Gulf University

Constitution

Introduction

Students Council consists of representatives from the academic colleges who are elected by direct election among students. The university established the students’ council unit within the administrative structure of the Deanship of Student Affairs which is directly related to the Dean of Student Affairs Office and specified a Coordinator to supervise, follow-up the Council’s work and works and to provide its needs. The Council is elected by the students and it is one of the important links between the administration and students which is interested in their all extracurricular activities.

First: the formation of the Council:

Gulf University students formulate a student council entitled "Gulf University Student Council".

Second: Aims  

1. Representing students at various levels.
2.  Following-up students’ issues, discussing them and finding solutions.
3. Developing students’ awareness that makes the student a conscious, productive and creative citizen.
4. Developing spiritual values ​​and moral ideals of the student to deepen the concept of national unity between students and enhance the cultural identity, cultural history, the Arab and Islamic heritage and the principles of the National Action Treaty.
5.  Developing a culture of dialogue and respecting the others’ opinion to enhance national cohesion.
6.  Developing the student’s character, the spirit of leadership among students and giving them the opportunity to express their opinions.
7.  Making students aware of their rights and duties in accordance with the university rules and regulations.
8. Encouraging students’ activities in the scientific, cultural, and social areas.
9.  Encouraging the students’ scientific attainment, academic process and encouraging the outstanding students to raise their level, abilities and skills.
10. Spreading the spirit of cooperation among students and building closer relationships between them and the faculty members and administrative staff.
11.  Maintaining the achievements of the university and contributing to raise them to the highest level.
12.  Establishing the system in accordance with the University mission and goals.
13.  Cooperating with the University in developing students’ services.

Third: Duties

In order to achieve its objectives, the Council works in coordination with the Deanship of Student Affairs in the following acts:

1. Preparing the general framework for the implementation of the Council's policy in line with its objectives.
2. Developing annual plans for students’ work.
3. Developing the council annual budget and submitting it to the university administration.
4. Proposing a plan of action for student council activities in the cultural, social, and scientific areas as well as sports and Art.
5. Studying students’ issues, proposing appropriate solutions for them and submitting them to the relevant university authorities.

Fourth: Membership

The Students’ Council consists of:

1. A representative for every 400 undergraduate students and the minimum number of any college representative should not be less than one.
2. Representatives from the post-graduate students at the university.
3. The council’s representatives should be no less than eight.

Fifth: Nomination

Any one who nominates him for the membership of the student council must fulfill the following:

1. He/she must be one of the registered and regular students in the college he will represent.
2. Well- behaved, has a good reputation and never was sentenced to disciplinary punishment.
3. Must have completed 15 credit hours at the university.
4. His/her GPA should be no less than 2.00 and he/she should not under the academic warning.

Sixth: Election

1. The Dean of the Student Affairs determines the dates of the elections and their mechanisms and appoints the committees that supervise them.
2.  The Deanship of the Student Affairs announces the beginning of nomination at least before two weeks before the specified date of the elections and the nomination period should be not less than one week.
3. Applications for nomination should be submitted in the places and dates determined by the committee supervising the elections in accordance with the form issued.
4.  Elections are held in the last month of the Spring Semester of each academic year.
5.  The elected Council begins its work at the beginning of the subsequent academic year (beginning in the Fall Semester) and continues until the subsequent directly elected body starts its work.
6.  The duration of holding the Council is one year.

Seventh: Voting

Each student who can vote in the elections of the students’ council should fulfill the following requirements:

1. He/she must be a regular student in the study.
2. Every student has to benefit from his right in voting.
3. If votes are equally divided between the nominated students, the winner will be the oldest in the university or according to the lottery.
4. The elected council members should elect a chairman, a secretary and a financial secretary.
5. The Chairman of the students’ council should be Bahraini.

