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Bylaws
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Officers/Representatives
| Funding | Elections | Executive
Board | Discipline | Voting | Registration of Member Groups | Revenue
| University Advisor
GSGA Committees | University Committees
| Impeachment
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SECTION
1.
OFFICERS
AND REPRESENTATIVES
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A. The Duties of the President shall be:
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1. Plan, schedule and preside at all Graduate Student
Assembly (GSA) and Executive Board meetings.
2. Coordinate the activities of the GSA.
3. Implement all resolutions and business of the GSGA.
4. Manage the GSGA office.
5. Appoint members of all internal and external committees
subject to Executive Board approval.
6. Cultivate leadership among GSA representatives.
7. Perform other duties of the office of the president as
may be determined by the GSA.
8. Plan and implement, in consultation with GSA and
Executive Board, GSGA programs throughout the academic year.
9. Consider disciplinary action regarding Member Groups
failing to comply with GSGA active status requirements. (see
Article II, Section 4 for description of "active status")
10. Advertise, seek nominations for
awards and participate in the Graduate Awards committee.
11. Serve on various university committees as needed.
12. Be available during scheduled office hours. In
case of personal absence, the office hours shall be made up within a
week.
13. Set up an external committee made up of GSA members to
audit the books of the GSGA at the end of each school year.
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B. The Duties of the Vice-President shall be:
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1. Record minutes of all GSA, Executive Board and GRC
meetings and assume responsibility of sending copies to all
Representatives within two (2) weeks.
2. Plan, schedule and preside all Grant Review Committee
Meetings.
3. Maintain attendance records for all GSA meetings.
4. Notify Member Groups when active status is in question.
5. Preside over the GSA and assume all duties of the President
in her/his absence.
6. Verify GSGA and SOA registration of all graduate Member
Groups.
7. Serve on various university committees when needed.
8. Schedule space for GSA meetings.
9. Facilitate Member Group involvement with list-serv and
web page development, including leading the search for a
webmaster for the GSGA website, if needed.
10. Communicate decision and rationale to Member Groups
concerning grant proposals.
11. Provide timely information to Member Groups on issues
of importance.
12. Be available during scheduled office hours. In
case of personal absence, the office hours shall be made up within a
week.
13. Carry out additional responsibilities as decided by
the President and approved by the Executive Board.
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C. The Duties of the Treasurer shall be:
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1. Chair the Executive Board meeting on GSGA budget
allocations
2. Collect and receive all funds paid to the organization
and deposit them in the GSGA account.
3. In conjunction with the GSGA President and Vice-President,
approve GSGA expenditures. Co-sign all checks with the President
in payment of bills.
4. Abide by all University Funding Policies and
Procedures.
5. Abide by all Policies and Guidelines set down by the
Budget Board.
6. Complete and present the Year-end Report by the last
GSGA meeting of the current academic year.
7. Train her/his successor on the obligations of the
position.
8. Keep account books, which will be open at all times to
inspection by the GSGA officers or any authorized auditor.
9. Make reports at monthly GSGA meetings and at other
times as the Executive Board may direct.
10 Organize and conduct training workshops, as necessary,
for the treasurers of Member Groups regarding access to GSGA monies.
11 Provide the necessary paperwork and forms for Member
Groups to access their funds and apply for travel reimbursements.
12. Process travel program applications and ensure
compliance with travel program guidelines. Provide needed
follow-up when required.
13. Represent GSGA interest on SACUB (Student Advisory
Committee on the University Budget participate in the
Graduate Awards Committee and make monthly reports to the GSA.
14. Present GSGA budget for the
forthcoming and the upcoming academic year at the last monthly GSGA
meeting of the current academic year.
15. Be available during scheduled office hours. In
case of personal absence, the office hours shall be made up within a
week.
16. Failure to abide by these policies will result in
financial probation of the GSGA as defined by University guidelines.
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D. The Duties of the Campus Ambassador shall be:
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1. Attend all GSGA executive board meetings.
