1. NAME
The name of this group shall be the Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC).

 2. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Graduate and Professional Student Council shall be to:

1. Represents USF graduate and professional student interests pertaining to academic, social, and cultural issues in regular meetings with the USF President, Provost, Dean of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Council, Student Government, and other University Administrators

2. Provide a forum for discussion of issues relevant to USF graduate and professional students

3. Provide grants for presenting at professional conferences through the Conference Presentation Grant Program

4. Organize, promote, and conduct activities beneficial to graduate student life

5. Disseminate information of interest to current and potential USF graduate and professional students

6. Recommend USF graduate and professional students for appointment to policy-making committees on issues affecting USF graduate and professional students

7. Assist graduate programs in forming their own Graduate Student Organizations

8. Provide feedback and assistance to the Office of Institutional Research with the Graduate Student Exit Questionnaire

3. MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS

1. Requirements for Membership: 100% of active membership must be USF students. The GPSC is open to all USF students.  Associate membership may be granted to non-USF students under special circumstances; these associate members shall not be given the rights and privileges of active USF students.

2. Length of term for membership. There is no limit to the term of GPSC membership as long as members are registered USF students.

3. Requirements for continued membership. There are no further requirements for membership.

4. Specifications for removal of members from the group. There are no specifications for removal of members from the GPSC.

5. Voting rights. Any GPSC member has the right to vote on issues concerning the GPSC. Non-USF students do not have voting rights.

4. DUES/FEES
There are no dues for the Graduate and Professional Student Council.

5. QUORUM
A quorum is defined as three of the four GPSC officers present and must include the GPSC President.

6. OFFICER DESCRIPTION
All officers of the GPSC are required to be actively involved in carrying out the mission statement of the organization beyond the duties listed below for each officer position.  Thus, all GPSC officers must participate and take part in the planning process of programs and/or services provided by GPSC to the student body unless there are some extenuating circumstances, which are determined by the GPSC President.  At least 80% participation is required for each semester at the events hosted by the GPSC of all GPSC officers.  The planning process of programs and/or services includes, but is not limited to, set up, break down, event facilitation, budgeting, marketing, reservations, and event preparation.

PRESIDENT: The President, to be elected, must have served for at least one semester with the group. The President’s duties shall be to preside over meetings, appoint and oversee organizational functions, and to act as the primary University liaison.

VICE PRESIDENT: The Vice President shall assist the President with his/her duties, preside over the organization in the President’s absence, and act as primary Graduate Program liaison.

In addition to the above duties, the Vice President of the GPSC is accountable for monitoring graduate student participation on USF policy committees. This accountability includes but is not limited to: (1) weekly review of the Committee web site to check attendance of graduate student members; (2) regular contact with graduate student members to ensure feedback from students is considered and reported to the committee; (3) assisting Student Government with recruiting efforts for university-wide policy committees; (4) communicating with the GPSC and the University Administration regarding potential enhancement of student service.

SECRETARY: The Secretary shall record, keep, and make available copies of the meeting minutes, and dispatch correspondence as directed by the President.

TREASURER: The Treasurer shall receive, dispatch, and keep accurate records of all financial matters regarding Graduate and Professional Student Council, and submit the organization’s annual budget to the Financial Review for A&S allocation from Student Government.

Each of the officers is elected by eligible membership. Each of their terms is one year. Officers are eligible to serve for more than one term, if elected. An officer may not hold any one GPSC officer position for more than two consecutive terms.

7. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Elections for GPSC officers will take place on-line within the week of the designated April GPSC meeting. All eligible graduate students will be sent instructions to vote through registered e-mail. Nominations for officers will close one week prior to the election. Officer terms begin 1 July and end 30 June of the following year.

Once the GPSC officers have been elected, an officer transition meeting must be held no later than two weeks between the current GPSC officers and newly elected GPSC officers.  This officer transition meeting will inform the newly elected GPSC officers of their roles and expectations in fulfilling the mission statement of the organization as well as how to facilitate the programs and/or services provided by the organization to the student body.

8. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS
An officer in the GPSC shall be removed if the officer fails to attend more than 3 GPSC General Assembly meetings without communicating in advance, except in the case of an emergency.

An officer in the GPSC shall be removed if the officer fails to hold satisfactorily academic progress as defined by the University policies.

In the event the President resigns or is unable to perform the powers and duties of the office, the Vice President shall become the President.

In the event the office of Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary becomes vacant for any reason, the President shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of the GPSC General Assembly, appoint a new Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary.

9. MEETINGS
The GPSC General Assembly shall meet monthly throughout the Fall and Spring semesters.  If deemed necessary by the decision of the GPSC officers, special or additional meetings shall be called.

10. RULES OF ORDER
Meetings will be conducted using Robert’s Rules of Order.

11. AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this Constitution shall be enacted according to the following procedure:

Seven days public notice shall be provided to the USF student body to announce a meeting that will include a vote on a proposed amendment to the GPSC Constitution.

An amendment to the GPSC Constitution shall require a 2/3 majority of all eligible voting attendees at the meeting.

Amendments and revisions to the constitution must be reviewed by the Office of Engagement and Involvement once adopted by the organization.

12. HAZING
This organization prohibits its members, both individually and collectively from committing any acts of hazing as defined herein:

“Hazing,” means any action or situation, which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with this organization. Such term shall include, but not be limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of food, liquor, drug, or other forced activity which adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental or physical health, the safety or dignity of the individual. For the purpose of this section, any activity as described above upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with this organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be a “forced activity,” the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding.

13. ORGANIZATION AGREEMENT
Organization agrees to abide by Florida State Statute #240.262 regarding hazing. Furthermore, agrees to abide by all Student Activities policies as outlined in the student handbook, to check the organization’s mailbox regularly, to communicate via email upon request, and to update the organization’s records (Officer Listings Form) whenever there is a change.

14. STATEMENT CLARIFYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GPSC AND GRADUATE ASSISTANTS UNITED
The Graduate and Professional Student Council understands and appreciates the right of Graduate Assistants (GAs) to bargain collectively for fair compensation, benefits, a supportive work environment, and any other factors pertaining to graduate student employment through graduate assistantships.

Furthermore, the Graduate and Professional Student Council recognizes and respects the authority of Graduate Assistants United to represent USF Graduate Assistants (GAs) in all employment-related matters.

The Graduate and Professional Student Council, being an academic, social, and cultural organization, will therefore not participate in any activities that undermine the authority, legitimacy, and power of Graduate Assistants United to represent the interests of USF Graduate Assistants.