GSA Constitution

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the “Graduate Student Association.”

Article II: Purpose

The mission of the Graduate Student Association is to serve the needs of, advocate for the interests of, and foster collaboration among graduate students at The University of Alabama

Article III: Membership

Section 1

Membership of the Graduate Student Association shall consist of all graduate students at The University of Alabama who do not inform the GSA Executive Vice President, or the designee thereof, of their intention to opt out of membership.

Section  2

Members are eligible to seek any office under this Constitution. No member shall hold more than one Executive Council office.

Section 3

Membership in registered student organizations shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without regard to race, religion, sex, disability, national origin, color, age disability, gender identity or expression, sexual identity, or veteran status except in cases of designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.”

Article IV: Executive Council and Officers

Section 1: Composition

1. The Executive Council shall be composed of the President, Executive Vice President, Vice President for Research and 3MT Competition, Vice President for Financial Affairs and Awards, Vice President of Innovations, Vice President for Research & Grants, and Vice President of Communications.
2. Additional members may be proscribed in the By-Laws of the Executive Council.

Section 2: Selection

1. The Executive Council of the Graduate Student Association shall be selected by a committee which shall include the Director of Graduate Student Services, Dean of the Graduate School (or designee), at least one but no more than three outgoing Executive Council members, and/or a member of the Assembly to be designated by the outgoing Executive Vice President.
2. In the event that the committee stipulated in Section 2(a) of this article cannot be convened in a timely fashion, the selection may be made by any two members of the committee with the approval of the Director of Graduate School Programs or the Dean of the Graduate School of this selection mechanism being used.
3. No more than 30% of the members of the Executive Council shall come from one academic college.

Section 3: Duties of Officers

1. The President shall serve as the head of the Graduate Student Association and exercise principal executive power.
2. The Vice President for Financial Affairs shall serve as GSA Treasurer, unless that position is delegated to another individual by the By-Laws.
3. All other officers shall discharge their duties as stated in the Executive Council By-Laws.
4. Additional duties may be assigned to officers in the Executive Council By-Laws.

Section 4: Duties and Powers

1. The Executive Council shall serve as the Executive Branch of the GSA.
2. The Executive Council may, on their own counsel or the recommendation or request of the GSA Assembly or petition of one or more graduate student(s), undertake initiatives for the improvement of graduate student life as they see fit.
3. The Executive Council shall post an annual report on the GSA website or via an email to the delegate body each April summarizing the previous year’s activities.

Section 5: Meetings

1. The Executive Council shall hold regularly scheduled meetings at least three times per semester.
2. Regular meetings of the Executive Council should be announced no less than fourteen days in advance on the GSA website or via email to executive officers.
3. Each regular Executive Council meeting shall have a time designated for graduate students to address the Executive Council. This time must be open to the public. Aside from this time, meetings may be open or closed to the public, unless otherwise required by law.
4. Extraordinary meetings of the Executive Council may be called by the President (or, in the absence thereof, by the Executive Vice President) upon three days notice. Decisions made at extraordinary meetings must be ratified at the next regular meeting.

Section 5: Committees

1. The Executive Council will identify needed committees for each semester and will appoint individuals to serve on said committees.
2. The Executive Council, at its discretion, may establish Working Groups to consider a specific problem or issue relevant to graduate students. At the time of their creation, a committee should be designated by the Speaker for the Working Group to deliver its report upon completion of its study. This report should include evidence considered and recommendations for action on the issue.

Article V: Meetings

Section 1

The Graduate Student Association shall hold Town Hall General Meetings during the fall and spring semesters of each academic year. This meeting shall serve as a forum for GSA members to voice concerns directly to the GSAEC.

Section 2

Winners of GSA-sponsored awards shall be recognized at the Town Hall General Meetings. The inauguration of GSA officers shall also take place at the fall Town Hall Meeting.

Section 3

Other General Meetings may be called by the GSA President or by resolution of the GSA Assembly. No more than four General Meetings shall take place during the course of one academic or calendar year, nor more than two in a single semester.

Section 4

General Meetings shall be announced no fewer than thirty calendar days in advance.

Article VI: Relationships

GSA shall have no relationship to or be controlled by any other local, state or national organization

Article VII: Finances

In the event that the organization becomes defunct or is terminated, all funds held in the GSA account at the Alabama Credit Union shall be donated in full to the University of Alabama Student Organization Scholarship Fund and the account officially closed

Article VIII: Advisor

One or more advisors shall be elected each year in the same manner as the association’s officers. Responsibilities shall be those assigned by The University of Alabama Student Handbook.

Article IX: Amendments

Section 1

Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Council.

Section 2

This constitution may be replaced in its entirety provided that the replacement is proposed by a three-fourths majority vote of the Executive Council and adopted by a three-fifths majority vote of the full Graduate Student Association membership (not to be interpreted as three-fifths of those voting in such a referendum).

Article X: By-Laws

Section 1

The Executive Council and any other bodies established under this Constitution shall adopt by-laws to govern themselves.

Section 2

No provision in any By-Laws established under this Constitution shall contradict this Constitution.

Section 3

The standard for amendment of by-laws or replacement of by-laws shall be a two-thirds majority vote of the group subject to those by-laws.

Section 4

Only the group governed by a set of by-laws shall vote regarding adoption or amendment.

Article XI: Relationship with The University of Alabama

The GSA is a student organization of The University of Alabama, and shall comply with the conditions prescribed by the University for student organizations. The GSA shall be advised by one or more faculty or staff member(s) of the University, who shall be permitted to, but not required to, attend all GSA meetings, including meetings of constituent bodies established under this Constitution, and sub-groups thereof.