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CONSTITUTION OF THE GEOSCIENCES GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

1 May 2003

ARTICLE I:  NAME

The official name of this organization is the Geosciences Graduate Student Association (GGSA).
 

ARTICLE II:  PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to serve as a forum for the discussion of graduate student affairs and concerns in the Department of Geosciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and to serve as a liaison to the faculty of the department and to the university administrative system.  This organization will seek to represent fully and accurately the collective opinions and concerns of the graduate student in the Department of Geosciences.  The GGSA will also provide information to incoming graduate students and visiting potential graduate students on request and will provide information and guidance to current graduate students on navigating the university administrative system.
 

ARTICLE III:  MEMBERSHIP

1.

a.  This organization does not discriminate in the selection of its members or appointments when discrimination is defined as denying individuals membership or appointment on the basis of a person’s age, race, national origin, color, gender, sexual orientation, creed, handicap, or place of residence.

 b.  Those eligible for membership must be currently enrolled as graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D.) in the Department of Geosciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Membership is open to all graduate students in the department, regardless of major, specialization, or class registration status.  Membership in GGSA is voluntary.

 c.  A student organization shall consist of at least five currently enrolled student members.  Non-students will be allowed to participate in any student organization activity but will not be voting members, nor will they be elected or appointed officers of said organization.  A non-student is someone who is not currently enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the Fall or Spring Semester.
 

2. Membership will consist of the following types:
 

a.  Full member:  Full membership is conferred upon any student currently enrolled as a graduate student in the Department of Geosciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who wishes to participate in GGSA meetings, discussions, activities, etc.

3. Membership will be revoked by the organization under the following conditions:
 

a.  Withdrawal from the Department of Geosciences graduate program or from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

b.  Completion of degree requirements and graduation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

c.  Academic misconduct, or other actions classified as misconduct in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Code of Conduct.
 

ARTICLE IV:  OFFICERS

1. Officers of the organization shall be president; vice-president/student representative/ and secretary/treasurer.
 

2. Powers and duties of the officers shall be as follows:

 a.  The President of the GGSA will organize, schedule, and lead meetings of the organization.  The President will have the power to set an agenda for the meeting and to lead discussion of issues such that the agenda will be accomplished.  The President will be responsible for advertising the GGSA to faculty, alumni, and other organizations pursuant to the recognition of the GGSA as a viable student organization and a suitable applicant for funding, meeting space, etc., in fulfillment of the purpose of the GGSA.

b.  The Vice-President of the GGSA will act as Student Representative and liaison to the faculty of the Department of Geosciences and to the university administrative system.  The Vice President will have the power to suggest items for meeting agenda and to act in the place of the President in the absence of the President.

c.  The Secretary/Treasurer will be responsible for administering funds raised by GGSA efforts, including opening and maintaining a bank account or other account for the
Association, as required by ASUN regulations.  The Secretary/Treasurer will take notes during meetings and generate written meeting minutes for distribution to organization members who are absent from a meeting.  The Secretary/Treasurer will have the power to suggest items for meeting agenda and to act in the place of President in the absence of other officers.

3. Election of Officers

 a.  To qualify for officership, one must be a full member of the GGSA and have been enrolled in the Department of Geosciences graduate program for at least one semester prior to being nominated for officership.

 b.  Nominations will be by voice, with at least one member seconding the nomination.  If no member seconds the nomination, the nomination will be null.  Nominees have the right to reject their nomination by another person, or to withdraw their nomination at any time before voting takes place.

 c.  Election will be by written secret ballot, with all votes being tallied by the current Secretary/Treasurer.  The nominee for each office having the most votes will be considered the elected officer for that position.

 d.  The term of office for each elected position shall be one academic year, from Fall semester to Fall semester.  Elections for officers should be held at the beginning of each fall semester.  No term limits are herein imposed.
 

4. Should vacancies occur before the completion of a term of office, they will be filled by special election, with the procedures for nomination and election being the same as those followed each fall semester for the election of officers (Article IV, Section 3).
 

5. Impeachment proceedings will be brought against an officer for the following reasons:

 a.  Unauthorized appropriation of or misuse of GGSA funds for purposes not approved by the officers or members of the organization.

b.  Repeated failure to perform the duties of officership and failure to improve performance of duties if complaints are registered against the officer.

 c.  Engagement in misconduct as outlined in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Code of Conduct, which results in disciplinary action by the Department of Geosciences or the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

ARTICLE V:  ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President/Student Representative, the Secretary/Treasurer, and the Advisor.  Their duties shall be to ensure the viability of the GGSA by providing smooth and efficient leadership and effective representation to the faculty of the Department of Geosciences.
 

2.   Other committees of the organization will be formed ad hoc, according to the needs and desires of the members of the organization.  Ad hoc committees will work with and be answerable to the Executive Committee in the fulfillment of the duties for which the ad hoc committees are formed.
 

ARTICLE VI:  ADVISORS

1. In order to qualify for advisorship, the individual must be Academic/Administrative or Managerial Professional faculty-staff of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
 

2. One Advisor will be selected by the GGSA according to nominations made by members.  Advisorship is strictly voluntary, such that nominees who wish not to be considered for the position of Advisor are thereby disqualified.
 

3. Length of term for an advisor shall be left to the discretion of the advisor and the Executive Committee of the GGSA.  If an Advisor wishes to relinquish the post, or if the Executive Committee must seek a new advisor for the organization, then a new Advisor will be selected based on nominees by the organization’s members and the willingness of nominees to participate in the GGSA.
 

ARTICLE VII:  RULES OF PROCEDURE

1. Attendance at GGSA meetings is strongly encouraged but is not mandatory for members.  Concerns or items for discussion should be forwarded to one of the GGSA officers if a member will be absent.  Failure to attend a meeting will forfeit any right to vote on matters discussed during a meeting, unless prior arrangements have been made to include the absentee’s opinion in a vote or discussion.
 

2. Meetings will be held in Bessey Hall, with room locations to be determined according to space availability and time constraints.
 

3. A quorum will consist of at least five (5) members, of whom no fewer than two (2) must be officers of the GGSA.
 

4. Minutes of organizational proceedings will be the responsibility of the Secretary/Treasurer (Article IV, Section 2).
 

5. In the event of conflict concerning proper rules of procedure, the Executive Committee will decide on a solution to the conflict, as the recognized authority of the GGSA.
 

ARTICLE VIII:  FINANCE

1. Dues will not be charged to members of this organization.
 

2. Other sources of organizational funding will include voluntary donations by members and applications for funding to the faculty of the Department of Geosciences, the Alumni Board of the Department of Geosciences, ASUN, and other organizations that may offer grants or scholarships for specific purposes (e.g., travel to professional meetings, equipment, etc.).
 

3. Organization monies will be handled by the Student Organization Activities Financial Services regardless of source.
 

4. No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.  The organization shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by any organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1964 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Laws).
 

ARTICLE IX:  AMENDMENTS

1. All amendments to this constitution must be approved by ASUN.
 
 

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