SSC CONSTITUTION

2007 Supreme Student Council Constitution

PREAMBLE

We, the student of University of Perpetual Help System Laguna (UPHSL), imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to establish a representative Supreme Student Council that shall embody our ideals, promote and safeguard our rights and welfare and to foster closer association, understanding , friendship and cooperation among students faculty, administration and other sectors of the University.

Article I: GENERAL PROVISION

Section 1: The highest governing student body of the University shall be known as the Supreme Student Council;

Section 2: Unless otherwise stated SSC shall mean the Supreme Student Council of UPHL;

Section 3: This constitution shall be observed and respected by the SSC, College Student Councils (College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Maritime, College of Criminology, College of Computer Studies, College of Education) and other organizations recognized by the University;

Section 4: The SSC shall maintain independence in the conduct of its affairs but none of its action and decision shall violate, be inconsistent or shall deviate from the existing rules and regulations of the University and the duly constituted authorities;

Section 5: The SSC shall have its principal office at the UPHSL compound, Sto. Niño, Biñan, Laguna.

Article II: DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES, POLICES AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1: The general objectives of the SSC are to encourage, to foster, to spread and to disseminate through welfare activities, the ideals of cohesiveness, cooperation, friendship and unity among students;

Section 2: The SSC shall have the particular objectives as follows:

•  represent the student body in issues where the rights and interests shall be affected;

•  promote students awareness of their rights, duties and responsibilities;

•  help maintain academic and extra-curricular excellence;

•  implement student projects in cooperation with their colleges and recognized institutions; and

•  perform such other powers expressly authorized under this constitution or that which is inherent by its nature.

Section 3: Guiding the Principle of a UPHSL student:

Each student in order to ensure unto himself the rights and benefits resulting from membership shall fulfill in good faith the obligations bestowed upon him by this constitution.

ARTICLE III: BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 1: Every student of UPHSL has the right to:

•  enjoy academic freedom and the freedom of access to technology and high standards of education;

•  to conduct academic research to enhance student competitiveness in all fields of human knowledge and technology.

•  enjoy the freedom of inquiry, expression and of assembly;

•  be protected from unreasonable academic evaluations;

•  due process relative to disciplinary actions;

•  enjoy the freedom of associations;

•  be protected from unjust, unauthorized or unreasonable fees, charges and contributions;

•  enjoy to the fullest the use of adequate facilities and services provided for by the University;

•  appeal any decision affecting his rights, interest and welfare;

•  to receive, after a duly approved clearance, diplomas, transcripts of records and transfer credentials and other scholastic records within 30 days from request; and

•  publish a school newspaper and other similar publications.

ARTICLE IV: DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF STUDENTS

Section 1 : It shall be the duty of every student to uphold this Constitution, to comply with the rules and regulations of the University, to extend cooperation with the rules and regulations of the University, to extend cooperation with the SSC and the University authorities in keeping a just and orderly academic community.

Section 2: the rights of the students impose upon him the duty to exercise the same responsibility and with due regard to the rights of others and of the University.

Section 3: It shall be the duty of each college student of the UPHSL- Biñan, to pay regular membership fee to the Supreme Student Council.

ARTICLE V: SECTION OFFICERS

Section 1: Every section of each college of the University shall elect its officer as follows:

a. President

b. Vice-President

c. Secretary

d. Treasurer

e. Public Relation Officer

f. Auditor

g. Business Manager

Section 2: A section officer will have the following qualifications:

a. an average grade at least 3.00 and without failing grade (FD), CO, DROP from the previous semester.

b. residence in the school for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the election.

c. enrolled at least (15) units for the current semester;

d. for the first year student during the semester, subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply.

Section 3: Section officers shall hold office term for one (1) year.

Section 4: The election of section officers shall be held within fifteen (15) days from the start of the regular classes of the 1 st semester.

ARTICLE VI: COLLEGE STUDENT COUNCIL

Section 1: The political and administrative subdivisions of the SSC are the College Student Council and other units as the SSC may provide.

Section 2: The College Student Council (CSC) may have the following officers who will be selected from among the section officers of each college.

a. President

b. Vice-President

Internal and external

c. Secretary

d. Treasurer

e. Public Relation Officer

f. Auditor

g. Business Manager

Section 3: The election of College Student Council officers shall not be later than thirty (30) days after the opening of the regular classes for the school year.

