Regulations & Policies

Student Affairs

I. OBJECTIVE AND PURPOSE

Student Government (SG) is an essential part of the University of North Florida (UNF or the University) community and integral part of the total academic and student success experience. At UNF, SG fosters valuable experiences for students that lead to significant learning and development and create a sense of belonging and school spirit. Student Government of UNF is organized and maintained by students as the official representative of the student body with the recognition that ultimate authority for university affairs rests with the Board of Trustees, the University President, and their designees.  The purpose of this Policy is to define the role of SG consistent with Florida law, Florida Board of Governors Regulations, and University regulations and policies and ensure SG’s functions are in furtherance of the University’s mission and its obligation to represent the student body.

II. STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. The President of UNF (University President) is responsible for the operations and administration of the University, which includes but is not limited to providing purchasing, contracting, and budgetary review processes for Student Government.
2. SG is authorized to make recommendations to the University President’s designee concerning University policies, regulations, and operating procedures which significantly affect the student body and, further, is authorized via the Student Body President to nominate students to serve on university committees, councils, and boards, which have student membership or representation.
3. SG must submit current SG governing documents and any proposed changes (documents will include, but shall not be limited to, all statutes, titles, codes, rules of procedure, standard operating procedures, the Student Body Constitution, Student Government Policies and Procedures, and the Student Government Member and Other Personnel Services (OPS) Employee Manual) to the University President or designee for review as stipulated below. SG governing documents will not be considered in force or enacted until the University President or University President’s designee provides written approval of final documents unless stated otherwise.
   1. All current governing documents must be submitted for semesterly review no later than fifteen (15) business days before the first official day of class of the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
   2. All revisions or proposed changes to governing documents, including but not limited to, the SG Constitution and Title(s), must be submitted for review and approval at least thirty (30) business days prior to intended implementation within SG. After implementation, if any amendments are made to a document after it has been submitted for review and approval, the University President or designee will be informed immediately of all proposed changes. The University President or designee reserves the authority to approve, deny, or modify proposed changes. All election-related governing documents must be submitted at least forty-five (45) business days prior to the first day of class of the Fall, Spring, or Summer semester in which the rules will be implemented.
   3. Rules, policies, and standard operating procedures of any SG governmental branch, committee, office, or Executive Agency may be implemented immediately. However, the University President or designee reserves the right to review and approve or reject them within thirty (30) business days of implementation. All existing policies and procedures must be adhered to until any updated versions of the policies and procedures have been approved and implemented.

III. FEE ALLOCATION AND ACCOUNTING

1. SG is authorized to allocate and expend Activity and Service (A&S) fees subject to the line-item veto power of the University President or designee of any item or portion thereof.
2. Fees must be allocated and expended for lawful purposes to benefit the student body in general.
3. SG shall submit a proposed budget to the University President on an annual basis.
4. SG shall establish and follow a funding process, which will include guidelines for viewpoint neutrality and specific budget details and requirements.
5. Expenditures of budgeted/allocated A&S fees must be in accordance with Section 1009.24, Florida Statutes (F.S.). All SG purchases, contracts, expenditures, and disbursements must be reviewed and approved by the University President or designee to ensure compliance.
6. All A&S Fees shall be maintained in university accounts. All contracts, memoranda of agreement/understanding, and purchases shall be made in accordance with university regulations and policies. All elections, appointments, hirings, and payments of compensated and non-compensated student personnel must be made in accordance with university procedures and guidelines.
7. At the end of each university fiscal year, remaining unexpended funds and undisbursed funds shall be carried over and remain in the student A&S fund and be available for allocation and expenditure during the next fiscal year.
8. The University President or designee requires that all SG officers, student employees and student members undergo mandatory periodic training concerning the application of laws and university regulations and policies to SG expenditures and/or operations. Training records, including schedules, materials, rosters, and completion certifications shall be maintained by SG professional staff.

