University of Wisconsin–Madison

Senior Class Constitution

Constitution of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Senior Class Office

Created: December 8, 2015

Amended: April 2, 2017; December 15, 2019; September 1, 2021; February 9, 2022; September 16, 2022; May 2, 2025

Article I: Name

The name of the committee shall be the University of Wisconsin-Madison Senior Class Office, hereinafter referred to as the “SCO.” The name of the officers of this committee shall be the University of Wisconsin-Madison Senior Class Officers, hereinafter referred to as “SCOs.”

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Article II: Preamble

We, the representatives of the Senior Class of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in order to advance the four dimensions of the Wisconsin Experience (Empathy and Humility, Relentless Curiosity, Intellectual Confidence, and Purposeful Action), to ignite the Wisconsin Idea in the hearts and minds of al future graduates, and to create an unforgettable Senior experience, do hereby establish and adopt the following constitution and bylaws. Through the collaboration and partnership with Student Affairs, the Office of the Chancellor, and the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), the Senior Class Office shall constantly strive to build an inclusive and united student body through ideas of camaraderie, philanthropic generosity, and a dynamic student experience.

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Article III: Mission

The Senior Class Office fosters lifelong connections between the senior class, alumni, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Through school spirit, philanthropy, and the Wisconsin Idea, we create an inclusive, engaging experience that celebrates our class and strengthens our community – leaving a legacy that lasts far beyond graduation.

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Article IV: Declaration of Rights

These rights are applicable to the SCO, its elected and non-elected officers, and those seeking office through declaration or application. If you feel a violation has occurred, complaints shall be filed via email with the SCO advisor for further action.

1. Nondiscrimination. The SCO will not discriminate on the basis or intersections of race, color, creed, religion or lack thereof, religious affiliation or place of worship, spiritual beliefs, tribal affiliation, cultural beliefs or practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability or diverse ability and accommodations, marital status, pregnancy, parental or guardian status, nation of origin, nationality or allegiance to foreign nations, citizenship status, immigration status, political ideology, military service, medical history, genetic history, ancestry, age, weight or size, presentation or appearance, primary or first language, proficiency of language, vocal or nonvocal expression, arrest or conviction record, academic history, academic concentration, Wisconsin residency status, housing status or arrangement, occupation, class, amount or source of income, financial dependency, governmental dependency, transfer status, continuing studies status, returning status, f irst-generation status, nontraditional status, part-time status, or known relationship to anyone in any of these protected classes or intersections thereof, unless pursuant to an expectation recognition by state or federal laws.

2. Hostile/Intimidating Behavior. The SCO commits to an environment free from intimidation, exploitation, coercion, violence, aggression, harassment, and/or bullying. Unacceptable behavior may include, but is not limited to:

  1. Abusive expression (including spoken, written, recorded, visual, digital, or nonverbal, etc.) directed at another person, such as derogatory remarks or epithets that are outside the range of commonly accepted expressions of disagreement, disapproval, or critique in an academic culture and professional setting that respects free expression.
  2. Unwarranted physical contact or intimidating gestures.
  3. Exclusion or isolation that may harm another person’s reputation on campus or hinder another person’s involvement.
  4. Taking credit for or sabotaging another person’s work or impeding another person’s capacity for academic expression, be it oral, written, or other.
  5. Assigning or delegating tasks beyond the person’s ability or beyond the scope of the person’s position without the proper training, resources, and support.
  6. Abuse of authority, such as the use of threats or retaliation in the exercise of authority, supervision, guidance, or impeding another person from exercising shared governance rights, etc.

3. Initiative. All officers shall have the right of initiative to adopt, amend, or rescind any law, rule, or law of the SCO. The SCO advisor shall have the right to advise the SCOs on all decisions but shall not have the right of initiative to adopt, amend, or rescind any Bylaws. Procedures for Initiatives are detailed in Article IX.

