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The Florida State University Panama City SGC Bylaws Updated: 4/9/2020

Florida State University Panama City Student Government Council

Bylaws

I. PURPOSE

A. The purpose of the bylaws of the Florida State University Panama City-Campus (FSU-PCC) Student Government Council (SGC) is to provide SGC with rules of order andinternal operating procedures to assist in its effective execution of duties andresponsibilities.

II. CODE OF ETHICS

A. Intent and declaration of policy:

1. It is essential to the proper conduct and operation of SGC that itsRepresentatives be impartial. SGC Representatives hold their position for thebenefit of the Student Body. Such Representatives are bound to observe in theirofficial acts, the highest standards of ethics consistent with the code.

2. It is the intent of this code to protect the integrity of SGC by prescribingrestrictions against conflicts of interest and unethical practices.

B. Definitions:

1. “Benefit” means a gain or advantage, which is the doing of an act beneficial toany person in whose welfare he/she is interested.

2. “Conflict” or “Conflict of Interest” means a situation in which regard for aprivate interest or dual interest tends to lead to a disregard of a public duty orinterest.

3. “Corruptly” means done with a wrongful intent and for the purpose ofobtaining, or compensating or receiving compensation for, any benefit resultingfrom some act of omission of a public servant which is inconsistent with theproper performance of his/her public duties.

4. “SGC Representative” means any Representative or Officer of SGC whetherduly elected or appointed.

5. “SGC Officer” means any Representative with the title of President, PresidentPro Tempore, or Senator of SGC whether duly elected or appointed. Financeshall be regarded as an Officer for the purposes of pay.

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C. Standards of Conduct

1. Conflict of Interest: No SGC Representative shall participate in any privatebusiness or professional activity or have any direct or indirect financial interestwhich would place that person in a position where there is a conflict betweenthat private interest and the public interests of the Student Body and theUniversity as a whole.

2. Misuse of SGC: No SGC Representative shall use or allow the use of SGCproperty, and or Activity and Service Fees (A&S Fees), facilities, or personnel inany manner other than for sanctioned SGC business.

3. Unlawful Compensation:

i. No SGC Representative shall corruptly receive, offer, or agree to acceptany pecuniary or other benefit for the past, present, or futureperformance of any act within the official capacity of the Representative.

ii. No SGC Representative shall corruptly receive pay for time not activelyworking on the duties that pertain to SGC.

iii. Violation of the Student Conduct Code: No Representative shall violatethe FSU Student Code of Conduct, published annually in the FSUStudent Handbook.

iv. Inducing to Act: No Representative of SGC shall aid, advise, procure, orin any way induce another to act in violation of this code of ethics.

D. Penalties

1. A violation under this code of ethics may be cause for suspension or removalfrom office, public censure, and/or reprimand as the Ethics Committee and theSGC deems appropriate.

2. All disciplinary procedures must be approved by a 3/4 majority vote of theEthics Committee and the SGC combined, with the Plaintiff, Defendant, and theSGC President as ex-officio.

E. Ethics Committee

1. When necessary, an investigative body, the purpose of which is to serve asguardian of the standards of conduct for the Representatives of SGC, shall beconvened.

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2. Membership: The Ethics Committee shall be comprised of five votingindividuals; with the SGC President Pro Tempore serving as the non-votingcommittee chair. The remainder of the committee is to be selected from theUniversity community by the SGC, at least one but no more than two of whomshould be a member of the faculty or administration. In the event that nostudents can be recruited, the Dean will appoint students to serve on the EthicsCommittee at their discretion. The Dean may also choose to approve a memberof the FSU-PCC faculty or administration to appoint the necessary amount ofstudents. With the exception of faculty and administration, all members shall becurrently enrolled as Florida State University students. No voting member shallbe a relative, fraternity brother or sorority sister, or roommate associated witheither the plaintiff or defendant in a manner which the committee deems to be:

i. A conflict of interestii. A personal friend of the plaintiff or defendantiii. A current Representative or employee of SGC

3. Upon completion of its investigation, the Ethics Committee will make a formalwritten recommendation to the SGC on the findings of the investigation.

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III. ELECTIONS PROCEDURES

A. Definitions

1. “Campaigning” the publicizing or solicitation of support for or against a ballotitem or candidate for an elective office of the student body, and/or calling forthe action to vote.

2. “Duly Elected” SGC Representative who has been elected by popular vote in anSGC Election.

3. “Duly Sworn” SGC Representative who has been installed by having taken theiroath of office. This includes both elected and appointed Representatives.

4. “Representative-Elect” a newly elected Representative who has not yet beeninducted into office.

5. “President-Elect” a newly elected President who has not yet been inducted intooffice.

6. “Campaign Material” all artifacts, including, but not limited to, signs, circulars,buttons, balloons, and t-shirts which publicize a candidate for elected office.

7. “Referendum Election” election held for the purpose of amending the StudentBody Constitution or submitting to popular vote a measure proposed by theSGA Senate, the FSU-PCC SGC, or popular initiative.

8. “Declaration of Candidacy” filing application with intent to run for electedposition with elections committee or SGC.

9. “Candidate” any student seeking elected office in SGC.

10. “General Election” election held for the purpose of determining which candidatewill assume office by majority vote.

11. “Proof” evidence sufficient to establish a claim as true or believable – theestablishment of truth or fact.

B. Council Elections

1. Standard elections shall be held during the spring and fall semester each yearduring the first full week of March and October, respectively. If this is notpossible, elections shall be held the week thereafter.

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2. A Declaration of Candidacy and eligibility checks shall be conducted for a periodof one week, no more than three weeks prior to the voting window. Activecampaigning may only open after the close of the candidacy and qualificationperiod and immediately following the candidate information meeting. Activecampaigning may not exceed 10 school days in total, including the votingwindow.

