Student Media Board Charter • Christopher Newport University

I. MISSION
Student-funded media at Christopher Newport University have several functions within and outside the university. Internally, the student-run print and electronic media provide students with the opportunity for practical application of academic principles; this helps prepare students for careers in media industries, in the arts, and in academia. In addition, the student media serve as a communication resource for the university community providing a documentary record of university activities and serving as a forum for public debate. CNU student media will strive for high quality, consistent, timely, and responsible production with freedom of expression.

II. PURPOSE
The Student Media Board (SMB) will coordinate the efforts and operations of student-managed media and publications that receive all or part of their funding from the student comprehensive fee. It will ensure that effective service is being given to the student body and the university as well as protect the rights of governed organizations to be free from censorship. The board will also act as oversight for the general budget and fund allocations for each of the media organizations.

III. AUTHORITY
The board shall have the authority to:
1.Choose the media managers for all student media organizations, and to remove these managers.
2. Approve the operating procedures of organizations as to membership, succession, and general operating policies, not to include policies, news coverage or censorship of material.
3. Oversee receipt and direct allocation of student media funds, which are administered by the Office of Student Life.
4. Review and approve budgets of media organizations.
5. Decisions of the board may be appealed to the Associate Dean of Students Office.
6. New media group members may be added to the charge of the Student Media Board by a simply majority vote of members.

V. FUNDING
Student media are funded by the student Comprehensive Fee.
1. Each student media club shall submit each year by the end of the first week of March each of the following:
a. A three-year budget projection
b. A detailed budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, which the SMB will act on by the end of the first week of April.

VI. ACCOUNTING
Accounting responsibility for student media will reside in the office of Student Life.

VII. QUORUM
A quorum for regular meetings of the board will be fifty percent plus one [50% + 1] of the voting members of the board.

VIII. VOTING
1. The chair shall vote only in case of a tie vote on a motion.
2. All motions must be passed by a fifty percent plus one [50% + 1] majority of those voting.
3. Student media managers shall not be voting members of the board, except as outlined in Section X.3.

IX. ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
The SMB shall conduct its organizational meeting each October, with one of the student media faculty advisors convening. The first order of business shall be the election of the SMB chair, whose tenure as chair will begin immediately and will expire at the end of the following September. After election of the chair, a regular business meeting of the SMB may be convened immediately, or its first business meeting of the academic year may be scheduled for later in the month of October.

REGULAR MEETINGS
The SMB shall have at least two regular business meetings in the academic year: one in October, one in April. Other meetings may be held on a regular schedule, as the committee may determine at its organizational meeting, as necessary to carry out the board's duties, or as requested by any three members.

X. MEMBERSHIP
Members shall be appointed by a simple majority vote of the SMB. Terms for non-voting members are for one year. Terms for voting members are for two years. Terms are staggered so that no more than three of its members will be ending their tenure at the same time. Any voting member may be reappointed for a successive term. Any voting member may be removed by a simple majority vote.
(a) Voting Members
1. Two full-time faculty members, at large.
2. Three students, at large-not voting members of the Student Government Association, and not paid members of any of the student media clubs governed by this constitution.
3. When a Student Media Manager for one of the media is being named, the outgoing Student Media Manager from the same organization and the faculty advisor to that same organization become temporary voting members for the vote making the new appointment.
4. Voting members attend all meetings.

(b) Non-Voting Members

1. Student managers of the media served by the board, to include the Captain's Log, WCNU Radio, Currents.
2. Faculty advisors to the student media clubs.
3. Non-voting members are welcomed, but not required, to attend all meetings.
4. Ex-officio: Associate Dean of Students or designee.

XIII. STUDENT MEDIA MANAGERS
The SMB shall have the sole authority to appoint the media managers of the campus student publication and media organizations under its jurisdiction. The board shall also have the sole authority to remove these managers.

A. Appointments:
1. The SMB shall appoint a manager for each media organization no later than April 1 of each year, with the outgoing Student Media Manager and faculty advisor, both from the same organization in which the new manager is being appointed, becoming temporary voting members (see X. Membership; (a) 3, above)
2. The term of office shall be one year, from the end of one spring semester to the end of the next spring semester.
3. Availability of these positions shall be advertised widely.
4. Applications shall be received for a period of not less than three weeks.
5. Each applicant must submit an official application and resume to the SMB chair for screening and selection by the board.
6. Selection will be by a simple majority vote.

B. Removal:
1. The SMB may remove a media manager at any time for just cause. Causes of action may include, but are not limited to, neglect of duty, mismanagement of budget and/or staff, unethical practices, poor performance, or failure to follow university guidelines or policies.
2. Formal charges against an editor or manager may be brought before the board by any student, staff, faculty, or board member.
3. Charges against a media manager must be filed in a written notice to the SMB chair.
4. The SMB chair shall forward copies of the written charges to each board member.
5. No action may be taken on charges and requests for removal of a media manager until all board members have been notified.
6. The SMB chair shall call a meeting to consider the charges at the earliest possible date after receiving written notice of the charges.
7. Any person filing charges must be available to appear before the board at the board's request and in the presence of the accused media manager.
8. Removal of a media manager requires a four-fifths [4/5] majority of the board's voting members.
9. The accused manager shall continue to perform the duties of the position unless suspended by two-thirds [2/3] vote of the board during the investigation period. That investigation period shall not exceed three weeks from notification of the board chair.
10. In the event of suspension the board shall appoint an interim officer to act as media manager until the charges are resolved.
11. In the event of removal, an interim officer shall be appointed and applications for replacement shall be received for a period of not less than ten days, within an established and widely published deadline.

Resignation of a Media Manager:
In the event of the resignation of a media manager, an interim manager will be appointed by the board and applications for a replacement shall be received for a period of not less than ten days, within an established and widely published deadline.