Student Services

Student Life General Information
Student Government Association
Student Clubs
Leadership
Code of Conduct

Article One: Introduction

Section One: Name

The name of the organization will be the Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) Student Government Association and will be abbreviated as SGA.

Section Two: Jurisdiction

The WCTC SGA derives its authority via the students.  The officers and senators of the SGA are elected by the students to advocate for issues and concerns of the student body.  The SGA will comply with WCTC District Board policies and procedures.

Article Two: Purpose

WCTC SGA will serve as a coordinating unit for all students for the purpose of:

• Representing the students’ voice in their college community
• Providing a means for establishing and maintaining working relationships between, staff, administration, and faculty
• Providing a liaison between the administration, faculty, and the students
• Promoting citizenship and leadership among the student body
• Encouraging improvement of WCTC and its surrounding communities by the student body
• Protecting and promoting academic and social policies that will assist with development of each student
• Acquiring and relaying accurate information to the student body
• Communicating accurate information to the student body concerning the promotion of education within the community
• Developing social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities for the student body
• Reviewing and approving all club and organizational charters with approval by the Student Life Coordinator
• Allocating the student activity fee in a viewpoint neutral capacity

Article Three: Membership

Section One: Membership and Divisions
Membership in the SGA will consist of the following:

• Executive Council including the SGA President, SGA Vice President, SGA Vice President of Social Activities, SGA Secretary, and SGA Treasurer.
• Senate – Consisting of four student representatives from each of the academic divisions (Business, Industrial, and Service / Health) and three at large representatives of the student body. Therefore, the total student government membership shall be twenty voting members, including the executive council.

Section Two: Responsibilities of the Student Government

Executive Board

• Responsible for planning student government and senate meetings
• Approve appointments for vacant officer positions
• Be a SGA representative to the administration, staff, and faculty
• Act upon such matters as may require immediate action between meetings of the full senate
• Review and present plans and policies to student senate for official action
• Executive Board responsibilities includes those of the senate

Senate

• Foster student participation in senate and student activities
• Administer allocation of the student activity fees in a viewpoint neutral capacity
• Serve as a liaison between district board, administration, faculty, and students
• Sanction new student organizations
• Assist with overall planning and implementation of student activity calendar of events
• Address student issues and concerns
• Review and amend SGA constitution as needed
• Serve in a support capacity for all student organizations

Section Three: Duties of the Executive Board Officers

President

• Preside at all SGA Executive Board meetings
• Call special meetings of the SGA Executive Board when necessary
• Appoint members of the SGA to various College wide committees
• Facilitate communication between administration, district board, faculty, and SGA
• Assist in preparation of the master social calendar
• Serve as the student representative on the District Board
• Attend all Senate meetings

Executive Vice President

• Assume the duties of the President in his/her absence
• Assist the President as required
• Assist in the preparation of the master social calendar
• Attend all SGA Executive Board meetings
• Vote in case of a tie for SGA Senate Business
• Preside at all Senate meetings
• Appoint election committee
• Call emergency senate meetings, as necessary

Vice President of Social Activities

• Assume the duties of the Executive Vice President in his/her absence
• Assist the President as required
• Serve as chairperson of the SGA Student Activity Committee (SAC)
• Serve as chairperson of the SGA Club Council
• Call necessary additional meetings for SAC and Club Council
• Assist in the preparation of the master social calendar
• Attend all SGA Executive Board and Senate meetings
• Report on all activities

Secretary

• Keep the minutes of the SGA Executive Board, Student Senate, and Club Council
• Type and distribute the minutes of all SGA Executive Board, Senate, and Club Council, to Student Senators, Executive Committee, organization advisors and post on the SGA bulletin board
• Assist in the preparation of the master social calendar
• Attend all SGA Executive Board, Student Senate, and Club Council meetings
• Maintain and file all relevant materials

