In order to establish an active body founded on the premises of shared governance and peer guidance, we, the students and faculty, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the Associated Students and Faculty at Adams State College of Colorado. References to all members of the Associated Students and Faculty have been made in the generic sense and are designated to apply to all persons in the Senate, regardless of race, color, creed, sex, or national origin.

Article I - name & members

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be “The Associated Students and Faculty of Adams State College of Colorado,” herein referred to as AS&F.

Section 2. Membership shall consist of all faculty, administrators, and students, along with ASC classified staff, who elect to pay AS&F dues.

Section 3. The governing body of the AS&F shall be the AS&F Senate.

Section 4. Membership in the AS&F shall entitle a person to vote in any election conducted by the AS&F and to be admitted to all regularly scheduled college events at free or reduced admission.

Section 5. The spouses and children of members of AS&F shall be admitted free, or charged the same as AS&F members, to any regularly scheduled college event.

Section 6. The fees collected from the AS&F members, in conjunction with the college service fees, shall be set in accordance with the official action of the Board of Trustees of The State Colleges and the AS&F Senate.

Article II - senate membership

Section 1. The elective membership of AS&F shall be the President, the Vice-President, the Board of Trustees Representative (BOT Rep), twelve (12) Senators at Large, two (2) Senators from the freshman class, and two (2) Senators from the faculty who shall in no case be the AS&F advisers. All Senators and Officers must be either faculty members or full-time students.

Section 2. Qualifications for Senate Officers: All Officers shall have attained a cumulative scholastic grade point average of not lower than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, through and including the semester previous to election. The Freshman Senators shall have attained cumulative high school grade point averages of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Cumulative grade point averages of 2.0 must be maintained to retain Senate seats.

Section 2a. The President shall be either a Junior, Senior, or Graduate Student or a Faculty member during his/her term in office. Each other officer shall be a Sophomore, Junior, Senior, or Graduate Student or Faculty member during his/her term in office. Each officer shall have completed 30 hours prior to the beginning of the fall term following his/her election. 

Section 2b. The Business Manager of the College shall be responsible for collection and disbursement of all AS&F fees.

Section 2c. All faculty members, except those holding advisery positions on the AS&F Senate, are eligible for election to the AS&F Senate.

Article III - duties, nominations, elections, vacancies, and removal of officers

Section 1. Students and faculty who wish their names on the ballot for the office of President, Vice-President, or BOT Rep shall circulate petitions and secure not less than one hundred (100) signatures and Social Security Numbers from AS&F members. Students or faculty members who wish their names on the ballot for the office of Senator at Large shall circulate petitions and secure not less than fifty (50) signatures and Social Security Numbers from AS&F members. Freshman students who wish their names on the ballot for Freshman Senator shall circulate petitions and secure not less than fifty (50) signatures and Social Security Numbers from AS&F members.

Section 1a. The AS&F Election Commission (consisting of one (1) faculty member appointed by Faculty Council, one (1) administrator appointed by the Office of Student Affairs, and one (1) of the members of AS&F) shall determine all election dates. All election dates must be announced in the South Coloradan for two (2) consecutive weeks prior to the election, which in the case of the General Election must be held in the spring semester. The election for the Freshman Senators must take place no later than the sixth (6) week of the fall semester.

Section 1b. Petitions for all elective offices are due in the AS&F Office by 2 p.m. on the Friday preceding the election.

Section 2. With the exception of Freshman Senators, all AS&F Senators and Officers shall be chosen in a general election held in April for two consecutive class days. All members of the AS&F Senate shall be elected by a plurality vote of those eligible voters casting their ballots in the general election. In the case of a tie vote, a runoff election will be held to determine the winner. Voting for officers and senators shall be done by secret ballot. Ballot boxes shall be operated and maintained in a manner prescribed by the AS&F Election Commission.

Section 3. Duties of Elected Officers. The President shall preside at all meetings of the AS&F Senate. The President shall not be a voting member of the AS&F Senate, except in the case of a tie vote on any motion, resolution or appointment. The President shall serve as a member of any committee as deemed necessary by the AS&F Senate. The President shall appoint students to serve on official committees of the College, requested by the President of the College or by the AS&F Senate, with majority approval of the Senate.

Section 3a. The President of the AS&F Senate shall appoint, subject to Senate approval, up to two AS&F Senate advisery members.

Section 3b. The President or designated appointees shall attend all meetings of the Faculty Council and the Communications Board. The President shall serve as liaison between ASC and the community of Alamosa regarding AS&F issues.

Section 3c. The President of AS&F or an appointed representative shall be responsible for the orientation of the AS&F Senate.

Section 3d. The President of AS&F shall be supervised by the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Section 4. The Vice-President of AS&F shall be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the actions of all officially established standing committees or any ad hoc committees and, at his/her discretion, shall report to the Executive Cabinet on committee activities.

Section 4a. The Vice-President of AS&F shall have a vote equal to that of any Senator.