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Article V: Powers and Duties

1. General Powers and Duties. General powers and duties of a SCO include but not limited to:

  1. Represent the senior class and the University of Wisconsin-Madison by fostering the Wisconsin Idea and promoting the Wisconsin Experience throughout the duration of the position.
  2. Strategize and communicate a vision that champions the importance and value of an inclusive campus, school spirit, and philanthropy.
  3. Attend weekly officer meetings and provide project updates. Remain available to the SCO for at minimum ten (10) hours a week.
  4. Research and provide recommendations for and feedback on both spring and winter commencement speakers.
  5. Collaborate with the University Bookstore to design, promote, and sell the Senior Class T-shirt.
  6. Represent the senior class by attending alumni, outreach, and campus events as needed.
  7. Select, support, and promote the Senior Class Gift
  8. In collaboration with the Office of the Chancellor, create a process to identify interest and select by consensus commencement roles.
  9. Collaborate with the Office of the Chancellor to select the May graduation gift for graduates.
  10. Organize auditions and select performance groups for the May Graduation ceremony.
  11. Work with Student Affairs, the Office of the Chancellor, and the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), among other campus partners to coordinate events and activities.
  12. Train and mentor newly elected SCOs

2. Specific Powers and Duties. Specific powers and duties of an SCO include but are not limited to:

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  1. Serves as the primary leader and representative of the senior class, responsible for fostering a sense of unity, school spirit, and engagement of the SCO throughout the year.
  2. With the SCO Vice-President, meet with the SCO advisor once per week to determine the weekly SCO meeting agenda.
  3. With the SCO Vice-President, determine the process for leading the weekly SCO meeting.
  4. Create and maintain strong partnerships with administration, faculty, staff, registered student organizations, and community to help drive participation with SCO initiatives.
  5. Serve as a member of the Student Affairs Cabinet of Student Leaders.
  6. Act as the liaison for the Keynote Speaker during the week of Commencement.
  7. Analyze current processes and develop better methods for efficiency and effectiveness.

  1. Serves as the secondary leader and representative of the senior class, assumes the responsibilities of the SCO president in their temporary absence.
  2. With the SCO President, meet with the SCO advisor once per week to determine the weekly SCO meeting agenda.
  3. With the SCO President, determine the process for leading the weekly SCO meeting.
  4. Develop strategy soliciting new SCO’s to declare their candidacy for office.
  5. Promote the SCO elections and appointment applications across various established campus partnerships to encourage a diverse and competitive candidate pool.
  6. Responsible for leading the execution of the election process.
  7. Maintain the SCO budget. Receive proper approval for expenditures, track expenses, and submit necessary documentation. Keep accurate written financial records.

  1. Assist with SCO website, email, and social media.
  2. Manage and delegate correspondence and inquiries from SCO email account.
  3. Send a weekly email to the Senior Class.
  4. Provide UW Communications and other journalistic partners with information regarding the SCO and its work upon request.
  5. Collaborate with other members of the SCO to create and execute promotional campaigns, create communications toolkits, and communications plans.
  6. Ensure that all communication materials maintain a consistent visual style that reflects the Senior Class Office’s branding, mission, and vision.
  7. Oversee any communication tools or platforms used by the Senior Class Office, such as email listservs, ensuring they are organized and effective.

  1. Collaborate with other members of the Senior Class Office, including the President, Vice President, other committee chairs, and the advisor, to ensure events align with overall class goals and initiatives.
  2. Help plan, organize, and execute events for the senior class.
  3. Help coordinate logistics such as location, food, entertainment, and decor to ensure smooth event execution.
  4. Work with university departments, vendors, and organizations to secure necessary resources for events.
  5. Ensure events align with the values and goals of the Senior Class Office and foster inclusivity.
  6. Work with the SCO Vice-President to create a budget for each event so that funds are tracked and allocated appropriately.
  7. Delegate tasks to volunteers or other committee members for event setup, management, and breakdown.
  8. Create and/or collaborate with the Communications Chair to implement strategies to promote events through social media, posters, email campaigns, and other platforms to maximize student engagement.
  9. Collect feedback from participants to improve future events and tailor them to the senior class’s interests.
  10. Review each event for success and areas of improvement.

  1. In collaboration with the other members of the Senior Class Office, develop and implement a philanthropy strategy for the senior class, focusing on giving back to the university, the local community, and relevant causes that resonate with senior students.
  2. Lead the selection of senior class gift in collaboration with Student Affairs development staff.
  3. Work closely with Student Affairs development specialist and Wisconsin Alumni Association to organize and oversee fundraising campaigns and initiatives.
  4. Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders, including campus departments, local businesses, and alumni, to support and amplify philanthropic efforts.
  5. Track and report the progress and outcomes of philanthropic campaigns and volunteer efforts, ensuring that seniors can see the tangible impact of their contributions.

