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Article V: Senators

Section 1: Appointment

  1. Senators are elected or appointed undergraduate student representatives who advocate and work on behalf of their specified constituency to improve the undergraduate student experience. The four (4) kinds of senators are defined in the USS Constitution.
    1. At-large senators are elected by all undergraduate students.
    2. College senators are elected by undergraduate students enrolled in their respective college.
    3. University Chartered Student Organization (UCSO) Senators are appointed by their respective UCSO. Corps of Cadets Senators are appointed by the Corps.
    4. Residential Senators:
      1. Residential Well Being Senators are elected by undergraduate students in their respective residential districts. There is one representative for Residential Housing Districts 2-4 on campus.
      2. Living-Learning Program (LLP) Senators are elected by undergraduate students in their designated Living-Learning Program constituencies.
        1. One representative will have the constituency base of the Leadership and Social Change Residential College, Digerati, Galileo and Hypatia, Innovate, Lavender House, Mozaiko, Rhizome, Studio 72, Thrive, and Transfer Experience Living-Learning Programs.
        2. One representative will have the constituency base of the Honors Residential Commons, Residential College at West Ambler Johnston. Aurora, GenerationOne, Hillcrest, Impact, Meraki, Orion. Ujima, VIA Living Learning Programs.
  2. The Cabinet will host applications and interviews, and a vote to appoint undergraduate applicants for vacant Senator positions post-election. A confirmation vote will then be held by the Senate.

Section 2: Eligibility

  1. Senators must be:
    1. Enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at the Blacksburg campus and in good standing academically and with the Honor System, Student Conduct, and the Corps of Cadets (if applicable) at the time of application and throughout the entire term.
    2. Able to physically attend meetings and other role responsibilities.

Section 3: Duties and Responsibilities

  1. All senators will:
    1. Demonstrate Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) at all times.
    2. Practice active servant leadership by creating avenues for student constituents to share, discuss, and explore needs and interests related to the undergraduate student experience
    3. Communicate and actively represent the needs and concerns of student constituents in all Senate discussions and legislative actions.
    4. Collaborate with USS Cabinet members, Directors, Senators, administrators, and other shared governance stakeholders to improve the undergraduate student experience.
    5. Be required to serve on at least one USS Committee.
    6. Engage as a voting representative in the USS on behalf of student constituents.
    7. Attend every Senate meeting, committee meeting, onboarding, and retreat. Additional information regarding attendance expectations is located under Article XII, Section 1 of the USS Bylaws.
    8. Hold a minimum of four (4) office hours per month.
    1. Market office hours to their designated constituencies.
    2. Senators will use this time to collect data, feedback, and initiatives from their designated constituencies.
  2. All College senators must:
    1. Meet with their respective Dean or Associate Dean at least once per semester.
  3. All Residential Well-being Senators must:
    1. Meet with the Director of Residential Well Being or designee once a semester.
    2. Host two public forums per semester for their respective district.
  4. All Living Learning Program senators must:
    1. Serve as a liaison between the Office of Living Learning Programs (OLLP) and the USS through regular meetings with OLLP professional staff members.
    2. Demonstrate knowledge of the experiences, missions, and goals of the LLPs in which they represent.
    3. Connect with one LLP each week in order to deepen commitment and understanding of their unique program through one-on-one conversations, attendance at events, and presence in those communities.
    4. Communicate with any designated representatives from the LLPs which the Senator(s) are elected to serve.
    5. Meet once a semester with the Director or Living Learning Programs.

Section 4: Speaker of the Senate

  1. The Speaker of the Senate serves as the chief representative and liaison for the Senate body to the Cabinet while also empowering the Senate body by curating and implementing Senator goals and initiatives.
  2. Eligibility
    1. Be an elected USS Senator that has been active with the organization for at least one (1) academic semester prior to application.
    2. Complete a preliminary interview with the members of Cabinet.
    3. Remain actively engaged in Senate meetings, activities, and Committee meetings.
    4. Have a positive attendance record at all meetings (Committee, Commission (if applicable), and Senate meetings).
  3. Selection
    1. An application for the Speaker of the Senate position will be provided to all prospective candidates who are eligible for the position.
    2. All applicants will go through an interview process conducted by the Vice President for Inclusive and Strategic Affairs and the Vice President for Issues and Policy.
    3. After the interview process, up to three final candidates will be selected by the Vice President for Inclusive and Strategic Affairs and the Vice President for Issues and Policy.
    4. The final three applicants will participate in a debate during a Senate meeting, which will be followed by an internal election of the Senate, provided that quorum has been achieved.
  4. Duties and Responsibilities
    1. Attend every Senate meeting and provide a Speaker’s Report.
    2. Serve as the Chief Representative of the Senate body by swiftly and accurately communicating the wants and needs of Senators to Cabinet.
    3. Work with the Director of Membership Development to curate opportunities to empower Senators to accomplish advocacy initiatives.
    4. Facilitate and promote discussions and deliberation during Senate meetings regarding legislation.
    5. Assist the Vice President and Representative to the Board of Visitors with the accountability process.
    6. Participate in the Tenure nomination process.
    7. Report to the Vice President for Inclusive and Strategic Affairs and the Vice President for Issues and Policy.
  5. Resignation or Removal
    1. The Speaker of the Senate may relinquish their posts at any time by submitting a letter to the Vice President for Issues and Policy, Vice President for Inclusive and Strategic Affairs, and the Deputy Advisor in advance of vacating their post.
    2. If members of the Senate have concerns regarding the Speaker of the Senate’s ability to fulfill their role, the following process will be followed:
      1. The Vice President for Issues and Policy and Vice President for Inclusive and Strategic Affairs must be notified about these concerns.
      2. The Vice President for Issues and Policy and Vice President for Inclusive and Strategic Affairs will address these concerns or establish remedial steps with the Speaker of the Senate.
      3. If the concerns are not resolved or remedied, the Cabinet will elevate these concerns to the Deputy Advisor. The Deputy Advisor will follow the steps outlined in Article XIV.
        1. Any removal of the Speaker from the Speaker of the Senate position does not remove them from USS as a Senator unless deemed necessary.

Section 5: Term of Office

  1. Senator terms will fulfill one (1) academic year. Senators may run for reelection.
    1. If a senator enters office after inauguration, their term still ends at the end of the academic year.
  2. Elections for Residential Senators will be held during the fall semester.