/Institutions/Northwestern-Health-Sciences-University/json/2022-2023-University-Catalog/University-Student-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Northwestern-Health-Sciences-University/json/2022-2023-University-Catalog/University-Student-Handbook.json

Article II - Organization Structure

Section A – Conduct of Business

The Student Senate of Northwestern Health Sciences University shall hold regular business meetings at least twice per month excluding those with an inter-trimester break. Any student of Northwestern Health Sciences University, whether a Senate member or not, shall be allowed to attend a Senate meeting. Any University student has the right to make a request, in advance, for an item to be placed on the agenda, but does not have voting rights. A non-senate member does not have the right to request the floor. In order to speak, prior arrangements must be made with the President of the Senate. The Senate may solicit reports from other organizations or individuals regarding concerns of current interest such as government affairs or professional affairs. Guests presenting such reports may be requested to do so on a regular basis.

Section B – Quorums

Student Senate Meetings. A majority of the elected Senators shall constitute a quorum at the business meeting of the Senate.

Student Body Meetings. A majority of each program of the student body shall constitute a quorum for a general student body meeting.

Section C – Procedural Rules

Subdivision 1

Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the meetings of the general student body and the Student Senate.

Subdivision 2

Suggested Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Committee time
3. Roll Call
4. Approval of the Minutes
5. Officer Reports
6. Committee Reports
7. Unfinished Business
8. New Business
9. Announcements
10. Adjournment

Subdivision 3

Votes of the Student Senate shall be decided by a majority. The presiding officer shall vote only in the case of a tie.

Section D – Officers: Eligibility and Terms

The student body shall duly nominate and elect from its members the following officers of the Student Senate: President, Vice Presidents for each program, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian. Student Senate officers shall not concurrently hold a position of President or Vice President in any other student organization. Student Senate Officers must be in good academic standing at the time of election and throughout their term or they will be relieved of the office by the Parliamentarian with notice from the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students. If an officer drops below part time enrollment, they will be relieved of the office by the Parliamentarian with notice from Dean of Students and Alumni Services.

President

• Eligibility: Students wishing to run for President of the Student Senate must have been enrolled in classes for at least three trimesters, but no more than six trimesters in their current program at the time of election. Those seeking the position of President must attend at least five Senate meetings during the trimester preceding the election.
• Term: The Presidential term lasts one year, or until the time of March elections.

Vice Presidents

• Eligibility: Students wishing to run for Vice-President of their program must have been enrolled in classes for at least one trimester but no more than six trimesters in their current program at the time of election.
• Term: Terms will last for one year, until the date of graduation, or until the time of March elections, whichever is earlier. Those seeking the position of Vice-President must attend at least three Senate meetings during the trimester preceding the election.

Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian

• Eligibility: Students wishing to run for the offices of Secretary, Treasurer or Parliamentarian must have been enrolled in classes for at least one trimester but no more than six trimesters in their current program at the time of election. They must be able to fulfill a one-year term of office. Those seeking these positions must attend at least three Senate meetings during the trimester prior to the election.
• Term: Terms will last for one year from the time of election. In the case of a midterm election, the term will last until the time of March elections.

Section E – Senators: Eligibility and Terms

Senator

• Eligibility: Any student is eligible to be a Senator. Senators from each class may be elected by the ratio of 1 representative for every 15 full-time students. There must be a minimum of 2 Senators and a maximum of no more than 6 Senators for every class.
• Term: Terms will last one year with elections in the summer trimester. There is no limit to the number of terms a student may be elected Senator. The Student Senate Parliamentarian will announce Senator vacancies to the class and ask for nominations to fill the position. In the case of replacing a Senator, the class represented by that Senator will nominate and elect a new Senator. The senator election will be coordinated by the Vice-President of that program and the Student Senate Parliamentarian. A nomination form must be signed and an in-class election will then take place.

Alternate Senator

• Eligibility: Any student is eligible to be an Alternate Senator. Any student participating in a Senator election but unable to represent his/her class due to the limit imposed by the ratio of 1 representative for every 15 students, with a limit of no more than 6 senators per class, may voluntarily elect to become a Senate Alternate. There may be no more than 2 Alternate Senators per class. In the situation where there would be more than 2 Alternate Senators, the Student Senate Parliamentarian will coordinate an Alternate Senator election. Split trimester students may fill a vacant spot representing the class of the term after the one they have successfully completed and are currently enrolled in.
• Term: Terms will last one year, or until then end of the Winter Term.

