Article 1: Mission and Objectives
1.1: Mission
The Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) of 天涯海角APP (天涯海角APP) is charged with allocating the Sustainability Initiatives Fund for the advancement toward a more sustainable campus.
1.2: Objectives
SSC objectives will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Consider and vote on funding for proposals of new sustainability projectsand initiatives on 天涯海角APP’s campus
- Propose new sustainability projects and initiatives for 天涯海角APP’s campus basedon the interests of the student body, such as cutting edge advancements inrenewable energies and the application thereof and interdisciplinary project-based educational opportunities.
- Serve as advocates for a variety of sustainability topics on campus.
Article 2: Allocation of Funds
The Sustainability Initiatives Fund should be apportioned for projects proposed by the students, faculty or staff, but must be dispersed in a manner that upholds the mission of the SSC and its focus on furthering a sustainable campus. No SSC funds shall be allocated towards projects which do not directly involve or benefit the 天涯海角APP campus and/or the students, faculty and staff of 天涯海角APP.
2.1: Project Proposals and Guidelines
Proposals submitted for aid in the funding of projects must be judged on criteria deemed appropriate by the committee, but must address the following:
- Overall positive community and environmental impact
- Educational opportunities
- Cost benefit
- Projected budget
All funding proposals should be submitted via the application on the 天涯海角APP Center for Sustainability website. All applications will be reviewed first by the SSC co-advisors, who decide if the funding request should be brought to the SSC Officers. The SSC Officers then decide if the funding proposal should next be considered by the full SSC. The SSC will approve proposals based on a majority vote, but the final project may be subject to an administrative veto by the Executive Director of the Center for Sustainability.
2.2: Conflict of Interest
The SSC will conduct business in a way that minimizes conflict of interest. No SSC member will have access to the funds for personal profit or endorsement of a business or organization not affiliated with 天涯海角APP. If a student is a member of a group that submits a proposal, he or she must abstain from voting on that proposal.
Article 3: SSC Organization and Member Selection
3.1: Organization
13 members of the SSC will be chosen from the following groups:
- Student Senate: 2 members
- Honors/Phi Theta Kappa: 1 member
- Sustainable Agriculture Certificate: 1 member
- Student Environmental Alliance: 1 member
- Interior Design Student Association Sustainability Committee: 1 member
- Student Body At Large: 7 member
Delegate members from the aforementioned groups must be identified to the Center for Sustainability within the first four weeks of the fall semester or seats will be given to At Large applicants. At Large members will be selected through an application process.
3.2: Committee Selection
All voting members will be made aware of obligations to SSC as outlined in the Bylaws. Students must maintain a particular degree of involvement in and awareness of the campus. This can be done through one of the following ways:
- Enrolled in at least 6 credit hours
- Enrolled in at least 3 credit hours and actively participate in two additional campus activities. These can include being a student worker or intern, a member of another 天涯海角APP club or organization, and/or a participant in other campus initiatives like athletics.
If a member falls below these requirements they may be asked to stepdown from the committee.
3.3: Selection of Chairpersons
The chairpersons of the SSC are to be chosen in April of every year by the membership of the committee and are to be active by the following fall semester.
3.4: Membership Term and Resignation
Members are only eligible to hold a voting position for five total fall and spring semesters. Departure from the SSC during this time will require re-application for a voting member position. If a member holds a voting position through one of the respective delegate groups outlined in 3.1 and is no longer the designee for that program, then they must re-apply to the SSC for an at large position if they'd like to remain a voting member. If a member is unable to perform his or her duties, he or she must give notice of resignation.
3.5: Member Voting Privileges
New members must attend at least two consecutive meetings before casting votes on project proposals. If a member is absent for two consecutive meetings they must abstain from voting at the next meeting, so as to become familiar with proposals and discussions on the table.
Article 4: Meetings and Attendance
4.1: Meetings
Regular meetings will be held every other week, beginning no later than the first week of October (at which time a full committee must be present) and ending no later than the third week of May. Special meetings may be called by the Center for Sustainability staff, by the chairpersons or by a majority vote of the committee.
4.2: Attendance
Members are expected to attend all meetings of the SSC and should give notice of any planned or necessary absences. If a member has two unexcused absences a warning will be issued, if no response is received the member may be removed at the discretion of the co-chairs and faculty/staff advisors.
4.3: Quorum
A quorum will be established by a majority of filled members of the SSC, who are eligible to vote, to conduct business at all meetings.
Article 5: Subcommittees
Subcommittees may be formed or disbanded with the approval of the committee as deemed necessary.
Article 6: Amendments
A majority vote by the committee can amend these bylaws at any time, unless doing so would adversely affect the mission of the SSC.
Definition of Terms
Filled: Someone who occupies one of the 13 voting member positions of the SSC (examples: at large voting member or one assigned from a designated group like Senate)
Voting member: One of 13 members who votes on funding proposals
Non-voting member: Anyone who attends SSC regularly, but does not have a filled seat on the SSC and does not vote on funding proposals
Eligible to vote: Voting members who have attended at least two consecutive SSC meetings