ASUAF Senators serve in voluntary positions and must attend weekly Senate meetings, weekly Senate committee meetings for the committees that they are members of and must serve weekly office hours. The total time commitment generally totals about 5 hours per week. Further duties and requirements are outlined below:
Powers and Duties of Senators
To serve the members of the Association.
To preserve the trust of the Association.
To advocate the Association.
To hear student concerns regarding issues affecting the University of Alaska and University of Alaska Fairbanks community.
To serve on an ASUAF standing committee as appointed by the Senate Chair.
To ensure that any information presented to the Senate is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and ability.
To know and understand the powers and duties of a Senator and the Senate as described by the ASUAF Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of Procedure as well as all applicable University of Alaska system, University of Alaska Fairbanks and ASUAF governing documents.
All new senators should report to two Rules Committee meetings, for education about the bylaws and to receive an ASUAF Blue book, within the first three weeks of their term as Senator.
To keep the trust of an Executive Session of the Senate.
Failure to join a committee before the third week of the beginning of their term will result in an unexcused absence for each week not joined thereafter.
To complete at least one training as approved by the Senate Chair from a predetermined list provided by the Executive Council within the time frame of eight weeks after confirmation or beginning of elected term. Failure to complete said trainings would result in the inability to log office hours and/or an unexcused absence accrual for every week after confirmation without completion of training. Exceptions shall be made at the discretion of the Executive Council.
To sponsor or cosponsor legislation
To freely debate, discuss and vote on all questions that come before the Senate in the form of a motion, provided they are consistent with the Rules of Procedure
To request information regarding all ASUAF activities and expenditures which are not otherwise restricted by the ASUAF Constitution, these Bylaws or the Rules of Procedure
To present information depending a position or opinion before the Senate
To be present before any body of ASUAF that formally questions their adherence to the ASUAF Constitution, Bylaws, Rules of Procedure or any governing document existing by virtue of or in relation to these documents
Attendance
A Senator or Representative who is appointed or elected to any assembly shall be automatically removed from that assembly and be ineligible for any benefits upon report of accumulation of absences during their term of office, when any of the following combinations are fulfilled:
Eight or more absences, where an excused absence counts as one absence, and an unexcused absence counts as two absences.
Absences will be ruled excused or unexcused at the discretion of the presiding officer of that assembly. The designation can be appealed to the assembly.
The presiding officer must exhaust every possible opportunity to inform the Senator or Representative of their absence accrual and shall notify the Senator or Representative and the Senate Chair of removal and ineligible status within 24 hours.
A Senator or Representative who has been removed automatically and deemed ineligible for benefits for accumulation of absences may submit a written appeal of their removal within 72 hours of notification to the Senate Chair who shall present that appeal to the ASUAF Senate at the next regular Senate meeting.
The appeal shall include an explanation as to why the Senator or Representative had accumulated that number of absences and an action plan for improvement that is signed by the presiding officer of that assembly.
A 2/3 vote of the Senate is required to approve an appeal.
A Senator or Representative who is attending a university-sponsored event, has a personal emergency, has a scheduled class/lab, on official ASUAF business, or official military drill shall not be counted against the Senator or Representative, so long as they notify the presiding officer of their assembly.
ASUAF standing committee meeting absences shall count the same as ASUAF Senate meeting absences and may accumulate together in the same record of overall absences for each Senator.
Office Hours
Every ASUAF Senator shall be required to maintain two (2) regular office hours per week in the ASUAF Senate Chambers, or other location pre-approved by the Senate Chair.
Office hours shall be made publicly available and be utilized for completing assigned tasks, conducting individual meetings, working groups, leadership development, or information gathering, and shall not be used for regular coursework completion unless previously approved by the Senate Chair.
All Senators must submit a report of hours worked and tasks accomplished to the Senate Chair for internal records at the end of every week.
The Senate Chair may suspend the need for office hours for a given week for exigent circumstances.
Repetitive failure to maintain office hours will be subject to repercussions set by the Senate Chair and reviewed by the Rules Committee.
