Bylaws

(Added 4/15/09, Revised 12/02/09, 12/01/10, 4/11/12,12/01/14, 12/07/15, 12/12/16, 12/11/17, 12/03/19, 4/19/21, 5/2/22, 4/24/23)

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the College of Arts and Letters Student Council, in order to advance the interests of the College of Arts and Letters throughout the University, to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion with student participation and involvement in clubs and organizations within the College of Arts and Letters, to organize social, cultural, and academic activities and/or programs, to provide assistance and support for the activities and programs sponsored by our student organizations, to enhance recruitment and retention of students with academic disciplines that fall within the College of Arts and Letters, and to allocate funds as provided to the College of Arts and Letters by the Associated Students Board of Directors, do hereby ordain and establish these Bylaws.     

FOREWORD

These Bylaws shall be in support of the Bylaws of the Associated Students of San Diego State University and, when in conflict, shall be deferred to that of the Associated Students of San Diego State University Bylaws. The Bylaws now and hereinafter shall define the purpose and policies of the Association and shall be binding to all members and organizations under the auspices of the College of Arts and Letters.

ARTICLE I – NAME

SECTION 1

The name of this organization shall be the College of Arts and Letters Student Council and herein referred to as CAL Council.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 2

Membership of the organization shall be those persons with declared majors, minors, and/or Interdisciplinary Studies with at least one study within the departments that comprise the College of Arts and Letters (combined hereinafter to be known as “academic discipline”) and who are enrolled at San Diego State University. These students shall be considered students at large and would not have a voting seat.

SECTION 3

Those students who are designated as representatives of an academic/major related recognized on-campus student club or organization by Student Life and Leadership.

SECTION 4

Those students who are elected or appointed to an Executive Office position by the CAL Council.

SECTION 5

Those students who have been elected College of Arts and Letters Representatives to the Associated Students University Council.

ARTICLE III – ELIGIBILITY

SECTION 6

Members shall be currently enrolled as regular matriculated students at San Diego State University.

SECTION 7

Members shall maintain good academic standing (2.0 G.P.A.) with San Diego State University throughout the duration of their term as representative or officer.

SECTION 8

Members on academic and/or disciplinary probation shall be reviewed on a case by case basis.

ARTICLE IV – CAL COUNCIL

SECTION 9

The College of Arts and Letters Student Council shall hereby be known as the CAL Council, whose members shall consist of:

  1. Minimum of six (6) Executive Officers:
    1. President
    2. Executive Vice President
    3. Vice President of Finance
    4. Vice President of Internal Affairs
    5. Vice President of Publicity
    6. Vice President of External Relations
  2. The College of Arts and Letters Representatives to the Associated Students University Council.
  3. One (1) student representative from each club/organization, which receives funding from CAL Council.
  4. The Dean of the College of Arts and Letters or their designee. 
  5. The CAL Council Advisor(s). 
  6. Members at large in the Council’s General Body or College of Arts & Letters student body who are unaffiliated with a registered student organization falling under CAL Council.
    1. A voting member is defined as at least one (1) of the following:
      1. An executive officer:
        1. President
        2. Executive Vice President
        3. Vice President of Finance
        4. Vice President of Internal Affairs
        5. Vice President of Publicity
        6. Vice President of External Relations
    2. One (1) student representative from each club/organization, which receives funding from CAL Council.
    3. Members at large who:
      1. Attend three (3) general body meetings, and
      2. Don’t exceed more than three (3) absences each semester; or
      3. Are approved at the discretion of the CAL Council.

SECTION 10

CAL Council Clubs/Organizations

  1. Shall have one (1) voting member regardless of the number of members within their respective clubs/organizations.
  2. Recognized student organizations (RSO) with similar purpose may appoint a CAL Representative to represent up to three organizations that are recognized members of CAL Council to act as a voting member for their respective organization(s).
  3. In the event a CAL representative represents more than one organization, that representative may only vote on behalf of one (1) organization for the duration of any general body meeting.
  4. Shall deliver their organization’s President’s name and contact information, the organization’s meeting time, the CAL Council representative’s name and contact information, and any other important information to the Vice President of Internal Affairs at the beginning of each term. 
  5. Established student organizations shall have the first three (3) meetings following the recognized student organization deadline designated by the office of Student Life and Leadership to select their representative to CAL Council; if no representative attends after this time, their accounts will be frozen and possibly allocated to another student organization. 
  6. Shall be liable for knowing any information presented in these Bylaws.

