THE STUDENT BODY CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
CONSTITUTION
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the Asbury Theological Seminary Student Leadership Team.
Article II - Purpose Statement and Objectives
The purpose of the Student Leadership Team is to build community while advocating with a unified voice for the student body by serving in holy love made visible through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.
The objectives of the Asbury Theological Seminary Student Leadership Team shall be to provide means to: Serve as an advocate of the student body; Develop social, service, and recreational opportunities for the seminary community; Deepen the spiritual lives of the seminary community; Work towards the long-term health of the institution.
Article III - Membership
Membership in the Asbury Theological Seminary Student Body shall consist of every person who is enrolled at Wilmore and/or on ExL and is considered a student according to the registrar's office.
Article IV - Leadership Team
The Student Leadership Team shall consist of elected voting representatives and appointed non-voting directors as defined in this constitution and its bylaws.
Article V - Student Body Meetings
A meeting of the student body shall be called at any time the Student Body President shall deem necessary or by petition of at least 10 percent of the student body.
Article VI - Amendments
Section 1 - Initiation
Proposed amendments to this constitution and bylaws may be initiated by a majority vote of the Student Leadership Team or by petition of at least 10 percent of the student body.
Section 2 - Notification and Publication
Each member of the student body must receive a copy of the proposed amendment(s) at least two weeks prior to balloting by the student body.
Section 3 - Ratification
A. Ratification of the proposed amendment(s) to the constitution shall require an affirmative vote by two thirds (2/3) of the students voting in the election.
B. Ratification of the proposed amendment(s) to the bylaws shall require an affirmative vote by two thirds (2/3) of the Student Leadership Team.
Article VII - Student Leadership Team
Section 1 - Composition
A. Elected Officers: The Student Leadership Team shall consist of a President, Vice President, Junior Class Visionary Representative, Middler Class Visionary Representative, Senior Class Visionary Representative, at large Community Life Director, and 2 At Large Program Coordinators.
B. Appointed Officers: The Student Leadership Team shall further consist of a Financial Director, Social Director, Service Director, Chaplain, Communications Director, Witness Editor, International Student Director, Male Athletic Director, Female Athletic Director; ExL Director, and a Post Graduate Director.
C. Advisor: The Student Leadership Team shall have an ex-officio advisor appointed by the Administration of Asbury Theological Seminary.
Section 2 - Chair
The President of the Student Leadership Team shall be the Student Body President and chair of the Student Leadership Team.
Section 3 - Vice Chair
The Vice President of the Student Leadership Team shall be the Student Body Vice President and vice chair of the Student Leadership Team.
Section 4 - Chaplain
The Chaplain of the Student Leadership Team shall be the Student Body Chaplain.
Section 5 - Term of Office
A. All officers shall serve a term of one calendar year. They shall assume their respective offices following graduation ceremonies each spring, except for the Junior Class Visionary Representative.
B. The Junior Class Visionary Representative of the prior academic year shall continue to represent the new Junior Class until fall elections.
Section 6 - One Vote Per Office
Each elected officer of the Student Leadership Team is entitled to one vote.
Section 7 - Frequency of Meetings (Fall & Spring)
The Student Leadership Team shall meet regularly as defined in the bylaws.
Section 8 - J-Terms (January & Summer Sessions)
The elected officials of the Student Leadership Team shall be subject to call at the discretion of the Student Body President.
Section 9 - Open Meetings
All meetings of the Student Leadership Team shall be open meetings. Privilege of the floor shall be granted at the discretion of the President or Vice President or a majority of the Student Leadership Team.
Articles VIII - Governing Procedure
Section 1 - Rules of Order
The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order may be considered the basis for parliamentary procedure in all meetings held under authority of this constitution.
Section 2 - Quorum
One-half of the members of the Student Leadership Team, in addition to the President, shall constitute a quorum of the Student Leadership Team.
Article IX - Nomination and Election Procedures
Section 1 - Eligibility for Elected Office
A. Two semesters work at Asbury Theological Seminary, including one semester of residential work, and a cumulative standing of not less than 2.50/4.00 at the time one assumes office shall be required of any person elected to any position except the Junior Class Visionary Representative.
B. A person must have served one year (two consecutive semesters) as an elected or appointed officer of the Student Leadership Team or as a member of a Student Leadership Team Standing Committee in order to be elected to the office of President or Vice-President of the Student Leadership Team.
