Positions

Senate Positions

Below is a list of all Executive Board, Specialty Senator, and Departmental Senator positions, including a description of each role and the length of its corresponding term.

President (1 years)

The President shall:

  • Be the chief executive officer of the Student Senate
  • Preside at Student Senate and Executive Board meetings
  • Be responsible for the prompt and orderly execution of all Senate resolutions
  • Represent the Student Senate at official functions
  • Serve as the official Student Senate spokesperson to the administration and college community
  • Serve on the following committees: Board of Trustees, Long range Financial Planning, and President Inauguration
  • Prepare the agenda for Student Senate meetings
  • Call all Student Senate meetings including the Executive Board and Special Meetings
  • Appoint an Election Committee in consultation with the Executive Board with the Vice President as Chairperson
    • Designate another Senator to preside over the Election Committee if the Vice-President is a candidate for office
  • Appoint Senators in consultation with the Executive Board
  • Serve on College Committees 

Vice-President (1 years)

The Vice President shall:

  • Preside over the Student Senate and Executive Board meetings in the absence of the President
  • Represent the Student Senate at official functions as designated by the President
  • Succeed to the office of Student Senate President in the event a vacancy occurs in that office until the next Executive Board election
  • Chair the Election Committee as designated by the President unless a candidate
  • Oversee all Student Senate standing committees.

Communications Officer (1 year)

The Communication Officer shall:

  • Maintain communication between the Student Senate and the University Community
  • Update the Student Senate website
  • Post other public correspondence as necessary
  • Supervise the publicity of Student Senate activities
  • Document Student Senate activities

Parliamentarian (1 year)

The Parliamentarian shall:

  • Assist in the orderly operation of meetings
  • Clarify the Constitution and Bylaws
  • Oversee all Student Senate ad hoc committees
  • Report to the Student Senate concerning ad hoc committees
  • Coordinate training sessions regarding parliamentary procedure, or the Student Senate

Treasurer (1 year)

The Treasurer shall:

  • Be the fiscal officer of the Student Senate
  • Draft a budget in consultation with the Executive Board and Student Senate advisor(s)
  • Submit the budget for adoption by the Student Senate and to the advisors for approval after adoption
  • Collect and distribute Student Senate funds as authorized by the Senate or Executive Board
  • Keep complete records of all financial transactions
  • Present financial reports to the Student Senate at each meeting
  • Create budget allocation after officer elections
  • With the advice of the Student Senate advisor(s) for the following year, complete all financial paperwork relating to Student Senate activity

University Senator (2 years)

The University Senator shall:

  • Ascertain student opinion and concerns on academic, institutional, and community issues and engage Student Senators in conversations about potential advocacy action on behalf of students with faculty, staff, administrators, or other stakeholders
  • Serve on two (2) committees in the Columbia University Senate, one of which is the Student Affairs Committee (SAC), the committee bringing together all university senators across Columbia University colleges.

 

Accessibility Senator (1 Year)

TC Student Senate acknowledges the complexity and intersectionality present within the disabled community. We ask in good faith that those applying to this position either have a lived history in the disabled community and/or have a track record of advocating for disabled communities.

The Accessibility Senator shall:

  • Serve on any committee
  • Advise Senate and standing committees on perspectives and needs of students requiring accessibility support.
  • Hold one (2) open Listening Session a year in addition to office hours for the purpose of learning directly from student experiences navigating accessibility issues.
    • Listening Sessions are open community forums centered on a specific topic related to accessibility within the College. It is a space for those who may identify as disabled to meet with Accessibility Senators without necessarily disclosing any personal identifying information regarding their disability. This forum is designed to foster community from an accessibility-centered perspective and give a direct voice to disabled students on campus and online. 
  • Collaborate directly with OASID and/or other campus organizations that they deem to be relevant to their work on Student Senate, including but not limited to TC Next, Digital Futures Institute, TCIT, etc.
    • Schedule at least 2 meetings (i.e. initial and follow up) with leadership in offices/departments that directly represent or educate about the needs of disabled students, provide direct student feedback, as well as coordinate programming and institutional improvement on behalf of students with disabilities. These offices may include: Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID), Office of Diversity and Community Affairs (ODCA), Digital Campus Infrastructure, Office of Grounds and Resources, Teachers College Information Technology (TCIT), career services in TC NEXT, TC Alumni, and/or other Senate Committees 
    • Prepare initiative reports to be included in End of Semester Reports.

    Alumni Senator (1 Year)

    The Alumni Senator shall:

    • Serve as a member of the Student Life Committee
    • Attend to Student Senate business as it pertains to student organizations (e.g. present bills with and on behalf of student organizations seeking grants and funding)
    • Attend all Student Organizations and SDA-wide meetings (held monthly)
    • Serve as liaison between the Student Senate and the Office of Student Activities and Programs regarding student organizations
    • Initiate and maintain relationships with all other student organization leadership

    International Student Senator (1 year)

    The International Student Senator shall:

    • Serve as a member of the Diversity and Community Affairs Committee
    • Serve as a liaison between the Student Senate and the Office of International Services
    • Advise the Student Senate on issues and concerns specific to international students
    • Be apart of the International Students Club

     

    Residential Services Senator (1 Year) 

    The Residential Services Senator shall:

    • Serve as a member of the Institutional Affairs Committee
    • Serve as a liaison between the Student Senate and Facilities and Residential Services and the Office of Residential Services
    • Collaborate with the Sustainability Chair on at least one (1) organized program and/or event
    • Coordinate an ad hoc committee of college residents to gather information relevant to the residential experience.
    • Advise the Student Senate on issues and concerns specific to students using Teachers College residential services

    The Departmental Senators shall:

    • Serve as the liaison between Student Senate and their constituency, including but not limited to faculty, staff, and students

    • Work with student organizations to draft and propose legislation, including resolutions and bills;

    • Monitor the budget, spending, welfare, and commitment to all initiatives of the department through conversations with department chairs, administrators, and faculty

    • Attend required events for all Senators unless specifically exempted by the President: including Senate Orientation (Date must be shared with Elections Announcement), Regular Senate Meetings (Time and frequency determined by Executive Board), and Committee meetings.

    • Read, research, offer an informed opinion, and vote on all legislation motions presented in the Senate (e.g. bills, resolutions, orders, internal elections, etc.).

    • Serve on a Student Senate committee as appointed by the Executive Board

    • Shall host official office hour meetings with their department/specialty constituents for a minimum of one hour per month. 

    • Attend 1 TC Listening Sessions per semester


    Arts and Humanities Senator 

    2 Senators (1 year)

    Biobehavioral Sciences

    2 Senators (1 year)

    Counseling and Clinical Psychology

    2 Senators (1 year)

    Curriculum and Teaching

    2 Senators (1 year)

    Education Policy and Social Analysis

    2 Senators (1 year)

    Health and Behavior Studies

    2 Senators (1 year)

    Human Development

    2 Senators (1 year)

    International & Transcultural Studies

    2 Senators (1 year)

    Math, Science, and Technology

    2 Senators (1 year)

    Leadership and Organization

    2 Senators (1 year)

    Senate Operations Coordinator -Federal Work Study (1 year)

    The Senate Operations Coordinator shall:

    • Provides administrative support and guidance to the Student Senate Executive Board
    • Transmit of all Student Senate meeting minutes, legislation, and records
    • Work closely with the Communications Officer to carry out duties pertaining to Senate’s campus-wide correspondence, social media presence, monthly newsletters, and website
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