SECTION 11

Meetings and Attendance

  1. Meetings for CAL Council will be determined by the Executive Officers prior to      the beginning of the semester.
  2. Meeting hours and dates may be rescheduled by CAL Council or the Executive Officers.
  3. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the voting representatives of CAL      Council.  A simple majority shall be composed of half of all voting members plus one.
  4. Excused absences must be requested to the Vice President of Internal Affairs within three (3) business days of the meeting missed or the absence will be considered unexcused.
  5. Absences by Representatives and Executive Officers will be noted in the CAL      Council minutes
  6. Three (3) unexcused absences by Representatives and/or Executive Officers will result in dismissal with option to appeal to the Associated Students Judicial Affairs Council 
  7. Student Organization membership privileges, including funding from the College of. Arts and Letters Council and tabling using CAL resources, shall be suspended following three (3) unexcused absences from CAL Council meetings in one semester with option to appeal to CAL Council on a specified date set by the Executive Officers.

SECTION 12

Requirements

  1. In the fall or spring semester, all voting members must attend at least one (1) meeting social or event sponsored by an organization or Executive Board in the CAL Council of which the voting member is not affiliated with.
  2. If a voting member is not meeting expectations regarding attendance, committee engagement, and program attendance, the Executive Officer(s) have the ability to apply sanctions, which include but are not limited to freezing access to funds and denying taking part in council events and programming. 

SECTION 13

Elections

  1. Officers may be re-elected and may serve no more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same position.     
  2. Officers shall be elected by a plurality vote of the voting members of the CAL Council.
  3. In the case of a tie, a runoff shall be held for the candidates, and a majority vote will be required.
  4. In the event that there is only one candidate for an officer position, they will be appointed to the Executive Board without the need of a vote of the CAL Council.
  5. Eligible voters include the President, the Executive Vice President, the Vice President of Finance, the Vice President of Internal Affairs, the Vice President of Publicity, the Vice President of External Relations, the A.S. University Council Representatives, and any members at large who are classified as voting members.     
  6. In case of a vacancy, special elections must be held and chaired by the Executive Vice President, and co-chaired by the President.

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS

SECTION 14

The Executive Officers of the CAL Council shall be President, Executive Vice President, Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Internal Affairs, the Vice President of Publicity, the Vice President of External Relations, and the Associated Students University Council Representatives.     

SECTION 15

All Executive Officers of the Associated Students of the College of Arts and Letters shall be responsible for the following:

  1. Shall attend a College of Arts and Letters Retreat in the beginning of each year. 
  2. Shall oversee and facilitate the activities of their respective committees. 
  3. Shall have the authority to apply sanctions they deem appropriate to their committee members, with approval by the President.
  4. If applicable, shall maintain the cleanliness, upkeep, and location of the CAL Council office.
  5. Shall attend at least one (1) other College Council meeting a semester.
  6. Shall attend at least two (2) CAL organization meetings, socials, and/or events a semester.
  7. If applicable, shall utilize the College of Arts and Letters Council office monthly during the academic year.
  8. Shall review and, if necessary, modify the CAL Council Bylaws and Charter at the beginning of the new term.

SECTION 16

Officers Eligibility

  1. Executive Officers:
    1. No person may hold more than one (1) position in CAL Council, including A.S. and organization representatives.
    2. Any student elected or appointed as an officer on the CAL Council must be a matriculated student in good standing at San Diego State University, with at minimum, one (1) academic discipline within the College of Arts and Letters.