2. Attend all GSA meetings.
3. Act as a liaison between the campus and the GSGA officers.
Help develop communication with different student constituencies of UC.
4. Attend all Group Grant Review Committee meetings.
5. Convene and chair GSGA Feedback/Grievance Committee.
6. Meet with the respective GSGA member groups every
quarter.
7. Carry out duties identified by the President.
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E. The President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Campus
Ambassador are required to perform up to twenty hours of work per week
devoted to the GSGA objectives and activities of which for at least five
hours per week they shall hold scheduled office hours at the GSGA
office (683A Steger Student Life Center).
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1. Office hours are suspended during exam and break weeks,
although appointments may be scheduled.
2. The Executive Board shall determine the office hours
served by each officer.
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F. The Duties of the GSGA Member Groups Representatives
shall be:
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1. Attend all GSA meetings.
2. Represent their Member Group.
3. Disseminate all information obtained from the GSGA and GSA
to Member Groups.
4. Obtain an electronic mail account and disseminate
information as needed.
5. Expedite the establishment and operation of her/his
Member Group's list-serv.
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G. The Duties of Committee Representatives shall be:
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1. Attend all meetings of the committee.
2. Provide written report to GSGA of relevant committee
topics.
3. Give oral report to GSA if requested.
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H. The Duties of (optional) Webmaster shall be:
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1. Maintain information located on the website.
2. Implement web based projects identified by the
Executive Board.
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SECTION
2.
FUNDING
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A. Academic Member Groups shall be funded by the GSGA in accordance
with guidelines established by the GSGA budgetary process.
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1. The Budgetary
process shall be on file in the GSGA office and changes shall be sent
to each Member Group.
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B. Funds shall be available to each Member Group with
"active status". (See Article III, section 3 of GSGA
Constitution for definition.)
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1. Each Member
Group is given an equal base budget. Groups can augment this base
budget through the following:
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a) Group's number of graduate students
b)
GSGA Group of the Year Award
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2. Member Groups can apply for money for special projects
through the GRC grant process. Application does not guarantee
funding by GSGA.
3. Money allocated to a Member Group must be used for the
benefit of the largest possible number of UC graduate students.
4. Groups are encouraged to raise revenue from other
sources in accordance with University Policies and with approval by the
appropriate University offices.
5. Monies earned from GSGA funded projects must be relinquished
by Member Groups. 100% of the profits from these projects must be
returned to GSGA not to exceed the amount GSGA contributed. If monies
must be paid back to other co-sponsors, GSGA will take that into
consideration.
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C. Member Groups are allowed to spend their GSGA base
budget on food.
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1. No GSGA money
can be used for the purchase of alcohol or be used at events where
alcohol is served.
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D. Member Groups must have regular representation at GSA
meetings and hold meetings at least once a quarter to maintain active status and be
eligible for the above money allocations. Groups lacking
representation are penalized as follows:
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1. The Member Group is notified by email to the group's
officers upon missing two meetings.
2. Upon missing three (3) meetings the Member Group is on
probation.
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a) Probation entails a decrease in Group budget and
accessible grant/travel funds by half of the total allocation.
b) Written notification will be sent to the Group and to
the Group's University Advisor stating that the group is on probation
within two (2) weeks of the group being on probation.
d) Probationary status shall be lifted upon representation
at three (3) consecutive GSA meetings of the group being on probation.
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3. Upon missing
five (5) meetings the Member Group is considered "inactive".
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a) Inactive status entails the loss of the Member Group's budget,
grant writing privileges and travel funds for the remaining academic
year or two (2) quarters, whichever is longer.
b) Inactive status shall be lifted upon representation at
four (4) consecutive GSA meetings of the group being inactive.
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4. Upon missing
more than six (6) meetings, the Member Group will be considered
"defunct".
