Constitution

Pursuant to the Charter of Mills College, and with the assent of its Board of Trustees, President, and faculty required thereby, the members of the Associated Students of Mills College agree to a system of government with the following rights and responsibilities.

Article 1: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Associated Students of Mills College (ASMC).

Article 2: Membership

All currently enrolled undergraduate students, including those absent due to domestic or foreign exchange, shall make up the membership of ASMC. Visiting students from other campuses who are officially enrolled in another institution are not members.   

Article 3: Organizations

3.1: Membership

A. The membership of any ASMC organization is open to all members of ASMC.
B. An ASMC organization may open its membership to graduate students, but graduate students may not vote or hold primary positions of leadership.

3.2: Registration

A. Student organizations must submit a Constitution and Student Organization Registration Form in order to be recognized as an ASMC organization.
B. Registration Forms shall be accepted through the deadline set by the Organizational Coordinator, and all organizations that meet this deadline and follow the Honor Code shall be accepted as ASMC organizations.
C. Organizations that do not meet this deadline are subject to approval by the Executive Board.

3.3: Funding

A. ASMC organizations shall be allotted funding by the Executive Board, subject to approval by the Legislative Congress. In order to receive funding, organizations should follow regulations set forth in the Student Organization Handbook.
B. ASMC organizations may petition the Executive Board for additional funding via a "Special Funding Request."

1) The ASMC budget shall reflect this possibility by maintaining a category of funds reserved for special funding requests.

2) ASMC organizations shall petition for special funding requests by presenting a proposal at an Executive Board meeting, which shall be voted on by the Executive Board.

Article 4: Executive Board

The ASMC Executive Board sponsors and promotes on-campus events, and serves as the liaison between the student body and the administration.

4.1: Officers

The Executive Board is comprised of the following voting positions:

Elected Positions
President
Vice President
Publicity Chair
Program Coordinator
Alumnae-Student Representative
Women's Resource Chair
Diversity Chair

Appointed Positions
Judicial Board Chair
Historian (ex-officio)
Academic Board Chair
Elections & Interviews Chair
Accountant
Finance Coordinator
Organizational Coordinator
Web Coordinator

4.2: Meetings

A. The Executive Board shall meet weekly throughout the semester.
B. These meetings shall be open to the ASMC general membership, with the exception of voting on proposals brought to the Board or specified closed sessions by the Executive
Board.
C. The Executive Board shall follow Robert's Rules of Order.
D. In order to vote on an issue, there must be a quorum of 2/3 of the Executive Board present to vote.
E. All votes are based on a simple majority, unless otherwise stated.
F. At the first meeting of the month, the entire ASMC will meet. This includes Legislative Congress, the Judicial, Academic, Student Diversity, and Program Boards.

4.3: Budget

A. The Executive Board determines the distribution of student fees into the following categories:

- Clubs

- Publications

- Classes (freshwoman through senior)

- Lounges

- Special funding requests

- Executive Board programs (as determined by the Program Coordinator's estimates)

B. This budget shall be decided in the spring semester for the next academic year.
C. Before making budget decisions, the Executive Board shall request proposed budgets from individual organizations, organizations and publications in the spring semester for the next academic year.
D. The budget must be approved by the Legislative Congress.
E. Any changes to the budget that would transfer funds from one category into another must also be approved by the Legislative Congress.

4.4: Board Responsibilities

A. Meet with the College President at least once a semester.
B. Attend a leadership retreat or training seminar before each semester.
C. Act as the Legislative Congress if it is not functional.
D. Each Board member must be accessible via email (asmc@mills.edu) and provide at least one office hour a week, in order to maintain the Board's capabilities as a reliable resource for the student body.
E. Submit an article to the monthly newsletter.
F. Serve as a representative of student needs to the administration.
G. Attend 5 Mills College events per semester as an ASMC Representative.

4.5: Officer Responsibilities
A. President

1) Preside over Executive Board meetings.

2) Serve as a Junior Marshall at Commencement.

3) Speak at Convocation.

4) Meet regularly with the Dean of Students and Director of Student Activities.

5) In conjunction with the Vice President, submit reports three times a year to the Board of Trustees.

6) Appoint students to various College committees as directed by the administration.

7) Attend all Board of Presidents meetings.

8) Serve as a member of the Elections & Interviews Committee.

9) Hold individual members of the Board accountable for their roles.

10) Tally member attendance at events throughout the semester.

11) This may be a shared position.

B. Vice President

1) Assume the role of the President as necessary.

2) Preside over the Legislative Congress. Will set up one meeting date during the months of September, October, and November during the Fall semester and February, March, and April during the Spring semester. These meetings must be attended by all Legislative Congress members who must sign a contract at the beginning of the semester stating their attendance at each meeting.

3) In conjunction with the President, if there is no co-President, submit reports three times a year to the Board of Trustees.

4) Serve as a member of the Elections & Interviews Committee.

5) Oversees the Judicial, Academic, Student Diversity, and Program Chairs.

C. Organizational Coordinator

1) Preside over the Board of Presidents (BOP) .

