SEAN

College of Saint Mary Student Education Association Constitution

Name:

The name of this association shall be the Student Education Association-College of Saint Mary Chapter, hereinafter referred to as SEA. SEA shall be affiliated with the National Education Association (NEA) through the NEA Student Program (NEA-SP) and with the Student Education Association of Nebraska (SEAN) and the   Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA).

Purposes:

The purposes of SEA shall be:

A. To develop a local organization fostered by the NEA and the NSEA for the promotion and development of professional attitudes among students preparing to enter the teaching profession.

            B. To interest capable women in teaching as a career by:

                        1. encouraging a careful selective standard for persons admitted to approved programs of teacher education.

                        2. positively influencing the way in which prospective educators are prepared.

            C. To strive for the advancement of better conditions under which teachers work and students learn.

            D. To develop among future educators, an understanding of the teaching profession through participation in professional activities.

            E. To create a background for future educators, of the history, ethics, organization, policies and programs of local, state, and national education associations.

            F. To give students preparing to teach, practical experience in working together and working with local, state, and national education associations on problems concerning education throughout the nation.

 Governance:

            A. SEA shall be governed by its By-laws and any other actions mandated by its officers as a committee or by members that are consistent with these By-laws.

            B. SEA may pursue objectives, which are consistent with the stated purposes of SEAN, NEA, NEA-SP and NSEA.

Membership:

Eligibility:

            A. Membership in SEA shall be composed of students who are receiving preparation at College of Saint Mary for a career in education. SEA membership is not available to anyone who is currently eligible or has even been eligible for active membership in NEA.

            B. SEA shall not deny membership on the basis of race, religion, creed, national origin, age, handicap, sex, or sexual orientation.

Membership within the NEA:

A.     Members of SEA shall be recognized as student members of the NEA and shall have all rights and privileges of student members, provided they are recognized as members of NEA-SP.

Membership with in the NSEA:

A.     Members of SEA shall also be recognized as student members of the NSEA and shall have all of the privileges of student membership.

Membership and Fiscal Year:

A.     The membership and fiscal year of SEA shall concur with the NSEA membership and fiscal year. They fiscal year of SEA shall begin on the first day of September and end on the last day of August in each year.

Finances:

A.     The SEA officers and advisors shall recommend the dues of SEA and shall recognize the dues set forth by NSEA and NEA. The dues set forth by SEA will be determined each year after NSEA and NEA determine their dues.

B.     Funds in the SEA account shall be used as saw fit for the chapter and with the approval of the advisor and chapter officers.

Membership Code of Ethics:

            A. Members of SEA shall adhere to the NEA code of ethics of the education profession, those outlined in the College of Saint Mary Handbook and those in the College of Saint Mary Teacher Education Handbook.

Chapter Officers:

Composition:

A.     The chapter officers shall be a Past-President, President, a Vice-President/Future President (only during fall semester), a Secretary, a Treasurer, and two (2) Public Relations/Historians.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for office a person must be:

A.     Enrolled in education courses

B.     A member of SEA

C.    In good standing at College of Saint Mary      

Election:

A.     The Vice-President/Future President, secretary, treasurer, public relations/historians shall be elected by a majority vote of the voting members present at the meeting selected for officer elections, which is held in the spring of each year. The Vice-President/Future President will hold the position during Fall semester and then become President for the following Spring Semester and Fall Semester for the total of one calendar year. The Past President will take office for the Spring Semester, immediately following their office as President. All other offices are for the next school year.

B.     Prospective officers shall fill out an application, which will be furnished to them.

C.    Elections shall be held in descending rank

D.    Prospective candidates shall file for no more than two state office positions.

Duties of Officers:

            President:

A.     Preside at all SEA chapter meetings

a.      Hold 1 chapter meeting per month as scheduled the previous spring.

b.      Hold 1 officers meeting per month or as seen fit by the chapter officers and/or advisor

B.     To appoint committees and make assignments of chapter officers

C.    To accept responsibilities and commitments requested by SEAN, NSEA, NEA, NEA-SP, and advisors of SEA

D.    To be spokesperson at large for the CSM chapter

E.     To represent CSM SEA at Delegate Assembly and Fall Conference

F.     To preside at Symposium in April of each year

G.    To attend all Presidential forums at College of Saint Mary

H.     To welcome all education majors and minors at the beginning of each school year to College of Saint Mary and the education department, the President shall send a letter of invitation to the first SEA meeting and include a calendar of events

I.         Contact, or reply to, the SEAN Metro Regional Representative or other SEAN Executive Committee member or advisor (keep copies in the Leadership Handbook)

J.      Schedule all calendar dates for SEA and the Education Department (to be done in cooperation with the SEA advisor and Education Department faculty)

K.     Speak at all Into Education classes, at least 2 Fast Track classes per year, and at all other times deemed necessary by the chapter officers, potential chapter members, and/or advisor

L.      Keep Leadership Handbook updated with information, such as all forms, contact information for chapter officers, Executive Committee members, other State chapter SEA presidents and advisors, and NSEA/SEAN advisor information, past meeting minutes, and information about NEA, NSEA, and NEA-SP. This shall be kept in the office of the SEA advisor.

