Documents   > Constitution

Downloadable forms:

PDF file (80KB)

word 2003 and older file (113KB)

word 2007 and newer file (113KB)

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

STUDENT SENATE CONSTITUTION

Preamble

We, the Students of Winona State University, in order to enhance our education, both curricular and co-curricular; to promote equal opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, financial status, physical disability, sexual preference, or veteran status; to provide our rights as students; to hearten free discussion, inquiry, and critical thinking; to relish general jurisdiction over academic concern, rules, and rights; and to provide self governance; to herby establish this Constitution.

Article I. Establishment
Article II. Governance
Article III. Initiative and Referendum
Article IV. Constitutional Amendment Procedures
Article V. Sunrise Clause

Article I. Establishment

Section 1: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Winona State University Student Association, hereafter referred to as the WSUSA.

Section 2: Authorization

This constitution is established under the authorization of the statutes of the state of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Policy 2.

Section 3: Membership

The WSUSA shall consist of all students enrolled for credit at Winona State University (hereafter referred to as WSU) who are not represented by a WSU collective bargaining agent and are not members of the excluded management group.

Article II. Governance

Section 1: Winona State University Student Senate

WSUSA shall be represented by the Winona State Student Senate, hereafter referred to Student Senate.

Section 2: Purpose

The purpose of the Winona State University Student Senate shall be to represent, advocate for, provide and act as an official voice for, and ultimately act on behalf of the Student Association and the interests thereof; to preserve, protect, and defend the process of student consultation and the rights of students to participate in and influence the decision-making, legal, and political processes of the educational system at the university, state, and federal level; and to work to achieve and protect affordability, accessibility, and quality within Winona State University and the educational system.

Section 3: Senate Membership

Subsection A. Executive Officers

President

  • a. Shall act as official spokesperson of the WSUSA and the Student Senate.
  • b. Shall ensure that the provision of this constitution, the Student Senate By-Laws, and other written policies are followed.
  • c. Shall chair the Student Senate meetings. [Art.II.3.C]
  • d. Shall be a non-voting member of the Student Senate.
  • e. Shall call special meetings of the Student Senate when necessary.
  • f. Shall see to the proper execution of all motions passed by the Student Senate.
  • g. Shall organize the Meet and Discuss delegation and prepare relevant materials for presentation. [Art.II.6]
  • h. Shall ensure representation at all state student association meetings and conferences.
  • i.Shall, in conjunction with the Vice President, appoint all Committee Chairpersons and Affiliated Members pending Student Senate confirmation.
  • j.Shall be the chair of the Cabinet meetings.
  • k. Shall appoint students to Judicial Board, All-University Committees, Task Forces, and other university-wide groups, pending Student Senate confirmation.

Vice President

  • a. Shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence, or in the event that a vacancy occurs in the Presidency, shall assume the title and responsibilities of that office.
  • b. Shall serve as chairperson of the Student Senate Working Documents Committee.
  • c. Shall uphold the WSUSA Constitution, Student Senate By-Laws, and other written policies.
  • d. Shall be a non-voting member of Student Senate.
  • e. Shall appoint all Student Senate standing committee members, pending Student Senate confirmation.
  • f. Shall, except in cases where a direct conflict of interest may result, coordinate all Student Senate elections and referendums.
  • g. Shall serve as the chief facilitator of the Executive Board.
  • h. Shall perform other duties as assigned by the Student Senate President.
  • i. Shall be coordinator and ex-officio member without a vote on all committees of the WSUSA.
  • j. Shall serve as the Student Senate liaison to the Alliance of Student Organizations.
  • k. Shall serve as sergeant-at-arms of the Student Senate.

Treasurer

  • a. Shall be the chairperson of the Student Activity Fund Committee (SAFC).
  • b. Shall uphold the WSUSA Constitution, Student Senate By-Laws, and other written policies.
  • c. Shall be a non-voting member of the Student Senate.
  • d. Shall be responsible of the financial affairs of the Student Senate.
  • e. Shall be responsible for Financial Reporting.
    1. All spending must be reported on an item by item basis.
    2. All spending greater or equal to $100 must be approved by the Student Senate.
    3. All spending greater than 3% above a budgeted line item must be approved by the Student Senate.
  • f. Shall preside over audits of organizations funded by the Student Activity Fund if such audit is deemed appropriate be the Student Senate.
  • g. Shall, in conjunction with the other Executive Officers, prepare the Student Senate budget and submit it to the Student Senate for approval.
  • h. Shall be a chairperson of the Student Fee Management Committee (SFMC).

