall be conducted by an independent Board of Elections.
b. The independent Board of Elections shall be composed of not less that three (3) nor more than five (5) members of the Student Association appointed by the president in the first month of his/her office and confirmed by 2/3 of the Senate present and voting.
c. Amendments to the Constitution of the Student Association of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh must be approved in student referenda with at least 10% of the general membership voting in the referenda to constitute a valid referenda.
d. The Student Senate, by a majority, may send to a Student Referendum any proposed question for final approval.
e. A Student Referendum may be called by a petition of 5% of the members of the Student Association.
Section 2. Elections
a. Dates of Elections
1.Elections shall be held at large for the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch.
2. The general election shall be held the first Tuesday of December, except for the appointed members of the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch.
3. The Board of Elections shall have the power to hold elections / referendums on a more practical date if the deem necessary.
a. This power shall be limited to a maximum of ten (10) days in which regularly scheduled classes are held to modify the date of the vote in question.
b. Board of Elections
1. The Board of Elections shall insure that all elections and votes on referendums are held in a fair way and shall establish an election / referendums committee composed of Student Association members, none of whom are running for election and are free of any elected positions in the Student Association.
c. Special Elections and Referendums
1. Special election shall be held within fifteen (15) days in which regularly scheduled classes are held upon determination of a vacancy.
2. Referendum votes shall be held on the first voting date that is at least twenty (20) calendar days after the determination for the need for a vote is accessed.
a. Shall coincide with the general election, in accordance with Article VIII, Section 2a and c.
b. Shall be held on the second Tuesday in April, in accordance with Article VIII, Section 2a and c.
c. The Board of Elections shall have the power to hold a referendum on any day in which regularly scheduled classes are in session prior to the scheduled referendum vote dates, if deemed necessary, as specified in Article VIII, Section 2,c,2.
Section 3. Amendments
a.Student Senate Initiative
1. Amendments to the Constitution of the Student Association of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh must be approved by a majority vote of the Student Senate present and voting.
2. If passed by the Student Senate, the amendment is to be followed by a student referendum.
b. Student Initiative
1. A petition for amendment signed by five percent (5%) of the general membership shall be presented to the Student Senate for their information and shall be followed by a student referendum.
RULES OF PROCEDURES
Section 1.
a. Robert's Rules of Order, of the latest available edition, shall provide guidelines for meetings in all branches of the Student Association except the Judicial Branch.
Section 2.
a. All branches of government of the Student Association of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh shall retain the right to establish bylaws regarding their internal operation in accordance with this constitution and legislation of the Student Senate.
IMPEACHMENT
Section 1. Members of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches
a. Charges of impeachment may be brought by any member of the Student Association with a petition signed by at least 51% of the membership of the Student Association against any member of the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial Branch for malfeasance in office.
b. This petition must then be presented to the Student Court for validation.
c. Upon validation of the petition, trial proceedings shall be set by the Student Court and a trial shall be held no later than ten (10) business days in which the College is in session, from the time the Student Court validated the petition.
d. If found guilty, the defendant shall forfeit his / her office for the remainder of the term of that office.
e. The student Senate may file with the Student Court for the impeachment of any member of the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial Branch by a ¾ vote of the Student Senate in accordance with b and c of section 1 Article X.
f. The President's power to veto legislation does not apply to charges of impeachment.
TAX EXEMPT STATUS
Section 1. Internal Revenue Requirements
a. The following clauses shall be incorporated into the constitution in order to obtain a 501-(c) (3) (Tax Exempt Status) from the Internal Revenue Service.
1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the organization exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by any organization exempt from Federal income tax under IRC 501 (c) (3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent tax laws.
2. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director, officer of the organization, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the organization), and no member, trustee, officer of the organization or any private individual shall share in the distribution of any of the organization's assets on dissolution of the organization.
3. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except otherwise provided by IRC 501 (h)) or participating in, or intervening in ( including the publication or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidates for public office.
4. In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the organization shall, after payment of necessary expenses, thereof be distributed to such organizations as shall qualify under section 501 ( c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal Tax Laws, or to the Federal government of to State or local government for a public purpose, subject to the approval of a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
5. In any taxable year in which the organization is a private foundation as described in IRC 509 (a), the organization shall distribute its income for said period at such time and manner as not to subject it to tax under IRC 4942, and the organization shall not (a) engage in any act self-dealing as defined in IRC 4941 (d), (b) retain any excess business holdings as defined in IRC 4943 (c),(c) make any investments in such a manner as to subject the organization to tax under IRC 4944, or (d) make any taxable expenditures as defined in IRC 4945 (d) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal Tax laws.
HAZING
Section 1.
a. Hazing in any form is prohibited. Hazing is considered to be interference with personal liberty of others and includes any act of domination by some students over others, which may lead to injury, emotional disturbance, physical discomfort, or humiliation.
b. Also, hazing which involves the forced consumption of liquor or drugs for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organization is specifically prohibited.
c. It is understood that the Student Association prohibits hazing in accordance with items 13.01 and 13.03 of the Student Conduct Manual, under College Regulations, and also in accordance with the New York State Law.
RATIFICATION
Section 1. Ratification
a. This Constitution shall become effective on January 1, 1974 upon the passage by 2/3 of the Student Senate present and voting and by a majority of those students voting in favor of this constitution in which 15% of the total Student Association membership shall participate.
b.The voting on this Constitution shall supersede the Constitution in effect on December 31, 1973.
Section 2. Enabling
a. To expedite the introduction of this Constitution this clause shall enable elections to be held on December 4, 1973 by the present 1973 Student Association Court under their guidelines and the elected officers shall assume office on January 1, 1974 under this new Constitution.
b. To expedite the introduction of the new Constitution this clause shall enable all legislation passed by October 29, 1973 to remain in force until March 15, 1974.
Section 3. Elimination of the Ratification Clause
a. As of March 16, 1974 Article XI shall be null and void.
DISSOLUTION
Section 1. Dissolution Clause
a. In the event that the Student Association dissolves, the balance of its total financial and material resources shall be placed in independent escrow savings account compounding its interest, until such time as the Student Association re-establishment.
Date Accepted: November 15, 1973
Amended: October 2, 1975
May 13, 1975
December 7, 1976
December 8, 1987
December 6, 1988
December 3, 1991
November 30, 1993
November 29, 1994
December 9, 1997