ARTICLE VII: SUPREME STUDENT COUNCIL OF UPHSL

Section 1: The Supreme Student Council of UPHSL or SSC shall have the following officers that shall be directly elected by all bonafide students of UPHSL in an election called the purpose.

a. President

b. Vice-President

Internal and external

c. Secretary

d. Asst. Secretary

e. Treasurer

f. Asst. Treasurer

g. Auditor

h. Business Manager

i. Public Relation Officer

Internal and External

Section 2: The Supreme Student Council shall have the following powers and duties:

•  to formulate revise and implement its by-laws and rules of procedures governing its meetings conduct of business and exercise of authority consistent with the Constitution.

•  to represent the UPHSL students in policy determination and in all issues affecting the rights, welfare and interests of the UPHSL students;

•  to administer and account its own funds and properties;

•  to assess and collect membership fees to finance its projects and activities;

•  to submit any of the officers and members to disciplinary actions for causes provided for in Article 9 of this constitution;

•  to conduct student activities and projects designed to contribute to the benefit and general welfare of the students; and

•  to coordinate and cooperate with University recognized student organizations of the UPHSL.

Section 3: No students shall be elected officer of the SSC unless he possesses the following qualifications, to wit:

•  must be officially enrolled with a minimum load of fifteen (15) academic units;

•  must have at least one (1) year academic residence in the college;

•  must not be under academic probation certified by the College dean and disciplinary probation during the school year, certified by the Judicial Advocacy Office;

•  must maintain a cumulative grade percentage of at least 2.00 without failing marks and conditional grades, issued by the college and duly signed by the Dean and university Registrar;

•  must be of good character;

•  must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude; and

•  must not be a member of any subversive organizations or fraternity or sorority not officially recognized by the University or duly constituted authorities.

Section 4: The SSC President shall exercise the following duties and responsibilities:

•  to act as the chief executive officer of the SSC and as such preside over SSC regular and special meetings;

•  to represent the SSC in all occasions and in all manner which representation may be required;

•  to issue official statements of the SSC through the Secretary or PRO;

•  sign all documents and communications of the SSC; and

•  assign tasks and responsibilities of other officers on the SSC.

Section 5: The Vice-President-Internal shall exercise the following duties and responsibilities:

•  assist the President in the supervision of internal matters relative to the activities of the SSC;

•  to preside over the regular meetings in the absence of the President; and

•  to perform such other functions as may be assigned to him/her by the SSC President.

Section 6: The Vice-President-External shall exercise the following duties and responsibilities:

•  assist the President in the supervision of external matters relative to the activities of the SSC;

•  to preside over the regular meetings in the absence of the President; and

•  to perform such other functions as may be assigned to him/her by the SSC President.

Section 7: The Secretary shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

•  to record and keep accurate minutes of the SSC meetings;

•  to keep records and documents of the SSC;

•  to take charge of the official correspondence of the SSC; and

•  to perform such other duties inherent in the position as may be assigned by the SSC President.

Section 8: The Assistant Secretary shall assist the secretary in the discharge of the letters duties and shall perform other duties assigned to him/her by the SSC President and/or SSC Secretary.

Section 9: The Treasurer shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

•  to take charge/care of all funds of the SSC;

•  to keep an accurate record of all the receipts and disbursements of SSC funds;

•  to submit a financial report for each activity of the SSC to the President and adviser;

•  to submit semestral financial report to the President, Adviser and to the Chancellor' office;

•  prepare the budget recommended by the adviser and the President upon the approval of the majority of votes cast in the meetings called for the purpose;

•  disburse funds only in accordance with the policy and procedures of the SSC; and

•  perform such other duties inherent in the position as may be assigned by the SSC President.

Section 10: The Assistant Treasurer shall:

•  accomplish and manage book keeping; and

•  assist the treasurer in the discharge of his/her duties assigned to him/her by the SSC President and/or Treasurer.

Section 11: The Auditor shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

•  audit the book of accounts and properties of the SSC and shall make the report of his/her audit thereof to the President;

•  examine and verify the correctness of the financial reports of the Treasurer; and

•  perform such other duties inherent in the position as may be assigned by the SSC President.

Section 12: The Business Manager shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

•  to take charge of the fund raising activities of the SSC; and

•  to propose budget and plans relative to fund raising activities of the SSC.

Section 13: The PRO Internal shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

•  to take charge and care of the press release and statements of the SSC within the Univeristy;

•  in charge of the internal public relations and information-gathering and dissemination of the SSC; and

•  shall perform such other duties inherent in the position or assigned to him/her by the SSC President.

