Student Senate Constitution – Preamble
Article 1 - Name
- The student governing organization of the students at Massasoit Community College shall be known as the Student Senate throughout the constitution.
Article 2: Purpose
- The Student Senate shall be responsible to:
- Encourage the creation of an atmosphere suitable for intellectual and social growth for students as they participate in the affairs at the college.
- Allocate Massasoit Community College funding in a manner consistent with procedures established by the Board of Higher Education and the President/CFO of Massasoit Community College.
- Promote responsibility and cooperation between students, faculty, staff, and administration at Massasoit Community College.
- Represent the student body by engaging in collaborative
- Give advice and feedback to the leadership of Massasoit Community College on matters related to the development or improvement of services, policies, and procedures at the College.
Article 3: Membership
- The Senate shall consist of eighteen (18) members including the trustee, designated according to the by-laws.
- Membership into the Student Senate shall be voted on by the College’s student body and granted to all students enrolled in credit bearing courses.
Article 4: Eligibility
- All Senate members shall be registered for at least (3) three credits per semester fall/spring. An exception may be made to accept less than three (3) credits per semester to a returning
- All Senators must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better. If a Senate member’s cumulative grade point average falls below 5 after being elected, then they have one full semester to bring their cumulative grade point average to 2.5 or better. The cumulative grade point average requirements do not apply to first semester students or students returning to school after (5) five years or more.
- Any student placed on disciplinary probation is not eligible to serve on the Senate during that probationary period.
- Senate meetings are mandatory, and members must give priority to Senate Senators must not have any class or work schedule conflicts with regularly scheduled Senate meetings, exceptions can be made as needed with advanced notice.
Article 5: Meetings
- All Senate meetings are open to the student body, faculty, and staff of the
- Senate meetings may go into a close executive session with a simple majority
- Regular meetings of the Senate should be held at a time and place specified by the first meeting of each semester.
- The Senate President has the right to call an unscheduled meeting with notice of 24
- While it is not required and attendance is not taken, the Senate Cabinet may hold unofficial meetings to promote a higher level of organization.
Article 6: Quorum/Voting
- A quorum of the Senate should consist of more than half of the Senate The President is counted for the purpose of quorum.
- No votes shall be cast without a Senate members are not required to wait longer than 15 minutes after the established meeting time. The Senate may choose to continue the meeting on an unofficial basis until quorum is met or decide to adjourn.
- Once quorum is reached, each Senate member has the right to one (1) vote except the President, who should only vote in the event of a tie unless the vote is by ballot or for a committee
Article 7: Student Senate Advisors
- There should be two (2) staff advisors to the Senate, the Dean of Students or their designee and a member of Student Life.
Article 8: Funding
- The funding allocated to the Senate from the College shall be expended according to the following apportionment:
- It shall be available for the budgetary requirements of general activities and co-curricular clubs of interest to the student group, including the Student Senate.
- The Senate may transfer funds from a defunct club of at least two (2) years into the Consortium Fund. This money will be allocated for events held at Massasoit Community College that enhance Massasoit campus life. This money will be distributed each semester by the Student Senate through an application process.
Article 9: Student Clubs and Organizations
- The Senate shall be responsible for formally recognizing and allocating funding to student clubs and organizations.
Article 10: Amendments to the Constitution
- Constitutional amendments may be initiated by a petition in front of the student body or by action of 2�3’s of the Senate.
- In the event of a suggested amendment, the amendment should be submitted to each senator in writing and read in a Senate meeting which must precede the meeting at which it is voted upon within seven (7) calendar days.
- Amendments to the by-laws must be approved by 2�3’s of the Student Senate to become effective.