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STUDENT BODY CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

We, the Students of United Tribes Technical College, preserve and promote cooperation, under-standing, and good will between faculty and student; and at the same time establish the following Constitution:

Article I

The name of this organization will be the Student Body of United Tribes Technical College.

Article II

Membership

All students who are classified as full-time students shall be considered members of the organization.

Article III

Governing Body

All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Student Senate.

Article IV

Composition of the Student Senate

Section 1 : The Student Senate shall be composed of:

1 Student Senate elected at large from each of the degree and/or certificate programs. Those programs offering both degrees and certificates are considered a single entity.

2 The five (5) officers of the Student Senate, namely thePresident, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian, as elected by the Student Body.

Section 2 : Any student or faculty member is invited to attend any Student Senate meeting. Any person with business to transact before the Student Senate should notify the presiding officer before the meeting to have the business placed on the agenda.

Section 3 : Students must be in good academic standing, carry a GPA of 2.5 or higher, have good attendance, and be free of security violations.

Article V

Election of the Student Senate

Section 1 : Fourteen (14) members of the UTTC Student Senate will be selected through their respected vocational areas by the second Friday in September.

Section 2 : The UTTC Student Body shall elect at-large a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Section 3 : Eligibility for any executive office shall require a candidate to be attending UTTC as a full-time student during the current academic year. A full-time student is hereby defined as an individual enrolled in at least twelve (12) semester credit hours.

Section 4 : The officers of the UTTC Student Senate shall be elected under the following provisions:

1.  A committee to oversee UTTC Student Senate elections will be established by the UTTC Student Senate, or by the UTTC President in the absence of Senate action to establish such a committee. A majority of the committee members and any volunteer workers should be UTTC students who are not actively running for office.

2.  The tasks of the election committee will include by not be limited to:

A. Seeking proper authorization and obtaining a current roster of all enrolled students from the UTTC Registrar’s office.

B. Procuring (e.g., printing through Arrow Graphics) and making available numbered ballots to eligible student voters.

C. Witnessing students affixing their signatures on the official ballet box.

D. Ensuring completed ballots are returned and secured in the official ballot box.

3. Notice or soliciting nominations for the UTTC Student Senate will be posted campus-wide by the election committee on or near four weeks before the day of elections.

4.Candidates for the UTTC Student Senate will be nominated at a public campus meeting no later than two (2) weeks before the day of elections.

5.A UTTC Student Senate candidate must be present at the campus nomination meeting for his/her nomination to become valid. In the event of extenuating circumstances (e.g., family death, medical, etc), a candidate may be nominated in absentia if the candidate notifies his/her Academic Advisor or the UTTC Student Senate Advisor of the circumstances as soon as possible.

Article VI

Meetings of the Student Senate

Section 1 : The Student Senate shall meet twice each month.

Section 2 : The President may call a special meeting at any time, providing that all members are properly notified as far in advance as possible. Each Senator shall consider it their responsibility to attend all Student Senate meetings.

Section 3 : Any faculty member or student may force a meeting of the Student Senate by a petition signed by not less than two-thirds of the Student Senate or one-third of the Student Body. Upon receipt of such a petition, the President must call a meeting within the next three (3) school days.

Section 4 : A majority of the total membership of the Student Senate shall be considered a quorum.

Section 5 : All excused absences shall be reported to the Secretary of the Student Senate before each meeting and justifies as such. The Student Senate has the right to expel a member without a justified excused absence.

Section 6 : Any member of the Student Senate with more than three (3) inexcusable absences from regular or special meetings for the year (the Senate shall have the final decision whether the absence is excused) shall forfeit membership in the Student Senate. The position shall be declared vacant and shall be filled according to the approved method of election.  (See page 60, By-Laws #8, A.B.C. and d) which is as follows: Any full-time student carrying twelve (12) credit hours or more is eligible for nomination to fill the vacancy of the Senator position.

Article VII

Executive Board

Section 1 : The Executive Board of the Student Body shall consist of the Student Body President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian.

Section 2 : For matters requiring immediate attention, the Executive Board shall have discretionary power.

Article VIII

Obtaining Student Senate Funds

Section 1 : Any request for money from the Student Senate will be made in writing and submitted to the Student Senate for their decision.

