BYLAW # 1: STUDENT NEWSPAPER AND MEDIA BOARD

(Amended on May 12, 2006 and April 11, 2008)

Section 1.1 Name and purpose of Newspaper

The name of the newspaper shall be The Graduate Student Advocate, because the purpose of the paper is to be an advocate for students.

The editor-in-chief shall determine editorial policies while respecting the following priority: the Advocate shall primarily serve CUNY graduate students as their general forum and as a source of news and information pertaining to their rights and educational, cultural, and professional interests. The editor-in-chief independently determines editorial policy.

Section 1.2 Hiring Editor-in-Chief

The editor-in-chief must be a registered GSUC student. The editor-in-chief shall be hired by majority vote of the Media Board after public advertisements have been posted for at least two weeks. Resumes and writing samples must be obtained from each applicant. Interviews with at least two applicants must occur before the editor-in-chief is hired from those who have been interviewed. Any Media Board member has the right to request that an applicant be interviewed, or be interviewed twice. Interviews must be attended by a majority of the Media Board.

Section 1.3 Editorial Tenure and Compensation

(Proposed in April 2007; amended in May 2007)

The editor-in-chief shall serve from July 1 to June 30 of each academic year and shall be paid an appropriate per-issue stipend as determined by the DSO Wage and Stipend Schedule (Bylaw 15).

Section 1.4 Editorial Responsibilities

Authorized by the Media Board, the editor-in-chief shall be responsible to hire the associate editors and other staff, the editor shall be responsible for the general content, production schedule and fiscal well being of the newspaper. The editor-in-chief shall direct the production of a minimum number of issues in accordance with the operating budget, submit an accounting of expenses for each issue to the Media Board files, and submit an annual report of expenditures and revenues to the DSC Media Board and Steering Committee.

Although the editor-in-chief shall be responsible for the editorial and opinion pages, unsigned editorials even if not specifically titled “editorial” must be approved by majority vote of the editorial staff. Lacking majority vote, editorials must be initialized by the author.

The editor-in-chief is obliged to run advertisements for the DSC, Chartered Organizations and program student organizations free of cost. The editor-in-chief shall have the discretion for advertisement size, placement and format. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is obliged to allocate no less than one page of each issue for DSC announcements written by the Co-Chair for Communication with the assistance of the Steering Committee.

The editor-in-chief shall negotiate with the Co-Chair for Communications, concerning the publication of articles or other material that students or student groups feel need to be printed.

Section 1.5 Hiring Staff

When hiring staff, the editor-in-chief must hire registered GSUC students through at least two weeks of public postings or other appropriate types of advertising.

The Editor-in-chief may find the following division of labor a useful guide for hiring newspaper staff, but may formally articulate the individual responsibilities of staff members as they see fit.

• Associate News Editor: The associate news editor shall be responsible to the editor-in-chief for gathering GSUC, CUNY college, local, national, and international stories of interest to the student population.
• Layout/Production Editor:The associate editor for production shall be responsible to the editor-in-chief for all aspects of production: data transfer; layout; paste-up; distribution.
• Other Staff:The associate editor for features shall be responsible to the editor-in-chief for the arts and entertainment pages (Arts & Events).

Editorial and production staff members shall be responsible to the editor-in-chief and associate editors, who will determine their duties. Such persons shall be paid an appropriate per-issue stipend or hourly wage as determined by the DSO Wage and Stipend Schedule (Bylaw 15).

Freelance CUNY student contributors will be paid for news articles at a rate determined by the editor-in-chief in consultation with the Media Board. Letters to the Editor, opinion pieces, and other non-news articles will not be paid for on a freelance basis. The editor-in-chief has the discretion to pay non-student freelance contributions at the normal rate. It is understood that such contributions will be kept to an absolute minimum.

Section 1.6 Advertising and Outside Funding

(Amended October 23rd, 2009)

By September 1 of each year, the editor-in-chief shall submit the rates and terms of advertisements for the year to the Co-Chair for Business for approval by College Association. The editor-in-chief or his/her designee shall be responsible for billing advertisers within 30 days of the publication date of an advertisement, ascertaining that payment terms have been met, and maintaining records of advertisements published, billings, and payments received. All revenues shall be received by the Co-Chair for Business, who shall disclose their receipt to the editor-in-chief or his/her designee within seven days. After 60 days, an unpaid account shall be considered past due and referred to the GSUC Finance Office for collection.

All revenue generated by the Advocate shall be deposited with the DSC. The editor-in-chief is encouraged to request such funds as an addition to the next fiscal year's budget, pending approval by the DSC as an incentive to generative more revenue.