SECTION 17

President

  1. Shall be the official representative of the CAL Council including all students within the College of Arts and Letters.
  2. Shall chair the CAL Council meetings.
  3. Shall be a member of the A.S. University Council Academic Affairs Board.
  4. Shall be the liaison to all campus College Councils.
  5. Shall be the liaison to the College of Arts and Letters Administration.
  6. Shall have the power to call for special CAL Council meetings, in which quorum must be present. 
  7. Shall be, in the case of vacancy: 
    1. In charge of the distribution of vacant Executive Officer responsibilities.     .
    2. An ex-officio non-voting member of the Associated Students University Council.
  8. Shall act as an ex-officio College of Arts and Letters representative to the Faculty Committees of the College of Arts and Letters.
  9.  Shall vote to make or break ties/two-thirds, and in voting for new Executive Officers.
  10. Shall, in coordination with the CAL Council and A.S. Elections Coordinator, schedule and hold CAL Council endorsements for A.S. Elections.
  11. Shall confirm room reservations of CAL Council meetings by the end of the previous semester.
  12. Shall work with the Vice President of Internal Affairs to create the meeting agendas.
  13. Shall read the university’s Land Acknowledgement at the beginning of every General Body Meeting.
  14. Shall have the discretion to create or dissolve committee(s) for the CAL      Council.
  15. Shall have complete oversight and final discretion of all CAL Council committee(s).
  16. Shall have the ability to create and dissolve  ad hoc committees that are created to address specific items and be dissolved when said term is complete.
  17. Shall meet the Dean of College of Arts and Letters at least once a semester.
  18. Shall be responsible for creating transition documents prior to the election of new Executive Officers during general elections at the end of the academic year.

SECTION 18

Executive Vice President

  1. Shall be the chief administrative aide to the President, and facilitate concerns and recommendations brought forth by the students of the College of Arts and Letters to the CAL Council..
  2. Shall be responsible for all duties of the President in case of absence.
  3. Shall be responsible for all student organization outreach and recruitment for the CAL      Council.
  4. Shall be responsible for planning, scheduling, and chairing elections.
  5. Shall plan a retreat for the CAL Council Executive Board during the academic year.     
  6. Shall create and co-chair the Outreach Committee, as needed.
  7. Shall be responsible for planning one (1) social event on behalf of the CAL Council.
  8. Shall be responsible for co-planning the CALies Award Ceremony with the Vice President of External Relations, if applicable.

SECTION 19

Vice President of Finance

  1. Shall be responsible for all duties of the President in case of the Executive Vice President’s absence.
  2. Shall be the officer responsible for the distribution of A.S. funds to the CAL Council clubs/organizations.
  3. Shall be the liaison between the CAL Council and the Associated Students Board of Directors Financial Affairs Committee.
  4. Shall act and enforce all finance codes and responsibilities.
  5. Shall provide written procedures to the CAL Council Representatives on how to utilize Associated Students funding/financial allocations.
  6. Shall create and maintain a club/organization financial report and provide it weekly to the CAL Council.
  7. Shall turn in the next year’s fiscal year’s budget to the A.S. Financial Affairs Committee before the Financial Affairs Committee’s deadline. 
  8. If applicable, shall be in contact with the Associated Students Vice President of Financial Affairs and arrange a workshop for funding information to the CAL Council.
  9. Shall attend a How to Spend Your A.S. Dollars and How to Seek IRA funds workshop.
  10. If created, shall chair the Finance Committee.
  11. Shall maintain a report of standing for all clubs/organizations and communicate with the President when an organization is in bad standing.
  12. Shall maintain a report of organizational spending per organization, so as to keep track of limits to spending as outlined in the A.S. Bylaws.

SECTION 20

Vice President of Internal Affairs

  1. Shall maintain a list of all student organization presidents, representatives, office locations (if applicable), meeting locations and times, contact information, etc. for the CAL Council.
  2. Shall prepare and distribute minutes and agendas for the CAL Council and Executive Committee.
  3. Shall be responsible for all communication between members of the CAL Council.
  4. Shall take vote and attendance records of all CAL Council meetings.
  5. Shall maintain records of weekly attendance of all members of the CAL Council.
  6. Shall create and maintain a master calendar for the CAL Council and its respectable organizations that may be linked to the general SDSU Master Calendar, in coordination with the Vice President of Publicity.

