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GSAUCSD Constitution

ARTICLE I: NAME AND MEMBERSHIP

Section I:

The name of this organization shall be the Graduate Student Association of the University of California, San Diego, herein called the GSAUCSD.

Section II:

Any person duly registered as a graduate or professional student at UCSD, and paying the graduate activity fee, shall be a full member of the GSAUCSD. Subject to applicable qualifications, all members shall be eligible to hold office in the GSAUCSD or in any one of its subordinate organizations.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The objective of the GSAUCSD shall be to represent and advance the interests and objectives of graduate students of the University of California, San Diego.

ARTICLE III: STATUS

The Graduate Student Association is an unincorporated association of graduate students at UCSD. The Graduate Student Council is the duly constituted representative assembly of the Graduate Student Association whose mandate to act on behalf of the members of the Graduate Student Association is derived directly from the graduate student body of UCSD. The Graduate Student Association is constituted as such according to the provisions of the United States Constitution on freedom of speech and association. The Graduate Student Association is a "Student Government Organization" at UCSD.

ARTICLE IV: GSAUCSD COUNCIL

Section I: Powers and Responsibilities

All legislative and administrative authorities of the GSAUCSD are vested in the GSAUCSD Council and are exercised according to this Constitution and Bylaws. The Graduate Student Council is the sole and final authority of the Graduate Student Association regarding matters including, but not limited to, delegation of authority within the Graduate Student Association and expenditure of Graduate Student Association funds. The general powers and responsibility of the GSAUCSD Council shall include, but shall not be limited to the following:

  • The safeguarding of the rights of students to vote, to participate in all GSAUCSD sponsored activities, and to receive a fair hearing on the grievances before any agency of the Association.
  • The safeguarding of the rights of students in their dealings with the University and its agents regarding:
    • Academic Regulations.
    • University employment and workloads in accordance with the laws governing employment in the State of California.
    • Social and cultural opportunities.
    • Housing and other University services.
  • The official representation of the GSAUCSD to the University of California system-wide organizations, committees, and the Office of the President.
  • The maintenance of a positive working relationship with other student governments and student organizations within UCSD, the University of California, and other Universities.
  • The development, review, and approval of an annual budget for the Association.
  • The sponsorship, organization, and promotion of programming for GSAUCSD as it deems appropriate.
  • Supervision and direction of conduct, affairs, policies, and properties under the jurisdiction of the GSAUCSD.
  • Sponsorship, support, and aid to student organizations who are concerned with the GSAUCSD according to its Financial Bylaws.

Section II: Bylaws

The GSAUCSD shall adopt Bylaws to govern its internal organization. Amendments to the Bylaws shall require a two-thirds vote and be presented in written form one meeting in advance of the vote. The Bylaws may be suspended by a two-thirds vote at any meeting where a quorum exists.

Section III: Council Membership

The council of the GSAUCSD shall consist of two graduate student representatives from each participating department of the University of California, San Diego. Departments with at least 100 (but less than 200) students shall have three representatives. Departments with 200 or more students shall have four representatives.

Departments are encouraged to provide a designated alternate. In the absence of a certified representative at a meeting of the GSAUCSD Council, a designated alternate from the same department may be considered a certified representative for the purposes of that meeting so long as the absent representative has not delegated his or her vote to someone other than the alternate.

Section IV: Selection of Council Representatives

GSAUCSD Council Representatives shall be registered graduate or professional students who represent their respective departments/programs. Interdisciplinary students may represent any Department or Program for which they are registered, but no individual may represent more than one Department or Program.

Department Representatives to this council shall be elected by a process to be determined in writing, and submitted to the GSAUCSD by each department. Guidelines for departmental elections shall be set forth in the Election Bylaws. The graduate or professional students of individual Departments and Programs shall have autonomy regarding procedures for election of Council Representatives, provided that these procedures are not in conflict with the guidelines in the Election Bylaws.
The term of office for representatives shall be for one year, beginning and ending on the first day of classes.

One representative from the ASUCSD, appointed by the ASUCSD Council, shall serve as a non-voting member of the GSAUCSD Council.

The Graduate Student Intern shall serve ex officio as a non-voting member of the GSAUCSD Council, and shall be allowed to serve simultaneously as one of the certified GSAUCSD representatives from his/her department.

Section V: Certification
GSAUCSD Council Representatives may be identified by a letter of certification, which may take either hard copy or electronic form, sent from their departments to the GSAUCSD Office. The President will establish the validity of the certification and will grant immediate recognition to new representatives that are properly certified.

If the validity of the election of a representative is contested by a member of the representative's department, the GSAUCSD Council shall examine the evidence presented by both parties and settle the dispute by a majority vote. The Council has the authority to call for a second election if it deems it necessary.

