Student Senate By-Laws

Elections

Qualifications to Hold a Senate Office

1. A Student Senator at the time of their election and through the duration of their term in office:
   1. Must be registered as a student of LCCC or its partnership schools.
   2. Must have at least 2.25 cumulative Grade Point Average in accordance with official college records.
   3. Must have completed at least twelve (12) and maintain a total of six (6) credit hours per semester, except summer, in either/both LCCC and its partnership schools.
   4. Must maintain a good standing within LCCC. Defined as having no current student or campus code of conduct violations as determined by the Dean of Enrollment Services.
   5. Students placed on probation or dismissal by the Administration for academic standards, in violation of the Student or Campus Code of Conduct are ineligible to remain in office.
   6. Students must read, sign and abide by any agreements generated by the Administration.

Process

1. Nominations

   A Candidate for Student Senate:

   1. Must meet the qualifications prescribed in Article V, Section A.
   2. Must personally secure the required number of signatures of currently enrolled members of the Student Body on the official nominating petition form provided by the Event Coordinator.
   3. Must file the official nominating petition form bearing the required number of signatures, no later than the date and time specified, with the Event Coordinator, who will verify the signatures.
   4. Candidate will receive notification from the Event Coordinator at least one week before the elections whether the nominating petition form as filed has been approved and meets the requirements stated on the nomination petition.
   5. In the event the petition is found unacceptable as filed, the candidate will be granted an additional three (3) weekdays to secure the sufficient number of signatures and/or meet all requirements necessary for approval.
   6. Must comply with all campaign regulations as set forth in the Student Senate Nomination Packet distributed by the Elections Committee.
2. Spring Election
   1. Is held to select the entire Student Senate.
   2. Must be held at least four (4) weeks before the end of the semester.
   3. Shall be conducted by the Elections Committee.
3. Spring Election Results
   1. Must be counted within twenty-four (24) hours after the conclusion of voting.
   2. Votes must be counted in a public place, which is announced at least ten (10) business days before the spring election.
   3. Votes will be counted by the Elections Committee Chairperson, Program Coordinator of Student Life, and a representative from the Office of Security.
   4. Must be publicly announced by the end of the week elections are held.
   5. Must be reported to all candidates by the Elections Committee.
   6. A recount shall be conducted upon written request of a candidate, to the Chairperson of the Elections Committee no later than 4:00 p.m. the following Monday after the official election results have been announced.
   7. The elections will culminate when the newly elected Student Senators have taken the Oath of office as administrated by the Program Coordinator of Student Life or a designee upon installation.
   8. Installation of elected Student Senators will occur no later than commencement.

Terms of Office

1. Length of Service
   1. Each Student Senator position is understood to commence for one academic year from the date of installation.
   2. Including any summer trainings at which time all decisions are made through the office of Student Life.
2. Term Limitations
   1. No officer may serve for more than two elected terms in the same position consecutively.
   2. No Student Senator may serve for more than four elected terms as a Student Senator.

Removal and Vacancies

Resignations

1. A Student Senator no longer willing or able to perform the duties of a Student Senator may submit a letter of resignation to the Program Coordinator of Student Life and the Student Senate.
2. Upon receipt of the resignation the Student Senate may vote to approve the resignation.
3. Upon approval, the Student Senate position will be considered vacant and the individual will no longer represent the Student Senate in any official capacity including, but not limited to, functions or activities.

Removal from Office

1. The Student Senate has the right to dismiss from office any Senate member who fails to abide by this Constitution, or the policies of the Administration.
2. Any dismissal from office must be approved by the Program Coordinator of Student Life.
3. Appeal of the Program Coordinator of Student Life or their designee’s decision will follow the Grievance procedure as outlined by college procedure.
4. The College Administration reserves the right to unilaterally institute disciplinary actions and/or removal proceedings against any member of the Student Senate for the violation of any signed agreements, the Student Code of Conduct and/or any policy or procedure adopted by the Board of Trustees.
5. Impeachment proceedings against any one member of the Student Senate may be initiated with the presentation to the Program Coordinator of Student Life of a petition requesting impeachment and signed by ½ of the members of the Student Senate at one of its regular or special meetings.
6. A meeting with conflicting parties must precede consideration of a motion before the Student Senate for a removal from office.
7. A minimum of seven (7) calendar days must elapse between the presentation of the petition for impeachment and the voting on impeachment.
8. All Student Senators must be notified within twenty-four (24) hours that a petition has been filed with the Program Coordinator of Student Life.
9. Any member of the Student Senate may thereafter be removed from their office by a vote of at least 4/5 of the total membership of the Student Senate, not counting the Student Senator in question.
10. The Program Coordinator of Student Life or their designee may also place disciplinary sanctions on individuals due to failing to fulfill Senate responsibilities, conduct issues, or failing to fulfill any agreements.
11. The Program Coordinator of Student Life or their designee may utilize a variety of sanctions appropriate to resolve the issues at hand.
12. Any member of the Student Senate, having been absent without due cause from five (5) regular consecutive meetings of the Student Senate may be removed from office by a ½ vote of the Student Senate.

Process for Reinstatement after Removal from Office

1. Any position of the Student Senate may be recalled by a petition bearing the signatures of 1/5 of the entire Student Body.
2. A petition requesting an election recall for a specific Student Senate position must be filed with the Student Life office.
3. Petitioners have fourteen (14) calendar days to secure the appropriate number of signatures from the date of filing.
4. By consultation with official college records, signatures on the petition will be validated by the Program Coordinator of Student Life or their designee.
5. Upon presentation of the validated petition to the Student Senate, the individual whose recall is sought shall be summarily recalled /removed from office.
6. Petitioning may only take place in an area designated by the Program Coordinator of Student Life or LCCC Administration.

