UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT 2018-2019 Undergraduate Student Government Election Packet Fall 2018 ~ --9ue-:-Frida-Y/S-eptem-b e r-14th-by-ll-pm-- - -- Please turn in to Campus Life (ASC 325). Questions should be directed to Michael Sullivan michael.sullivan@stthomas.edu
UNIVERSITY OF St.Thomas All for the Common Good'" May21,2018 It is my honor to introduce the fall elections for the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). USG is the governing body for the University population and is composed of a variety of diverse and unique roles. There are 7 executive board and 32 general council positions that compose the USG.We work with students, staff, faculty and administration to promote positive change and foster tradition in an effort to provide students with an exceptional college experience! As a member of the council, you will work to accomplish goals and initiatives undertakings that drive you to be a leader in the campus community. In addition, you will attend biweekly meetings (generally on Thursdays from noon -1pm), as well as sit on at least two USG or University committees. Positions open for this election are noted below and represent the student body for the 2018-2019 academic year. Position descriptions and estimated time commitments are available on the USG website. As you identify positions of interest, please consider the responsibilities to determine if the position is a good fit for you! General Council Senior Class Senator (1 Senator Position) Sophomore Class Senator (1 Senator Position) Freshman Class President Freshman Class Senator (2 Senator Positions) Freshman Residential Senator Residential Senator Neighborhood Senator (Union Park) Neighborhood Senator (Macalester-Groveland) Commuter Senator Student Organizations Committee Chair We are very excited for your interest in USG.This is a great opportunity for you cultivate effective change in the St. Thomas community! If you have any questions, please feel free to visit the USG office in the Anderson Student Center (ASC) 314, or contact any of the executive board members. Sincerely, Bisrat Bayou --gr:esiqent----- Undergraduate Student Government bay09688@stthomas.edu 2115 Summit Avenue I St. Paul, MN 55105 USA I Equal Opportunity Employer I stthomas.edu
Table of Contents 1. Timeline 2. Duties, General Qualifications, Guidelines and Campaigning Rules 3. Grievances, Violations, and Disqualification 4. Election Forms Timeline 14th Election packets due to Campus Life (ASC 325) by 12:00 PM. 14th Mandatory candidate meeting in ASC 341 at 4:00 PM. 14th Campaigning begins at 5:00 PM. 14th Free campaign materials available in ASC create [space] from 2:30 PM until 7:30 PM. Thursday, September 20 th Voting starts at 8:00 AM. *Ballots sent out via email. 21 st Voting and campaigning end at 4:00 PM. 2 pt Candidates to be notified of results by 8:00 PM. Saturday, September 22 nd -23rd Elected candidates have mandatory off campus overnight USG retreat with entire council.
A. Duties of Members 1. Time Commitment a. General Council positions are unpaid and members are expected to dedicate approximately four hours a week working on USG related items. 2. Each position is required to attend biweekly meetings of the entire council. 3. Each position has special duties and responsibilities that are to be performed by you as an elected student leader. It is strongly recommended that you read about your position before running - brief descriptions are available on the USG website as well more detailed descriptions in the USG constitution and bylaws. If you have any questions about what they are, please ask immediately. It is crucial that you understand your responsibilities before running. B. General Qualifications 1. Each representative shall maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and be in both good academic and disciplinary standing with the University. 2. All members must be registered with the University of St. Thomas and be a candidate for a baccalaureate degree during the entire course of their term. 3. Positions may have additional requirements (class presidents, senators, residential senators, neighborhood senators, etc). Please consult their descriptions for more information. C. Guidelines 1. Fill out the "USG Candidate Filing Information" form, the "USG Candidate Petition" form, and the "USG Candidate Statement" available near the back of this packet. You must use the form in this packet or exact photocopy duplication. Candidate statements can be emailed but must be date/time stamped before the deadline. Extra forms are available inside the Campus Life Office in ASC 325 or online at www.stthomas.edu/usg. 2. Complete the "Official USG Candidates Petition" with signatures of your fellow UST students. Candidates for General Council positions must obtain 25 signatures. 3. Your "Official Candidate Statement" must not exceed 500 characters (spaces included) and will not be edited or corrected, so please make sure you hand it in how you want it presented. It will appear online nextto your name and picture. You are not required to submit a statement, though you are strongly encouraged to do so. Statements are due to Margaret Cahill (mdcahill@stthomas.edu) via email on September 16 th. Some suggested topics to cover: a. What qualifications do you have that would make you a more appealing candidate? b. If elected, what would you do in your position to address the needs of your constituents? c. What goals do you have in running for a USG elected position? --4~oLcarrrpaign in any form until-septemoer 1-4"th---aL5:00 pm. You must follow university regulations in distributing campaign posters or literature throughout campus. No more than $100 may be spent towards your election and all receipts must be submitted for review. Contact Margaret Cahill for more details. 5. The Director of Campus Life will notify you, either in writing or by phone, if you are ineligible for the position in which you are running due to a disciplinary or academic requirement or have not completed the election packet requirements.
