Operations Manual

Southwest Baptist University Student Association

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Operations Manual This document is designed to provide a basic operational framework for the SBU Student Association. It will go into full effect upon approval by the SBU student body. This manual may be supplemented with bylaws as deemed appropriate by the SBU Student Association Executive Cabinet. Name and Usage The official name of this organization will be the Southwest Baptist University Student Association, hereby referred to as SA. Any other body is prohibited from creating an organization (officially or otherwise) that attempts to replicate this name or evoke/imply the role of a Student Association or Student Government Association. The Southwest Baptist University Student Association The mission of the SBU SA is as follows: The Southwest Baptist University Student Association is a dedicated team of servant leaders who strive to enrich the lives of SBU students through the empowerment of clubs and organizations and by advocating and acting on behalf of the SBU student body. The SBU Office of Student Life and the SBU Administration recognize the SBU SA as the official representation of the SBU student body. All actions of the SBU SA will be in line with Biblical principles and the Mission Statement of SBU. The Scope of the SBU Student Association All undergraduate students on the Bolivar campus of SBU (referred to as the student body) are considered constituents of the SBU SA and are the target audience of all SBU SA services. As the SBU SA is the official representative body of the SBU student body with authority derived from the SBU Office of Student Life, SBU SA has jurisdiction to act in any and all items that directly impact the student body. The SBU SA is not a governing body and has no authority to impose sanctions on individual students for failure to comply with any rules or regulations that SA may pass or attempt to pass.

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The only exception is that SA may issue and enforce rules or regulations relevant to SA. Such rules must be followed by SA student members. The SBU SA may, at any time, require officially-chartered clubs or organizations to provide information on activities of that club/organization and on the use of funds allocated by SA for planning or analysis purposes. SA Executive Cabinet Every member of the SBU SA Executive Cabinet, whether appointed or elected, is required to meet academic and personal requirements set forth by SBUs Office of Student Life and must maintain these requirements during his or her term in office. Any powers or duties not specified in this document are reserved by the SA Executive Cabinet. The SBU SA Executive Cabinet will consist of the following five offices: Duties of the President: Will be elected by popular vote of the student body in the spring of every academic year. Will appoint to the SA Executive Cabinet a Vice President of Organization Empowerment, a Vice President of Student Relations, and a Vice President of Campus Improvement. Will call for and preside over all SA Executive Cabinet meetings. Appoint members to any special committees formed by SA, or delegate the appointment to such committees to one of the SA Vice Presidents. Will serve as chief liaison between the SBU student body and all external stakeholders. May appoint additional executive positions as the SA President deems necessary to serve without scholarship for the term to which the SA President was elected. Will maintain an open flow of communication with the SBU Director of Student Activities.

Duties of the Executive Vice President: Will be elected by popular vote of the student body in the spring of every academic year. Direct incoming items from students or other individuals on campus to the appropriate SA committee(s) for consideration. Ensure that items for consideration are addressed in a timely manner by each respective committee and may set deadlines for items to be sent by committees to the SA Executive Cabinet for consideration. Coordinate SA elections in the spring semester of every year. Work with the SA President to implement leadership development activities for SA members and the SBU student body.

Duties of the Vice President of Organization Empowerment 2

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Will be appointed by the SA President after the spring of the Presidents election. Each appointed Vice President will serve until the end of the current academic year after appointment, or until the end of the Presidents current term. Serve as the chairperson of the SBU SA Committee on Organization Empowerment. Will preside over meetings of this committee and will appoint qualified individuals to this committee. Plan and implement activities that empower the clubs and organizations chartered by the SBU SA. This includes, but is not limited to, the allocation of student fees appropriated to SA. Meet regularly with club and organization leadership to ensure that communication channels are open and SA is receptive to the needs of clubs and organizations on campus. Oversee the budget allocation process.

Duties of the Vice President of Student Relations Will be appointed by the SA President after the spring of the Presidents election. Each appointed Vice President will serve until the end of the current academic year after appointment, or until the end of the Presidents current term. Serve as the chairperson of the SBU SA Committee on Student Relations. Will preside over meetings of this committee and will appoint qualified individuals to this committee. Coordinate and facilitate the flow of ideas from the student body to SBU SA. The VP of Student Relations will plan activities and research new avenues for student involvement in SBU SA. Plan volunteer opportunities for the SBU student body.

