Student Bar Association: Standing Committees of the SBA

Standing Committees of the Student Bar Association (SBA) of the Appalachian School of Law 

The Student Bar Association -- which I have described in a series of postings here, here, here, and here -- has established a number of standing committees.  They are:

• American Bar Association Representative
• Student Activity Council
• New Organization Review Committee
• Fiscal Policy Committee
• Charitable Endeavors Committee
• President's Council
• Career Services Advisory Committee
• Legacy Committee
• Mental Health Committee, and
• Property Management Committee

Section 5 of the Bylaws of the Appalachian School of Law Student Bar Association describes each of these committees:

American Bar Association Representative

In the Spring semester, the newly elected SBA President shall appoint an American Bar Association (ABA) Representative. The ABA Representative shall be a rising 3L whose primary responsibility will be to represent the school in all activities of the Law Student Division (LSD) of the ABA. 

The primary criteria for appointment that the President shall consider shall include, but is not limited to; the member’s past commitment to representing the Law School at past functions sponsored by the LSD and that SBA member’s past service the SBA and the Appalachian School of Law. 

The ABA Representative shall be responsible for recruiting new members. The ABA Representative shall also coordinate the activities of the SBA within the LSD. The President may assign additional duties to the ABA Representative to assist Officers in performing their constitutional duties. However, any duties that the President may assign the ABA Representative shall not conflict with those responsibilities specifically enumerated in this paragraph or as may be assigned by the ABA/LSD. It shall be within the sole discretion of the ABA Representative whether to accept additional duties.

Student Activity Council

The Student Activity Council shall develop and promote activities beneficial to the Appalachian School of Law community. The committee shall be lead by a Chairperson who shall be appointed in the Spring semester by the new SBA President. The Chairperson may select students to serve as committee members. Additionally, a faculty representative designated by the Chairperson may participate in any meetings of the Student Activity Council. The Student Activity Council shall coordinate the scheduling of planned events with the proper representative of the Law School. 

The Student Activities Council shall be primarily responsible for the following events: Student

lunches and the ASL Pig Roast. The Student Activity Council may organize any additional activities which will contribute to the social or educational atmosphere of the Law School. The Student Activity Council shall submit a written budget request for each event to the Senate for approval.

New Organization Review Committee (NORC)

Described in the posting about creating a student organization found here.

Fiscal Policy Committee

The Fiscal Policy Committee shall be established to prepare an annual SBA budget for submission to the Law School Administration. The Fiscal Policy Committee shall also be responsible for periodically reviewing SBA funding policies and procedures should such a need arise. The Committee shall be chaired by the SBA Treasurer. In addition to the SBA Treasurer, the Committee shall consist of two Senators, a rising 2L and rising 3L, who are appointed in the spring semester by the newly elected President. The Committee shall, after each meeting, prepare a report of its activities to be delivered at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the
Senate.

Charitable Endeavors Committee

The Charitable Endeavors Committee shall be established to develop and promote an annual event to benefit the Blackwell, Dales and Sutin Memorial Funds. The Charitable Endeavors Committee shall be responsible for the following annual events: the Halloween Candy Give Away, the Christmas Angels Program (or some similarly styled program), the SBA Easter Egg Hunt, the Memorial 5K, and any other activities of service to the Law School and local communities. 

The Committee shall be lead by a Chairman appointed in the
spring semester by the newly elected President. Said Chairman may then select students to serve on the Charitable Endeavors Committee.

President’s Council

Periodically the SBA President shall convene a meeting of the Presidents of all SBA recognized organizations. The purpose of these meetings shall be to enhance communication between the organizations individually and the SBA Senators and Officers. Specifically SBA recognized organizations shall be informed of all applicable procedures adopted by the Senate and Law School Administration. The President’s Council shall meet at least twice during each spring and fall semester while the Law School is in session.

Career Services Advisory Committee

The Career Services Advisory Committee shall be established to assist in development and

promotion of student employment opportunities. The Committee shall meet once a month during the academic year with the Career Services Director, who shall serve as the faculty advisor of the Committee, to discuss topics of concern to the students regarding the employment process. The Committee will serve to facilitate communication between the Career Services Office and the students of ASL regarding the employment process. Committee members will assist in scheduling programs for the career services office regarding recruiting, interviewing, internships, judicial clerkships, and professionalism. 

The SBA President shall appoint three (3) 3L students, one of which the President shall appoint Chairperson of the Committee, three (3) 2L students, and two (2) 1L students shall be appointed after November 1 of the current academic year.

Legacy Committee

The Committee shall be responsible for memorializing the events of the year. This includes, but is not limited to; taking pictures at school functions on and off campus, writing articles detailing the events of those functions, and compiling a photo album or yearbook at the end of each academic year. The Committee shall be lead by a Chairperson appointed by the President. Said Chairperson may select students to help serve on the Committee.

Mental Health Committee

The purpose of the Mental Health Committee (MHC) shall be to promote the physical and emotional well being of the students of the SBA and to provide programming to aid students in achieving these goals. Furthermore, pursuant to the American Bar Association Mental Health Initiative this program shall be designed to increase awareness of law student mental health issues and substance abuse problems. 

The MHC shall be lead by a Chairperson appointed during the Spring semester by the newly elected President. The Chairperson shall have the authority to select students to aid the Chairperson in carrying out these goals.

This committee has coordinated activities with the ASL Happiness Project profiled here.

Property Management Committee

The purpose of the Property Management Committee (PMC) shall be to organize, inventory, and store all of the property of the SBA. The PMC shall be responsible for informing students and organizations of the existence of any materials they may need. The PMC shall strive to reduce waste and unnecessary spending of SBA funds. 

The Committee shall be lead by a Chairperson, referred to as the Property Manager, appointed by the President. Said Chairperson may select students to help serve on the Committee.