SECTION 21

Vice President of Publicity

  1. Shall be responsible for updating the CAL Council’s website, social networking websites (i.e. Instagram, Discord), etc. weekly.
  2. Shall be responsible for promoting the CAL Council and its organizations via updates to the College of Arts and Letters and social media.
  3. Shall be responsible for writing the CAL Council section of any/all school newsletters.
  4. Shall be responsible for organizing College of Arts and Letters tabling in order to publicize the CAL Council, as well as outreach to possible College of Arts and Letters Students.
  5. Shall be responsible for communicating CAL Council events to the university and relevant organizations.
  6. Shall be responsible to organize and attend at least one (1) tabling event once a semester. 
  7. Shall be responsible for hosting one (1) guest speaker or lecturer during each semester.

SECTION 22     

Vice President of External Relations

  1. Shall be required to attend all CAL Council meetings. 
    1. Any excuses must be submitted to the Vice President of Internal Affairs within one (1) week of absence. 
  2. Shall be the officer responsible for the collection of questions, comments, and concerns from students in the general body, as well as advocating for first-year students. 
  3. Shall be responsible for outreach to students and Student Organizations under the College of Arts and Letters to engage student participation, with an emphasis in new and incoming students, and co-organization collaboration within the Council. 
  4. Shall be responsible for helping in the organizing of College of Arts and Letters tabling in order to publicize the CAL Council to first-year students. 
  5. Shall be required to host a minimum of one (1) program tailored to the needs of first-year students under the CAL Council and the college itself. 
  6. If applicable, shall host five (5) distinct sets of office hours each semester in the CAL Council office in the College of Arts and Letters building. 
  7. Shall be responsible for outreach to first-year students on social media in coordination with the CAL Council Vice President of Publicity. 
  8. Shall assist the President and Advisor(s) with any and all guest speakers to visit the Council.
  9. Shall serve as the point of contact for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in regard to guest speakers and external collaborators.
  10. Shall serve as the point person in any and all implementation of materials related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
  11. Shall chair the Outreach Committee
  12. Encouraged to sit on any additional CAL Council committees, if applicable.

SECTION 23

A.S. University Council Representatives 

  1. Shall be required to attend all CAL Council meetings.
    1. Any excuses must be submitted to the Vice President of Internal Affairs within one (1) week of absence.
  2. Provide a weekly report to the A.S. University Council on College of Arts and Letters activities.
  3. Give a weekly report to the CAL Council on A.S. University Council activities.
  4. Shall be responsible for outreach to Student Organizations under the College of Arts and Letters in coordination with the CAL Council Executive Vice President.
  5. Shall be required to attend the CAL Council Executive Board event.
  6. Are responsible to promote the A.S. values within the College of Arts and Letters: professional development, campus community, communication, advocacy, shared governance, service, diversity, and sustainability.
  7. Will plan at least one (1) event in collaboration with at least one (1) other college council within their term.
  8. Ensure the attendance of one A.S. Representative at every Registered Student Organization under the CAL Council meeting once a semester.

ARTICLE VI – COUNCIL COMMITTEES

SECTION 24

Outreach Committee

  1. The Outreach Committee can be created if necessary and shall consist of the following members:
    1. Executive Vice President and Vice President of External Relations (co-chairs)
    2. Any other ex-officio voting members, approved by the President.
  2. Shall prepare graduation cords for select graduating seniors for undergraduate and graduate students, with the discretion of the committee.
  3. Shall plan a retreat for the CAL Council once a year.
  4. Shall assist the Executive Vice President and Vice President of External Relations in planning the annual CALies Award Ceremony.
  5. Shall cooperate with the Publicity Committee to increase overall board and student organizational membership.

