Article 1 – Name

The name of this organization will be The Andover Newton Theological School Student Association (hereafter referred to as “SA”)

Article 2 – Mission Statement

The Student Association of Andover Newton Theological School advocates for the interests and concerns of the student body and the quality of student life. We seek to fulfill this advocacy by representing the interests of the student body before the trustees, faculty, administration, and staff. Our goal is to foster a campus community which celebrates diversity and upholds the inherent worth and dignity of each person within the whole people of God.

Article 3 – Authority

The authority of the SA resides in the SA Executive Board. The Executive Board is authorized to represent and act on behalf of the SA through procedures set forth in this document.

Article 4 – Membership

All registered degree candidates and special students are members of the SA.

Article 5 – Structure

The Executive Board will consist of the four elected officers outlined in section 1 below.

1. Executive Board. The Executive Board is comprised of the officers below. This committee shall hold a visioning retreat prior to the opening of the academic year. All members of the Executive Committee shall be elected to a one (1) year terms and are eligible for re-election. The term of the Executive Board shall begin on May 15th.

a. President. Presides over all general SA and Executive Board meetings. Sets the agenda for the SA meetings in conversation with the Executive Board and posts it via Student E-News no less that 48 hours before a scheduled meeting. Represents the SA at Faculty Meetings. Meets regularly with the President, Dean of the Faculty and Dean of Students. In conjunction with the President, Dean of the Faculty and Dean of the Students, the President of the Student Association will convene at least one town meeting per semester. The President will post office hours at least one (1) hour per week during the regular academic year. The President is an ex-officio member of all SA committees. The President may appoint representatives to attend meetings on his/her behalf as needed. Because of the responsibility entailed in this position, the President will be granted a tuition waiver for no more than three (3) credits during the academic year.

b. Vice President. If the President should fail to complete his/her term, the Vice President will become the acting President until the next annual election. In the absence of the President, the Vice President will chair scheduled meetings of the SA and/or SA Executive Board. The Vice President will post via Student E-News and flyers notice of regularly scheduled, special and town hall meetings a minimum of one week in advance. The Vice President will also oversee the fellowship groups by maintaining a list of active fellowship groups and their respective chairpersons. The Vice President will gather and maintain year-end reports from each fellowship group plus a table/report of monies spent by each fellowship group from the Treasurer. The Vice President will serve at least one (1) hour per week of scheduled office hours during the regular academic year. The Vice President is responsible for organizing and supervising the annual election process unless he/she is a candidate in the elections. In which case, a designated chairperson will be appointed by the President.

c. Treasurer. Receives and dispenses SA funds in accordance with the decisions of the SA. The Treasurer will maintain the financial records of the SA. The Treasurer will oversee the annual budget process by which officially recognized student groups are funded. The Treasurer will prepare a table/report of the monies spent by fellowship groups throughout the year and submit this to the Vice President for fellowship group records. The Treasurer will serve at least one (1)
hour per week of scheduled office hours during the regular academic year.

d. Secretary. The Secretary will record and maintain the minutes of SA meetings and act as corresponding secretary for the SA as needed. The Secretary is responsible for making sure that minutes are posted on the SA webpage of the ANTS website, via Student E-News, on the SA bulletin board, and on reserve in the library. The Secretary will maintain a current SA webpage on the ANTS website. And will serve at least one (1) hour per week of scheduled office hours during the regular school year.

2. Elected Representatives.

a. Representative to the Andover Newton Board of Trustees. Elected to a
two (2) year term during general elections. S/he will serve as the student representative to
the Board of Trustees and will submit timely reports to SA meetings.

b. Student Life Chairperson. Elected to a one (1) year term at the annual general elections. Will chair the committee overseeing student life events on campus. The chairperson or appointed committee member shall attend all regularly convened SA meetings.

3. Appointed Positions. When requested, the SA Executive Board will submit the names of students who have agreed to serve on various committees. The SA Executive Board will solicit names of interested candidates and will then present them at a regularly convened SA meeting, without prejudice or recommendation. Members of the SA will elect a representative by a simple majority vote of members present.

