DSC Blylaws
From cunydsc.org
BYLAWS OF THE DOCTORAL AND GRADUATE STUDENTS' ORGANIZATION
- Updated April 11, 2008
BYLAW # 1: STUDENT NEWSPAPER AND MEDIA BOARD
(Amended by the DSC on May 12, 2006 and April 11, 2008)
Section 1.1 Name and purpose of Newspaper
The name of the newspaper shall be The Graduate Student Advocate, because the purpose of the paper is to be an advocate for students.
The editor-in-chief shall determine editorial policies while respecting the following priority: the Advocate shall primarily serve CUNY Graduate students as their general forum and as a source of news and information pertaining to their rights and educational, cultural, and professional interests. The editor-in-chief independently determines editorial policy.
Section 1.2 Hiring Editor-in-Chief
The editor-in-chief must be a registered Graduate Center student. The editor-in-chief shall be hired by majority vote of the Media Board after public advertisements have been posted for at least two weeks. Resumes and writing samples must be obtained from each applicant. Interviews with at least two applicants must occur before the editor-in-chief is hired from those who have been interviewed. Any Media Board member has the right to request that an applicant be interviewed, or be interviewed twice. Interviews must be attended by a majority of the Media Board.
Section 1.3 Editorial Tenure and Compensation
(proposed April 2007, amended by the DSC May 2007)
The editor-in-chief shall serve from July 1 to June 30 of each academic year and shall be paid an appropriate per-issue stipend as determined by the DSO Wage and Stipend Schedule (Bylaw 15).
Section 1.4 Editorial Responsibilities
Authorized by the Media Board, the editor-in-chief shall be responsible to hire the associate editors and other staff, the editor shall be responsible for the general content, production schedule and fiscal well being of the newspaper. The editor-in-chief shall direct the production of a minimum number of issues in accordance with the operating budget, submit an accounting of expenses for each issue to the Media Board files, and submit an annual report of expenditures and revenues to the DSC Media Board and Steering Committee.
Although the editor-in-chief shall be responsible for the editorial and opinion pages, unsigned editorials even if not specifically titled “editorial” must be approved by majority vote of the editorial staff. Lacking majority vote, editorials must be initialized by the author.
The editor-in-chief is obliged to run advertisements for the DSC, chartered DSC organizations and departmental student organizations free of cost. The editor-in-chief shall have the discretion for advertisement size, placement and format. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is obliged to allocate no less than one page of each issue for DSC announcements written by the Co-Chair for Communications with the assistance of the Steering Committee.
The editor-in-chief shall negotiate with the Co-Chair for Communications, concerning the publication of articles or other material that students or student groups feel need to be printed.
Section 1.5 Hiring Staff
When hiring staff, the editor-in-chief must hire registered Graduate Center students through at least two weeks of public postings or other appropriate types of advertising.
The Editor-in-chief may find the following division of labor a useful guide for hiring newspaper staff, but may formally articulate the individual responsibilities of staff members as they see fit.
Associate News Editor:
The Associate News Editor shall be responsible to the editor-in-chief for gathering Graduate Center, CUNY college, local, national, and international stories Of interest to the student population.
Layout/Production Editor:
The associate editor for production shall be responsible to the editor-in-chief for all aspects of production: data transfer; layout; paste-up; distribution.
Other Staff:
The associate editor for features shall be responsible to the editor-in-chief for the arts and entertainment pages (Arts & Events).
Editorial and production staff members shall be responsible to the editor-in-chief and associate editors, who will determine their duties. Such persons shall be paid an appropriate per-issue stipend or hourly wage as determined by the DSO Wage and Stipend Schedule (Bylaw 16).
Freelance CUNY student contributors will be paid for news articles at a rate determined by the editor-in-chief in consultation with the Media Board. Letters to the Editor, opinion pieces, and other non-news articles will not be paid for on a freelance basis. The editor-in-chief has the discretion to pay non-student freelance contributions at the normal rate. It is understood that such contributions will be kept to an absolute minimum.
Section 1.6 Advertising and Outside Funding
The editor-in-chief is encouraged to solicit extra funds from advertisements. Funds received from such activities or other types of outside go back to the DSC general fund. These funds should be used to grow and improve the paper, and the Editor in Chief is encouraged to request such funds as an addition to the next fiscal year's budget, pending approval by the Doctoral Students' Council. It is hoped that this will be an incentive to generate more ad revenue.