D. Campaigning Rules 1. Campaigning may not begin until 5:00 PM on September 14th, 2018 and must conclude by 4:00 PM on September 21 st, 2018. Additional election and campaigning information can be found on the USG website. 2. Campaign Finance a. No candidate, group, organization or individual working on behalf of a candidate may spend more than a total of $1 00.00. Donations will be computed at the prices at the St. Thomas bookstore. 3. UST Brand -- all campaign materials (digital, banners or posters) must include the student identifier. Directions for accessing this will be available on the USG website. Identifier must be legible and sit in lower right hand corner of posters, etc. ST.THOMAS ~ ~ 4. Electronic Campaigning a. Two different electronic posters can be created then sent to Campus Life (campuslife@stthomas.edu) for approval and posting on ASC electronic poster boards. All posters must follow all University guidelines for electronic advertising. b. Electronic posters must be sized to 1366px x 768px at 72ppi and saved as a jpg. c. Electronic posters may be displayed starting the first day of campaigning until 5pm on the last day of elections. (based on availability). d. Candidates and those working on behalf of a candidate are prohibited to sending mass emails or texts for any reason relating to the election or an individual's campaign. e. Social media may be used as a means of campaigning. 5. Traditional Campaigning a. In Residence Halls b. All posters and flyers must be submitted to the Department of Residence Life (located in 106 Koch Commons) for approval and final posting (Residence Life will post your flyers). Please submit up to 18. Posting on main lobby doors, community windows, floors, ceilings, and building exteriors are prohibited. c. Campaigning via door to door or solicitation inside Residence Halls is prohibited. d. Candidates can submit one atrium banner in the Anderson Student Center to be displayed between the first day of campaigning and the last day of elections (based on ------vailaetlft-y-h-resefve-ean Aer--s13uee-iA-t-AB-8ef3artffleAt-ef-Gamf3tls--l::if-e-eHiee-lec:at-edat~---1 ASC 325. e. Sidewalk chalking space is available on campus through reservation in Campus Life. Sidewalk chalk is provided with reservation. Chalk paint is prohibited on campus. f. No flyers of any kind may be put on cars or taped to walls or windows in any campus buildings. g. All posters, flyers or other campaigning materials must be removed by 6:00 P.M. on the final Election Day.
h. Stickers are strongly discouraged. If any are found stuck to any surfaces, the candidate will be responsible for any and all removal and any damages incurred. I. Yard signs or any other signs/items stuck into the ground are prohibited on campus. 6. Use of USG Resources a. b. c. d. e. f. No USG resources shall be used by individuals or class councils in announcing, endorsing or supporting a candidacy. The USG resources that a candidate may not use include, but are not limited to: Email distribution list Printers Computers Office Supplies 7. Misc. a. Candidates and those working on behalf of a candidate are prohibited from approaching students during the election with electronic device with the intent of encouraging them to submit their electronic ballot. b. Candidates are responsible for materials submitted or distributed on their behalf. This includes print and electronic communications as well as all campaigning efforts. E. Grievances. Violations. and Disqualification Refer to USG Constitution: F. Election Forms See next page http://www.stthomas.edu/usg/documents/default.html
UNDERORADUATII STUDENT GOVERNMENT I Ep Official General Council Candidate Petition 2018-2019 General Council positions We the undersigned hereby endorse as a candidate for the office of -------------------- to the Undergraduate Student Government. 1. 14. 2. 15. 3. 16. 4. 17. 5. 18. 6. 19. 7. 20. 8. 21. 9. 22. 10. 23. 11. 24. 12. 25. 13.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT I ~lj Official Candidate Form Filing Name: Phone: ---------------------- ---------- Mailbox Number: Year: FR SO JR SR Pos iti 0n so ug ht: _ Please print name as you would like it to appear on the ballot: "I have read and agree to all material relating to the Undergraduate Student Government Elections according to the current election packet. I give the Elections and Credentials Committee permission to check my university records to assess academic and disciplinary standing." Signature: _ Date : _ UST ID Number: UST Username: ---------------------------- ----------------------------
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT I ~j Official Election Withdrawal Form Name: _ Position: _ "I hereby withdraw from the Undergraduate Student Government election. Please remove my name from the ballot. I understand that my name will still appear on the ballot if this form is NOT submitted to the Office of Campus Life (ASC 325) by 3:00 PM on September 18, 2018. Signature: Date: _