GSCC Constitution and Bylaws

CONSTITUTION OF THE GRADUATE STUDENT COORDINATING COUNCIL OF ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
(Revised Spring 2001)

Article I - Name

The name of the organization shall be the Graduate Student Coordinating Council (GSCC) of Armstrong Atlantic State University. All graduate students of Armstrong Atlantic State University are members of the organization if they have paid current graduate college activity fees.

Article II - Purposes

The purposes of this organization are:

• To represent the graduate student body in all matters concerning academics, welfare, administration and services for graduate students;
• To assist graduate students by providing professional development activities that make them more employable;
• To promote closer graduate student-faculty-administration relations; and
• To work with the School of Graduate Studies, the Division of Student Affairs, and other campus offices to promote greater recognition of graduate education on and off the campus.

Article III - Organization

A. Council Membership

The Coordinating Council will be composed of graduate students representing each academic unit that offers graduate degrees. Representatives will be chosen by graduate students within the academic units. There will be representatives from criminal justice, education, health services administration, public health, history, nursing, sports medicine, and physical therapy. If programs are added or deleted, representation will be adjusted. A quorum is more than one half of the eight (8) Council members.

Representatives will normally be selected during the early weeks of the Spring term and will be expected to serve for at least one school year term. Students currently enrolled, paying graduate activity fees, and who are in good standing as defined by the School of Graduate Studies may be Council members. Exceptions to enrollment may be made for summer school only. Student representatives may be either elected or selected by students from the designated academic unit.

The Graduate Academic Policy and Student Affairs Committee will serve as a liaison to the Council to ensure close communication and cooperation between graduate students and the faculty. Approval of policies for graduate student activities will be within the purview of the committee.

B. Council Officers

The Coordinating Council will select its own officers to include a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary-Treasurer. Committees will be appointed as necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the Council and its programs. Terms of office will be for one year with no restriction on succession. The President of the undergraduate Student Government Association will serve as an ex-officio member of the Council. The Graduate Assistant for Graduate Student Services will serve as an ex-officio member/advisor to the council. The Vice President for Student Affairs and/or the Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs will serve as advisors to the Council. Advisors and ex-officio Council members may not vote.

The officers may be removed from office for cause upon an affirmative vote of two- thirds (2/3) of the Council. If a vacancy occurs in one of the offices, the Council will appoint a new officer. The newly appointed officer must come from within the present Council.

C. Council Meetings

The Council will meet at least once a month at a day and time to be determined at the first meeting of each semester, which will be the first Wednesday after the first day of classes. Additional meetings will be decided by consensus of Council members. Meetings will be publicized so that interested graduate students may attend.

D. Council Duties

The Council shall advise the Chair on all appointments and a majority vote will be necessary for confirmation.

The Council shall advise the Chair on the creation of all committees and a majority vote will be necessary for confirmation.

The Council shall work with faculty and other campus committees to ensure graduate representation.

When appropriate, the Council shall cooperate with the undergraduate student government association in matters of joint concern.

The Council shall have the responsibility of formulating an annual graduate student activities budget. The budget shall normally be formulated and approved by the Council prior to the end of the Spring term. The budget will then be presented to the Vice

President for Student Affairs for approval, amendment, or veto.

E. Chartering of Graduate Student Organizations

All graduate student organizations will follow procedures for campus organization approval as listed in the Students Illustrated. Final approval is granted by the Student Activities Committee of the Faculty.

F. Judicial Affairs

The academic conduct of graduate students will be governed by the Academic Honor Code as found in Students Illustrated and the College Catalog. The Conduct Committee of the Faculty will ensure that graduate students are properly represented on the membership of the Student Court.

G. Graduate Student Conduct

The conduct of graduate students will be governed by the Code of Conduct as found in Students Illustrated. The Conduct Committee of the Faculty will ensure that graduate students are properly represented on the membership of the Student Honor Court.

Article IV - Authority and Affirmation of Office

A. Authority

This Constitution shall not be subject to the authority of any other student organization, graduate or undergraduate. Any policy, rule or other regulation promulgated shall be valid and binding on the graduate student body only when the same has been adopted and is reasonably necessary and within the scope of authority of the rule-making council. No policy, rule or other regulation which is in conflict with Armstrong Atlantic State University Statutes, the University System of Georgia or the state of Georgia may be enacted.

B. Affirmation of Office

Upon assuming the offices of Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary-Treasurer, the following affirmation shall be taken: “I, (full name), do solemnly affirm that I will uphold the Constitution of the Graduate Student Coordinating Council of Armstrong Atlantic State University, and that I will execute the duties of the office to the best of my abilities.”

Article V - Bylaws

A. Purpose

The Council shall establish a set of rules, which shall be known as the Bylaws of the Council. The Bylaws shall be a lesser authority of the Council and shall establish additional guidelines for the Council.

B. Ratification

The Bylaws shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council and with the approval of the Graduate Council of the Faculty.