C. Elected Officers must be enrolled on a full-time basis (9 credits minimum) at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore Campus.
Section 2 - Eligibility for Appointed Office
Appointed Officers must be enrolled on at least a part-time basis (6 credits minimum) at Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore Campus) except the ExL Director.
Section 3 - Definitions
A. Junior: Any student who will have completed less than 24 credit hours at Spring Graduation.
B. Middler: Any student who will have completed between 24-63 credit hours at Spring Graduation.
C. Senior: Any student who will have completed more than 63 credit hours at Spring Graduation.
Section 4 - Nominations and Elections
A. The Student Leadership Team Senior Class Visionary shall appoint a committee of at least two (2) students who are not running for a position on the Student Leadership Team on nominations and elections composed of one elected Student Leadership Team member, one appointed Student Leadership Team member, one representative from each class, and one M.A. student.
B. The elected Student Leadership Team Senior Class Visionary shall serve as the chair of the Committee on Nominations and Elections.
C. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Nominations and Elections to:
1. Hold a planning meeting at least two weeks prior to elections and inform the student body of the election timeline;
2. Explain elections procedures to the student body;
3. Facilitate a time of prayer and discernment during a mid-week Chapel service prior to the time of nominations;
4. Provide a means for the nomination of others whereby the nominated person would be contacted and given the opportunity to fulfill the responsibilities of having their name appear on the ballot;
5. Publicize all candidates prior to the election;
6. Prepare ballots, arrange voting, supervise all Student Leadership Team elections, count all properly cast ballots;
7. Post election results as soon as tabulation is complete.
D. Election of the Junior Class Visionary Representative shall take place no later than four weeks following the start of fall semester classes.
1. The Student Body Vice President shall conduct the election meeting;
2. The Student Leadership Team will report and post the results of the Junior Class election.
Section 5 - Time of Elections
All elections for Student Leadership Team Officers shall take place annually at least one month prior to but not earlier than eight weeks prior to the final date of the spring semester, with the exception of the Junior Class Visionary Representative. A period of two weeks should be given for nominations. The nominations period shall end two weeks prior to balloting.
Section 6 - Nomination
A nominee's name must appear on the ballot provided that the nominee:
A. Presents the Committee on Nominations and Elections a signed covenant of service [see bylaws Addendum A];
B. Demonstrates that they have met the eligibility requirements for the office sought.
Section 7 - Method of Election
A. The secret ballot shall be used in all Student Leadership Team elections.
B. The candidate for each office receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected.
C. Write-in balloting will be permitted. Write-in candidates must meet the eligibility requirements and receive a plurality of at least 25 percent of the total number of votes cast in the Presidential election.
D. No candidate will be permitted to be elected to more than one office.
E. The Committee on Nominations and Elections will have the final word on such matters.
Section 8 - Eligibility to Vote
A. All members of the student body (as defined in Article III) may cast a ballot for one President, one Vice President, one Community Life Director, and two program coordinators.
B. Juniors may vote for one Junior Class Visionary Representative; Middlers may vote for one Middler Class Visionary Representative; Seniors may vote for one Senior Class Visionary Representative.
Article X - Selection of Appointed Leaders
Section 1 - Application
The elected officers elect shall make applications available to all students for each of the appointed offices to be filled and shall set a date by which they shall be returned. Every effort shall be made to encourage students, who are gifted and feel called by the Lord, to apply for appointed positions to serve the student body on the Student Leadership Team.
Section 2 - Selection
The elected officers elect, along with the Student Leadership Team Advisor or a sub-committee thereof, shall be responsible for interviewing potential candidates and reviewing their academic records as is necessary to ensure eligibility and suitability for office in the Student Leadership Team as appointed officers. Each nominee for appointment recommended to the elected officers elect of the Student Leadership Team by the sub-committee must be approved by a majority of members of the elected officers elect. Selection should be completed before the Student Leadership Team takes office.
Article XI - Vacancies and Absences
Section 1 - Vacancies
A. Whenever a member of the Student Leadership Team resigns office, withdraws from Asbury Theological Seminary or is dismissed, it shall be the responsibility of the Student Body President to appoint from within the student body a person meeting the eligibility of the office to which that person is appointed.
B. Nominees to fill a vacated office on the Student Leadership Team shall be ratified by a majority vote of the elected members of the Student Leadership Team.