3. All potential SGC Representatives must meet the following criteria to be electedonto Council:

i. Be a currently enrolled student of the FSU-PCC or be an FSU studentthat demonstrates, as determined by the current SGC Representativeswho are not in the election and the FSU-PCC Dean, to have adequateinvested interest in the FSU-PCC Student Body and,

ii. Be in good academic standing as determined by the University AcademicPolicy, unless there is any relevant academic pending action asdetermined by the FSU-PCC SGC.

4. The Elections Chair shall provide candidates with election procedures at acandidate information meeting. The Elections Chair must disclose approvedposter sites; the University’s approved method of affixing or posting electionmaterial; and the maximum number of election materials allowed per candidate.All candidates must sign an affidavit of their acceptance of University and SGCpolicy prior to active campaigning.

5. SGC Representatives may run for re-election or for President without resigningtheir current position. No Representative of the SGC may hold more than oneRepresentative seat at a time.

6. Elections shall be held online with a secure online voting provider chosen at thediscretion of the Tallahassee Campus.

7. Students wishing to vote shall be required to disclose their FSU ID forverification, which will be kept confidential.

8. The voting window shall last three days. The Elections Chair must notify allcandidates of individual election results and the current SGC President totalelection results within 24 hours of the close of polls. Additionally, election resultsshall be posted to the general student body no later than 72 hours from the closeof polls.

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9. Any protest of election results must be filed with the Elections Chair withinseven school days after general student body notification. A violation of anybylaw or statute concerning elections in a candidate’s campaign shall result in apeer review by the current SGC Representatives who are not candidates in theelection within one week of the filed appeal or charge. Specific charges ofviolation will be presented by the Elections Chair at the peer review. Theperson(s) who reported the violation may speak and present evidence, or elect toremain anonymous and submit material in advance of the hearing. The allegedviolator may rebut. A 3/4 majority vote shall be taken by the SGCRepresentatives conducting the peer review regarding the action to be taken.Appeals regarding the peer review decision will be made to the appeal committeewhich will be headed by the President Pro Tempore or his/her designee. Theappeals committee will consist of the President Pro Tempore, a Non-Councilmember of the student body, and a faculty member/advisor. The function of theAppeal Committee is to review process and procedure of the original judgment.

10. All election records shall be submitted to the SGC Office within 24 hours andkept for 30 calendar days.

11. Duly elected Representatives and the President shall assume office the first dayof the term following their election. The President-elect shall be installed by theoutgoing President at the last regularly scheduled meeting of the spring semester.Representatives-elect shall be installed by the duly sworn President at the firstregular SGC meeting of their term of office. Any Representative-elect whomisses the installation shall arrange, within 10 days after the formal installations,to be sworn in separately by the President or that seat shall be considered vacant.

12. The “Faculty Member of the Year,” “Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year,”“Staff Member of the Year,” “SGC Representative of the Year,” “RSO of theYear,” and “RSO Advisor of the Year” awards shall be included on the ballot inthe spring semester election. These shall be comprised of the top three nomineesfrom student body canvassing through nomination forms tallied by theScholarship and Awards Committee. This will be accomplished in the first twoweeks of February and the results provided to the Elections as well as PublicityChair by the 15th of February or the first school day thereafter. The awardrecipients shall be chosen by popular vote of the student body. The purpose ofthese awards is to recognize superior service; commitment to student-relatedactivities, functions, and services; and performance “above and beyond” in theirspecific duties with regard to the betterment of FSU-PCC as well as its studentbody. SGC will break all ties via vote.

i. The list of eligible faculty, adjunct faculty, and staff members for thecorresponding awards shall be provided by Human Resources.

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ii. The “SGC Representative of Year” candidates shall include any SGCRepresentative who has either served on Council during the previous fallor summer semester, or one who is currently serving during the spring.This list will be provided by the SGC Advisor.

iii. The “RSO of the Year” and “RSO Advisor of the Year” awards shallinclude any RSO and RSO Advisor that has either been active during theprevious fall or summer semester, or that is currently active in the spring.The list of eligible nominees will be provided by the SGC Advisor.

13. Advertisement of upcoming elections shall be posted in the appropriate locationsand sent via email to the student body. The Elections Chair in coordination withthe Publicity Chair are responsible for advertising elections, “Faculty Member ofthe Year”, “Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year”, “Staff Member of the Year”,“RSO of the Year”, “RSO Advisor of the Year”, and “SGC Representative ofthe Year” awards two weeks prior to the elections.

C. Regulations of Campaign Material

1. Campaign posters on bulletin boards shall not exceed 11”x17”. All campaignmaterials must distinguish between the Tallahassee Campus SGA and PanamaCity-Campus SGC as appropriate.

2. Campaign posters may be placed on University bulletin boards intended forgeneral use only. All candidates must follow guidelines as per the electionspacket.

3. Campaign materials may not be displayed or distributed on vehicles in theparking lots.

4. Distribution or display of campaign material is not allowed in the classrooms.

5. Any use of University property must be approved by the proper Universityauthority.

6. No elected candidates shall be certified for office until all of his or her campaignmaterials are removed from the University. Posted campaign materials must beremoved no later than seventy-two hours (excluding weekends) after officialclosing of the elections.

7. Proof of removing, relocating, or defacing an opponent’s campaign material is aviolation of this code and candidates shall be subject to disqualification for suchaction.

8. No use of voice amplifying equipment is allowed.

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9. No student may actively campaign as a write-in candidate. The SGC office shalldetermine eligibility of winning write-in candidates before notification ofcandidates is made.

10. Any violation of Section III, B, 1. through C, 10., of the SGC Bylaws shall resultin loss of campaign privileges, as determined by the Elections Chair. TheElections Chair must inform the SGC President of any action taken within 24hours.

