GSAC Constitution

ARTICLE I—Name, Purpose & Membership 

Section 1. The name of this organization will be the Graduate Student Advisory Committee of Emporia State University.
 
Section 2. The purpose of the Graduate Student Advisory Committee shall be:

1. To serve as an information resource for graduate students.
2. To present concerns of graduate students across campus to the Dean of Graduate Studies & Research.
3. To work toward improving graduate life.

Section 3.   Membership 

1. All graduate students of Emporia State University shall be eligible for membership in this organization.
2. Each of the graduate departments shall appoint two graduate students to the Graduate Student Advisory Committee.
3. No person shall, on the grounds of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, Vietnam Era Veteran status, or such other factors that cannot be considered lawfully, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity within this organization.

 ARTICLE II—Officers & Faculty Advisor 

Section 1. The Executive Council shall consist of the following: 

1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Secretary
4. Events Coordinator
5. Faculty Advisor  

Section 2. The purpose of the Executive Council: 

1. Shall be the planning and legislative body.
2. Shall fulfill the policies enacted by this organization
3. Shall have the power to initiate programs and activities for all members.
4. Shall have the power to direct grievances and resolutions to all members.

 Section 3. Duties of the President: 

1. Preside at and conduct all meetings.
2. Shall act as the official host and representative of this organization at campus functions.
3. Shall be responsible for implementing legislation enacted by the organization.
4. Shall be responsible, with consultation of the Executive Council, to see that this constitution is upheld.
5. Shall have the power to call emergency meetings when necessary.

 Section 4. Duties of the Vice-President: 

1. Shall fulfill the duties of the President, as stated in Section 3, during the absence of the President.
2. Shall oversee the committees of the organization.

 Section 5.   Duties of the Secretary: 

1. Shall be responsible for maintaining accurate minutes of all meetings.
2. Shall be responsible for correspondence to other organizations and individuals.
3. Shall be responsible for maintaining an accurate record of member attendance at all meetings.

 Section 6.    Events Coordinator 

1. Shall be responsible for overseeing all events sponsored by the organization.

 Section 7.     Other Officers 

1. The organization may elect other officers as deemed necessary by the membership.

 Section 8.     Duties of the Faculty Advisor 

1. Shall work closely with the officers through regular meetings of the Graduate Student Advisory Committee.
2. Shall function as liaison between the Graduate Student Advisory Committee and the university.
3. Shall advise, motivate, encourage, support, suggest and appreciate the members of the organization.

 ARTICLE III—Methods of Election 

Section 1.     Elections shall be held at the first meeting of the academic year (September).

Section 2.     Nominations shall be accepted from Graduate Student Advisory Committee members for all officer positions.

1. A majority (one more than half) shall be required for election to office.
2. In the event that no applicant receives a majority of votes, the two candidates receiving the most numerical votes shall proceed through another voting process.

 ARTICLE IV—Removal and Succession 

Section 1.     Removal of Officers 

1. An officer may be removed from office by the Graduate Student Advisory Committee for failure to complete official duties.

1.1 Formal written complaint must be submitted and signed to the Faculty Advisor by a Graduate Student Advisory Committee member.

1.2 The Graduate Student Advisory Committee members will vote on the removal action and a two-thirds majority vote shall be required for removal of the officer.

Section 2.    Removal of Department Representative  

1. Any member of the Graduate Student Advisory Committee that misses one meeting without contacting the President or a member of the Executive Council prior to that meeting shall be removed from the Graduate Student Advisory Committee.

 1.1 The Executive Council must contact the Department Chair of that member’s college and inform them that their representative is not fulfilling their duties on the council.

1.2 The Executive Council shall suggest that the Department nominate a new representative to take the place of the member.  

Section 3.   Succession of Executive Council 

1. In the event that the President is unable to fulfill his or her duties, the Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President.
2. In the event that an officer other than the President is unable to fulfill his or her duties, the position of Secretary shall be filled through the election process of the Graduate Student Advisory Committee.

 ARTICLE V—Financial Information 

Section 1. The Graduate Student Advisory Committee has no financial concern or responsibility. 

1. Should financial concern arise, it will be handled in conjunction with the Dean of the Graduate Office.

 ARTICLE VI—Method of Constitutional Amendment 

Section 1.  Amendments to this constitution may be approved by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the Graduate Student Advisory Committee at any regular meeting. 

Section 2.  Amendment proposals must be submitted in writing at a previous meeting.  

Section 3.  After the amendment receives two-thirds approval from the Graduate Student Advisory Committee it must be submitted to the Associated Student Government for final ratification. 

Section 4.  The amendments must be reviewed by the Student Organization and Activities staff for submission to the Associated Government Student Senate to become part of the recognized student organization’s official constitution. 

Section 5.  An amendment so passed shall take effect immediately.