IV. REMOVAL

1. Any elected or appointed SG official who has been convicted of a felony or any crime of moral turpitude, found responsible for violating the UNF Student Conduct Code and/or found to have violated any other University policy or regulation shall be immediately suspended from office and temporarily replaced. The University President or designee will appoint a temporary replacement if the succession or other established SG process is unable to produce a replacement for the vacated office within a reasonable time. If the conviction, verdict, or finding is overturned, the suspended SG official will retake the office. If the conviction, verdict, or finding is not overturned and all rights of judicial appeal have been exhausted, waived, or have expired, the suspension will become permanent without any additional process. This procedure is distinct from and in addition to the processes of the UNF Student Conduct Code.
2. Re-call Elections. Registered A&S fee-paying students may petition for a re-call election of any elected or appointed student government official. A Petition for a re-call election will be done in accordance with Student Government rules. A re-call election may be called to address offense(s) that falls into one of the following categories:
   1. Malfeasance
   2. Misfeasance
   3. Nonfeasance
   4. Incompetence
   5. Neglect of Duty
   6. Inability to Perform Official Duties
   7. Conduct Unbecoming an Elected or Appointed Official

      1. Re-call elections will be held within thirty (30) business days of the filing of the Petition. The SG officer shall be removed if a majority of the students participating in the re-call election vote in favor of removal.

3. Any former member of Student Government that has been removed pursuant to this section may not seek future appointment, election, or reelection to any position within Student Government.

V. ELIGIBILITY

1. To be eligible to serve, an SG officer whether elected, appointed and/or volunteer must be in good academic standing and meet all student-based conduct requirements as defined by UNF and its own governing Student Body Constitution and/or by-laws. All officers, student employees, and student members of the Student Government must meet the following requirements:
   1. Must be an A&S Fee paying student, enrolled in at least one (1) class during the Fall semester and at least one (1) class during the Spring semester at the University of North Florida.
   2. Must maintain a minimum cumulative institutional 2.5 grade point average as an undergraduate student or a 3.0 grade point average as a graduate student, and

   3. Must not be under probation, suspension, or expulsion by the University of North Florida or any other educational institution.

All officers, student employees and student members of the Student Government are required to complete mandatory training prior to assuming the duties and responsibilities of their respective positions. Upon completion of the mandatory training requirements, the officers, student employees or student members of the Student Government will receive confirmation to begin all assigned responsibilities and duties for their respective role. Approval will be granted by the UNF SG Director or designee. Officers, student employees and student members of the Student Government who do not complete the mandatory training requirements will be prohibited from working within their respective position until all mandatory training requirements are completed and approved by the UNF SG Director or designee. The University President or designee requires that all SG officers, student employees and student members undergo mandatory periodic training concerning the application of laws and university regulations and policies to SG expenditures and/or operations.  Failure to complete mandatory periodic training or any other assigned training may result in disciplinary action in accordance with this policy, the SG Constitution, or other UNF policies or regulations.  Training records, including schedules, materials, rosters, and completion certifications shall be maintained by SG professional staff.

B. All officers and student employees of the Student Government shall attend weekly or bi-weekly meetings with their designated University professional staff advisor, supervisor, or designee. Additionally, all SG officers, student employees and student members of the Student Government shall be required to schedule and attend a semesterly meeting the UNF Provost, as well as a monthly meeting with the UNF Associate Vice President (AVP) of Student Engagement and International Affairs or designee.

C. All officers and student employees of the Student Government shall complete a Position Accountability Form, submitted on a bi-weekly basis to the officer or student employee’s designated supervisor or advisor. The Position Accountability Form requires the officer or student employee to provide a summary of the Student Government-related business items and tasks that were worked on or accomplished during the hours that the officer or student employee recorded on their official timesheet that is submitted to payroll.

Failure to submit a Position Accountability Form may prevent the officer or student employee’s timesheets from being approved by their designated Student Government supervisor or advisor. Falsifying information on official UNF timesheets or the Position Accountability Form is grounds for immediate suspension, dismissal, or termination from the Student Government of the University of North Florida.

Authority: Article IX, Sec. 7, Fla. Constitution, Fla. Board of Governors Regulations 1.001, 6.014; Sections 1004.26, 1009.24, FS.

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