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IV. ATTENDANCE

A. All SGC Representatives are required to attend all regularly scheduled council meetings,special meetings, SGC associated or sponsored events (further defined in Section VII, C,6a.), and semester retreats. Special meetings are defined as any meeting called by theSGC President or any meeting called by a committee chair.

B. Absence shall be judged as excused or unexcused by the SGC President or President ProTempore if the President is unavailable. Failure to contact the President or the SGCoffice before all regularly scheduled business meetings, special meetings, SGC sponsoredevents for which a member is scheduled to work, orientations, and summer retreatconstitutes an unexcused absence.

C. A member may appeal an unexcused absence at the next regular meeting of the SGC.The appeal shall be dismissed or upheld by a majority vote.

D. A member who has two unexcused absences in the same semester shall automaticallylose his/her seat on the SGC and forfeit pay for the remainder of that semester.

E. The total number of Representatives in any semester shall not fall below quorum of thefull SGC. Refer to the Student Body Statute (603.1.E) for regulations concerningquorum.

F. A Representative may be inactive and still retain one’s seat during one semester in whichthe Representative is not taking classes at FSU-PCC. While a Representative is inactivehe/she shall not receive pay for that semester.

G. Temporary Representatives shall receive pay per Human Resources guidelines for lengthof the term served. At the beginning of the semester in which the elected Representativereturns to the SGC, the replacement member shall surrender his/her seat to the electedRepresentative, provided the elected Representative can fill his/her seat.

H. The process by which vacancies are filled shall begin within five business days ofnotification of vacancies. Vacancies shall be advertised and applications taken for at leastfive business days. An appointment hearing shall be held at the first business meetingfollowing the application period. The SGC President shall have the power to fillpermanent vacancies after the second meeting, if desired, with the approval of Councilby majority vote.

I. Expected vacancies for the following semester shall be filled at the last regularlyscheduled SGC business meeting each semester. These appointment hearings shall beadvertised and applications taken for at least five business days.

J. Voting process for appointees: Candidates shall meet the same eligibility requirements asthose for candidates for election. Candidates shall formally address the SGC with an oralstatement. Each Representative shall then nominate one candidate per vacancy forappointment. Nominations will be tallied by the President and those candidates with the

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highest number of nominations will be eligible for appointment and shall be approved for appointment by 2/3 vote of SGC. All candidates shall be notified within 24 hours after their presentation of the results of the confirmation vote.

K. The term of office of an appointee shall coincide with that of the Representative he/sheis replacing.

L. Duly appointed Representatives shall assume office upon approval of SGC. Installationshall be conducted at the first regular meeting following appointment by the President.An appointee who misses the installation ceremony shall arrange, within 10 days afterthe formal installations, to be sworn in separately by the SGC President or that seat shallbe considered vacant.

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V. VOTING PROCEDURES FOR SGC MEETINGS

A. The SGC President shall vote only in the case of a tie among the SGC Representatives.

B. Any member of the SGC may demand a roll call vote, which shall be recorded in theminutes.

C. All SGC Representatives who are members of any duly organized campus organizationthat requests SGC funding in the form of A&S Fees or any other financial assistancefrom SGC shall be required to abstain from voting on any motion that appropriatesfunding for that organization. Any member of SGC who has a direct personal orpecuniary interest when called on to vote on such issue shall be required to abstain fromvoting on that issue. It shall be the responsibility of the President to determine if aconflict of interest exists.

D. In the event of legislation being passed which was voted on by a Representative who islater found to have had a conflict of interest at the time of voting, the results of the voteshall be considered null and void and the vote shall be put before the SGC at the nextmeeting.

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VI. ELECTED OFFICERS

A. President

1. Duties and responsibilities of the President are delineated in the Student BodyStatutes §603.1 (H).

2. The SGC President shall be elected in the spring semester election to serve aone-year term.

3. In order to assume the position of President, candidates shall have already servedas a Representative on the SGC for at least one full semester before taking office.

4. If no candidate meets this qualification, the SGC shall elect, by ⅔ vote, the SGCPresident to serve a one-year term from among its duly elected Representativesduring the first regular SGC meeting of the summer semester and aRepresentative shall be appointed to fill the Representative seat vacated by thePresident-elect.

5. The President must coordinate dates for the SGC retreat and all regularlyscheduled SGC meetings, as well as chair assignments, at the start of eachsemester or as needed, in a timely manner.

6. The President shall promote a good relationship between the SGC, the Office ofAdvancement, and Student Affairs.

7. Submit officer report to President Pro Tempore bi-weekly.

B. President Pro Tempore

1. The SGC shall, by ⅔ vote, elect the SGC President Pro Tempore from among itsduly sworn representatives during the first meeting of the summer semester.

2. The President Pro Tempore serves in the absence, removal, resignation, or at therequest of the President.

3. The President Pro Tempore represents the SGC as a standing member of theUniversity Refund Appeals Committee.

4. The President Pro Tempore should be well informed of information regardingSGC and keep abreast of current SGC activities and issues in order to efficientlyrun a meeting if necessary.

5. The President Pro Tempore shall ensure that all RSOs are fulfilling their duties,taking part in organized SGC events, keep RSOs informed regarding SGC, andfile all meeting minutes.

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6. The President Pro Tempore shall head the Ethics Committee as delineated in theSGC Bylaws, Section II, E.

7. Serve as Chair of the Elections Appeal Committee or appoint a designee.

8. Serve as the Parliamentarian.

i. The Parliamentarian shall:

a. Be knowledgeable in the SGC Bylaws, the Student Body Statutes,and Robert’s Rules of order.

b. Assist the presiding officer to maintain order in SGC matters byadvising on matters concerning the SGC Bylaws, the StudentBody Statutes, and parliamentary procedure.


