ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Student Governance Committee/American Student Dental Association (ASDA) of the VCU School of Dentistry, hereafter referred to as "the organization".

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the organization shall be:

1. To serve as the collective voice of the students of the VCU School of Dentistry and to function as the form of local student government.



2. To instill a sense of community among students of all classes and organizations.



3. To promote the objectives of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA), Virginia Dental Association (VDA), and membership therein among dental students.



4. To provide local members with representatives by two delegates to the ASDA House of Delegates.



5. To maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of communication between the administration, the faculty, and the students.



6. To educate, inform, and involve local members in the activities of the ASDA at all levels.



7. To provide a means whereby students of all classes and chartered organizations may come together in a mutual endeavor for the betterment of the VCU School of Dentistry.



8. To sponsor various projects as determined by tradition, initiative, and the need for the betterment of the organization, the school, the profession, and the community.



9. To maximize the standard and quality of our dental education.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
The membership shall consist of all full-time, regularly-matriculated dental students enrolled in the pre-doctoral dental program at the VCU School of Dentistry, and all full-time dental hygiene students enrolled in the dental hygiene program at VCU. The organization encourages membership in the ASDA, SADHA, and the Student VDA by all dental and dental hygiene students, respectively. The American Student Dental Association is a national student-run organization which protects and advances the rights, interests, and welfare of students pursuing careers in dentistry. It represents students with a unified voice and provides information, education, advocacy, and services. The association introduces lifelong involvement in organized dentistry, and promotes change for the betterment of the profession.

ARTICLE IV. GOVERNMENT

Section 1. Student Governance Committee: The responsibility for the administration and management of all student body/ ASDA programs and activities shall be vested in the Student Governance Committee (SGC).

Section 2. Elected Officers: The elected officers of the Student Body shall be the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Editor. These elected officers shall comprise the Student Executive Committee.

Section 3. Appointed Positions: The President may appoint chairpersons for special committees and jobs deemed necessary with approval of the Student Executive Committee.

Section 4. Faculty Liaisons: There will be two faculty liaisons to the SGC:

1. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
2. One member of the Dental Faculty

Section 5. Standing Committees:

1. Standing Committees of the Student Governance Committee shall include the Executive Committee, Clinic Day Committee, Membership Committee, Publications Committee, and Student Life Committee.
2. Special Committees may be formed by the President and the Student Executive Committee as deemed necessary and shall exist only for a specified function or period not to exceed one year.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section 1. The Student Governance Committee shall meet at least once per month. The meeting dates shall be determined by the Executive Committee each year.

Section 2. The Student Executive Committee shall meet with the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at least once per month. The meeting dates shall be set by the Executive Committee each month.

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BY-LAWS

PART I - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership Eligibility: Membership in the VCU School of Dentistry shall be open to any student and the membership shall entitle said member to all rights and privileges herein contained. ASDA membership is open to all pre doctoral and postdoctoral dental students enrolled in the VCU School of Dentistry without regard to race, religion, color, gender, national origin, creed, or political belief. Membership is also available to pre-dental students, dental school faculty members and other persons at dental health or research facilities who have an interest in the association's goals.

Section 2. Membership Duration: Membership in the SGCI ASDA shall be renewed yearly.

Section 3. SGC Dues:

1. Dues Determination: SGC dues are evaluated and set by the Student Executive Committee each September.



2. Dues Payment: SGC dues are paid by each class treasury. Each class treasurer submits dues payment of behalf of the entire class. The total payment is based on the number of students in the respective class. Nonpayment of class dues by members does not justify a delay in the payment of SGC dues.

Section 4: ASDA Dues:

1. Total Dues: Total ASDA membership dues shall be the sum of national and local dues.



2. Dues Determination: Local dues are evaluated and set by the Student Executive Committee on a yearly basis.



3. Dues Refund: There shall be no refund of any local dues, or any part thereof, to any individual(s) for any reason.



4. ADA Dues Reduction: The ASDA shall abide by the policy of graduated dues as set forth by the ADA 1983 House of Delegates.



5. VDA Membership: ASDA membership will be a prerequisite for student membership in the Virginia Dental Association(VDA).

