Student Services

Student Government Association Constitution

 

I. Objective

This Constitution establishes a Student Government that will represent the students of the School of Health Professions, Dental School, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, and the School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, hereinafter collectively referred to as UTHSCSA.

 

II. Name

The Student Government of UTHSCSA will be called the Student Government Association, hereinafter called the SGA.

 

III. Purpose

A. To represent and unite all UTHSCSA students.

 

B. To provide for and enhance communications between the students of the five schools, the faculty and administration, and institutions of higher education throughout Texas.

 

C. To further communication and relationships between UTHSCSA students and the community.

 

D. To advise and assist the administration in reaching decisions on policy that concern the students of UTHSCSA.

 

E. To assist in broadening the intellectual, cultural, and recreational opportunities and capabilities of the student body.

 

F. To assist the administration in the expenditure of Student Activity Fees.

 

IV. Organization

A. The SGA shall consist of the representatives of the UTHSCSA as defined by Article V.

 

B. The officers of the SGA shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, as defined by Article VI

 
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V. Membership and Qualifications

A. All of the members of the SGA shall be registered students at the UTHSCSA.

 

B. Any student representative shall be required to be in good standing, as defined by her/his school.

 

C. The SGA

  1. The membership of the SGA shall consist of duly elected representatives from each of the five schools of the UTHSCSA on the basis of one representative for each one hundred students (to the nearest one hundred) as defined by the previous year’s fall enrollment. There shall be a minimum of two representatives for any school.
  2. Duly selected Alternates may be designated by each elected SGA representative.
  3. SGA members, including the officers, shall serve for a term of one year according to each school’s academic calendar.
 

VI. Powers

A. Officers

  1. The President
    1. The President shall be the spokesperson of the UTHSCSA student body.
    2. The President shall preside over all meetings of the SGA.
    3. The President shall represent the SGA in all communications with the Administration on school policy.
    4. The President shall normally call meetings of the SGA.
    5. The President shall have the power to appoint committee members from the SGA as needed.
    6. The President shall only vote in case of a tie.
  2. The Vice President
    1. The Vice President shall preside at SGA meetings in the absence of the President.
    2. The Vice President shall replace the President in the event of her/his removal or resignation from office.
    3. The Vice President shall keep inventory of SGA property.
  3. The Secretary
    1. The Secretary shall record the minutes of the SGA meetings and shall see to its distribution to the members.
    2. The Secretary shall post notices and agendas of all SGA meetings.
    3. The Secretary shall be in charge of all SGA correspondence.
    4. The Secretary shall keep SGA records.
    5. If the Secretary is not present at a meeting of the SGA, the presiding officer shall appoint a SGA member to take minutes.
  4. The Treasurer
    1. The Treasurer shall be responsible for SGA financial records.
    2. The Treasurer shall give a financial statement at each regular SGA meeting.
    3. The Treasurer shall collect money for SGA functions.
 
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B. The SGA

  1. The SGA shall vote to approve policies on acquisition and expenditure of SGA funds.
  2. The SGA shall have the power to remove any officer of the SGA from office for:
    1. Failure to carry out policies adopted by the SGA.
    2. Failure to abide by the Constitution.
  3. The SGA shall enact its own By-laws and may make rules required for the effective execution of the functioning of the SGA.
  4. Ten percent (10%) of the general student body may petition the SGA on any issue, and such petition when certified, shall require a referendum vote by the general student body which may, by majority vote, overrule the SGA.
  5. Unless otherwise provided for in this Constitution, all actions of the SGA shall be by a simple majority vote of those present and voting.
 

VII. Meetings

A. The SGA should meet monthly during the fall and spring semesters. Meetings shall be determined at the beginning of each semester.

 

B. A regular location for the meetings shall be determined by the President.

 

C. Special meetings may be called by the President or by no fewer than one-half of the SGA plus one.

 

D. To conduct business, a quorum of 50% of the total SGA membership shall be required.

 

E. If an SGA member is unable to attend a regularly scheduled meeting, her/his alternate must attend. The alternate will assume all voting powers for that meeting.

