Bylaws of the Committee on Student Organizations
I. Purpose
II. Administration
III. Student Government Recognition
IV. Responsibilities
V. Amendment
Article I - Purpose
The purpose of these bylaws is to set the processes by which Student Government Recognition is granted and administered.
Article II - Administration
A. When there is any contradiction between these rules and the Constitution of the Student Body or policies passed jointly by the Student Senate and the Graduate Student Assembly, those documents shall supersede these rules.
B. When there is any contradiction between these rules and the Bylaws of the Student Senate or the Graduate Student Assembly, the Bylaws of the Committee on Student Organizations shall supersede those rules.
C. Membership of the Committee on Student Organizations
1. The Committee on Student Organizations shall be comprised of seven (7) members.
2. These members shall consist of one representative appointed by the Graduate Student Assembly, three representatives appointed by the Student Senate, one leader from a graduate student organization with Student Government Recognition, and two undergraduate leaders from Student Government Recognized organizations.
3. The student organization leaders shall be selected by the Student Senate or Graduate Student Assembly from a list of nominations open for submission to all Student Government Recognized organizations. No organization shall have more than one leader of their organization appointed to the Committee on Student Organizations.
4. All undergraduate representatives shall be confirmed by the Student Senate. Likewise, all graduate student representatives shall be confirmed by the Graduate Student Assembly.
5. The Student Body Vice President for Finance and Committee on Student Organizations advisor shall serve as ex-officio members of the Committee on Student Organizations, granted speaking rights but not a vote.
D. Formation of the Committee on Student Organizations
1. The Committee on Student Organizations will be established every academic year.
2. Representatives to the Committee on Student Organizations shall be selected and confirmed by the last day of classes of the Spring Semester of the preceding academic year.
3. The Student Body Vice President for Finance shall convene the Committee on Student Organizations within one week of the beginning of the Fall Semester.
4. The Student Body Vice President for Finance shall serve as the Chair Pro Tempore of the Committee on Student Organizations until a Chair is elected.
5. The Committee on Student Organizations shall establish a standard weekly meeting time and place within two weeks of being convened. This meeting time need not apply to weeks during final exams, a vacation period, or which involve a holiday.
6. The Election of the Chair must be within three weeks of the first meeting of the Committee on Student Organizations, and its time shall be decided by majority at the first meeting of the Committee on Student Organizations.
7. The Vice President for Finance, Student Senate Finance Chair, and Graduate Student Assembly Vice President for Finance shall be ineligible for serving as the permanent chair of the committee.
8. A majority vote of the Committee on Student Organizations is needed to elect a Chair.
9. The Chair of the Committee on Student Organizations may appoint a vice chair with the confirmation of the Committee on Student Organizations.
E. A majority of the members of the Committee on Student Organizations is required in order to obtain or maintain quorum.
F. Upon approval by a majority of the Committee on Student Organizations, a paid secretary may handle all of the paperwork for the Committee on Student Organizations.
G. The Committee on Student Organizations shall have the ability to access all records related to an organization's prior relations with the Student Senate, the Graduate Student Assembly, or the Student Government.
Article III - Student Government Recognition
A. Student Government Recognition shall extend up to the length of a full academic year, from the time recognition is granted until the culmination of the fall re-recognition process.
B. Recognition Benefits
1. Student Organization Oracle Account through the Student Activities department.
2. Eligibility for a University Center mailbox.
3. Eligibility for Andrew web space and organizational email address.
4. Eligibility to apply for organization office space.
5. Ability to apply for funding eligibility.
6. Ability to reserve rooms through SpaceQuest.
7. Ability to poster on campus bulletin boards.
8. Ability to participate in the Fall and Spring Activities Fairs.
9. Ability to receive resources and advising from the Office of Student Activities.
C. Recognition
1. To become recognized, an organization must present a petition to the Chair of the Committee on Student Organizations containing the following information:
a. The organization's constitution or bylaws, which state the duties of the organization's officers, the procedure for selection of those officers, the rules by which the organization will conduct its business, and the organizations commitment to abide by the Carnegie Mellon University Statement of Assurance.
b. List of at least three (3) officers or two (2) officers and an organization advisor, and their mailing addresses (postal and electronic).
c. Demonstration of significant interest in the group, as indicated by a founding membership of not less than eight (8) persons in addition to those listed under part b.
d. A specific mission or special interest that is not adequately addressed by an existing campus club.
e. A statement or plan that includes a set of goals related to its mission or special interest as well as a list of events the organization intends to host.
2. If any of the information provided to the Committee on Student Organizations per Article III, Section C, Paragraph 1 above change, the organization must immediately supply the Chair of the Committe on Student Organizations with the change.
D. Re-Recognition
1. Each fall groups must request a renewal of recognition to be in effect for the rest of the current academic year.
2. A re-recognition request will be considered approved, unless the Committee on Student Organizations votes to deny the request. The Committee on Student Organizations has the authority to and should deny the re-recognition of groups that do not work toward their purpose.
3. The requirements for a re-recognition are the following information:
a. Updated copies of the information required for recognition, as listed above in Article III, Section C, Paragraph 1.
b. A report of the activities of the organization within the past academic year.
E. Voting
1. A three-fourths vote of the Committee on Student Organizations is required to approve recognized status for an organization, or to deny a request for re-recognition.
F. Override
1. An organization that has not been recognized after applying to the Committee on Student Organizations twice is eligible to apply for an override of the decisions of the Committee on Student Organizations.
2. An override of the decisions of the Committee on Student Organizations shall consist of:
a. The organization approaching either the Student Senate or the Graduate Student Assembly with their completed recognition application and a written statement with the reason for appeal.
b. Approval of the override by the body approached, as signified by a two-thirds vote of that body.
3. The override will take effect once the decision of the body approached as described in Paragraph 2 above has been confirmed by the alternate body.
Article IV - Responsibilities
A. With the advising of the Office of Student Activities and the assistance of the Chief Technical Officer for the Student Government, the Committee on Student Organizations shall maintain a database of information of all recognized student organizations. This database shall be made publicly available.
B. The Committee on Student Organizations shall act as a liaison between student organizations and Carnegie Mellon University administrative departments.
C. The Committee on Student Organizations shall assist in the planning of leadership conferences for student organizations.
D. The Committee on Student Organizations shall plan events which encourage interaction and cooperation between student organizations.
E. The Committee on Student Organizations shall carry out any tasked charged to it jointly by the Student Senate and the Graduate Student Assembly.
Article V - Amendment
A. Any representative or ex-officio to the Committee on Student Organizations, the Student Senate, or the Graduate Student Assembly may introduce an amendment to these bylaws.
B. The Committee on Student Organizations may express its support or disapproval of the amendment as a recommendation to the Student Senate and the Graduate Student Assembly either for or against the motion.
C. A vote of at least two-thirds of each of the Student Senate and Graduate Student Assembly is required to approve an amendment to these bylaws.