C. If the elected member is the Student Body President, the Student Body Vice President shall assume the duties of office and nominate a person meeting the eligibility requirements to complete the unexpired term of office.
Section 2 - Absences
In the event of the absence of the Student Body President, the Student Body Vice President shall assume the President's responsibilities.
Section 3 - Dismissals from Office
A. The Student Leadership Team shall, at its discretion, have the power to dismiss from office any member who becomes negligent of the duties to which the member has been elected.
B. Negligence shall be defined as:
1. Failure to attend regularly scheduled meetings of the Student Leadership Team. It shall be the understanding of this Student Leadership Team that attendance is required. The Student Body President, in consultation with the Vice President shall be the only authority to excuse an absence;
2. Failure to adequately fulfill the requirements of the office currently held as outlined in the constitution and bylaws of the student body;
3. Failure to abide by the constitution and/or bylaws of the Student Leadership Team.
C. In the event that negligence is perceived and brought before the Student Leadership Team, it shall be the responsibility of the President and Vice President to investigate and report to the Student Leadership Team the nature of and reasons for the negligence. It shall also be the responsibility of the President and Vice President to make recommendations to the Student Leadership Team concerning the situation. The investigation and report shall be presented to the Student Leadership Team within four (4) weeks of the voicing of the concerns of negligence.
D. In the event dismissal procedures must be taken, the member in question may be removed from office by a majority vote of all Student Leadership Team members present and voting. The member removed shall be notified in writing by the Student Leadership Team of the actions taken and the reasons for them.
E. It shall be the policy of the Student Leadership Team to always approach these outlined proceedings as redemptively as possible, always giving the benefit of doubt to the person in question, and always seeking to bear one another's burdens.
Article XII - Monetary Matters
Section 1 - Dues
Dues, as determined annually by the Student Leadership Team shall be paid to the Business Office at the time of registration, as the Student Activity Fee.
Section 2 - Fiscal Year
The fiscal year for the student body shall run from July 1 to the following June 30 to coincide with the seminary fiscal year.
Section 3 - Funding Policies
A. The Student Leadership Team shall be under no obligation to allocate funds to student organizations not chartered by the Student Leadership Team.
B. Student Organizations are eligible to request budgeted funding provided that the organization:
1. Is in its second year of continuous operation;
2. Has annually submitted records to the Student Leadership Team Financial Director evidencing continual service of at least three elected officers, minutes from three meetings per semester, and a statement of purpose and mission;
3. Submit a budget for the coming academic year with a summary of the past year's expenditures;
4. Submit documentation of received and anticipated revenues and the source of said revenues;
5. Meet with the Student Leadership Team Financial Director and Student Body President to explain its request.
C. It is the sole responsibility of organizations requesting budgeted funding to fulfill the responsibilities listed herein. Failure to comply forfeits the organization's ability to receive budgeted funds until such time as they are in compliance.
D. The Student Leadership Team shall reserve the right to delete activities, reduce or increase amounts for individual activities, or refuse to fund activities at their discretion.
Section 4 - Budget Guidelines
A. The budget shall be adopted prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year to be confirmed by the second meeting of the Fall Semester.
B. The budget shall list all activities and amounts of monies to be expended for each activity.
C. All requests for monies must be made in writing to the Financial Director or his or her representative to be considered for funding, or to the Student Leadership Team after a budget for the fiscal year has been approved.
D. The Student Leadership Team may appropriate the funds as it sees fit and proper in regard to amount and account from which the funds are to be appropriated.
E. Unspent Student Leadership Team funds shall be consolidated into a single Student Leadership Team account at the end of the fiscal year and the Student Leadership Team in the subsequent fiscal year shall retain said funds.
Section 5 - Budget Procedure
A. All requests must be made in writing to the Student Leadership Team Financial Director by the first of April.
B. The Student Body President and Student Leadership Financial Director shall propose a budget to the Student Leadership Team by the second meeting of the fall semester in the new fiscal year.
C. At the time of the proposed budget presentation, each Student Leadership Team member shall be given a summary of the organizations' budget requests, and the Student Leadership Team Financial Director shall have the written requests on hand for review.
D. The proposed budget shall be presented to the Student Leadership Team by the Finance Director for their approval.
E. Representatives of qualifying organizations may be present and shall be given an opportunity to speak before the Student Leadership Team prior to the adoption of the budget.
Article XIII - Enacting
The Constitution is hereby enacted on March 24, 2004.
