Constitution of the
Clarion University
Venango Campus Student Senate
Article I: Clarion University of Pennsylvania Venango Campus Student Senate
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Clarion University Venango Campus
Student Senate; herein referred to as Venango Senate
Article II: Objective
Section 1. The purpose of the Venango Senate is to provide a representative self-government to
advance the welfare and common interests of the students on the Venango Campus; to establish
policies and procedures by which student organizations may be created and operated on the Venango
Campus, in conjunction with the President of Clarion University (such organizations herein referred
to as Venango RSOs); and to allocate student activity fee funding to Venango RSOs in accordance
with the Clarion Students’ Association’s (herein referred to as CSA) policies and procedures.

Article III: Membership
Section 1. The total number of voting Student Senators will be nine (9). Two (2) of those
seats are reserved specifically for new students and will be filled each fall.
Section 2. Membership of the Venango Senate shall consist of both active and advisory
members:
A. Active members of the Venango Senate shall:
1. Be a Venango Campus student who pays the student activity fee.
2. Have and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a
4.0 scale, be in good academic standing (defined as a previous semester GPA of
2.0 and cumulative GPA of 2.5), and be in good judicial standing.
a. In the case of first semester freshmen joining Venango Senate, they shall
be exempt from the academic requirements stated above for determining
eligibility to stand for election. However, said academic requirements
must be meet at the end of their first semester in order to continue to serve.
3. Have at least two full academic semesters remaining at the time of the election,
unless appointed to serve the remainder of a vacated term.
4. Attend at least (10) of the (14) regular senate meetings during a semester.
5. Serve on two Venango Senate standing committees as appointed by the Vice
President, after review by the Executive Board.
6. Select candidates for all appointive student positions.
7. Maintain two office hours a week.

B. Advisory members of the Venango Senate shall:
1. Be representatives of the university’s administration who shall be chosen by the
President of Clarion University and approved by Venango Senate.
2. Be the Vice President of Student Affairs, or his/her designee.
3. Be the Executive Director of the CSA, who shall be chosen by the Board of
Directors of the CSA.
4. Be the Student Trustee of the Council of Trustees for Clarion University, who
shall be chosen by Student Trustee Selection Committee.
5. Be any other person or persons whom the Student Senate shall deem desirable to
name and who shall consent to serve.
Section 3. Election for active members of Venango Senate will be held during the 12th week
of the spring semester.
A. An election will be held during the 2nd week of the fall semester for new student
representatives and to fill any vacant positions.
B. In the case of a senate vacancy, the senate would refer to a list of students that ran in
the previous election who were not elected. The students will be listed by popular
vote by the student body and offered the vacant position accordingly.
C. Should the list of alternatives not elected in the previous election become void, the
Executive Board may appoint students to the full senate.
Section 4. Any member wishing to resign from Venango Senate shall present their written
resignation to the secretary who shall then present to the Executive Board for acceptance.
Section 5. When any member of Venango Senate engages in conduct unbecoming a senator,
an ad hoc investigative committee shall be formed by the Executive Board under the
advisement of an advisory member of Venango Senate that the Execute Board deems
appropriate. The ad hoc committee will have at least 3 non-partial members of the Venango
Senate. The ad hoc committee shall perform their investigation on the senator in question
and present their findings to the entire Venango Senate during a closed meeting. The senator
in question can be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of voting members of the
Venango Senate. If removed from their position, the individual is forbidden from running in
future Venango Senate elections or from receiving an appointment to the governing body
until the election for the following academic year. Lesser punishments may be enforced
should the Executive Board of Venango Senate deem appropriate for the situation.
A. If the member of Venango Senate that allegedly displays actions unbecoming their
position as a member of the Executive Board of Venango Senate they will then be
excluded from the selection of the ad hoc committee.

Article IV: Officers
Section 1. The elected officers of the Venango Senate will be President, Vice President,
Treasurer, and Secretary. Together, they form the Executive Board. All stipends granted to
the Executive Board will be distributed at the end of each semester, providing each member
with 50% of their total stipend at each distribution. Their duties will include, but not be
limited to the following:
A. President
1. Preside at all meetings of the Student Senate.
2. Serve as a chairperson of the Executive Board of Venango Senate.
3. Serve as a member of the CSA Board of Directors.
4. Attend any and/or all public occasions where the President’s presence may be
required or be deemed desirable.
5. Act as a liaison between the Venango Senate and the President of Clarion
University of and/or the Vice President of Student Affairs and/or Venango Senate
advisors.
6. Be official spokesperson on behalf of Venango Senate.
7. Be responsible for the writing, sending, and requesting of all correspondence,
unless otherwise designated by the Venango Senate.
8. Call special meetings of the Venango Senate with at least 12 hours prior to the
meetings.
9. Carry on those privileges afforded to the President under the most current edition
of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
10. Attend all Venango Campus Advisory Board meetings.
11. Attend all Clarion University Council of Trustee’s meetings.
12. Be an ex officio member of all Student senate committees with the exception of
the Executive Board.
13. Be a member of a university committee when asked to serve by university faculty
or administration.
14. Organize a Venango Senate planning meeting in the beginning of the fall
semester.
15. Form Ad hoc Committees as deemed necessary to fulfill a duty required of the
Venango Senate.
16. Must not student teach or have an internship that interferes with their duties
and/or execution of duties.
17. Shall receive a stipend of 50% of in-state tuition.
18. Complete all duties of the position as required by Venango Senate.
B. Vice President
1. Assume all duties of the President in the President’s absence.
2. Serve as a member of the Appropriations Committee of the Venango Senate.
3. Serve as a member of the CSA Board of Directors.
4. Accept all official responsibilities and obligations deemed necessary by the
Venango Senate and/or President of the Venango Senate.

