Constitution

Preamble

We, the students of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, in order to form an organization to effectively oversee the programs, facilities, and services offered by the Student Unions located on the Twin Cities campus establish this constitution for such Student Unions. The purpose of the Student Unions is to promote community, life-long learning and pride in the University of Minnesota. In support of this purpose, the Student Unions establish a board of students and alumni to provide oversight of its programs, services, facilities, and budgets.

Article I. General

Section 1. Name.

The name of the Student Unions on the Twin Cities campus shall be Student Unions & Activities (SUA). The name of the SUA governing board shall be the Student Unions & Activities Board of Governors (hereafter referred to as "BOG").

Section 2. Role

The BOG is a campus life organization and is a part of the Student Unions, a department of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. As such, the Student Unions shall abide by all the applicable rules, regulations, policies and agreements of the University of Minnesota. In conjunction with the purpose and goals of the Unions, the board shall have the power to:

Represent students, faculty, staff and alumni served by Student Unions & Activities.
Review and approve a Student Unions budget and prepare presentation of the annual fee request.
Review and approve policies and goals for Coffman Memorial Union (CMU) and St. Paul Student Center (SPSC) programs, services and facilities.
Conduct evaluations of programs, services and facilities as needed, based on priorities established by the BOG.
Participate in the search committee(s) and interview process when hiring a Director. The board may conduct an annual review of the Director, based on the Director's success in implementing goals and policies established by the BOG.
Take other actions, as it deems necessary, to fulfill the role of a responsible board.

Section 3. Management.

The Student Unions shall be operated in accordance with the policies and budgets established by the BOG and it shall be managed as a department of the University under the leadership of the Director of the Student Unions who shall receive authority from the Office of Student Affairs.

Section 4. Resolution of Disagreement

Disagreement between the BOG and the Director should first be attempted to be resolved internally. In the event that an agreement cannot be reached, the BOG will seek resolution through consultation with the Director's immediate supervisor. If resolution is not reached at this level, the BOG shall seek resolution through the Office of Student Affairs.

Article II. Financial Matters and Responsibilities

Section 1.

The Student Unions student service fee, together with the income generated from the Unions' enterprises, shall be used as follows:

In such amounts as may be necessary for current general expenses, personnel, programs and equipment of CMU, SPSC, and West Bank Facilities.
Extraordinary operating and maintenance needs of the organization.
The expansion and equipping of additional building space when such space is needed or becomes available.
Future union facilities construction on the Twin Cities campus.
Other purposes related to the mission of the organization, operation and maintenance of its facilities and growth of the Unions including, but not limited to:
- The promotion of the idea, purpose and role of the Student Unions at the University of Minnesota.
- Public relations activities that advance the purpose of the organization.
- The general welfare of the University community.
- Cooperative ventures with other University departments, units and organizations.
Payment of debt service which may be incurred by the organization.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. Composition.

The membership of the BOG shall consist of a total of twenty-one student members and five non-student members as indicated below. All voting members shall have equal and full voting rights. All non-voting members shall have equal and full rights except for the right to participate in votes of the board. Non-voting members shall not be considered for purposes of establishing a quorum.

Student Members
Base Representation	Rep(s)	Comments

College of Ag., Food and Envir. Science	One	Appointed by COAFES Board
College of Biological Sciences	One	Appointed by CBS Board
Carlson School of Management	One	Appointed by CSOM Board
College of Education and Human Development	One	Appointed by CEHD Board
General College	One	Appointed by GC Board
College of Human Ecology	One	Appointed by CHE Board
College of Liberal Arts	One	Appointed by CLA Board
College of Natural Resources	One	Appointed by CNR Board
Institute of Technology	One	Appointed by IT Board
Residence Hall Association	One	Appointed by RHA
Greek	One	Appointed by IFC/Panhell
Minnesota Student Association	One	Appointed by MSA
Campus-Wide Programming	One	Appointed by MPAC
Cultural Centers	One	Appointed by Cultural Centers
Graduate and Prof. Student Assembly	One	Appointed by GAPSA
At Large - Graduate Student	One	Appointed by BOG
At-Large - Minneapolis	Three	Appointed by BOG
At-Large - St. Paul	One	Appointed by BOG
At-Large - Commuter Students	One	Appointed by BOG

Other Members
Base Representation	Rep(s)	Comments

Alumni	One	Appointed by UMAA
SU Director	One	Ex-officio (non-voting)
Civil Service	One	Appointed by CSCL Ex-officio (non-voting)
P & A	One	Appointed by CAPA Ex-officio (non-voting)
Faculty	One	Appointed by FCC Ex-officio (non-voting)

Section 2. Vacancies

If a position is not filled by the represented organization, it may be filled through appointment by the BOG in accordance with the by-laws.