In September of each year, if the budgeted advertising revenue for that fiscal year exceed the actual revenue deposited during the previous year, the budgeted revenue shall be amended to reflect the actual revenue, and the Advocate budget shall be reduced in the amount of the deficit, pending approval by the DSC. During the current year, if the deposited revenue exceed this amended amount during the current year, the Steering Committee shall allocate discretionary funds, if available, in the amount of the excess revenue for the current fiscal year.

Section 1.7 Bookkeeping

For each issue the editor-in-chief will account for all revenues and expenditures, detailing specific personnel and production costs, by keeping copies of check payments and receipts with the Co-Chair for Business.

Section 1.8 Vacancy of Office

Should the position of editor-in-chief ever be vacated in the middle of the term, the Media Board may select a replacement to fill out the term from previously filed applications. The replacement may begin work pending an interview.

Section 1.9 Annual Review

The Media Board shall conduct an annual review of the incumbent editor-in-chief during the spring semester of each year and, if satisfied with the performance, may offer a reappointment for the following year without opening a regular job search.

BYLAW # 2: CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS

Section 2.1 Membership

A chartered organization shall have at least twenty (20) members, who are matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York.

Membership shall be open to any student (including non-matriculated students) at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York. Voting membership shall be restricted to matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York.

A Chartered organization may extend non-voting membership to any of the following classes of member or any combination of the following classes of member if it so stipulates in its constitution and/or by-laws:

• alumni of the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York;
• matriculated graduate students at all colleges of the City University of New York;
• non-matriculated graduate students at all colleges of the City University of New York;
• matriculated undergraduate students at all colleges of the City University of New York;
• members of the faculty of all colleges of the City University of New York;
• members of the staff with faculty status at all colleges of the City University of New York;
• members of the staff at all colleges of the City University of New York.

Section 2.2 Funding

Each active Chartered Organization shall be eligible for an allocation of three hundred dollars ($300.00) from the DSC each semester.

In accordance with the Board of Trustees' fiscal policy, no Chartered Organization receiving student activity funds, including space and staff contributions, shall have a bank account in its own name. If a Chartered Organization receives any support form student activity funds, it shall be presumed that the revenues of that organization are revenues generated by student activities funded through student activity fees, and they shall be deposited with the DSC and may be credited to the chartered organization only if the Steering Committee authorizes such a credit.

Section 2.3 Chartering Process

A proposed chartered organization shall submit its proposed constitution, an official petition, and a statement of purpose to the DSC Co-Chair for Student Affairs. The official petition shall include the signatures, printed or typed names, and email addresses of all members, as well as the programs in which they are registered. From the first twenty (20) names on the petition, no more than ten (10) names may come from the same department and a minimum of three departments must be represented. The statement of purpose should, in less than 250 words, explain how the proposed chartered organization is not redundant with the missions of other currently-chartered groups.

The DSC Co-Chair for Student Affairs shall distribute copies of only the constitution and the statement of purpose at the next meeting of the DSC. Co-Chairs are responsible for assuring members that the proposed group’s petition meets the signature requirements. A new Chartered Organization shall be granted its charter by a two-thirds majority vote of the DSC approving its proposed constitution at the DSC meeting following that at which the proposed constitution and statement of purpose were distributed.

In deciding whether to grant a charter to a new group, the DSC will consider at least the following points:

• Whether the group is not redundant with the missions of other currently-chartered groups;
• Whether the group will help advance the mission of the DSC, as specified in article 3 of the Constitution of the DSO;
• Whether the governing structure of the organization is in accord with the ideals of the DSC.

Section 2.4 Status of Chartered Organizations

All chartered organizations will have a status of either active or inactive for any given semester. Active organizations will be responsible for submitting a signature roster (Sec. 2.7) and an activities report (Sec. 2.8) every semester and a copy of the constitution (Sec. 2.9) every year. They will be eligible to receive their DSC funding of $300.00 per semester. They will also be responsible for making sure that a contact person for the organization is in touch with the Co-Chair for Student Affairs.

When an organization becomes inactive, it is the responsibility of the last designated contact person to inform the DSC of this change in status. An organization may be considered to be inactive if it is not holding events or meetings on a regular basis or if its membership drops below the minimum number. Groups which fail to submit signature rosters, activity reports, and check requests for two subsequent semesters, and have not submitted inactivity forms, will be de-chartered.

