CONSTITUTION of the ANDREWS UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

(ratified December 2, 2001)

Purpose

The Andrews University Graduate Student Association (AUGSA) was established in 1987 to serve the graduate students of Andrews University. AUGSA‘s purpose is to strengthen student cohesiveness and create a community that learns and works together--entering to learn and departing to serve.

Mission

AUGSA‘s mission is to consider, evaluate, and meet the academic, social, spiritual, and career needs and concerns of the graduate students. AUGSA seeks to provide an avenue that will enhance and further these endeavors.

Constituency

Members of the AUGSA are graduate students who pay graduate student fees and enrolled in one of the following schools or colleges:
      College of Arts and Science
      School of Business
      School of Education
      College of Technology
      Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Article I Membership

  1. Membership Criteria Members of the AUGSA shall be defined as those who are graduate students registered in regular or provisional status in degree programs at the Berrien Springs campus of Andrews University and subject to payment of AUGSA fees.
  2. Fees The AUGSA will receive graduate student fees, as specified in the AU financial handbook. The Executive Committee may suggest changes in the fee structure, which must be approved by the Andrews University Finance Committee.

Article II Organization

2. 1 Assembly The assembly consists of members who gather as a body. This body has the right, under the law of the constitution, to review the operating and financial policies of the AUGSA, ratify and recall officers, amend the constitution, and propose bylaws by a vote of seventy percent of the members present.

  1. Executive Officers AUGSA‘s Executive Committee is comprised of one representative from each college or school offering a graduate degree program at Andrews University.
  2. Advisor(s) Andrews University Advisor(s) are appointed by the University Administration, upon the recommendation of the AUGSA, in collaboration with the Dean of Graduate Studies, and the Vice President of Student Services. The advisor(s) serve as a resource to the AUGSA, liaison between the University Administration and the AUGSA, and ex officio member(s) of the AUGSA Executive Committee.

Duties of AUGSA Advisor(s) include:

a. Attend Executive Committee meetings, Assembly meetings, and other scheduled spiritual, social, professional, and scholarly events. b. Protect AUGSA from inadvertently disregarding the working policy of Andrews University c. Advise AUGSA and Executive Committee d. Facilitate accomplishment of AUGSA‘s agenda e. Sign documents, provide oversight, and review and approve publications. If an Advisor is unable to attend a meeting, event, or approve a publication, an alternate faculty/staff member may be designated as a temporary substitute.

2.4 Meetings and Quorum

  1. There should be a minimum of one meeting per semester of the Assembly. The quorum shall be defined as those who attend an Assembly meeting that has been extensively publicized at least one week in advance.
  2. The Executive Committee should meet at least one time each month. The quorum shall be defined as seventy percent of Executive Officers in attendance at the Executive Committee meeting.

Article III Compliance with AU Working Policies and Authority

  1. Policies The AUGSA is subject at all times subject to the working policies of Andrews University.
  2. Veto Policy The AUGSA Advisor(s) may veto any action of the AUGSA Executive Committee or Assembly. The AUGSA Executive Committee and/or a majority of members in attendance at a duly called AUGSA constituency meeting may appeal the advisor‘s veto to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Vice President of Student Affairs, or if necessary, to the President of Andrews University.

Article IV Composition and Definitions

4.1 Job Title Executive Committee Member, AUGSA

4.1a Core Function As a unit, the AUGSA Executive Committee will be expected to perform the following functions:

  1. Attend AUGSA Executive Committee meetings.
  2. Represent AUGSA at assigned University committee meetings. Each Executive Committee member is required to be an AUGSA liaison to a minimum of one committee each semester. The Executive Committee may appoint other graduate students to represent AUGSA on University committees and subcommittees.
  3. Publicize upcoming Assembly meetings at least one week in advance via posters, Agenda, Student Movement, list serv, etc.
  4. Coordinate spiritual, social, professional, and scholarly activities.
  5. Maintain records, minutes, and attendance rolls.
  6. Prepare and disseminate correspondence to AUGSA members.
  7. Manage AUGSA funds and maintain appropriate financial records.
  8. Pass records to successors.
  9. Review articles submitted for AUGSA publications.
  10. Produce publications that support AUGSA‘s philosophy and mission.
  11. Maintain the AUGSA list serv.
  12. Disseminate AUGSA information to campus media.
  13. Engage in grant writing and fund-raising, as necessary.

4.2 Job Specifications

4.2a Required Qualifications An applicant should meet the following standards:

  1. be a graduate student registered as regular or provisional status in a degree program at the Andrews University Berrien Springs campus.
  2. have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.
  3. be recommended by a School dean, faculty member, or administrator.

4.2b Required Expertise An applicant should demonstrate the following:

  1. outstanding leadership abilities
  2. excellent communication skills
  3. high level of commitment
  4. high level of responsibility
  5. efficient time management skills

4.2c Special Requirements

An applicant should be:

  1. of commendable social status, as defined by the Andrews University Student Handbook
  2. able to maintain a GPA of 3.0
  1. Term of Office Executive Committee members are selected for a one-year term and may apply for a second one-year term. Members may be removed from office according to Article VI.
  2. Reporting Relationship Executive Committee members will report to the AUGSA advisors.
  3. Remuneration The AUGSA Executive Committee members will be entitled to a stipend established by the Advisors, Graduate Dean, and Vice President of Student Services.
  4. Accountability The AUGSA Executive Committee shall be accountable to the advisors, Andrews University administration, and the entire Andrews University graduate student body.

Article V Selection of Executive Committee Members

5.1 Selection Procedures

  1. Faculty members or administrators in the various University schools and colleges will nominate qualified applicants for membership.
  2. Graduate students may nominate themselves by requesting an application from their dean.
  3. Nominated candidates will submit an application and resume to the AUGSA advisors.
    1. There will be one member chosen from each of the five schools and colleges:
      1. College of Arts and Sciences
      2. School of Business
      3. School of Education
      4. College of Technology
      5. Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary
  1. Selected members will be asked to serve a one-year term. At the end of the term, each member may apply for a second one-year term.
  2. A Search Committee comprised of the AUGSA faculty advisors, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Vice President for Student Services, and any current AUGSA Executive Committee member, will select members for the next term.
  3. Executive Committee member positions are graduate assistantships that include a stipend.
  4. Recall of an Executive Committee member must follow the procedures set forth in Article VI.
  5. Executive Committee applications must be received by March 30 and the selection process must be concluded by April 30 for the following term.

Article VI Procedures for the Recall of Executive Committee Members

6. 1 Recall Procedures

6.1a In the event that an Executive Committee member has three unqualified absences or has failed to perform three times (or a combination of these totaling three), or there has been an unsatisfactory change in academic or social standing, the Executive Committee Member may be recalled.

6.1b Any Executive Committee member may make a recommendation to the Search Committee who will then vote on the recall of the offending Executive Committee member.

6.1c If the recall is carried, the graduate assistantship will be terminated. The AUGSA Executive Committee must inform the Dean of the referring school of the recalled Executive Committee member and that a position of the Executive Committee is available.

Article VII Amendments to the AUGSA Constitution

7.1 Proposal Procedures

7.1a Proposed Constitutional amendments must be accompanied by statements setting forth the reason(s) published in the Student Movement and made known to the Assembly at least ten calendar days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting.

7.1b Amendments may be submitted by any Executive Committee member, a majority of the Assembly, or a petition of no less than ten percent of the members of the AUGSA.

7.1c The proposed amendment must be presented to and reviewed by the Executive Committee who will then call an Assembly to vote upon the proposal.

7.2 Ratification Proposed amendments must be ratified by a seventy percent approval from the members present at the Assembly.