Treasurer

• Authorize, in conjunction with the Student Life Coordinator, all SGA expenditures
• Be responsible for all financial records of the SGA
• Prepare a written financial statement of all expenditures and income to be included in the minutes of the SGA meetings as needed
• Keep the books open for public inspections at all times in accordance with district accounting procedures
• Prepare SGA books for an annual audit
• Audit club treasurers’ records as necessary
• Assist in the preparation of the master social calendar
• Attend all SGA Meetings
• Prepare and maintain an allocation model for distribution of student fees
• Serve as Chair of SGA Finance Committee

Section Four: Duties of Senate Representative

• Attend all meetings of the Senate.
• Be informed of the issues pertaining to the SGA.
• Vote on Senate Business
• Participate and present ideas
• Be responsible for reporting information to fellow students from the academic programs, which they represent
• Present program ideas to senate
• Document a minimum of 10 hours per semester, unless otherwise stated by Student Life Coordinator, which must include one or more of the following activities:
  1. Serve on campus wide committees as needed
  2. Serve on either SGA Finance or SAC Committee
  3. Serve on Board of Review as needed
  4. Work on a SGA activity
  5. Other work deemed appropriate by Student Life Coordinator or Executive Board
  6. Does NOT include Mandatory Events (i.e.: New Student Orientation and Commencement)

Section Five: Minimum Qualifications Executive Board of SGA

• The qualifications for being elected to the SGA Executive Board are a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher and taking and successfully completing six or more credits at WCTC per semester while in office.  Failure to do will be grounds for immediate review and possible dismissal from office.  Waivers of the requirements can be obtained from the SGA Executive Board, in consultation with the Student Life Coordinator.
• Executive Board will be elected for a term of one year
• All names of candidates will be listed and presented to the Student Life Coordinator who will confirm the candidate’s qualifications.

Section Six: Minimum Requirements of Senate Representative

• Senators will be elected for a term of one year.  Any student taking six or more credits at WCTC per semester and maintaining a minimum of 2.0 cumulative GPA are eligible to serve as senator.
• All names of candidates will be listed and presented to the Student Life Coordinator who will confirm the candidate’s qualifications.
• Waivers of the requirements can be obtained from the SGA Executive Board, in consultation with the Student Life Coordinator.

Section Seven: Election Procedures

The elected officers of the SGA will consist of President, Executive Vice President, Vice President of Social Activities, and Secretary.  The officers will be elected for a term of one year, which begins July 1st through June 30th.  Any WCTC student taking six credits or more with a minimum cumulative 2.25 GPA may become a candidate for any office.  All names of candidates will be listed and presented to the Student Life Coordinator who will confirm the candidate’s qualifications.  Each candidate must submit a petition bearing the signatures of 25 members of the student body declaring his or her candidacy to the student life office at the time designated by the Election Committee.  If duplication of names appears on petitions, the duplicate name will be struck from all conflicting petitions.  Petition blanks may be secured from and are filed with the Student Life Office.

Senators must maintain a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA and satisfactorily complete six credits each semester during the term of office, which begins July 1st though June 30th.  Each candidate for senate must submit a petition bearing the signatures of 10 members of the student body declaring his or her candidacy to the Student Life Office at the time designated by the Election Committee.  If duplication of names occurs on petitions, the duplicate name will be struck from the conflicting petitions.  Petition blanks may be secured from and are filed with the Student Life Office.

Section Eight: Elections

There will be one general election by ballot in which credit students may cast ballots.  The general election will take place during the spring semester.

Preceding the election, the chairperson of the Election committee will publish on the SGA website, bulletin boards and any other media a list of the candidates.

Section Nine: Election Committee Members

• Executive Vice President of SGA will appoint members to the elections committee from current Senate membership.
• Membership on election committee will be limited to those not running.
• Chairperson of election committee will be appointed by election committee members.

Section Ten: Treasurer

The Treasurer will be appointed by the President, with recommendation for a nominee by the Student Life Coordinator.  Treasurer will serve for one year, July 1st thru June 30, and meet the same qualifications as the other executive officers.

Section Eleven: Refilling of Offices

Upon resignation or the removal of the President, the position will be filled by the Executive Vice President with the approval of the Student Senate.  Upon resignation or the removal of the Executive Vice President, Secretary, Vice President of Social Activities, or Treasurer, the position will be filled by an appointment by the President, with consultation of the Executive Board.

