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:
- Make recommendations to faculty, staff and
administrators
- Make a recommendation to other Association
members
- Re-affirm the Constitution (Spring Plenary Only)
- Participate in the only meeting of all members of
Self-Government Association
Plenary Workshop Schedule
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Overview of the Process
Schedule and Deadlines
Examples of Good and Bad Resolutions
Q&A
Discussion of Resolutions
How to Create a Resolution
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Start with an Idea!
Attend a Plenary Workshop
Get signatures!
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.
• 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
In order to write a resolution you must attend the
following meetings:
• Plenary Workshops: (one of the following)
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Monday, September 9th at 8PM in Taylor Seminar Room
Wednesday, September 11th at 7PM in Taylor Seminar Room
Thursday, September 12th at 8PM in Taylor Seminar Room
Saturday, September 14th at 2PM in Taylor Seminar Room
Monday, September 16th at 8PM in Taylor Seminar Room
• Meet with Executive Board to review Resolution:
 TBD (we will meet the week of September 16th)
• SGA Meeting:
 Sunday, September 22 at 7 pm in the Campus Center
• Plenary:
 Sunday, September 29th at 12 pm (Presenters-11:30 pm)
 You must also email your resolutions to the Executive Board
(sga@brynmawr.ed) for review by Friday, September 20th and
send your revisions in by Tuesday, September 24th at midnight.
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.
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 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.
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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 (2007-2008 school year):
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Whereas, we the students take pride in our community, the Self Governance
Association, and the ability to make changes and recommendations on campus,
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Whereas, attending Plenary is strongly encouraged to make our voices heard
and hear other voices,
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Whereas, many students do not attend Plenary because they claim that they
have too much work to do that cannot be done at Plenary
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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),
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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,
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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 are signatures due?
[signatures are due at the SGA meeting you
present at]
Common Q & A
• Who do I send my resolution to?
• [Please send to sga@brynmawr.edu]
• 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
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Exec Board: sga
President/Natalie: nkato@brynmawr.edu
Vice President/ Rebecca: rmcook@brynmawr.edu
Secretary/Syona: sarora@brynmawr.edu
Treasurer/Amy: ychen01@brynmawr.edu
Honor Board Head/Amani: achowdhury@brynmawr.edu
• Plenary. Committee
 Natalie Zamora: nzamora@brynmawr.edu
 Jessica Villalta-Santana: jvillaltas@brynmawr.edu
 Nora Scheland: nscheland@brynmawr.edu
• The Student Body
 Activities@brynmawr.edu