The following rules apply to inactive chartered organizations:

• There must be a contact person who is in contact with the DSC and is responsible for the group’s property and maintaining the group’s status;
• The contact person must in good faith advertise for new membership and leadership at least once a semester through at least two separate avenues. Examples of these avenues may include: an announcement in the Advocate; a posting on the DSC website; postering in the Graduate Center; or an email announcement sent to all GC students through the DSC;
• Inactive groups do not have to submit signatures—rather, each semester they must submit an “inactivity” form signed by the designated contact person together with documentation of the advertisements made in the previous semester;
• Inactive groups are not eligible for their DSC allocations;
• Inactive groups with office space will have to share the space with an active group if there is an eligible, active group with no space. Inactive groups may still make use of the space and keep property in parts of the office, within reason, but must give priority to the active group in terms of using the computer, phones, etc.;
• There is a time limit of 4 semesters on how long a group can remain inactive. After this time, if the contact person has not found new leadership to re-activate the group, the group will be de-chartered.

Section 2.5 Revocation of Charter

When the Co-Chair for Student Affairs determines that an organization has not applied for inactive status and has not submitted rosters, activity reports, or check requests for two semesters, or if the group has been inactive for at least three semesters, she/he must follow these steps:

1. The Steering Committee must be informed and a majority vote to initiate the de-chartering process must be made;
2. The last known contact person for the organization must be contacted to make sure that the organization is indeed inactive. If this person cannot be reached for confirmation, or if no contact information is available, proceed to the next step. If the person is contacted, he or she must either submit documentation that the group is active (signature rosters, event flyers, publications, or similar) within one month or be informed that if the group is not re-activated it will be de-chartered.
3. Advertisements for interest in re-activating the group must be issued in, at a minimum, the following ways: an announcement in the Advocate; an announcement on the DSC website; and two email messages, at least one week apart, sent to as many members of the student body as possible;
4. If no response is forthcoming two weeks after the last publicity has been published, the Co-Chair for Student Affairs will consider the group to be de-chartered.
5. An announcement that the group is de-chartered will be made to the DSC plenary, and the office space (if any) of the group will be cleared out and re-allocated to an active group.

Upon revocation of a Chartered Organization's charter, all tangible property (up to the amount of all DSC funds allocated to the former Chartered Organization during the preceding seven years), as well as all intangible property and all rights to the use of the name of the former Chartered Organization shall revert to the DSC.

All remaining monies (up to the amount of all DSC funds allocated to the former Chartered Organization during the preceding seven (7) years) shall be returned to the DSC Co-Chair for Business within thirty (30) days of the revocation of its charter.

All other tangible property (up to the amount of all DSC funds allocated to the former Chartered Organization during the preceding seven years, less any monies returned) shall be returned to the DSC Co-Chair for Student Affairs within ninety (90) days of the revocation of its charter.

Section 2.6 Structure of Chartered Organizations

The structure of a chartered organization’s leadership and decision-making shall be left up to the determination of each organization. The only requirement is that there shall be one designated contact person who is responsible for communication between the organization and the DSC, and that the model of decision-making be specified. The presiding officer (if any), the contact person, and a majority of all officers of a Chartered Organization shall be matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York.

Section 2.7 Signature Roster

Each chartered organization which has a status of active shall submit a signature roster to the DSC Co-Chair for Student Affairs each semester.

The roster shall include the signatures, printed or typed names, and email addresses of at least twenty (20) members, as well as the programs in which they are registered.

Section 2.8 Activities Report

Chartered Organizations must submit an activity report to the Co-Chair for Student Affairs at the end of each semester. These reports will entail a list of all events and meetings held by the chartered organization.

Section 2.9 Constitution

Every year each Chartered Organization's Officers shall submit to the DSC a copy of the Chartered Organization's current constitution, signed by the officers within six weeks of the beginning of the fall semester.

Section 2.10 Office Space

A chartered group must be in active status for at least three semesters before requesting office space. Office space will be assigned based on seniority and status—the organization which has been chartered and active the longest consecutively will get assigned office space first.

BYLAW # 3: CULTURAL AFFAIRS

(Amended on April 11, 2008)

Section 3.1 Membership

The Steering Committee shall appoint to the Cultural Affairs Committee at least three (3) matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York.

The Members of the Cultural Affairs Committee shall include students registered in at least three (3) different programs at the City University Graduate School & University Center.

The Cultural Affairs Committee shall include the Co-Chair for Business and one member of the Steering Committee. The Co-Chair shall be responsible for setting meetings of the committee prior to each general meeting of the DSC and for processing requests for funding in a timely manner.

