Checklist Application for SGA President and SGA Senior Vice President All portions of application must be submitted by the below due dates or your application will not be considered valid or complete President and Senior Vice President candidates submit one application as a team. By Wednesday, February 3rd at 5pm: The following must be submitted in person in the SGA/SMU Office: • Applications for SGA President and SGA Senior Vice President (2) • Resumes (2) • Campaign Manager Contact Information Sheet • Campaign Platform Statement (email copy to [email protected]) • Spring 2015 class/work schedules • A list of your campaign team (name, e-mail, and Student ID) • Sealed character reference forms (one per candidate) • Academic and Community Standing Form (signed) • Campaign Agreement (signed) • Training and Meeting Agreement (signed)

Elections Application Deadlines/Schedule of Events

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2015 at 5pm- President, Senior VP and Senator applications due Wednesday, February 3rd, 2015 at 5pm- deadline to sign up for an on-camera spot for the SGA Elections video Wednesday, February 3rd, 2015 at 9:00pm, SGA Conference Room- Mandatory Election Rules Meeting -You must turn in an itemized statement of campaign expenditures at this meeting. The limit for Presidential Campaigns is $350. 12:00 am/midnight on Wednesday, February 9th- 11:59pm on Tuesday, Feb 16thCampaigning -No pre-campaigning is permitted: please carefully review Official Campaign rules included in this application. Tuesday, February 16, 9pm-10pm, Fireplace Pavilion- SGA Debate 12am on Wednesday, February 17th- 10pm on Thursday, February 18th- Presidential Voting Friday, February 19th- candidates notified of winners and voting results posted online -If a run off election is needed*, voting will take place online on Friday, February 19th from 10:30am - 7pm. Run-off voting results will be posted on the night of Friday, February 19th. *A run-off election will only occur if no candidate(s) receives a simple majority (51%) of the total valid ballots cast Saturday, February 20th, 12 am/midnight- All printed campaign materials (posters, flyers, banners, etc) must be removed.

Position: Student Government Association President Overview: The SGA President serves as a liaison between the student body and the administration, representing the needs of students to the administration and communicating the goals of the administration to students. The Student Government Association (SGA) President is responsible for creating a shared vision and direction for the year within SGA, as well as facilitating the efficiency and proper functioning of every area of SGA. Responsibilities: Within SGA: 1. Serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Student Government Association. 2. Provide vision, direction, and management for the Student Government Association organization in close relationship with Senior Vice President and Director of Student Programming/SGA Advisor. 3. Model an atmosphere of professionalism in the workplace. Provide and encourage an environment where leadership skills may be grown and developed. 4. Meet regularly with and supervise Executive Board (Senior Vice President, Vice President of Administrative Services, Vice President of Finance/Technology/HR and Vice President of Marketing and Communication). 5. Remain informed of and proactive regarding issues of concern within each department of SGA. 6. Appoint SGA members to university committees (in conjunction with SGA Advisor and SGA Senior Vice President) 7. Work with the SGA Advisor to ensure proper training for all members of SGA, with special attention to the Fall staff training and retreat, all-staff trainings, January and Spring trainings. Within Administration: 8. Serve as the key liaison between SGA and the Biola administration, ensuring that Senate resolutions and SGA efforts are communicated appropriately with administration; keep administration informed of noteworthy student needs. 9. Represent the student body at the President’s Administrative Council, APAC, Student Development Deans’ Council and other administrative committees as need. 10. Initiate and implement further opportunities for communication between students and the Administration, including: a. SGA Town Halls b. Student Forums c. SGA meetings with Administrators

Within Student Body 11. Be aware of all significant events happening at Biola and stay alert to current important trends among the student body. Communicate these needs to SGA and University administration. Hiring: 12. Appoint the following positions (in partnership with SGA Advisor): a. VP of Administrative Services (Hired in partnership with SMU President) b. Any position not filled through general election or vacated during term in office. 13. Chair committee for hiring of Vice President of Marketing and Communications and serve on committees for hiring of all other staff positions.

