Version Dec. 24, 2024

The Student Senate is an elected body that represents the students of the school. The Student Senate is governed by its own bylaws, which it alone has the power to amend.

The purpose of the Student Senate is to consider and act, or recommend action, as appropriate, on all matters affecting the professional concerns of the School of Public Health (SPH) students, including any matters as may be referred to it by the Dean or the Governing Council, and may examine and recommend action on broad issues affecting the general SPH and university community and such other matters as from time to time may be deemed appropriate.

The Student Senate will strive to optimize the student recruitment processes, and encourage excellence, equity, and diversity within the student body and university as a whole.

The Student Senate will consider and make recommendations concerning students in all programs, towards improving the intellectual and social environment for students.

The Student Senate will represent the students in any revisions to the Students Handbook.

Members of the Student Senate are the representatives of their constituents. It shall be the responsibility of the members of the Student Senate to seek the opinions of their constituents. Having exercised such responsibility, the members of the Student Senate shall feel free to make decisions and vote on matters according to their own reasoned judgment.

Student Senate Bylaws

I. Organization

A. Membership of the Student Senate

The students will elect the members of the Senate, for a minimum of 5 and not to exceed a total of 9 elected members of the Senate.

All students enrolled in an educational program at SPH, are eligible to serve as elected members of the Student Senate if they are in good academic and conduct standing. This consists of having a minimum 3.0 GPA, zero incomplete grades, zero student conduct violations, and zero violations of academic and professional integrity.

B. Terms of Office

The terms of office for elected Senate members shall be one year. Elections shall be held within one week of December 1, and terms will begin on January 1. No member may serve more than two consecutive one-year terms, but the total number of terms a member may serve is not limited. After serving two consecutive terms, an individual is not eligible for election for one year after leaving office.

C. Ex officio Members

Unless otherwise elected as a Student Senate member, one SPH representative to the WashU Student Council will serve as an ex officio, non‐voting member of the Student Senate.

II. Voting rights

Students who are enrolled in any educational program at SPH may vote in Student Senate elections.

III. Officers

A. The officers of the Student Senate shall include at least a Chair and a Vice‐Chair.

B. Officers will be elected by the members of the Student Senate.

C. Officers will be elected every year.

IV. Meetings and Procedures

A. Student Senate meetings will be held at least four times per year. The Chair of the Student Senate may call special meetings on their own motion.

B. Meetings will be open to all students enrolled in an educational program at SPH, whether or not they are eligible to vote, although the Student Senate, by vote of its members, may go into executive session if necessary.

C. Executive session is limited to elected and ex officio Student Senate members and anyone specifically invited to attend.

D. A quorum is defined as a majority of members of the Senate entitled to vote. A quorum must be present when a vote on official action is taken. The decision of a majority of those voting shall constitute official action of the Senate.

E. The Student Senate shall be sole judge of its own rules and procedures not specified in these bylaws.

F. Amendment procedures. These bylaws may be amended by a two‐thirds vote of voting members of the Student Senate.

V. Committees

Standing and ad hoc committees may be formed by the Student Senate.

VI. Plebiscite Referral

The Student Senate may refer an issue to the vote of the entire student body. A referral shall be initiated by a majority vote at a regularly scheduled or special meeting of the Student Senate.

VII. Absentee and Proxy Voting

Absentee voting and proxy voting are not allowed in the Senate or in its Councils and Committees. Email votes on routine items may be taken in the Councils and Committees, provided that:

A. Email voting must be kept open for at least 48 hours and

B. There is no request by any member to postpone the vote to a regular meeting of the Council or Committee. The item is adopted if a majority of the total membership of the Council or Committee explicitly agrees in the email vote.