C. Amendment

The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council, provided notice has been given of the proposed amendment at the previous Council meeting and with approval of the Graduate Council of the Faculty.

Article VI - Ratification, Amendments, Referenda, and Initiative

A. Ratification

This constitution shall become effective immediately upon ratification by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Council and with approval of the Graduate Council of the Faculty.

B. Amendments

Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council or by a petition of twenty percent (20%) of the graduate student body directed to the Chair of the Council. Amendments become part of this Constitution upon ratification by either of the following:

1. Two-thirds (2/3) of the graduate student body who vote, voting affirmatively in a special election, provided that each proposed amendment has been presented to the graduate student body at least one month prior to the referendum.
2. A three fourths (3/4) vote of the Council and with approval of the Graduate Council of the Faculty provided that the proposed amendment has been presented to the graduate student body at least one month prior to the referendum.

C. Referenda

A referendum on any question may be called by a petition signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the graduate student body, or by a majority vote of the Council. The Council shall be responsible for conducting all referenda, and a referendum vote by the graduate student body must be carried by a majority of the students voting. The Council may either conduct referenda through traditional voting on campus or through direct mail votes. If direct mail votes are used, a secure system must be guaranteed to maintain the integrity of the voting.

D. Initiative

An initiative on any question may be called by a petition signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the graduate student body. The Council must consider and vote on the question. A meeting of the graduate student body must be called by the Council Chair within thirty days upon receipt of a petition signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the graduate student body requesting that a meeting be called.

BYLAWS OF THE GRADUATE STUDENT COORDINATING COUNCIL OF ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY

Section I. Council Membership

There will be eight (8) members, including executive officers, of the Graduate Student Coordinating Council. Members must be students who represent the graduate academic units. There will be representatives from criminal justice, education, health services administration, public health, history, nursing, sports medicine, and physical therapy. If programs are added or deleted, representation will be adjusted.

Representatives will normally be selected during the early weeks of the spring term and will be expected to serve at least one school year term. Students currently enrolled, paying graduate fees, and in good standing as defined by the School of Graduate Studies may be Council members. Exceptions to enrollment may be made for summer school only. Student representatives may be elected or selected by students in the designated academic unit.

Should vacancies occur in Council membership, students and graduate faculty in the academic area that is vacant will be notified for recommendations. New Council members from that academic unit will be named and must be approved by the Council.

Section II. Duties of the Officers

Duties of the Chair

The Chair of the Graduate Student Coordinating Council shall:

1. Serve as liaison to the undergraduate Student Government Association.
2. Serve as the ex-officio student representative to the Graduate Council.
3. Serve as the official spokesperson in matters relating to graduate students.
4. Chair all meetings of the Council.
5. Appoint graduate students to the Council and college committees as requested.
6. Represent graduate students at College and community events and programs as requested.

Duties of the Vice Chair

The Vice Chair of the Graduate Student Coordinating Council shall:

1. Serve as the ex-officio student representative to the Graduate Academic Policy and Student Affairs Committee.
2. Shall ensure that elections are carried out properly.
3. Chair meetings of the Council in the absence of the Chair.
4. Shall assist the Chair with duties as requested.
5. Shall serve as ex-officio member to all Council committees.

Duties of the Secretary/Treasurer

The Secretary/Treasurer of the Graduate Student Coordinating Council shall:

1. Record and distribute minutes of all Council meetings.
2. Maintain records of the organization for archive purposes.
3. Prepare and submit a yearly budget for expenditure of graduate activity fees.
4. Monitor expenditures of graduate activity fees.

Section III. Meetings

All meetings will be governed by the current practices of parliamentary procedure as found in Roberts Rules of Order.

A quorum is more than one half (1/2) of the eight (8) Council members. The Chair shall vote only in case of a tie.

Ex-Officio Council Members and Advisors may not vote.

The Council will meet at least monthly with additional meetings decided by consensus of Council Members. Meetings will be publicized so that interested graduate students may attend.

Other initiatives, referenda, and amendments will be decided as outlined in Article V of the Constitution.

Section IV. Elections

Two types of elections may be conducted by the Graduate Student Coordinating Council. The traditional methods of voting on campus may be conducted with care given to ensure that proper security is maintained to retain the integrity of the ballots cast. The other method will be that of direct mail. Ballots will be sent by mail to registered students. A time deadline will be printed on the ballot with a self-addressed stamped return envelope. Students will sign their ballots so that random checks may be used to maintain integrity. Irregularities during elections will be heard by the Coordinating Council. In the event that Council members are directly involved with the irregularities, then the Graduate Academic Policy and Student Affairs Committee will hear the case involving alleged violations.

Section V. Executive Agreements

The Chair of the Coordinating Council and the President of the Student Government Association may draft executive agreements. These agreements become effective only when approved by the Coordinating Council and the Senate of the Student Government Association. Executive agreements should serve to complement both the constitutions of the Student Government Association and the Graduate Student Coordinating Committee.