2) Organize and coordinate BOP retreats and leadership training.

3) Coordinate club office and/or storage space, if applicable.

4) In conjunction with the Executive Board and Director of Student Activities, set the deadline for Student Organization Registration Forms.

5) Organize Explosion (Fall and/or Spring) in conjunction with the Program Board.

6) Maintain and distribute organization contact information.

7) This is recommended to be a shared position.

D. Accountant

1) Be responsible for maintaining the budget, disbursing funds, and keeping accurate financial records of all transactions and contracts.

2) Establish accounts for the new budget year with the Controller's office.

3) Meet regularly with the Controller and Director of Student Activities.

4) In consultation with the Organizational Coordinator, freeze the budget of any organization that is not maintaining good credit standing.

5) Conduct a financial workshop in the beginning of each semester, which is required for all clubs in order to activate their accounts.

6) Informs the Executive Board of all budgetary updates at weekly meetings.

E. Finance Coordinator

1) Distribute budget summaries to respective organizations.

2) Share responsibility with the Accountant for providing budget information to clubs and coordinating the mandatory financial workshop.

3) Non-voting member of Legislative Congress.

4) Serve as student representative and liaison to the M Center and Admissions.

F. Judicial Board Chair

1) Preside over the Judicial Board.

2) Familiarize the Mills community with the Honor Code and its relationship to academic and social standards of the College.

3) Mediate judicial cases as presented to her by the administration.

4) Preside over the Constitutional Board.

5) Report to the Vice President.

G. Academic Board Chair

1) Preside over the Academic Board.

2) Serve as a liaison between students, faculty, the administration, and particularly the Provost/Dean of the Faculty.

3) Meet with the Provost on a regular basis, and report back to the Executive Board from these meetings.

4) Serve as a member of the Board of Trustees Educational Policy Committee.

5) Familiarize the community with academic policies during Fall and Spring Orientation.

6) Report to the Vice President.

H. Elections & Interviews Chair

1) Preside over the Elections & Interviews Committee.

2) Fill all vacant positions in the beginning of each semester, including class officers and Legislative Congress.

3) Supervise all ASMC elections, interviews, and emergency appointments.

4) Follow election and appointment procedures as according to the ASMC Campaign and Appointment Regulations, available in the Division of Student Life and on the Student Government website.

5) Report to the Vice President.

I. Program Board Chair

1) Submit a proposed program budget and calendar of events in the spring for the next academic year.

2) Assist the Organizational Coordinator with the planning of Explosion.

3) Organize and coordinate events, seeking the help of the Executive Board as necessary.

4) Report to the Vice President.

5) Plan three dances per year, two of which must be the Plaza Dance in the fall and the Black and White Ball during the spring.

J. Publicity Chair

1) Publicize ASMC Executive Board events, and other events deemed appropriate.

2) Publicize elections and interview policies.

3) Publicize different ways that the student body can contact the Executive Board, including office hours, email, and the ASMC website.

4) Work with Web Coordinator to update website with campus events.

5) Act as a liaison to the publications.

6) Preside over the Media Council.

7) Work with the Web Coordinator to produce the monthly newsletter.

K. Alumnae-Student Relations Officer

1) Serve as a member of the Alumnae Association Board of Governors.

2) Serve as liaison between students and alumnae.

3) Coordinate events for students and alumnae with the AAMC.

L. Student Diversity Board Chair

1) Meet with all different groups of students on campus, including, but not exclusive to:

i. Mary Atkins Lounge

ii. Solidarity Lounge

iii. Commuter Lounge

iv. Parenting Students

v. Women of Color Resource Center

vi. Mills Disability Alliance

2) Coordinate information and events among these groups.

3) Chair the Student Diversity Board.

M. Women's Resource Chair

1) Serve as a student representative and meet regularly with:

i. Housing Management and Dining Services

ii. Campus Facilities

iii. Student Health Services

iv. Public Safety

v. Other areas of administration that deal with on-campus resources

2) Provide information to the student body about these institutions.

N. Historian

1) Organize and record past history and current events of the ASMC.

2) Record and distribute Executive Board meeting minutes.

3) Provide a summary of Executive Board meetings via
student-news@mills.edu and any other means available.

4) Facilitate and coordinate the passing down of materials to the new Executive Board from the previous Executive Board.

5) Is an ex-officio member.

O. Web Coordinator

1) Update and maintain ASMC website

2) Create and maintain all necessary list serves (ASMC, BOP, BOT, etc).

3) Work with the Publicity Chair to produce the monthly newsletter and put it on the web.

4.6: Executive Board Advisor

The Executive Board shall have as its advisor the Director of Student Activities.

A. Serve as a historical reference, explaining the procedures of past Executive Boards.

B. Assist the Program Board Chair and Elections & Interviews Chair in coordinating and organizing events and elections, but not make any decisions regarding matters that are under the jurisdiction of the Board.

C. Aid the Accountant and President in learning their respective duties.

D. The advisor shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board.

4.7: Committees and Boards

A. Judicial Board

1) Student representatives are appointed by the Chair.

2) Faculty members may be appointed for academic cases.

