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Constitution of the Graduate Student Association

of Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

ARTICLE I – Definition of Existence

Section1: Name

The name of this organization shall be the GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (MTSU), hereafter referred to as the “GSA.”

Section 2: Purpose

Established in 2005 by the GSA Formation Committee, the Graduate Student Association was formed with the explicit purpose of representing the graduate student body of Middle Tennessee State University (the University) in matters that relate to the pursuit of academic excellence and preparation for transition into either professional or further academic environments. The GSA affords equal representation of interests among the various academic disciplines as well as equal opportunity for participation in and representation of the entire graduate student body.

Section 3: Mission

The GSA, as a representative organization of the entire graduate student body, will strive to advance communications between the graduate student body and the administration, will allow graduate students a voice in decisions concerning the University, will seek to improve the quality of graduate programs by encouraging the highest standards of graduate instruction, will provide means for graduate students to contribute more effectively to campus life, and will assist graduate students in transitional degree phases of their academic or professional endeavors.

ARTICLE II – Membership

Section 1: Membership shall be limited to currently enrolled MTSU graduate students. This will include all students currently accepted and registered in either a Masters or Doctoral program at the University.

Section 2: Membership shall not be denied to any person because of age, race, sex, religion, handicap, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender expression.

Section 3: No dues or other payment will be assessed or required of members at this time.

ARTICLE III – The Assembly

Only currently enrolled graduate students at the University who participate with the GSA, as defined by attendance of at least one (1) meeting and/or event per semester, will be considered Active Members.

Section 1: Active Members

The Active Members of the Assembly shall be divided into Voting Active Members and Non-Voting Active Members.

1.       Voting Active Members (Delegates). Voting Active Members of the Assembly shall be referred to as Delegates. Selection of Delegates and number of Delegates shall be determined in the following section.

2.       Non-voting Active Members. The Non-Voting Active Members of the Assembly shall include all other active registered graduate students.

Section 2: Delegates to the Assembly

1.       Capacity. A maximum of two (2) Delegates will be selected from each academic department containing a graduate program at the University.

2.       Duties. Delegates will serve as representatives of the graduate students of their respective department/program (Constituents) within the University.

a.     Delegates will be expected to seek out the needs and opinions of their Constituents, and be able to express them to the Assembly and Executive Staff at meetings.

b.     Delegates will be expected to attend all meetings in order to effectively represent their Constituents and to vote on matters that the Executive Staff brings to the Assembly.

c.     If a Delegate is unable to attend a meeting, a valid excuse must be presented to the Executive Secretary before the meeting takes place. Validity will be determined by the Executive Staff primarily on the basis of professionalism and communication (i.e. advanced notice and sincere attempt to make the meeting).

d.     If a Delegate misses two (2) or more meetings without prior notice or valid excuse, the Delegate forfeits his or her position as a Delegate of the Assembly and therefore all voting privileges.

3.       Criteria. Delegates shall be registered graduate students in good academic standing, as defined by the College of Graduate Studies (maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 for Masters students, and at least 3.25 for Doctoral students). Delegates must be committed to working with the GSA to seek out and help address the needs of their Constituents within their department or program at the University.

4.       Delegate Applicants. Delegates will be selected from a pool of the following (Delegate Applicants):

a.     Referrals from department and/or program faculty, staff, and students; and

b.     Student volunteers.

           

            Student volunteers may apply by emailing gsa@mtsu.edu a statement of interest and qualifications.             Student volunteers providing a personal reference will be given priority consideration over those who do not.

5.       Appointments: Delegate appointments will be made by the Executive Staff at the beginning of the academic year/semester.

a.     The GSA Executive Staff will be responsible for soliciting Delegate referrals and volunteers from each graduate department and/or program at the beginning of each year/semester, as needed to fill the Delegate body of representatives for that academic year.

b.     In the event that no Delegate is determined by the department by any means outlined above, any graduate student enrolled in that department or program can become a Delegate through participation in the GSA, as defined by attendance to at least one (1) meeting and/or event. Voting privileges shall be granted to these Delegates following the attendance of their second consecutive meeting.

Section 3: Voting

1.     All matters brought before the GSA shall be decided by a simple majority vote by the Delegates present at that meeting, provided that at least ten (10) Delegates are present. If not enough Delegates are present, the vote will be postponed until a later date agreed upon by all Active Members present.