Section 14: PRO External shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

•  to take charge and care of the press release and statements of the SSC within the Univeristy;

•  shall perform such other duties inherent in the position or assigned to him/her by the SSC President.

Section 15: When necessity requires, the SSC has the power to:

•  create special committees or ad-hoc committees and appoint his composition and officers to facilitate its operations. The committees shall hold meetings and submit minutes of their meetings and reports to the SSC officers and adviser; and

•  the committee shall decide by a 2/3 vote of all its members in a meeting called for the purpose.

Section 16: A quorum shall be one half of the SSC officers plus one shall be necessary in the regular conduct of all its meetings.

ARTICLE VIII: TERMS OF OFFICE

Section 1: The officers are elected in general election of all college students at the end of every school year.

Section 2: The term of elected officers take effect at the start of the succeeding school year following the election.

Section 3: All elected officers shall serve for the term of one (1) school year or until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified in accordance with this Constitution.

Section 4: In case of vacancy in the position of President due to non-registration , disqualification, resignation, disability or to some other causes, he shall be succeeded by the Vice-President Internal.

Section 5: Other vacancies except the position of President in the SSC shall be succeeded by a majority of the votes gathered in an election among SSC officers between the Vice-President Internal and Vice-President External of the College Student Council (CSC).

ARTICLE IX: IMPEACHMENT

Section 1: All elective officers shall serve with unquestionable dignity, morals, integrity, loyalty and efficiency and shall always be accountable for all their during the tenure.

Section 2: The officers of the SSC and the members of the Student Commission on Election may be removed from office by impeachments on grounds of betrayal of public trust, bribery, culpable violation of this Constitution, graft and corruption, immorality, commission on high crimes involving moral turpitude.

Section 3: The SSC shall have the sole power to initiate, try and decide on all causes of impeachments. The SSC may initiate impeachments proceedings by a vote of (3/4) of all officers of the SSC in a meeting duly called for the purpose.

Section 4: Decisions in all cases of impeachments shall be limited to removal from office and disqualification to hold any other office within the SSC and Student Commission on Election.

Section 5: Impeachment proceedings and decision shall be without prejudice to the filing of a case subsequent thereto in the proper venue as prescribed by the law and the imposition of disciplinary sanctions which the University may impose after due process.

ARTICLE X: ADVISERS

Section 1: There shall be two advisers

•  One from the faculty association, and

•  One from the Administration

ARTICLE XI: FUNDS

Section 1: Funds collected from all sources shall constitute the general funds of the SSC which shall be used to pursue its activities and conduct its operation. No amount shall be used except by appropriation recommended by the SSC President and approved by two-third (2/3) vote of all SSC officers in a meeting duly called for the purpose.

Section 2: The SSC fund shall be deposited under the account name of the SSC and signatories are as follows:

•  SSC Adviser

•  SSC President

•  SSC Treasurer

Section 3: The fund shall come from the membership fee collected during enrolment of each semester.

Section 4: The balance of the fund shall at the end of a specific term be turned over as funds for the next term.

ARTICLE XII: STUDENT COMMISSION ON ELECTION

Section 1: There shall be an independent Student Commission on Election, which shall be composed of sixteen (16) students;

•  each of the eight (8) colleges will appoint two (2) students as representatives;

•  out of 16 students representatives, a Chairman will be selected trough majority of voted of its members; and

•  the function of the function of the Student Commission on Election will take effect as soon as the Chairman and the fifteen (15) members shall have been selected and shall continue to perform such functions until the elected SSC officers shall have been duly qualified.

Section 2: Submit to the UPHSL President, Chancellor and SPS Director a report of the conduct and the rest of the SSC Election.

Section 3: Funds necessary to the orderly conduct of SSC Election from filing of candidacy up to the induction of newly inducted elected SSC officers shall be funded by the SSC fund.

ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1: No provision of this Constitution shall be revised or amended without the majority of votes of all the students of UPHSL in a referendum duly called for the purpose specifically approving the proposed amendment or revision.

Section 2: A copy of the amendments or revision shall be submitted to the President of the UPSHL, University Chancellor and SPS Director.

ARTICLE XIV: LIMITING CLAUSE

Section 1: Any and all provisions included herein contrary to the existing laws of the Republic of the Philippines and the Rules and Regulations of the UPHSL and Commission on Higher Education shall be deemed to have been null and avoid.

ARTICLE XV: EFFECTIVITY

Section 1: This Constitution shall take effect immediately upon the ratification by a majority of votes cast by the student at a college-wide Plebiscite called for the pupose.