Section 5. ASDA Membership Termination: Termination of ASDA membership shall occur due to :

1. Withdrawal from the VCU School of Dentistry for any reason.



2. Failure to pay the required dues by a predetermined date set by the Membership Committee.

PART II - ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS

Section 1. President:

1. Qualifications: Candidates must be a student in good academic standing who is a member of ASDA.



2. Term of Office: The term of office will be one year.



3. Responsibilities:
   
   
   1. President of Student Body
   2. Presiding officer of Student Governance Committee meetings
   3. Chairman of the Student Executive Committee
   4. Ex-Officio member of all SGC committees
   5. Official voting delegate (First Delegate) to the ASDA House of Delegates Annual Session. The president must submit a report to the Dean, and the Student Body.
   6. Official voting delegate to the VDA House of Delegates. The president must submit a report to the SGC, and the Student Body.
   7. Member of the Richmond Dental Society Board of Directors.
   8. The President will have all those duties imposed by law and association tradition with the Chairman of the Board of any association or cooperation.



4. Election: The President-Elect becomes the President.



5. Vacancy: If the President is temporarily unable to fulfill his/her duties, he/she shall direct the President-Elect to take over the duties. If the President is permanently removed from office, the President-Elect will take over as President and the Student Governance Committee shall elect a new President-Elect within thirty days.

Section 2. President-Elect:

1. Qualifications: Candidates must be a second year student in good academic standing who is a member of ASDA.



2. Term of Office: The term of office will be one year.



3. Responsibilities:
   
   
   1. Presiding Officer of VCU Chapter of ASDA.
   2. Official voting delegate (Second Delegate) to the ASDA House of Delegates annual Session. President-Elect becomes First Delegate in the event of promotion of the President to a national ASDA position or in the event of vacancy of the office of president.
   3. Official non-voting delegate to the VDA House of Delegates.
   4. Chairman of Clinic Day Committee.
   5. Conducts all class elections with the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.
   6. Serve as President in the event of his /her vacancy.



4. Election:
   
   
   1. SGC officers shall be elected in the rising sophomore, junior, and senior classes on or before the second full week of classes in February of the previous year or three weeks prior to the ASDA Quad-Regional meeting, whichever is earlier. SGC officers are elected for a term of one year beginning following Clinic Day in April.
   2. The date of the election shall scheduled with cooperation of the classes, the SGC President-Elect, and the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. There must be at least seven days notice of the SGC elections. The notice and announcement shall include the date, time, and location of the elections. The notice shall be posted on the official class bulletin boards, the SGC bulletin board, and sent via email.
   3. Nominations for SGC officers shall be held at a time not less than five school days prior to the date of the election. Nominations shall be submitted to a representative of the Office of Student Affairs, and must be signed by the student making the nomination, a second to the nomination, and the nominee. Nominations will close at 5pm the day prior to the election.
   4. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and the President-Elect shall conduct the nominations and elections in each class.



5. Vacancy: If the SGC officer resigns the position, a new officer will be elected by the Student Body within thirty (30) days.

Section 3. Secretary:

1. Qualifications: Candidates must be a student in good academic standing who is a member of ASDA.



2. Term of Office: The term of office will be one year.



3. Responsibilities:
   
   
   1. Record minutes of all Student Governance Committee meetings. These minutes should include a list of those members present and those absent. These minutes are to be made available to the Student Body upon request.
   2. Make a master calendar of student events for each semester to be displayed near the Student Lounge.
   3. Submit an updated version of the Student Activities Calendar to the newsletter.
   4. Correspondence, thank you notes, and other duties customarily done by the Secretary of an association.



4. Election:
   
   
   1. SGC officers shall be elected in the rising sophomore, junior, and senior classes on or before the second full week of classes in February of the previous year or three weeks prior to the ASDA Quad-Regional meeting, whichever is earlier. SGC officers are elected for a term of one year beginning following Clinic Day in April.
   2. The date of the election shall scheduled with cooperation of the classes, the SGC President-Elect, and the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. There must be at least seven days notice of the SGC elections. The notice and announcement shall include the date, time, and location of the elections. The notice shall be posted on the official class bulletin boards, the SGC bulletin board, and sent via email.
   3. Nominations for SGC officers shall be held at a time not less than five school days prior to the date of the election. Nominations shall be submitted to a c representative of the Office of Student Affairs, and must be signed by the student making the nomination, a second to the nomination, and the nominee. Nominations will close at 5pm the day prior to the election.
   4. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and the President-Elect shall conduct the nominations and elections in each class.



5. Vacancy: If the SGC officer resigns the position, a new officer will be elected by the Student Body within thirty (30) days.

Section 4. Treasurer

1. Qualifications: Candidates must be a student in good academic standing who is a member of ASDA.



2. Term of Office: The term of office will be one year.



3. Responsibilities:
   
   
   1. Collection of SGC Dues from class treasurers.
   2. Collection of ASDA Dues from ASDA Representatives and preparation of ASDA remittance statements.
   3. Chairman of the Membership Committee.
   4. Presentation of Budget and financial reports to the Student Governance Committee once per semester.



