General Studies Lounge

Continued from the main Constitution Page

Constitution
Preamble
Article I. Name
Article II. Membership and Duties
Article III. GSSC Authority, Officer Duties and Terms of Office
Article IV. Offices of the GSSC
Article V. Budget of the GSSC
Article VI. Committees
Article VII. Elections, Nominations, and Succession
Article VIII. Impeachment and Resignations
Article IX. Meetings and Voting Procedures
Article X. Supremacy of the Constitution
Article XI. Amendments and Bylaws
Article XII. Ratification
By Laws

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 calendar of events to be posted in the lounge and on the website. This calendar shall be presented to the GSSC by the second general meeting at the beginning of each semester with the expected events for that semester and shall be updated regularly.
• 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, according to the provisions outlined in Section V: 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, including working with the Office of the Dean of Students on GSSC involvement in the fall and spring new student orientations.
• 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 Working Students’ 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 Working Students’ 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.

Article V: Budget of the GSSC
1.    Each semester, the VP of Finance shall present a budget to the GSSC, and this budget shall be approved following a 2/3 vote of quorum.
2.    Prior to the ratification of the budget, all expenditures over $200 must be approved by a simple majority vote of quorum and all expenditures under $200 shall be reported to the council without requiring approval. Following the ratification all expenditures over $500 shall be reported to the council without requiring approval.
3.    The budget shall detail the precise monetary allocation to each class, committee, or other fund. These line-item limits shall be permanent and no funds may be moved from one line item to another without a 2/3 vote of quorum.
4.    Every expense is subject to the review and veto of the VP of Finance and the Student Body President. If either vetoes an expense, it cannot be made without a 2/3 vote of quorum.
5.    Funds for four-council events or other external (non-GSSC primary-sponsored) expenditures must be approved by a simple majority vote of quorum, regardless of the amount of the expenditure. This vote must include a maximum allocated expenditure that cannot be exceeded without a 2/3 vote of quorum. The council must approve such expenditures before any funds are promised to external sources, and within a timeline set at the discretion of the VP of Finance.
6.    The VP of Finance and VP of Student Life shall cooperate to set a reasonable timeline and programming process to be used before any expenditure is made.

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