Section VI: Delegation ("Proxy" voting)
Each certified representative shall be allowed one vote at GSAUCSD Council meetings. In the case of absence from a Council meeting, representatives may delegate, or "proxy," their vote to another certified representative from their department. Voting delegation must be done in writing for each meeting. Voting delegations must be presented to the Chair. The Chair cannot serve as a "proxy." The Chair shall be allowed to vote only in the case of a tie. The President and other officers may vote in their capacity as department representatives but not in their capacity as officers.

Section VII: Removal of Representatives

Representatives may be recalled by a majority vote of their departments under the same rules stated in Section IV.

Section VIII: Voting

An open roll call vote may be initiated by one third of the members present at a meeting where a quorum exists. The motion for an open roll call vote shall specify a time limit for voting. If no ending time is specified, the roll shall close immediately prior to the next meeting of the GSAUCSD.

Open roll call votes may be tendered by voice at the GSAUCSD Council meeting, or in person at the GSAUCSD offices, or by signed written physical document mailed or delivered to the GSAUCSD offices. Mailed documents must be received by the GSAUCSD Clerk prior to the close of voting.

The Clerk shall notify all representatives of any open roll call votes by the same means utilized to distribute Agendas for Council meetings.

The Chair may not receive proxy votes, but votes can be submitted in writing to the Chair.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

Section I

The elected officers of the GSAUCSD shall be the President, Vice President of Internal Affairs, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President of External Affairs, Vice President of Campus Affairs, and Vice President of Finance.

The GSAUCSD Council may also choose to appoint officers to other positions, as set forth in the Elected and Appointed Officer Bylaws.

All officers of the Graduate Student Association have their authority to act as such delegated by the GSAUCSD Council, and shall be ex-officio members of the GSAUCSD Council.

Section II

The procedure for electing officers, including rules for the order of election and nomination for multiple offices, shall be set forth in Election Bylaws.

Section III

When nominations for appointive offices shall be made to the GSAUCSD Council as specified herein, the Council shall consider the question, "Will the Council confirm this nomination?" The GSAUCSD Council may, by a majority vote, determine that a particular nomination shall be considered in closed executive session.

Section IV

The officers shall be graduate students in good academic standing as defined by the Office of Graduate Studies. Officers who during their tenure become ineligible to serve shall be required to step down.

Section V

In the event of removal or resignation of an elected officer, the position shall be filled by special election for the remainder of the original term. In exceptional cases, if the GSAUCSD Council so decides by a majority vote prior to opening nominations, the position may be filled for a specific shorter term and another special election scheduled at the end of that term.

Section VI

In the event of removal or resignation of an appointed officer, the position shall be filled by the appointment process specified herein.

Section VII

The stipends of officers of GSAUCSD shall be determined when the proposed fiscal budget is approved according to Article V, Section I of the Financial Bylaws. Stipends shall be paid in twelve equal monthly installments. If an officer does not serve a full one calendar year term, payments shall be pro-rated based on time served.

Section VIII

The President shall:

  1. Be a member of the GSAUCSD Executive Committee.
  2. Oversee the direction of GSAUCSD and ensure the execution of GSAUCSD responsibilities and commitments. In the event of removal or resignation of an officer, reassign executive responsibilities on an interim basis.
  3. Interact with UCSD graduate students, faculty, and staff in order to keep lines of communication open, and to insure that issues of significant concern to graduate students are brought to the attention of the GSAUCSD and other appropriate organizations or individuals.
  4. Prepare agendas and preside, or designate a chair for GSAUCSD Council meetings and Executive Committee meetings.
  5. Supervise the GSAUCSD office and staff.
  6. Oversee the operation of the GSAUCSD office by interacting with the staff and other officers.
  7. Establish, upon his or her discretion, standing GSAUCSD executive committees related to graduate student issues.
  8. Perform additional duties as defined in the Elected and Appointed Officer Bylaws.

The Vice President of Internal Affairs shall:

  1. Be a member of the GSAUCSD Executive Committee.
  2. Chair GSAUCSD Council and Executive Committee meetings in the absence of the President or his/her designee.
  3. In the event of removal or resignation of the President, assume the duties of the President on an interim basis.
  4. Perform additional duties as defined in the Elected and Appointed Officer Bylaws.

The Vice President of Academic Affairs shall:

  1. Be a member of the GSAUCSD Executive Committee.
  2. Perform additional duties as defined in the Elected and Appointed Officer Bylaws.

The Vice President of External Affairs shall:

  1. Be a member of the GSAUCSD Executive Committee.
  2. Perform additional duties as defined in the Elected and Appointed Officer Bylaws.