Section 1.7 Bookkeeping
For each issue the editor-in-chief will account for all revenues and expenditures, detailing specific personnel and production costs, by keeping copies of check payments and receipts with the co-chair for business management.
Section 1.8 Vacancy of Office
Should the position of editor-in-chief be vacated in the middle of the term, the Media Board may select a replacement to fill out the term from previously filed applications. The replacement may begin work pending an interview.
Section 1.9 Annual Review
The Media Board shall conduct an annual review of the incumbent Editor-in-Chief during the Spring Semester of each year and, if satisfied with the performance, may offer a reappointment for the following year without opening a regular job search.
BYLAW # 2: CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS
Section 2.1 Membership
A chartered organization shall have at least twenty (20) members, who are matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York.
The members shall include students registered in at least three (3) different programs at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York.
Membership shall be open to any student (including non-matriculated students) at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York. Voting membership shall be restricted to matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York.
A Chartered organization may extend non-voting membership to any of the following classes of member or any combination of the following classes of member if it so stipulates in its constitution and/or by-laws:
- i) alumni of the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York;
- ii) matriculated graduate students at all colleges of the City University of New York;
- iii) non-matriculated graduate students at all colleges of the City University of New York;
- iv) matriculated undergraduate students at all colleges of the City University of New York;
- v) members of the faculty of all colleges of the City University of New York;
- vi) members of the staff with faculty status at all colleges of the City University of New York;
- vii) members of the staff at all colleges of the City University of New York.
Section 2.2 Roster
Each chartered organization which has a status of active shall submit a signature roster to the DSC Co-Chair for Student Affairs each semester.
The roster shall include the signatures, printed or typed names, phone numbers, and email addresses of all members, as well as the programs in which they are registered. From the first twenty (20) names on the roster, no more than ten (10) names may come from the same department and a minimum of three departments must be represented.
Section 2.3 Funding
Each active Chartered Organization shall be eligible for an allocation of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) from the DSC each semester.
Section 2.4 Chartering Process
A proposed chartered organization shall submit its proposed constitution and a signature roster (see bylaw on roster) to the DSC Co-Chair for Student Affairs who shall distribute copies of only the constitution at the next meeting. Co-Chairs are responsible for assuring members that the proposed group’s roster meets the signature requirements.
A new Chartered Organization shall be granted its charter by a two-thirds majority vote of the DSC approving its proposed constitution at the DSC meeting following that at which the proposed constitution was distributed.
In deciding whether to grant a charter to a new group, the DSC will consider at least the following points:
- i. Whether the group is not redundant with the missions of other currently-chartered groups;
- ii. Whether the group will help advance the mission of the DSC, as specified in article 3 of the Constitution of the DSO;
- iii. Whether the governing structure of the organization is in accord with the ideals of the DSC.
Section 2.5 Status of Chartered Organizations
All chartered organizations will have a status of either active or inactive for any given semester. Active organizations will be responsible for submitting a signature roster (Sec. 2.2) every semester and an activity report (Sec. 2.7) and a copy of the constitution (Sec. 2.8) every year. They will be eligible to receive their DSC funding of $250. per semester. They will also be responsible for making sure that a contact person for the organization is in touch with the Co-Chair for Student Affairs.
When an organization becomes inactive, it is the responsibility of the last designated contact person to inform the DSC of this change in status. An organization may be considered to be inactive if it is not holding events or meetings on a regular basis or if its membership drops below the minimum number. Groups which fail to submit signature rosters, activity reports, and check requests for two subsequent semesters, and have not submitted inactivity forms, will be de-chartered.
The following rules apply to inactive chartered organizations:
- i. There must be a contact person who is in contact with the DSC and is responsible for the group’s property and maintaining the group’s status;
- ii. The contact person must in good faith advertise for new membership and leadership at least once a semester through at least two separate avenues. Examples of these avenues may include: an announcement in the Advocate; a posting on the DSC website; postering in the Graduate Center; or an email announcement sent to all GC students through the DSC;
- iii. Inactive groups do not have to submit signatures—rather, each semester they must submit an “inactivity” form signed by the designated contact person together with documentation of the advertisements made in the previous semester;
- iv. Inactive groups are not eligible for their DSC allocations;
- v. Inactive groups with office space will have to share the space with an active group if there is an eligible, active group with no space. Inactive groups may still make use of the space and keep property in parts of the office, within reason, but must give priority to the active group in terms of using the computer, phones, etc.;
- vi. There is a time limit of 4 semesters on how long a group can remain inactive. After this time, if the contact person has not found new leadership to re-activate the group, the group will be de-chartered.