10. The President Pro Tempore will file officer and committee reports for publicview.

C. PCC Senator(s)

1. The SGC shall, by ⅔ vote, elect the SGC Senator from among its duly swornrepresentatives in order to represent the SGC at GCSC. The Senator willrepresent the SGC in Tallahassee, when applicable.

2. The Senator shall act as the chief liaison to GCSC, serving as either the Presidentor Vice President of SABA as outlined in their Constitution.

3. A PCC Senator’s term shall coincide with his/her term as Representative.

4. Gulf Coast SGA attendance is mandatory at least twice monthly with committeemeetings counting as attendance for no more than once monthly. FSUTallahassee SGA attendance is mandatory when matters pertaining to FSU PCare discussed.

5. Work to cement a relationship between the FSU PC student body and the FSUTallahassee as well as GCSC student bodies.

6. The PCC Senator(s) shall:

i. Report at each SGC meeting on matters pertaining to the Gulf CoastSGA as well as their various committees which are of concern to FSUPC students.

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ii. Represent the wishes of the SGC on matters before the Gulf Coast andFSU Tallahassee SGAs concerning FSU PC and University-wide issues.

iii. Advocate for greater collaboration and integration of Registered StudentOrganizations throughout all campuses.

iv. Chair the bylaw committee during the summer semester, when SABAand the Gulf Coast SGA are inactive.

v. Be responsible for making changes, after council vote, to the official copyof the bylaws, and distribute to council and SGC staff.


D. Representatives

1. All Representatives shall:

i. Adhere to all attendance and University policies.

ii. Be required to attend the semester retreats. Newly elected/appointedRepresentatives will be required to attend at least one retreat or a separatetraining, at the discretion of the SGC President.

iii. Perform other duties and responsibilities as delineated in the StudentBody Statutes.

iv. Be required to attend a budget orientation with the SGC Office Assistantwithin three weeks of being sworn into office.

v. Be required to hold a minimum of three office hours per week for amaximum of 20 paid hours each two week pay period. Office hours maybe hours performed supporting, attending or planning SGC functions,committee meetings or activities on campus. Class work is prohibitedduring office hours.

vi. Obtain a committee and have at least one scheduled meeting a month.Shall submit a committee report or meeting minutes to the President ProTempore prior to each regularly scheduled council meeting to bedistributed to the SGC members.

vii. Attend and work all events and meetings in-person which are associatedwith or sponsored by SGC unless prior arrangements are made with theSGC President. Excused absences will only be granted in the case ofclass, illness, or other reason deemed excusable by the President.

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viii. It is the responsibility of an SGC representative to check their email andrespond to issues that are directly related to them, their position, all ofSGC, or an appointed task within 48 hours except in cases deemedexcusable by the President.

ix. All tasks as described under specific chair duties and responsibilities orreasonably appointed by another chair member/officer shall becompleted in a timely manner as deemed reasonable by the President,President Pro Tempore and Senator by 2/3 majority.

x. Be required to maintain proper behavior and conduct themselves in anappropriate manner on and off the clock in a manner which fostersrespect for others and self as deemed by the President, President ProTempore, and Senator by 2/3rds majority.

xi. Shall be held accountable for all duties and responsibilities delineated inthe SGC Bylaws under the committee chair they hold.

xii. Wear appropriate attire as deemed by the President during all functions,office hours, and events which are sponsored by SGC.

2. Co-Chairs:

i. A Co-Chair shall be sworn in after filling out the Co-Chair-Representative agreement with a signature from the Co-Chair, theRepresentative, and the President. This agreement is to be stored forpublic record by the President Pro Tempore.

ii. A Co-Chair is able to represent and vote on behalf of theRepresentative at a maximum of 2 SGC meetings per semester and atany SABA meeting in the absence of the Representative.

iii. The title of Co-Chair may be revoked by request of theRepresentative with approval by 2/3 officer vote.

iv. A Representative is fully responsible for all actions, or lack thereof, oftheir Co-Chair.

v. A Co-Chair must be eligible to serve on SGC in order for them toofficially hold the title.

3. Compensation

i. SGC members shall receive an hourly wage according to the followingschedule:

a. President, President Pro Tempore, and Senator will be paid$10.41 an hour for a maximum of 30 office hours per two weekpay period.

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b. Representatives will be paid $10.41 an hour not to exceed 20hours in a two week pay period.

ii. SGC members who do not complete the full semester in office or whoare appointed to office during the semester shall receive compensationfor hours worked per Human Resources guidelines.

iii. SGC members shall return all SGC equipment and supplies (includinghandbooks) by the last regularly scheduled SGC meeting.

iv. SGC members who do not meet the requirements in Section VI, D.1, a-j.will be subject to the disciplinary guidelines set forth in Section VI, D. 3a,i, ii, iii. The SGC President will be responsible for reviewing and bringingto SGC at the next regularly scheduled meeting any Representative thathas not fulfilled any or all of the above-mentioned requirements.

4. SGC Representatives who do not meet the requirements in Section VI, D.1-7will be subject to the disciplinary process as identified below:

i. Disciplinary Process:

a. Upon the first infraction, the Representative will receive a writtenreprimand from the SGC President with support of a 2/3 vote ofthe Officers. This shall be reported at the next regularlyscheduled meeting.

b. Upon the second infraction, the Representative will receive atwo-week suspension without pay and shall remain accountablefor all duties and responsibilities the chair requires as outlined inthe SGC bylaws.

c. Upon a third infraction, the Representative may be formallyremoved from the SGC by 2/3 vote of the SGC.

