EEB GSA Constitution

Constitution of The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student Association of the University of Connecticut

Article 1: The Association

1.1 The name of this organization shall be “The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student Association of the University of Connecticut”.

1.2 The following definitions apply to this Constitution and the Bylaws of The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student Association of the University of Connecticut.

a) “G. S. A.”, “E. E. B. G. S. A.”, “Graduate Student Association”, and “The Association” are alternative terms for “The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student Association of the University of Connecticut”.

b) “G. S. S.” is an alternative term for “The Graduate Student Senate of the University of Connecticut”.

c) “The University” and “UConn” are alternative terms for “The University of Connecticut”.

d) “The Department” is an alternative term for “The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology”.

e) “Graduate Student” is an alternative term for “ordinary members of the Association” as defined in Article 2.

f) “Meeting” is an alternative term for “General Meeting”.

g) A reference to a “percentage” of graduate students or ordinary members is defined to be a percentage of the most recent figure available from the Department for registered “on-campus” graduate students.

1.3 The objectives of the G. S. A. are:

a) to contribute to the intellectual growth and cultural development of the Department and the University;

b) to serve as a medium of communication between members of the G. S. A., the G. S. S., and the Department;

c) to promote and coordinate the interests of the members of the G. S. A.; and

d) to uphold and respect the academic freedom of the University.

Article 2: Membership

2.1 All “on-campus” students registered in the Graduate School of the University of Connecticut, with their programs leading to a graduate degree awarded by the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Article 3: Rights, Privileges and Obligations of Members

3.1 The rights of ordinary members are:

a) the right to vote in all Association elections and referendums;

b) the right to attend meetings of the G. S. A., subject to the rules of procedure as specified by the Constitution and Bylaws;

c) the right to move or second motions at meetings of the Association;

d) the right to speak for or against motions at meetings of the Association;

e) the right to vote at meetings of the Association.

3.2 The privileges of ordinary members include:

a) holding positions within the G. S. A., subject to the qualifications specified by the Bylaws for each position; and

b) making use of G. S. A. facilities and services.

3.4 The obligations of ordinary members of the G. S. A. are:

a) the obligation to obey the Constitution and Bylaws; and

b) the obligation to uphold and respect the academic freedom of the University.

Article 4: The Executive of the Graduate Student Association

4.1 The Executive of the G. S. A. acts to coordinate and administer the activities of the G. S. A. The duties of each position are specified by the Bylaws.

4.2 The Executive will consist of an Association Chairperson, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and Representatives for Departmental Committees (Faculty Meeting Representative, Computer Committee Representative, Collections Committee Representative, Seminar Committee Representative, a Symposium Committee Chair and a Graduate Student Senator.

4.3 The Association Chairperson will have final authority in the interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws.

Article 5: Subsidiary and External Organizations

5.1 The G. S. A. can create committees to develop policy for the Association and consider issues affecting graduate students within the Department.

5.2 The G. S. A. will not have dealings with any external organization that discriminates by its constitution, bylaws, or equivalent on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, social status or sexual orientations.

Article 6: General Meetings

6.1 The General Meeting is the supreme governing body of the Association

6.2 Such meetings shall have the authority to consider any business affecting the interests of the G. S. A. or its members.

6.3 A Faculty member from the Department has the right to be present at every meeting. A more detailed outline of speaking rights may be found in the Bylaws (Bylaw 3).

Article 7: Revision of the Constitution and Bylaws

7.1 The Constitution and Bylaws will be amended using the procedure specified in this Article.

7.2 Amendments may be proposed by notice given to the Meeting Organizer and submitted as a Motion at a Meeting of the Association.

7.3 The procedure for the proposed amendment will follow the form outlined below:

a) The amendment will then be referred to the Association Chairperson, who will ensure that the proposed amendment:

1) conforms to the spirit of the G. S. A. Constitution; and

2) is worded clearly and unambiguously.

b) The Association Chairperson will notify the Treasurer in writing of any changes necessary to the amendment to ensure it satisfies the conditions outlined in Article 7.3a. If no changes are necessary, the Treasurer will be notified in writing of that fact. This notification must be done within seven days of the time that the Association Chairperson receives the amendment.

c) After the Association Chairperson has notified the Treasurer, the revised amendment must be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Association for first reading as a motion to amend the Constitution or Bylaws, provided that the proper notice as described in Article 7.4 can be given.

7.4

a) The first and second readings of a motion amending the Constitution or Bylaws must be at a General Meeting.

b) First and second reading may not take place within two (2) weeks of each other.

c) Notice of the proposed amendment must be published in the agenda of the meetings in which they will be considered.

7.5 Changes to the amendment from the floor will be considered only during the first reading of the motion.

7.6

a) A two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voting members present at the meeting is required to pass the motion and any amendments from the floor at first passing.

b) After the first reading, the amendment cannot be modified by the Association Chairperson according to Article 7.3a.