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a) Defunct status entails the loss of the Member Group's
budget, grant writing privileges and travel funds for three (3)
quarters of the group being defunct.
b) Defunct status shall be lifted following representation
at six (6) consecutive GSA meetings of the group being defunct.
The Group must reregister with GSGA and SALD, submit a new Group
Constitution and By-laws, and present a letter from the Group's advisor
stating that the group has made significant strides in correcting the
problem(s) that led to the defunct status.
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5. The missed
meetings do not have to be in the same academic year if they fall at
the end of one year and the beginning of the next.
6. Students whose travel takes place prior to the Member
Group's absence that removed them from active status are not restricted
in applying Individual Travel Grants. All other travel rules and
guidelines apply.
7. Reinstatement of "active status" in any situation entails
fulfillment of attendance and registration requirements.
8. In order for any GSA to obtain an attendance
waiver for a certain quarter, the dean of the college or directors of
all programs represented must provide a letter certifying that no
graduate student is available to attend the GSGA monthly meetings at
the stipulated time. In addition, the group requesting such waiver must
be willing to serve on some GSGA related committees, as determined by
the Executive Board.
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SECTION
3.
ELECTIONS
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A. GSGA elections shall be held at the preantepenultimate
meeting of the academic year.
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B. The GSGA President must be notified in writing by all prospective
candidates one week prior to the announced election date.
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1. Each candidate must be present at the GSA meeting to be
formally nominated.
2. Each candidate should speak for five minutes, and
answer any questions the GSA may pose, while the other candidates step
outside of the meeting room.
3. Any member in attendance with floor speaking rights may
ask questions.
4. Quorum must be present for elections to take place.
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C. Any graduate student registered in an approved / official
graduate program may run for office.
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D. All voting must be done at the election meeting. No
absentee ballots will be accepted. Election of officers shall be by
secret ballot and requires a majority vote. The order of elections
shall be for the posts of the GSGA President, followed by the
Vice-President, the Treasurer, and the Campus Ambassador. A candidate
who has not been successful at election for a post, may choose to run
for further positions that are contested. Should a majority not be
achieved by any candidate, a run-off vote shall be held during the same
meeting involving the two (2) top vote recipients.
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E. In the event of a withdrawal, resignation, or removal
of any elected officer, an election to fill that vacant position shall
be held at the next general GSA meeting. The replacement election shall
be conducted as above, with written notification of the results sent to
all Member Groups.
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F. Elections will be run by outgoing GSGA officers.
If all GSGA officers are running for re-election then a suitable GSGA
representative will run the election.
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G. The vote of a Member Group equals its official GSA
attendance representation.
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SECTION
4.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
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A. The Executive Board shall be composed of the elected
officers of the GSGA.
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B. The Executive Board shall advise the GSGA on the
policies, activities, disciplinary measures of Members and Member Groups,
and shall have general managerial control of the GSGA.
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C. The Executive Board is subject to GSA review. An
at-large member designated by GSAs may attend Executive Board meetings.
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D. The Executive Board shall review attendance at the
meetings and discipline any Member Groups who have violated attendance
requirements (see Section 2D).
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SECTION
5.
DISCIPLINE
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A. Any Member Group charged with conduct not in accord
with the purposes of the GSGA or the University and against whom such
charges are sustained after due and proper hearing before the Executive
Board may be expelled from membership. Expelled Groups shall forfeit
all interest in any funds and privileges and may not use the GSGA name
in connection with any further activities.
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B. The Member Group will have the privilege of appealing to
the GSA. The Member Group must request said appeal in writing to the
GSA within five (5) school days after the issuance of the ruling.
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C. If the GSA supports the Executive Board's ruling, a final
appeal may be requested from the Dean of Students within five (5)
school days of the GSA ruling.
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D. Each of these appellant groups must act on hearing the
appeal within fifteen (15) school days, and must issue a written
decision to be placed on file in the Office of Student Activities and
Leadership Development within seven (7) days after the appeal has been
completed.
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SECTION
6.
