Bylaws of the Student Advisory Council
The Maryland Higher Education Commission Student Advisory
Council is established in accordance with §11-106 of
the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland in
order to advise the concerns, perspectives, and experiences
of students of institutions of higher education in Maryland.
The name of this organization shall be the Student Advisory
Council to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC),
hereafter referred to as the SAC.
(A) The SAC was created, pursuant to a legislative directive,
for the purpose of reviewing such matters as are referred
by the Commission or the Secretary of Higher Education for
their consideration and advice.
(B) The SAC may make recommendations to the Commission
on matters of statewide importance that affect their constituencies.
(C) The SAC shall operate for the course of one academic
year beginning with the first meeting in the fall and ending
September first of the following year.
(A) Each Maryland institution of higher education, which
is authorized by the MHEC to operate in the state of Maryland,
will have one representative to the SAC. The method of selection
will be determined by the president of the institution in
collaboration with the student government(s).
(B) Only the representative from that institution will
be allowed to vote. No absentee votes will be allowed.
(C) Representatives shall be appointed for the term of
one academic year and may be reappointed by their institutions.
(A) The Executive Committee is responsible for providing
coordination and direction of SAC activities and discussion,
and will serve as the official voice of the SAC.
(B) The Executive Committee shall have the power to create
standing and ad hoc committees as it deems necessary to
the proper functioning of the SAC and shall delegate the
authority to such committees as is necessary for their operation
according to their purpose.
Section 1.
The officers of the Executive Committee of the SAC shall
be the Executive Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, three Segment
Chairpersons and Secretary. The advisor and student commissioner
shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members.
Section 2. Executive Chairperson
(A) Supervise the activities and operation of the SAC.
(B) Call and preside at all meetings of the SAC.
(C) Prepare and distribute the agenda and meeting materials
prior to all meetings.
(D) Shall vote only in case of a tie.
(E) May have been involved in the SAC for at least one
year, immediately proceeding the term of office.
(F) Maintain regular contact with advisor.
(G) Maintain regular contact with representatives to ensure
the ready flow of information from the MHEC to the institutions.
(H) Attend the Commission meetings and present reports
from the SAC when appropriate.
Section 3. Vice Chairperson
(A) Assume the duties of the Executive Chairperson during
his/her absence.
(B) Assist the Executive Chairperson in supervision and
operations of the SAC.
(C) Coordinate nominations of the Student Commission member.
(D) Perform such additional duties as the Executive Chairperson
or advisor may request.
Section 4. Secretary
(A) Maintain the minutes of each meeting of the SAC.
(B) Be a custodian of records of the SAC, and maintain
a list of names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses
of the representatives.
(C) Keep at all times the current copy of the SAC bylaws
at the meetings.
(D) Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chairperson
or advisor.
Section 5. Segment Chairs
(A) Should coordinate for the SAC the activities of their
respective constituencies:
(1) Four-Year Public Institutions
(2) Four-Year Independent Colleges and Universities
(3) Two-Year Colleges
(B) Will be responsible, along with constituencies, for
coordinating and producing responses on certain topics referred
by the Commission.
(A) Election of officers will be held at the first meeting
of the SAC.
(B) The Student Commissioner will plan and execute the
election of the new officers. The Student Commissioner,
with the assistance of the advisor, will tally the votes
and announce the new officers immediately after the balloting.
(C) Segment Chairs will be elected by their respective
constituencies.
(D) Voting will be by secret ballot.
(E) New officers will be determined by simple majority
and will serve for a one-year term beginning with the first
meeting of the SAC and ending September 1 of the following
year.
Section 1. Meetings
The meetings of the SAC shall be held at least four times
a year. The meeting dates shall be designated by the Secretary
of Higher Education, in consultation with the SAC.
Section 2. Attendance
Attendance at all meetings is expected. Upon the absence
of a representative at two consecutive meetings, the SAC Secretary
shall send a note to the president of the student government
of the representative’s institution declaring the absence
and may send a letter recommending replacement of the representative
to the President of the institution.
Section 3. Quorum
(A) Quorum is attained by the attendance of the Executive
Chair or his/her designee and representatives of at least
nine member institution.
(B) All meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s
Rules of Order.
Section 1. Advisor
(A) The advisor shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Higher Education from the staff of the Maryland Higher Education
Commission.
(B) Shall represent the MHEC between students and the Commission.
(C) Provide guidance to the SAC with regard to administrative
procedures and limitations to which the SAC is subject.
(D) Provide other support and guidance as needed.
Section 2. Student Commissioner
(A) The Student Commissioner is defined by §11-102
of the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
(B) Each institution will have the opportunity to nominate
a candidate to be the student member of the Commission.
(C) The Vice Chairperson shall establish a committee to
review nominations and select the top candidates for interviews.
(D) The SAC will interview each candidate selected by the
committee to review and recommend up to three names to the
Secretary of Higher Education. The Secretary may consider
these recommendations in making the final recommendation
to the Governor.
(E) Duties of the Student Commissioner are as follows:
(1) Serve as the voting student member of the Commission
and have all powers given to the student from the Maryland
General Assembly.
(2) Inform the Executive Committee of the actions of
the Commission.
(3) Serve on the Executive Committee as an ex-officio
member.
(4) Plan and execute the election of the SAC officers
at the first meeting.
(A) To amend these bylaws, the following criteria must
be met:
(1) Any proposed amendment will be presented in a written
form at least one meeting prior to the one which a vote
is taken.
(2) The proposed amendment must be sent to each member
in print form with notice of the called meeting.
(3) The proposed amendment must receive a two-thirds
majority of the representatives to be included in the
bylaws.
(B) Any amendments must also be approved by the Secretary
of Higher Education and the Commission.
These bylaws shall become effective immediately upon the
approval by the Commission.
Bylaws approved by the Commission
November 14, 2011,
our new address is 6
N. Liberty St., Baltimore, MD 21201 | Phone: (410)
767-3301 | Toll Free: (800) 974-0203
