Policy 4.03

Part 1. Purpose

Minnesota State Board Policy 2.1 states that students at each college and university shall have the right to establish a student government. At Minneapolis College, the recognized student association is the College’s Student Senate.

Part 2. Definitions

The following definitions apply to this policy and its supporting procedure:

Student Senate: The official student association at Minneapolis College as described by Minnesota State Board Policy 2.1 and College Policy 4.03.

Student Club: Student Clubs must register with Student Life. To become a chartered club, they must have at least four student members, a faculty or staff advisor, a plan to meet at least monthly and governing documents (constitution/bylaws). Once they attend two Student Senate meetings, the Student Senate votes on their charter at their third meeting.

Student Life Programming: includes co-curricular experiences designed to enhance student engagement, belonging, leadership, wellbeing, and civic learning, complementing the academic curriculum and supporting students’ holistic development.

Part 3. Documents That Guide and Frame the Minneapolis College Student Senate 

Along with this policy and its supporting procedure the following documents also guide the College’s Student Senate:

Student Life Guide: A document that is updated each summer by Student Life staff to articulate Student Life policies, procedures and important resources.

Student Senate By-Laws: A document maintained by the Student Senate that establishes the governing and operational rules to define its purpose, authority, structure, and procedures. The by-laws outline membership eligibility, roles, and responsibilities of senators and officers, as well as election, appointment, removal, and succession processes. Committees, meeting procedures, quorum requirements, and amendment processes are also outlined.

Part 4.  Student Senate Authority and Responsibilities

Subpart A. Recognition & Authority

The Minneapolis College Student Senate is recognized as the official representative of students at the College. The Student Senate acts as the official voice, liaison, and governing body between the student body and college administration. The Student Senate Executive Board typically meets with the President’s Council twice each semester to raise issues and ideas on behalf of the students, to advocate for student interests, and influence campus policy. Each year, the Student Senate engages with the President’s Council in a Tuition Consultation process that requires a letter to be sent to the Chair of the MinnState system Board of Trustees (by the Student Senate). The Student Senate must maintain their by-laws and ensure a copy is on file with the Student Life department.

The Student Senate has the sole authority to recommend the chartering of student clubs for approval by the college president or designee. 

The Student Life Budget Committee is a committee of the Student Senate that reviews and approves funding requests for student events, clubs, and activities. 

The Student Senate reviews new club charters and recommends to the College President or designee clubs for charter.

The Student Senate has the sole authority to update their by-laws. They also provide guidance on Student Life policies and procedures. Any Minneapolis College student can get involved in Student Senate. All students who attend meetings may have an opportunity to speak. Students who attend two meetings can become voting members (Senators) at their third meeting.

The Student Senate is made up of an Executive Board, with positions that are outlined in their bylaws, and Senators. The Executive Board typically includes the following positions: President, Vice President, Director of Finance, Secretary, Director of Communications, Director of Information Technology, Director of Advocacy as well as these Senator positions: Health & Sustainability, Diversity, and Legislative Affairs. All Student Senate members are required to meet the standards for student leaders specified in Policy 4.17.

Quorum is a simple majority (50% + 1) of the total active senate seats (Executive Board and club representatives). Any member of the Student Senate General Assembly may bring amendments and bills to the floor to be voted on. All Student Senate Bylaws amendments and bills may be passed by a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate General Assembly provided quorum is met. The President shall not vote unless to break a tie. A Presidential Veto can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the voting body.

In all contested Student Senate elections, the winner shall be the candidate who receives a simple majority vote. In an uncontested election, the candidate must receive a two-third affirmative vote from the Student Senate voting body. Appointments can be made by the President provided they are approved by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board. An Executive Board member may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the Executive Board (excluding the member being voted upon).

The Student Senate Advisor shall attend all Senate and Executive Board meetings, providing guidance and support. They shall not have a vote on any motions or actions in Senate, Executive Board, or committee sessions

Subpart B. Student Senate Governing Document(s)

The Minneapolis College Student Senate shall create and maintain governing documents, such as a set of by-laws, that it and student clubs will follow. The Minneapolis College Student Senate shall define in its governing documents the selection of student representatives and the ratification processes for student government.