Section 2 : Any person, club, organization, or class, who received Student Senate approval of their request for money, will meet with the Treasurer to complete all necessary paperwork.

Section 3 : The Student Senate President will approve and the President and Treasurer will sign all vouchers or processes that are directly or indirectly involved with removal of money from the Student Senate's account. In the absence of the President, a designated officer will sign.

Section 4 : Before any amount of money is added to or removed from the Student Senate's account, it will be done so with the acknowledgment of the Student Senate Executive Committee.

Section 5 : Only with the majority consent of the Student Senate will a request of money be processed that concerns the removal of any amount of money from the Student Senate's account.

Article IX

Activities

Section 1 : All students, clubs, organizations, or class activities involving UTTC must have the approval of the Executive Committee to assure proper scheduling. The Committee must submit each month's calendar, prior to the month of the calendar, to the Vice president for Academic Affairs for approval. Student Senate has the right to review decisions of the Executive Committee.

Article IX

Activities

Section l:  All students, clubs, organizations, or class activities involving UTTC must have the approval of the Executive Committee to assure proper scheduling. The Committee must submit each month's calendar, prior to the month of the calendar, to the Dean of Vocational and Academic Services for approval. Student Senate has the right to review decisions of the Executive Committee.

Article X

Committees

Section 1 : All committees appointed by the Student Senate are directly responsible to the Student Senate.

Section 2 : Student Activities Committee consists of the President and Secretary of Student Senate and a minimum of three (3) other members who may be appointed by the President of the Student Senate after consultation with the Executive Board. The committee is responsible for planning scheduled activities for the students of UTTC, and to see that these activities are carried out in the manner suggested by the Senate. The Committee Secretary shall maintain an all-school calendar for the Vice President, and shall submit any addition to this calendar to the Secretary, to the Vice President and tot he Executive Board of the Student Senate. The Secretary shall be responsible to communicate information of such events publicly. This committee also serves as a clearing house for all school activities. Only activities that are available to the entire Student Body will be considered by this committee. The Chairperson of this committee, or in his/her absence, the Vice Chairperson, shall sign all contracts involving financial commitments, and shall obtain authorization of such finances from the Executive Board of Student Senate to meet these commitments.

Section 3 : Communications and Calendar Committee consists of the Secretary of the Student Senate, who chairs the committee, and members from each residence and two representatives from family housing. This committee is responsible for establishing channels of communication among on and off campus students, so that all students are aware of College meetings, events, activities, and extra curricular activities.

Article XI

Amendment or Revision of the Constitution

Section 1 : Amendments of this Constitution shall be proposed by the majority or quorum of the Student Senate, or by a petition signed by no less than one-third of the Student Body, and then submitted to the President of the Student Senate.

Section 2 : An amendment is ratified by two-thirds of the Student Senators.

Section 3 : Proposed amendments must be posted on the official school bulleting boards and circulated to the Student Body within seven (7) school days of their presentation to the Student Senate.

Article XII

Ratification

The Constitution is in force when fifty-one (51) percent of the Student Body have ratified.

Article XIII

Impeachment

Section 1 : Any officer or member of the Student Senate may be removed from office or membership under the following circumstances:

1. Said officer or member exhibits conduct unbecoming of an officer or member of the Senate.
   
2. Said officer or member neglects those duties as prescribed     by  the officer or such duties as delegated by the President of the Student Senate.

Section 2 : If impeachment proceedings are pending or in process said officer or member may appear before the Executive Board of the Student Senate for an informal hearing and submit a letter of resignation at this time, if so desired.

Section 3 : Impeachment proceedings shall be as follows:

1. A petition signed by seventy-five (75%) percent of the total Student Senate membership or fifty-one (51%) percent of the present Student Body shall be presented to the Student Senate, clearly stating the charges against the officer or member in question.
2. Charges against the officer or member in question shall be read at the next regular Senate meeting and immediately posted on the official school bulletin board.
3. During the next regular Senate meeting, the defendant shall be given ample time to present a defense.
4. An officer or member shall be impeached upon a three-fourths vote by ballot of the total Student Senate membership. Such vacancies created by impeachment shall be filled according to the approval method of action.