Section 2.6 Revocation of Charter
When the co-chair for student affairs determines that an organization has not applied for inactive status and has not submitted rosters, activity reports, or check requests for two semesters, or if the group has been inactive for at least three semesters, she/he must follow these steps:
- i. The Steering Committee must be informed and a majority vote to initiate the de-chartering process must be made;
- ii. The last known contact person for the organization must be contacted to make sure that the organization is indeed inactive. If this person cannot be reached for confirmation, or if no contact information is available, proceed to the next step. If the person is contacted, he or she must either submit documentation that the group is active (signature rosters, event flyers, publications, or similar) within one month or be informed that if the group is not re-activated it will be de-chartered.
- iii. Advertisements for interest in re-activating the group must be issued in, at a minimum, the following ways: an announcement in the Advocate; an announcement on the DSC website; and two email messages, at least one week apart, sent to as many members of the student body as possible;
- iv. If no response is forthcoming two weeks after the last publicity has been published, the co-chair for student affairs will consider the group to be de-chartered.
An announcement that the group is de-chartered will be made to the DSC plenary, and the office space (if any) of the group will be cleared out and re-allocated to an active group.
Upon revocation of a Chartered Organization's charter, all tangible property (up to the amount of all DSC funds allocated to the former Chartered Organization during the preceding seven years), as well as all intangible property and all rights to the use of the name of the former Chartered Organization shall revert to the DSC.
All remaining monies (up to the amount of all DSC funds allocated to the former Chartered Organization during the preceding seven years) shall be returned to the DSC Co-Chair for Business Affairs within thirty (30) days of the revocation of its charter.
All other tangible property (up to the amount of all DSC funds allocated to the former Chartered Organization during the preceding seven years, less any monies returned) shall be returned to the DSC Co-Chair for Student Affairs within ninety (90) days of the revocation of its charter.
Section 2.7 Structure of Chartered Organizations
The structure of a chartered organization’s leadership and decision-making shall be left up to the determination of each organization. The only requirement is that there shall be one designated contact person who is responsible for communication between the organization and the DSC, and that the model of decision-making be specified. The presiding officer (if any), the contact person, and a majority of all officers of a Chartered Organization shall be matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York.
Section 2.8 Activities Report
Chartered Organizations must submit an activity report to the Co-Chair for Business at the end of each year. These reports will simply entail a list of events and meetings held and the disposition of the organization’s $250 allocation.
Section 2.9 Constitution
Every year each Chartered Organization's Officers shall submit to the DSC a copy of the Chartered Organization's current constitution, signed by the officers within six weeks of the beginning of the fall semester.
Section 2.10 Office Space
A chartered group must be in active status for at least three semesters before requesting office space. Office space will be assigned based on seniority and status—the organization which has been chartered and active the longest consecutively will get assigned office space first.
BYLAW # 3: CULTURAL AFFAIRS
(Amended by the DSC on April 11, 2008)
Section 3.1 Membership
The Steering Committee shall appoint to the Cultural Affairs Committee at least three (3) matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York.
The Members of the Cultural Affairs Committee shall include students registered in at least three (3) different programs at theCity University Graduate School & University Center.
The Cultural Affairs Committee shall include the Co-Chair for Business Affairs and one member of the Steering Committee. The Co-Chair shall be responsible for setting meetings of the committee prior to each general meeting of the DSC and for processing requests for funding in a timely manner.
Section 3.2 Term of Office
Members of the Cultural Affairs Committee shall serve until the expiration of the term of office of the Steering Committee that appointed them.
Section 3.3 Removal from Office
Members of the Cultural Affairs Committee may be removed by two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee, provided that they have been sent notification (via certified mall at least two weeks before the meeting at which the vote takes place) that such a vote will take place.
Section 3.4 Funding
The Cultural Affairs Committee shall administer an annual allocation set as part of the DSC budgetary process.
Funds not allocated by the end of the Cultural Affairs Committee term of office shall revert to the DSC general fund.
Section 3.5 Appeal
Decisions of the Cultural Affairs Committee may be appealed in writing to the Steering Committee.
Section 3.6 Grants
The Cultural Affairs Committee shall grant monies to individual students registered at the Graduate School and University Center, to departmental organizations, to Chartered Organizations, and to ad hoc groups of students registered at the Graduate School & University Center.