BYLAWS
Article I - Duties of Office; Elected Officers
Section 1 - Student Body President
A. Shall be a voting member of the Student Leadership Team.
B. Shall preside at general meetings of the student body.
C. Shall issue calls for special meetings of the Student Leadership Team and the student body at their discretion or when presented with a petition by at least 10 percent of the student body.
D. Shall, in consultation with the Student Leadership Team, appoint all ad hoc committee(s) and be an ex officio member of all committees.
E. Shall interpret the constitution and see that all provisions are complied with.
F. Shall represent the student body at various meetings and functions as requested by the Asbury Theological Faculty, Administration, Board of Trustees, and Alumni Board.
G. Shall be the Student Representative to the Board of Trustees.
H. Shall appoint ex-officio officers as necessary.
I. Shall make effort to mentor the current Vice President in the duties of the President with the intention of easing transition should the Vice President be elected President the following year.
J. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Leadership Team.
Section 2 - Student Body Vice President
A. Shall be a voting member of the Student Leadership Team.
B. Shall, in the absence of the President, perform all the duties of the President.
C. Shall be an ex officio member of all committees, keeping the President informed of the actions being taken or planned.
D. Shall, in consultation with the President, prepare the agenda for all meetings and preside at Student Leadership Team Meetings.
E. Shall assist the president in all other matters of governance at the President's discretion.
F. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 3 - Class Visionaries Representative
A. Shall be a voting member of the Student Leadership Team.
B. Shall be chair of all class meetings.
C. Shall issue calls for all class meetings.
D. Shall attend all meetings of the Student Leadership Team.
E. Shall pay particular attention to student needs and concerns in order to prayerfully discern God's direction for students and the greater ATS community.
F. Shall have the ability to request that the president call a general student body meeting both organized and presided over by the visionary representative team.
G. Shall prayerfully discern and represent God's best for Asbury Theological Seminary and her students.
H. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 4 - Community Life Director
A. Shall be a voting member of the Student Leadership Team.
B. Shall represent students on the Faculty Community Life Committee.
C. Shall coordinate with seminary housing officers to ensure student satisfaction.
D. Shall coordinate efforts to provide community life service to non-residential students.
E. Shall coordinate efforts to include student spouses and children in community life.
F. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 5 - Program Coordinators
A. Shall be a voting member of the Student Leadership Team.
B. Shall attend all meetings of the Student Leadership Team.
C. Shall provide organization and administration to the programs of the Student Leadership Team.
D. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 6 - Planning Sessions and Conferences
All officers shall attend annual planning sessions.
Section 7 - Core Team
The Core Team will consist of all elected officials and the Finance Director. The Finance Director will serve as a non-voting member of the Core Team. The Core Team will meet at the discretion of the SLT President.
Article II - Duties of Office; Appointed Officers
Section 1 - Appointment and Continuing Service
All appointed officers of the Student Leadership Team serve at the pleasure of the Student Body President.
Section 2 - Communications Director
A. Shall keep a written record of all Student Leadership and student body meetings;
B. Shall carry on all correspondence and publicity as directed;
C. Shall publish and post all approved minutes.
D. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team
Section 3 - Finance Director
A. Shall conduct all financial transactions of the Student Leadership Team.
B. Shall maintain adequate financial records.
C. Shall advise the Student Leadership Team in its budgetary planning.
D. Shall submit monthly reports to the Student Leadership Team.
E. Shall make bi-annual reports available to the student body.
F. Shall send notices to all organizations eligible for budgeted funding and Student Leadership Team officers by mid-spring requesting:
