CONSTITUTION
NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Graduate Student Association (GSA) at Indiana State University.
MISSION
The mission of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) is to serve as the advocate and official Representative of graduate students at Indiana State University and represent the interests of graduate students at the Student Government, Administration, Local, State and National Levels, to provide a forum for discussion of issues relevant to graduate students, to organize, promote and conduct activities beneficial to graduate students of Indiana State University, to disseminate information of interest to graduate students at Indiana State University and to recommend graduate student for appointment to faculty and university committees.
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Graduate Student Association, in order to provide a link between graduate students at Indiana State University and the School of Graduate Studies Dean, graduate faculty, and the university administration, do hereby adopt and establish the following Constitution:
ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP
a) “Except as protected by federal or legislative act, this organization shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation ,national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran in the conduct of its activities or the selection of its members”
b) All students involved in the Graduate Student Association must be currently enrolled in a graduate program and be in good standing with the university.
c) The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Parliamentarian. The Executive Committee shall act on behalf of the Graduate Student Association between meetings of the general membership and carry out the duties outlined in the by laws. Department Representatives are members of each academic department at Indiana State University. The representatives are selected by members of his or her department as representation in the GSA. The Graduate Student Association has been established as a representative group of graduate students. Therefore, any enrolled Indiana State University graduate students who have paid student fees are considered full members.
d) Executive Committee Officers:
1. Term of Office: All officers will serve for one full academic year, beginning in the Summer I session and completing their tenure the following spring semester. Each officer can be elected to the same office for a maximum of two terms. In emergency situations, officers may be elected by majority vote of voting members due to resignation or graduation of an officer.
2. Officer Duties:
i. President: The President, who also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Graduate Student Association, will preside over all the meetings of the Graduate Student Association and will serve as official spokesperson, with guidance from the faculty advisor, officers, Executive Committee, Department Representatives and other graduate students, for all matter concerning the Graduate Student Association.
ii. Vice-President: The Vice-President will assist the President, and as a member of the Executive Committee, act as presiding officer at all meetings of the Graduate Student Association and the Executive Committee in the absence of the President.
iii. Secretary: The Secretary will be a member of the Executive Committee and will record the minutes of the Graduate Student Association as well as the Executive Committee. The Secretary will also forward the minutes from all meetings to all of the members of the Executive Committee.
iv. Treasurer: The Treasurer will be a member of the Executive Committee and will maintain accurate records of all financial affairs of the Graduate Student Association. The Treasurer will be responsible for registering the Graduate Student Association with the financial affairs office of Indiana State University and will oversee all financial operations, including funding and expenditures, for the Graduate Student Association.
v. Parliamentarian: The Parliamentarian shall be responsible for maintaining order during all Graduate Student Association meetings as well as all Executive Committee meetings. The Parliamentarian shall be responsible for presiding over election and succession of officers.
e) Committees
1. Standing and special committees and their chairpersons may be appointed by the President or by a majority vote of the members in attendance at a regular or called meeting.
ARTICLE II: UNIVERSITY COMPLIANCE
a) This is a not-for-profit organizationa) This organization shall comply with all policies and regulations of Indiana State University, as well as with all local, state, and federal laws.
ARTICLE III: STATEMENT OF NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATUS
a) This is a not-for-profit organization
ARTICLE IV: ADVISOR
a) The Faculty Advisor is a current faculty member selected by the Graduate Student Association members to advise and provide guidance to the organization and it’s members.
ARTICLE V: MEETINGS
a) The Graduate Student Association will hold monthly meetings for all graduate students (including, but not limited to, Executive Committee members and Department Representatives) at a time established each semester that will allow for the greatest potential attendance of graduate students, given class, work, and personal schedules. The monthly meeting dates, times, and places will be established for the upcoming semester prior to the end of the current semester. All meetings will follow parliamentary procedures.
ARTICLE VI: DEMOCRATIC PROCEDURES
a) Elections
1. Any GSA member in good academic standing is eligible to hold office. Officers will be elected by a majority vote of all eligible voting members. Elections shall occur in the spring semester prior to the end of classes.
2. The Executive Committee and Department Representatives are eligible to vote in elections and imparted with all other responsibilities and privileges of full membership in the organization.
ARTICLE VII: NON-HAZING
a) Hazing is strictly prohibited in connection with the activities of this organization. Hazing shall be defined as any conduct with subjects another person, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or psychologically, to avoid anything that may abuse, degrade, or intimidate the person as a condition of association with the organization, regardless of the person’s consent of lack of consent.
ARTICLE VII: DUES AND BUDGET
a) The Graduate Student Association does not require its members to pay dues at anytime.
ARTICLE IX: FINANCES
a) The necessary expenses of the Graduate Student Association shall be met by funding through the School of Graduate Studies, appropriate graduate student fees and any fund raising activities in keeping within the policies of Indiana State University.
b) All regular funds for the Graduate Student Association, from whatever source or for whatever purposes received, shall be deposited in an agency account in the Indiana Sate University Controller’s Office established in the name of the Association.
c) A statement of receipts and expenditures (credits and expenses of the GSA) shall be made to the Executive Committee at least once per semester during the academic year.
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS
a) The Constitution may be amended at any scheduled or called meeting of the Graduate Student Association with a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members who are present at the meeting. Reasonable notice (which includes the purpose of the meeting) of at least one week must be given to all members.
ARTICLE XI: ADOPTION
a) At a meeting of interested students called together for the purpose of adopting this constitution, it shall be adopted by a majority vote of those students present and eligible to vote.