Student Government Association

Budgeting

• Student organizations may request funding assistance from the Student Government Association Senate using a FUNDING REQUEST FORM available in the Student Activities Office detailing the request and obtaining the needed signatures (organization president and advisor).   The process for review and approval is three steps.
  • Drop the form off to the Student Activities Office (minimally 3 weeks prior to your event) for their review and recommendation to the Student Government Association.   Your request must be submitted at latest by 11:30 AM Monday morning to be read the next day.
  • Student Government Association will subsequently review and listen to a representative from your organization describe the request at their campus wide meeting (minimally two weeks prior to your event)  held every Tuesday, at 11:30 AM in John R. Yurtchuk Student Center room 113-115.
  • Meet with the correct Student Activities Representative to place orders through Purchasing, Food Services, Maintenance, AV, Business Office check requests, etc.
• NOTE:  This process should begin many weeks or even months prior to your event;  listed above are minimal time requirements for your request to even be considered.

Conference Funding Policy

Student organizations who are currently recognized by the Student Government Association (SGA) are able to apply for funding for conference attendance, travel, and lodging. All requests must be formally submitted one (1) month prior to departure date. The organization will then need to attend a Student Government Association budget hearing to defend the proposed funding request. If approved by the Executive board, a student representative from the attending organization must meet with an employee in the Student Activities Office to finalize the details of the funding.

It is the responsibility of the organization receiving conference funding to hand in all receipts documenting the expenses within one week of returning from the conference in order to process reimbursement. Reimbursement cannot be made without proper receipts from conference expenses, including: the date of purchase, amount spent, and name of the establishment.

In an effort of equity to all students, the maximum allotment provided by Student Government Association for conference attendance shall not exceed $2,500 per academic year or $400 per person.

Daemen College Student Government Association Bylaws

Article I - Name

The name of the Association shall be the Daemen College Student Government Association.

Article II - Membership

Section 1:  All students who pay the Daemen College Student Activity Fee are Ipso Facto members of the Association.

Section 2:  The elected members of the Association shall constitute the Executive Board.

A. President

B. Vice President

C. Treasurer

D. Secretary

Section 3: The Full Senate

A. Executive Board

B. Senior Class Representative

C. Junior Class Representative

D. Sophomore Class Representative

E. Freshman Class Representative

F. Graduate Student Representative

Article III - Purpose

Section I:  The Association

The purpose of the Association shall be to provide a means of student cooperation with the College administration, and to provide assistance and oversight to the funding needs of student organizations.

Section 2:  The Senate

The purpose of the Senate shall be to act as the official representative body of the students; to articulate their views, and to care for their best interest related to the administration and faculty, as well as with other groups within the college and the college community.

Article IV - Powers

Section 1:  Legislative

A. The legislative power of the Student Government Association shall be exercised by the full Senate.

B. A majority of the members of the Senate who may be present at the meeting in the presence of a quorum shall have the power to decide any question before them.

C. A formal meeting of the Senate shall be held weekly commencing with the first full week of each semester. The minutes of the previous meeting shall be reported along with each Executive Board member's weekly report.

Section 2:  Executive

A. The executive powers of the Student Government Association shall be vested in the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

B. The Executive Board shall act alone only on emergency matters needing immediate consideration.

C. Three quarters of the members of the Executive Board or two thirds of the members of the Senate in attendance at a Senate meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  A majority vote of the full Senate shall prevail.

D. The President shall have veto power over all legislation. The veto may be overturned by a two-thirds majority vote of the full senate.

E. The President will vote on matters only in the case of a deadlock vote.

Article V - Duties

Section 1:  Duties of the Senate

A. To enforce the legislative decisions of the Student Government Association with the power to restrict the funding and activities of recognized student organizations.

B. To consider the needs of the students and how the Student Activity Fee revenues should be used.

C. To recommend the sanction and formation of new organizations to the college administration.

 E. To resign from office at the request of the President of the Senate, after a two-thirds vote if the Senate decides that an officer has been in serious neglect of his/her duties.

F. To enforce this constitution to which all members of the student body are subject.

Section 2:  Duties of the Officers

A It shall be the duties of the President:

1. To represent the Student Government Association at all times in social and business affairs when appropriate.

2. To preside in all cases where the Student Government Association is concerned.

3. To chair all Senate and Executive Board meetings.

4. To call emergency meetings of the Association and any sub-committees, if necessary.

5. To create special sub-committees after consultation with the Executive Board.

6. To vote only in the case of a deadlock.

7. To delegate Presidential responsibilities to other Executive Board officers, if and when it is necessary

8. To draw up an agenda for each Senate meeting.

B. It shall be the duties of the Vice President:

1. To preside over Student Government Association meetings in the absence of the President.

2. To consult with the President on the creation of special sub-committees.

3. To work with the Student Activities Office in holding the Student Government Association Elections.

4. To act as the Purchasing Agent for the Association.

5. To recommend new organizations to the Senate for a vote of approval before making a recommendation of recognition to the college administration.

