General Studies Lounge

Preamble
We the General Studies Student Council shall represent the diverse undergraduate population of the School of General Studies by pursuing academic, political, social and administrative initiatives of interest to the student body and shall act as a liaison between the student body and the General Studies administration, the larger university community and other individuals and organizations.
Article I. Name
The name of this governing body shall be the General Studies Student Council; hereafter referred to as the GSSC.
Article II. Membership and Duties
1. The GSSC shall be comprised of the following elected officers:
Student Body President
Vice President of Policy
Vice President of Student Life
Vice President of Finance
Vice President of Communications
University Senator*
Social Chair
Academic Affairs and Committee on Instruction Representative*
Alumni Affairs and Center for Career Education Representative
Student Services Representative
Senior Class President
Junior Class President
Sophomore Class President
First Year Class President
Parent’s Representative
Student Workers Representative
International Students Representative
Delegates At-Large (5 members)
Senior Class Vice President
Junior Class Vice President
Sophomore Class Vice President
First Year Class Vice President
* These positions both fall under the jurisdiction of two governing bodies. Though elected by the General Studies student body, and impeachable by a two-thirds majority vote from a quorum of the GSSC, they may only be removed from the Senate or C.O.I. by a vote from that body. Please see Article VII, Section 2.
Article III. GSSC Authority, Officer Duties and Terms of Office
1. To be eligible to hold a GSSC office one must
a. Be a General Studies student in good standing with the General Studies Dean of Students Office.
b. Have and maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.5.
c. Remain enrolled in one class each term they are in office (excluding summer).
2. In order to carry out its mission, the GSSC will have the authority and responsibility to
a. Formulate the budget of the GSSC.
b. Distribute earmarked funds from the Student Life fee.
c. Express its will through resolutions.
d. Issue reports, including but not limited to the meeting minutes, to the General Studies student body on council activities and efforts.
e. Establish committees.
3. In addition to their individual duties, all GSSC officers shall
a. Be expected to provide a report of their specific activities at the weekly GSSC meeting.
b. Form relationships with the appropriate members of the other student governing bodies of Columbia University.
c. Attend all council meetings and all meetings relevant to position.
i. If a member must miss a meeting s/he shall contact the Vice President of Communications, barring unforeseen emergencies, at least one day in advance in order to be considered excused.
ii. A member may not have unexcused absences from two consecutive meetings, or miss five meetings during the course of the academic year. In the event that a member violates this policy, the Vice President of Communications will make additional attempts to contact the individual. If, following these attempts, the absences are not excused, the council will begin impeachment hearings.
iii. If a council member is absent from a GSSC meeting, s/he shall submit a written report to the rest of council prior to the meeting, when possible.
iv. If a council member is absent from a meeting relevant to her/his position, that member will obtain all necessary information to keep the GSSC updated.
d. Be responsible for the publicity of events that fall under the jurisdiction of their office.
e. Help the transition of future council members by providing advice and important contacts to new members, and if necessary by planning and allocating funds for events that occur after their term in office.
4. The University Senator shall serve a term of two years; all other officers of the GSSC shall serve one-year terms.
5. No GSSC officer may simultaneously hold two elected offices within the GSSC.
6. The Student Body President, the Vice President of Policy, the Vice President of Student Life, the Vice President Finance, and the Vice President of Communications shall form the Executive Board of the GSSC. The Executive Board shall:
a. Set council meeting agendas
b. Mediate inter-council conflicts
c. Serve in an advisory role to the rest of the GSSC
d. Maintain a discretionary fund, the size of which will be determined by the rest of the council at the beginning of the year. Additionally, no money may be spent from this fund contrary to a GSSC decision in that same year.
e. Any expenditures over $200 must be approved by a simply majority vote in the GSSC.
f. i. The E-board will distribute minutes of its weekly meetings held with the DOS advisor to all council members.
ii. In order to protect the identities of the parties under deliberation, particularly when the business in question is of a sensitive nature, the e-board will report about the case being heard in general terms, and disclose no specific information.
g. i. If performance of a council member does not meet the standards of the e-board, the e-board has the responsibility to speak to the council member and agree with the council member on a course of action whereby the council member will fulfill his or her responsibilities.
ii. If the e-board sees no progress to this affect, the e-board is to give the council member a choice: make the matter public before council for deliberation, or step down from his or her position.
iii. If the issue was brought to council, and the council member remains performing below expectations, he or she will be asked to step down or undergo impeachment hearings.
iv. If council is not in session for more than one week, the e-board is to give the candidate the choice whether to open the issue to council deliberation via email, or relinquish his or her responsibilities to an acting council member chosen by the e-board who will assume his or her responsibilities. This acting member must be later confirmed or replaced by council.
v. All actions having to do with relinquishment of responsibilities, decisions by the e-board and the council member in question, or any other issues pertinent to this matter of a sensitive nature, must be summarized in writing and signed by the issuing parties.
