Student Development Association (SDA)

Want to connect with a graduate of the College Student Personnel Program? Within our alumni database, you will find contact information for professionals working inside and outside of higher education. Click here to visit the Alumni Database!

Several popular sessions from the annual American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Conference are being presented again in a virtual setting for those who were unable to make it to the conference. Most ACPA2Go sessions cost $10 to sign up for -- if you're interested and able, we encourage you to sign up!

"The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Waiver Period", presented by Ashley Harrington, will take place on July 25th from 3-4pm ET. Click here to register. This Webinar is FREE.

"Application Submitted: Navigating Your First Job Search", presented by Connor Terry, will take place on October 6th from 1-2pm ET. Click here to register. This Webinar costs $10 to attend.

"Critical Approaches to Deconstructing Whiteness on Campus", presented by Zachary Foster and Tenisha Tevis, will take place on Octoebr 24th from 1-2pm ET. Click here to register. This Webinar costs $15 to attend.

Join SDA on September 10th at Campus Quarters (1414 E Wooster St., Bowling Green, OH, 43402) for karaoke! This event is free (food and drinks not included).

On October 14th, join HESA for a Paint and Sip event! The cost to participate is $35, and will include all the supplies for the event. To register, please reach out to Daryl McCoy, Vice President for Programming.

For the entire month of November, SDA will be collected Hats, Gloves, Socks, and Scarves to benefit the Toledo Gospel Rescue Mission. The Toledo Gospel Rescue Mission works "to minister to the spiritual & physical needs of the homeless and low income throughout northwest OH & Southeast MI." To donate, please drop off goods in BTSU 318 (The Grad Pad) or in Education 310.

HESA Students! Join us at Al-Mar Lanes (1010 N. Main St., Bowling Green, OH, 43402) at 7pm on December 2nd for the annual HESA Holiday Mug Exchange and end of semester celebration! In addition, bowling will be available for $12 per person.

SECTION 1: Name and recognized abbreviations.

This organization shall be known as the Student Development Association and may be referred to as SDA.

SECTION 2: Official logo.

SECTION 1: This organization shall function with the following purpose:

a) To provide professional development opportunities for students interested in Higher Education and Student Affairs, largely those in the College Student Personnel (CSP) Master’s and Higher Education (HIED) Doctoral programs at Bowling Green State University (BGSU).

b) To promote cohesiveness and interaction among the students in the CSP and HIED programs and to provide a structure through which programming, social activities, and service projects can take place.

c) To introduce students to functional areas and professional organizations within the profession of student affairs.

SECTION 1: Membership in SDA shall be open to students of BGSU without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, pregnancy, religion, age, disability, or status as a veteran.

SECTION 2: The membership of SDA shall consist of voting members and non-voting members.

a) Voting Membership: Any full- or part-time student enrolled in the CSP Master’s and HIED Doctoral programs in the Department of Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) is a voting member of this organization.

b) Non-voting Membership: Any other interested undergraduate or graduate student currently enrolled in or an alumnus of Bowling Green State University, or faculty or staff member of BGSU who is interested in the aforementioned purpose, may become a non-voting member of this organization.

SECTION 1: The Executive Board shall consist of the President, the Vice President for Administration, the Vice President for Programming, The Vice President for Professional Development, and the Vice President for Equity and Diversity. Ex-officio members of the Executive Board include the CSP Assistant to the Chair, the New Professionals in Transition Co-Chairs, The New Professionals in Transition Co-Chair Elects, Cohort Liaisons, and Graduate Student Senate Representatives.

SECTION 2: President: The President has the following responsibilities:

a) To call all executive and general session meetings and preside over them.

b) To attend all Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.

c) To encourage interaction among the executive members, mediating conflict where necessary and providing positional reviews when needed.

d) To relay pertinent meeting information to the CSP and HIED programs via email.

e) To delegate tasks and follow up on those delegated tasks.

f) To oversee all programs and activities.

g) To represent SDA at any other campus organization or event as requested.

h) To serve as primary communication between program chair and SDA when SDA-specific issues arise.

i) To oversee proposals for funds and allocation of those funds, in conjunction with the Vice President for Administration.

j) To oversee the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) Representative and Higher Education Liaison Positions.