Eighth: Tasks

1. The chairman of the students’ council has the following tasks:
   • Calling for holding the council’s meetings.
   • Heading the Council's meetings and signing the minutes of the meetings with the Secretary and the financial bills with the Financial Secretary.
   • Representing the Council at the university administration.
   • Representing the council in other areas as a spokesman for the Council
   • Receiving the Council correspondences  and refer them to the members or to the relevant committees.
   • Following up the students’ issues and providing suggestions and solutions.
   • Signing the expenditure bills of exchange with the Council Financial Secretary.
2. The Chairman Assistance resumes the duties in case of  Chairman absence.
3. The Secretary of the council has the following tasks:
4. Preparing the agenda of topics referred by the Chairman of the Council.
5.  Preparing the minutes of the meetings that should be signed with the Chairman of the Council.
6.  Receiving the council correspondence and saving documents, papers and stamps.
7. Providing the Deanship of the Student Affairs with the minutes of the council meetings.
8.  Carrying out any other work assigned by the Chairman of the Student Council.
9.  Informing all members of the Student Council about the date of the council meetings at least one week before the deadline date for regular meetings and at least two days for exceptional meetings and the invitation for such meetings shall include the agenda.
10. The council’s financial secretary has the following tasks:
11. Keeping financial records.
12.  Co- signing the expenditure bills with the Chairman of the council or his deputy on the financial bills.
13. Preparing annual financial report and submitting it to the university internal auditor.

Ninth: Council Committees

In order to accomplish its work and to achieve its goals, the council formulates the following committees:

1. The Social, Cultural and Technical Committee.
2.  Sports Committee.
3.  Student Services Committee.
4.  Student Council shall elect heads of sub-committees from among its members and these committees may ask the assistance of whoever seems appropriate for their membership of the students.
5.  Committees submit regular reports about their work to the Chairman of the Council.
6. Committees shall submit their reports and recommendations to the council for approval.

Tenth: Financial resources

1. The Council has a special budget supervised by the Deanship of the Student Affairs whose recourses consists of the following resources:
   
   • an annual financial grant provided by the university administration.
   • the proceeds of activities carried out by the Council.
   • donations and grants that are subject to the approval of university president.
2.  The Council has a special account named (Students’ Council Account) in the accounts department from which money will be subtracted according to financial bills signed by the Chairman and the Financial in accordance with the university systems.
3.  The disbursement of funds is made by a decree issued by the council signed by the Chairman and the Financial Secretary.
4.  The internal financial auditor system at the University of audits invoices, financial documents and phases of the council expenditure according to the university financial systems.
5. The Council may not spend money only for the purpose of achieving its goals.
6.  Financial Secretary may be granted a cash advance in case of emergency.

Eleventh: General Terms and Conditions

1. In order for the Council to hold a meeting, half of members should attend and decisions shall be issued according to least majority if the number of the votes is the same, the decision of the part which includes the Chairman will be taken into consideration.
2.  In case of absence of any member of the council for any reason, the Council shall include to its membership the one who gains the highest votes in the recent election.
3. The Council is dissolved when half of its members resigned.
4. The membership will be cancelled in the following circumstances:
   • A failure to attend the council meetings without an excuse for four times consecutive or seven non-consecutive times by a decision issued by the council with the agreement of half of the members.
   • If the member acts in contrast with the rules and regulations of the university.
   • Losing one of the condition of the membership.
   • A written resignation.
   • Death
5. The University President has the right to cancel the membership for an acceptable reason after proving that contradicts with the objectives of the Council or abusing its reputation has been committed in order to ensure the proper functioning of the educational process and maintain the spirit of fraternity students.
6. The approval of the dean of the student affairs is a condition to holding seminars, lectures, conferences and exhibitions.
7. To invite speakers from outside the university an official invitation is to be made from the department of media and public relations in coordination with the deanship of the Student affairs.
8. The University Council has the right to dissolve the students’ council or any sub-committee according to the university public interests.
9. Any decision issued by the Student Council or one of its committees is considered as valid if it is contradicts to the laws or regulations.
10. The university Council is the body which is responsible for interpreting these Regulations.
11. The university allocates a suitable place for the students’ council.