Supervision Received: Director of Student Programming/SGA Advisor Direct Supervision of Others: Senior Vice President, Vice President of Administrative Services, Vice President of Finance/Technology/HR, Director of Marketing and Communications, Office Manager. Qualifications: Strong organizational and servant leadership skills. Ability to supervise peers and communicate effectively. Strong public and written speaking skills are required. Able to take initiative and problem solve. Willing to support and encourage other SGA leaders as a member of a leadership team and receive direction from supervisors. Commitment to acting as a representative of the student body with integrity and professionalism. Past experience with SGA is strongly recommended; working knowledge of SGA is necessary. At the time of election or appointment and throughout service, the candidate must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.00, have completed at least two semesters at Biola University with a full-time student status, and be currently enrolled as a full-time student. He/She must also comply with Biola’s Community standards. Failure to fulfill any of these requirements shall result in immediate forfeiture of office. Hours Worked: 25 hours, 9 months

Title of Position: Student Government Association Senior Vice President Overview: The Student Government Association (SGA) Senior Vice-President serves as the chief council to the SGA President, working with him/her to provide a shared vision and direction for SGA. The Senior Vice-President is responsible for supervising the Senators and presiding over the Senate meetings. He/she also serves as a liaison between the Senators and the President. Responsibilities: 1. Provide guidance and leadership for Senate goals and responsibilities; preside over weekly Senate meetings as a non-voting member. 2. Meet with individual Senators at least once every other week to establish rapport and check on progress of assignments. 3. Create and manage project teams and committees with Senate members as needed. 4. Serve as chief council to the SGA President. 5. Be available to assume the duties of the President in case of the President’s absence. 6. Act as a liaison between the Senators and the President. This primarily involves ensuring a flow of information from Senators to the President. 7. Serve on university committees and/or Senate sub-committees. 8. Have a strong working knowledge of the Constitution and Bylaws. Ensure that the Constitution and Bylaws are kept up-to-date and properly executed. Act as council to the President on matters of Constitutional interpretation. Hiring: 9. Responsible with the President (and in partnership with the SGA Advisor) for the hiring of: a. VP of Administrative Services (Hired in partnership with SMU President) b. Any SGA Senator position not filled through general election or vacated during office c. Diversity Liason Supervision Received: SGA President and Director of Student Programming/SGA Advisor Supervision of Others: The Senators of the Senior Branch of Student Government Association. This includes the residence constituencies as follows: Sigma, Alpha East, Alpha

West, Blackstone, North Horton, South Horton, Hope North, Hope South, Hart, Stewart, West Block apartments, East Block Apartments, Bluff apartments, the two Commuter Senators and the Diversity Liason. Qualifications: Strong organizational and servant leadership skills. Strong ability to supervise peers and communicate effectively. Able to take initiative and problem solve. Willing to support and encourage other SGA leaders as a member of a team and receive direction from supervisors. Commitment to acting as a representative of the student body with integrity and professionalism. Large and small group speaking abilities are strongly desired. Past experience in the senate is strongly recommended. Working knowledge of SGA is necessary. At the time of election or appointment and throughout service, the candidate must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.00, have completed at least two semesters at Biola University with a full-time student status, and be currently enrolled as a full-time student. He/She must also comply with Biola’s Community standards. Failure to fulfill any of these requirements shall result in immediate forfeiture of office. Hours Worked: 20 hours, 9 months

PRESIDENT & SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES GENERAL REQUIREMENTS To qualify for candidacy for the SGA President or SGA Senior Vice President positions: • One must have completed at least three semesters at Biola at full-time status or, if having

transferred from another college or university, be of Junior status and have completed at least one semester at Biola with full-time status and be currently enrolled as a full-time student. • One must be in good academic standing and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale upon election and throughout term. • One must maintain full-time status throughout his or her term in office unless graduating after the Spring Semester of his or her term of office, in which case he or she must take at least six units during the Spring Semester. • One must hold and maintain good standing with Biola’s Community Standards. Violations of these requirements may result in termination at any point throughout one’s term in office. 2015 CAMPAIGN TIMELINE and RULES

● Candidates must attend a Mandatory Election Rules Meeting on Wednesday, February 3rd at 9:00 pm in the SGA Conference Room.

