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| MGSO Constitution |
ARTICLE 1. NAME 1.1 The name of the Organization shall be known as "The Microbiology Graduate Student Organization" or abbreviated as "MGSO". ARTICLE 2. CONTACT INFORMATION
ARTICLE 3. OBJECTIVES 3.1 To organize activities that benefit member graduate students. 3.2 To represent the interest of MGSO members in all matters during their stay at Iowa State University (ISU). 3.3 To foster an environment of friendship, camaraderie, and cooperation among MGSO members and between MGSO members and faculty, staff, and other organizations at ISU. 3.4 To help new microbiology associated students adjust to life at ISU. 3.5 To serve as a graduate student chapter of the American Society for Microbiology. 3.6 In fulfilling objectives above MGSO will abide by established ISU policies, State and Federal Laws. ARTICLE 4. MEMBERSHIP 4.1 Membership shall be open to all registered students at ISU and members of the ISU community. 4.2 ISU and MGSO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. 4.3 Types of membership A) Student members (must be registered students at ISU) B) Non-Student members C) Advisor(s) 4.4 All members are encouraged to participate in all MGSO activities. 4.5 Only student members are allowed to vote. 4.6 All members, excluding the Advisor(s), shall pay dues as specified in ARTICLE 10.5. 4.7 Membership may be revoked for failing to fulfill membership requirements and/or if actions are deemed inappropriate by the membership by a 1/2 of the Executive Board and a 3/4 general membership majority. ARTICLE 5. EXECUTIVE BOARD AND APPOINTED POSITIONS 5.1 The Executive Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. 5.2 The Executive Board and members filling Appointed Positions shall serve for the period of one academic year and may be re-elected or re-appointed for following years. 5.3 Duties and general responsibilities of the executive board members: 5.3.1 President A) To represent MGSO and its members in all external matters. B) To preside over all MGSO meetings. C) To coordinate and ensure the smooth functioning of the activities of MGSO. D) To solicit and secure funds for MGSO. E) To attend Interdepartmental Microbiology faculty meetings. F) To organize activities that will realize the objectives of MGSO as mentioned in ARTICLE 3. G) To form subcommittees as necessary to ensure smooth functioning of activities. 5.3.2 Vice-President A) To assist the President in all the functions as in paragraph 5.3.1. B) To act on behalf of the President in his/her absence. C) To renew the registration of the MGSO with the Student Activities Center. D) To foster and maintain relationships between MGSO and other associations/organizations. 5.3.3 Secretary A) To assist the Vice-President. B) To keep a current list of members. C) To convene all meetings of MGSO and the Executive Board. D) To maintain all correspondence of MGSO. E) To disseminate, via email and the MGSO website, minutes of the MGSO meetings. F) To ensure that MGSO meets the requirements of the Student Activities Center. G) To keep a copy of the constitution on hand for the membership reference. H) To post and email announcements of MGSO events and activities. I) To maintain all records of MGSO. 5.3.4 Treasurer A) To maintain all financial accounts and related correspondence of MGSO. B) To sign all financial accounts and transactions. C) To submit a financial statement to the meetings. D) To insure that MGSO fulfills all the requirements of ISU pertaining to financial matters and liaises with the Campus Organization Accounting auditors on all financial matters. E) To insure all expenditures are countable. 5.4 Appointed Positions 5.4.1 Graduate Student Senate Representative A) To report all important business discussed at the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) meetings which may affect MGSO as a campus organization and to provide a copy of the report to the secretary. B) To represent MGSO at GPSS meetings 5.4.2 Executive Board Consultant A) To assist the Executive Board with his or her past knowledge of general MGSO operations. 5.5 The positions of President and Treasurer cannot be held simultaneously by a single member. 5.6 Members of the Executive board or members filling Appointed Positions may be removed from office for failing to fulfill position requirements and/or if their actions are deemed inappropriate by the membership by 1/2 of the Executive Board and a 3/4 general membership majority. ARTICLE 6. THE ORGANIZATION ADVISOR(S) 6.1 In accordance with the university requirement MGSO shall have an Advisor(s) who is a member of the faculty or staff of ISU. 6.2 The members shall by simple majority vote, elect or terminate the appointment of an Advisor(s) as needed. 6.3 The President shall seek the consent of individuals to be nominated for the role of Advisor(s). 6.4 The role of the Advisor(s) shall be as envisaged in the requirements of the university. 6.5 The Advisor(s) and the President shall jointly see to the details of the functions of the Advisor(s) and to establish a working understanding between the Advisor(s) and MGSO. ARTICLE 7. ELECTIONS 7.1 The election meeting shall be held by the 8th week of the fall academic semester. 7.2 All members of the Executive Board must be elected at a election meeting. 7.3 The President and Vice President must attend election meetings unless positions are vacant. In the event both positions are vacant the most senior Executive Board member shall preside. If there is not a clear senior member then rights to preside shall be decided by rock, paper, scissors (2 out of 3 wins). 7.4 An Advisor must be present to moderate the election and to validate the results. 7.5 All voting shall be secret ballot. 7.6 Nominations 7.6.1 Student members as well as student non-members may be nominated. 7.6.2 Nominated individuals will be asked to confirm their willingness to participate as a candidate in the elections and as a member of the Organization. The deadline for payment of membership dues is waved for a non-member upon acceptance of an elected position. 7.6.3 To be considered eligible for nomination for election to the executive board candidates must meet the following requirements: A) Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) as stated below and meet that minimum GPA in the semester immediately prior to the election/appointment, the semester of election/appointment and semesters during the term of office. For undergraduate students, the minimum GPA is 2.00. In order for this provision to be met, at least 6 hours (half-time credits) must have been taken for the semester under consideration. B)
