/Institutions/Olin-College-of-Engineering/json/2023-24/Student-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Olin-College-of-Engineering/json/2023-24/Student-Handbook.json

Student Handbook 2023-24 > Student Affairs and Resources > Student Government and Activities > Student Government Constitution

Student Government Constitution

Olin College Student Government Constitution

Agreed upon by the Students of Olin College, in Town Hall Meeting, on November 16, 2022. This Constitution will sunset on December 10, 2024.

 

Preamble

We, the students of Olin College of Engineering, establish this Constitution to empower the Student Government to represent and fulfill the changing needs and interests of the Student Body.

Part I. The Student Government.

Article 1. The Nature of Student Government.

Section 1. The Relationship.

The elected Student Leadership - Executives and Representatives - together form the Student Government which will have sole authority to allocate the Student Activities Fund and amend the Student Government Bylaws.

Section 2. The Mission.

The Student Government, also known as the Council of Olin Representatives (CORe), will facilitate and ensure communication between the Administration of the College and the Student Body. The Student Government will allocate and oversee the Student Activities Fund and coordinate initiatives which improve the lives of students at Olin College. The Student Government will serve as an active advocate and resource for members of the student body seeking to create change that is in line with the Honor Code, Olin’s stated institutional values, and the welfare of the Olin community.

Section 3. Source of Authority.

The Student Government derives its power from the consent of the Students and the trust of the Administration and Board of Trustees of the College.

Section 4. Student Activities Fee.

The Board of Trustees of the College has ultimate authority over the Student Activities Fee, which each student pays each semester. The Student Government may recommend changes to the Student Activities Fee to the Board of Trustees.

Section 5. Student Activities Fund.

The Student Activities Fund is funded through the Student Activities Fee. The Student Government has ultimate authority over the allocation of the Student Activities Fund. The Student Government has the power to divide the Student Activities Fund into virtual funds to be used and distributed by elected student representatives and for other purposes defined in the Student Government Bylaws.

Section 6. Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Student Government are as follows:

• Allocate money from any fund supported by the Student Activities Fee.

• Create initiatives to improve and advocate for Student Body wellbeing.

• Express the official opinion of the Student Body by making recommendations to the Administration and Board of Trustees of the College.

• Solicit volunteers from the Student Body to fill representative positions on committees or working groups when requested by faculty and/or staff. If there are more volunteers than available positions, the Council will appoint students by a procedure codified in the Student Government Bylaws.

• Recommend changes in the Student Activities Fee to the Board of Trustees.

• Empower and support student activism and advocacy at Olin.

Article 3. The Council of Olin Representatives.

Section 1. Name.

The core of the Student Government consisting of the Executives and the Representatives will be known as the Council of Olin Representatives.

 

Section 2. Mission.

The Council of Olin Representatives will work to amplify student input on issues under consideration by the administration and will support student initiatives. The Council will represent Olin’s student body to the administration, other colleges, and the outside world, while working to improve student life by supporting and developing solutions to issues facing the student body.

 

Section 3. Structure.

The Council will be comprised of three Executive Officers and some number of elected Representatives, as defined in the Student Government By-Laws. The Executive Officers will include the President, the Vice President for Communications, and the Vice President for Finance. Between Executives and Representatives, there must be at least one member of each graduating class.

 

Section 4. Allocation Powers.

The Council may allocate money from any fund allocated to the Council by the Student Government.

 

Section 5. Recommendations.

The Council may express the official opinion of the Student Government by making recommendations to the Administration and Board of Trustees of the College.

 

Section 6. Action Items.

The Council may demonstrate the commitment of the Student Government to an issue facing the Student Body by assigning tasks to its members for the purpose of resolving the issue.

 

Section 7. Committee Appointments.

If a committee or working group of faculty and/or staff requests student representative(s), the Council may solicit volunteers from the Student Body to fill the representative positions on that committee. If there are more volunteers than available positions, the Council will appoint students by excellence voting.

 

Section 8. Appellate Authority.

As the representatives of the Student Body, the Council will arbitrate any major disagreements between a Committee Leader and their Assistant Leader as well as any major disagreements between a Committee and a club or organization being funded by a Committee. In case of disagreement, the Council has ultimate authority over money from virtual funds involved in the disagreement over which the Council does not normally have authority.

 

Part II. The Club Council

Section 1. Mission.

The Club Council is the organizing body for all student groups on campus that wish to be officially recognized and fiscally supported by the student government. The Club Council will enable students to pursue their interests, facilitate the formation of diverse and inclusive communities, and promote the continuation of a rich and healthy club culture at the College by financially subsidizing and encouraging the growth of student groups.

Section 2. Structure.

The Club Council will be led by the Club Chair and the Vice Club Chair who are elected by the Student Body. Additional membership will be governed by the Student Government Bylaws.

Section 3. Funding.

The Club Chair and Vice Club Chair will have the power to distribute and spend any funds allocated to the Club Council by the Student Government.

Section 4. Permanent Clubs.

Permanent Clubs include the Student Activities Club and the Club for Supporting, Encouraging, and Recognizing Volunteerism. These two clubs have been deemed integral to the culture and wellbeing of the college. They will hold special standing as Permanent Clubs whose membership is open to the general Olin community but whose directors will be elected. Further mandates for these clubs are defined in the Student Government Bylaws.

Section 4a. Student Activities Club.

Section 4ai. Mission.

The Student Activities Club (SAC) is a permanent club that will maintain and expand a continuous, diverse, and accessible set of social opportunities for the entire Student Body.

Section 4aii. Structure.

The Student Activities Club will be led by the Director of Student Activities and the Assistant Director of Student Activities who are elected by the Student Body. Additional membership will be governed by the Student Government Bylaws and SAC club charter.

Section 4b. The Club for Supporting, Encouraging, and Recognizing Volunteerism.

Section 4bi. Mission.

The Club for Supporting, Encouraging, and Recognizing Volunteerism (SERV) is a permanent club and will support and encourage volunteerism, service, and philanthropy in the Olin Community through the funding and organization of service-oriented activities.

Section 4bii. Structure.

The Club for Supporting, Encouraging, and Recognizing Volunteerism will be led by the Director of Service and the Assistant Director of Service who are elected by the Student Body. Additional membership will be governed by the Student Government Bylaws and SERV club charter.

Part III. The Honor Board.

The Honor Board is the judicial organization for the Student Body, responsible for maintaining the Honor Code on Olin’s campus. The Honor Board is not within Student Government, but is an entity necessary for the culture of the college and will have a permanent presence on campus. Through its auditing responsibility, it also provides a check on the power of the Student Government. All governing procedures for the Honor Board are in the Honor Code.

Part IV. Procedures and Provisions.

Article 1. Student Government Audits.

Section 1. Purpose.

To ensure that the Student Government Constitution and Bylaws are followed, Student Government will periodically meet with one or more representatives of the Honor Board to review the actions of Student Government.

Section 2. Procedure.

At each Review, should the Honor Board find that a portion of the governing documents are not being followed, the Honor Board will request that the person(s) responsible resolve the issue within an appropriate amount of time after which the person(s) responsible must send the Honor Board a report outlining how and when the issue was resolved. The time allowed for the report is up to the discretion of the Honor Board. If a report is not filed outlining the resolution of the infraction within the given timeframe, the Honor Board may file a case report about Student Government citing the infraction, and an abstract will be published to the community after investigation and resolution through the Honor Board process.