● Active campaigning begins at 12:00 am/midnight on Wednesday, February 9th and ends at 11:59pm on Tuesday, Feb 16th. No pre-campaigning is permitted. Vision Statement: The following rules and regulations are enforced in order to foster an atmosphere of excitement, to prohibit over-saturation of elections materials, and to ensure that no candidate receives an unfair advantage.

● The following is considered pre-campaigning and is not permitted: ○ Printed campaign materials or materials containing your platform or declaration of your intent to run are not to be distributed before campaign week. (This includes flyers, posters, signs, packets, etc.) ○ Publically viewable online campaign materials or materials containing your platform or declaration of your intent to run are not allowed. (This includes public Facebook pages and posts, websites, videos, blogs, public Tweets, etc.)

○

Soliciting & Garnering Support: Essentially you are prohibited against engaging in any activity in which are actively trying to sway someone’s opinion. ○ Finally, any information shared with potential campaign team members must be shared electronically. It should include a disclaimer stating that the documents should not be printed or shared. (You may not physically print or distribute paperwork containing your intention to run or your campaign platform when recruiting membersyou must tell them this information verbally). You may print and distribute materials (marked as confidential) to your campaign team during official team meetings.

● Pre-existing online and printed material: If you host a website or online venue for yourself that is unrelated to your campaign, you may not reuse the same photos, graphics or content to advertise during campaign week. These materials may continue to exist as long as they don't contain campaign information/your intent to run AND as long as that content is not used for anything related to elections later on. For example, if you posted pictures, graphics or content about yourself now on a special Facebook page or some other online site, you would not be able to use those same pictures, graphics or content later on as part of your campaign material. Essentially, you have to be able to show that whatever you are putting up online now is not connected to your goals for campaigning later. SGA will only approve printed materials to be posted during election week.

● No talk about any team’s intention to run or specific campaign platform is allowed in the SGA/SMU offices. It is acceptable to discuss the general elections system or direct questions to the Elections committee while in the office, but do so as privately as possible.

● Current or former SGA members are not permitted to use SGA published communications (including the logo, email addresses, newsletter, etc.) or SGA supplies/resources (stakes, copier/printer, office supplies, SGA discretionary funds, etc.) for campaign purposes.

● SGA members may not use official work hours or events (i.e. rounds, GMOCC, meetings, etc.) to promote a specific candidate team (themselves or another team). SGA members can and should promote the general elections process as part of their jobs.

● SGA members may endorse candidates off the clock, but should not publicly endorse candidates using SGA lines of communications.

● Elections committee members are not permitted to endorse any candidates. ● Printed campaign materials (posters, flyers, banners, etc.) must be removed by 12:00 am (midnight) Saturday, February 20th.

● The SGA Debate and Meet and Greet will be held on Tuesday, February 16 at 9:00 pm at the Fireplace Pavilion. Speaking order will be determined by random drawing.

CAMPAIGNING PENALITIES Disclaimer: The following penalties are to be enforced at the discretion of the elections committee and with the approval of the SGA Advisor. • • • • •

Reduction of the campaign budget Delayed campaigning start “Freeze” a candidate’s campaign page Enforce a removal of posters at the major poster sites The inability to participate in the SGA/SMU Presidential Debate

CAMPAIGN PLATFORM STATEMENT

● SGA will be creating a voter guide to aid students in the election process. Each candidate team is required to submit a paragraph (no more than 150 words) summarizing his or her campaign platform by February 10th at 5pm. Along with submitting your campaign platform with your application, you must email your campaign platform to Samantha Miller, the SGA Communications Coordinator at [email protected]. CAMPAIGN EXPENSES

● Candidates will turn in an itemized statement listing all expenses incurred in the campaign on the night of the presidential debate. The limit for a SGA Presidential campaign is $300. The limit for a SMU Presidential Campaign is $150. You must include the receipt with any item purchases.

