Graduate Student Organization Constitution

By Laws and statement of Purpose

Approved 2-8-90

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) Graduate Student Organization (GSO) is designed to represent the interests of the graduate student body by providing a framework for graduate student participation in University governance. The Graduate Student Organization's goal is to foster the continual improvement of graduate student life at UNH. In order for the GSO to be effective, its purposes are outlined as follows:

To provide a representative structure for the graduate student body. To serve as an advocate for graduate student concerns and to be a resource for graduate students. To establish and maintain an effective means of communication between graduate students, faculty and administrators. To participate in the decision - making process for establishing University policies and/or setting priorities which effect graduate student life. To initiate and administer programs and services for the graduate student body and the University, as appropriate. To monitor the development of all graduate student mandatory fees and the services which they support. To provide the graduate student body regular, open meetings for participation in graduate student governance.

Every graduate student at the University of New Hampshire is de facto a member of the GSO, and has the right to attend any and all such meetings.

The Board of the GSO shall be comprised of no more than two, and no less than one, representative from each department with an approved graduate program. Departments which do not wish to be represented may waive their right to representation at any time for any length of time. However, it is the goal of the GSO to represent the interests of all graduate students, so the waiving of such rights is discouraged.

The Board of the GSO shall be elected each Fall semester, with terms which run for one full year. These terms shall not end until elections of a new Board has been completed each Fall.

The Board of the GSO shall meet a minimum of once per semester each academic year. These meetings shall be advertised and open to all graduate students.

The GSO shall elect from its Board the following executive officers:

The Chair shall bear the primary responsibility for running all meetings of the GSO and for developing the agenda for such meetings. The Alternate Chair shall be responsible for aiding the Chair in the aforementioned responsibilities, and for running any meetings of the GSO should the Chair be unable to attend. The Clerk shall be responsible for keeping accurate minutes of the GSO meetings and its auxiliary committees. These minutes shall be kept on file in two locations. First and foremost these records shall be kept by the clerk, and will be transferred from clerk to clerk after the fall elections. In addition, a secondary repository for these minutes shall be established within the Graduate School. It will be the responsibility of the clerk to deposit the minutes with the appropriate Graduate School personnel.

All members of the Board of the GSO shall have a full vote in the manner in which meetings are to be conducted. It is recommended, however, that the Board utilize Robert's Rules of Order or another established system. It is further recommended that all members of the GSO, and most especially the Board, become familiar with this method in order to insure that meetings are run efficiently and fairly.

Amendments to the By Laws

Passed at the meeting held on 10/18/90

Election of the Officers shall be conducted during the fall semester. Their term of office shall begin January 1st and run for one calendar year.

Passed at the meeting held on 11/29/90

A subcommittee of the GSO shall be formed that will be involved in the review of mandatory and optional fees paid by graduate students at UNH. The subcommittee shall be comprised of the Executive Officers of the GSO, a member of the Babcock Hall Council, and the graduate student representatives for the following fee setting committees: the Consumer Relations Board, the MUB Board of Governors, the Recreational Sports Liaisons, and the Health Services Advisory Committee.

Passed at the meeting held on 4/20/2004

Elections of the Officers shall be conducted during the Spring semester. Their term of office shall begin June 1st and run for one calendar year.

The GSO shall elect from its Board the following executive officers, with the following responsibilities, respectively: President - responsible for running all meetings of the GSO and for developing the agenda for such meetings Vice President - responsible for aiding the President and for running any meetings of the GSO should the President be unable to attend GFOC Chair and Treasurer - responsible for chairing the Graduate Fee Oversight Committee according to policies of said committee (see next amendment). responsible for keeping track of the GSO budget and other financial duties as appropriate. Clerk - responsible for keeping accurate minutes of the GSO meetings and its auxiliary committees. responsible for sending these minutes to the GSO Blackboard administrator and the Website Administrator of the Graduate School. Publicity Officer and Blackboard Administrator - responsible for promoting and publicizing GSO events, recruitment efforts, and for maintaining the GSO Blackboard site. Social Director - responsible for coordinating social activities as deemed appropriate by the GSO

The subcommittee of the GSO that will be involved in review of mandatory and optional fees shall be called the Graduate Fee Oversight Committee (GFOC). A full description of this committee, including its members and responsibilities can be found at the following link, GFOC.

Passed at the meeting held on 5/02/2005

The Chair of the Grad FOC and the Treasurer can be separate positions and need not be the same person. The Treasurer is responsible for keeping track of the GSO budget and other financial duties as appropriate. The Grad FOC Chair is responsible for chairing the Graduate Fee Oversight Committee according to policies of said committee (see above amendment).

Passed at the meeting held on 4/22/2008

The title of the GSO Board position of Social Director is changed to Program Coordinator. The duties of the position remain the same. The position of Representative to the USNH Board of Trustees is added to the slate of executive offices of the GSO Board. The holder of this position is responsible for maintaining contact with the Board of Trustees and the UNH Undergraduate Representative to the Board of Trustees, representing the GSO at Board of Trustees meetings, and representing the GSO at subcommittee meetings that the GSO is invited to attend.

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