SECTION 25

Finance Committee

  1. The Finance Committee can be created if necessary and shall consist of the following members:
    1. Vice President of Finance (Chair)
    2. The CAL Council Advisor
    3. Any other ex-officio voting member, approved by CAL Council President
  2. Shall review the Finance Code at least once every academic year.
  3. Shall make recommendations to the CAL Council and Executive Board as to violations of the Finance Code.
  4. Shall prepare a presentation of the CAL Council budget to the board at the beginning of each semester.

SECTION 26

Publicity Committee

  1. The Publicity Committee can be created if necessary and shall consist of the following members:
    1. Vice President of Publicity (Chair)
    2. Any other ex-officio voting member, approved by  the President
  2. Shall publicize the meeting times, activities, etc. of CAL Council.
  3. Shall plan to table for CAL at least twice (2) each semester. 
  4. Shall be responsible for publishing at least two (2) newsletters each semester.
  5. Shall be responsible for updating any social media accounts with student organizational events, promoting for CAL Council board information, etc.     

SECTION 27

Event Programming Committee

  1. The Event Programming Committee can be created if necessary and shall consist of the following members:
    1. All A.S. University Council Representatives of the CAL Council.
    2. Any other ex-officio voting members, approved by the President
  2. Shall be responsible for hosting the annual job fair in cooperation with Career Services.
  3. Events for the year are up to the discretion of the A.S. University Council Representatives of the College of Arts and Letters and the rest of the committee.

ARTICLE VII – CAL COUNCIL CODES

SECTION 28

Parliamentary Code

  1. All CAL Council meetings shall be conducted according to parliamentary procedure outlined in “Robert’s Rules of Order.” 

SECTION 29

Officer Code

  1. An officer may be recalled upon recommendation of the President and a majority vote of those CAL      Council members present after failure to fulfill the specific duties or after three (3) or more unexcused absences.
  2. No person may hold more than one (1) position in CAL Council, including A.S. 
  3. Officers shall be expected to arrive to Meetings on-time, unless the Vice President of Internal Affairs has received and documented a valid excuse.
  4. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the President, the Executive Vice President becomes Interim President until a special election can be held.
  5. Bylaws regarding attendance, membership qualifications, and duties of an Executive Officer may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the CAL Council.
  6. Any student elected or appointed as an officer on the College Council must be a matriculated student in good standing at San Diego State University with an academic discipline within the college in which they wish to serve.

SECTION 30

Finance Code

  1. Any club/organization that receives on-campus status granted by the Office of Student Life and Leadership will be eligible for funding through CAL      Council.
  2. A dormant club/organization, defined as any group given on-campus status by Student Life and Leadership within CAL Council that has been previously allocated, will receive eligibility after fulfilling requirements after a maximum of sixty (60) days.
  3. The requirements in the sixty days (Section 30 subsection B):
    1. May not have more than one unexcused absence during this time.
    2. Active participation within their respective committees.
    3. Meet approval of CAL Council.
  4. A club/organization shall be placed on probationary status for a period of a maximum of thirty (30) days following three (3) unexcused absences during which time funds will be frozen. Funds shall be released if the club/organization is approved by the Executive Board.
  5. A club/organization that does not maintain representation on CAL Council shall result in having their funds seized and reallocated. The club/organization will then be moved to dormant status.
  6. The Executive Board will allocate a certain amount of the budget to use under executive board discretion. This allocated amount will be shared with the council before it is allowed to be used. 
  7. Should an RSO anticipate requesting in excess of $250 on a singular check request they will be required to submit another check request on a later date.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

SECTION 31

Articles of these Bylaws may be amended by the CAL Council by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of approval of those present. There must be a quorum of the voting membership present.

SECTION 32

In order for these Bylaws to remain in force, it must be reviewed, revised and affirmed by CAL Council and signed by the President of CAL Council.

SECTION 33

The Charter may be amended or revised by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Associated Students Board of Directors or the Associated Students University Council, as specified in Section 74 of the Associated Students Bylaws. All proposed amendments or revisions shall be reviewed by the CAL Council and the A.S. Judicial Affairs Council prior to consideration by the Associated Students Board of Directors.