● The SGA & SMU Marketing & Communications Department will provide each Presidential Candidate with an initial marketing package which includes at minimum 6 Laminated Posters and Stakes.

● Candidates will not be reimbursed for campaign expenses. ● No candidate is allowed to receive monetary contributions from SGA or any Biola department. CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

● Campaign materials must be posted in accordance with the university posting policy. Biola’s posting policy can be found online at http://studentlife.biola.edu/student-support/handbook/policies-procedures/displays/

● Any illegally posted materials will be confiscated and held by SGA. Repeat offenders may, by the authority of the election committee, be considered invalid candidates and taken off the ballot.

APPLICATION PROCESS

● All applications must be submitted in the SGA/SMU Office by Wednesday, February 3rd at 5pm. Signature pages and Academic Standing forms must be submitted directly to the SGA office by the same time. Any applications or forms received after 5pm will be considered invalid and the prospective candidates’ names will not appear on the ballot- NO EXCEPTIONS.

● Along with your application, you must turn in a list of the names of students that are on your campaign team. No one other students will be able to join your campaign team after this point.

● Candidates will also sign up for an Elections photo by February 3rd (to be shot between February 4th-5th).

● Candidates’ name will appear on the ballot exactly as it is on the application. ● The position of the candidates’ names on the ballot for a particular office will be determined by the order in which the candidates submit their applications. In a runoff election, the candidate with the highest percentage of votes in the general election will be placed first on the ballot.

VOTING PROCEDURES

● Voting will begin at 12am on Wednesday, February 17th through 10pm on Thursday, February 18th.

● All candidates will be notified of the winner and results posted on Friday, February 19th (with the exception of a run-off vote).

● If a run-off election is needed, voting will take place on Friday, February 19th from 10:30am - 7pm. Run-off voting results will be posted on the night of Friday, February 19th.

● Candidates and their campaign teams may not campaign in areas visible from the voting area or in the SGA/SMU Office.

Failure to abide by these regulations or to complete these required steps shall result in a possible disqualification at the discretion of the SGA Election Committee. Questions may be directed to SGA VP of Finance, Graham Gantzer at [email protected]

Application for SGA President Please include a resume with your application. Name ________________________ Ext_______ Cell _________________

Mailbox # _________________ Class Status __________________________

I plan to carry _____ units next fall semester; __________ spring semester

Major __________________Vocational Objective ______________________

Anticipated Graduation Date _______________________________________

Please list all other extra-curricular activities/employment possibilities in which you may participate next year.

You must have one character reference complete the reference forms included in this packet. Please list their names below. You may choose from a pastor, mentor, current or former professor, employer, advisor or supervisors. Do not choose a friend, peer or family member.

Return the reference form in sealed envelopes to the SGA/SMU Office by the application deadline.

Name of Reference; his/her relationship to you 1. __________________________________________________________

Please provide typed answers to the questions below. 1.

Why are you interested in this position?

2.

What do you think most uniquely qualifies you for this position?

3.

What is your understanding of the purpose of SGA?

4.

What role do you usually play on a team?

5. Please list 2 of your strengths and 2 of your weaknesses and how they might affect you as a leader in SGA.

6. Explain your understand of Biola’s Community Standards and comment on your willingness to model those standards as a servant leader in SGA.

Questions: Please contact SGA VP of Finance Graham Gantzer at [email protected]

Application for SGA Senior Vice President Please include a resume with your application.

Name ________________________ Ext_______ Cell _________________

Mailbox # _________________ Class Status __________________________

I plan to carry _____ units next fall semester; __________ spring semester

Major __________________Vocational Objective ______________________

Anticipated Graduation Date _______________________________________

Please list all other extra-curricular activities/employment possibilities in which you may participate next year.