The Vice President of Campus Affairs shall:

  1. Be a member of the GSAUCSD Executive Committee.
  2. Perform additional duties as defined in the Elected and Appointed Officer Bylaws.

The Vice President of Finance shall:

  1. Be a member of the GSAUCSD Executive Committee.
  2. Perform additional duties as defined in the Elected and Appointed Officer Bylaws.

Section IX: Terms

The term of elected GSAUCSD officers shall end at the last regularly scheduled GSAUCSD Council meeting of the academic year, at which time newly elected officers shall be installed.

Section X: Discipline of Officers

Officers guilty of misconduct or neglect of duty in office are subject to the following disciplinary actions by the Council: censure, withholding of stipend as a fine, suspension, or removal from office. A fair disciplinary process, as described by the GSAUCSD's parliamentary authority, shall be required in order to withhold an officer's stipend or to suspend or remove an officer.

ARTICLE VI: GSAUCSD COUNCIL MEETINGS

Section I: Regular Council Meetings

The regular meetings of the GSAUCSD Council shall be scheduled at least monthly during each academic quarter. The regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at least once between the regular meetings of the GSAUCSD Council.

Section II: Special Council Meetings

Special meetings of the GSAUCSD Council may be called by the President or when requested by GSAUCSD representatives from three different departments. Departmental requests for a special meeting should be routed through the GSAUCSD office. The GSAUCSD President must call the special meeting within three working days of the request, or at a later time agreed upon by the departments requesting the meeting.

Section III: Agendas

Council members and their graduate departments must be sent a written announcement and/or agenda of all meetings of the Council at least two days in advance. Announcements, agendas, and minutes of GSAUCSD will be sent by electronic mail. Representatives may request that they receive notifications and documents by physical copy, and they must receive this copy within the allotted time. Emergency meeting notices for representatives without electronic mail accounts may be made by phone provided that a message is taken.

Section IV: Quorum

A meeting must be attended by one or more representatives from at least one-third of the graduate departments with certified representatives for a quorum to be present, and for the actions taken at that meeting to be binding on the Association.

Section V: Finance

Requests for money shall be made in accordance with the GSAUCSD Financial Bylaws.

Section VI: Closed Meetings

Meetings of the GSAUCSD Council shall be open to the public unless the Council shall go into closed executive session, such as to handle matters relating to personnel, discipline, or contracts.

ARTICLE VII: BALLOTING AND CAMPUS-BASED STUDENT FEES

The graduate student body shall be polled by electronic ballot using the UCSD online student-records system (or a comparable electronic alternative) or by mail ballot (at the discretion of the GSAUCSD Executive Committee) regarding matters having an impact on the Graduate Student Association Fee or those matters as specified in the GSAUCSD Constitution. Ballots will normally be sent to students through campus mail. Any student has the right to have his/her ballot mailed to his/her place of residence, upon request.

In the case of mail ballots, students should request registration forms for "absentee" ballots from their department graduate coordinator, their GSAUCSD Representatives or the GSAUCSD Office. The lists of eligible graduate students shall be provided by the Student Affairs Offices of the respective departments or the Office of Graduate Studies.

To establish, increase, reduce, or eliminate any campus-based student fee through the process of a student fee referendum, the Council must, by a majority vote, place a fee referendum on a ballot for graduate and professional students to vote on.

If the change in the campus-based student fee would affect both undergraduate and graduate students, the Council, by a two-thirds vote, and the Associated Students must both agree to place a fee referendum on a ballot for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to vote on.

Before placing a facility-fee referendum on the ballot, the involved student government(s) must approve a facility board charter conforming to the following requirements:

  • The sole purpose of the facility board must be to oversee the facility, with jurisdiction including annual review and approval of the operating budget, space allocation, rent assessments, custodial standards, capital improvements, maintenance and renovation, purchase of equipment, and hours of operation.
  • Students as a proportion of facility board voting members must be no less than student fees as a proportion of total facility funding, excluding generated revenue.
  • If more than half of facility funding (excluding generated revenue) will come from student fees, then the facility board must be chaired by a student, and the student members of the facility board shall be involved in the selection and regular review of key administrative personnel for the facility.

If a facility board already exists for the facility, it must be reconstituted to conform to the above requirements.

For a referendum that establishes or increases a campus-based student fee, the following information must be included in the ballot language:

  • The purpose of the fee. For facility fees, the services and amenities that will be provided in the new facility must be listed, as well as the planned location and approximate gross square footage of the facility. For activity fees, the type(s) of activities supported by the fee must be listed as specifically as possible, as well as which campus department(s) will receive and allocate the funds.
  • The body that will oversee the fee. For facility fees, a facility board (described earlier) must be designated, and a reference to the facility board charter included. For activity fees, the involved student government(s) shall have oversight of the fee, and must annually review and approve the operating budget.
  • For facility fees, the dollar amount per quarter for debt repayment, and the dollar amount per quarter for maintenance and operation. The debt-retirement period must be specified in years or months.
  • The total dollar amount per quarter of the fee. For facility fees, this is equal to the sum of the amounts described above for debt repayment and for maintenance and operation.
  • When the fee will begin to be collected.

