CM - 33 Policies and Procedures Governing the Supervisory Role of the Institution Over Student Activities Including Student Publications

September 26, 1994

Revised: June 18, 2009

1. The LSU Health Sciences Center respects the basic principle of "freedom of association" for its students. Student organizations may be recognized by the Health Sciences Center for any lawful purpose and may petition for recognition by submitting a constitution to the LSUHSC Student Affairs Committee. All official student organizations must have approval of the Health Sciences Center, and must have a faculty advisor.
2. The LSU Health Sciences Center Student Affairs Committee is an administrative committee created by the Office of the Chancellor and is responsible to the Chancellor through the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The committee is chaired by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and made up of the Associate and Assistant Deans of Student Affairs for each of the six (6) schools, the Registrar and Associate Registrar, the Director of Student Financial Aid, and the Directors of Student Affairs. The charge to the Committee is:
   1. To formulate and recommend policies governing eligibility for membership in student organizations and act on any petition for exceptions to these policies.
   2. To act on petitions for activation of new student organizations.
   3. To review any violations of the approved constitutional provisions of any student organization when such violations are referred to the Committee and to recommend appropriate disciplinary action to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
   4. To deactivate any student organization which has not met within a twelve (12) month period.
   5. To function as a board of appeals for problems connected with student organizations which are referred to it.
   6. To advise and make recommendations to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs on all matters referred to the Committee by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
   7. To submit an annual report of Committee activities to the Chancellor and to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
3. Activities and programs of recognized student organizations must at all times be consistent with the purposes expressed in the Constitution approved by LSUHSC Student Affairs Committee. Copies of the current constitutions of all recognized student organizations are kept on file in the Offices of the Deans. If revisions are made in a student organization constitution, the organization must submit its changes to the LSUHSC Student Affairs Committee for approval and following approval, the student organization must submit a Copy of the revised constitution to the appropriate Dean.

Governance by Students

1. The LSU Health Sciences Center recognizes the need for and encourages student self-governance in the student-university relationship. Student self-governance may range from campus-wide self-government through the Student Government Association to student self-governance in much smaller groups as in recognized student organizations. The role and responsibility of recognized student governing bodies shall be delineated in the constitution and bylaws of the respective student organization. The SGA Constitution and Bylaws must be approved by the LSUHSC Student Affairs Committee. Amendments to constitutions will be approved by the same administrative body that approved the original Constitution. The SGA Constitution and Bylaws and constitutions and bylaws of other student organizations must not be in conflict with federal and state constitutions and laws, regulations of the LSU Board of Supervisors, and/or established LSU Health Sciences Center policy. Actions by student governments within the area of their jurisdiction shall be reviewed by the Health Sciences Center administration only through orderly and prescribed procedures.
2. Changes in the SGA Constitution and Bylaws should be in accordance with the provisions of the SGA Constitution and established Health Sciences Center policy.
3. Changes in the constitutions of other recognized student organizations must be made in accordance with policies and procedures established by the LSUHSC Student Affairs Committee.

Statement of the Institution's Responsibilities Regarding Student Publications:

Students have the right to publish and distribute written material protected by the First Amendment without prior approval of the contents of the material. The time, place, and manner of distribution may be limited by such regulations as are necessary for the responsible operation of the LSU Health Sciences Center as determined by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Signed: Larry H. Hollier, M.D., Chancellor

Attachment: Policies, Procedures and Request Form for Recognized Student Organizations