Subsection B. Senators

Representation

  • a. There shall be two Student Senator positions from each degree granting academic college.
  • b. There shall be three Student Senator positions from each credit classification (Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshmen) as prescribed in the Student Senate By-Laws.
  • c. There shall be two Student Senator positions for students enrolled in Graduate Studies.
  • d. There shall be four At-Large Student Senator positions.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • a. Shall be the only voting members of Student Senate.
  • b. Shall uphold the WSUSA Constitution, Student Senate By-Laws, and other written policies.
  • c. Shall regularly attend the Student Senate meetings as prescribed in the Student Senate By-Laws.
  • d. Shall serve as a voting member on one Student Senate standing committee.
  • e. Shall serve as a voting member on at least one All-University committee if there are any vacancies.

Seniority

a. Pro-Tempore

  • i. The most senior member, as defined by the number of Student Senate meetings attended while serving in an elected Student Senate position, shall hold the title of Senate Pro-Tempore.
  • ii. Should a vacancy occur in the Vice Presidency, the Senate Pro-Tempore shall serve as the interim Vice President, assuming all Vice Presidential duties and responsibilities thereof, until the results of the special election are ratified.

b. Further Classification

  • i. The remaining senators shall be ranked after the Pro-Tempore as determined by the number of senate meetings attended while serving in an elected Student Senate position.
  • ii. The highest ranking member present shall assume the duties of the Pro-Tempore for the duration of his/her absence.

Subsection C: Chair Succession

Order of Succession

  • a. The order of succession is: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Pro-Tempore, and remaining Student Senate members according to seniority.
  • b. In the event that the Student Senate President is unable to call the scheduled meeting to order the most senior member in the order of succession present shall call the meeting to order and act as chair.

Transfer of Chair Authority

  • a. In the event that the Chair speaks in favor of one side of a question, he/she must pass the gavel to the next eligible member in the order of succession.
  • b. The gavel shall not be passed to a member who has already spoken in favor of one side of a question.
  • c. The gavel shall remain with that member until passed again, or the main question is resolved and the gavel is passed back to the highest person in the order of succession present.
  • d. Along with the gavel goes all chair responsibility and authority.
  • e. If the gavel is passed to a voting member, that member votes last while chairing the meeting.

Subsection D. Eligibility, Elections, and Impeachment

Eligibility of Senate members

  • a. All members of and representatives to the Student Senate and its committees must be members of the WSUSA.
  • b. All members of and representatives to the Student Senate and its committees must have a minimum 2.0 GPA at time of election or appointment and maintain it while holding office.
  • c. All members of and representatives to the Student Senate and its committees placed on disciplinary or academic probation while in office shall forfeit his/her position.

Election Procedures

a. Applications

  • i. Applications shall be made available at least two weeks before they are due
  • ii. Applications shall be due one academic week prior to the opening of the polls

b. Elections

i. Spring General Elections

  • Executive Officers, Academic College Senators, Senior Senators, Junior Senators, and Sophomore Senators will be elected in the Spring General Elections.
  • These elections shall be held during the fifth academic week prior to the end of the spring semester.

ii. Fall General Elections

  • Graduate, At-Large, and Freshmen Senators will be elected in the Fall General Elections.
  • These elections shall be held during the fourth academic week of the fall semester.
  • Any additional vacant Student Senate positions at the time Fall General Elections applications are made available shall be filled in this election.

iii. Supplemental Elections

  • The supplemental elections shall be during the fifth academic week prior to the end of the fall semester and during the sixth academic week of the spring semester.
  • All senator positions that are vacant at the time applications are made available will be filled during the respective supplemental election.

iv. Special Elections

  • Vice President and Treasurer vacancies shall immediately initiate the special election process.
  • A Presidential vacancy shall be filled by special election only if there is also a simultaneous Vice Presidential vacancy.
  • The Student Senate Vice President or a majority of the Student Senate may call up to two additional special elections to fill Student Senate vacancies.

c. Ratification

      1. Election results will be disclosed at the first regular Student Senate meeting following tabulation.
      2. A motion to ratify the elections must be considered at the first regular Student Senate meeting following the meeting at which disclosure of election results occurred.