 

F. If neither the representative nor the alternate is present at a regularly scheduled meeting, a letter shall be posted to the representative, alternate, and their class president informing them of their absence.

 

G. If a representative and alternate are absent from two consecutive regularly scheduled meetings, an investigation will be conducted by the executive council and the elected SGA representative may be asked by the SGA to resign her/his post. A letter may be sent to the class president of said representative requesting the appointment of a new representative.

 
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VIII. Committees

The President shall form committees as deemed necessary.

 

IX. Amendment Proposals

A. This Constitution can be amended by two-thirds majority of the SGA at a regular meeting.

 

B. Proposed amendments must be distributed to SGA members at least one week (7 days) prior to a regular SGA meeting.

 

SGA Officer Responsibilities

 

In addition to those powers listed in the Student Government Association Constitution, the SGA officers will perform the following duties:

 

A. The President

  1. 1. Plan and type the agenda for each meeting.*
  2. Draft/compose needed correspondence.*
  3. Represent the SGA at appropriate meetings.

B. Vice President

  1. Create an attendance recording system.
  2. Keep attendance records of each meeting and all SGA events.
  3. Work with and assist secretary to ensure the timely distribution of SGA correspondence and minutes.

C. Secretary

  1. Make copies of all mail-out correspondence including minutes for members after receiving approval by the Associate Vice President for Student Services.

D. Treasurer

  1. Review and update financial records on computer-based software system.

E. Associate Vice President for Student Services

  1. Approve all minutes and correspondence prior to distribution.
  2. Attend SGA meetings or provide a designee from Student Services in her/his absence.
  3. Approve all expenditures for SGA.
  4. Provide guidance and support to the SGA.
  5. Attend all functions or provide a designee in her/his absence.
 
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Bylaws Governing the Election of SGA Officers

  1. The SGA shall elect a Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and President in that order, during April of every academic year. Terms are for one year beginning with the April meeting.
  2. A quorum of a minimum of 2/3 of SGA members from at least four of the five schools must be present for elections.
  3. The elections will be supervised by the Associate Vice President for Student Services or a representative from that office.
  4. Nominations will be verbal and can be made by any SGA member. There is no limit to the number of individuals who can be nominated per office.
  5. Voting will be done by secret ballot. Each SGA member will write the full name of the candidate of her/ his choice for each election, on a card which will be collected and counted by a representative of the Office of Student Services.
  6. A candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected to an office.
  7. Each elected officer will assume her or his duties immediately after being elected.
  8. In the event of a tie in an election between two individuals, the President of the SGA will cast a tie-breaking vote for one of the individuals.
  9. In the event of an election where no candidate has a clear majority of the votes, a runoff election between the two candidates who received the most votes will be conducted. In the event of a tie in the runoff election, the President will cast a tie-breaking vote. If the tie occurs in the presidential election, SGA will continue to vote until one candidate receives a majority.
  10. In the event of a tie between three or more individuals, the SGA will continue voting until two individuals emerge with more votes than the remainder of the candidate(s). At this point, the SGA will vote to decide between these two candidates. In the event of a tie in the latter election, the President will cast a tie-breaking vote.
  11. In the event of an election where no candidate receives a majority of the votes, and there is a tie between the two second place candidates, the President will cast a tie-breaking vote for one of the second place candidates. The candidate receiving this vote will run against the first place candidate in a run-off election. The President will cast a tie-breaking vote if the latter election results in a tie.
  12. In the event of an election where no candidate receives a majority of the votes, and three or more candidates are tied for second place, the SGA will vote until one of the second place candidates receives a plurality of the votes. The candidate receiving a plurality of the votes will run against the first place candidate. The President will cast a tie-breaking vote if the latter election results in a tie.
  13. No individual can hold more than one office at one time.
  14. No more than two officers per school may serve at one time.
 
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