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VII. COMMITTEES

A. Types and Composition

1. The following are standing committees of the SGC:

i. Electionsii. Programmingiii. Financeiv. Scholarships and Awardsv. Publicityvi. Special Eventsvii. Health and Wellnessviii. Service

2. Ad hoc or temporary committees may be established at the President’sdiscretion.

3. The SGC President will appoint the chairs of standing and ad hoc committees.

4. Invitation to serve on a committee shall be made by the Committee Chair or theSGC President.

5. All students enrolled in and in good standing at PCC are eligible for selection ascommittee members.

6. Alumni may serve on committees in a non-voting advisory capacity.

7. The SGC President is an ex-officio member of all SGC committees.

B. Duties and Responsibilities of Committee Chairs

1. Committee chairs shall attend the SGC Retreat to receive orientation and trainingfor their committee. If appointed after, they are responsible for makingappointments with the SGC President, SGC Advisor, and SGC Office Associate.

2. Committee chairs shall not be empowered to authorize any monetarytransactions without prior approval of the SGC or the SGC President’s approvalof $100 or less.

3. Committee chairs may seek out qualified assistants to aid them in the completionof their duties and recruit eligible students to serve as committee members.

4. Each committee chair shall maintain a committee information handbook on allcommittee activities and procedures and is responsible for maintaining andupdating the handbook.

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5. Committee chairs shall submit a written committee report or meeting minutes tothe President Pro Tempore before each regularly scheduled business meeting.

C. Committee responsibilities and duties

1. Elections Committee

i. Specific duties and responsibilities of the Elections Committee aredelineated in the FSU-PCC Bylaws, Section III, and in the Student BodyStatues.

ii. The Elections Committee Chair shall:

a. Coordinate the photographing of SGC candidates and give thephotos to the Publicity Chair to produce election flyers.

b. Monitor election rules and campaign rules throughout theelection process.

c. Be responsible for staffing poll locations.

d. Advertise all SGC elections.

e. Provide a report of voter participation for the fall and springelections.

f. Post election results within three business days of the polls’closure.

g. Coordinate an election drive during the summer and fallsemesters.

h. Invite representatives from all major local political parties toparticipate in an open forum during the fall semester.

i. Make every effort to increase and maintain awareness concerningcampus, local, state, and national elections among the studentbody.

j. Prepare rosters of candidates for the awards delineated in theFSU-PCC SGC Bylaws Section III, B, 12-13.

k. Work in conjunction with the Publicity Committee to publicizeall elections and election awards two weeks prior to the springelection.

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l. Determine the recipients of “Faculty Member of the Year”,“Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year”, “Staff Member of theYear”, “RSO of the Year”, “RSO Advisor of the Year”, and“SGC Representative of the Year” awards at the close of thepolls during the spring election.

m. Inform the recipients of all awards, including informationregarding the graduation banquet where the awards will bepresented.

2. Programming Committee

i. The Programming Committee Chair shall:

a. Attend all SGC Programming activities or appoint aRepresentative.

b. Supervise Programming committee members’ projects andactivities in conjunction with the Special Events chair ensuringcompliance with all deadlines.

c. Prepare a program summary on all programs and activitiessponsored by the Programming Committee due by the end of thesemester and saved on the flash drive as well as the SGC drive.

d. Approve programming expenditures in conjunction with theFinance Committee for presentation to the SGC. All non-budgetexpenditures require SGC approval.

e. Encourage student life through the coordination of events for thegeneral student body at least once biweekly.

f. Plan and coordinate Welcome Back Week for the first week ofthe semester following the current term. Plan and coordinateStress Less Week, to be held the week before finals.

3. Finance Committee

i. The Finance Committee shall be established at the first SGC businessmeeting of every semester.

ii. Specific duties and responsibilities of the Finance Committee aredelineated in the SGC Bylaws in the Finance Code of the Student BodyStatutes.

iii. The Finance Committee shall:

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a. Maintain and report on the status of the following accounts:

1. Cash Reserve: Shall be maintained at a minimum balanceof $30,000. This reserve will be utilized for cash flowneeds, enrollment shortfalls, and budgetary emergenciesin compliance with A&S Fee Guidelines. If the cashreserve falls below the required amount due toexpenditures based on established criteria, it shall havefirst claim to A&S dollars unencumbered or unexpendedon June 30 (a.k.a. Sweepings).

2. Self-Generated: This is the amount of available fundsfrom self-generated revenue that is budgeted to theExpense category but not allocated. It may be allocatedduring the fiscal year.

3. Sweepings: This is the amount of funds in each A&S feeaccount that is unencumbered or unexpended on June 30of the fiscal year.

i. After required allocation to the Reserve account,the remaining balance will be remitted to SGC forallocation.

ii. All A&S fee funded entities shall be informed ofthe amount of the Sweepings and shall be eligibleto request additional funding.

iii. Once funds are allocated, monies may be returnedto SGC only through Sweepings or by priorapproval of the A&S fee funded entity.

iv. Funding requests which will directly benefit FSU-PCC students, but are not funded by the SGCOperational budget, may be allocated from theSGC Sweeping account.

v. Sweepings expenditures shall be reviewed andused as an analytical tool annually by the A&S FeeCommittee when the A&S Fees are analyzed andby the SGC Finance Committee when planningthe annual SGC Operating Budget for that fiscalyear.

b. Develop an operating budget for the SGC to cover the period ofone fiscal year starting on July 1st and ending on June 30th.

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c. Meet during the spring semester and shall be responsible forsubmitting the completed proposed budget to the SGC forapproval by the deadline stated in the University budget. TheSGC approved budget shall be submitted to the Director ofStudent Affairs for review by the deadline in the Universitybudget.

d. Construct the Operating Budget to include the followingsections:

1. “Salary” Wages for the SGC USPS office staff.

2. “OPS” Other Personal Services consist of contractualservices (other contracted for services to/by the SGC)and wages for the SGC.