Such grants shall be made solely for the purposes of publishing cultural and academic materials or conducting cultural events open to all students at the Graduate School & University Center.
No individual, ad hoc group, chartered organization or department organization shall receive grants in one Cultural Affairs Committee term totaling more than ten percent (10%) of the annual allocation, except in extraordinary circumstances as defined below.
All events must be publicized at the Graduate School & University Center at east fourteen (14) days in advance of the event to be eligible to receive grants from the Cultural Affairs Committee.
No grant monies shall be spent for alcoholic beverages or film rental. The DSO shall set aside each year at least 2% of the annual income of the DSC to be spent specifically on Cultural Affairs grants.
Extraordinary Circumstances:
Any proposal to exceed the 10% limit for a Cultural Affairs grant must meet the following qualifications for disbursement:
- 1) The proposal must show significant educational, recreational, or professional benefit for students.
- 2) The proposal sponsors must provide persuasive evidence that the grant money is unavailable elsewhere.
- 3) Disbursement of the requested amount would not deny adequate funding for other eligible proposals the Committee is considering at that time.
- 4) The proposal must then pass a majority vote of the Cultural Affairs Committee, who may approve all or part of the requested amount.
- 5) Disbursement of the money approved by the Cultural Affairs Committee will be allowed after a majority vote in the plenary.
Section 3.7 Matching Funds
Individual students registered at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York, departmental organizations, Chartered Organizations, or ad hoc groups of groups of students registered at the Graduate School & University Center may request matching funds in lieu of grants. The Cultural Affairs Committee shall not exceed the following schedule of matching funds:
- First: $ 250 may be matched: 100%
- Next: $ 500 may be matched: 50%
- Next: $ 1,000 may be matched: 25%
- i.e: $ 1.00 to $ 250.00 may be matched up to: 100 cents to the dollar;
$250.01 to $ 750.00 may be matched up to: 50 cents to the dollar; $750.01 to $1,750.00 may be matched up to: 25 cents to the dollar. Matching funds to any one recipient shall not exceed $750.00 in one Cultural Affairs Committee term of office. No recipient of matching funds shall receive a grant during the same Cultural Affairs Committee term of office.
BYLAW # 4: ELECTIONS
Section 4.1 Psychology
For the purposes of DSC elections, each Psychology sub-program shall be considered a separate department: i.e., each of the following sub-programs shall be entitled to one (or more) representatives: Bio-Psychology; Clinical, Developmental, Environmental, Experimental, Experimental Cognition, Industrial & Organizational, and Learning Processes Psychology; Neuropsychology, and Social Personality Psychology.
Section 4.2 Music
For the purposes of DSC elections, the D.M.A. and Ph.D. Programs in Music shall be considered separate departments.
Section 4.3 Uncontested Elections
In the event that the number of departmental nominees does not exceed the number of representatives to which a department is entitled, or in the event that the number of at-large nominees does not exceed the number of at-large representatives to be elected, the Steering Committee may declare those nominee(s) elected by virtue of having been nominated.
Section 4.4 Failure To Nominate
(proposed April 2007, amended by the DSC May 2007)
Any program which fails to nominate as many departmental representatives as the number to which it is entitled may have its representation on the DSC reduced in the following year, for up to one year, to the number which it nominated.
Any program which fails to nominate any departmental representative may lose its representation on the DSC in the following year, for up to one year, and may be ineligible to receive its departmental allocation that year.
BYLAW # 5: USE OF STUDENT ACTIVITY FEES IN PAYMENT OF "OUTSIDE" PERFORMER OR SPEAKER
[Approved by the DSC on March 18, 1992; amended by the DSC on April 11, 2008]
[This applies to all students and student groups that invite outside performers or speakers and use student activity money to pay them or tender honoria.]
In accordance with the bylaws waiver approved by the Board of Trustees at its meeting of April 30, 1984, the President of the Graduate School & University functions as the College Association. This function is delegated to the Doctoral Students Council under the direct supervision of the Dean for Student Affairs and the Assistant Vice President for Finance. [This waiver is now superseded by the CUNY Bylaw regarding College Associations adopted by the Board of Trustees, but the provisions herein are still applicable.] When DSC money is involved, there shall be a written contract specifying time, date, reason for the fee and the amount of the fee paid to performer or speaker.
