Student Senate

Tom Coy, Advisor
141 Sisson Hall, ext. 3050
Tricia Anklan, President
Sisson 330-341, ext. 3070

For a complete copy of the constitution and by-laws, please see the Student Activities Office or www.bradley.edu/campusorg/senate.

Preamble

We, the students of Bradley University, confirm this constitution as a means of achieving an environment conducive to a high quality education and to our development as individuals. Consistent with all applicable Federal and State laws and University policies, this organization and its subordinate bodies and officers shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, veteran’s status, gender, sexual orientation, implied sexual orientation, national origin, or disability in its selection of officers and appointees.

Article I. The Student Senate

  1. The official title of the student governing body shall be the Student Senate of Bradley University, henceforth referred to as Student Senate.
  2. The purpose of Student Senate shall be:
    1. To bring to the attention of the University Administration such matters as are deemed to be of importance to the Student Body, and to recommend courses of action on such matters.
    2. To serve as a medium of communication between the University Administration and the Student Body.
    3. To act as a coordinating body for all student actions when assistance is requested.
    4. To authorize, sponsor and supervise philanthropies, campaigns and projects deemed worthy of the Student Senate.
    5. To approve or reject the Student Activities Budget Review Committee (SABRC) budget as submitted by the Chairperson of SABRC.
    6. To publicize the Student Senate's policies, activities and resolutions to Bradley University and the community at large.
    7. To create, authorize and fill the Student Senate committees.
    8. To develop, adopt and revise resolutions as may be deemed necessary.
    9. To obtain the approval of the Student Body in matters where approval is deemed necessary through a referendum process.
    10. To operate in any other capacity deemed necessary and appropriate on behalf of the Student Body.

Article II. Membership of the Student Senate

  1. Four student body officers—President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer—shall be elected to represent all Bradley University Students.
  2. The University Senator shall be selected to serve as liaison between Student Senate and University Senate.
  3. Standing Committee Chairpersons shall be selected by the Student Body Officers to oversee committee operations.
  4. Ad-Hoc Committee Chairpersons shall be selected when deemed necessary.
  5. The Executive Board of the Student Senate shall consist of the Student Body Officers, the Chairperson(s) of the Academic Affairs, Campus Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Student Relations Committees.
  6. Any other persons deemed necessary by the Vice President may serve on the Executive Board with a simple majority approval by the Student Senate.
  7. Senators shall represent their specific constituencies in the Student Senate.
    1. Two (2) student Senators shall represent each of the following Bradley University Residential Halls:  Geisert Hall, Harper - Wyckoff Halls, Heitz Hall, University Hall, Williams Hall. 
    2. Five Student Senators shall represent all other forms of Bradley housing.
    3. One (1) Student Senate shall represent each of the the BradleyUniversity academic colleges. 
    4. One Student Senator shall represent all transfer students at Bradley University.
    5. One (1) Student Senator shall represent the Athletes' Brave's Council.
    6. Eight (8) Student Senators shall represent Bradley University's Student Organizations.
    7. One Student Senator shall represent each of the following Bradley University Greek Councils:  The Interfraternity Council, The Pan-Hellanic Council & The National Pan-Hellenic Council.
    8. One Student Senator shall represent the United States Army Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC).
    9. Reapportionment of Student Senate Seats shall be conducted at a time determined by a majority of the Executive Board.
    10. In the event of reapportionment, affected constituencies shall hold new Senate elections.
  8. The Director of Student Activities shall serve as the primary Student Senate Advisor, and may be aided by the Student Activities Graduate Assistant.
  9. The Student Senate shall select one (1) but no more than two (2) faculty members to serve as additional Student Senate Advisors.