5. Advise all standing committee chairpersons as to their duties and those of their
committee and hold monthly meetings with all chairs.
6. Work with the committee chairs in a transitions program.
7. Be a member of the Executive Board.
8. Shall receive a stipend of 25% of in-state tuition.
C. Treasurer
1. Be the chairperson of the Appropriations Committee.
2. In conjunction with the Appropriations Committee, review annual and
supplemental Venango RSO budget request and make recommendations for
allocation to the Venango Senate.
3. Work with Venango RSOs and CSA to keep an accurate account of all Student
Activity Fee accounts.
4. Give reports at all regular meetings on the financial status of Venango Senate
Accounts and on any recommendations of Appropriations Committee.
5. Preside over the meetings of the Venango Senate in the absence of the President
and Vice President.
6. In conjunction with the Appropriations Committee and Venango RSOs, develop
the annual Venango Senate RUO budget request for consideration by CSA.
7. Serve as a member of the Executive Board.
8. Complete all duties of the position as required by Student Senate.
9. Shall receive a stipend of 25% of in-state tuition.
D. Secretary
1. Keep a record of all the proceedings of the Venango Senate.
2. Meet all work requirements as deemed necessary by the committee chairs and/or
the Executive Board of Venango Senate.
3. Must complete meeting minutes two days following adjournment of the last
Venango Senate meeting and post them in a public place upon approval by
Venango Senate.
4. Maintain office supplies.
5. Shall receive a stipend of 25% of in-state tuition
6. Complete all duties of the position as required by Student Senate.
7. Conduct elections in the fall and spring semester.
8. Receive letters of resignation and bring the before Student Senate
Section 2. At the 13th week meeting of the spring semester, nominations for officers will be
held. Senators may nominate any qualified candidates for the Executive Board positions.
A. Qualifications for Officers. Each officer will:
1. Be enrolled for a minimum of six credits per semester.
2. Have and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0
scale.
3. Have attained at least 6 credits at Clarion University prior to Venango Senate
officer elections.

4. Have verified attendance to the following number of Venago Senate meetings
within the past semester.
a. President – two Student Senate meetings.
b. Vice President – two Student Senate meetings.
c. Treasurer – two Student Senate meetings.
d. Secretary – two Student Senate meetings.
Section 3. The officers shall be elected by secret ballot during the 14th week meeting of the
spring semester to serve for a term of the next academic year. They may serve for more than
one term if re-elected by the succeeding Venango Senate.
A. Special elections for officers may be held at any time there is a vacant officer
position. Elections will be held during the open meeting of Venango Senate and will
be led by the President.
B. There will be a week’s time between nominations for officers and the formal election
and appointment of the executive positions.
Section 4. No officer may hold more than one office at a time.
Article V: Meetings
Section 1. The regular meetings of the Venango Senate shall be held be determined,
semesterly, based on the availability of the senators. The Venango Senate must hold at least
11 regular meetings each fall and spring semester.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Venango Senate President with at least 12
hours notice prior to the meeting.
Section 3. Quorum shall be a simple majority of the active voting members of the Venango
Senate.
Article VI: Standing Committees
Section 1. Chairpersons and regular members of Standing Committees shall be appointed by
the Vice President, after review by the Executive Board, at the 2nd meeting in the fall
semester.
A. Standing Committee Chairpersons’ responsibilities. Committee Chairpersons shall:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Coordinate and conduct all meetings of their standing committees.
a. Committees must meet at least twice a semester.
Meet with the Vice President, as determined by the Vice President.
Act as liaison to the rest of the student body.
Submit in writing a weekly committee report prior to the Venango Senate meeting
and an end of the year summary of their committee’s actions to the Vice President
of the Venango Senate.

5.

Give a weekly report to the Venango Senate during the Student Senate regular
meeting.