Term of Office

  • a. Senators and Executive Officers elected in the Spring General Election shall serve from the day immediately following the last day of finals for the spring semester through the last day of finals for the spring semester the following year.
  • b. Senators and Executive Officers elected subsequently shall serve from the time of the ratification of the elections through the last day of finals for the spring semester of that academic year.

Impeachment

a. The President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Senators of the WSU Student Senate may be removed from office for gross neglect of duty or ineligibility for office. Impeachment notice may be presented by any member of the WSUSA to the WSU Student Senate.

b. The Impeachment Procedure shall be as follows:

  • i. Any impeachment notice shall be presented in writing at a Student Senate meeting. Specific charges shall not be brought up at this time but rather shall be referred to the Judicial Board.
  • ii. Judicial Board shall act as the investigative committee as per Robert’s Rules of Order.
  • iii. The proceedings shall be held at a set date at least twenty-eight days after the impeachment notice is brought forward during a closed session of the Student Senate. These proceedings shall occur as per the disciplinary procedure outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order.
  • iv. The Student Senate shall have the final vote for or against removal in this procedure.
  • v. Each impeached member shall have a separate hearing.
  • vi. The accused member shall not vote and shall not count against quorum unless exonerated.

Subsection E: Affiliated Members

Administrative Office Assistant

  • a. Shall be hired by the Student Senate President pending Student Senate approval.
  • b. Shall act as secretary at the Student Senate meetings, post minutes and agendas, and fulfill office hours and duties as prescribed in the Student Senate By-Laws.
  • c. Shall be a non-voting member of the Student Senate.

Statewide Student Association Representative

  • a. Shall be appointed by the Student Senate President pending Student Senate confirmation.
  • b. Shall act as a liaison to the statewide student association, and shall head the WSU delegation at statewide student association functions in the absence of the Student Senate President.

Parliamentarian

  • a. Shall be elected by the Student Senate during the preceding spring following ratification of the Spring General Election as prescribed in the Student Senate By-Laws.
  • b. Shall assist the Chair and act as a reference to the Student Senate concerning Robert’s Rules of Order.
  • c. Shall be a non-voting member of Student Senate.

Section 4: Student Senate Committees

Subsection A: Standing Committees

Names and Purposes

  • a. Academic Affairs: Duties shall include advising and making recommendations to the WSU Student Senate and pursuing projects regarding academic concerns.
  • b. Diversity Awareness: Duties shall include advising and making recommendations to the WSU Student Senate and pursuing projects regarding diversity concerns and promoting diversity awareness.
  • c. Legislative Affairs: Duties shall include advising and making recommendations to the WSU Student Senate and pursuing projects regarding legislative issues and coordinating WSUSA’s lobbying efforts.
  • d. Public Relations: Duties shall include advising and making recommendations to the WSU Student Senate regarding matters of public relations and promoting the Student Senate and its projects.
  • e. Student Activity Fund Committee: Duties shall include advising and making recommendations to the WSU Student Senate regarding the Student Activity Fund and the management thereof.
  • f. Student Services: Duties shall include advising and making recommendations to the WSU Student Senate and pursuing projects regarding student services.
  • g. Technology Services: Duties shall include advising and making recommendations to the WSU Student Senate on technology issues and pursuing projects regarding the application of technology.

Membership

  • a. Each committee shall consist of up to four senators, as well as Associate Senators as prescribed in the Student Senate By-Laws.
  • b. The Student Senate Treasurer shall be chair of the SAFC.
  • c. All remaining standing committee chairs shall be Student Senators and shall be appointed by the President pending Student Senate confirmation.

Subsection B: Specialized Committees

Cabinet

  • a. The purpose of the Cabinet is to advise the Student Senate President; to consider policies and to establish priorities for the Student Senate committees; to make recommendations to WSU Student Senate; and to act as a coordination body for the WSU Student Senate.
  • b. Membership shall consist of the Executive Officers, standing committee chairs, the statewide student association representative, and ad-hoc committee chairs.
  • c. The Student Senate President shall be chair of the Cabinet.