2.     In the event of a tie, the deciding vote will be cast by the Vice President.

3.     In the event that a Delegate is unable to attend a meeting, he or she may designate another Active Member (Proxy Delegate) of his or her program to deliver a proxy vote. The Delegate who is unable to attend must inform the Executive Secretary of the proxy prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE IV – Executive Officers

The Executive Staff of the GSA shall consist of the following four (4) Executive Officers: President, Vice President, Executive Secretary, and Treasurer.

The Duties of the officers shall be as follows:

    1.     President

The President shall be the chief Executive Officer of the GSA. The duties and responsibilities of the President shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

·      See that all responsibilities delegated to the GSA are faithfully performed

·      Be the official representative of the Graduate Student Body

·      Be empowered to appoint all officials, assistants, and committees within the GSA necessary to discharge his/her duties with the approval of the Delegates, except as otherwise noted.

·      Chair the Assembly and be the center of communication for all internal affairs

    2.     Vice President

The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President at meetings or functions. The duties and responsibilities of the President shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

·      Fill in for the President if he or she is unable to fulfill his or her duties

·      Assume the Presidency in the event of a vacancy in that office.

·      Coordinate events and advertising

·      Submit administrative paperwork for activities on campus

    3.     Executive Secretary

The Executive Secretary shall be responsible for the management of all GSA materials. The duties and responsibilities of the Executive Secretary shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

·      Recording and revising notes of each meeting

·      Recording Summary Debriefs for each event

·      Assisting the President prepare the agenda for each meeting

·      Keeping an organized record of all events, activities, and replicable correspondence.

    4.     Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining all GSA finances.

The duties and responsibilities of the Treasurer shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

·      Maintaining books and records of all transactions

·      Collecting and disbursing any GSA funds

·      Planning and executing fundraising activities

·      Prepare a Financial Report of programs and activities for each semester

·      Submit application for Student Activity Fee funds

The Executive Officers shall be elected at the end of the spring semester to one-year terms, which begin with the summer semester,

Elections will be decided with a simple majority vote by Delegates.

ARTICLE V – Meetings

Section 1:

The GSA shall conduct at least four (4) general business meetings (Public Meetings) during each fall and spring semester, at a time and place determined by the Assembly.

Section 2: Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 3: All members of the GSA shall be given time at Public Meetings to speak on issues affecting student life at the University.

Section 4: Notification of meetings, which are to include a copy of the Agenda, shall be sent to the graduate student body at least three (3) business days in advance of Public Meetings.

Section 5: Anyone wishing to conduct business at the Public Meeting must submit a request of business to the agenda three (3) business days prior to the scheduled Public Meeting. Any request not meeting the above criteria will be moved to the agenda of the next regularly-scheduled Public Meeting.

Section 6: The Executive Staff shall meet additionally (publicly or privately) at the discretion of the President, or may be called by any of the Executive Officers.

ARTICLE VI – By-Laws

Section 1: By-Laws shall be established for the governance of the GSA and for any other matters that will facilitate the execution of the GSA’s responsibilities and duties.

Section 2: By-Laws and Amendments to By-Laws may be proposed by any Delegate in writing to the Executive Staff for consideration.

Section 3: By-Laws and Amendments to By-Laws shall be approved and ratified by a simple majority vote of GSA delegates.

Section 4: By-Laws and Amendments to By-Laws shall become effective ten (10) business days from the date of the ratification vote.

Section 5: The Executive Staff shall have the right to call for a referendum of the full Assembly to approve a By-Law enacted by the Delegates. The Executive Officers shall have ten (10) business days, excluding holidays, from the date of the ratification vote to exercise this right. The referendum shall be scheduled within thirty (30) business days of the ratification vote.

ARTICLE VII – Constitutional Amendments

Section 1: Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any Delegate in writing to the Executive Staff for consideration. The Executive Officers shall review the proposal and present it to the Delegates within two regularly-scheduled meetings.

Section 2: Amendments to this Constitution shall be approved and ratified by a simple majority of the Delegates.

Section 3: Amendments to this Constitution shall become effective ten (10) business days from the date of the approval vote.

ARTICLE VIII – Reserve Clause

The Executive Officers and Delegates of the GSA reserve all powers not specifically detailed within this constitution.