Section 4b. The Vice-President of AS&F shall assist the President in the conduct of his/her duties and, in the absence of the President, shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the President.

Section 4c. The AS&F Vice-President shall chair the Council of Organization Presidents. This Council is made up of the presidents, or their appointed representatives, of all ASC organizations.

Section 5. AS&F office hours shall be posted at a central location for all AS&F members.

Section 6. The Adams State College BOT Rep shall be the liaison between the ASC student body and the Student Trustee Advisery Committee. He/she shall be responsible for following all duties which do not conflict with the Constitution of AS&F, set forth in the Senate Trustee Advisery Committee Bylaws. He/she shall also be responsible for any duties set forth by the AS&F Senate. The term of office is from July 1 to June 30.

Section 6a. The Adams State College BOT Rep shall have a vote equal to that of any Senator.

Section 6b. The Adams State College BOT Rep, or an appointed representative, shall serve on Faculty Council.

Section 7. The AS&F Treasurer and the Business Manager of Adams State College shall be responsible for all AS&F funds. They shall keep a permanent record of all receipts and disbursements. They shall submit a budget to the President of the AS&F once each month. The Business Manager shall collect fees and other income; pay all bills, by check, upon receipt of a voucher; and be responsible for publication of all financial statements.

Section 8. Any elected Officer or Senator may be impeached for nonfeasance, malfeasance, or misfeasance. These may include, but are not limited to, excessive absences, non-performance of assigned duties, or behavior detrimental to the functioning of the Senate.

Section 8a. The procedure for removal of an Officer or Senator is as follows:

1) A petition signed by fifteen (15) percent of the members of AS&F shall be submitted to the AS&F Judicial Board.

2) In the case of malfeasance which is known by only one or a few S&F members, a written complaint may be filed with the AS&F Judicial Board. This written complaint shall be kept confidential.

3) All removal processes must be initiated through the Judicial Board of the AS&F Senate

4) All petitions and letters shall be reviewed by the Judicial Board, which shall have the authority to evaluate whether the charges would constitute grounds for Senate action.

5) If the Judicial Board finds that the complaint would constitute grounds for removal, the Board shall relay copies of the complaint and evaluation to the person in question at least three (3) days prior to the reading of the complaint and evaluation in an AS&F Senate meeting.

6) In a closed meeting, the AS&F President shall read the complaint and the Judicial Board evaluation to the AS&F Senate.

7) The person in question shall have the opportunity to respond to the complaint and to further questions and discussion by the AS&F Senate.

8) The AS&F Senate will reconvene to an open session and may vote for removal. The vote shall be by secret ballot, and a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the AS&F Senate, excluding the member in question, shall be required for removal.

9) In the event that the AS&F President is the subject of impeachment proceedings, the AS&F Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President during the impeachment process.

Section 9. Vacancies on the AS&F Senate shall be filled during one special election and shall be filled according to the procedures set forth in Article III, Section 1, Section 1a, and Section 1b. The date of the election to fill the vacancies shall be designated by the AS&F Election Commission.

Section 9a. Should the office of President of AS&F be vacated, the Vice-President shall assume the presidency for the remainder of the term. All other vacancies, including that of Vice-President, must be filled by special election or by presidential appointment subject to Senate approval.

Section 9b. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. All ballot boxes shall be maintained by a minimum of two (2) designated AS&F members. The tabulation of the votes shall be immediately released by the AS&F Election Commission.

Section 9c. The date and time of all elections shall be set by the AS&F Election Commission.

Section 9d. Ballots for all elections shall be approved by a majority vote of the AS&F Senate at the last regularly scheduled meeting prior to the election.

Section 10. The Standing Committees of the AS&F Senate shall be the Executive Cabinet, the Student Investigative Committee, the Public Relations Board, the AS&F Election Commission, the Academic Committee, the Budget Committee, the Diversity Committee, the Judicial Board, and the Lobbying Coordinating Committee. 

Section 10a. The Executive Cabinet shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Adams State College Board of Trustees Representative, Treasurer, and Senate Speaker, elected from the AS&F Senate.

Section 10b. The Student Investigative Committee shall consist of at least four (4) AS&F Senators and any other interested students.

Section 10c. The Lobbying/Coordinating Committee shall consist of at least four (4) AS&F Senators and any other interested students.

Section 10d. The Public Relations Board shall consist of at least four (4) AS&F Senators and any other interested students.

Section 10e. The AS&F Election Commission shall consist of one (1) student and one (1) faculty member, selected by the Faculty Council, and one (1) Student Affairs Office member, selected by the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Section 10f. The Judicial Board shall consist of the AS&F President, or a designated representative and three (3) Senators. One alternate shall be appointed to serve in the event of an absence of one of the Board or in the event that one of the Board is up for impeachment. Groups who wish to organize an AS&F club must submit a copy of their proposed constitution to the Judicial Board for review before it may be considered by the AS&F Senate.

Section 10g. The Academic Committee shall consist of at least two (2) senators and any other interested student.