Section F – Officers

Subdivision 1

Rules of Succession If the position of President needs to be replaced, there will be an in Senate election between the Vice Presidents, overseen by the Dean of Students and Alumni Services. If a Vice President cannot hold the office, then the succession of replacement will be: Parliamentarian, Secretary, Treasurer, and Senators. The position of President must then be nominated, elected, and approved by a majority Student Senate vote.

Subdivision 2

Duties of the Officers

President

1. Conduct meetings of the Senate, and provide leadership in the development of general objectives.
2. Serve as a role model to students in terms of professional conduct.
3. Appoint ad hoc committees, and appoint student positions on University committees.
4. Promote Senate objectives and activities to students and serve to inform and educate students, faculty, administration, alumni, and professional associations as appropriate.
5. Convey a clear understanding of procedures to encourage greater participation in Senate activities and actively recruit Senators.
6. Coordinate the Teacher of the Year elections.
7. Meet with the Student Senate Cabinet monthly.
8. Assist other officers in their duties.
9. Prepare an agenda for each meeting.
10. Respond to official correspondence.
11. Must sit on university administrative committees when requested or delegate a qualified representative from the cabinet or senate.

Vice Presidents

1. Assume responsibilities of the President in their absence.
2. Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned by the President to include, but not limited to: new Senator Orientation, attendance at ad hoc committee meetings, attendance at other meetings, and assistance in planning the annual Student Leadership Award Dinner.
3. Serve as a liaison between the programs and the Senate President.
4. Appoint standing committee chairs in the absence of nominations.
5. Act as a liaison to Student Organizations by communication with respective club leaders and by inviting them to make tri-annual announcements at Senate meetings.
6. Participate in the Senate Committees they oversee.

Parliamentarian

1. Maintain order and ensure proper parliamentary procedure in Senate meetings.
2. Maintain Senate information boards and calendar.
3. Conduct all votes in Student Senate meetings and all general student elections for officers and Senators.
4. Announce Senate officer requirements to the student body at the beginning of each trimester during which such elections are to be held.
5. Announce to individual classes and programs unoccupied senate seats.
6. Enforce the Senate meeting attendance policy.
7. Maintain and continually update Bylaws.
8. Maintain the photo board and arrange for pictures of Senate members to be taken by the end of the third meeting of the trimester.
9. Update and produce the Student Senate Directory.

Secretary

1. Record minutes of Senate meetings in detail including votes tabulated and attendance.
2. Distribute the minutes of the Senate Meetings via e-mail to the Senate as well as post a copy on the Senate Bulletin Board.
3. Advertise for Student Senate, as required.
4. Assist committees with proposals and correspondence.
5. Collect minutes from committee meetings.
6. File agendas, minutes, and records of senate events for reference in the Senate Office.
7. Work directly with the Parliamentarian on coordinating lists of attendance.
8. Create an e-mail list and members list including all Senate members by the end of the second meeting of the trimester.

Treasurer

1. Maintain financial records for the Senate.
2. Accept deposits and issue disbursements as authorized.
3. Prepare budget outlines each trimester, and aid committees in the process of budget forecasting.
4. Provide Senate budget status reports as requested by the President.
5. Prepare a financial report at the end of each trimester, and submit for publication with Senate minutes.
6. Assist in the budget proposal process by preparing budget packets and track budget decisions for student organizations.
7. Prepare past budget history for the Budget Committee.

Senator

1. Serve to represent their class.
2. Attend all scheduled Senate meetings.
3. Actively participate in Senate and serve on at least one Student Senate committee.
4. Encourage student body awareness and participation in student functions by regular announcements to student class constituents.
5. Sit on a University Administrative Committee to represent the student body as requested by the Senate.

Senate Alternate

1. Serve to represent their class.
2. Attend all scheduled Senate meetings.
3. Actively participate in Senate and serve on at least one Student Senate committee.
4. Encourage student body awareness and participation in student functions by regular announcements to student class constituents.
5. May be asked to sit on a University Administrative Committee to represent the student body as requested by Senate.
6. May participate in all pre-motion discussions.
7. Make not make or second any motion to the Senate.
8. May not participate in further discussion once a motion has been made to the Senate.
9. May not vote on any motion made to the Senate, unless acting as a senator pursuant to #10.
10. May participate as a senator in the event of a representative from their class missing a meeting.

Post-Term Duties of an Officer

1. The former President shall be required to sit as an Ex-Officio member of the Student Senate for at least one trimester and can elect to sit for up to three trimesters following the completion of their elected term and be available for consultation until they graduate.
2. The Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Parliamentarian shall sit on the Student Senate for at least three meetings following completion of their terms of office and be available for consultations until they graduate.

These positions shall be non-voting positions if they are not elected representatives of the class. Failure to fulfill the duties of an officer will be handled in accordance with Article III.