GSS Constitution

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Graduate Student Senate Constitution

Approved by the OU Board of Trustees June 24, 2016
Ratified by the Graduate Student Senate on March 13, 2003
Revised by the Graduate Student Senate December 3, 2019
Revised by the Graduate Student Senate April, 2023

 

PREAMBLE

We, the graduate and professional students (referred to as graduate students) of Ohio University hereby set forth to form a representative graduate student senate to advocate for the collective needs of the graduate and professional student community of Ohio University and to participate in the formulation and application of both university and community policy. The goal of the graduate student senate is to enhance the education and welfare of graduate and professional students by strengthening their academic experience, scholarly pursuits, professional development, and overall quality of life. The graduate student senate will operate throughout the university administrative system to accomplish and ensure the fulfillment of these goals. We the graduate and professional students of Ohio University, hereby establish the Ohio University Graduate Student Senate.

ARTICLE I: NAME

SECTION A: NAME
The official name of the organization shall be the Ohio University Graduate Student Senate (GSS), hereafter referred to as GSS.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

SECTION A: GENERAL

1. Act as the sole representative body of graduate students to the Board of Trustees, university administrators, faculty, staff, the community, and other state and national communities.
2. Exercise its right to have input on all decisions and actions that will affect the welfare of the graduate student body.
3. Inform the graduate student body of issues relevant to its welfare.
4. Receive student complaints, investigate student problems, concerns, work toward their resolution, and present the representative voice of the graduate student body's perspective, opinion and recommend actions it feels are appropriate to the University, the community and other governing bodies.
5. Provide academic and administrative programs, opportunities, and community activities for the University, the community and for the graduate student body in particular.
6. Provide a forum in which the graduate student body may present, discuss, and set upon issues related to its role in the academic and non-academic aspects of the University and the community.
7. Work with the Ohio University Student Senate and other University Senates on common issues, concerns, and activities as independent and autonomous bodies within the university shared governance. 

ARTICLE III: POWERS & DUTIES

SECTION A: GENERAL DUTIES
1. Establish working relationships with Ohio University, the City of Athens, state and national communities.
2. Be responsible for gathering graduate student opinion and formulating policy.
3. Represent graduate students in matters pertaining directly to the individual graduate degree granting programs.
4. Appoint graduate student representatives to University Committees to ensure graduate student input on all matters concerning the University.
5. Maintain and manage a budget that is allocated by the university for graduate student programming, research, and interests.
6. Create Standing and Special Commissions and Committees and determine the structure and rules for said Commissions and Committees.
7. Establish and operate within a set of Rules and Procedures consistent with the Constitution and
make changes to the Rules and Procedures as necessary to facilitate efficient functioning of the GSS and adherence to the Constitution.
8. Examine and reaffirm the Constitution, Rules and Procedures biannually.
9. Establish rules of conduct and standards for its Executive Officers, Senators, College Council Chairs, Commissions, Committees, and Supporting Staff.
10. Try all cases of disciplinary action for its members.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

SECTION A: ELIGIBILITY
1. All full and part-time graduate students from the Ohio University campuses currently enrolled in an official graduate degree-granting program and in good academic standing shall be eligible to serve on the GSS.

SECTION B: OHIO UNIVERSITY STATEMENT OF TOLERANCE
The GSS supports and shall abide by Ohio University's Statement of Tolerance, which states:
“Ohio University is committed to equal opportunity for all people and is pledged to take direct and affirmative action to achieve the goal of equal opportunity. We are bound morally, with and pursuant to this statement; Ohio University will not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, harassment, bigotry or other forms of violations of human rights. Such actions are inconsistent with and undermine the values, which we hold essential to our institutional mission. All faculty, staff, and students of Ohio University must take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to nondiscrimination, to equality of opportunity and treatment, and to a leadership role in achieving equality and diversity."

SECTION C: MANDATORY HAZING TRAINIING
Hazing Prevention and Mandatory Training In Summer 2021, The Ohio Legislature passed Senate Bill 126, a bill intended to address the problem of hazing that is affecting college and university students across Ohio and put an end to this type of predatory behavior that may cause injury or death. A provision of the bill includes that all student organization members and advisors will complete hazing education training. In addition to abiding by the guidelines set forth in Ohio University's Hazing Prevention policy, Policy 23.010, members of our organization will complete Ohio University's mandatory hazing prevention training, which can be found here. Any advisor, member, or potential member who has not completed training will be removed from the organization by Ohio University and prohibited from participating in organization events.”

ARTICLE V: EXECUTIVE BRANCH

SECTION A: EXECUTIVES, GENERAL
1. The elected Executive Officers of the GSS shall be elected annually by the graduate student body.
2. The Executive officers shall be detailed in terms of title, position, and responsibilities in the Rules & Procedures of the GSS.
3. The candidates for executive positions shall, prior to applying, be explicitly endorsed by 20% of the current GSS membership.
4. There shall be Executive Staff appointed to aid in the internal operation and administration of the GSS.

ARTICLE VI: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

SECTION A: SENATORS DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES, GENERAL
1. There shall be Department Representatives selected to represent the specific interests of graduate students within individual departments.
2. There shall be Senators elected to represent the general interests of graduate students for each college in which at least one graduate program resides.

ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEE BRANCH

SECTION A: COMMISSIONS & COMMITTEES, GENERAL
1. The GSS shall establish and dissolve various Commissions to represent the interests of specific constituencies within the graduate student population, and to address specific areas of concern to the graduate student population.
2. There shall be Commissioners appointed to represent the interests of specific constituencies within the graduate student population.
3. The GSS shall establish and dissolve various Committees to aid in internal operations and administration of the GSS.

ARTICLE VIII: ADVISOR

SECTION A: GENERAL
1. The GSS shall be advised by a full-time member of the Ohio University faculty, administration, or staff in accordance with the guidelines established by OHIO’s Division of Student Affairs (DOSA).

ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS OF THE SENATE

SECTION A: FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS
1. There shall be at least two general meetings scheduled each month, except January, May, June, July, August, and December.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

SECTION A: REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS
1. The GSS shall examine and reaffirm this Constitution every five years, beginning in the 2005-2006 academic year.
2. Amendments to this Constitution shall be initiated by the GSS or by petition of at least 100 graduate students from the Ohio University campuses.
3. Proposed amendments shall be presented via resolution and posted for public review at least four days prior to the meeting at which they are to be considered.
4. Proposed amendments shall be adopted by a concurrence of two-thirds of the total voting membership of the GSS.

SECTION B: RATIFICATION
1. At the next scheduled meeting following adoption of amendments, this Constitution shall be ratified by a concurrence of two-thirds of the total voting membership of the GSS.