Constitution

Preamble

We, the undivided body, do hereby create the Graduate Students of Color Association (GSCA) for the sole purpose of establishing academic excellence and safe, supportive and enriching political and social/ cultural spaces for graduate students of color attending Miami University.

Mission

The mission of the GSCA is to enhance the campus life of graduate students of color by providing academic, political, and social/ cultural support. The support system should function to facilitate the following goals/ objectives:

1. Academic excellence through liaison and networking systems.
2. Safe, supportive and enriching political and social/ cultural spaces for graduate students of color.
3. Social/ cultural awareness by sponsoring group and panel discussions, speakers, exhibits, and helping to coordinate activities with other campus organizations interested in promoting cultural awareness and identity.
4. Political awareness by networking with other organizations and campuses on issues that affect graduate students of color and that support equality/ equity in education and quality of life for all graduate students.
5. Social/ cultural reinforcement by sponsoring social/ cultural activities in both academic and nonacademic environments.

Article I

Section I: Meetings

The GSCA will conduct general body meetings (no less than one per month) in order to carry out its mission and/ or discuss major issues and future plans that affect the organization.

Section II: Academic

The GSCA will provide support for graduate students of color as deemed necessary by the membership.

Section III: Social/ Cultural

The GSCA will facilitate social/ cultural awareness by:

A. Sponsoring group and panel discussions, speakers, and exhibits.
B. Helping to coordinate activities with other campus organizations interested in promoting cultural awareness and identity.

Section IV: Political

The GSCA will facilitate political awareness and activism among graduate students and supporters of diversity by:

A. Promoting diversity issues and the concerns of graduate students of color on campus.

Section V: Social

The GSCA will sponsor various social/ cultural activities in both academic and nonacademic environments.

Section VI: Assistance with Recruitment

The GSCA will aid in the recruitment of potential graduate students of color by assisting with:

A. Correspondence
B. Transportation
C. Housing

Article II

Section I: Membership

The general membership of the GSCA will consist of graduate students of color (AHLANA: graduate students of African, Hispanic/ Latino, Asian [Pacific Islander], and/ or Native-American descent) attending Miami University. Non-graduate students of color who desire to attend a GSCA meeting are required to submit a formal request (written/ verbal) to the GSCA Executive Committee with at least one week of advanced notice of the meeting specified.

Section II: Powers of Membership

1. Each member shall have the power of one vote in general actions, amendments, petitions, and any other motions brought to the floor.
2. Graduate Assistants/Associates working in the graduate school will serve on the Executive Committee.
3. All members shall be eligible for nomination to all Liaison Offices or Committees.

Article III

Section I: Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will be partly appointed and partly elected. The GSCA advisor will appoint the Graduate School Assistants/ Associates at the beginning of each semester. The members of the GSCA will elect the Liaison Officers in a general election at the end of each semester.

A. The GSCA Executive Committee shall consist of:

1. Graduate School Assistants/ Associates
2. Secretary (As voted by general body)
3. Treasure (As voted by general body)
4. Program Director (As voted by general body)

Section II: Executive Powers

Graduate School Assistants/ Associates

1. Call meetings to order.
2. Formulate agenda for monthly general body meetings.
3. Preside over general body meetings.
4. Serve as liaison between the GSCA and other campus organizations.
5. Empower and coordinate various ad hoc committees.
6. Appoint Sergeant-at-Arms at monthly general body meetings.
7. Formulate and organize academic, political, and social/ cultural activities.

Secretary

1. Maintain records of all meetings.
2. Read the minutes of all meetings.
3. Communicate all correspondence.

Treasurer

1. Maintain adequate records of the budget.
2. Submit budget reports at monthly general body meetings.
3. Manage funding within the organization.

Program Director

1. Assist executive committee in formulating and/ or coordinating monthly general body meetings.
2. Communicate all public events to the campus and surrounding communities in the form of flyers, posters, news releases, etc.
3. Correspond with other universities and graduate organizations in order to keep the GSCA informed of conferences and activities that are of concern to the organization.
4. Help distribute public information concerning the GSCA.

Section III: Advisor

1. The advisor to the GSCA will serve as a liaison between the administration and the organization.
2. The advisor will have access to all official general body meetings as well as all official Executive Committee meetings.
3. The advisor will ratify internal Executive Committee decisions.
4. The advisor will cast the deciding vote in the event that the Executive Committee is deadlocked.

Article IV

Section I: Powers and Duties of the Executive Committee

1. To approve the general budgeting of GSCA.
2. Report Activities of ad hoc committees to general body members on a regular basis.
3. To vote on internal matters, and act accordingly.

Article V

Section I: Funding

The GSCA is primarily funded through the Office of Student Affairs and the Graduate School of Miami University.

Section II: Non-Discrimination Policy

The GSCA will not partake, nor condone, any discriminatory activities.

Section III: Amendments

A. Any member of the GSCA may propose amendments to this constitution. The members
present will discuss proposed amendments (and the manner in which the absent members
will be notified).
B. Before a vote is taken all members must be notified of the proposal.
C. A vote will be taken no later than two monthly general body meetings following the date
of any proposed amendment; the members present at this subsequent meeting will vote.


