Draft of the Student Technology Council Constitution and bylaws pending confirmation by Student Government
PREAMBLE:
The purpose of the Student Technology Council is to establish a medium where students can discuss and improve the use of technology on campus. As decided by members of the Student Technology Council the goals of the Student Technology Council are to ensure: Information Systems shall hear students’ concerns, students shall understand Information Systems’ explanations, and the Student Technology Council will act on action items identified collectively. These standards encourage habits of mind that ask “why?”, accept and grapple with complexity, admit error, and pursue truth. The Student Technology Council’s intent to support the mission and purpose of Wake Forest University is evidenced by encouraging students to become involved, empowered, and informed. Students will have the opportunity to interact and address leadership team members of Information Systems.
ARTICLE I: NAME
The official name of the organization is the Student Technology Council, and the name may be abbreviated as STC.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Active membership in the Student Technology Council is limited to persons officially connected with the University or to spouses of such persons. There is no size limitation to the Student Technology Council. Membership is open to all Wake Forest students in accordance with the University’s non-discrimination policy stated in the Wake Forest student handbook. Membership shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, veteran status, handicapped status, disability, sexual orientation, or technological expertise.
ARTICLE III: OFFICERS
The Student Technology Council president presides over the meetings. Any Wake Forest University student is eligible to be the Student Technology Council president. President is a one year term of office with no term limit. Elections will be held at the final meeting of the academic year for the following year’s term. All other titles will be discussed by members of the Student Technology Council at the first meeting of the academic year. Each member will identify the role he or she would like to play and an agreement regarding the responsibilities will be completed. If no member to maintain finances is identified this responsibility defaults to the Student Technology Council president.
ARTICLE IV: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
If an executive committee must convene it shall be comprised of the faculty advisors, the Wake Forest Fellow in Information Systems, and the Student Technology Council president.
ARTICLE V: MEETINGS
Meetings will be held regularly and identified at the beginning of the semester. No less than one week’s notice shall be given for a regularly scheduled meeting. Meetings shall be advertised through e-mail to members and through a public event advertised through the internet. Special meetings may be requested by any member of the Student Technology Council and attendance shall be optional. No decisions may be made without consultation and approval of the entire Student Technology Council unless it is an amendment in which case the decision shall follow stated amendment protocol.
ARTICLE VI: FINANCES
The Student Technology Council shall not waste money. Refreshments shall be offered at every Student Technology Council as a reasonable reflection of anticipated attendance. The Wake Forest Fellow in Information Systems shall be the default resource for procuring and providing refreshments until another member self identifies as the new refreshment guru. There is no limit to the number of refreshment gurus. Future funding may be pursued to assist with projects identified as important and achievable by the Student Technology Council e.g. beta gadget testing.
ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENT
Amendments or changes to the Student Technology Council may be introduced by e-mail between meetings. Justification for the change must be detailed and all members must be sent the proposal. A vote will take place at the next meeting and there must be unanimous consent from present members. If the amendment does not pass at two consecutive meetings an appeal may be made for an executive council to hear the issue and make the final decision comprised of: the Student Technology Council president, all faculty advisors, the Wake Forest Fellow in Information Systems, one representative in favor of the change and one representative opposed to the change. This executive council shall reach a consensus final decision. Majority and dissenting opinion pieces may be created and shared with the members of the Student Technology Council.
ARTICLE VIII: FACULTY ADVISOR
The Student Technology Council will nominate a faculty member at the beginning of each academic year. The faculty advisor will serve for one year. The faculty advisor must be approved by two-thirds of present members. There may be more than one faculty advisor in an academic year. The faculty advisor must attend at least one meeting per semester and pledge to assist the Student Technology Council in the mission to achieve the group’s goals.
ARTICLE IX: RATIFICATION
The Student Technology Council Constitution must be approved by two-thirds of present members. Once approved by the STC the constitution shall be submitted for approval to the Student Government Appropriations and Charter Committee, Student Government Legislature, Student Life Committee, and the Faculty.
Bylaws of the Student Technology Council
1. Membership is open to all Wake Forest students in accordance with the University's non-discrimination policy stated in the Wake Forest student handbook. Membership shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, veteran status, handicapped status, disability, sexual orientation, or technological expertise. Members have a duty to bring students' concerns and are entitled to voting during regularly scheduled meetings. Members may resign at any time by notifying the STC president. The STC president may resign by notifying the advisor. The advisor may resign by notifying the entire STC.
2. The Student Technology Council shall not have any initiation fee or dues for any members. Members' duties reside in their participation in meetings and their roles in projects taken on by the Student Technology Council. Members cannot be expelled unless their attitude or behavior is not conducive to productivity within the Student Technology Council. Any discussions on potential expulsions will be discussed between faculty advisors, the Student Technology Council president, and the Wake Forest Fellow in Information Systems.
3. Elections will be held at the final meeting of the academic year for the following year's term. All other titles will be discussed by members of the Student Technology Council at the first meeting of the academic year. Each member will identify the role he or she would like to play and an agreement regarding the responsibilities will be completed. If no member to maintain finances is identified this responsibility defaults to the Student Technology Council president.
4. The Executive Committee maintains final authority over the Student Technology Council. The Executive Committee will be responsible for making decisions regarding the Student Technology Council's goals and procedures. The Executive Committee will also preside over elections.
5. The Executive Committee shall be the only standing committee in the Student Technology Council. The Executive Committee addresses issues not appropriate for full council e.g. issues regarding personnel.
6. Robert's Rules of Order, Revised will provide for the STC accepted rules of order.
7. A quorum will be constituted by the STC president, faculty advisor, and one additional member.
8. The Student Technology Council shall have no provisions for honorary members or officers.
9. By-laws may be amended at any meeting by a majority vote of the general body and unanimous approval of the Executive Committee. Amendments must be proposed prior to the start of the meeting.
10. A majority shall be defined as more than one-half of the population present at the meeting or more than one half of active members in the case of an out-of-meeting vote.