STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS RULES AND PROCEDURES 2014
1. Each candidate must file an approved petition containing name, signature, WSU access ID number (ex:
ab1234) of at least twenty-five (25) currently registered, Wayne State University students. It is
recommended that each candidate gets at least thirty-five (35) signatures just in case some of those
students are not currently registered WSU students or names and ID numbers do not match.
2. Undergraduate candidates shall carry a program of not less than six (6) credit hours at the time of their
election. Undergraduate students shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.67 (Baverage). Graduate students shall carry at least three (3) hours at the time of their election. Graduate
students must have satisfactory grade point averages, as determined by their individual schools.
3. If a potential Undergraduate student has a cumulative GPA in the range 2.33 and 2.66, and a Graduate
student has a cumulative GPA below that which is required by their individual school; the candidate must
submit a statement describing in limited detail how the student intends to approach the following semesters
to improve their GPA. The statement should identify previous or current study strategies that are employed
to improve their studies or class work. This statement is to prevent academic ineligibility during term of
service if elected to Student Senate. Completed statements are to be submitted to the Election
Commission as part of the Candidate Questionnaire. If a candidate fails to do so, they may be deemed
ineligible and may not be permitted to run for Student Senate.
4. Undergraduate students shall have already earned at least twelve (12) credit hours at Wayne State
University by January 2015. Graduate students shall have already earned at least six (6) credit hours in
the graduate division of Wayne State University by January 2015.
5. Completed Petitions, with attached Candidate Questionnaire Cards, must be submitted to the Dean of
Students Office, room 786 Student Center Building, by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2015. Students
must submit both documents to have their petitions considered by the Election Commission.
6. Slate forms will be made available in the Dean of Students Office or online at
www.doso.wayne.edu/studentsenate for those candidates wishing to form a slate. Slates are formed when
two or more candidates decide to run together under a group name because they have similar issues that
they want to address. Slate forms are to be returned to the Dean of Students Office, room 351 Student
Center Building, by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2015.
7. Each candidate must complete and submit a questionnaire to the Election Commission, which will be
published on the Elections website and/or in The South End. Candidates are required to sign and date a
Candidate Questionnaire Card acknowledging that the Candidate Questionnaire was filled out and
submitted online. The questionnaire must be filled out electronically and is available at
www.doso.wayne.edu/studentsenate. Candidates Questionnaires must be submitted to the Election
Committee by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2015.
8. Candidate Questionnaire statements may not be published before the official candidates start campaigning
on Monday, March 16, 2015. **Candidates are also encouraged to produce their own 1-minute video
telling voters, “Why you should vote for me for Student Senate.” Candidate videos are due by 5:00 p.m.
on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Further details and rules are available at
www.doso.wayne.edu/studentsenate and at the Dean of Students Office, room 786 Student Center
Building. **
9. Candidates who do not meet the eligibility requirements stated in numbers 1-4 above will be notified via email no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 9, 2015. It is the candidate’s responsibility to check their
Wayne State e-mail for notification. Candidates disputing the Election Commission’s determination may
schedule an eligibility hearing, which will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 12pm. A final list of
candidates will be issued by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2015.
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STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS RULES AND PROCEDURES 2014
10. Each candidate must attend a mandatory meeting (The Candidates’ Meeting) regarding election
policies and procedures. These meetings will be held on Thursday, March 12 at noon AND 3:00 p.m. AND
5:00 p.m. in Hilberry B (2nd floor) in the Student Center Building. It is required that all eligible
candidates attend one of these meetings. Those candidates that cannot make the meeting due to
classes must inform the Election Commission at devon.sterk@wayne.edu prior to the meeting to schedule
an alternate meeting date and time. Those candidates who do not attend the Candidates’ Meeting or notify
the Election Commission of their absence due to classes, may not be eligible to run as an official candidate
in the Student Senate elections.
11. Campaigning may not begin until Monday, March 16, 2015. “Campaigning – An organized operation
designed to bring about a particular political, commercial or social goal.” (Webster’s Dictionary). For
example, literature distribution, announcement candidacy, promo give away, etc.
12. Fundraising activities are permitted starting Monday, March 16, 2015 and ends at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday,
April 9, 2015. All activities must comply with University policies
13. Each candidate shall be responsible for knowing and complying with the rules and procedures of the
election.
14. Each candidate is responsible for knowing all the regulations which apply to the distribution and posting of
materials on campus, and for complying with the regulations as presented at the Candidates' Meeting.
15. Such illegal, as well as unethical acts such as forgery of signatures, electronic ballot stuffing, “hacking”,
tampering with the online election system, and harassment/intimidation of potential voters, etc. are
forbidden. Any infraction of this order, whether by the candidate; or a person determined to be associated
with, or working on behalf of the candidate; as confirmed and verified by the Election Commission, may
result in the disqualification of the candidate(s) involved.
16. Complaint forms shall be made available in the Dean of Students Office, room 786 Student Center
Building, or on the Dean of Students Office website at www.doso.wayne.edu/student senate. Complaint
forms cannot be submitted anonymously. Complaints must be submitted to the Election Commission,
room 786 Student Center Building, by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2015.
17. Candidates must remove all of their campaign materials from the campus by Thursday, April 16, 2015.
18. Reimbursement of up to $20.00 for campaign expenses shall be made to each candidate running for
Student Senate provided all campaign literature is removed from the campus within five (5) school days of
the last election day. Request for reimbursement for expenses shall occur within two weeks of the last day
of balloting (by Friday, April 24, 2015). Candidates are responsible for generating their own reimbursement
paper work using a Direct Payment Request. Original receipts of expenses must be included with the
paper work.
19. In order to be eligible to serve as a 2015-2016 Student Senate Member, those elected individuals must
attend a mandatory retreat from 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2015 through 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 9,
2015.
20. Elections will be held from 8:30 a.m. on April 6 through 5:00 p.m. on April 9, 2015. Elections are
online through Pipeline and Academica.
STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS RULES AND PROCEDURES 2014
PLEASE NOTE: CANDIDATE PETITIONS AND QUESTIONNAIRE CARDS (AS WELL AS SLATE FORMS
AND GPA STATEMENTS, IF APPLICABLE), MUST BE RETURNED BY 4:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY, MARCH 6,
2015 TO THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE, ROOM 786 STUDENT CENTER BUILDING.
****ANYTHING SUBMITTED REGARDING ELECTIONS MUST BE TIME AND DATE STAMPED AND
RECEIPT MUST BE OBTAINED BY INDIVIDUAL SUBMITTING PETITION****