Article IV. Offices of the GSSC
1. The Student Body President shall
a. Serve as the primary spokesperson for the GSSC.
b. Bear primary responsibility for the execution of all GSSC directives.
c. Determine the agenda for weekly meetings, subject to review by the entire Executive Board.
d. Chair the meetings of the GSSC.
e. Maintain relationships with university administrators significant to the experience of the General Studies student body.
f. Vote only in the event of a tie.
g. Keep the Executive Board apprised of all current business.
h. Keep the General Studies student body updated on all relevant issues.
The following officers shall each have one vote in motions that are made before a quorum of the GSSC:
2. The Vice President of Policy shall
a. Assist the Student Body President in the fulfillment of his or her duties.
b. Assume the role of Student Body President in the event of the resignation, impeachment, removal or ineligibility of the Student Body President.
c. Uphold non-budgetary inter-group relations with the executive boards of other councils and governing boards.
d. Represent the GSSC and the student body of the School of General Studies at all relevant committee meetings that are not attended by the President
e. Attend any committee meetings that the President is required to attend but is unable to.
f. Have explicit knowledge of the GSSC constitution.
g. Settle or arbitrate questions pertaining to constitutional procedures which may arise in meetings of the GSSC.
h. Fulfill the duties of the Student Body President in his or her absence at GSSC meetings, voting only in the event of a tie during such times.
i. Chair and oversee the Policy Committee.
3. The Vice President of Student Life shall
a. Sit on inter-campus social committees.
b. Compile and update regularly a calendar of events being planned by GSSC officers, to be posted in the lounge and on the website.
c. Offer assistance to other GSSC members in planning events.
d. Chair and oversee the Student Life Committee.
4. The Vice President of Finance shall
a. Administer and monitor the budget of the GSSC.
b. Implement timely, fair procedures for the funding of student activities.
c. Submit a general ledger statement to the GSSC at each week.
d. Advise student organizations about GSSC financial procedures and allocations.
e. Advise the GSSC regarding the Student Activities Fee.
f. Maintain and make accessible detailed records of revenues, expenditures and encumbrances of the GSSC.
g. Uphold inter-group relations concerning budgetary and funding issues with the other councils and governing boards.
h. Serve on at least one GSSC funded governing board (preferably the Activities Board at Columbia) – keeping the GSSC abreast of relevant issues on said governing board.
i. Hold a class during the GSSC retreat teaching all GSSC members what they need to know about the University’s finance systems, such as how to fill out B-Forms.
j. Chair and oversee the Finance Committee.
5. The Vice President of Communications shall
a. Oversee the maintenance of the GSSC website.
b. Facilitate the coverage of GSSC activities by campus publications.
c. Act as a liaison to the Pre-Medical Association at the School of General Studies.
d. Prepare the Agenda prior to each weekly meeting.
e. Document the activities of the GSSC by taking minutes at weekly meetings and collecting reports from all GSSC Officers and Committee Chairpersons. These are to be made available to the student body by posting them in Lewisohn Lounge or on the GSSC web-page.
f. Take attendance at weekly meetings and notify the President in the event of an Officer’s repeated absence.
g. Maintain the GSSC office in Lerner Hall.
h. Facilitate communication between members of the GSSC and the General Studies administration, including, but not limited to, room requests, alumni affairs, and complaints and concerns.
6. The University Senator shall
a. Represent the entire student body of the School of General Studies in the University Senate.
b. Make every effort to participate in Senate committees whose issues affect the General Studies student body.
c. Submit a report of Senate activities pertinent to the G.S. student body at GSSC weekly meetings.
d. Sit on the Policy Committee.
7. The Social Chair shall
a. Provide at least three opportunities per semester for the General Studies community to come together socially in large, school-wide, events.
b. Organize the annual GSSC formal.
c. Assist the Vice President of Student Life with her or his programming responsibilities.
d. Offer assistance to other GSSC members in planning events.
e. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
8. The Academic Affairs and Committee on Instruction Representative shall
a. Represent the concerns of the student body at biweekly C.O.I. meetings.
b. Ensure that information concerning academic issues shall be made available to the General Studies student body.
c. Organize events that provide opportunities for interaction between students and faculty in various major departments.
d. Maintain a relationship with the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs.
e. Uphold relations with other Academic Affairs representatives from other councils.
f. Sit on the Policy Committee.