Subpart C. College, System, and Other Regulatory Authority

The Minneapolis College Student Senate and its by-laws must abide by the Minneapolis College Student Life Guide, College and System policies and standards, and local, state, and federal regulations.   

Part 5. Student Senate Leadership 

Subpart A. Student Senate Leadership Roles:

Student Senate leadership roles shall include the following: 

• President,
• Vice President,
• Secretary, and
• Treasurer/Director of Finance.

Additional leadership roles and their respective responsibilities for the Student Senate can be specified in the Student Senate Bylaws. 

Subpart. B. Student Senate Leadership Role Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities for: 

• Student Senate President include: serving as the official representative of the Minneapolis College Student Body to the campus administration, faculty, staff, MinnState, LeadMN, and all other parties. They shall preside at all meetings of the Senate and Executive Board and direct and supervise all Senate related activities. They shall have joint authority to appoint student representatives to campus-wide committees alongside the Director of Advocacy. They shall have the authority to veto any motion passed by the Senate or SLBC, which can be overturned by a two-third vote of the voting body of the Student Senate.
• Student Senate Vice President include: assisting the President in all presidential duties, maintaining membership records of all voting members, working with the Senate Advisor to ensure that voting members meet and maintain their eligibility requirements. Serve as the official contact for all clubs and assist them in meeting the requirements for chartering and funding. Work with the Senate Advisor to issue sanctions against clubs or senators that violate policies. Take attendance at all Senate and Board meetings and co-chair the SLBC.
• Student Senate’s Secretary include: take meeting minutes at all General Assembly, Executive Board and Advocacy Committee meetings, reporting the minutes to the Senate’s D2L homepage. Coordinate meetings between board members, faculty, staff, and other students as needed.
• Student Senate’s Director of Finance include: administer and maintain accurate records of all budgets funded through Student Life fees, Chair the SLBC and report to the Senate on the state of the budget at least once a semester and upon request. 

Additional responsibilities for these Student Senate Leadership roles as well as other Student Senate leadership roles and their responsibilities are established in the Student Senate By-Laws. 

Part 6. Student Clubs

To become chartered and receive student life funds, student clubs must send one student liaison to each Student Senate General Assembly. To become a chartered club, a group must have at least four student members, a faculty or staff advisor, a plan to meet at least monthly and governing documents (constitution/bylaws). Once the club’s liaison(s) attend(s) two Student Senate meetings, the Student Senate votes on their charter at the third meeting they attend. 

Current student clubs are required to send a liaison to Student Senate meetings, to represent their club at Student Senate meetings, and to bring Student Senate business back to their club.

Student clubs must maintain an updated set of governing documents, have at least four student members, have a faculty or staff advisor, and they must meet at least monthly. They must be chartered with Student Senate and maintain their registration with Student Life. All student clubs must adhere to their own and Student Senate’s governing documents as well as college and system policies.

Clubs who are unable to meet the requirements to remain active and chartered may request inactive club status. This process is run through the Student Senate Advisor and Vice President.

Part 7. Appeal of Student Senate Decisions

Minneapolis College Procedure 4.03.01 Appeal Procedure – Senate Student Decision establishes the process for a student or student club to appeal a decision of the Student Senate. 

Owner(s) Title: Vice President of Student Affairs

Date of Adoption: 7/1/1999

Date of Implementation (if different from adoption date): N/A

Date Last Amended: 5/13/2026 (Comprehensive Review)

History and Subject of Revisions: 5/13/2026 (Comprehensive Review. Substantial revisions. Added definitions section (Part 2). Added guiding documents section (Part 3). The new Part 4 addresses the authority and responsibilities of Student Senate including its recognition by the college, as well as voting & election standards. General Student Senate leadership roles and their responsibilities are identified in Part 5. The new Part 5 covers student clubs and their association and responsibilities with the Student Senate. Part 7 points to the supporting procedure for the process for information regarding appealing a Student Senate decision.), 5/12/2022 (Limited Review)

Regulatory Authority (e.g. Minnesota State policy, federal or state law): Minnesota State Board Policy 2.1