- 1) The maximum permissible fee in the use of DSC money for performers or speakers shall be $500, unless approved by the general body of the Doctoral Student's Council in an open vote at a regularly scheduled meeting.
- 2) If a fee is paid, a member of the DSC must attend at least part of the event at which the speaker or performer is present and be willing to sign a document to such effect. There must also be at least one additional document that proves that the event did take place.
- 3) All security procedures must conform to the guidelines set down by the Graduate Center. Any additional security procedures must be approved by the president or his/her designee.
- 4) Any group of students may apply for funds for outside speakers through the Cultural Affairs Committee. The DSC and its chartered organizations also have the right to use their monies to invite speakers or performers. All individuals that do not fit into this category, but wish to use student activity funds, must bring their proposal to the general body of the DSC.
BYLAW #6 STUDENT ACADEMIC APPEALS COMMITTEE
(Approved by Doctoral Students' Council, 1997) Each spring the students from each program shall elect a student Academic Appeals Officer from their program for a term of one year. The election shall be conducted by the DSC on the annual DSC ballot in tandem with the election of program representatives.
The Student Academic Appeals Officer shall be available to sit on appeals panels of the Graduate Council Student Academic Appeals Committee and serve as consultants should the appeals panel wish to obtain information from a student regarding the program involved in the appeal.
BYLAW # 7 ADJUNCT ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION
(Approved by Doctoral Students' Council, November 1998)
Section 7.1 Name and Purpose of Activity
The name of the activity shall be The Adjunct Project to recognize that it is an on-going project of the DSC, and is concerned solely with the interests of the GSUC student adjunct. The Adjunct Project shall advocate on behalf of, and disseminate information to and concerning the GSUC student adjunct, with attention given to the CUNY-wide adjunct situation, and the state of academic labor as a whole.
Section 7.2 Hiring Co-Coordinators
New co-coordinators shall be hired by joint decision of the incumbent co-coordinators, at least one DSC Co-Chair and one Steering Committee member (who shall comprise the "Hiring Team") after public advertisements have been posted for at least two weeks. Resumes must be obtained from each applicant. All qualified applicants must be interviewed. The co-coordinators must be registered GSUC students with experience as CUNY adjuncts. Other specific qualifications may be stipulated by the hiring team. Any member of the hiring team has the right to request that an applicant be interviewed. Interviews must be attended by all members of the hiring team. Co-coordinators shall serve at the pleasure of the DSC, and may be removed from their positions by a two-thirds majority vote of a DSC plenary. Incumbent co-coordinators may continue in their positions beyond one year.
Section 7.3 Co-Coordinator Tenure and Compensation
The co-coordinators shall serve from August 1 to May 31. Unless otherwise formally agreed upon by the DSC, the co-coordinators shall be paid $700 per month.
Section 7.4 Co-Coordinator Responsibilities
The co-coordinators, with the guidance of the DSC, shall be responsible for determining the specific issues to address and the means of addressing them, as well as for ensuring that all activities of The Adjunct Project are within the limits of the law, the GSUC Fiscal Accountability Handbook, and the DSC Constitution.
The co-coordinators shall be responsible for hiring staff.
Section 7.5 Hiring Staff
When necessary and affordable (as determined by the DSC on the recommendation of the Co-Chair for Business Affairs) the co-coordinators may hire office staff. When hiring staff, the co-coordinators must hire registered GSUC students following at least two weeks of public postings or other appropriate means of advertising. Compensation for hired staff shall be determined through negotiations between the co-coordinators and the Co-Chair for Business Affairs.
Section 7.6 Outside Funding
The co-coordinators are encouraged to solicit extra funds through any legitimate means. Such funds shall be deposited by the Co-Chair for Business Affairs into a budget line for gifts and contributions to The Adjunct Project, to be used solely for The Adjunct Project's activities and at the discretion of the co-coordinators.
Section 7.7 Vacancy of Offices
Should the position of co-coordinator be vacated in the middle of the term, the co-coordinators may select a replacement from applications received following at least two weeks of public advertisement. Previously filed applications may be considered as well. The hiring shall follow the process described in Section 2 of this By-Law.
BYLAW # 8 DEPARTMENTAL ALLOCATIONS
The DSC shall make available at least 7.5% (seven and one half percent) of its annual Student Activity Fee income for department allocations to be distributed each semester. The DSC shall maintain a policy of how the funds are distributed that balances equity among programs with the relative size of each program. The policy should also describe the use of leftover funds. Programs without representation for a given semester are not entitled to funds for that semester. The institution of the policy and any changes thereafter shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the DSC plenary.