3. “Expense” Consists of expenses such as telephone, officesupplies, travel, food products, institutional memberships,scholarships, awards, and other operating expenses.

4. “OCO” Operating Capital Outlay consists of funds foroffice furniture, equipment, vehicles and other purchasesthat have a lasting value of more than one year, are non-consumable, and have a monetary value of at least $5,000.

5. “Unallocated” This is the amount of available funds fromanticipated revenue that is budgeted to the ExpenseCategory but not allocated. It may be allocated duringthat fiscal year as the need arises.

e. Submit, with recommendations, the proposed budget to theSGC. This proposed budget must pass by a 3/4 vote of the SGC.Once approved by the SGC, the budget shall be submitted forreview by the Advisor who shall submit the budget for approvalto the Director of Student Affairs. If approval is given, theDirector shall forward the budget to the FSU-PCC Dean for finalapproval. A copy of the approved budget shall be sent to theStudent Body Comptroller and the VP of Student Affairs.

f. Receive, review, and make recommendation to SGC regarding allregistered student organization travel requests.

iv. The Finance Committee Chair shall:

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a. Make monthly reports to the SGC about the status of all A&Saccounts.

b. Be responsible for assuring implementation of the Finance Codeand Section VII, E. of the SGC Bylaws.

c. Work with committee chairs on budget items for SGC businessand activities.

d. Have a budget review meeting at least once monthly, including,but not limited to, the Director of Student Affairs and SGCAdvisor.

4. Scholarships and Awards Committee

i. The Scholarship and Awards Committee Chair shall be responsible forcollecting the nominations and ordering the awards for the following:

a. The SGC Presidential Scholarship: (see Section VIII fordescription). There shall be a sub-committee consisting of theScholarship and Awards Chair, two FSU-PCC faculty and/orstaff, and one other SGC Representative to award the SGCPresidential Scholarship.

b. “The Brandon Harmon Seminole Spirit Award”: This awardrecognizes a student attending FSU-PCC that has had the greatestimpact on the student body through school spirit and exemplifiesthe Seminole Creed. The SGC will make nominations and selectthe winner by written ballot at Council. The Scholarship andAwards Chair will preside over the proceedings and the winnerwill be announced at the Graduation and Awards Ceremony. Theselection process must be completed in time to have the awardmade for the ceremony.

c. “The SGC President’s Choice Award”: This award is for theperson that has had the greatest impact on the success of theSGC President during their term. This person is chosen by theSGC President and the selection must be made in time for theGraduation and Awards Ceremony.

d. “Coram’s Spirit of Service Award”: This award is for a memberof the community that has had the most substantial impact onFSU-PCC and the student body for the current school year. Thisperson is a strong advocate for our campus and may also haveprovided monetary or in-kind support to FSU-PCC. TheScholarship and Awards Chair will submit a letter to the FSU-PCC Dean by Friday of the second week of February requesting

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nominations for the “Coram’s Spirit of Service Award”. The nominations shall be presented at the second SGC business meeting in March. The SGC may also submit nominations at this meeting. The award winner will be determined by majority vote of the SGC. This award will be presented at the Graduation and Awards Ceremony.

e. Graduate-specific awards: These awards are to be given tostudents who have shown extraordinary performance in aspectsof campus life unrelated to academics.

1. “Vires Award”: This award recognizes a graduatingstudent who has shown incredible strength of mind,body, and/or spirit throughout their journey at FSU-PC. This person is to be nominated by faculty, staff, andthe general student body. The award winner will bedetermined by majority vote of a committee consisting ofthe Scholarships and Awards Chair, one other SGCmember, the Associate Director of Student Affairs, onenon-SGC student, and one non-student faculty or staffmember. This award will be presented at the Graduationand Awards Ceremony.

2. “Artes Award”: This award goes to a graduating studentwho has developed and honed their skills in their trade orinterests during their time at FSU-PC. This person hasuniquely impacted campus through their hobbies andideals. They are to be nominated by faculty, staff, and thegeneral student body. The award winner will bedetermined by majority vote of a committee consisting ofthe Scholarships and Awards Chair, one other SGCmember, the Associate Director of Student Affairs, onenon-SGC student, and one non-student faculty or staffmember. This award will be presented at the Graduationand Awards Ceremony.

3. “Mores Award”: This award distinguishes a student whohas shown great character during their time at FSU-PC. This is student who provided extensive support tofellow students, faculty, or staff. Alternatively, someonewho has helped make the campus greater during theirtime here through participation in extracurricularactivities, yet hasn't been otherwise acknowledged, wouldbe eligible for selection. They are to be nominated byfaculty, staff, and the general student body. The awardwinner will be determined by majority vote of acommittee consisting of the Scholarships and Awards

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Chair, one other SGC member, the Associate Director of Student Affairs, one non-SGC student, and one non-student faculty or staff member. This award will be presented at the Graduation and Awards Ceremony.

4. “SGC’s Choice Award: This award designates a non-SGCgraduating student who has greatly influenced the SGC,through participation in events, RSOs, and/or meetings.It is to appreciate a student who has had the greatestimpact on the success of the SGC as a whole during itsterm. This person is chosen by majority vote of the SGC,and the selection must be made in time for theGraduation and Awards Ceremony.

ii. Coordinate with SGC office staff for the purchase of awards for “FacultyMember of the Year”, “Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year”, “StaffMember of the Year”, “RSO of the Year”, “RSO Advisor of the Year”,“Coram’s Spirit of Service”, “Brandon Harmon Seminole Spirit”, “SGCPresident’s Choice”, and “SGC Representative of the Year” awards forthe Graduation and Awards Ceremony.

iii. Solicit new ideas to get faculty, staff, and students involved andmotivated. All ideas are subject to SGC approval.

iv. Coordinate the purchase of prizes and awards for homecoming events inthe fall semester.