Bylaws:

1. The bylaws must in no way conflict with the principles set forth in the Constitution or they will be ruled void by a simple majority vote of the Student Senate members present.
2. Any organization wishing to become established on campus shall submit its Constitution to the Student Senate and receive approval thereof.
3. On all questions not provided for in this Constitution, Robert's Rule of Order shall govern the action of the Student Senate. If there is a conflict between the Constitution and Robert's Rule of Order , the Constitution shall prevail.
4. The Senate President's Agenda shall be arranged and placed on the official school bulletin boards as far in advance of the scheduled meeting as possible.
5. No student shall be eligible to hold more than one voting position in the Student Senate.
6. Homecoming King and Queen Candidates - Nominations for King and for Queen will be submitted to the Student Senate. Nominations are narrowed to maximum for four for King and four for Queen. The Homecoming King and Queen are elected from among these candidates on election day.
7. Publications wishing to receive student publications money shall submit budgets to the Student Senate in the spring of the year for monies to be disbursed the following year.
8. Upon the resignation, withdrawal or other forfeiture of membership, the vacancy shall be filled in the following manner:

A. Notification of opening(s) for Senate position(s) shall be announced no later than five days after the position has been declared vacant.

B. Applications will be taken for seven (7) days or until the next scheduled meeting, whichever length of time is longer.

C. Persons interested in filling the opening(s) shall submit a letter of application to the President of the Student Senate, and appear at the next scheduled meeting to state their reasons of application. It shall contain:

a.Past leadership experience(s)

b.Reason(s) for application

c.Expectations of Student Senate

d.Talents/abilities to be brought to Student Senate

D. At the next regularly scheduled meeting, letters of application will be read to the Student Senate and placed in nomination. A majority vote of members present is needed for election.

 

Student Senate Committee Structure:

The Student Senate is composed of one senator from each vocation. (see Article IV, Section I, Paragraph I), and five officers, namely, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian elected by the Student Body. These officers constitute the Executive Committee. Standing committees include: Student Activities, Graduation, Housing, Communication, Calendar, Grievance, Hearing, Cafeteria, and Student Awards.

The Student Senate is responsible to the Academic Dean. All formal motions of the Senate shall be written and copy submitted to the Academic Dean. The staff advisors to the Student Senate are appointed yearly by the Academic Dean.

Committees:

Student Activities Committee - This committee plans and schedules activities for UTTC students. The chairperson or a representative clears the activities with the Communications and Calendar Committees and, along with the other members of the committee, sees that events occur in the manner suggested by the Senate. The Student Activities Committee receives the motions of legally constituted student organizations and groups for referral to the Student Senate.

Communication Committee - This committee maintains channels of communication among on and off campus students so that all are informed of meetings, event, and activities. Prior to establishing and updating a calendar, one committee member clears activities and events as to date, time, and place with theAdminstrative Council who maintains a calendar for all UTTC activities.

Housing Committee - The senators appointed to this committee assist the staff housing committee in setting and carrying out housing policy. These senators also carry out house inspections monthly with other members of the staff housing committee.

Hearing Committee - Senators serving on this committee sit on the Student Hearing pane. Hearings are held bi-monthly. In this capacity, they assist in hearing charges brought against students and participate in the disciplinary procedures. Different Senators can serve on a monthly basis.

Grievance Committee - This committee is set up to hear student grievances against staff, faculty and other students. The Executive Board of the Student Senate sit on this committee as well as three designated staff people appointed by the UTTC President. This committee will convene when a written grievance is presented by a student who has already gone through individual consultation with the staff person the grievance is against, and another meeting with the supervisor of the staff person. The Grievance Committee is the third and last resort as authorized by the College President.

Student Awards Committee - This committee is comprised of volunteer members of UTTC students, and three members of the Student Senate. The committee meets each semester to review grades, attendance, and outstanding participation of students for that semester.

Graduation Committee - The Student Senate, along with the graduation class and staff advisors, meet five times during the semester to discuss and plan the upcoming graduation.

Cafeteria Committee - The Student Senate appoints one person to serve on the UTTC Cafeteria Committee. The student appointed to serve represents the student interest regarding policies of the Cafeteria.

Calendar Committee - The Student Senate will work closely with the administrative council and other campus groups and departments to ensure activities are properly approved and do not conflict with other scheduled activities.