BYLAW #9 USS DELEGATE DSC RESPONSIBILITIES
(Approved unanimously by the DSC on April 8, 2005; amended by the DSC on April 11, 2008)
The USS delegate shall be a non-voting ex-officio of both the Executive and the Steering Committees; the alternate delegate shall also serve as an alternate non-voting ex-officio in the absence of the delegate. The USS delegate shall be elected by the Plenary following the election of the Steering Committee. The Alternate USS delegate shall be elected by the Plenary following the election of the USS delegate. Constitutional rules on elections shall apply to these positions. Any DSC member is eligible to serve as USS delegate, but may only collect one stipend for Steering Committee duties if serving concomitantly as USS delegate and as a voting member of the Steering Committee. The USS delegate may choose to waive receipt of monthly stipends in lieu of performing Steering Committee duties.
BYLAW #10 INTERIM USS DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE
(Approved unanimously by the DSC on April 8, 2005) In the event that the office of USS delegate or alternate shall be vacant, the position or positions shall be filled on an interim basis by the Co-Chair for Student Affairs and the Co-Chair for Communications, respectively.
BYLAW #11 DSC WEBSITE AND MEDIA BOARD
(Approved by the DSC on May 13, 2005; amended on May 12, 2006; amendments to take effect on June 1, 2006)
Section 11.1 Name and Job Description
The name of the job position shall be The DSC Webmaster to recognize that this employee maintains the Doctoral Students’ Council website and all subsidiary pages. The DSC Webmaster shall work directly with the Co-Chair for Communications and with the Steering Committee and Media Board (as needed) to disseminate information deemed important by the DSC.
Section 11.2 Hiring the DSC Webmaster
The DSC Webmaster shall be hired by majority vote of the Media Board after public advertisements have been posted for at least two weeks. Hiring preference will be given to registered Graduate Center students. Resumes must be obtained from each applicant. All qualified applicants must be interviewed. Interviews with at least two applicants must occur before the webmaster is hired from those who have been interviewed. Any member of the Media Board has the right to request that an applicant be interviewed, or be interviewed twice.
Section 11.3 DSC Webmaster Tenure and Compensation
The DSC Webmaster’s tenure spans the fall and spring terms and includes a holiday break. This term specifically begins one week before the fall semester begins and ends on the last day of the final exam period for the spring. The DSC webmaster shall be paid an appropriate hourly wage or annual stipend as determined by the DSO Wage and Stipend Schedule (Bylaw 16).
Section 11.4 DSC Webmaster Responsibilities
The DSC Webmaster shall be responsible for uploading website content, as determined by the DSC Steering Committee. The DSC Webmaster shall be responsible for website design and structure.
Section 11.5 Vacancy of Office
Should the position of DSC Webmaster be vacated in the middle of the term, the Media Board may reconsider previously filed applications or follow the normal hiring process stipulated in Section 11.2, at their discretion.
Section 11.6 Annual Review
The Media Board shall conduct an annual review of the incumbent webmaster during the Spring Semester of each year and, if satisfied with the performance, may offer a reappointment for the following year without opening a regular job search.
BYLAW #12 MANDATORY WELLNESS CENTER EXPENDITURE
(Submitted for review to the DSC plenary on October 21, 2005; approved unanimously by the plenary on November 18, 2005.)
The Student Activity Fee having been increased by $12 per semester due to a referendum for the purpose of subsidizing graduate student health care, the DSC shall allocate $48,000 for the operating and administrative costs of Student Health Services at the Wellness Center each semester. Student Activity Fee money earmarked for student health care in excess of $48,000 shall be allocated to other health services by the DSC with the advice of the Standing Committee on Health Issues. This provision shall take effect upon the ratification of the provisions of the 2005 student health services referendum by the Board of Trustees and shall expire on June 30, 2009 unless previously renewed.
BYLAW #13 HEALTH ISSUES COMMITTEE
(Following a resolution passed by the DSC plenary on September 10, 2004; submitted for review to the plenary on November 18, 2005; approved by the plenary on December 9, 2005; amended by the plenary on April 11, 2008)
Section 13.1 Name and Purpose
The name of the committee shall be the Standing Committee on Health Issues. Issues relating (but not limited) to student health services at the Wellness Center, inoculations programs, and student health insurance shall fall under the purview of the committee. It will be the responsibility of the committee to advocate improvements in student health.