Be in good standing with the
university and enrolled: at least half time (6 or more credit hours), if
an undergraduate student (unless fewer credits are required to graduate
in the spring and fall semesters) during the term of office, and at
least half time (4 or more credits), if a graduate level student (unless
fewer credits are required in the final stages of their degree as
defined by the Continuous Registration Requirement) during their term of
office. C)
Be ineligible to hold an office
should the student fail to maintain the requirements as prescribed in
(A) or (B). 7.6.4 Only members of a previous Executive Board may be considered for nomination for the office of President unless there are no eligible and/or willing candidates. 7.7 Election Procedure 7.7.1 The President will be elected first, followed by the Vice-President, Secretary and the Treasurer. 7.7.2 All positions in the Executive Board must be filled either by election or appointment before the end of the fall academic semester. 7.7.3 The Executive Board positions shall be elected by popular vote. 7.7.4 The following format shall be used for balloting: A) The Advisor(s) shall display the names of those contending candidates for the various Executive Board positions during the election. B) Each member voter shall write the name of the candidate for the Executive Board position and submit it to the Advisor(s). C) The Advisor(s) shall announce the results of the election of each Executive Board position, immediately after counting the votes. D) All members have the right to verify the results of the election. E) In the event of a tie, a run-off election between candidates receiving the most votes will be held. 7.8 The Graduate Student Senate Representative shall be appointed by the newly elected Executive Board. If more than one individual is interested in this position, the MGSO membership shall elect one by ½ present majority vote. 7.9 The Executive Board Consultant will have served on a past Executive Board. This person shall be appointed by the Executive Board. If more than one individual is interested in this position, the MGSO membership shall elect one by popular vote. 7.10 In the event any position on the Executive board is vacated, positions shall be filled via a special election at the next meeting following the items 7.3 through 7.7. ARTICLE 8. ORGANIZATION MEETINGS 8.1 There shall be two categories of meetings A) General Meetings B) Special Meetings 8.1.1 The Secretary shall notify all members of the date of all meetings at least one week in advance. 8.1.2 All members and invited guests are eligible to participate in all discussions during the meetings. 8.1.3 The minutes of the previous meeting will be available for review. 8.1.4 Voting on matters arising shall be based on a simple majority of the members present unless otherwise specified in the Constitution. 8.2 General meetings shall be held at least 3 times per semester. 8.3 Special meetings shall be convened when urgent matters are needed to be discussed. ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION 9.1 All amendments to the Constitution can only be made in the general meeting. 9.2 All amendments must be formally proposed and second. 9.3 All amendments shall be discussed before putting to a vote. 9.4 Amendment to an amendment 9.4.1 An amendment to an amendment must be discussed and put to a vote before discussing and/or voting on the first amendment. 9.4.2 A vote must be taken on the first amendment before considering the second amendment. 9.5 All amendments to the Constitution must have at least 2/3 member majority. 9.6 All amendments to the Constitution must be submitted to the Secretary not later than one week before a meeting. 9.7 Changes to the Constitution must be submitted to the Student Activities Center within 10 days for approval. ARTICLE 10. FINANCES 10.1 The Treasurer shall oversee and be responsible for all financial transactions. 10.2 All monies belonging to MGSO shall be deposited and disbursed through a bank account established for MGSO at Campus Organizations Accounting Office and/or approved institution/office (must receive authorization via Campus Organizations Accounting Office). 10.3 All funds must be deposited in the appropriate MGSO account within 24 hours after collection. 10.4 The Treasurer and an Advisor(s) must approve and sign each expenditure before payment. 10.5 Dues: 10.5.1 MGSO may establish dues at the beginning of each semester that must be paid by all members. 10.5.2 The amount of dues shall not exceed $20 USD shall be determined at the start of each academic year by the Executive Board and presented to the general membership for a 3/4 vote. 10.5.3 Dues must be paid by the end of the fourth week of each semester to maintain membership. 10.6 In the event of the dissolution of MGSO any remaining funds shall be given to the Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program with the stipulation that they be used to benefit their graduate students. ARTICLE 11. MISCELLANEOUS 11.1 All voting must be done in presence of the current President or Vice-President. 11.2 Except for the provisions of this Constitution, all procedural matters and standing orders shall follow normal parliamentary practice. 11.3 This Constitution shall be binding to all members as prescribed in the Article 4. |