9. The Alumni Affairs and Center for Career Education Representative shall
a. Act as a liaison between the CCE and the student body to encourage student use of the office and student involvement in CCE events.
b. Work with CCE to organize events which focus on employment and graduate school opportunities.
c. Work with the General Studies Alumni Affairs Office and Senior Class President to organize events which focus on post-graduation life.
d. Maintain a relationship with the Associate Dean of Career Services.
e. Uphold relations with other Alumni Affairs and Academic Career Services representatives from other councils.
f. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
10. The Student Services Representative shall
a. Act as a liaison to the Office of the Vice President for Student Services.
b. Monitor the quality of student life and address concerns which may involve but are not limited to the Office of the Registrar, Student Financial Services, Academic Information Systems, University Housing, Athletic Facilities, Dining Services and Health Services.
c. Uphold relations with other Student Service representatives from other councils.
d. Sit on the Policy Committee.
11. The Senior Class President shall
a. Provide opportunities for Senior General Studies students to come together socially or for class-specific informational purposes.
b. Work with the Alumni Affairs Office and the Alumni Affairs and Academic Career Services Representative to encourage interaction between current and future alumni.
c. Uphold relations with other Senior Class Presidents from other councils.
d. Organize and oversee a Senior Class Committee, when needed.
e. Form an advisory committee and cooperate with the Dean of Students Office to plan and execute for commencement activities.
f. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
12. The Junior Class President shall
a. Provide opportunities for Junior General Studies students to come together socially or for class-specific informational purposes.
b. Uphold relations with other Junior Class Presidents from other councils.
c. Organize and oversee a Junior Class Committee, when needed.
d. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
13. The Sophomore Class President shall
a. Provide opportunities for the Sophomore General Studies students to come together socially or for class-specific informational purposes.
b. Uphold relations with other Sophomore Class Presidents from other councils
c. Organize and oversee a Sophomore Class Committee, when needed.
d. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
14. The First Year Class President shall
a. Provide opportunities for the First Year General Studies students to come together socially or for class-specific informational purposes.
b. Uphold relations with other First-Year Class Presidents from other councils
c. Organize and oversee a First-Year Class Committee, when needed.
d. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
15. The Parent’s Representative shall
a. Provide opportunities General Studies students who are parents to come together socially or for parent-specific informational purposes.
b. Organize and oversee a Parents Committee, when needed.
c. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
16. The Student Workers Representative shall
a. Provide opportunities for General Studies students who are part-time and full-time workers to come together socially or for part-time and full-time worker informational purposes.
b. Organize and oversee a Student Workers Committee, when needed.
c. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
17. The International Students Representative shall
a. Provide opportunities for General Studies students who are international students to come together socially or for international student informational purposes.
b. Organize and oversee an International Student Committee, when needed.
c. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
18. The Delegates-at-Large (5 members) shall
a. Specify, at the time of candidacy declaration, a maximum of one Executive Committee (Finance, Communications, Policy, or Student Life) or Community-at-Large Committee, on which to serve throughout their term as Delegate.
b. Serve as members of Policy, Student Life, Finance, or Communications committees or as Chair of the Community-at-Large Committee.
c. Fulfill all special assignments as delegated by the GSSC.
19. The Senior Class Vice President shall
a. Assist the Senior Class President with her or his advocacy and programming responsibilities.
b. Assume the Senior Class President responsibilities in her or his absence.
c. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
20. The Junior Class Vice President shall
a. Assist the Junior Class President with her or his advocacy and programming responsibilities.
b. Assume the Junior Class President responsibilities in her or his absence.
c. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
d. Serve as the official liaison for one other undergraduate student council (to be assigned by the Executive Board at the beginning of their term), with duties including, but not limited to, attendance at their weekly council meetings and involvement in cross-council programming.
21. The Sophomore Class Vice President shall
a. Assist the Sophomore Class President with her or his advocacy and programming responsibilities.
b. Assume the Sophomore Class President responsibilities in her or his absence.
c. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
d. Serve as the official liaison for one other undergraduate student council (to be assigned by the Executive Board at the beginning of their term), with duties including, but not limited to, attendance at their weekly council meetings and involvement in cross-council programming.
22. The First Year Class Vice President shall
a. Assist the First Year Class President with her or his advocacy and programming responsibilities.
b. Assume the First Year Class President responsibilities in her or his absence.
c. Sit on the Student Life Committee.
d. Serve as the official liaison for one other undergraduate student council (to be assigned by the Executive Board at the beginning of their term), with duties including, but not limited to, attendance at their weekly council meetings and involvement in cross-council programming.

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