4. Election:
   
   
   1. SGC officers shall be elected in the rising sophomore, junior, and senior classes on or before the second full week of classes in February of the previous year or three weeks prior to the ASDA Quad-Regional meeting, whichever is earlier. SGC officers are elected for a term of one year beginning following Clinic Day in April.
   2. The date of the election shall scheduled with cooperation of the classes, the SGC President-Elect, and the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. There must be at least seven days notice of the SGC elections. The notice and announcement shall include the date, time, and location of the elections. The notice shall be posted on the official class bulletin boards, the SGC bulletin board, and sent via email.
   3. Nominations for SGC officers shall be held at a time not less than five school days prior to the date of the election. Nominations shall be submitted to a representative of the Office of Student Affairs, and must be signed by the student making the nomination, a second to the nomination, and the nominee. Nominations will close at 5pm the day prior to the election.
   4. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and the President-Elect shall conduct the nominations and elections in e-ach class.



5. Vacancy: If the SGC officer resigns the position, a new officer will be elected by the Student Body within thirty (30) days.

Section 5. Editor

1. Qualifications: Candidates must be a student in good academic standing who is a member of ASDA.



2. Term of Office: The term of office will be one year.



3. Responsibilities:
   
   
   1. Editor of school newsletter, Modern Flossophy.
   2. Official school reporter for all local and national publications.
   3. Chairman of Publications Committee



4. Election:
   
   
   1. SGC officers shall be elected in the rising sophomore, junior, and senior classes on or before the second full week of classes in February of the previous year or three weeks prior to the ASDA Quad-Regional meeting, whichever is earlier. SGC officers are elected for a term of one year beginning following Clinic Day in April.
   2. The date of the election shall scheduled with cooperation of the classes, the SGC President-Elect, and the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. There must be at least seven days notice of the SGC elections. The notice and announcement shall include the date, time, and location of the elections. The notice shall be posted on the official class bulletin boards, the SGC bulletin board, and sent via email.
   3. Nominations for SGC officers shall be held at a time not less than five school days prior to the date of the election. Nominations shall be submitted to a representative of the Office of Student Affairs, and must be signed by the student making the nomination, a second to the nomination, and the nominee. Nominations will close at 5pm the day prior to the election.
   4. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and the President-Elect shall conduct the nominations and elections in each class.



5. Vacancy: If the SGC officer resigns the position, a new officer will be elected by the Student Body within thirty (30) days.

Section 6. Class Officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Chairperson, Historian, Newsletter Representative, Athletic Representatives (Male and Female), SGA Representatives (3), Honor Representatives (2))

1. Nomination and Election
   1. Class officers shall be elected by members of the respective class.
   
   
   
   2. Class officers shall be elected in the rising sophomore, junior, and senior classes on or before the second full week of classes in April of the previous year. Class officers are elected for a term of one year beginning immediately after the election results are announced.
   
   
   
   3. The date of the election shall scheduled with cooperation of the class, the SGC President -elect, and the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. There must be at least seven days notice of the class elections. The notice and announcement shall include the date, time, and location of the elections. The notice shall be posted on the official class bulletin board, the SGC bulletin board, and sent via email.
   
   
   
   4. Nominations for class officers shall be held at a time not less than five school days prior to the date of the election. Nominations shall be submitted to a representative of the Office of Student Affairs, and must be signed by the student making the nomination, a second to the nomination, and the nominee. Nominations will close at 5pm the day prior to the election.
   
   
   
   5. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and the President-Elect shall conduct the nominations and elections in each class.
   
   
   
   6. Freshman class officers shall be elected during the second week of classes following their Fall Break. These elections shall be conducted by the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and the President-Elect.
   
   
   
   7. Eligibility:
      
      
      1. The nominee must be in good academic standing in the class which he/she is running for office.
      2. The nominee must have a cumulative GP A of 2.0 or higher.
      3. The nominee must be a member of ASDA.



2. Term of Office: The term of office is one year.



3. Responsibilities: To be determined by the individual class.

Section 7. ASDA Representatives:

1. Qualifications: Candidates must be a student in good academic standing who is a member of ASDA.



2. Term of Office: The term of office will be one year.



3. Responsibilities: Representatives are encouraged to assist the ASDA/Student Executive Council in identifying policies and programs to meet the needs and interests of dental students and the profession.



4. Election: Classes shall elect two (2) ASDA representatives during their class elections.



5. Vacancy: In the event that a representative resigns, the class will elect a new representative or the President-Elect will appoint one.