VOTING
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A. For all scheduled meetings of the GSA, voting can only be
completed by Representatives and Alternates of Member Groups.
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B. The vote of a Member Group equals its official GSA
attendance representation. Each GSA Member Group shall have a Voting
Card. The Voting Card indicates the Member Group and the Academic Year.
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C. A quorum shall be a majority of voting members of the
GSA meetings.
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1. Voting shall normally be by voice or show of hands.
2. A mail ballot may be taken only during an inactive summer
quarter on any issue except a constitutional amendment, and must be
accompanied by a pro and a con statement, each written by a major
proponent on each side of the issue under consideration.
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SECTION
7.
REGISTRATION
OF MEMBER GROUPS
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A. GSGA Member Groups must have ratified constitutions and
by-laws on file in the GSGA office. They must be re-submitted
when any changes are made.
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B. Member Groups must submit GSGA and Student Activities and
Leadership Development (SALD) registration forms by the deadline
determined by SALD.
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C. Member Groups must select a contact person during the
Spring Quarter to facilitate an effective transition between academic
years. Duties would include: attending (or appointing a representative
to attend) GSGA Fall Quarter meetings which fall before group
elections, overseeing group elections, and receiving the e-mail and
paper mail during Summer Quarter.
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D. A student can only be a member of one GSGA Member Group
and therefore cannot serve as an officer in more than one Member Group.
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SECTION
8.
REVENUE
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A. The Executive Board may raise revenue from other sources
subject to approval by the GSA, in accordance with University Policies
and approval by the appropriate University office.
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B. GSGA member groups shall have the right to raise their
own revenue.
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1. Monies earned from GSGA funded projects must be
relinquished by Member Groups. 100% of the profits from these
projects must be returned to GSGA not to exceed the amount GSGA
contributed. If monies must be paid back to other co-sponsors, GSGA will
take that into consideration.
2. Means used to raise money must be in accordance with
University policies.
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SECTION
9.
UNIVERSITY
ADVISOR
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A. The faculty advisor will be selected by the Executive Board,
subject to approval by the GSA.
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B. The faculty advisor will also carry out University
responsibilities, and will:
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1. Be consulted on all major business of the GSGA.
2. Give approval for all off-campus activities of the
GSGA.
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SECTION
10.
GSGA
COMMITTEES
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A. Committees may be established by the Executive Board
and the President and shall perform such duties as defined in their
establishment.
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B. The Executive Board or President shall appoint and may
remove committee members.
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SECTION
11.
UNIVERSITY
COMMITTEES
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A. The University may ask the GSGA for graduate students
to serve on a variety of committees. The Executive Board will actively search
to find graduate students to fill these positions. The President will
appoint these individuals.
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B. The duties of the committee members shall be as listed
in section 1E.
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C. A committee member who fails to report on her/his respective
committee will receive a written warning, followed by suspension from
the committee if duties are not filled. An interim member will be
appointed as soon as is convenient.
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SECTION
12.
IMPEACHMENT
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A. Officers of the GSGA may be impeached on charges of
nonperformance or malfeasance of duties as specified in Section 1.
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B. Charges must
be in writing and brought by a majority of voting GSA representatives.
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C. After charges
have been made, the Officer shall answer the charges in writing within
ten (10) days.
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D. After the officer's answer has been received by the
GSA, a vote shall be taken at the next regularly scheduled meeting to determine
the outcome of said charges.
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E. A
three-quarter vote of the entire GSA is necessary for conviction.
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F. The officer
shall have the right of appeal. After conviction, the officer may appeal
to the Office of Student Affairs and Services in writing within two (2)
school days. The appeal shall be heard by three members of the Student
Affairs and Services Office. The Appeal Board must hold a hearing
within thirty (30) days after the request has been made. A written
decision must be made within seven (7) school days after the hearing.
These Bylaws were last amended at the August 15, 2011,
GSGA General Assembly Meeting.
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