Section 13.2 Chairperson
The Steering Committee shall appoint from among its members a chairperson of the Standing Committee on Health Issues, subject to approval by the plenary. The Steering Committee may appoint two co-chairpersons, also subject to plenary approval.
Section 13.3 Membership
The plenary shall appoint no fewer than three and no greater than nine members, not including the Chairperson(s). In the event that there are two co-chairpersons, the maximum number of members appointed by the plenary shall be eight. One DSC co-chair shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member. The membership need not consist of DSC members.
Section 13.4 Term of Office
Members of the Health Issues Committee shall serve until the expiration of the term of office of the plenary that appointed them.
Section 13.5 Secretary
The chairperson shall appoint a secretary of the committee from among the committee members. The chairperson may ask that secretarial duties be rotated among the membership.
Section 13.6 Subcommittees
The committee may name subcommittees for investigation, advocacy and recommendations pertaining to particular issues within the purview of the committee. Membership in subcommittees shall be limited to the members of the committee. The chairperson of the committee shall appoint a subcommittee chair from among the members of each subcommittee. The committee chair shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of each subcommittee. All subcommittees shall expire on June 30th of each year unless renewed. Subcommittees and their members shall be subject to all other provisions of this bylaw.
Section 13.7 Meetings
§13.7.1 Schedule
The committee chairperson shall schedule at least one meeting of the committee per semester, in consultation with the membership, and shall notify the membership at least one week in advance of each meeting. All meetings must be advertised in accordance with New York state laws on Open Meetings. Subcommittees shall not have a minimum number of meetings.
§13.7.2 Presiding Officer
The Chairperson shall preside over committee meetings and shall not vote except in the case of a tie. In the event that there are co-chairpersons, they shall rotate presiding officer duties. At each such meeting, the co-chair not chairing shall serve as a voting member of the committee.
§13.7.3 Quorum
Quorum shall consist of at least half of the current membership, including the chairperson or co-chairs, not including ex-officio members.
§13.7.4 Records
All public agendas and minutes shall be posted in accordance with New York state laws on Open Meetings, through the auspices of the office of the DSC Co-Chair for Communications.
Section 13.8 Annual Reports
§13.8.1 Committee Reports
The chairperson or secretary of the committee shall submit an annual report on the activities of the committee no later than the May DSC plenary meeting of each year. Such report shall be deposited with the office of the DSC Co-Chair for Communications by the chairperson or secretary no later than June 30th.
§13.8.2 Subcommittee Reports
Subcommittees are not required to submit reports. When subcommittees have reports, they are to be submitted to the committee—not the plenary—by the subcommittee chairman. Such reports shall be deposited with the office of the DSC Co-Chair for Communications by the committee chairperson or secretary no later than June 30th.
§13.8.3 Substitutions.
In the event that one subcommittee handles the majority of the committee’s work for any given year, the report of that subcommittee may be substituted for the committee report at the discretion of the committee chairperson.
Section 13.9 Removal from Office
Any member, chairperson, or co-chair of the Health Committee may be removed by two-thirds vote of the plenary, provided that they have been sent notification via certified mail at least two weeks before the meeting at which the vote takes place.
Section 13.10 Absenteeism
All voting members of the Health Issues Committee must inform the chairperson of any impending meeting absence. When the chairperson shall be absent, he/she shall appoint and inform a deputy chairperson from among the membership. When there are two co-chairs, one need only inform the other of impending absence. No excuse need be given. Such action shall deem the absence “excused.” In the event of two unexcused absences, a member or chairperson shall be understood to have resigned from the committee. Excused absences can also be declared retroactively by the committee.
BYLAW # 14: CONFERENCES, PUBLICATIONS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
(Submitted to the plenary March 24, 2006; approved by the plenary April 28, 2006.)
Section 14.1 Membership
The Steering Committee shall appoint to the Professional Development Committee at least three (3) matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York. The Members of the Professional Development Committee shall include students registered in at least three (3) different programs at the City University Graduate School & University Center. The Professional Development Committee shall include the Co-Chair for Business Management and one member of the Steering Committee. The Co-Chair shall be responsible for setting meetings of the committee and for processing requests for funding in a timely manner.
Section 14.2 Term of Office
Members of the Professional Development Committee shall serve until the expiration of the term of office of the Steering Committee that appointed them.