Duties of the Vice President of Campus Improvement Will be appointed by the SA President after the spring of the Presidents election. Each appointed Vice President will serve until the end of the current academic year after appointment, or until the end of the Presidents current term. Serve as the chairperson of the SBU SA Committee on Campus Improvement. Will preside over meetings of this committee and will appoint qualified individuals to this committee. Serve as the SBU SA liaison to appropriate administration and staff in matters of campus improvement. Work closely with the VP of Organization Empowerment and the SA Executive Cabinet to establish fundraising and budget measures for specific projects pertaining to campus improvement. Oversee resolutions for University policy changes that are of interest to the SBU student body.

SA Executive Cabinet Approval In matters coming before the SA Executive Cabinet, the following shall constitute approval: The item for consideration is passed in the Executive Cabinet by three of five members and signed by the President. In the case of a Presidential veto, the item may be approved by unanimous consent of the four SA Vice Presidents. 3

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Any items not achieving one of these methods of approval will automatically be considered rejected without any additional action necessary. The Executive Cabinet may send specific items back to the respective committees for reconsideration and editing. Meetings The SBU SA will post meeting times and agendas (when available) for general SA meetings and SA standing committee meetings. Minutes from these meetings and copies of any action taken will be posted and made available online and upon request. The President may call for closed executive sessions; however, all decisions made during such sessions must still be disclosed. Chartering Organizations The SBU SA must charter clubs and organizations in order for them to be recognized as an official student organization, and thus eligible for services provided for organizations by SBU SA. Organizations previously chartered by the Southwest Baptist University Student Government Association before the passage of this document will be recognized as officiallychartered clubs/organizations. Organizations wishing to be chartered must submit the appropriate application along with reasonable plans and a document establishing structure within the proposed organization. An organization shall be considered officially chartered when the organization is approved by the SBU SA Executive Cabinet. Proposing Bills or Resolutions Any student may bring forward items for consideration by the SBU SA in the form of informal suggestions or formal bills/resolutions. Such items should be brought to the SA Executive Vice President and will be directed to the appropriate committee for review and action. Bills/Resolutions introduced (either by a student or a member of any of the SA committees) and passed on to the SA Executive Cabinet for action will be approved or rejected after deliberation and research by the SA Executive Cabinet. Joining a Committee Individuals wishing to serve on a SA committee may submit the appropriate application to the SA Executive Vice President for dissemination to the appropriate committee chairman for action. All applicants who complete the application/interview process established by the Executive Cabinet and meet the requirements set forth by the SBU Office of Student Life will be appointed by the SA President (for special committees) or the appropriate Vice President (for standing committees). Funds Allocation 4

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The SBU SA has the authority to allocate student government feesi. These allocations include, but are not limited to, allocations to support clubs/organizations, allocations to fund SA initiatives and projects, and general funding for overhead/administrative costs incurred by the SA. No disbursement of funds shall take place without approval of the SA Executive Cabinet. Additional Issues and Appeals Any powers or responsibilities not specifically delegated in this manual are reserved by the SA Executive Cabinet. Any student may appeal any decision of the SBU SA directly to the SA Executive Cabinet. A representative from the SBU Office of Student Life will be present when such appeals are being presented. Appeals may be submitted through the SA Executive Vice President. Replacing/Amending the Operations Manual The text of this document may be modified or revised by approval of the SBU SA Executive Cabinet as long as such changes, in the judgment of the SBU Office of Student Life, do not constitute substantive or fundamental changes to this Operations Manual. Such revisions or modifications must include a date in which the changes are to take effect. This Operations Manual may be repealed and replaced with an alternative governing document through a vote by the student body. I Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
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The name of the student government fee is the name currently used by the SBU Accounting Department. As part of Resolution EC-11-01, a request will be made to change the name of this fee to reflect the name change to Student Association. This footnote will be deleted from the final text of the document when this change is made.