SECTION 3: Vice President for Administration: The Vice President for Administration has the following responsibilities:

a) To assume the duties of the President in their absence.

b) To attend all Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.

c) To develop and distribute an agenda for all meetings.

d) To function as recording secretary at all Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.

e) To write and distribute all meeting minutes to all students, faculty, and staff involved with the Department of Higher Education and Student Affairs.

f) To create promotional materials for social, professional development, and service activities for general body.

g) To plan, execute, and promote SDA fundraisers.

h) To oversee proposals for funds and the allocation of those funds, in conjunction with the President.

i) To manage the Administrative Presence page and keep a record of all organization expenditures.

SECTION 4: Vice President for Programming: The Vice President for Programming has the following responsibilities:

a) To attend all Executive Board and General Body meetings.

b) To assess the current social programming needs and desires of CSP and HIED students.

c) To coordinate monthly social programming events according to the results of the needs assessment.

d) To coordinate one semesterly special project or service event.

e) To submit any needed information regarding reimbursement, attendance lists, or location stemming from programming to department secretary and program chair.

f) To serve as the primary point of contact in planning other HESA gatherings, including but not limited to HESA Halloween and HESA end-of-the-semester celebrations.

g) To oversee the 1^st and 2^nd Year CSP Cohort Representative Positions.

SECTION 5: Vice President for Professional Development: The Vice President for Professional Development has the following responsibilities:

a) To attend all Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.

b) To assess the current educational and professional development programming needs and desires of CSP and HIED students.

c) To coordinate educational and professional development programming according to the results of the needs assessment.

d) To deliver pertinent information to CSP and HiEd students from professional student affairs organizations.

e) To manage the CSP and HiEd alumni database, including recruiting new alumni and connecting current students to alum.

f) To design and execute CSP graduate look-book within Spring semester.

g) To oversee the New Professionals in Transition (NPIT) Co-Chair Cabinet Positions.

SECTION 6: Vice President for Equity and Diversity: The Vice President for Equity and Diversity has the following responsibilities:

a) To attend all Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.

b) To oversee the Social Justice and Inclusion workshop, including, but not limited to, chairing the committee, drafting communications, recruiting and selecting presentations, and logistics.

c) To coordinate professional development opportunities in partnership with the Vice President of Professional Development relating to further education on cultural competency, gender differences, disability, sexual harassment, and other topics that increase awareness of and support for equity and inclusion values.

d) To provide transparent support for students of diverse backgrounds.

e) To lead the development and implementation of proactive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for SDA.

f) To coordinate monthly social justice and inclusion events for students.

SECTION 7: New Professionals in Transition (NPIT) Chairs: The chairs of the New Professionals in Transition Conference shall consist of two second-year SDA members (the previous year’s chair elects) and have the following responsibilities:

a) To attend all Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.

b) To plan and implement the annual New Professionals in Transition Conference, including, but not limited to, chairing the committee, drafting communications, recruiting and selecting presentations, and logistics.

c) To train and mentor the NPIT chair-elects to provide a smooth transition of leadership following NPIT.

SECTION 8: NPIT Chairs-Elect: Chair-Elects of the New Professionals in Transition Conference shall consist of two first-year SDA members and have the following responsibilities:

a) To attend all Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.

b) To assist the NPIT chairs in the planning and implementation of the annual New Professionals in Transition Conference.

c) To assume the roles of NPIT Chairs at the end of their first semester.

d) If elected, NPIT roles are one and a half-year positions. One semester as NPIT Chair-Elect, two semesters as NPIT Chair.

SECTION 9: CSP/HiEd Cohort Representatives: The CSP Cohort Representatives will consist of the 1^st Year CSP Representative, the 2^nd Year CSP Representative, and the Higher Education Representative. Collectively, they will have the following responsibilities:

a) To attend all Executive Board and General Assembl meetings.

b) To serve as representative voices for their respective constituencies.

c) To serve as communication channels between SDA and their respective constituencies.

d) To build community within their respective units.

e) To work in partnership with the President and the Vice President of Programming to plan CSP cohort events throughout the school year.

SECTION 10: Graduate Student Senate (GSS) Representatives: The two GSS representatives serve as representatives of the two HESA academic programs for the Graduate Student Senate.  One representative is from the HiEd program and one is from the CSP program. Both representatives shall have the following responsibilities:

a) To attend all SDA Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.

b) To attend all GSS meetings.

c) To serve as a liaison between GSS and SDA.

d) To report to the SDA President.

e) CSP/HiEd must always be represented at GSS meetings, which take place on Friday afternoons. If a representative is unable to attend a meeting, they must identify a proxy from CSP/HiED to attend in their place.