Section 10h. The Budget Committee shall consist of at least four (4) Senators and the AS&F Treasurer.

Section 10i. The Diversity Committee shall consist of at least four (4) AS&F Senators.

Article IV - meetings of the AS&F senate

Section 1. The AS&F Senate shall meet twice a month. The date, place, and time of each meeting are to be set at the discretion of the President of the AS&F Senate.

Section 2. Special meetings of the AS&F Senate shall be held whenever called by the President of the AS&F Senate. Also, when the President is presented a petition from a majority of the voting members of the AS&F Senate, a special meeting must be called.

Section 3. The President shall not be a voting member of the AS&F Senate, except in the case of a tie vote on any motion, resolution, or appointment.

Section 3a. Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution of the AS&F, majority vote of the members voting is sufficient for the adoption of any motion, resolution, or appointment.

Section 3b. In budgetary matters a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate members present is required.

Section 3c. A quorum of any meeting of the AS&F Senate shall be declared when a majority of the total membership of the Senate is present.

Section 3d. Except as otherwise provided in the AS&F Constitution, all meetings of the AS&F Senate shall be governed in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order Revised.

Article V - budget and finance

Section 1. AS&F fees shall be paid by student members at the beginning of each semester, and by other members monthly, during the academic year. Fees shall be established by the Board of Trustees.

Section 1a. All monies allocated to the AS&F Senate are predicated on enrollment.

Section 2. Each duly authorized organization with a valid constitution must submit an itemized tentative budget proposal to the AS&F Treasurer at the time designated by the Executive Cabinet. Budget policy shall be set by the Executive Cabinet. The AS&F President shall chair all budget proceedings. The President of the AS&F Senate shall be responsible for submission and explanation of the AS&F general administration budget. All organizations, including the AS&F Senate, shall submit eight (8) copies of each budget proposal to the AS&F Senate prior to Budget Hearings. The date of budget hearings is to be set by the Executive Cabinet.

Section 2a. Requests for additional funds, in written, itemized form must be presented to the AS&F Treasurer one week prior to the presentation to the AS&F Senate.

Section 3. The draft budget for the next fiscal year shall be presented to the Senate for approval by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote. The budget and revisions thereof must be tentatively approved by the end of spring semester. Final approval by the Adams State College Administration must be within the first two (2) weeks of fall semester.

Section 3a. The Senate will abide by the budget policy in allocating funds.

Section 4. Transfer of any funds in excess of $100.00 from contingency funds must be authorized by the AS&F Senate.

Section 5. A voucher-type system of bookkeeping shall be set up by the Senate in order to control expenditures. All vouchers shall be countersigned by the AS&F President or Treasurer. If the AS&F President and Treasurer are absent during the summer semester, the Vice President for Student Affairs shall sign these vouchers.

Section 6. The fiscal year of AS&F shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30.

Section 7. No organization will be funded if (1) it is discriminatory according to religion, race, creed, sex, ethnic, or political background, or (2) if it advocates the overthrow of the United States or the State of Colorado.

Section 8. The budget shall not be constructed as a final transaction of funds, but as permission to accomplish the proposed project. All monies not expended in the accomplishment of such project shall revert to the contingency fund of the AS&F Senate.

Article VI - senate treasurer, secretary, and appointed positions.

Section 1. The President of AS&F shall appoint, subject to Senate approval, a Senate Treasurer who shall be responsible for the maintenance of all ledgers of monies allocated by the Senate.

Section 2. The position of Senate Treasurer shall be filled by a junior, senior, or graduate student with proven competence in bookkeeping.

Section 3. All financial transactions with AS&F funds shall be through the AS&F Treasurer, who shall in turn be responsible to the President of AS&F, the AS&F Senate, and the Business Manager of the College for financial statements of expenditures.

Section 4. The President of the AS&F Senate shall, subject to ratification by the AS&F Senate, appoint a Corresponding Secretary, who shall be responsible for taking minutes of all AS&F meetings, distributing the minutes and agendas to all members of the Senate, and keeping a permanent record of all Senate actions.

Article VII -amendments

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by either a written petition, signed by at least fifteen (15) percent of the members of AS&F, or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the AS&F Senate.

Section 2. Proposed amendments to this Constitution will not be effective until adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the AS&F Senate. This vote shall occur after publication of the proposed amendment(s) in two (2) consecutive issues of the South Coloradan.

Article VIII - referendums

Section 1. Referendums may be initiated either by a written petition, signed by at least fifteen (15) percent of the members of AS&F, or by majority vote of the AS&F Senate.

Section 2. The full ballot and any background material necessary must be published in the South Coloradan for two (2) consecutive issues prior to the taking of a student ballot.

Article IX - bylaws

Section 1. The AS&F Senate shall have the authority to create necessary Bylaws. Bylaws must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of AS&F and not be in conflict with any section of this Constitution.

Section 2. Bylaws shall be consecutively numbered as approved and printed yearly.