				*Miami University Graduate Students of Color Association* *Constitution*



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		Below is the latest revised edition of the GSCA Constitution and By Laws.



		Preamble We, the undivided body, do hereby create the Graduate Students of Color Association (GSCA) for the sole purpose of establishing academic excellence and safe, supportive and enriching political and social/ cultural spaces for graduate students of color attending Miami University. Mission The mission of the GSCA is to enhance the campus life of graduate students of color by providing academic, political, and social/ cultural support. The support system should function to facilitate the following goals/ objectives: 1. Academic excellence through liaison and networking systems. 2. Safe, supportive and enriching political and social/ cultural spaces for graduate students of color. 3. Social/ cultural awareness by sponsoring group and panel discussions, speakers, exhibits, and helping to coordinate activities with other campus organizations interested in promoting cultural awareness and identity. 4. Political awareness by networking with other organizations and campuses on issues that affect graduate students of color and that support equality/ equity in education and quality of life for all graduate students. 5. Social/ cultural reinforcement by sponsoring social/ cultural activities in both academic and nonacademic environments. Article I Section I: Meetings The GSCA will conduct general body meetings (no less than one per month) in order to carry out its mission and/ or discuss major issues and future plans that affect the organization. Section II: Academic The GSCA will provide support for graduate students of color as deemed necessary by the membership. Section III: Social/ Cultural The GSCA will facilitate social/ cultural awareness by: A. Sponsoring group and panel discussions, speakers, and exhibits. B. Helping to coordinate activities with other campus organizations interested in promoting cultural awareness and identity. Section IV: Political The GSCA will facilitate political awareness and activism among graduate students and supporters of diversity by: A. Promoting diversity issues and the concerns of graduate students of color on campus. Section V: Social The GSCA will sponsor various social/ cultural activities in both academic and nonacademic environments. Section VI: Assistance with Recruitment The GSCA will aid in the recruitment of potential graduate students of color by assisting with: A. Correspondence B. Transportation C. Housing Article II Section I: Membership The general membership of the GSCA will consist of graduate students of color (AHLANA: graduate students of African, Hispanic/ Latino, Asian [Pacific Islander], and/ or Native-American descent) attending Miami University. Non-graduate students of color who desire to attend a GSCA meeting are required to submit a formal request (written/ verbal) to the GSCA Executive Committee with at least one week of advanced notice of the meeting specified. Section II: Powers of Membership 1. Each member shall have the power of one vote in general actions, amendments, petitions, and any other motions brought to the floor. 2. Graduate Assistants/Associates working in the graduate school will serve on the Executive Committee. 3. All members shall be eligible for nomination to all Liaison Offices or Committees. Article III Section I: Executive Committee The Executive Committee will be partly appointed and partly elected. The GSCA advisor will appoint the Graduate School Assistants/ Associates at the beginning of each semester. The members of the GSCA will elect the Liaison Officers in a general election at the end of each semester. A. The GSCA Executive Committee shall consist of: 1. Graduate School Assistants/ Associates 2. Secretary (As voted by general body) 3. Treasure (As voted by general body) 4. Program Director (As voted by general body) Section II: Executive Powers Graduate School Assistants/ Associates 1. Call meetings to order. 2. Formulate agenda for monthly general body meetings. 3. Preside over general body meetings. 4. Serve as liaison between the GSCA and other campus organizations. 5. Empower and coordinate various ad hoc committees. 6. Appoint Sergeant-at-Arms at monthly general body meetings. 7. Formulate and organize academic, political, and social/ cultural activities. Secretary 1. Maintain records of all meetings. 2. Read the minutes of all meetings. 3. Communicate all correspondence. Treasurer 1. Maintain adequate records of the budget. 2. Submit budget reports at monthly general body meetings. 3. Manage funding within the organization. Program Director 1. Assist executive committee in formulating and/ or coordinating monthly general body meetings. 2. Communicate all public events to the campus and surrounding communities in the form of flyers, posters, news releases, etc. 3. Correspond with other universities and graduate organizations in order to keep the GSCA informed of conferences and activities that are of concern to the organization. 4. Help distribute public information concerning the GSCA. Section III: Advisor 1. The advisor to the GSCA will serve as a liaison between the administration and the organization. 2. The advisor will have access to all official general body meetings as well as all official Executive Committee meetings. 3. The advisor will ratify internal Executive Committee decisions. 4. The advisor will cast the deciding vote in the event that the Executive Committee is deadlocked. Article IV Section I: Powers and Duties of the Executive Committee 1. To approve the general budgeting of GSCA. 2. Report Activities of ad hoc committees to general body members on a regular basis. 3. To vote on internal matters, and act accordingly. Article V Section I: Funding The GSCA is primarily funded through the Office of Student Affairs and the Graduate School of Miami University. Section II: Non-Discrimination Policy The GSCA will not partake, nor condone, any discriminatory activities. Section III: Amendments A. Any member of the GSCA may propose amendments to this constitution. The members present will discuss proposed amendments (and the manner in which the absent members will be notified). B. Before a vote is taken all members must be notified of the proposal. C. A vote will be taken no later than two monthly general body meetings following the date of any proposed amendment; the members present at this subsequent meeting will vote.