JMC Student Council Constitution

A pdf version of the constitution is included in the Student Handbook online. The constitution was last updated in March, 2006.

Article VIII - Student Organizations

Section 1: New Organizations

The founders of any proposed new organization must first schedule an appointment at the next Student Affairs Committee meeting through the Dean's Office secretary. At this meeting the organization must present:
1. A petition which describes the need for the formation of such an organization as well as the group's proposed goals as described in a mission statement.
2. The signatures of Jefferson students who are interested in forming such a group and in becoming members.
3. Approval and proposed support of the organization by a faculty sponsor.
4. An agenda detailing the organization's future activities.
If approved by the Student Affairs Committee the organization must then petition the JMC Student council for recognition. The organization leaders must contact a student council executive officer and request to be placed on the next student council agenda. At the student council meeting, the proposed organization's leaders must again present all of the information which was detailed at the Student Affairs meeting. In addition, a detailed budget for the upcoming school year must be presented.
The proposed organization may then be officially recognized by a majority vote of the student representatives present at the meeting. If a proposed organization is not approved, its leaders may reapply for recognition in the same academic year after a two-month period only if they have new issues to present.

Section 2: Annual Reports

Every Student Organization which wishes to remain recognized by Jefferson Medical College and the Student Council must submit an annual report. This report shall also be required for the group to receive any funding from the University or student government. All reports must be handed in to the Student Council Vice President at least six weeks before the budget meeting in the Spring. In January, the Student Council Vice President will notify all organization leaders in writing as to the deadline for the reports and post notice in the main auditoriums as well as on e-mail.
The Student Organization Annual Reports should include the following:
1. Goals which were set for the past year, accomplished in the past year, and delineated for the upcoming year.
2. Finances, including fund-raisers and membership dues, and how these moneys were spent.
3. Projects which were completed in the past year and which are planned for the future.
4. University activities such as seminars and lectures.
These reports will help the Student Council target inactive or non-productive groups to be sent for review to the Student Affairs Committee, and help streamline the annual Student Council budget meeting. Any organizations which have not progressed toward their proposed goals or which do not show active involvement on the part of their members will be sent to the Student Affairs Committee. Here, a final decision will be made regarding the University's continuation of the groups funding and charter. Leniency will be given to foundling groups. Regulation of student organizations is delineated further in Article VIII, Section 3.

Section 3: Regulation of Student Organizations

Each recognized student organization must submit a complete annual report which details the group's objectives for the past year, their accomplishment, the events that were held during the year, and their goals for the following year. The report should also include the number of members attending each event, the names and addresses of the organzation's leaders, and the name of their faculty advisor.
The student leaders must meet annually with their faculty advisor and submit the advisor form (obtainable from the student council vice president) with their annual report.
The Jefferson Medical College student council and the Student Affairs Committee will review all annual reports in order to identify student organizations which do not contribute to the University community or have not provided an active organization for their members.
The groups identified as potentially probationary will be reevaluated at the following student council meeting. If any group of students would like to revitalize the organization, they must present themselves before the student council with a letter of support from the faculty advisor and with specific plans for the following year. If reapproved, the organization must follow the guidelines for a group on probation as detailed in Article VIII, Section 4.
It remains the responsibility of each group to report changes in leadership, addresses, and phone numbers to the student council executive officers. Any problem in communication or missed deadlines from failure to report such changes shall be the responsibility of the student organization, and it remains at the discretion of council members as to what penalties, if any, to invoke.

Section 4: Guidelines for Probationary Student Groups

Each group must meet at least twice each semester and keep record of all in attendance.
Each group will receive a baseline of $75 in financial support for the year of probation. If additional funds are needed, the group must request these in person from the student council.
The group must have three officers who are to meet with the faculty advisor once each semester to evaluate their progress.
The group leaders must submit a semi-annual report in December to the student council and to the Student Affairs Committee as well as the annual report required of all student organizations. Group members must sign in at all organization events, and these attendance sheets must be submitted with the semi-annual and annual reports.
Any probationary organization that fails to meet the above guidelines will have its charter revoked for one year after which time interested parties can request to be recognized again by the student council.
These regulations are not meant to be punitive. They have been ratified to protect and to best serve the Jefferson community. Such regulations will permit students to most effectively participate in activities and to avoid committing themselves to inactive groups. The student council and Student Affairs Committee appreciate the cooperation of the student leaders in these matters.
Any organization that loses its charter will have its constitution and other information filed by Student Council so that the group can easily be re-chartered if interest arises at a later date.

Last revised: June 1997