Election Committee

  • a. The purpose shall be to oversee and operate all elections.
  • b. Membership shall consist of up to five WSUSA members appointed by the Student Senate President pending Student Senate confirmation. Members shall not have a direct conflict of interest in the election they are overseeing or operating.
  • c. The Student Senate Vice President shall act as chair in all cases except where a direct conflict of interest results.
  • d. The committee members shall act as election judges.

Executive Board

  • a. The purpose shall be to discuss and recommend matters of personnel and to manage the Student Senate operations.
  • b. Membership shall consist of the Student Senate President, Vice President, and Treasurer.
  • c. The Vice President shall be the chief facilitator of all meetings of the Executive Board.
  • d. Any member of the Executive Board may call a meeting, but all members must be present to constitute a quorum.

Working Documents

  • a. The purpose shall be to review and update the Student Association Constitution, the Student Senate By-Laws, and other written policies, and to make recommendations to the Student Senate regarding said documents.
  • b. Membership shall consist of the Student Senate Vice President, the Student Senate Parliamentarian, and up to four Student Senators, as well as Associate Senators as prescribed by the Student Senate By-Laws.
  • c. The Student Senate President shall appoint Working Documents committee members pending Student Senate confirmation.
  • d. The Student Senate Vice President shall act as chair.

Subsection C: Ad-Hoc Committees

  1. The Student Senate may form ad-hoc committees and task forces as seen fit in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.
  2. All ad-hoc committees and task forces shall remain in effect through the current academic year unless earlier dissolved.

Section 5: Affiliated Organizations

Subsection A: Student Fee Management Committee

  1. The purpose shall be to review and manage all student fees, and to make recommendations to the Student Senate regarding any changes thereof.
  2. The voting membership of the Student Fee Management Committee shall consist only of Student Association members.
  3. The Student Senate President shall appoint all members pending Student Senate confirmation.

Subsection B: Alliance of Student Organizations

  1. The Alliance of Student Organizations shall consist of representatives from all official student organizations.
  2. Student organizations shall be officially recognized following the approval of the organization’s constitution by the Student Senate.
  3. The Student Senate Vice President shall act as liaison to the Alliance of Student Organizations.

Subsection C: Judicial Board

  1. The Student Senate President shall appoint, with the consent of the Judicial Officer, all student representatives to the Judicial Board pending Student Senate confirmation.
  2. Duties are to hear and investigate charges against students and to recommend to the Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee action as in accordance with their Constitution and By-Laws. Duties shall also include investigation of impeachment charges of student government members and election grievances as per Robert’s Rules of Order.

Subsection D: Grievance Board

  1. Members shall be appointed in accordance with WSU Regulation 4-
  2. Duties are to hear and investigate student charges against Faculty and Administration in accordance with the Grievance Board’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 6: Meet and Discuss

Subsection A: Purpose

The Meet and Discuss Team is an agency of the Student Association created to facilitate discussion between the WSU Administration and students.

Subsection B: The Meet and Discuss Team shall consist of up to ten members:

  1. The President of the WSU Student Senate or his/her designee.
  2. The President of the Inter-Residence Hall Council or his/her designee.
  3. The President of Alliance of Student Organization or his/her designee.
  4. Up to two representatives of the WSU student mass media.
  5. Three Student Senate members as designated by the Student Senate President, in conjunction with the Vice President.
  6. Up to two additional Student Association members, not excluding Student Senate
  7. members, as designed by the Student Senate President, in conjunction with the Vice President.
  8. Designated members will serve in their position at one Meet and Discuss.

Subsection C: The Meet Discuss Team shall meet at least every two months.

  1. Special meetings may be called by either the Student Senate or the WSU Administration.
  2. One week notice of the meeting shall be given.
  3. The agendas for the Meet and Discuss meetings shall be determined by input from both the students and the WSU administration.

Section 7: Meeting Procedures

Subsection A: Quorum

Two-thirds of the filled membership of the Student Senate shall constitute quorum.