B. Standing Committee members’ responsibilities. Committee members shall:
1. Attend all meetings of their standing committee unless excused by the chairperson.
2. Complete participation in all functions and activities of the standing committee that
is required, unless excused by the committee chairperson and approved by the Vice
President.
Section 2. Committee members must adhere to the Student Senate attendance policy.
Section 3. There shall be 6 total Standing committees within the Venango Senate. The
President will be an ex-officio member to all Standing committees.
A. Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee shall:
1. Consist of the Treasurer, as Chairperson, the CSA Executive Director as ex-officio
member, and two other members of Venango Senate.
2. In collaboration with all Venango RSOs, create the Venango Senate RUO budget
request to CSA.
3. Recommend to the Venango Senate the allocation and distribution to Venango
RSOs of the Student Activity Fee funding, in accordance with CSA funding
policies.
4. Review requests for supplemental funding from Venango RSOs through the
academic year and make recommendations to the Venango Senate.
a. If a request were to fail within the Appropriations Committee, the
organizations have one more opportunity to bring it back to be reviewed.
5. Work with CSA on the periodic review of budget policies and procedures.
B. Rules, Regulations, and Policies Committee. The Rules Regulations and Policies
Committee shall:
1. Consist of the Vice President, the Venango Senate Advisor, as an ex-officio
member, and two other members of Venango Senate.
2. Recommend to the Venango Senate, in accordance with the Venango Senate RSO
policy, the approval or disapproval of recognizing any student organization as
stated in the CSA Constitution.
3. Oversee the proper functioning of Venango RSOs through reviewing, keeping and
updating records, and ensuring that Venango RSOs are following standard policies
and procedures established by the Venango Senate.
4. Advise the Venango Senate to revoke or place on inactivity the recognition or
approval of any Venango RSO not in compliance with the established policies and
procedures of the Venango Senate.
5. Utilize, oversee, and enforce the use of CU Connect by all Venango RSOs.
C. Student Concerns Committee. The Student Concerns Committee shall:

1.

Act as the liaison between the student body, university/campus administration,
CSA Board, and/or the Clarion University Foundation, Inc., for issues related to:
a. Food services offered on the Venango Campus.
b. Housing offered by the Clarion University Foundation, Inc., at the Venango
Campus.
c. Parking at the Venango Campus.
d. Bookstore operations on the Venango Campus.
e. Facilities issues at the Venango Campus.
f. Safety issues at the Venango Campus.
2.
Have regular meetings with appropriate staff members to address concerns
relating to these areas listed above.
3.
Help schedule and attend a Venango safety walk once a semester.

Section 4. Ad hoc committees. Upon creation, an Ad hoc committee shall:
1. Consist of those members of the Venango Senate appointed by the President of
the Venango Senate.
2. Carry out any duties pertaining to the cause of its creation.
3. Disband upon completion of the duties to which it was assigned.
Article VIII: Initiative, Referendum, and Recall
Section 1. Upon the petition of five (5) percent of the Venango Campus student body
duly presented to the Venango Senate; the Venango Senate must take immediate action
on any specified legislation or amendment to this Constitution.
Section 2. Upon petition by ten (10) percent of the Venango Campus student body duly
presented to the Venango Senate, the student body must be permitted to vote on any
completed action of the Venango Senate. Such petitions must be presented to the
Venango Senate within two (2) weeks of the Venango Senate action being petitioned.
Such a referendum must be held within two weeks after the presentation of each petition.
A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members of the student body voting shall be required to
effect new legislation.
Section 3. Upon the petition by ten (10) percent of the Venango Campus student body
duly presented to the Venango Senate; the student body must be permitted to vote on the
recall of any member of the Venango Senate or any representative of the Venango
Senate. Such a vote must be held within two (2) weeks after the presentation of such a
petition. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the student body voting shall be required for the
removal from office of any member of the Venango Senate or its representative.

Article IX: Parliamentary Authority
Section 1. Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority
of the Venango Senate.

Article X: Amendments
Section 1. Amendments of the Constitution of the Venango Senate may be submitted by
any member of the Venango Senate.
Section 2. Two weeks’ notice of formal consideration of such proposed amendments of
the Constitution of the Venango Senate shall be sent to all active members of the
Venango Senate.
Section 3. Such proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Venango Senate, having
been approved by a two-thirds vote of the Venango Senate at a regular meeting, shall be
voted upon by the members of the Venango Senate within one month from the time of
approval of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of Venango Senate.
Section 4. The approval of two-thirds vote of the members of the Venango Senate voting
shall be necessary for the adoption of amendments to the Constitution of the Venango
Senate.
Article XI: Ratification
Section 1. Approval of the Constitution of the Venango Senate by a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the members of the Venango Senate voting shall be required for the ratification of this
Constitution of the Clarion University Venango Campus Student Senate.
Section 2. This Constitution of the Venango Senate shall take precedence over any and/or
all previous student government constitutions, by-laws, and/or rules and regulations
pertaining to the body and/or members of the Venango Senate.
Section 3. This Constitution of the Venango Senate and its amendments shall become
effective upon ratification by the members of the Venango Senate, approved by the
President of Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
Adopted December 6, 2018