Section 14.3 Removal from Office
Members of the Professional Development Committee may be removed by two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee, provided that they have been sent notification (via certified mall at least two weeks before the meeting at which the vote takes place) that such a vote will take place.
Section 14.4 Funding
The Professional Development Committee shall administer an annual allocation set as part of the DSC budgetary process. Funds not allocated by the end of the Professional Development Committee term of office shall revert to the DSC general fund.
Section 14.5 Appeal
Decisions of the Professional Development Committee may be appealed in writing to the Steering Committee.
Section 14.6 Grants
The Professional Development Committee shall grant monies to individual students registered at the Graduate School and University Center, to departmental organizations, to Chartered Organizations, and to ad hoc groups of students registered at the Graduate School & University Center. Such grants shall be made solely for the purposes of holding conferences, publishing academic materials or conducting professional development events open to all students at the Graduate School & University Center. No individual, ad hoc group, chartered organization or department organization shall receive grants in one Professional Development Committee term totaling more than ten percent (10%) of the annual allocation, except in extraordinary circumstances as defined below. All events must be publicized at the Graduate School & University Center at east fourteen (14) days in advance of the event to be eligible to receive grants from the Professional Development Committee.
The DSO shall set aside each year at least 2% of the annual income of the DSC to be spent specifically on Professional Development grants.
Extraordinary Circumstances:
Any proposal to exceed the 10% limit for a Professional Development grant must meet the following qualifications for disbursement:
- 1) The proposal must show significant educational or professional benefit for students.
- 2) The proposal sponsors must provide persuasive evidence that the grant money is unavailable elsewhere.
- 3) Disbursement of the requested amount would not deny adequate funding for other eligible proposals the Committee is considering at that time.
- 4) The proposal must then pass a majority vote of the Professional Development Committee, who may approve all or part of the requested amount.
- 5) Disbursement of the money approved by the Professional Development Committee will be allowed after a majority vote in the plenary.
BYLAW #15: DSO WAGE AND STIPENDS SCHEDULE
(Amended by the DSC April 11, 2008).
Monthly Stipends:
Officers
- Co-chair for Student Affairs: $800/month for 10 months (August-May)
- Co-chair for Communications: $800/month for 10 months (August-May)
- Co-chair for Business Management: $800/month for 11 months (August-June)
- Other Steering Committee Members, including ex-officio members: $250/month for 8 months (September-December; February-May)
- Adjunct Project Coordinator: $425/month for 9 months (September through May)
All monthly stipends will be paid during the first week of each month.
Advocate Stipends
- Advocate Editor-in-Chief: $775/issue
- Advocate Managing Editor: $775/issue
- Advocate Layout Editor: $775/issue
Hourly Wages
- Advocate On-line Editor: $18/hour
- DSC Webmaster: $18/hour
BYLAW #16 DSC ALTERNATE DELEGATES TO GRADUATE COUNCIL
(Submitted to the DSC on April 28, 2006; Approved by the DSC on May 12, 2006.)
The Co-chairs being the DSC delegates to Graduate Council, the other Steering Committee members shall serve as alternate DSC delegates to the Graduate Council in the event that one or more of the Co-chairs is unable to attend. The order of succession shall be determined by the incoming Steering Committee at the joint meeting in May of each year, or as soon as possible thereafter.
BYLAW #17: ELECTRONIC MATERIALS & SUBMISSIONS
(Submitted to the DSC on November 16, 2007; Approved by the DSC on December 14, 2007)
In keeping with modern interpretations of how information is disseminated, “mail” can refer to information sent via U.S. Postal Service, courier service (such as FedEx or UPS), or electronic media (such as “email”). “Postmark” can refer to not just a cancellation of stamps (as still done in some U.S. Post Offices), but also to electronic documentation (such as printed stamps, courier delivery documentation with notation of sent date and time, and electronic media receipts or headers which include date/time of sending). Materials requested to be submitted “in writing” may be appropriately submitted via electronic means, such as via email, website, or other documentable means.
BYLAW #18: COMPLIANCE WITH NEW YORK STATE LAWS
(Submitted to the DSC on March 14, 2008; Approved by the DSC on April 11, 2008)
While good faith efforts are constantly ongoing to maintain the Constitution and Bylaws as legally compliant documents, the DSC and its Steering Committee will adhere to applicable New York state laws, including the Open Meetings Law, when conflicts may arise among the documents.
