PROGRAMS: Election Week
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Election Week is designed to increase student participation in Hunter College’s student organizations and media. The Office of Student Activities & Leadership Development is hosting “Election Week” from Monday, April 28th until Friday, May 9th and strongly encourages each Hunter student as well as each student organization to participate. During these two weeks student organizations will host elections for the 2008-2009 academic year. If you are thinking about running for an executive position of a student organization or if you are considering starting a new student organization, this is the perfect time to begin that process. While we realize it may be tradition to host elections at the beginning of the fall semester, currently chartered student organizations should consider a few major benefits to hosting elections in the spring.

Spring elections will allow for; a smoother transition from the outgoing executive board to the newly elected executive board; a more efficient chartering process; an opportunity for student officer’s to attend a two-day/weekend training, focusing on personal leadership and running an organization effectively; program planning over the summer months; possible earlier submission and approval of club budgets and; increased participation from the student body.

During the first week students organizations should open nominations, allow for campaigning, and host platform speeches. The second week should be dedicated to elections. If student organizations need assistance coordinating their elections the Office of Student Activities will be available to assist in that effort. We wish you continued success in your academic and co-curricular endeavors and look forward to our continued work together.

Election Procedures For Student Organizations
Student Activities “Election Week” will be held from Monday, April 28th – Friday, May 9th. The benefits of “Election Week” are; a smoother transition from the outgoing executive board to the newly elected executive board; a more efficient chartering process; an opportunity for student officer’s to attend a two-day/weekend training, focusing on personal leadership and running an organization effectively; program planning over the summer months; possible earlier submission and approval of club budgets and; increased participation from the student body.

During “Election Week” student organizations should accept nominations and schedule platform speeches/elections according to the following procedures:

1. PUBLICITY – In order to get full student participation and to increase membership, all student organizations should post notices indicating the date, time and place of nominations and elections. These notices should be posted in various locations around campus to assure that the campus community has been informed. Elections may not be held off campus and should take place when classes are in session (no summer elections).
   
2. NOMINATIONS – Nominations may be made at meetings before or during the election meeting. Each organization MUST nominate and elect a president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary or the equivalent. In order to accept nominations, a member of the organization has to make the motion: (Ex: “I move to open nominations for the position of ______.”) After all nominations have been taken, someone needs to close nominations by making the motion: (Ex: “I move to close nominations for _______.”) Both motions need to be seconded and voted upon. Nominations do not need to be seconded unless the individual being nominated is not at the meeting to accept or decline.
   
3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE – Each organization’s constitution should state the requirements for membership, and/or voting in elections. In most cases a constitution will state: “Elections shall be by majority vote of the voting members present whose names appear on the attendance sheet for the election meeting.” In order to be a member, the individual must be a currently enrolled, matriculated student at Hunter College. Your secretary MUST have an attendance sheet available at the meeting. A roster of all those who voted should be generated and maintained by the Secretary.
   
4. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RUN – In order to hold the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer, undergraduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above, and must be registered for at least six (6) credits. Graduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, and must be registered for at least three (3) credits.
   
5. ELECTION MINUTES – All election results must be submitted to the Dean of Students Office (1103 East).
   

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