Organization Basics
Purpose of Student Organizations
The purpose of Meredith College student organizations is to enhance the educational experience by providing students with opportunities that foster the development of leadership, citizenship, and other life skills. It is the responsibility of student organizations to make a positive contribution to the Meredith Community while fulfilling the stated purpose of each individual organization.
Student Organization Constitutions
Please be aware that every four years your organization’s constitution comes up for revision. A representative from SGA Senate will notify you with enough time for you to discuss with your organization any changes you may want to make. However, you can make changes to your constitution at any point in time (with approval by Senate). Senate also will provide you with the appropriate guidelines to make sure your constitution contains all of the necessary items. Here is a link to a skeleton constitution you can use to help develop your own organization's constitution.
It is essential for you to be on time and to follow through with this process. Each of you should be familiar with your organization’s constitution and use it to assist you in leading your organization. Copies of constitutions are filed in notebooks in the Office of Student Leadership and Service.
Ethical Standards for Student Leaders
An institution dedicated to strong student self-governance, Meredith College exists to educate women through the values of personal integrity, intellectual development, and spiritual growth for leadership, citizenship, and service within a Christian context (Institutional Purpose). In order to better the value of women’s education and participation in all levels of student leadership, as well as to protect the integrity of student leadership, this Code of Ethics is presented by the Student Government Association as a guideline for the appropriate behavior of student leaders.
This Code of Ethics is designed to enhance the experience of student leadership at Meredith College. The purpose of the code is to serve as a tool to teach potential student leaders about the ideals and ethical values of student leadership. Central to this statement of ethics is the belief in the student leader’s right to choose her own appropriate behavior rather than have behavioral guidelines dictated to her. Therefore, this Code of Ethics will not be enforced through the monitoring of student leaders’ behavior, but rather through self-discipline, responsibility, and honor.
Code of Ethics
As a student leader, I pledge my devotion to Meredith College and do actively profess my belief in the Meredith Honor Code. I promise to take seriously and responsibly my duties as a student leader, maintain a positive attitude toward others, and remember that my power, responsibilities, accountability, and credibility lie with my peers, the students who elected me. As a representative of Meredith College, I will present myself in a way that reflects the high values and ideals for which Meredith College stands.
Eligibility Standards
Any student who has been declared ineligible to serve in office by Honor Council because of probation or reprimand may not hold any class or campus-wide elected position specified in Article I, Section 4, of the SGA Constitution and Bylaws. Furthermore, rising juniors and seniors must have a 2.25 GPA and rising sophomores must have a 2.0 in order to file for and hold the class or campus-wide positions (also specified in Article I, Section 4). Grade checks will be conducted in May, August, and January.
Removal From Office
Any elected class or campus-wide officer specified in Article I, Section 4 of the SGA Consitution and Bylaws will be removed from her position if she violates academic status, is declared ineligible by the Honor Council, or if she does not perform her duties as outlined in her organization’s constitution or job description (see Article I, Section 6).
Any student holding any position (i.e. officer or chair/co-chair) within any recognized campus organization may be removed from office if she is not performing her duties as outlined in her organization’s constitution or job description or a failure to uphold the Code of Ethics for student leaders (see Article I, Section 6).
Inclusiveness
We are fortunate at Meredith College to have a diverse student population. Be sure to keep all of our students in mind when you are organizing an event and when you are designing graphics related to people for T-shirts, fliers, and other items. Have you considered on and off campus students, various ethnic students, international students, faculty/staff, alumnae, Board of Trustees? These are only a few of the many groups to consider. Be sure to spend some time thinking about how events that you plan can reach out to the most people here at Meredith College. Please pay attention to the Inclusiveness Checklist in the appendix of this manual when planning events. Let’s celebrate our diversity here on campus together!
Sustainability
“We, at Meredith College, are committed to a balance between environmental conservation, social justice, and economic consideration... We take responsibility to challenge ourselves, think differently and take action accordingly. In considering our legacy, we conserve resources and reconsider our needs…” –Meredith College Greenprint, developed by students, staff, faculty and alumni, Spring 2009
As student leaders, you have the opportunity to model environmentally responsible behaviors for other students. See the “Green Your Event and Program” guide in this manual for specifics on recycling, composting, green food service and gifts, and more!
Copyright Policy
Meredith College expects students, faculty and staff to be familiar with and obey copyright laws. At a minimum, members of the Meredith community should have a basic understanding of Fair Use concepts. Users of Blackboard should be aware of additional limitations as described in the TEACH Act. Refer to the Meredith College copyright webpage for more information.
Secretary Information
Please see the Secretary Manual for more information.
