Constitution of SCOMSA
I.Authority
The authority of the Student Committee on Medical School Affairs (SCOMSA) as constituted below and in all subsequent amendments to this constitution shall be by approval of the majority (>50%) of the student body and by conformation with the By-laws of Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center and Boston University.
A. To act as the representative body for pre-doctoral medical students in Boston University School of Medicine. These students will hereafter be referred to as the student body and will be the constituents of SCOMSA. Each medical school class as a whole will comprise a “student group.”
B. To hear and solicit students’ opinions concerning issues which may be of interest or importance to them and to keep the student body informed on all such matters. A liaison position will be held open for a representative of the graduate student body.
C. To facilitate the participation of students in the decision-making and policy-implementing processes at BUMC.
D. To promote reciprocal and constructive communications between faculty and students.
A. To serve as a forum to which issues may be brought by faculty or students to the end of defining and initiating effective and appropriate action.
B. To recommend students to the faculty Committee on Committees for appointment to faculty and other committees by such means as are consistent with the BU and BUSM by-laws. Opinion of the student body will be sought when possible. To ensure that these students perform in a manner consistent with their charge as SCOMSA representatives.
C. To initiate subcommittees and authorize individuals to pursue issues of interest to the student body and to solicit and review reports on such activities as it may commission.
D. To maintain a body of funds and values obtained by collection of an annual fee from its student constituents, and by other means and to disburse these and all other monies of values in this body of funds in the interests of the student body.
E. To prepare and submit an annual report to the faculty and students on all its business, including financial.
F. To make such by-laws as are deemed necessary for the conduct of the committee’s affairs provided such rules are in accord with this Constitution and the by-laws of BU and BUSM.
A. Any medical student of BUSM shall be eligible for membership in SCOMSA.
B. Six students from each medical school class shall be members, chosen as described in Section V of this document.
C. The Dean of the Medical School and the Dean of Student Affairs shall be members ex-officio without voting privileges.
D. Each member shall hold tenure from the first meeting following his/her election until the meeting following the next election for his/her group. Each SCOMSA member must be a member of the class that elected him/her.
E. Tenure of any member may be limited by a 2/3 majority (of a quorum, Article VI, Section C) of those at a SCOMSA meeting or by petition signed by a majority of his/her constituents.
F. In the event three of the six members per class are no longer able to maintain tenure then three newly elected SCOMSA members shall take their places.
A. Each student group shall elect its SCOMSA members by a secret ballot. No student group shall participate in the election of SCOMSA members from other than those of the representative class.
B. All elections will be administered by the incumbent members of SCOMSA under the direction of the Chairperson and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
C. Elections for Class II representatives, who will hold tenure through the 4th year, shall be held annually in April on a date scheduled by the Chairperson and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
D. Elections for each new Class I representative shall be held under the direction of the Chairperson and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs within five weeks from the beginning of the first year classes.
E. Announcement of all elections shall precede the balloting by at least two weeks.
F. Nominations shall open immediately upon announcement of any election and shall close two days before the day of balloting. Nominations may be by self-nomination or by peer nomination with the consent of the nominee. All nominees must be full-time students in good academic standing.
G. Duly elected members shall be those ranking highest in simple vote totals. A quorum for a vote will be 60% of the student group voting.
H. Elections of replacement members shall be complete no later than four weeks from the time a vacancy occurs. They shall be chosen by the same methods as are members.
VI.Meetings
A. Meetings shall be held every fourth week or more often at the discretion of the Chairperson who shall notify all members and publish the time and place of the meeting.
B. Meetings shall be open to all constituents of SCOMSA and BUSM faculty for the purpose of participation and discussion except when the committee votes to meet in executive session. Others of BUMC may request permission to attend meetings.
C. Only members shall have a vote and a quorum shall consist of a minimum of one-half of the current voting membership plus one, with a minimum of one representative per class. [If there is an odd number of voting members than “one-half” shall be rounded up and then add one. Example: if total membership is 13 then quorum shall be 6.5>>7+1=8).
D. A majority (>50%) of those voting shall decide all issues except limitation of tenure.
E. All members must attend two of every three consecutive meetings. Failure to attend meetings as described may lead to proceedings for the limitation of tenure at Chairs’ discretion.
F. The minutes of each meeting and a projected agenda for the next meeting will be reviewed by the Chairperson before publication. The minutes of the meeting and the agenda shall be published before the next meeting.
VII.Officers
A. A Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected for specified tenures at the first meeting of the new committee and at any subsequent time of need.
B. The Chairperson shall be a Class III member and he/she will have the following duties:i. Prepare an agenda for all SCOMSA meetings.
ii. Chairperson shall call meetings and at his/her discretion shall run them by the rules of parliamentary procedure (Robert’s rules of Order).
iii. Vote in case of ties
iv. Maintain the file of official documents
v. Conduct and review the formal correspondence of the committee.
vi. Perform such additional tasks as are set down in the Constitution and By-laws for his/her office.
vii. Should an honor code issues be presented to the Chair, he/she will respond as defined by the Honor Code.C. The Vice-Chairperson shall be a Class II member and he/she will have the following duties:
i. Assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chairperson in his/her absence.
ii. Perform such additional tasks as are set down in the Constituion and By-laws for his/her office.D. The secretary shall be a Class I member of SCOMSA and will have the following duties:
i. Supervise the collection and preparation of accurate minutes on all committee business.
ii. Distribute these minutes to all interested parties following review by the Chairperson.E. The treasurer shall be a Class II member and will have the following duties:
i. Supervise the collection and disbursement of all funds of SCOMSA.
ii. To present to SCOMSA an annual financial report of financial transactions to be included in the SCOMSA annual report.
iii. On discretion of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson (or designated proxy in their absence) any expenditure over the annually set limit designated by SCOMSA beginning each year be approved by majority (>50%) of SCOMSA.
VIII.Amendments
A. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by vote of SCOMSA or by petition signed by at least 15% of the student body and present to the Chairperson of SCOMSA. No more than two-thirds of that number may be from the same class (student group).
B. Properly proposed amendments shall be submitted to a vote by the student body. Balloting shall be conducted by SCOMSA and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and shall be open for 7 days.
C. Ratification shall be by majority (>50%) of the student body.
IX.Referenda
A. Referenda shall be used to register student body opinion on matters of particular interest or importance.
B. Referenda may be initiated by vote of SCOMSA or by a petition signed by 10% of the constituency of SCOMSA and presented to the Chairman of SCOMSA.
C. A quorum for approval of a student body referendum shall be 50% of that body with 50% of a quorum being decisive.
D. Balloting will be conducted by SCOMSA and will be open for 7 days. Results will be binding on SCOMSA and all official student representatives:
A. Orientation Committee – This committee shall consist of one Chairperson who is a second year student, chosen by SCOMSA after consultations with former chairperson and as many members as Chairperson of the committee deems necessary to supervise orientation of new students and the preparation of the first year Redbook.