Section 3. EEO Statement

Membership is open to all without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, creed, marital status, public assistance status, or sexual orientation. The goal of the BOG is to have a membership composition which reflects the diversity of the University community.

Section 4. Eligibility and Terms of Service

Each student member of the BOG shall be a current fee-paying student at the University of Minnesota, registered for a minimum of 6 credits per semester or if a graduate student, making progress towards a degree as defined by their department.
No voting member may be an employee of the Student Unions while serving on the BOG. Stipends for student service do not make the student a Student Unions employee.
Student members shall take office at the last regularly scheduled meeting at the end of the spring term.
The term of the membership shall be one year. The term of office for all members on the BOG ends with the end of the academic year. Members may be appointed for successive terms.
The President of the BOG shall have served as a member of the BOG for a minimum of one semester prior to holding office.

Section 5. Removal from BOG

Any member may be removed from the BOG for misconduct, failure to perform duties, unethical behavior, misuse of funds or misrepresentation of actions of the BOG. The member shall be given seven days written notice from the Executive Committee and shall be guaranteed the right to have a hearing before the BOG at which time the member shall have the opportunity to defend himself or herself. A two-thirds majority vote of the BOG is required to remove a member.

Article IV. Officers of the BOG

Section 1. Definition.

Officers of the BOG shall be the President, Vice-President, the Chairs of the standing committees, and the MPAC President.

Section 2. Eligibility.

The BOG shall choose officers of the BOG from its current voting student membership. The MPAC President will also serve as a BOG officer.

Article V. Committees of the BOG

Section 1. Executive Committee.

An Executive Committee shall be established to include the officers of the BOG. All shall have full and equal voting rights. In addition, the Executive Committee shall include Student Unions & Activities' Director as an ex-officio member, who does not having voting privileges.

Section 2. Empowerment of Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall be empowered to act in the place of the full BOG during the summer break period, vacation periods, and in case of emergency when the BOG cannot be called into session in sufficient time. Actions of the Executive Committee, which are taken in place of the BOG, shall be subject to BOG approval.

Section 3. Standing Committees.

The standing committees of the BOG are: Executive, Communications, Finance, Policy, and MPAC.

Section 4. Ad-Hoc Committees.

The BOG shall establish any Ad-Hoc committees it finds useful to efficiently and effectively conduct the business of the BOG and shall dissolve such Ad-Hoc committees when it finds they no longer serve the interests of the BOG. Such formation or dissolution shall require a majority vote of the BOG. The chair of such Ad Hoc committees shall be appointed in accordance with standard BOG election procedures. An Ad Hoc chair must be a sitting member of the BOG.

Section 5. Duties and Composition

The duties and composition of the committees are defined in the by-laws of the BOG.

Article VI. Meetings of the BOG

Section 1. Regular Meetings.

A regular meeting shall be held biweekly, as determined by the BOG, during the regular academic year. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee, the BOG President, the SUA Director, or at the request of one-third of the voting members of the BOG. Two U of M business days must be provided between the announcement and the day such a meeting would convene.

Section 2. Quorum.

A quorum shall be present in order for the BOG to conduct official business of the organization. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority, more than 50%, of the current voting BOG membership.

Article VII. By-Laws

Section 1. Procedure for Changes.

Notification of proposed changes shall be provided in writing to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall review the proposed by-law changes and may bring them forward to the BOG. By-laws must be approved by a majority of the voting members present and become effective immediately upon approval.

Section 2. Consistency.

By-laws shall be consistent with the constitution. If inconsistencies exist, the by-laws shall be superseded by the constitution.

Section 3. Rules of Proceedings.

The BOG shall determine the rules of its proceedings.

Article VIII. Amendments

Section 1. Procedure

The following process may amend this constitution:

A. Proposed changes shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will then submit the proposed changes to the BOG at the next regularly scheduled meeting for review. At the following meeting, the BOG may vote on the proposed changes, with approval requiring a two-thirds majority of the current voting membership. Any approved changes shall become effective immediately, except for membership changes, which shall take effect the following academic year.

Ratified by 2/3rds of the BOG on 03/25/04.

Board of Governors Website

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