3) The Board acts as an appeal for decisions made by the Judicial Board Chair.

4) Assists the Chair in revising judicial procedures and in educating the community about the Honor Code.

B. Academic Board

1) Student representatives are appointed by the Chair.

2) There shall be one or two representatives from each of the academic divisions.

3) The Board shall inform students of academic policies and procedures, and assist them in addressing their academic complaints to the proper channels.

4) Board representatives attend faculty division meetings from each of their respective divisions.

5) The Board shall convene regularly to discuss faculty meetings and report information from these meetings to the student body.

C. Elections & Interviews Committee

1) In appointment proceedings, membership shall consist of the newly elected President and Vice President as well as the previous officer whose position is being filled.

2) In election proceedings, membership shall consist of the Chair, current President, and current Vice President.

3) This committee shall decide and schedule deadlines for applications and elections.

4) This committee shall organize and coordinate ballots and voting booths for elections.

5) All elections and interviews shall be conducted according to the Campaign and Appointment Regulations, available at the Division of Student Life or on the Student Government website.

D. Constitutional Board

1) Compromised of the Judicial Board, the Organizational Coordinator, and the President.

2) Meet twice during the semester to review the Constitution and propose necessary adjustments to the Executive Board for a vote.

E. Media Council

1) Compromised of the editors of the Weekly, the Crest, the Womanist, and the Walrus and any other ASMC funded publications.

2) Publicity Chair schedules regular meetings and presides at meetings.

3) Report to the Publicity Chair.

4) In order to receive funding, members must attend regular meetings or send proxies. These meetings are to be held three times during the semester.

F. Student Diversity Board

1) The Student Diversity Board Chair will recruit members from identity based groups, including the Mary Atkins Lounge, the Solidarity Lounge, the Commuter Lounge, Parenting Students, students with disabilities, and the Women of Color Resource Center.

2) If the Chair is unable to find members from these specific groups, she is entitled to compromise her Board as she sees fit.

G. Appeals Board

1) Compromised of the four class presidents, this Board will meet to vote on any appeal on removal from office.

Article 5: Legislative Congress
The Legislative Congress (Leg. Con.) oversees ASMC Executive Board spending and policy.

5.1: Membership

A. Presidents of the freshwoman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes.

B. Up to five elected positions from the Mills community at large.

C. ASMC Vice President shall preside over the Legislative Congress, and vote only in case of a tie.

D. Finance Coordinator shall attend meetings as a non-voting member.

5.2: Meetings

A. The Legislative Congress shall hold at least two meetings per semester, the first of which shall not be later than the last week of September.

B. The Vice President shall appoint a member to record the minutes for each meeting.

C. Decisions can be made based on a vote of the simple majority of members present.

5.3: Legislative Congress Responsibilities

A. To review reports and activities of the Executive Board and its individual officers to ensure that the student government is running efficiently and effectively.

B. To investigate and act upon any case in which the Executive Board and/or individual members are failing to comply with the duties and responsibilities of her position.

C. To approve the initial budget for the school year as put forth by the ASMC Executive Board.

D. To approve any change in ASMC spending that would divert funding away from other previously allotted categories (e.g., the special funding request allotment).

E. Each member is required to organize and facilitate a Town Hall meeting on a chosen issue.

Article 6: Board of Presidents (BOP)

The Board of Presidents exists to provide a forum of student leaders to share information, as well as to provide opportunities for leadership training and co-sponsorships of events.

6.1: Membership

1) ASMC Executive Board Organizational Coordinator.

2) Presidents of all ASMC organizations (including ASMC President).

6.2: Meetings

1) In order to maintain club status and receive funding, members must attend all meetings, or they may send proxies.

2) The Board of Presidents shall convene at least twice a semester.

Article 7: Removal from Office

There are two manners in which a member of the ASMC may be removed from office.

7.1: Grade Point Average

1) All ASMC members are required to maintain a grade point average of 2.5.

2) If a member's GPA falls below 2.5, they are immediately placed on academic probation until midterms of the next semester. At this midterms, the ASMC Adviser will speak to professors to check on the student's status.
3) If, at this time, the member's GPA has not increased, they will be removed from office.

7.2: Accountability

1) Legislative Congress members (with the exception of class presidents) have the power to investigate the accountability of any member of the Executive Board. Part of this investigation must include discussing the individual's performance with other members of the Board. Following the investigation, Legislative Congress will come to a decision about whether the individual should be removed from office.

2) If at this time, the member in question chooses to appeal the decision, or should another Board member like to appeal on their behalf, the Appeals Board will decide whether or not to remove the individual from office.

3) For the removal from office for Legislative Congress members, the Elections and Interviews Chair will lead an investigation on the member in question. The Executive Board will make a decision as to whether an individual should be removed from office. As with members of the Executive Board, the Appeals Board shall convene to vote on any appeal that is made.

Article 7: Amending and Revising the Constitution

Amendments and revisions are to take effect upon the approval of 2/3 of the active voting membership of both the Executive Board and the Legislative Congress, and shall be binding upon review by the College President and Faculty.