For a referendum that establishes or increases a campus-based student fee, the following sentences must appear in the ballot language:

  • “This fee will be included in the determination of financial aid.”
  • “Annual budget reports will be made public and provided to all UCSD student governments.”
  • “Modifications to this fee may not be made without a subsequent student referendum held in accordance with the appropriate student governmental and University policies, unless other means are explicitly provided in this ballot language.”

For a referendum that establishes or increases a facility fee, the following sentences must appear in the ballot language:

  • “No additional debt may be levied against this fee, nor may an increase of the debt-retirement period be made, without a subsequent student referendum held in accordance with the appropriate student governmental and University policies.”
  • “After the debt-retirement period specified herein, the debt-repayment portion of the fee, also specified herein, shall not be collected.”
  • “A Building Advisory Committee (BAC) shall oversee the planning, design, and construction of the facility, shall have students as a proportion of voting members no less than student fees as a proportion of total facility funding, and shall have a student co-chair elected by the student membership of the BAC.”
  • “Other funds that become available after the referendum may be applied to the reduction of this fee by decision of the facility board.”

For any fee referendum to be approved, a majority of votes cast in the fee referendum must approve the change in the campus-based student fee. Additionally, the number of students casting ballots must equal or exceed 20% of the registered students affected by the fee at the time the election is held.

Counting of ballots shall be supervised by a committee comprised of the Assistant Dean of the Office of Graduate Studies, or their appointee; and four members of the GSAUCSD selected by the Council. Graduate students who are currently running for an office cannot be appointed to the committee.

All other matters not mentioned in the Constitution as items requiring a ballot shall be voted on by the Council unless a majority of the Council deems a mail ballot necessary.

ARTICLE VIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this organization in all cases to which they may apply, and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution or its Bylaws and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote at two consecutive Council meetings provided that all members of the Council have been sent the text of the proposed amendment at least five working days prior to the first meeting.

CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY:

  • Adopted: 11 June 1971
  • Amended: 30 November 1978 (vote 22-8-0)
  • Amended: 3 June 1982
  • Amended: 30 May 1984
  • Amended: 27 April 1992 (vote 29-0-0)
  • Amendments to Article VI, Balloting: Approved on 4/13/93, 4/27/93 and 5/11/93.
  • Amended: September 27, 1993 (Articles II, III, IV and subsequent renumbering due to the addition of a new Article III.)
  • Amended: October 11, 1993 (Article IV, Graduate Students Council, Section V, Voting.)
  • Amended on: May 16, 1994 Article I, Article III, Article IV, Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII. Vote 9-0-0, Second approval on June 6, 1994 10-0-1.
  • Amended on: April 24, 1995 (Articles IV, V) Vote 24-0-0. Second approval on May 8, 1995. Vote 15-0-0.
  • Amended on: May 5, 1997 (Article V: Officers, Section VIII, Section VII: Job Descriptions, Article VII: Payroll and subsequent renumbering due to addition of new article Article VII: Payroll). Second approval on May 5, 1997. Vote 21-0-1.
  • Amended on: May 18, 1998 (Article IV:Selection of Council Representatives) Vote 16-0-1. Second approval June 1, 1998. Vote 18-0-0.
  • Amended on: May 8, 2000 (Article V: Officers, Section 1: Executive Officers Compensation, Section VIII: Job Descriptions) Vote was 25-0-0. Second approval May 22, 2000. Vote was 14-0-2.
  • Amended on: March 14, 2001 (Article VII: Balloting), Second vote was 19-0-0.
  • Amended on: May 13, 2002 (Article IV: Graduate Student Association Council, Article V: Officers) Vote: 17-0-2. Second approval on May 20, 2002: 13-0-0.
  • Amended on: May 2, 2005 (Article V: Officers; Article IV, Section VII; Article VI, Section VII removed;)
  • Amended on: October 24, 2005 (Articles IV and V)
  • Amended on: January 9, 2006 (Articles IV, V, and VI)
  • Amended on: April 7, 2008 (Article VII: Balloting and Campus-Based Student Fees). Vote: 16-0-0. Second approval on April 21, 2008: 32-0-0.
  • Amended on: May 19, 2008 (Article V: Officers). Vote 16-0-0. Second approval on June 2, 2008: 17-0-0.