The name of the organization shall be the Biology Graduate Student

Association of the University of North Texas, referred to as the BGSA.

 

Section I To serve as a representative body for the Department of Biological Sciences graduate students.

Section II To promote a closer relationship among new and current graduate students.

Section III To serve as a channel of communication between graduate students, staff, faculty and administration.

Section IV To investigate and propose solutions to problems unique to biology graduate students, leading to an enhanced graduate student experience for current and future members.

 

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

Section II Membership shall consist of currently enrolled biology graduate students.

Section III Non-students will be allowed to participate in any student organization activity, but will not be a voting member, or an elected or appointed officer of said organization. A non-student is someone who is not currently enrolled at the University of North Texas for the Fall or Spring semester.

 

Section I The officers of a committee are elected following the procedures in Article V.

A. The Executive Committee consists of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Duties and responsibilities of specific officers shall be defined as follows:

President:

Presides over general meetings of the BGSA.

Assumes such responsibilities as authorized by the BGSA.

Vice President:

Assumes responsibility of President in case of his\her absence.

Coordinates and directs the activities of all other committees of BGSA.

Secretary

Records and files records of the activities of BGSA and its agencies.

Handles all correspondence and maintains a file of all BGSA

correspondence.

Treasurer

Collects, keeps, records and arranges deposit in the BGSA bank account for such monies as BGSA may obtain.

Disburses, at the direction of the President and one faculty or staff advisor, with the approval of BGSA, such monies as are required to meet the obligations of BGSA.

Reports for approval at all regular meetings, all income and expenses, and maintains records of all transactions.

Maintains financial records for inspection at any time by members of BGSA. One faculty or staff advisor shall inspect financial records on a regular basis as specified by the Student Organization Advisor Guide of the University of North Texas

B. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to meet before each BGSA meeting to plan the agenda and attend to any business not requiring the participation of the voting body of the BGSA. Also, the Executive Committee shall act upon the allocation of funds.

Section III

A. The Liaison Committee shall serve as an avenue of communication between the biology graduate student body and Departmental Administration. The committee shall meet with the department head once per semester during the academic year to discuss issues of importance to the department and to graduate student education.

B. Officers of the Liaison Committee include a ‘Biology Building’ officer, an ‘Environmental, Education, Science and Technology Building’ officer and a ‘Science and Research Building’ officer.

C. The President schedules meetings with the SBS Executive Committee and compiles an agenda for the discussion.

D. The Section Officers shall discuss issues of importance with graduate students and compile a list of items needing discussion at the Departmental level.

Section IV Committees, other than executive and liaison committees, shall be defined as deemed necessary to carry out activities by the BGSA. Additional committees can be established by a simple vote of the majority of attending members of any regular BGSA meeting.

 

Section I All BGSA members enrolled in the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies for the current academic year are qualified to fill any office position.

Section II Nominations and elections shall be held during the final meeting of Spring Semester.

Section III Self-nominations are acceptable for all Officer positions. Nominees need not be present to be elected, provided the Nominee has indicated his/her prior approval of the nomination.

Section IV Each BGSA member shall have one vote per office. Voting shall be by secret ballot. Nominee receiving the majority vote of present BGSA members fills the position.

Section V All elected officials shall be elected for a term of one calendar year. All officers are eligible for reelection provided their status as a graduate student does not change.

Section VI Any office vacancy shall be filled by order of succession, pending election to replace the officer within two weeks of start of vacancy. Vice President shall succeed President, Secretary shall succeed Vice President and Treasurer shall succeed Secretary. Other vacancies shall be filled via special election.

Section VII Any elected officer of BGSA may be impeached and removed by a two-thirds vote of all members.

Section I Advisor must be Academic/Administrative or Managerial/Professional faculty or staff of the University of North Texas.

Section II Two advisors shall be nominated. They shall share advisor duties among each other according to their own convenience and inform the executive committee about it.

Section III Potential advisors will be nominated by the executive and liaison committees and elected by secret ballot vote by BGSA members. Nominees must indicate their prior approval of the nomination. Nominee receiving the majority of present BGSA members fills the position.

Section IV Nominations and elections shall be held during the final meeting of Spring Semester. Advisor shall be elected for a term of one calendar year. The advisor is eligible for reelection provided his/her status as outlined in Article V, Section I does not change.

Section I BGSA meetings are called by the executive committee.

Section II The minutes of the meeting shall be recorded by the Secretary.

 

Section I The Treasurer, with guidance from the Executive Committee and one faculty or staff advisor shall prepare a budget and present to the membership for consideration during the first meeting of each new administrative year. A majority vote of BGSA members present shall be required to accept the budget.

Section II One cycle of accounting starts with the official first day of school of the University of North Texas for the Fall semester of year Y and ends the day preceding the official first day of school of the University of North Texas for the Fall semester of year Y+1.

Section I Amendments to this constitution must be made with the approval of BGSA by a 2/3 vote of BGSA members. Amendments must be properly announced by electronic mail and flyers in biology graduate student mail boxes at least a week prior to the date of the vote.

 

This constitution was approved on November 7^th 2003.