  1. Must be a winter graduate, representing the Winter Graduating Class.
  2. Develop strategy and fundraising initiatives for continuing senior campaign events and class gift through Winter Commencement.
  3. Oversee all aspects concerning winter graduate and Winter Commencement including serving on the winter student speaker selection committee.
  4. Foster a sense of community among Winter Graduates and provide opportunities for them to connect with one another.
  5. In collaboration with the Communications Chair, keep Winter Graduates informed about important milestones, deadlines, and event details through emails, social media, and other communication channels.

3. Terms. All officers shall serve for one full school year. Terms officially begin on the day of the spring commencement and end on the day of spring commencement of the following school year.

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Article VI: Eligibility for Elections and Appointments for Senior Class Office

  1. Eligibility. All students in the University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduate program in good academic standing with eighty-six or more (86+) credits in progress or completed by the spring election and with anticipation of receiving their degrees the subsequent year in the fall or spring term are eligible for elections and appointments to be a SCO.
  2. Loss of Eligibility. Individuals not enrolled in the current academic period shall lose eligibility for elections and appointments to be a SCO upon the first class day after the late enrollment deadline. Any candidate considered for election/appointment may have their eligibility, enrollment, and application for graduation questioned by the Office of the Registrar. Any candidate who fails to adhere to Article VI & VII is subject to immediate removal from the ballot/application pool, and/or any remedy that the SCO deems appropriate.
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Article VII: Selections of New Officers

  1. The process for selecting new officers is set forth by the document Senior Class Office: Election Rules.
  2. The SCO is responsible for reviewing the Election Rules on an annual basis in preparation for the spring election.
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Article VIII: Impeachment and Vacancies

  1. Impeachment proceedings may be initiated against any senior class officers. a. Procedures. All officers shall have the right to impeach any officer. Officer(s) who bring up the motion to impeach shall place the order of business on the next meeting’s agenda in writing and present the matter at that SCO executive meeting. Upon passing of closure of discussion, the SCOs will move into voting. The officer who is under the impeachment motion shall not have the right to vote. A unanimous vote of eligible voters is required to pass the motion; otherwise, the motion fails. The SCO advisor shall not have the right to vote.
  2. Vacancies. If an officer vacancy occurs at any point before the first day of the spring semester, the SCOs shall have the right to begin another application process for vacated positions. If the vacancy occurs during the spring semester, the SCOs shall have the right to leave the vacancy open or conduct an accelerated application process to fill the vacancy.
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Article IX: Amendments

  1. All officers shall have the right to amend the Constitution. Officers who bring up the motion to amend the constitutions shall place the order of business on the next meeting’s agenda in writing and present the matter during that SCO executive meeting. Upon passing of closure of discussion, the SCOs will move into voting. A simple majority (half the voting body plus 1) is required to pass the motion; otherwise, the motion fails. The SCO advisor shall not have a right to vote.
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Article X: Selection of the Student Speaker

  1. In collaboration with advisors from Student Affairs and the Chancellor’s Office, the SCO will create and agree to a process to identify interest and select by consensus commencement roles.
  2. Eligibility. All students in the University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduate program with anticipation of receiving their degrees in the fall, are eligible to apply to become the keynote student speaker at the fall commencement. All students in the University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduate program, with anticipation of receiving their degrees in the spring, are eligible to apply to become the keynote student speaker at the spring commencement.
  3. Priority. Unless otherwise decided by the agreed-upon process to identify interest and select commencement roles, the Senior Class Officers have first priority for speaking roles at commencement, should they express interest.
  4. Procedures:
    1. The application process of selecting a student speaker for fall and spring commencement shall be opened, dependent on the process that the SCO creates to identify interest and select by consensus commencement roles.
    2. Students who anticipate receiving their degrees in spring shall not have the right to be considered for a speaking role for the fall commencement. Students who anticipate receiving their degrees in fall shall not have the right to be considered for a speaking role for the spring commencement.
    3. The application process is entirely under the jurisdiction of the SCOs in consultation with the Office of the Chancellor. All officers shall have the right to alternate, modify, and amend any necessary changes to the system and process
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