SGA Election Information

Grievance Procedure

TMCC students may file an Elections Grievance form if it is believed that the SGA has violated election rules or procedures.

1. Any current student shall be permitted to file a grievance.
2. Grievances must be submitted to the Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator within ten business days of the alleged misconduct. Grievances will not be accepted after the deadline has elapsed.
3. Grievances must be filed using the Election Grievance form.
4. Grievances must list which provisions of the Elections Rules and/or College Catalog were violated.
   1. Upon receipt of a complete grievance form, the SGA Elections Committee will set a date, time, and place for the grievance hearing.
5. Grievance Hearings shall follow the prescribed format:
   
   1. At the onset of the meeting, the Elections Committee Chair shall read the official title of the grievance.
   2. At that time, each side of the involved parties will have ten minutes to present their case. This is a hard time limit, and involved parties will be cut off by the committee chair after a party’s time period has elapsed.
   3. Following the opening arguments, each side will be permitted to ask five questions to the opposition. Questions should be directed to the committee, should the chair deem the question appropriate, relevant, and non-repetitive, the chair will direct the question to the appropriate party. During the question portion, no new information or charges may be introduced. Responses to questions will be limited to one minute.
   4. Following questions, each side will have two minutes for closing arguments.
   5. The time limits and question counts are subject to the chair's discretion, and may be changed to gain a fuller understanding of issues at hand.
   6. The SGA Elections Committee shall assess and enforce all penalties.
      
      1. The campaign will be notified of any penalties incurred within one business day of the hearing.
      2. Penalties may require a party to correct an action that is in conflict with a provision set forth in the election rules. If such corrective action is feasible, it must be completed within twenty-four hours of the Elections Committee notifying the party. Failure to complete the correction will result in disqualification.
6. Violations of the Election Rules and/or Rules and Disciplinary Procedures for Students may result in disqualification, reprimand, restitution, probation or suspension.

Important Dates for SGA Candidates

General Information for Elected Officials

Time Commitments

SGA elected officials must be committed to working for all TMCC students. Keep in mind that a great amount of time will be needed to fully perform this task. The hours include: office hours, committee assignments, special events, and other activities that are assigned by other SGA elected officials and the Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator.

Motivation

Along with necessary time commitments, SGA members need to be motivated toward improving campus life for all students. The campus community looks to the SGA for guidance and the SGA elected officials are expected to be dynamic student leaders who are willing to act with integrity, honesty and lead by example. Once elected to office, you must be prepared to jump in and get started in your new role as a student leader.

Roles & Responsibilities of Executive Officers and Senators

Please refer to the SGA Constitution, Bylaws, and Operations Manual for roles and responsibilities.

Eligibility for Candidacy

Candidates seeking to be elected as SGA Executive Officers or SGA Senators must meet the following criteria:

1. Take a minimum of six credit hours at TMCC each semester (Fall and Spring) while in office.
2. Possess and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.25.
3. Read, understand and adhere to the SGA Constitution, SGA Bylaws, and the SGA Operations Manual.
4. Be in good standing with TMCC. Good standing is defined as not serving any disciplinary sanctions of student conduct as determined by the Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator.
5. Newly-elected President is required to shadow the current holder of the position for a minimum of 8 hours. Newly-elected Vice President is required to shadow the current holder of the position for a minimum of 5 hours. Exceptions can be made at the discretion of the current Elections Committee and/or the Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator.
6. Newly elected officers and senators are required to attend 2 SGA meetings.
7. Newly elected officers are required to attend all mandatory SGA trainings and retreats.

Term of Office

No student shall hold more than one SGA position at a time. No student shall be eligible to serve more than a total of two terms, as identified in the SGA Constitution.

SGA Election Rules

Filing

• In order to run for a SGA office, you must file an official application form for that position. Filing states that you agree to have your name and bio appear on the SGA website and ballot. Applications must be turned in to the SGA office by the deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.
• Candidates may not run for more than one position.
• If, after filing an application, a candidate decides not to run for office, the application must be officially withdrawn from the election by emailing the SGA.

