GPSA: R. 8: Charter Amendments designed to facilitate the staffing of external committees

As proposed Monday, 29 January 2007.

Whereas the staffing of the standing internal committees is clearly defined in the Graduate & Professional Student Assembly Charter, while the staffing procedures of external committees and liaison positions are not clearly defined, and;

Whereas the General Committee of the Graduate School allocates seats to:

“Two graduate students selected by the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GPSA) as non-voting members.”

giving the Graduate & Professional Student Assembly authority over choosing those members but not defining how they are chosen, and;

Whereas in this position, the appointed representative to the General Committee of the Graduate school deals with matters of confidentiality, and;

Whereas, in the past the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly has chosen its representatives to the General Committee of the Graduate School via majority vote during business meetings and;

Whereas, the University Assembly through article 8.1.1 of their charter, which reads:

“Except when an ad hoc committee contains only UA members, the respective Assemblies shall be responsible for selecting their constituents for membership on ad hoc committees established by the UA, in accordance with the latter’s specific prescription as to their membership.”

thus granting authority to the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly to staff the graduate and professional student representation to these committees, and;

Whereas the GPSA has been given authority by numerous committees at Cornell to appoint representatives, but the GPSA has yet to describe a method of appointment.

Be it therefore resolved that Chapter 9.1 of the Charter of the Graduate & Professional Student Assembly be amended to read:

9.1 Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers of the GPSA, of which there shall be at least three (3). The Executive Committee shall ensure the smooth operations of the GPSA. These officers are empowered to speak for the GPSA on issues that must be addressed before the next regularly scheduled general or business meeting. All decisions of the Executive Committee shall be subject to the approval of a majority vote of the seated GPSA members. The Executive Committee shall establish agendas for the general and business meetings of the GPSA. The Executive Committee shall make appointments to university committees, liaison positions, and all other external committees that become vacant prematurely.

Be it further resolved that a Chapter 9.9 of the Charter of the Graduate & Professional Student Assembly be added to read:

9.9 GPSA Appointments to External Committees Several groups external to the GPSA rely on the GPSA to provide graduate and professional student representatives to their committees. The Operations and Staffing Committee shall make appointments to all external committees by majority vote. All external committee appointments shall be complete by the end of September in each Academic year, and are subject to the review of the Executive Committee. In the case of premature vacancy, the Executive Committee may staff these external appointments by majority vote. The President of the GPSA shall serve on the Assemblies System Review Committee.

9.9.a. Operations and Staffing Committee appointments The Operations and Staffing Committee shall appoint the following:

1. Two (2) representatives to the General Committee of the Graduate School, one in alternating years, to serve two-year terms
2. Two (2) students to the University Neighborhood Council
3. One (1) representative to the Trustee Nominating Committee
4. One (1) student each to the Student Assembly committees on Dining Services, and Information Technologies.
5. One (1) student each to the Committee on Minority Education, the Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics & Physical Education, the Committee on Academic Freedom & Professional Status of the Faculty, and the Academic Programs and Policy Committee
6. One (1) liason officer each to the Faculty Senate, the Employee Assembly and the Student Assembly as ex-officio, non-voting members
7. One (1) student representative to other external committees: including the Committee on Alcohol & Other Drugs, the Slope Day Steering Committee, the Diversity Council, the Council on Mental Health and Welfare, the Student Insurance Advisory Committee, the Student Library Advisory Committee.

9.9.b. University Assembly Committee appointments The Operations and Staffing Committee, in conjunction with the Graduate & Professional representatives of the University Assembly, shall appoint graduate and professional representatives and liaisons to all committees under the jurisdiction of the University Assembly, including:

1. One (1) student to be appointed to the Campus Planning Committee, Cornell Store Administrative Board and the Cornell United Religious Work Advisory Board.
2. Two (2) students to be appointed to the Joint Assemblies Financial Aid Review Committee, the Budget Planning Committee, the Board on University Health Services (with two alternates), the Codes and Judicial Committee, the Transportation Advisory Committee, the Transportation Hearing & Appeals Board.
3. Three (3) students to be appointed to the Joint Assemblies Multicultural Issues Committee.

Be it finally resolved that this resolution be sent to the Graduate Chair of the University Assembly, the Director of the Office of Assemblies, the President of Cornell University, The Dean of the Graduate School.

Respectfully Submitted,

Michael Jay Walsh
Vice President, Graduate & Professional Student Assembly
January 29, 2007

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