Student Government Association (SGA)

Constitution and Bylaws

PREAMBLE

The students of Virginia International University (VIU) unite to form the Student Government Association (SGA) in order to exercise and ensure our rights and obligations as responsible members of the university community. The Student Government Association is a form and way to voice and uphold the opinions among the students and initiate implement policies governing their activities.  Through the SGA, the students seek to foster and support the ideas and wishes of the student body, to provide a communication network within the student body, to engender cooperation between all student groups, clubs and organizations, to act as a liaison between the administration, faculty and staff and the student body, and to provide an atmosphere of community within the university.

Constitution and Bylaws

CONSTITUTION

1. Name

The name of the organization shall be the Student Government Association of Virginia International University, heretofore known as the Student Government Association (SGA)

2. Purpose and Mission

The mission of the SGA is to strengthen student participation in the university by overseeing the formation of student clubs and by contributing to the university’s decision-making process through formal channels.

SGA shall

a. Serve as a forum for the discussion of matters pertaining to the welfare of students at VIU.

b. Serve as a liaison between the students and the faculty and staff.

c. Foster unity among students at VIU by sponsoring social activities and other events.

d. Oversee the creation of student clubs.

 3. Membership and voting privileges

a. SGA membership shall be comprised of all the full time and part-time students and the executive board.
b. Voting privileges shall be extended to all members of the SGA, as described in a).

4. Executive Board

Executive Board of the SGA shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer/Secretary. No other persons shall be considered as a member of executive board.

5. Meetings

a. The SGA shall meet no less than once per month during each of the Fall and Spring semesters, and as often as necessary to fulfill the Purpose and Mission as stated in Article II.

b. The SGA shall meet at a consistent day and time each month, as designated by the President and approved by the SGA members and other executive officers.

c. No proxy representation is allowed during these semi-annual meetings. In case if an executive officer can not make it, the meeting will be postponed to another earliest possible date.

d. Meeting minutes will be distributed via email to all SGA executive board members and will be subjected to approval during the next meeting.

BYLAWS

1. Duties of the Executive Officers

The President of SGA, is the elected official vested with the executive power of the VIU student body, shall

a. Serve for one-year term (starting Spring Semester until the next executive board members are elected.)

b. Oversee the operational aspects of all recognized student clubs and groups

c. Ensure SGA accountability to the Constitution of the VIU Student Government Association.

d. Convene SGA meetings as necessary

e. Preside at all SGA meetings

f. Organize and advertise SGA meetings, or appoint members to do so

g. Develop a working relationship with key members of the VIU’s leadership team, including the Provost, Dean of students and other decision making team members.

h. Represent the SGA in the VIU’s Board of Trustee’s meetings on Student Life.

The Vice President Shall

a. Serve as a liaison between the university administration and the SGA

b. Report administrative decisions and developments impacting students to the SGA

c. Preside at all SGA meetings where the President is unavailable

d. Assist the President and Secretary/Treasurer for the smooth and effective operation of the organization.

The Secretary/Treasurer shall

a. Maintain financial records for all transactions utilizing the SGA funds

b. Submit and propose a yearly budget to the SGA for membership approval

c. Assist the President and the Vice President in the execution of the duties

d. Record and distribute SGA meeting minutes

e. Record and distribute executive officer meeting minutes

2. Compliance with the University Policies

The SGA must agree to comply at all times with any and all relevant university policies, procedures, rules, regulations and guidelines. Since the views and activities of student organizations are not necessarily reflective of the university, all organizations are expected to include all publications issued (newsletter, brochures, pamphlets, etc.), except those specifically approved, an appropriate disclaimer.  For example, an appropriate disclaimer would read: “ The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the administration, faculty or student body of VirginiaInternationalUniversity unless specifically stated.”

3. Elections

a. All part-time and full-time VIU students are eligible to vote in general annual elections to elect SGA executive officers.

b. Any part-time and full-time VIU students shall be eligible to be a SGA officer, unless that student is employed as a work study of the sensitive duties.

c. Students who decide to run for one of the elected positions will be required to submit completed “Application for SGA Positions” form to the Office of Student and Career Service(OSCS).

d. The elections shall be supervised by the Ad-Hoc Elections Committee and held in a space designated by the Committee. The results of election will be announced by the Office of Student and Career Services (OSCS).

e. The SGA shall strive to have a maximum representation of nationalities among the executive officers.

f. No student may hold more than one office, unless no other eligible person is willing to serve.

g. If an executive position becomes vacant, an election to fill the position may be held at the next meeting of the SGA.

h. The term of the elected office is one year. Student may not serve in the same position for more than tow consecutive terms.

4. Voting

a. All SGA members, as defined in Article III of the Constitution, shall be entitled to cast one vote on any proposal or in any election.

b. The candidate must receive simple majority of the votes cast in a general election.

c. In the event of a tie, a run-off election will be held between the two candidates that receive the greatest number of votes in the general election.

d. Voting shall be by secret ballot available online.

5. Leadership Scholarship

a. Executive officers of the SGA shall receive up to $1,000 tuition reimbursement, called Leadership Scholarship, annually.

b. Executive officers of the SGA must maintain excellent academic standing. The criteria for an undergraduate student will be GPA 2.25 and a graduate student GAP 3.25.

6. SGA Office

a. SGA shall be given a designated office space on campus with a computer terminal and a phone line.

b. SGA office space should be kept in orderly manner.

7. Disclaimer

At no instances an SGA officer act disobey reasonable assignments by school, or violate local, state or federal regulations.  VIU reserves the right to examine any suspicious activities at its own discretion at anytime. A willful violation by an SGA executive officer may result in immediate suspension of SGA privileges, representation and activities until a further notification explaining the next steps is received form the university administration.