Article III. Duties

  1. Duties of the Student Body Officers:
    1. Student Body President
      1. To act as the official representative of the Student Senate.
      2. To speak on behalf of the Student Body.
      3. To act as an ex-officio member of the Student Senate, with the power of motion, but not the power to vote.
      4. To represent Student Senate to the Administration in all matters pertaining to student affairs.
      5. To serve as an active member of the Student Senate Executive Board.
      6. To appoint student representative(s) to all University committees on which students are allowed to serve and report to the Student Senate on their activities when necessary and available.
      7. To serve on the Bradley University Student Advisory Committee.
      8. To assume or assign all other duties not expressly granted in this document.
      9. To maintain regular relations with the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs.
      10. To adhere to the dress code as deemed by the Executive Board.
      11. To serve 1 (one) constituency hour with the location to be designated by the Internal Affairs Committee.
      12. To attend all Senate sponsored and co-sponsored events.
      13. To aid the President-Elect in becoming familiar with the duties of the office.
      14. To serve through the end of the academic year, subject to impeachment, resignation, and/or change or reapportionment of the seat.   
    2. Vice President
      1. To serve as chairperson at all meetings of the Student Senate.
      2. To serve as an active member of the Student Senate Executive Board and to act as its chairperson.
      3. To oversee the actions of all Student Senate Committees and University Senator.
      4. To regularly report all internal workings of Student Senate to the Student Body President.
      5. To complete ceremonial duties in the absence of the Student Body President.
      6. To serve on the Bradley University Student Advisory Committee.
      7. To maintain regular relations with the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs.
      8. To adhere to the dress code as deemed by the Execitive Board.
      9. To serve 1 (one) constituency hour with the location to be designated by the Internal Affairs Committee.
      10. To attend all Student Senate events and co-sponsored events.
      11. To aid the Vice-President-Elect in becoming familiar with the duties of the office.
      12. To serve through the end of the academic year, subject to impeachment, resignation, and/or change or reapportionment of the seat. 
    3. Secretary
      1. To keep an accurate record of all Student Senate meetings and distribute copies of the minutes to the Student Senate before its next meeting.
      2. To act as the chief correspondent of the Student Senate.
      3. To schedule the meeting place for the Student Senate.
      4. To notify all Student Senate members of all Student Senate meetings.
      5. To keep an accurate and updated membership roll.
      6. To make public the official actions of the Student Senate and other information deemed appropriate.
      7. To serve as an active member of the Student Senate Executive Board.
      8. To serve on the Bradley University Student Advisory Committee.
      9. To maintain regular relations with the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs.
      10. To serve as a voting member of the Student Senate.
      11. To adhere to the dress code as deemed by the Executive Board.
      12. To serve 1 (one) constituency hour with the location to be designated by the Internal Affairs Committee.
      13. To aid the Secretary-Elect in becoming familiar with the duties of his/her office.
      14. To attend all Student Senate events and Student Senate co-sponsored events.
      15. To serve through the end of the academic year, subject to impeachment, resignation, and/or change or reapportionment of the seat. 
    4. Treasurer
      1. To keep accurate and thorough financial records of the Student Senate.
      2. To prepare a detailed operations budget for each upcoming academic year and present it to the Student Senate for approval within the first three (3) meetings of the Student Senate of the fall semester.
      3. To assist the committee chairpersons in the planning of their individual budgets.
      4. To sit as a voting member on Student Activities Budget Review Committee.
      5. To inform and update the Student Senate on Student Activities Budget Review Committee proceedings.
      6. To serve as an active member of the Student Senate Executive Board.
      7. To serve on the Bradley University Student Advisory Committee.
      8. To maintain regular relations with the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs.
      9. To plan and implement fundraisers
      10. To serve as a voting member of the Student Senate.
      11. To adhere to the dress code as deemed by the Executive Board.
      12. To serve 1 (one) constituency hour with the location to be designated by the Internal Affairs Committee.
      13. To aid the Treasurer-Elect in becoming familiar with the duties of the office.
      14. To attend all Student Senate events and Student Senate co-sponsored events.
      15. To serve through the end of the Academic year, subject to impeachment, resignation, and.or change or reappointment of the seat.
  2. Duties of Standing Committee Chairpersons
    1. To serve as an active member of the Executive Board.
    2. To serve, or designate a member to serve temporarily, as the official committee representative to the University and administration.
    3. To carry out the official correspondence of the committee.
    4. To maintain accurate and thorough committee records.
    5. To report committee activities to the Student Senate and the Executive Board.
    6. To serve as a voting member of the Student Senate.
    7. To hold weekly committee meetings, unless approved by the Student Body Vice President.
    8. To adhere to the dress code as deemed by the Executive Board.
    9. To serve 1 (one) constituency hour with the location to be designated by the Internal Affairs Committee.
    10. To ensure all duties of the Standing Committees are satisfied.
    11. Toserve through the end of the academic year, subject to impeachment, regnation, and/or change or reapportionment of the seat.
  3. Duties of Ad-Hoc Committee Chairpersons
    1. To ensure the mandated objectives are fulfilled.
    2. To report pertinent happenings to the Student Senate.
    3. To report to the Executive Board at the discretion of the Student Body Vice President
  4. Duties of University Senators
    1. To serve on at least one Student Senate Standing Committee.
    2. To maintain communication with University Senate and Student Senate  and to report pertinent happenings to each respective body.
    3. To attend all University Senate and Student Senate General Assembly Meetings.
    4. To adhere to the dress code as deemed by the Executive Board.
    5. To serve 1 (one) constituency hour with the location to be designated by the Internal Affairs Committee.
    6. To serve (1) office hour a week with the location to be sesignated by the Internal Affairs Committee.
    7. To serve through the end of the academic year, subject to impeachment, resignation, change of residency, or reapportionment of seats.
  5. Duties of Senators
    1. To serve on at least one Student Senate Standing Committee.
    2. To maintain communication with one's respective constituency by posting weekly Student Senate minutes and other pertinent information.
    3. To attend the general meetings of the organization representing one's respective constituency. If no organization represents a specific constituency, acceptable alternatives must be arranged with the Executive Board of the Student Senate.
    4. To adhere to the dress code as deemed by the Executive Board.
    5. To serve 1 (one) constituency hour with the location to be designated by the Internal Affairs Committee.
    6. To serve through the end of the academic year, subject to impeachment, resignation, change of residency, or reapportionment of seats.

Article IV. Meetings

  1. Regularly scheduled meetings of the Student Senate shall be held on campus once a week, unless specified by the Student Senate Executive Board.
  2. Special meetings of the Student Senate may be held as outlined in the Student Senate Statutes.
  3. Meetings of the Student Senate committees shall be held at least once a week as determined by the respective chairpersons. If committees are to meet less than once a week, the Internal Affairs Committee must grant approval.

Article V. Provisions for Amending the Constitution

  1. All amendments to this constitution are subject to a preliminary review, though not approval, by the Internal Affairs Committee before an amendment can be proposed to the Student Senate.
  2. Amendments to the constitution may be approved by a three-fourths vote of the Student Senate at the same meeting at which they are proposed.
  3. Amendments to the constitution may be approved by a two-thirds vote after lying over for one or more weeks.