Campaigning

• The current campaigning period is outlined on this web page.
• Campaigning is defined as: anything written or spoken by a candidate and those specifically designated by the candidate that promotes the election of a candidate to any Student Government Association elected office.
• Voting is a private and confidential activity. Candidates or candidate representatives must allow students to vote independently of candidate influence and/or assistance.
• All campaign literature must be in support of an individual candidate. Foul language, untruthful or misleading statements, and offensive or obscene images are absolutely not permitted on campaigning material. Negative campaigning is not allowed. The Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator has the authority to determine whether material is inappropriate or offensive. Appeals regarding this rule will be handled by the SGA Elections Committee.
• Candidates are not allowed to remove, cover, or deface other candidates' campaign materials.
• Although the SGA discourages such activities, the SGA does not accept responsibility for campaign materials that are removed or defaced. SGA is not liable or responsible for any untruthful or offensive statements made about candidates by other candidates, students, or employees of the College.
• Campaign material may not be placed on car windshields or any part of vehicles. Writing on campus chalkboards, sidewalks, dry erase boards, etc. is permitted with pre-approval from the instructor/TMCC Facilities.
• Campaigning may not occur in classes without pre-approval form the instructor, and must not disrupt classes otherwise.
• TMCC clubs/organizations may endorse candidates.
• Current SGA elected officers, senators, and chairs may endorse candidates; however, they may not endorse candidates at any time in the SGA office area, during official SGA events, or while doing any official SGA business, including meetings and office hours. SGA elected officers must remove any campaign materials from view while in the SGA office or while doing any official SGA business, this includes stickers, t-shirts, buttons, etc. visible on their person or belongings. In addition, no SGA equipment or supplies including, paper, computers, workspaces, etc. may be used for endorsing candidates.
• No campaigning of any type will be allowed in the Student Government Association Office.
• All candidates must adhere to Rules and Disciplinary Procedures for Students.
• Candidates must remove all campaign materials by the deadline posted for the current campaign period.

Candidate Flyers

If you wish to post flyers, they must first be approved and stamped by the Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator. Flyers cannot exceed 8.5" x 11". Table tents, handlets, and business cards are not permitted. All campaigning materials must be pre-approved by the Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator prior to distribution.

What is Allowed

Posting on public boards must:

• Clearly designate a candidate’s name and position they are running for.
• Be posted on designated public posting boards that are not designated for department use ("Math" or "Fitness Center”, for example).
• Not be posted on doors, walls, windows, cubicles, office furniture or painted surfaces. Any material posted in unauthorized locations will be removed.
• Be removed by stamped date. Material that is not stamped or remains posted past the stamped date may be removed by College staff.

TMCC permits the posting of materials in languages other than English, provided that:

• A written or oral translation of the posted material is provided at the time of submission; and,
• A form verifying the translation is completed at the time of submission by the translator.

What is Not Allowed

Posted material may not:

• Contain any version of the SGA, TMCC logo, or lizard logos.
• Discriminate based on age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religious affiliation, diverse abilities (mental and/or physical disability), etc.
• Contain nudity or profanity. Partial nudity is not allowed.
• Promote violence toward a student, faculty or staff member.
• Suggest that TMCC endorses the candidate.
• Be from an external political entity.

Multiple copies of the same material may not be posted on the same board. Material size may be subject to limitation.

Election and Recall of Officers and Student Senators

The Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator and two SGA Election Committee members shall calculate the votes upon receiving election results from TMCC's Director of Web Services.

Recall of elected SGA members shall be initiated in the following manner:

• Any student who is a member of the student body may initiate a recall.
• Reason(s) for a recall and the name(s) of the person(s) being recalled must be on a petition. Ten percent or more of the current membership of the total TMCC student body must sign the petition. This petition must then be presented to the SGA.
• If a petition is brought forth, an expedient election procedure, seven calendar days at the minimum, may be initiated and officer(s) and/or Senator(s) shall be removed from office by a majority vote of the SGA Senate.
• Another election shall take place within twenty-five calendar days from the time the petition is presented to the SGA Elections Committee. The person(s) removed from office by recall shall be eligible to run again, as will any/all qualified person(s) who wish to oppose them.
• The candidate receiving a simple majority vote shall then be elected and begin their term at the next regular SGA Senate meeting.