Subsection B: Senate Meetings

  1. The Student Senate shall hold regularly scheduled meetings as determined by the Student Senate President.
  2. Meetings shall be held no less than once every two academic weeks during Fall and Spring semester.
  3. The first meeting of the newly elected senate shall be called by the President of the Student Senate by the second week of the Fall Semester.

Subsection C: Agenda

The agenda for the Student Senate meeting shall be made public at least twenty-four hours in advance of the scheduled meeting.

Subsection D: Parliamentary Procedure

Meetings shall be run in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order unless otherwise specified by this Constitution or the Student Senate By-Laws.

Section 8: Sexual Harassment and Discrimination

Sexual harassment or discrimination within the Student Senate, be it physical or verbal in nature, shall not be tolerated. Policies and procedures regarding grievances shall be addressed in the Student Senate By-Laws.

Section 9: Student Senate By-Laws

Subsection A: Contents

The Student Senate By-Laws shall contain policies and procedures relevant to the operations of the Student Senate and may not contradict the WSUSA Constitution.

Subsection B: Amendment

Student Senate By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the Student Senate.

Article III. Initiative and Referendum

Section 1: Initiative

Subsection A: Petition

The Student Senate shall develop rules concerning the format for resolutions and the validation of signatures on the petition. A petition introduced at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Senate containing a draft resolution signed by five percent or 250 members of the WSUSA, (whichever is smalleStudentr), shall require the Student Senate to vote on the presented resolution.

Subsection B: Senate Action

The Student Senate shall vote on a press following the date that the presented resolution ented resolution within two academic weekwas submitted to the Student Senate. If the resolution is defeated by the Student Senate, it must be submitted for referendum to the WSUSA within two academic weeks of the Student Senate vote.

Subsection C: Counter-Initiative

Within four academic weeks of passage of a resolution by the Student Senate a petition against the resolution signed by five percent or 250 members of the WSUSA, whichever is smaller, may be presented to the Student Senate. In such an occurrence the original resolution shall be suspended until the counter-resolution can be brought to a referendum. This referendum shall take place within two academic weeks of the date the counter-resolution was submitted.

Section 2: Referendum

Subsection A: Referenda Administration

Referenda shall be administered by the Student Senate Vice President.

Subsection B: Referenda Passage

The resolution shall become effective if at least ten percent of the WSUSA cast votes and if a majority approves the referendum.

Article IV: Constitutional Amendment Procedures

Section 1: Amendments

Proposed amendments shall be in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations of the Minnesota State Legislature and the policies of the MnSCU Board of Trustees.

Section 2: Proposal Methods

Subsection A: Through the Working Documents Committee

  1. WSUSA members may propose constitutional amendments to the Working Documents Committee for consideration.
  2. Upon receiving majority support from the Working Documents Committee, a proposed amendment shall be then brought forward to the Student Senate.
  3. Upon receiving two-thirds support by the Student Senate, the amendment shall then be put to the WSUSA for a vote; the amendment shall become effective if fifteen percent of the WSUSA cast their vote and if approved by a majority of said voters.
  4. If the amendment does not receive two-thirds support by the Student Senate, the amendment may then be put to the WSUSA for a vote; the amendment shall become effective if at least fifteen percent of the WSUSA cast votes and if at least two-thirds approve the amendment.

Subsection B: Through Petition

  1. Proposed amendments may be presented to the Student Senate by a student petition signed by five percent or 250 members of the WSUSA, whichever is smaller.
  2. Upon receiving two-thirds support by the Student Senate, the amendment shall then be put to the WSUSA for a vote; the amendment shall become effective if at least fifteen percent cast votes and if a majority approve the amendment.
  3. If the amendment does not receive two-thirds support by the Student Senate, the amendment shall become effective if at least fifteen percent of the WSUSA cast votes and if at least two-thirds approve the amendment.

Article V: Sunrise Clause

Section Application

  • a. All articles of this Constitution regarding elections, election procedures, and classification of Student Senators shall take effect with the first Spring General Election following the adoption of this Constitution.
  • b. The entirety of the Constitution shall take effect following the commencement of terms for those elected in the first Spring General Election run under the system outlined in this Constitution.

Section Article V Expiration: Article V is null and void after the entirety of this Constitution has taken effect.