You must have one character reference complete the reference forms included in this packet. Please list their names below. You may choose from a pastor, mentor, current or former professor, employer, advisor or supervisors. Do not choose a friend, peer or family member. Return the reference form in sealed envelopes to the SGA Office by the application deadline.

Name of Reference; his/her relationship to you 1. __________________________________________________________

Please provide typed answers to the questions below. 1. Why are you interested in this position?

2. What do you think most uniquely qualifies you for this position?

3. What is your understanding of the purpose of SGA?

4. What role do you usually play on a team?

5. Please list 2 of your strengths and 2 of your weaknesses and how they might affect you as a leader in SGA.

6. Explain your understand of Biola’s Community Standards and comment on your willingness to model those standards as a servant leader in SGA.

Questions: Please contact SGA VP of Finance Graham Gantzer at [email protected]

CAMPAIGN MANAGER INFORMATION Candidates MUST include information about their Campaign Managers. Campaign Managers are also REQUIRED to be at the Mandatory Rules Meeting with the President and VP Candidates.

Name ____________________________ Ext ______ Cell/Home#__________ Email Address________________________________

CAMPAIGN PLATFORM STATEMENT SGA will be putting out a voter guide to aide students in the election process. The President/Senior Vice President team is required to submit a paragraph, no more than 150 words, summarizing their campaign platform.

Questions: Please contact SGA VP of Finance Graham Gantzer at [email protected]

Academic and Community Standing Form for SGA President (Candidate- please sign and turn this form in with your application)   I ____________________________ waive the right for the Director of Student Programming/SGA Advisor to: Yes [ ]

Check my academic standing with the Registrar, and

[ ]

Check my community standing with Student Care.

I understand that I am not an eligible candidate until my good community standing has been confirmed. I further understand that my election/appointment to office is conditional upon meeting the requirements for both good academic and community standing at the conclusion of the Spring 2016 semester.

Candidate Signature _____________________________ Date _____________

Academic and Community Standing Form for SGA Senior Vice President (Candidate- please sign and turn this form in with your application)   I ____________________________ waive the right for the Director of Student Programming/SGA Advisor to: Yes [ ]

Check my academic standing with the Registrar, and

[ ]

Check my community standing with Student Care.

I understand that I am not an eligible candidate until my good community standing has been confirmed. I further understand that my election/appointment to office is conditional upon meeting the requirements for both good academic and community standing at the conclusion of the Spring 2016 semester.

Candidate Signature _____________________________ Date _____________

CAMPAIGN AGREEMENT I agree to follow all of the regulations set forth in the CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES and understand that I will be held liable for any violations PLUS any expenses incurred by maintenance for cleaning up tape, wire, paint, or any other materials that may have been part of my campaign. I agree to pay any accrued fines. I understand that I am responsible to ensure that all people campaigning for me abide by the campaign rules.

Candidate for SGA President: NAME_________________________________________________________ (please print) Signed_________________________________________________________

Date___________________________________________________________

Candidate for SGA Senior Vice President: NAME_________________________________________________________ (please print) Signed_________________________________________________________

Date___________________________________________________________

    SGA  Application  Character  Reference  Form _____________________________________________(APPLICANT’S  NAME)  is  applying  for  the  position  of   _____________________________________________  within  the  Student  Government  Association  at  Biola   University  for  the  2016-­‐2017  academic  year.  As  a  member  of  SGA,  the  applicant  is  expected  to  act  as   a  representative  of  the  student  body  and  work  as  a  member  of  a  team  to  give  voice  to  the  students’   needs  and  provide  events  and  services  that  help  to  build  a  Christ-­‐centered  community.  (Please  ask   applicant  for  details  of  the  position  for  which  the  he/she  is  applying.)   I,  the  applicant,  waive  the  right  to  have  access  to  this  reference  form. SIGNATURE:  __________________________________________________________________  DATE:  ______________ How  long  and  in  what  capacity  have  you  known  the  applicant?   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please  rate  the  applicant’s  strengths  and  weaknesses  in  relation  to  the  characteristics  below   on  a  scale  of  1-­‐5.  Feel  free  to  make  comments  if  necessary. Poor  (1)   Below  Average  (2)   Average  (3)   Above  Average  (4)   Excellent  (5) ______Humility    