            Vice-President/Future President:

A.     Assume presidential responsibilities in the absence of the President

B.     To aid the president in communicating with all chapter members

C.    Chair of the Membership Drive held at the beginning of each school year and at the Involvement Fair.

D.    Share the duties, with the President, of speaking to Intro classes, Fast Track classes, and all other times deemed necessary by the chapter officers, potential chapter members, and/or advisor.

E.     To carry out duties assigned by the president

            Past President:

A.     Guide the President as she begins office.

B.     Answer any and all questions from the President and/or any other chapter officer.

C.    Acts as aid to the organization, such as helping with meetings, activities, etc. when asked by the President.

            Secretary:

A.     To keep the minutes of all meetings and distribute them to officers, advisors and the binder of minutes.

B.     To keep a database of all SEA chapter members including address, email address and other relevant information (may collaborate with Treasurer on this)

C.    To distribute information to all chapter members, advisors, SEAN Metro Regional Representative and SEAN advisors

D.    To email all chapter members at least 7 days prior to all SEAN activities and possibly again 3 days before activities

E.     To carry out duties assigned by the president

F.     Fill-out Chapter Excellence Awards and National Awards each Spring.

            Treasurer:

A.     Assume presidential responsibilities in the absence of the President and/or Vice-President/Future President

B.     To collect dues from all SEA members

C.    To keep a database of all SEA chapter members including address, email address and other relevant information (may collaborate with Secretary on this)

            Public Relations/Historian (there shall be two):

A.     Keep a scrapbook of all SEA events and activities

B.     Keep the CSM SEA website updated with pictures, information about events, scholarships, and any other relevant information

C.    Take pictures at all events for the scrapbook and website

D.    Make flyers to post around campus to announce SEA activities, at least 7 days in advance (all posters must be approved before hanging)

All Officers:

A.     Assume host duties at SEA/Education Department sponsored events.

B.     Help the President keep the Leadership Handbook updated. (The Leadership Handbook consists of all forms, contact information for chapter officers, Executive Committee members, other State chapter SEA presidents and advisors, and NSEA/SEAN advisor information, past meeting minutes, and information about NEA, NSEA, and NEA-SP. This is kept in the office of the SEA advisor.)

Vacancy:

A.     In case an officer can not perform their duties, or is seen unfit to perform their duties:

1.      a written list of grievances must be presented to the chapter officers and the officer in question by any member or members of SEA.

2.      the officer charged will have the right to appear before the chapter officers to respond to the charges and present their case within 30 days of notification of the grievance

3.      a majority vote of the executive committee is then required to remove and replace the officer through due process. (See Vacancy, B. When an office is vacated between terms.)

B.     When an office is vacated between terms:

1.      the SEA President shall be responsible for notifying all chapter members of the vacancy (with the help of the secretary). Members may be notified through email.

2.      members shall have 15 days to submit nominations to the chapter officers

3.      the nominee must file an application with the chapter officers

4.      the nominations shall be reviewed and acted upon by the chapter officers within a total of 30 days (to include the 15 days available to submit nominations) {Number of days may be changed based on a conflict with school breaks, but shall not be changed if CSM is on break for less than 5 days (including weekends.)}

Absence:

            An unexcused absence by an officer from two meetings, to include all chapter meetings, activities, officer meetings, and other SEA sponsored events, will constitute a vacancy in that position. Excused absences include, but are not limited to, illness, illness or death in family, classes, appointments that cannot be changed, and regularly scheduled sporting events.

Advisor:

The advisor shall be a faculty member of the College of Saint Mary Education Department.

Meetings & Rules of Procedure:

Meetings:

A.     Shall occur one time per month or as needed to accomplish goals. There shall also be other activities in which all education majors and minors are required to attend, such as Symposium in April of each year.

B.     Attendance shall be taken, in order to recognize members who attend all events.

Parliamentary Procedure:

            All parliamentary procedure will be accordance with the current revised edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Voting:

A.     At meetings, each member and/or officer, based on the type of meeting called, shall have one vote.

B.     Required votes for all measures shall be a simple majority.

C.    Only those in attendance shall have the privilege to vote.

Amendments:

A.     Amendments to this constitution shall be proposed by any chapter members and/or advisors and shall be in writing to the chapter officers at least 30 days before the final meeting of the school year. This restriction may be waived by a majority vote of the present members.

B.     Amendments shall be adopted by a majority vote of present members.

C.    Amendments to this constitution may be considered at the final meeting of the school year or at an emergency time deemed necessary by the chapter officers and advisor.

D.    The Student Activities Office must approve all changes to this constitution in the same manner as a completely new constitution.

 Updated and given to Student Activities Office May 2003.