Section 8. Fraternities and Other Student Organizations:

1. Qualification: This will be left to the discretion of each organization.



2. Responsibilities: President or designee must be an active, functional, voting member of the Student Governance Committee. The president or designee must attend at least six SGC meetings per academic year. If less that six meetings are attended, the organization will no longer be recognized as a sanctioned student organization. This will result in the suspension of:
   
   
   1. The right to hold meetings within the VCU School of Dentistry
   2. The right to fundraise within the VCU School of Dentistry
   3. The right to advertise within the VCU School of Dentistry

Section 9. Impeachment:

1. Impeachment Procedure for Student Governance Committee Members (including the Student Executive Committee).
   1. A written grievance should be accompanied by a petition of 10% of the student body in order to be submitted to the Student Executive Committee.
   2. The Student Executive Committee will then consider the validity of the charges. After consideration, the committee will vote to either dismiss the charges, or to proceed with the impeachment procedure, or to give the officer in question a probation of one month.
   3. If the committee votes to proceed with the impeachment procedure, a student body convocation of mandatory attendance, will be assembled within one week.
   4. At the student body convocation, the students will hear form the accuser, the accused, and the SGC President. They will express their views.
   5. After those proceedings, a secret ballot vote will be taken and the vote will be counted by the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and one faculty member.
   6. Impeachment Procedure for Class Officers. The procedure for impeachment of a class officer is the same as above. However, the proceedings will be conducted on a class basis. If there is a vote for impeachment of the class officer in question, the ballots will be counted by the SGC President and the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.

PART III. - COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees:

1. Student Governance Committee:
   
   
   1. Chairman: President
   2. Members: President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Chair(s) of Student Life, Dental and Dental Hygiene Class Presidents and Vice-Presidents, Delta Sigma Delta President, Psi Omega President, SNDA President, ADEA Representative, AGD Representative, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, and Dental Faculty Liaison.



2. Student Execu6tive Committee:
   1. Chairman: President
   2. Members: President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
   3. Duties:
      1. Set agenda for each SGC meeting.
      2. Appoint chairmen of special committees.
      3. Approve budget and set SGC dues by September meeting.
      4. Oversee the operation of the Student Governance Committee and all SGC functions.



3. Publications Committee:
   1. Chairman: Editor
   2. Members: Class Newsletter Representatives
   3. Duties:
      1. Publication of Modern Flossophy.
      2. Sent appropriate articles to ASDA national publications
      3. The editor is responsible for knowing and informing the members of the deadlines for publication and insuring that appropriate articles and information are submitted.



4. Membership Committee:
   1. Chairman: Treasurer
   2. Members: ASDA Representatives
   3. Duties:
      1. Collect membership dues for SGC and ASDA
      2. Prepare remittance statements for ASDA
      3. ASDA membership drive



5. Clinic Day Committee:
   1. Chairman: President-Elect
   2. Members: Student members appointed by the President-Elect
   3. Duties: To organize the Clinic Day events including the dental manufacturer displays, student research competition, faculty research presentation, Skit Night festivities, and the awards ceremony.

Section 2. Special Committees

Special committees will be organized at the discretion of the Student Executive Committee. The chairpersons of special committees will be appointed by the Executive Committee. The appointees may be any member of ASDA in good academic standing.

Section 3. Committee Reports

Committee reports will be given at all Student Governance Committee meetings and shall be recorded in the minutes.

PART IV - FACULTY LIAISONS

Section 1. There will be two (2) faculty liaisons:

1. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
2. A Dental Faculty Liaison chosen by the Student Executive Committee

Section 2. Vacancy

In case of vacancy or non-participation by the chosen faculty member, a new faculty liaison will be selected by the Student Executive Committee.

PART V - FINANCING

Section 1. Budget:

The Student Executive Committee will determine the budget for the following year in September. The treasurer should submit a financial statement in May to aid the Executive Committee in its determination.

Section 2. Local Dues:

Local SGC and ASDA dues will be determined in September by the Executive Committee in September at the time the budget is determined.

Section 3. Collection of Dues:

SGC dues will be collected by the Treasurer. ASDA dues will be collected by the Membership Committee in the annual membership drive held in the fall of each year.

Section 4. Expenditure of Dues:

The Student Executive Committee shall delegate authority to expend funds of SGC.

PART VI - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this Constitution shall require a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Student Governance Committee. The vote on any proposed amendment may not take place sooner than two (2) weeks after all members have received written notice concerning the nature and intent of said amendment.

Quorum: There must be half of the voting members present to constitute a quorum.