Articles XV–XVI

Article XV. Community Standards Board

Section 1. Mandate

The Community Standards Board is responsible for upholding the behavioral standards of Smith College through a fair and transparent process. The procedures provide all parties an opportunity to present and respond to alleged violations of policies and indicate the bases on which the college will make determinations regarding policy violations.

Section 2. Procedures

The full procedures of the Community Standards Board can be found in the Student Handbook.
The Student Government Association retains the right to review and amend any such proposed changes to the procedures.

Section 3. Types of Hearings

Administrative Settlement:
1. This option is available if the following requirements are met:
  1. The student takes responsibility for the violation;
  2. The student has not received a previous sanction from the Community Standards Board; and
  3. The violation is deemed to be minor by the hearing officer
2. Under this option, a student waives their right to a hearing and to the appeal process.
3. While a responding party may participate in the conversation about the appropriate sanction, the decision ultimately rests with the hearing officer
4. A student is never required to accept an Administrative Settlement. If this option is declined, there will be a hearing.
Community Standards Board Hearing:
1. Full Board: This option is conducted by a five-member panel, with the support of a non-voting Chair, to hear cases, determine responsibility, and decide on sanctions, if appropriate.
2. Administrative Board: This option functions in the same manner as the Full Board, but requires only a three-member panel. An Administrative Board may be called when there is a demonstrated need for expediency when the Community Standards Full Board cannot be convened due to academic year timing, lack of a quorum, or exceptional privacy concerns are deemed to exist.

Section 4. Student Panelist Selection

Nominations will normally be accepted each spring for the following year, student positions will be open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and Ada Comstock Scholars.
1. To serve in the panel pool, students must:
  1. Have completed at least one full semester at the college.
  2. Be enrolled and in good standing, including not on academic or disciplinary probation.
  3. Have completed 32 hours of academic credit with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.
  4. Have no active sanction and/or record of misconduct during the semester(s) in which a student wishes to serve on the panel. A serious history of misconduct could disqualify a student for service.
  5. Complete an application and submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, staff member, or administrator from within the College community.
The Student Government Association Elections and Appointments Committee will support the nomination and selection process with the non-voting administrative chair of the Community Standards Board.

Section 5. Procedural Review

The college will review the Community Standards Board procedures at least every five years and will ask the Student Government Association to appoint two student representatives to serve on the review committee.

Article XVI. Accessibility Committee

Section 1. Purpose

The Accessibility Committee of the Student Government Association addresses the broad topic of accessibility on campus, with duties and powers including but not limited to:
1. Advocating for educational equity for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses;
2. Broadening access to campus buildings, resources, funds, and activities for all students, staff, faculty, and Smith community members, regardless of ability;
3. Considering and highlighting accessibility concerns in all work done by the SGA;
4. Regularly surveying students in regard to ARC, its services, and potential improvements, and compiling reports on any surveying;
5. Addressing any and all issues brought by members of the committee;
6. Addressing any and all issues referred to the committee by Smith community members.

Section 2. Membership

The chair or co-chairs:
1. The chair(s) of the committee shall serve as a member of the SGA Cabinet and shall represent the Accessibility Committee’s concerns and recommendations regarding accessibility on all matters.
2. The chair(s) of the committee shall report on committee projects and actions taken to the SGA Cabinet.
3. The chair(s) of the committee shall attend weekly meetings of the SGA Senate, or send another member of the committee for regular attendance. This committee representative shall serve as a non-voting member of the SGA Senate.
4. The chair(s) shall call and schedule regular meetings of the committee and will set and send out the agenda for each meeting.
  1. The chair(s) shall receive requests for additions to the agenda.
5. The chair(s) shall maintain the email inbox of the committee.
6. The chair(s) shall receive membership applications to the committee and bring them to the general body immediately for consideration.
7. The Vice President of the SGA shall serve as interim chair of the committee until the committee internally selects a different chair/co-chairs through an internal vote, wherein the majority winner becomes chair.
8. The process for internal chair elections shall be decided by internal deliberations within the committee.
  1. Internal chair elections shall be conducted at the end of the spring semester, for resulting SGA Cabinet membership to begin in the following fall semester.
    1. The chair(s) will be elected for a one-year term, serving from the fall to the spring semester. The chair(s) may run for re-election.
The vice-chair:
1. The student shall be a member of the Accessibility Committee, and shall be elected in the fall from within the committee's membership by a majority vote, to serve a term of one year.
2. The vice chair shall accompany the chair to administrative meetings and shall help advise the chair on the priorities and proceedings of the committee, as well as lead meetings when necessary.
3. The student shall fill the seat of chair should the position be vacated mid-year.
The secretary:
1. The student shall be a member of the Accessibility Committee, and shall be elected in the fall from within the committee’s membership by a majority vote during the year’s first meeting of the committee, to serve a term of one year.
2. The secretary shall be responsible for all the correspondence and taking minutes during Accessibility Committee meetings, and shall be responsible for ensuring that the records and documents related to the work of the committee are saved digitally to the committee's Google Drive for accessibility by future committee members.
3. In case of the secretary’s absence, any member from the committee can take the responsibility of recording minutes or notes.
4. In the event that the office of secretary is vacated, it shall be filled, for the remainder of the term by a member of the committee, elected by a simple majority of the committee.
General body members:
1. Members shall include but are not limited to:
  1. SGA Senators and Cabinet members;
  2. Staff from the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC);
  3. Students from Chronic Baddies;
  4. Members of Dis-Organizing;
  5. Concerned community members on a case-by-case basis.
2. The chair will receive applications from interested parties and present them to committee members for their deliberation.
  1. Upon presentation of an application, the committee shall take a majority-rules vote on the potential new member’s application.
  2. The committee will prioritize and encourage applications from those who have lived experiences from within the disabled and/or neurodivergent community.
Committee chair(s) and members of the committee shall be subject to impeachment by a two-thirds majority vote of its members. Any member of the Accessibility Committee may initiate an impeachment vote. Possible grounds for impeachment are suspension, dismissal, permanent separation, negligence, dereliction of duty, and other infractions deemed sufficient by any member of the Accessibility Committee.
1. Following the impeachment of the committee chair, the vice-chair will assume the chairship.