About Us - BGSAC By-Laws

Constitution for the Bioengineering Graduate Student Advisory Committee at Georgia Tech

Created September 23, 2005

 Article I. Name

Section I. This organization will be known as the Bioengineering Graduate Student Advisory Committee (A Georgia Tech Student Organization). Hereafter referred to as BGSAC.

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of the BGSAC is to provide input to the Program Chair relating to the broad issues that affect graduate students in the Interdisciplinary Bioengineering Graduate Program as well as to matters that have the potential to enhance the interface between program graduate students, program faculty and administration. BGSAC will also organize student activities.

Article III. - Membership

A. All members of BGSAC must be full time graduate students in the inter-disciplinary Bioengineering program (hereafter referred to as BioE) who meet eligibility requirements for participation in extra-curricular activities as stated in the GT Catalog and SGA policies. Only Georgia Tech students can vote or hold office.

B. There will be no maximum number of members.

C. Attempt will be made to have representative members from all participating BioE home schools.

D. Election notice requesting nominations will be sent to all BioE graduate students via email. A deadline for receiving nominations will be included in the email. Nominations can be self or on another's behalf. If on other's behalf, the nominee will be asked to confirm that he/she is interested to be a member. Nominees will be asked to attach a brief paragraph on why they want to join BGSAC. Each nomination will be voted upon by the existing BGSAC members. For this purpose, a special meeting of BGSAC existing members will be called by the BGSAC President. A quorum of at least 80% of the existing BGSAC members is required for this meeting. In this meeting each nomination will be voted upon by the members present. A nominee must receive a positive vote from a majority of the BGSAC members present in the meeting to be elected as a new member. Article III-C and F may also be used while voting for a nominee.

E. 80% attendance in BGSAC meetings is required for maintaining membership status after election.

F. Membership term is a maximum of two years. Attempt will be made to have a turnover rate of 50% members leaving each year to be replaced by new members.

Article IV. Officers

Section I. Only GT students eligible according to the GT Catalog can hold or run for office and they must already be a member of the organization.

Section II. The duties of the Executive Committee will be as follows:

A. President: The President will be the executive officer of the Executive Committee and will have general supervision of the affairs of the BGSAC and will preside at all meetings. The President will represent the BGSAC at all conferences, conventions and faculty or alumni meetings.

B. Vice-President: The VP will be the junior executive officer and will act on the behalf of the President in the event of his/her absence.

C. Secretary: The Secretary will record the proceedings of each meeting and distribute the minutes to the members for vote and acceptance.

D. Treasurer: The Treasurer will maintain records of all expenditures and ensure that generally accepted accounting practices and monetary controls are in place.

Section III. Officers will be elected in the following manner:

A. The officers will be elected from within the BGSAC members.

B. Any student member of the BGSAC may campaign or be nominated for any position on the Executive Committee.

C. The candidate for each office receiving a majority vote of members at the elections meeting will be considered the victor. If no candidate receives a majority vote, then there will be a run-off between the two candidates with the most votes. The candidate who receives the most votes will be the victor.

D. Term of all officers is one year (summer to summer semester)

E. New officers take office at the last meeting of the summer semester.

Section IV. Officers shall be removed in this manner:

A. If an officer fails to maintain Institute requirements for holding office, he or she shall resign immediately.

B. If it is believed that an officer is not fulfilling his or her constitutional duties (including not maintaining attendance in meetings), then a petition requesting his or her removal must be signed by at least half of the voting membership and presented at a general meeting. Then, upon verification of the validity of the petition, by the advisor, and, at least two weeks but no more than four weeks from the date of submission, another meeting shall be held at which the grievance will be presented, with both sides having the opportunity to present a case.

C. The Faculty Advisor, if appropriate, shall preside over the removal hearing. After all arguments have been heard, a secret-ballot vote shall be held. If at least two-thirds of the voting members present vote for removal, the officer shall be removed immediately.

D. If the President is removed or resigns, the Vice-President will take his/her place in the interim. All other officers will be nominated by the membership and voted on in accordance with regular election procedures.

 

Article V. Advisor

Section I. A full time GT faculty or staff member will serve as advisor to the organization.

Section II. The advisor is the BioE program chair.

Section III. The duties of Advisor include: meeting with organization officers, reviewing the yearly budget, signing all required paperwork and advising on issues of risk management, organization leadership, and Georgia Tech policy.

Article VI. - Dues

There are currently no dues required.

 

Article VII. Parliamentary Procedure

Section I. Robert's Rules of Order will govern all meetings.

Article VIII. Constitutional Amendments

Section I. Amendments to the constitution shall be submitted to the Executive Committee in writing for consideration. A reading or email of the proposed amendment(s) will be required prior to submitting the amendment to a vote.

Section II. Written notification of the proposed amendment to all voting members must be made by mail or email, at least two weeks in advance of any proposed change in the constitution.

Section III. A two-thirds vote of quorum of members present will be required for adoption.