Appeals of repercussions require a written letter to be sent to the Senate Chair, to be reviewed by the Rules Committee and to be voted upon by the Senate.
The ASUAF President is the student body president of UAF and holds significant responsibility in the operations of ASUAF. The ASUAF President works closely with the UAF Chancellor and other administrators to ensure that the student voice is represented in decisions made throughout the university. This is a paid student position ($11/hour, up to 15 hours/week).
The President: Powers and Duties of the President
To address the Senate as the Executive.
To propose measures from the executive to the Senate through the Senate Chair.
To veto any act, in whole or in part, enacted by the Senate within six (6) calendar days of its passage by the Senate.
To strike, reduce or line-item veto budget requests. This power is in effect only while the Senate is in session.
To meet weekly with the Senate Chair in an open meeting to discuss the actions of the Senate.
To meet bi-weekly with the ASUAF Senate to detail exact hours worked for the previous two weeks.
To act as chief executive officer for ASUAF.
To hire a Director for each of the various departments.
To hire all non-elected members of the executive staff.
To dismiss all departmental employees and non-elected officials of the executive staff for reasonable cause.
To make additions to the executive staff, subject to Senate confirmation.
To make all appointments except those specifically designated to another officer or body.
To serve as chair of the Executive Council and as a non-voting member of all ASUAF councils and committees with full speaking rights.
As Executive Council chair, The ASUAF President shall be responsible for reporting any unexcused Executive Council absences during the ASUAF President Remarks portion of the agenda.
To act as or appoint a representative of ASUAF concerns to the Board of Regents when necessary.
To serve as a representative to the UAF Governance Coordinating Committee.
To act as, or appoint, a representative to facilitate communication with other student governments and governance groups.
To inform department heads and/or the Senate of expenditures which would endanger that body's ability to stay within its budgetary bounds.
To seek bids to compare pricing and recommend to the Senate any and all proposed equipment by ASUAF.
To transfer funds from any account under the authority of the Senate with Senate approval.
To submit a budget summary to the Finance Committee Chair by the 15th of each month and to submit a summer expenditure budget summary to the Senate at the first regular meeting of the fall semester.
To present to the Executive Council by the 31st of March a “Year in Review” report.
To maintain office hours on a regular basis throughout their term of office.
To administer the ASUAF fall elections until the Elections Board is formed.
To facilitate student government access to the ASUAF office in Wood Center.
To select the CTC Governance Council Chair, subject to the approval and advice of the Executive Council.
To complete at least two (2) trainings chosen by themselves from a predetermined list set by the Executive Council.
Exceptions shall be made at the discretion of the Executive Council.
To establish initiatives and actions via executive order in times of emergency or crisis
Any initiatives or actions taken are to be reviewed by the ASUAF Senate at the next regular meeting for amendment or approval
To work with the Senate Chair to develop the “State of ASUAF” report to be completed and read at the last Senate meeting of the academic year
The ASUAF Vice President works closely with the President to represent and advocate for all UAF students. This is paid student position ($11/hour, up to 15 hours/week).
The Vice President: Powers and Duties of the Vice President
To assume the office of President should the President be removed from or become incapable of fulfilling the terms of office.
To assume the duties of the President when the President is not available.
To preside over the election of the ASUAF Senate Chair unless otherwise stated.
To meet bi-weekly with the ASUAF Senate to detail exact hours worked for the previous weeks.
To foster communication between ASUAF and the students, faculty and staff of the Community and Technical College of the University of Fairbanks.
To assist the ASUAF President in the leadership of ASUAF and serve as the Chief Operating Officer for all ASUAF departments.
To present to the Executive Council by the 31st of March a “Year in Review” report.
To maintain office hours on a regular basis throughout their term of office.
To address the Senate as a member of the Executive branch of ASUAF.
To be a non-voting member of all ASUAF councils and committees with full speaking rights.
To serve as a representative to the UAF Governance Coordinating Committee.
To complete at least two (2) trainings chosen by themselves from a predetermined list set by the Executive Council.
Exceptions shall be made at the discretion of the Executive Council.