Student Government Association

President (Fall 2021/Spring 2022)

Anvay Patel

Vice President (Fall 2021/Spring 2022)

Connor Cheung

Secretary (Fall 2021/Spring 2022)

Nathalia Allenza

Treasurer (Fall 2021/Spring 2022)

Hely Dodia

Contact the Student Government Association via email at Student_Life@middlesexcc.edu

Visit the Student Life Canvas group to view the Student Government Association Spring 2022 Meeting Schedule.

For more information and an update on meetings for the Spring 2022 semester, contact the Student Life Office at Student_Life@middlesexcc.edu

Meet the Candidates

Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom
Virtual
https://zoom.us/j/94102818690?pwd=cjVHcUNWaFpHdHdwZkVVaWVvd1EwZz09
Meeting ID: 941 0281 8690
Passcode: 2325

SGA Fall 2021 Special Elections

Wednesday, December 1, 2021
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Student Life Canvas Group
https://middlesexcc.instructure.com/courses/9832

For updated information on the Student Government Special Elections, contact the Student Life Office at Student_Life@middlesexcc.edu

Preamble

We, the students of Middlesex College, hereby establish through this constitution a student government to ensure the vitality of the student participation in the governance of the College. Our goals are to offer opportunities for students of Middlesex College; to offer optimal opportunities for student leadership, provide proper student representation, encourage vibrant campus life, share concerns, express opinions, and jointly participate in the resolution of conflicts with other members of the college community.

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be Student Government Association, the recognized student governing body of Middlesex College, referenced in this constitution as SGA.

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of SGA shall be to unify all students affiliated with Middlesex College under one name in an effort to regulate affairs amongst the student body. Through proper planning and diligence, SGA hopes to achieve its main objective of promoting a welcoming, productive, creative, and patriotic environment at Middlesex College. We, the students of Middlesex College, strive to accomplish the following:

1. To develop and maintain a spirit of cooperation through the student body and organizations of the institution to encourage growth of the institution.
2. To encourage student initiative and interactions between SGA and other recognized student organizations.
3. To facilitate scholastic achievement.
4. To maintain an effective liaison between students, administration, staff and faculty of the College.
5. To sponsor and maintain such services and activities as may be deemed beneficial to the campus community and specifically to the students.
6. To ordain and establish the following constitution and bylaws.

Article III – Membership

Section 1 – Members:

Membership into SGA shall be open to all currently enrolled Middlesex College students who are in good overall standing (academic and social) with the College, and does not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

Article IV – Qualification and Election Procedure

Section 1 – Eligibility:

Candidate and Membership Qualifications:

Section A: Candidates for Student Government Association positions must meet the following qualifications by the application deadline and throughout their term of office set by the elections committee.

1. Must currently be a student enrolled and in good standing at Middlesex College.
2. Student is not currently on disciplinary probation.
3. Candidates must complete all appropriate forms of candidacy.
4. Candidates must attend one of the mandatory candidate’s meetings.
5. Candidates must be enrolled in the current academic semester and if elected, must be enrolled by the registration deadline of the semester they are scheduled to serve.
6. Candidates must have a 2.50 minimum cumulative GPA at time of nomination.
7. Once elected, candidates must continue to meet candidacy qualifications for the term of office.

Section 2 – Officers:

The officers, mentioned throughout as elected officers, will be President, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer.

Section 3 – Elections:

Officer Elections will be held in the spring semester. Should an officer elected by ballot graduates, transfers, withdraw from classes, prior to the beginning of the academic year, special elections will be held to fill the vacancy. A candidate intention form is required in order to run for any position amongst the SGA. A candidate may either run as an individual or with a slate.

Subsection A – Election Procedure:

Elections shall begin every spring semester on a date and time set by the SGA Advisor and the Student Life Office. The conclusion date and time shall also be determined by these two parties.

Subsection B – Campaigning Procedure:

Campaigning procedures for Student Government Association elections shall be determined by the SGA Advisor and the Student Life Office and detailed in the Candidate Intention Form and Elections Guide. Candidates may choose to campaign through physical flyers, candidate merchandise, social media outlets, and/or other means of campaigning as seen fit by the SGA Advisor and Student Life Office. Campaign slogans must remain positive and competitive; any and all negative campaigning that slanders the opponent’s name or status in the MCC community shall be subject to disqualification from the current SGA candidate elections. All additional campaigning regulations and procedures indicated in the Election Guide must be abided by.

Section 5 – Term:

The officers shall serve for one academic year following their successful election and their term of office shall begin July 1^st of the upcoming academic year.

Section 7 – Vacancy:

If an officer steps down from office, appropriate prior notice must be given in order for steps to be taken to fill the upcoming vacancy. Re-election will be required in order for a resigned officer to return to office. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the President, the Vice Presidents shall assume the office for the remainder of the term. If vacancies occur in any other office, the remaining officers are to carry out the duties of the missing officer until special elections have concluded or until the end of the semester.

