Plenary Resolution Preparation Workshop

What is Plenary? Plenary is the opportunity for all members of the Bryn Mawr Self-Government Association to gather together to: Constitutional Amendment Recommendation to Administration, Faculty, Staff, and/or the Board of Trustees Ratification of school policy Challenge decisions made by the Assembly Creation or amendment of campus-wide policies  a. In this case, the resolution is a clarification of expectations of students based on the Honor Code and the way in which students interact with it.

Plenary Workshop Schedule Overview of the Process Schedule and Deadlines Examples of Good and Bad Resolutions Q & A Discussion of Resolutions

How to Create a Resolution Start with an Idea! Attend a Plenary Workshop Get 1/3 of Quorum Meeting with Executive Board Present Resolution at an SGA Meeting Present Resolution at Fall or Spring Plenary

How to Create a Resolution Plenary Workshops will help you write your resolution. You will meet with the Executive Board before the Plenary SGA meeting Plenary SGA Meeting is where you will present your final rough draft of your resolution to the assembly. The Representative Council will help you refine your resolution before you present it to the whole Association. Plenary is the place where you will present your resolution.

Schedule and Deadlines Plenary Workshops: (one of the following)  Tues, 9/11 at 8pm  Sat, 9/15 at 2pm  Mon, 9/17 at 8pm  Thurs, 9/20 at 7pm  Sat, 9/22 at 5pm SGA Meeting:  Sunday, September 30th at 7pm Plenary  Sunday, October 7th at 12:30pm (Presenters: 12pm) You must also your resolutions to the Executive Board by Sunday, September 23 th

Example Resolution: Beginning Beginning: The beginning of the Plenary resolution should always start a general statement and/or larger problem. Examples: Whereas, Article I, Section II, Subsection C reads that “Plenary shall be held once during each academic year in accordance with Article VI, Section X. Plenary quorum shall be one-third of the undergraduate student body. At Plenary, a simple majority of those present is required to pass all proposals, amendments to the Constitution and resolutions” Whereas, it is important to maintain the integrity and continuity of Traditions in a manner that preserves the goals of Traditions and the Articles of Self-Governance.

Writing a Resolution Must include the 5 W’s. A timeline of action must be presented in the resolution Must explain how it will be followed through See Plenary by-laws under “Structure of a Resolution” 8

Example Resolution: Body Body :The middle of the resolution should have all the reasons why this resolution is necessary and should be implemented into the Bryn Mawr community. As a rule, you should be as detailed as possible. You will have unlimited time to read this part of the resolution. Examples: Whereas, student representation is of great concern to the Bryn Mawr Community and a vital aspect of Self-Governance, Whereas, the divide between the SGA Assembly and Residence Council hinders effective representation and communication between residential representatives and constituents, Whereas, the constituencies for SGA Dorm Representatives and Residence Council Dorm Presidents are one in the same, Whereas, Article II, Section 1 Subsection C lists “one residential representative from each residence hall” as a component of the Assembly, Whereas, Article IV Section 1 Subsection B lists the responsibilities of the Residential Representatives,Resolved, Article II Section 1 Subsection C shall be changed from “one residential representative” to “up to two Dorm Presidents”.

Example Resolution: Ending Ending: Every plenary resolution should end with actual resolution. Common Endings include, but are not limited to, “It is hereby resolved that” and “Resolved”. Note: For a particularly complicated resolution, which needs definitions, charts, etc, Appendices may be added onto the Resolution. Please note that the “resolved” part of the resolution can have several parts. Examples: Resolved, the positions of Dorm Representative shall be eliminated and Dorm Presidents shall assume the responsibilities of that position while retaining their position on Residence Council and the responsibilities therein. The BMC Greens hereby resolves that the students of Bryn Mawr College vote to implement a more socially and environmentally responsible take-out option. With this support from the student body, the Greens and Dining Services will move forth in selecting and implementing a better take-out option. If the cost of the implementing the new option exceeds the current budget, Dining Services has agreed to find a reasonable way to pay for it via reallocating money within the budget as opposed to charging students directly.

Good Resolution A good resolution regarding a recommendation to the faculty regarding no homework on the Monday after Plenary ( school year): Whereas, we the students take pride in our community, the Self Governance Association, and the ability to make changes and recommendations on campus, Whereas, attending Plenary is strongly encouraged to make our voices heard and hear other voices, Whereas, many students do not attend Plenary because they claim that they have too much work to do that cannot be done at Plenary Whereas, a survey was taken regarding the attendance at Plenary if there were no long term assignments due the Monday after Plenary, revealing that 86% of the student body would be more inclined to attend Plenary (survey and results in Appendix A), Whereas, the majority of the faculty has expressed support, through a survey (results available in Appendix B), of students attendance at Plenary and are willing to adjust due dates of long term assignments, Be it resolved, the student body recommends to the faculty that no long term assignments be due on the Monday after Plenary in both the fall and the spring.

Bad Resolution A bad example of the same resolution: Whereas, we the students take pride in our community, the Self Governance Association, and the ability to make changes and recommendations on campus, Whereas, many students do not attend Plenary because they claim that they have too much work to do that cannot be done at Plenary Be it resolved, the student body recommends to the faculty that no long term assignments be due on the Monday after Plenary in both the fall and the spring.

Common Q & A What if I’m not available to present my resolution at the SGA meeting and/or at Plenary? [You can always get a substitute presenter] When is the resolution due? [The resolution is due Sunday, September 23rd at 7PM via to and the signatures need to be collected to by the start of the SGA meeting on Sunday, September 30th]

Common Q & A Who do I send my resolution to? [Please send to What happens if my resolution gets passed at Plenary? [You get to follow up with all the necessary procedures; for instance, if you have a resolution to change dorm procedure you need to make sure those changes are implemented]

Contacts SGA  Exec Board: sga  President/Vrinda: vvaria  Vice President/ Tyler: tgarber  Secretary/Natalie: nkato  Treasurer/Sowmya: ssrinivasa  Honor Board Head/Irene: ishin Plenary. Committee  Natalie: nzamora  Nora: nscheland  Syona: sarora  Eunhae: elee04 The Student Body 