4. Student Elections. Under the leadership of the Vice President or designated chairperson of the committee, election of officers will take place each spring, not later than April 15. The process will be as follows:

a. Students interested in running for an office will submit a Letter of Intent to the Vice President or designated chairperson of the committee no later than one week prior to the beginning date of the election. Notices announcing the election date and soliciting letters of intent will be communicated in a timely manner via Student E-News, through flyers, News and Notes, and announcements in the cafeteria.

b. The Vice President or designated chairperson of the committee will determine through consultation with the Academic Dean that those submitting letters of intent are degree candidates in good standing. Candidates must indicate that they will be registered students taking courses the entire academic year in which they plan on serving.

c. The Vice President or designated chairperson of the committee will prepare election ballots. Names shall be listed in alphabetical order by first name.

d. The voting will take place for four (4) consecutive days during lunch and dinner meal times in the cafeteria. Students will fill out the ballot and their names will be crossed off a master list maintained by those monitoring the voting. Ballots must be completed at the polling station. Absentee ballots and write-in candidates are not allowed.

e. Variations on this above procedure may be approved by a regularly convened SA meeting.

f. Election results will be published via Student E-News, through flyers, The ProtestANT and News and Notes, and put on reserve in the library as soon as they are available.

5. Meetings. SA meetings are open to all members of the ANTS community. Only registered degree candidates and special students may vote. Roberts Rules of Order will be followed.

6. Committees. The Executive Board may form ad hoc committees. All committees will have specific tasks/goals. Once completed, the committee will submit a report to the SA and disband.

7. Fellowship Groups.
Active SA recognized fellowship groups are required to:

a. By 10/1 of each year submit to the SA Treasurer an annual budget proposal for the period for 11/1 – 10/31. Applications for funding received after 10/1 will be considered last.

b. Submit a brief annual report to the SA Vice President by the close of the academic year. This report should include record of any amendments made during the year to the fellowship group’s Mission Statement, a list of events the fellowship group hosted, a brief visioning report of suggestions for the following year, and, the names and contact information (telephone and e-mail) if available of the chairperson or contact person for the following year.

Students wishing to form a recognized fellowship group of the SA must do the following:

a. Submit an Application Letter to the SA Vice President with the following information: Name of the group, purpose of the group, the names and contact information of the chairperson, treasurer and secretary of the group, program/activities proposal and budget.

b. Present application to a regularly convened SA meeting for recognition of SA fellowship group status. A simple majority vote of those present is required to grant fellowship group status.

Fellowship Groups no longer intending to convene and/or exist must do the following:

a. Submit an Letter of Notice to the SA Vice President with the following information: Name of the group, the names and contact information of the chairperson, treasurer and secretary of the group, total number of members of the fellowship group, the reason for dissolving, the date on which the fellowship group decided to disband and the names of members who were present at this meeting and who voted for dissolution.

b. The fellowship group chairperson and/or SA Vice President will then bring this notice to a regularly convened SA meeting for recognition. Should no further inquiry be deemed necessary the dissolution of the fellowship group can be made official and duly noted in the SA meeting
minutes by a simple majority vote of those present.

c. In order to re-instate the fellowship, the organization must re-petition the SA as outlined above to form a new fellowship.

8. Student Life
Student Life is a committee of the SA which focuses on the development and execution of community and student life through events and programming.

a. Mission Statement. Student Life aims to enhance community life by providing all students, together with their partners and families, opportunities for social interaction. Student Life seeks to foster unity and enhance communication on campus, through a variety of programs and is a vehicle by which fellowship groups and individuals within the community can request assistance in the execution of events.