Section Twelve: Removal of SGA Officers

Any SGA member not performing effectively, or in the best interest of all, those duties that are required will be subject to removal from office.  SGA members can be removed from office for behavior not compliant with standards of conduct outlined in the SGA membership section. The member in question may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Executive Board and Senate. Any member of the SGA bringing charges against a member must present them in writing to the Student Life Coordinator. 

Section Thirteen: Resignation of Senate Representatives

The resignation of a member of the SGA must be presented in writing at a regular Senate meeting at least one week prior to time of resignation.

Section Fourteen: Refilling of Senate Representatives

If vacancy occurs in a Senate Representative position it will be filled by an interview process held by the Executive Board. To be eligible the applicant must fulfill all requirements in membership section.

Section Fifteen: Committees

Club Council

• The chairperson of Club Council will be the Vice President of Social Activities
• Consist of at least one representative from each officially recognized club
• Share information between club members
• Relay Club concerns

SGA Student Activity Committee (SAC)

• As a standing sub committee of the SGA Executive Board, the SAC will plan, implement and promote all of the social, cultural, recreational and educational activities of the SGA.
• The chairperson of SAC will be the Vice President of Social Activities
• Membership will be open to all members of the SGA as approved by the Vice President of Social Activities
• SAC members are required to attend the majority of the meetings

SGA Finance Committee

• The chairperson of the Finance Committee will be the Treasurer.
• Membership will be limited to three senators, one from each of the Academic Divisions (Business, Industrial, and Service/Health)
• Finance Committee members are required to attend all meetings
• Finance Committee Members will review all financial requests in collaboration with Student Life Coordinator forward funding recommendations for senate approval

Section Sixteen: Financing of the Student Government Association

• The student activity fee is 6% of student tuition
• The SGA will conduct their financial operations on a fiscal year of July 1st to June 30th
• The SGA will be allowed to carry over funds from year to year with approval from Board of Directors

Section Seventeen: Amendment of the Constitution

Recommendations to amend the constitution can come from any member of the SGA.  Proposals to amend must be reviewed by the Student Life Coordinator.  Then the amendment to the Constitution must be approved by a majority vote of the Senate.  The adoption of an amendment will be constituted after receiving approval from the Senate.

Article Four: Meeting Procedures

Section One: Meetings of SGA Senate

• The SGA Senate will meet at least once per month during the academic year.  During summer months officers will determine need for conducting meetings
• The Vice President will call additional meetings, as required, to carry on the business of the SGA Senate
• A quorum will be necessary to conduct business.  A quorum is hereby defined as a majority (51%) of current active SGA Senators
• Any member of WCTC student body, faculty, or administration may speak during a meeting upon being recognized by the presiding officer
• The Student Life Coordinator will serve as the advisor for the Senate
• SGA members missing two or more meetings* will be subject to review by the Executive Board, with possible removal from current position per procedures outlined in Section Twelve
  • Only Valid Excuse for a missed meeting is: Academic Requirement.  If a Meeting is to be missed due to Academic Requirement, a written excuse by Instructor or Program Head must be submitted by the member, for approval, NO LATER than One (1) week prior to meeting to be missed, to Student Life Coordinator.

Section Two: Payment

The Executive Board Officers will work the required minimum of 10 hours per week.  The Executive Board Officers will be compensated by Student Employment Rate, as set by the WCTC Human Resources Office. Each officer will be evaluated by the Student Life Coordinator at the end of each semester.

Student Senators, excluding the Executive Board, will receive $200.00 per semester for fulfilling their duty as a Senator, including attending Student Senate Meetings, documenting work on projects or committee appointments, and meeting the minimum qualifications as outlined in Section Six: Minimum Requirements of Senate Representative, and fulfilling the duties outlined in Article three, section four of this constitution. A senator may miss one meeting but then must work on projects for an additional 5 hours as listed in Article three, Section four. If a Senator misses more than one meeting then their stipend will be revoked.  There will be no exceptions for non-academic reasoning; any meeting to be missed must be approved One (1) week prior to meeting date by Student Life Coordinator.

Amended May 11, 2007

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