1. Proposed budget request for the coming academic year;
2. Proposed calendar of events for the coming academic year;
3. Officers for the coming academic year;
G. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
H. Shall serve as a non-voting member of the Core Team.
Section 4 - Chaplain
A. Shall be responsible for organizing student body prayer for the life of Asbury Theological Seminary.
B. Shall provide opportunities for the development of the spiritual life of the student body.
C. Shall provide for prayer and devotional opportunities for the Student Leadership Team.
D. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 5 - Social Life Director
A. Shall chair a Social Life Committee.
B. Shall sponsor all social events prescribed by the Student Leadership Team.
C. Shall coordinate social events with other campus groups and organizations.
D. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 6 - Athletic Directors
A. Shall be responsible for the student intramural program.
B. Shall be the custodians of the intramural budget.
C. Shall be the custodians of all student body athletic equipment.
D. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 7 - Witness Editor
A. Shall have their duties prescribed by the Student Leadership Team.
B. Shall be the custodian of the Asbury Witness budget.
C. Shall be the senior editor.
D. Shall chair the Editorial Committee.
E. Shall be responsible for other publication(s) as prescribed and funded by the Student Leadership Team.
F. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 8 - Service Director
A. Shall be chair of the Service Committee.
B. Shall sponsor all service events prescribed by the Student Leadership Team.
C. Shall coordinate service events with other campus groups and extra-seminary organizations.
D. Shall provide opportunities for the student body to perform Christian service.
E. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 9 - International Students Director
A. Shall be an international student, chosen by the International Students' Association in consultation with the Student Body President.
B. Shall represent the needs of the international students to the Student Leadership Team.
C. Shall coordinate efforts to meet the needs of international students.
D. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 10 - ExL Director
A. Shall be or have been an ExL student.
B. Shall represent the needs of ExL students to the Student Leadership Team.
C. Shall coordinate efforts to meet the needs of ExL students.
D. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 11 - Post Graduate Director
A. Shall be a Post Graduate Student.
B. Shall represent the needs of Post Graduates to the Student Leadership Team.
C. Shall coordinate efforts to meet the needs of Post Graduate students.
D. Shall carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Student Body President and/or the Student Leadership Team.
Section 12 - Planning Sessions and Conferences
All appointed officers shall attend annual planning sessions.
Article III - Standing Committees
Section 1 - Social Life Committee
A. Shall be chaired by the Social Life Director.
B. Shall plan social activities.
C. Shall provide budget requests and report all expenses to the Finance Director.
D. Shall assist in hosting Student Leadership Team events and other seminary events when requested by the Student Leadership Team.
Section 2 - Service Committee
A. Shall be chaired by the Service Director.
B. Shall plan service opportunities.
C. Shall provide budget requests and report all expenses to the Finance Director.
D. Shall assist in hosting Student Leadership Team events and other seminary events when requested by the Student Leadership Team.
Section 3 - Editorial Committee
A. Shall be chaired by the Witness Editor.
B. Shall request a member of the Asbury Theological Seminary Faculty to serve as an advisor.
C. Shall establish guidelines for the Asbury Witness that demonstrates a broad perspective, representative of the entire student body community, and present said guidelines to the Student Leadership Team for approval.
D. Shall prayerfully seek guidance in truthful reporting while exercising discretion and avoiding censorship.
E. Shall provide budget requests and report all expenses to the Finance Director.
Section 4 - Ad Hoc Committees
All other student committees not provided for elsewhere in the constitution and bylaws shall serve at the direction of the Student Body President and shall submit all actions to the Student Leadership Team for approval.
Section 5 - Committee Composition and Tenure
A. All standing committees shall be appointed by the Committee Chair.
B. All Committees will serve for one year (spring graduation to spring graduation).
Article IV - Frequency of Meetings (Fall & Spring)
The Student Leadership Team shall meet twice a month. One bi-monthly meeting will be held with all elected and appointed officers. One bi-monthly meeting will be held with elected officers, the Student Leadership Team Chaplain, the Student Leadership Team Communications Director, and the Student Leadership Team Advisor. Special sessions may be called by the Student Body President or by petition of one-fourth of the Student Leadership Team members. The Student Body President, in consultation with the Vice-President, shall schedule all meetings.
Article V - Enacting
The bylaws are hereby enacted on March 24, 2004. Amended Oct 11, 2004 From the Oct 11 SLT meeting minutes: Dale then requested that the International student, ExL, and Post Grad Director be a "Representative" instead of "Director" Second by Raegan- Consensus
Addendum: Covenant of Service I agree for the sake of Christ, His Kingdom, and His people at Asbury Theological Seminary that if elected to office, I shall commit myself to serve a complete term of office. This is a service to which I am called by God and will honor that calling faithfully. I will take the necessary steps to continue to meet the eligibility requirements of my office. Further, I shall render my service to the community as unto the Lord. I will work cheerfully and with all due diligence to faithfully execute the duties of my office. I will attend all meetings of the Student Leadership Team, demonstrating my desire to serve God and his students of Asbury Seminary. If I fail to fulfill the duties of my office, I will forfeit any material and/or financial assistance given to me in relation to my membership on the Student Leadership Team.
Signed: _________________________________________ Date: ____________________