b. Committee. The Chairperson will recruit individuals to comprise the Student Life committee. Every attempt shall be made to have the committee represent the diversity of the ANTS community. This committee may include non-ANTS students in order to better reflect the diversity of the campus, however, only a registered student may serve as the Student Life chair. The chair shall recruit via student E-news, flyers and The ProtestANT. The size of the committee is at the discretion of the chairperson. The members of the Student Life committee shall be approved by a simple majority vote of members present at a regularly convened SA meeting at the beginning of each year. The Student Life committee will submit a report to the SA, for their information and input, of the events planned for that semester. In addition the committee will submit timely reports to the regularly convened SA meetings. The Student Life committee will maintain a current Student Life webpage on the ANTS website and a bulletin board on campus on which contact information is clearly displayed so that community members and fellowship groups can solicit assistance with events and/or make suggestions for events.

c. Meetings. The committee is to meet as and when it needs to in order to execute its business. These meetings will be open to all interested community members and notice shall be posted no less than 48 hours in advance. Matters of concern to members of the community, which may require advocacy should be referred to, or brought before,
the next regularly convened SA meeting.

Article 6 – Petition, Referendum, Removal

1. Petition.
By petition of at least five (5) percent of the student body, students may require the SA Executive Board to place an item on the agenda that has been denied action on a previous proposal. Such action will be taken within two (2) weeks of the petition’s submission to the SA Executive Board.

2. Referendum.

a. The purpose of a referendum vote is to reverse a decision or action taken by the SA or SA Executive Board on a specific action.

b. By petition of at least ten (10) percent of the student body, students may require the SA or SA Executive Board to submit a decision to a review of the SA members as a referendum vote. Such a vote will take place within two (2) weeks of the petition’s submission to the SA Executive Board. Two-thirds (2/3) majority of those voting are required to vote affirmative in order to reverse a SA or SA Executive Board decision.

c. All referenda will be by secret ballot which will take place for four (4) consecutive days during lunch and dinner meal times in the cafeteria.

3. Removal of officers.

a. Via petition to the Student Association Vice President with signatures of 1/3 of voting members stating reason for removal.

b. The SA Vice President will then notify the officer and call for a removal vote within two (2) weeks of the filing of the petition.

c. Membership will be notified via Student E-News at least one week prior to the removal.

d. A specially convened meeting of the SA will be called for the purposes of removal. The petition’s grievances will be made public and the officer will be allowed to respond to charges of the petition.

e. Removal from office requires a vote of 2/3 majority of voting members as outlined in Article 6, Section 2, Point b.

f. By petition of twenty (20) percent of the student body, students may require a referendum on the removal of any elected SA Executive Board officer. The resolution for removal must pass with at least two-thirds (2/3) majority vote as outlined in Article 6, Section 2, Point b.

g. If the officer in question is the Student Association Vice President, than the process shall be chaired by the Student Association President.

Article 7 – Finances

1. The SA will be financed by an SA fee paid at the time of registration. This fee will be annually reviewed by the SA in conversation with the Dean of Students.

2. These monies will be deposited by the treasurer in a suitable checking account. All checks and withdrawals must be signed by the treasurer and one (1) other SA Executive Board member.

3. The treasurer’s books will be audited at the close of the academic year by the SA Executive Board or its designated auditor.

4. The SA Executive Board will establish a budget as follows:

a. The budget year for SA fellowship groups will be from 11/1 – 10/31.

b. Yearly budgets must be submitted by each fellowship group to the SA Treasurer by 10/1. Applications for funding received after 10/1 will be considered last.

5. The SA Executive Board by 10/21 will submit the final budget for approval to a regularly convened SA meeting. A simple majority vote of those present will be required to approve the fellowship groups’ budgets.

6. Fellowship groups may petition for a special budgetary hearing by 12/1 to address concerns or issues that may arise from the budgeting process.

Article 8 – Changes to the Constitution

1. Change to this constitution may be proposed by the SA Executive Board or by petition of at least fifteen (15) percent of the SA.

2. Changes will be discussed in an open meeting of the SA.

3. Any changes agreed upon at the above meeting will be presented to the SA members as a referendum. The resolution must pass with at least two-thirds (2/3) affirmative referendum vote of the SA as outlined in Article 6, Section 2, Point b.

4. This constitution will be reviewed every three years to evaluate the relevancy to the student constituency. A review committee will be appointed by the SA Executive Board. The next review shall be in the Academic year 2007-2008.