Vacancy

1. A vacancy in the Presidency of the Student Senate will be filled by the Vice President.
2. The Vice President position will be offered to any other current Student Senator.
3. If no current Student Senator assumes a vacant position via an internal shuffle, the position will be advertised for appointment.
4. To fill a vacancy in any other office of the Student Senate; the position must be advertised.
5. An application and interview process will commence with the current Student Senate and the Program Coordinator of Student Life.
6. The successful candidate must be approved by a simple majority vote of the Student Senate.

Election By-Laws

Nomination Procedure

1. Potential candidates are required to sign out a nomination package in the Student Life office or fill out the online form if printing package from the website. The Election Committee will inform them of any additional information that may become relevant after the printing of the package.
2. Potential candidates are required to complete and return the entire nomination package to Student Life or the Election Committee by the specified date and time.
3. Potential candidates will be notified within one (1) week of submission of packet whether or not they have met the qualifications.

Qualifications

1. Candidates must have previously taken (12) credits hours through Lorain County Community College and/ or the University Partnership at the time of his/her induction.
2. Candidates must be enrolled as a student taking at least six (6) credit hours per term at Lorain County Community College and/or the University Partnership both at the time of his/her induction and through the duration of his/her term of office. Each position must take at least one Lorain County Community College course per term except for the University Partnership Representative.
3. Candidates must have both at the time of his/her induction and through the duration of his/her term of office, a minimum 2.25 cumulative grade point average.
4. Elected candidates must be willing to assume power of said office at the time of his/her induction.
5. Candidates must understand and agree to all Bylaws pertaining to the office they are seeking.
6. Candidates must understand and agree to fulfill and follow the Student Senate Oath and the Student Body Constitution.

Campaign Rules and Regulations

1. Any candidate caught violating these rules and regulations may be disqualified. Student Life and/or the Elections Committee will make the final decision regarding violations. Violations must be submitted in writing, prior to the last day of the election, to the program coordinator of Student Life and President of the elections committee for review and decision. Appeals may be made to the Director of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Student Life.
2. All campaign signs, pins, posters, etc. must meet the approval of the offices of Student Life and/or the Elections Committee before March 20.
3. No signs or campaign materials will be displayed before March 19 or before nominating petitions have been approved and verified by the offices of Student Life and/or the Election Committee.
4. No more than one (1) sign per candidate is allowed per section of bulletin board.
5. Only one banner per candidate is to be hung from the College Center Mall balcony. The banner may not exceed three feet by five feet.
6. All other signs placed in college buildings may not exceed 8 1/2" X 11".
7. Each candidate must oversee and participate in the creation of their campaign material. The offices of Student Life and/or the Election Committee can assist candidates through the use of resources, (i.e. art room, computers, etc.) in a manner that is fair to all candidates.
8. All campaigns are to be run on an individual basis. Pooling of resources through forming a ticket is not allowed.
9. Any material related to a candidate is not permitted within the polling area. No campaigning shall be permitted within the polling area, including doors and windows. Campaigning in this area will result in disqualification of the candidate. This is extended to computers and computer labs on campus. Special circumstances will be considered by the president of the elections committee.
10. Any questionable campaign materials or activities shall be directed in writing to the offices of Student Life and/or the Election Committee for consideration. The offices of Student Life and/or the Election Committee will remove any and all questionable campaign materials.
11. Tampering or removing of any other candidate’s campaign material can result in disqualification of the offending candidate.
12. The candidates and/or their representatives must remove any and all campaign materials within one (1) week after the completion of the elections.
13. No candidate or their representative(s) shall tamper with the voting process in any way.
14. Current Student Life workers and/or Student Senators running as candidates are not permitted to oversee or facilitate the election process. Current Student Senators lose the ability to vote on or correct any aspect of the election upon signing out of a packet. Their vote will be listed as "Abstained."
15. Any and all costs incurred by the candidate are their sole responsibility. The offices of Student Life and/or Student Senate will not donate any funds to endorse any candidate.
16. Write-in candidates are required to sign a "Letter of Intent". This letter of intent must be picked up in the Student Life department or it can be printed from LCCC’s website. The letter must be returned to the President of the Election Committee no later than April 3rd with 100 signatures of the student body for consideration.
17. Write-in candidates must meet the all qualifications set forth above. Potential write-in candidates will be notified of their eligibility as official write-in candidates before 6:00 p.m. on April 10th.
18. Any student running as a write-in candidate must have fifty (50) percent of the total votes cast for that office plus one (1) in order to win that office.
19. A recount shall be conducted upon written request of a candidate, to the President of the Elections Committee. Requests must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. the following Monday after the official election results have been announced.
20. The total votes for each candidate will be included with the official announcement of the election results.
21. The Elections Committee will post additional changes to these rules and regulations in the Student Life Department, on the website and contact candidates.
22. All candidates have equal opportunity to campaign on LCCC Cable channel and The Duck.
23. Candidates may not wear campaign/apparel during the voting period in the polling places. Polling places defined at the end of the packet.

Campaign Sign Regulations

1. Borrow art easels from the ITMS Department and place them in locker corridors and bridge ways throughout campus.
2. For outdoor installations, Physical Plant could provide wooden stakes that signage could be attached. These types of signs could be posted along sidewalks and near parking lots to maximize visibility.