E. It shall be the duties of the Treasurer:

1. To keep account of all Funding Requests of the Student Government Association.

2. To work with the Student Activities Office in the drafting of the yearly budget.

3. To make a monthly written report of all transactions.

4. To work closely with the office of Student Activities and Business Office on the management of the Student Government Association expenditures.

F. It shall be the duties of the Secretary:

1. To record the minutes of the Executive Board and Senate meetings.

2. To read the minutes of the previous Executive Board and Senate meetings at the beginning of each respective meeting.

3. To type the minutes of the aforementioned meetings and distribute them to the college administration, to all student organizations, via a shared Google doc or on the Student Government Association’s dclink web page.

4. To record and retain copies of all outgoing correspondence of the Association.

G. It shall be the duties of the Class Representatives:

1. To represent their respective classes at all Senate meetings.

2. The Senior Class Representative shall work closely with the Student Activities Office to plan Graduation Week activities

3. To host one open forum per semester to hear the issues of their respected peers. Any necessary discussion will be brought to the  

Article VI -Elections

Section I:  The election policy of the Student Government Association is as follows:

A.  A period of self-nomination shall be held for those persons wishing to be considered a candidate for an office.

B.  A quorum shall be fifteen percent (15%) of the entire student body for a valid election percent to be declared.

C.  The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to the respective office. All candidates in the election shall be notified of the results of the election.

D.  Voting and tabulating is done via the internet using an election program created by the Daemen IT department.

E.  Vacancies after elections shall be filled by appointment made by the newly elected Executive Board of the Student Government Association.

Section 2:  Election Dates

A. The Student Government Association election shall be held each April for the Executive Officers.

B. The Class Representatives shall be elected in the fall semester.

C. The positions not filled in the spring elections shall be filled by election in the fall semester.

Section 3:  Eligibility

A. Voting:

1. All full or part-time students are eligible to vote in Student Government Association Elections.

2. Students may only vote for their respective class officer.

B. Holding Office:

1. All students shall be eligible for office EXCEPT the following:

            a. Students with a cumulative average below 2.0 or who have been on academic probation during the past two consecutive semesters.

            b. Part-time students -- except for the position of Senior or Graduate student representative.

            c. For the position of President all of the above must apply and one must have served at least one year on the Student Government Association Senate.

Section 4:  Terms of Service

A. Each member of the Student Government Association shall be elected to serve a term of one (1) year.

B. To serve more than one term requires being elected each year.

Article VII - Resignation and Removal From Office

Section 1:  In the event of the resignation from office of President of the Association, the office shall pass to the Vice President, then to the Treasurer.

Section 2:  In the event of the resignation of the Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary, the vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the remaining Executive officers.

Section 3:  In the event of the resignation of any member of the Senate, a meeting of the Senate shall be held to fill the vacancy by appointment.

Section 4:  Any officer of the Student Government Association may be impeached for serious neglect of duty. A two thirds majority vote of the full Senate will be required to impeach any officer or Senate member.

ArticleVIII - General Regulations

Section 1:  Amending the Bylaws

The bylaws of the Association may be amended at any meeting of the Senate by a two-thirds majority vote.  Only the full Senate may amend bylaws.  Any changes to bylaws have to be subsequently approved by the college administration.

Section 2:  General Rules Governing Regular Meetings

A.  All meetings of the Association shall be conducted according to Robert's Rule of Order.

B.  The President of the Association reserves the right to close any meeting and to request spectators to leave during voting or proceed by secret ballot.

C.  Funding requests will only be voted upon if a representative of the requesting organization is present at the meeting to present the request and respond to questions.

Section 3:  Financing

A.  Any money allocated to an organization for a specific event that is not used for that event shall be returned to the Student Government Association general account.

B.  No student organization can enter into a contract with off-campus vendors.  Students or organizations will be held personally and financially responsible for any expenses not authorized by the College or Student Government Association.

C.  All organizations must follow the Business Office guidelines as outlined in Chapter 3 of the Daemen College Student Handbook.

D.  No cash distributions for payments of any sort are permitted.

Candidates for both Executive Board Positions and Class Representatives are selected through a process of self-nomination. Interested students can apply for positions through the Student Leadership Application, listed in my.daemen.edu under the "Student Affairs" tab. 

Student Association Senate Positions (Elected in April)

President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer

Current officers of all our student organizations can be found at www.daemen.edu/dclink

Class Elected Representatives (elected in early October)

Senior Class Representative
Junior Class Representative
Sophomore Class Representative
First Year Class Representative
Graduate Student Representative

More information regarding position eligibility and duties can be found under the bylaws tab.