Article V – Duties of the Officers

Section 1 – President:

It shall be the duty of the President to:

1. Preside at meetings.
2. Call special meetings.
3. Carry out the provisions of the constitution.
4. Act as the SGA representative to College Assembly.
5. Delegate tasks to other elected staff members.
6. Oversee all committee activities.
7. Maintain a good and working relationship with the Student Life Office.
8. Represent the organization at SGA related events and non-SGA related events.
9. Help other officers with delegated duties.
10. Review the Student Club/Organizations Manual with the Student Life Office.
11. Contact student clubs and organizations presidents regarding collaborations, agendas, and other miscellaneous tasks.
12. Perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

Section 2 – Executive Vice President:

It shall be the duty of the Executive Vice President to:

1. Preside in the absence of the President.
2. Represent the organization at SGA related events and non-SGA related events.
3. Assist the President in task management, task completion, and SGA organization and order.
4. Maintain a good relationship with the Student Life Office.
5. Help other officers with delegated duties.
6. Keep a file of club’s records.
7. Communicate with all academic offices.
8. Perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.
9. Preside in the absence of the President.
10. Represent the organization at SGA related events and non-SGA related events.
11. Represent recognized student clubs and organizations at SGA meetings and voicing concerns amongst student based organizations.
12. Interact with represented organizations, assuring their agendas are discussed at every meeting.
13. Perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

Section 5 – Secretary:

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to:

1. Represent the organization at SGA related events and non-SGA related events.
2. Obtain and retain detailed notes of any and all meetings, office hours, and other SGA related events.
3. Collect, review, and submit minutes and itineraries of other student based organizations and members of the MCC community to the President, retaining a record for themselves.
4. Coordinate with other interested student based organizations to set up individual meetings outside of regular office hours with any member of SGA, including themselves.
5. Maintain a copy of all current SGA staff contact information and availability.
6. Maintain all attendance records for every meeting, including council meetings, staff meetings, representative meetings, and member meetings.
7. Act as the head of membership, voicing membership concerns.
8. Coordinate directly and maintain good relations with local campus media outlets, such as the school newspaper and school radio station.
9. Maintain all SGA related social media outlets, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Tumblr, etc.
10. Perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

Section 6 – Treasurer:

It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to:

1. Represent the organization at SGA related events and non-SGA related events.
2. Keep a detailed record of SGA current funds.
3. Propose budget models throughout the semester.
4. Present a financial plan at every SGA Council meeting where a full Quorum is present.
5. Perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

Section 8 – Succession of Power:

The succession of power shall be as follows:

1. President
2. Executive Vice President
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer

Article VI – Advisor

Section 1 – Roles of the Advisor:

The advisor of SGA must meet the following credentials and perform the following duties:

1. Serve as the official staff representative of the SGA.
2. Work closely with the organization to ensure a cooperative relationship between the advisor and the organization membership.
3. Assist each officer of the organization in understanding their duties.
4. Give particular attention to the financial activities of the group in order to prevent the incurring of organizational debts for succeeding members to pay.
5. Assist students to understand and apply democratic principles within their own organizations, and in working with others.
6. Be present for all official club/organization meetings and activities (business and social), and to advise students of the policies and procedures which they must follow as a club/organization.
7. Become familiar with all SGA processes and procedures.
8. Ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure the safety and welfare of SGA officers.
9. Ensure that appropriate college policies are upheld.
10. To sign all required forms for the SGA, and to make sure that all expenditures are within all existing policies.

Article VII – NBC and PAC Representation

Representatives from the New Brunswick Center and Perth Amboy Center will be appointed by the directors of their respective campuses.

Article VIII – Impeachment/Removal/Replacement of Officers and Members

Section 1:

All elected officers, represented organizations, and members may be subjected to impeachment and removal by a two-thirds majority vote of the total membership.

Section 2:

The following will constitute reasons for expulsion of involvement from SGA:

1. Not attending/being tardy to a total of two (2) consecutive SGA meetings without giving prior notice (three (3) absences with prior notice).
2. Not doing designated work nor delegating tasks to another club officer if unable to complete said task.
3. Loss of overall good standing with the college.
4. Harming or devaluing SGA in any way.
5. Abusing the privilege of the office of President, Vice Presidential positions, or other elected officer positions
6. Making solo decisions outside of their delegated jurisdiction that affect the SGA without the full consensus of the membership.

Section 4:

Advisors must be aware of all impeachment processes and be present at all meetings involving the impeachment process of any officer.

Article IX – Meetings

Section 1 – Meetings:

There will be at one (1) public SGA meeting per month. All officer agendas must be submitted to the president prior to the start of the meeting. There must be a quorum present to vote on motions or other issues.

Section 2 – Quorum:

There must be a quorum of 50% plus 1 of the active membership present in order to vote on motions or other issues.

Article X – Committees

Section 1:

The standing committees shall be appointed as necessary.

Article XI – Additional Rules and Regulations

Additional rules and regulations pertaining to the SGA shall be located in the following locations:

1. Middlesex County College Student Club/Organization Manual
2. Robert’s Rules of Order (latest edition)

Article XII – Amendments to the Constitution

Section 1:

Amendments must be passed by two-thirds of the members of Student Government Association. All amendments shall be reflected in the constitution in years following their adoption.