SECTION 11: CSP Assistant to the Chair: The Assistant to the Chair has the following responsibilities:

a) To serve as a liaison between SDA and the department of HESA.

b) To provide support for SDA’s activities.

c) To assist in the implementation of major HESA events.

SECTION 12: Advisor: The Advisor has the following responsibilities:

a) To serve as a liaison between SDA and the Department of HESA.

b) To provide support and guidance for SDA’s activities/

SECTION 1: Calendar Year Elections: Elections for President, Vice President for Administration, Vice President for Programming, Vice President for Professional Development, and Vice President for Equity and Diversity will take place in late November or December for the following calendar year. Elections should adhere to the following guidelines:

a) Any voting member (as defined under ARTICLE III, SECTION 2) is eligible for any of the Executive Board positions.

b) A member can nominate any voting member or themselves to be a candidate for any office.

c) After assuring the nominees’ approvals, an online ballot will be created by the current President with all the positions and nominees’ names on it, and it will be distributed to all voting members.

d) A secret ballot vote will be the means of electing the officers.

e) Each voting member may cast only one ballot.

f) Election results will be announced via email prior to the End of the semester.

SECTION 2: Academic Year Elections: Elections for NPIT Chair-Elects, Cohort Representatives, and Graduate Student Senate Representatives will be executed at the beginning of the current academic year Elections should adhere to the following guidelines:

a) Any voting member (as defined under ARTICLE III, SECTION 2) is eligible for any of the Executive Board positions.

b) CSP/HiEd Cohort representatives are required to be members of their respective cohorts in order to run for these positions.

c) A member can nominate any voting member or themselves to be a candidate for any office.

d) After assuring the nominees’ approvals, an online ballot will be created by the current President with all the positions and nominees’ names on it, and it will be distributed to all voting members.

e) A secret ballot will be the means of electing the officers.

f) Each voting member may cast only one ballot.

g) Election results will be announced by the President via email within 1 week of elections closing.

SECTION 3: Voting: Voting will be used to decide elections, amendments, and other business.

a) Voting will be executed through anonymous surveys.

b) Votes will be calculated using the Instant Runoff Voting System to determine that a winning candidate has the majority of the votes during the election.

c) In the event that a candidate has run for and won more than one position, the candidate will be offered both positions and will be allowed to select which role to accept. The runner-up for the position they decline will be named the winner.

Section 4: Emergency Elections: In the event that an Executive Board member resigns from their position in the midst of their term, the President should follow these steps for replacement:

a) The President will first reach out to individuals whom ran for positions on the Executive Board and were not elected, seeking interest.

b) If candidate(s) is/are interested, an emergency election will take place with those candidates. The winner will be decided by popular vote.

c) If individuals are not interested in the position and/or are not eligible, a call for nominations from voting members will take place.

d) If nominee(s) are interested, follow the steps outlined in Article VI, Section 4B.

e) If no individuals are interested in the position, the position will be absorbed by other Executive Board members, primarily President, until the next election cycle or an individual expresses interest.

SECTION 1:  The disposal of assets and debts belonging to the student organization should its registration with the University lapse for six (6) or more consecutive months.

If SDA is to be inactive for six (6) months, any debts will be paid through the organization’s Org Funds and any remaining funds will be donated to the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) department at Bowling Green State University.

SECTION 1: Additions, Ratifications, and Nullifications: Any amendments to the constitution may be presented to the President by any person who is a member of SDA.  Additions to the constitution will follow these guidelines:

1. Amendments to the constitution must be presented formally at an Executive Board meeting.

2. Members of the Executive board will discuss amendments to the Constitution.

3. Amendments will then be presented to the general assembly, who will vote or veto changes via an electronic ballot.

4. An amendment to the constitution will pass into action by the majority vote.

5. A vetoed amendment to the constitution can be presented again to the  Executive board once a new term of leadership has started, or significant changes have been produced by the original author.

6. The president is responsible to present any new amendments to the constitution to the rest of the organization at the following general assembly meeting.