5. Publicity Committee

i. The Publicity Committee shall:

a. Interact with the SGC and its committees in a combined effort topublicize their events and activities. This is to include:

1. Designing flyers and posters for meetings, socials, andother events.

2. Forwarding information to the Office of Advancement,such that they may publicize on the televisionsthroughout campus.

3. Assisting the Office of Advancement in maintaining thewebsite, including maintaining bylaws, meeting minutes,recordings, and any other relevant records up to date onthe FSU Panama City website.

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b. Publicize all pictures, videos, and misc. on any and all socialmedia. This is to include:

1. Photographing and/or collecting photos of all SGCactivities and/or A&S fee sponsored events, processingphotos within one week of the activity/event.

2. Promoting SGC at orientation and other applicablefunctions.

3. Promoting SGC at all A&S fee sponsored events.

c. Be responsible for posting portraits of current SGC members onthe SGC bulletin board.

d. Be responsible for ensuring all SGC event announcements areposted in public areas throughout campus.

e. Be available to assist any and all student publications on campus.

f. Be allowed to check the camera out during working hours.

6. Special Events Committee

i. The committee shall be in charge of planning, coordinating, andexecuting special events, including but not limited to, HomecomingWeek (in conjunction with the Homecoming football game), Spring Fling(in March), the Graduation Banquet and Awards Ceremony (end ofApril), and Summer Bash (during the summer), in conjunction with SGCstaff and under the guidance and supervision of the SGC Advisor.

ii. The Committee Chair shall:

a. Chair committees for each event specified above.

b. Coordinate the printing and ordering of publications/programs,t-shirts, gifts, and promotional items to support theaforementioned events.

c. Coordinate with the Finance Chair to determine the budgets foreach event to be presented to SGC for approval.

d. Ensure that all events are publicized adequately by coordinatingwith the publicity chair.

7. Health and Wellness Committee

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i. The committee shall:

a. Encourage student wellness via the promotion of intramuralsports. These events shall occur at least biweekly.

b. Study, develop, and enhance student experience in and out ofclass.

c. Promote, encourage, and foster student health and developmentand campus improvement.

ii. The Committee Chair shall:

a. Monitor SGC suggestion box and poll students each semester togain ideas/recommendations for improvements.

8. Service Committee

i. The Service Committee shall:

a. Coordinate with Service Chair at Gulf Coast State College.

b. Be responsible for the implementation of service projects atFlorida State University Panama City.

c. Advertise various service opportunities in conjunction withPublicity.

d. Assist the SGC Advisor in discovering community service eventsthroughout the local area. There shall be at least one eventcoordinated and announced at an SGC meeting per month in atimely manner as defined by the President.

e. Coordinate with local organizations for implementation of serviceopportunities for the student body.

f. Ensure, with the assistance of the Finance Chair, that all A&Sguidelines are followed.

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VIII. SGC PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

A. The SGC Presidential Scholarship is awarded to FSU-PCC undergraduate and graduatestudents each year. This scholarship was funded by SGC through A&S fees many yearsago. It is the responsibility of the Scholarships and Awards Chair to organize a sub-committee to award this scholarship each summer.

The scholarship applications shall be made available to students at least four weeksbefore the spring semester ends.

The committee shall hold a meeting within 10 school days of the application deadline toselect recipients.

Scholarship recipients shall submit a thank you letter to the SGC within 10 days ofnotification. This must be done in order for the scholarship to be disbursed.

1. The scholarship shall be $1500 per year, disbursed as follows:

i. For undergraduate recipients:a. $600 for the fall semester (Minimum enrollment of 12 credit

hours)

b. $600 for the spring semester (Minimum enrollment of 12 credithours)

c. $300 for the summer semester (Minimum enrollment of 6 credithours)

ii. For graduate recipients:

a. $750 for the fall semester (Minimum enrollment of 6 credithours)

b. $750 for the spring semester (Minimum enrollment of 6 credithours)

2. Awardees must apply to receive subsequent scholarship(s), and may be awardedfor a maximum of 6 semesters.

3. All information will be kept confidential.

4. Eligibility:i. Must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States.ii. Must be admitted to an undergraduate or graduate degree program at

FSU-PCC.iii. Must be pursuing first baccalaureate/graduate degree.iv. Must have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher

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5. Conditions:

i. Must be classified as a FSU-PCC (in-class or distance) and be enrolled aminimum of 12 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and for aminimum of 6 credit hours in the summer for undergraduate studentsand a minimum of 6 credit hours in the fall and spring for graduatestudents.

ii. Must maintain a cumulative 3.2 grade point average on all workcompleted at The Florida State University.

iii. Must submit at least one letter of recommendation.

iv. Applicants may be granted a partial year award within the same fundingcycle if prior recipient(s) is (are) no longer eligible for scholarship.

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IX. REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

A. Student organizations requesting A&S Fees from the SGC shall be officially registeredwith the Office of Student Affairs and must be in good standing with the SGC, havingall paperwork and other requirements completed and up to date.

B. Registered Student Organizations requesting A&S fees shall be open to all FSU studentsand may include GCSC students. There shall be a non-voting faculty or staff advisor andno less than six members, including 3 officers.

C. Registered student organizations shall abide by the FSU-PCC SGC Finance Code 603.3of the Student Body Statutes; the FSU-PCC A&S fee guidelines; and Section IX andapplicable part of Section X of the SGC Bylaws.