 

______Servant-­‐mindedness  

 

______Flexibility

______Team-­‐oriented  

 

______Self-­‐awareness    

 

______Dependability

______Organization  

 

______Follow-­‐through    

 

______Ability  to  listen

______Leadership  skills            

______Ability  to   manage  stress

______Ability  to  relate     to  different  types  of  people      

Please  respond  to  the  following  questions. 1. Many  positions  in  SGA  require  students  to  supervise  their  peers.  This  can  often  be   uncomfortable  or  even  lead  to  conflict  among  staff  members.  How  well  do  you  believe  the   applicant  could  handle  supervising  his  or  her  peers?

2. How  does  the  applicant  handle  responsibility  and  follow-­‐through  when  he  or  she  is  not   closely  supervised?

3.

Do  you  believe  the  applicant  would  make  a  good  role  model  for  his  or  her  peers?

4. Please  take  the  time  to  make  some  specific  comments  about  the  applicant  and  their   potential  as  a  leader.  Please  feel  free  to  attach  additional  sheets  if  necessary.  We've  found  that  such   information  proves  especially  helpful  in  making  final  decisions.  

Overall,  how  would  you  recommend  the  applicant  for  this  position? ______I  would  strongly  recommend. ______I  would  recommend  with  reservations. ______I  would  not  recommend. Your  name___________________________________________  Position/Title  ________________________________ Email  Address  ______________________________________  Phone  number  _______________________________ Please  return  form  to  applicant  in  a  sealed  envelope  or  directly  to  the  Student  Government   Association  office  at  Biola  University  Student  Government  Association,  13800  Biola  Ave,  La   Mirada,  CA  90639.  You  may  also  email  it  to  [email protected]  

  Training  and  Meeting  Agreement  2016-­‐2017  

We,      ________________________________  and  _______________________________  understand  that   our  hiring/appointment  is  contingent  upon  being  available  and  committed  to  attend  ALL  of  the   following:  

1. New  SGA  Staff  Meet  and  Greet/Commissioning  –  7-­‐10pm,  May  13,  2016,  location  TBD 2. New  SGA  Staff  Training  Day  –  9-­‐12pm,  Saturday,  May  14,  2016,  location  TBD 3. Mock  Senate  Meetings  –  3:00-­‐6:00pm  Thursday,  April  7th  &  April  14th,  2016 4. Executive  Board  Retreat  and  Prep-­‐  Wednesday,  August  10th-­‐  Friday,  August  12th,  2016 5. All  Staff  August  Retreat-­‐  Sunday,  August  14th-­‐  Tuesday,  August  16th,  2016 6. All  Staff  Training-­‐  Wednesday,  August  17th    –  Tuesday,  August  23rd,  2016  (specific  times  TBD) 7. SGA  Meetings  –Thursdays,  3:00-­‐6:00pm  during  the  2016-­‐2017  school  year.  YOU  CANNOT   ENROLL  IN  A  CLASS  THAT  WOULD  MEET  DURING  THIS  TIME.   8.        Spring  Training  –  Friday,  January  27th  –  Saturday,  January  28th,  2017 9. Student  Conference  on  Racial  Reconciliation  (SCORR)-­‐  February  17-­‐18,  2017  (only   specific  events  TBD)

SGA  Presidential  Candidate: Signed________________________________________________________Date______________ SGA  Senior  Vice  Presidential  Candidate: Signed  ________________________________________________________Date  _____________