D. Registered student organizations “RSOs” shall present their budget request in person tothe SGC at budget hearings held in accordance with the A&S Fee Guidelines. Thebudget hearing date will be determined and advertised by the SGC Finance Chair. Priorto the SGC hearing, the RSO representative will meet with the SGC Finance Chair toensure their budget request meets guidelines. If questions arise at the hearing during theRSO budget presentation, these will be directed to the SGC Finance Chair. If there areunanswered concerns, the budget request will be tabled and the Finance Chair will workwith the RSO/SGC Representatives to correct issues for the presentation at the nextSGC hearing. Failure of an RSO representative to appear before the SGC hearing mayresult in the budget request being delayed until such time as an RSO representative canappear at an SGC budget hearing. Failure to show up to the hearing may forfeit funding.

E. Registered student organization must match at least 10% of the A&S revenue theyreceive over the year through fund raising. The funds shall go into the organization’s off-campus account. In the event a student organization is unable to match the 10% revenuerequirement, an in-kind contribution may be accepted at the discretion of the SGC basedon the intended use of the contribution per the organization’s mission statement.

F. Registered student organizations must sponsor no less than three on campus activitieseach year, preferably one each semester, to directly benefit FSU-PCC students. Theseactivities are in addition to SGC sponsored events to which RSOs are expected toparticipate (i.e. Homecoming, Spring Fling, etc.). RSOs are required to submit a post-event evaluation form to the Finance Committee and SGC office staff within threeweeks of the event.

G. Registered Student Organizations must submit meeting minutes to the SGC PresidentPro Tempore on or before the 15th of the following month. They must also attend atleast one SGC meeting or event per month.

H. Registered student organizations must submit an annual “Off Campus” account reportto the SGC Finance Chair and the SGC Office Assistant or RSO secretary on or beforeMay 15th to be used to help determine if the 10% revenue requirements has been metfor the fiscal year.

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I. Failure to meet Section IX, C-J. may result in A&S funding being frozen at the discretionof SGC.

J. A revision to the original budget totaling less than $100 per line item may be madewithout prior approval of the SGC. However, the revision is not effective until signatureapproval of the SGC President and SGC Advisor is obtained. The revision shall bereported to the SGC by submitting a Budget Revision/Transfer Form at the nextregularly scheduled SGC meeting for inclusion in the minutes.

K. Any revision to the original budget of $100 or more, with the exception of transfers forcontractual services and travel expenses, shall require prior joint approval by signature ofthe SGC President and the Finance Chair on a Budget Revision/Transfer Form. Thisform shall be submitted at the next regularly scheduled SGC meeting for inclusion in theMinutes. However, the revision is not effective until signature approval of the SGCAdvisor is obtained.

L. Any revision to the original budget concerning travel or contractual services shall bebrought to the next regularly scheduled SGC meeting and shall require a majority vote topass.

M. Registered student organizations requesting A&S funds to be used in conjunction withtravel must request such funds at a regularly scheduled Finance Committee meeting. Thedeadline for requesting reimbursement of funds must be made a minimum of six weeksprior to travel.

N. Registered student organizations requesting A&S funds to be used for contractualservices must request such funds at a regularly scheduled SGC business meeting. Thedeadline for such request shall be as follows:

1. For contracts with “Day-of Show” payment – a minimum of 12 weeks prior todate of service.

2. For contracts without “Day-of-Show” payment – minimum of 10 weeks prior todate of service.

O. A&S fees may be allocated by SGC to fund up to 100% of actual travel expenses foreach FSU-PCC student traveling to a conference or workshop with a registered studentorganization. When less than 100% of actual travel expenses is allocated all travelersmust sign the University provided form for seeking reimbursement for travel expensesless than entitled to per Florida Statute. Any remaining amount of travel expense shall bethe responsibility of the student organization and/or the travelers. Receipts for all travelexpenses (off campus as well as A&S Fees) must be provided to SGC for documentationwithin one week of return. Students may only be funded for travel twice per fiscal year,excluding SGC related business (i.e. Senator, Representative, Signal, etc.)

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P. Following any travel involving A&S fees, the organization is required to make apresentation to SGC about what benefit they received from the trip within four weeks.Such presentation shall be in a format that can be used to disseminate information tostudents, i.e. Tri-Board, PowerPoint Presentation, Handouts, etc.

Q. All flyers for events and activities paid for in whole or in part with A&S Fees shallinclude the wording “funded by A&S Fees” or “co-sponsored by SGC”, or the SGClogo.

R. Student organizations must have SGC approval to charge admission fees to studentsprior to any event subsidized or paid for by A&S fees allocated to them.

S. Officers of registered student organizations must attend an orientation each semesterregarding policies and procedures for expenditures and activities or funds will be frozen.

T. No individual memberships or scholarships may be allocated from A&S fees toregistered student organizations.

U. Student organizations must keep the SGC staff updated with a current officer roster,complete with name, address, home/work/cell phone numbers, and email address foreach officer.

V. Any violation of Section VIII of the Finance Code or Student Body Statutes may resultin freezing or revocation of A&S funds. Such action requires a 3/4 vote of the SGC.

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X. A&S FEE STIPULATIONS

A. A&S funds may be allocated or expended for awards, trophies, or food and refreshmentitems only with the prior approval of the SGC.

B. Travel- when hotel accommodations are required, there shall be two students per roomunless circumstances prevent from doing so (i.e. male/females will not be required toroom together, disability services, etc.).

C. There shall be no expenditure in any amount without the approval of the SGC, SGCPresident or the President’s designee with the exception of blanket purchase orderspreviously approved by the SGC.

XI. BYLAWS

A. These bylaws shall be revised annually by the end of summer semester by an ad hoccommittee chaired by the President with the SGC office staff serving as ex-officiomembers.

XII. AMENDING OR WAIVING THE BYLAWS

A. These bylaws are adopted by 2/3 vote of the SGC and approval by the SGC Advisor.

B. The bylaws may be changed by 2/3 vote of the SGC and approval by the SGC Advisor.

C. The bylaws may be waived by a 3/4 vote of the SGC present at any regular or specialmeeting.

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