Section 3.2 Term of Office

Members of the Cultural Affairs Committee shall serve until the expiration of the term of office of the Steering Committee that appointed them.

Section 3.3 Removal from Office

Members of the Cultural Affairs Committee may be removed by two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee, provided that they have been sent notification (via certified mall at least two (2) weeks before the meeting at which the vote takes place) that such a vote will take place.

Section 3.4 Funding

The Cultural Affairs Committee shall administer an annual allocation set as part of the DSC budgetary process. Funds not allocated by the end of the Cultural Affairs Committee term of office shall revert to the DSC general fund.

Section 3.5 Appeal

Decisions of the Cultural Affairs Committee may be appealed in writing to the Steering Committee.

Section 3.6 Grants

The Cultural Affairs Committee shall grant monies to individual students registered at the Graduate School and University Center, to program organizations, to Chartered Organizations, and to ad hoc groups of students registered at the Graduate School & University Center.

Such grants shall be made solely for the purposes of publishing cultural and academic materials or conducting cultural events open to all students at the Graduate School & University Center.

No individual, ad hoc group, chartered organization or department organization shall receive grants in one Cultural Affairs Committee term totaling more than ten percent (10%) of the annual allocation, except in extraordinary circumstances as defined below.

All events must be publicized at the Graduate School & University Center at least fourteen (14) days in advance of the event to be eligible to receive grants from the Cultural Affairs Committee.

No grant monies shall be spent for alcoholic beverages or film rental. The DSO shall set aside each year at least 2% of the annual income of the DSC to be spent specifically on Cultural Affairs grants.

Extraordinary Circumstances:
Any proposal to exceed the 10% limit for a Cultural Affairs grant must meet the following qualifications for disbursement:

1. The proposal must show significant educational, recreational, or professional benefit for students.
2. The proposal sponsors must provide persuasive evidence that the grant money is unavailable elsewhere.
3. Disbursement of the requested amount would not deny adequate funding for other eligible proposals the Committee is considering at that time.
4. The proposal must then pass a majority vote of the Cultural Affairs Committee, who may approve all or part of the requested amount.
5. Disbursement of the money approved by the Cultural Affairs Committee will be allowed after a majority vote in the plenary.

Section 3.7 Matching Funds

Individual students registered at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York, program organizations, Chartered Organizations, or ad hoc groups of groups of students registered at the Graduate School & University Center may request matching funds in lieu of grants. The Cultural Affairs Committee shall not exceed the following schedule of matching funds:

• First: $ 250 may be matched: 100%
• Next: $ 500 may be matched: 50%
• Next: $ 1,000 may be matched: 25%

i.e: $ 1.00 to $ 250.00 may be matched up to: 100 cents to the dollar;
$250.01 to $ 750.00 may be matched up to: 50 cents to the dollar; $750.01 to $1,750.00 may be matched up to: 25 cents to the dollar.

Matching funds to any one recipient shall not exceed $750.00 in one Cultural Affairs Committee term of office. No recipient of matching funds shall receive a grant during the same Cultural Affairs Committee term of office.

BYLAW # 4: ELECTIONS

(Amended on October 23, 2009; Repealed January 1, 2010)

Section 4.1 Subprograms

For the purposes of DSC elections, each sub-program recognized by the Registrar shall be considered a separate program: i.e., each of the following sub-programs shall be entitled to one (or more) representatives: Bio-Psychology; Clinical, Developmental, Environmental, Experimental, Experimental Cognition, Industrial & Organizational, and Learning Processes Psychology; Neuropsychology, and Social Personality Psychology.

Section 4.2 Music

For the purposes of DSC elections, the D.M.A. and Ph.D. Programs in Music shall be considered separate programs.

Section 4.3 Uncontested Elections

In the event that the number of departmental nominees does not exceed the number of representatives to which a program is entitled, or in the event that the number of at-large nominees does not exceed the number of at-large representatives to be elected, the Steering Committee may declare those nominee(s) elected by virtue of having been nominated.

Section 4.4 Polling of Programs

(Approved October 23rd, 2009)

In the event that the Steering Committee solicits representatives for a vacant seat or one or more students come forward after elections, a call for nominations shall be issued to all students in the affected program and remain open for ten business days. Should the number of nominations exceed the number of seats, the Steering Committee will conduct a special election of students in the program. The election shall remain open for ten business days and representative(s) shall be elected by a simple majority of those voting.

BYLAW # 5: USE OF STUDENT ACTIVITY FEES IN PAYMENT OF "OUTSIDE" PERFORMER OR SPEAKER

(Approved on March 18, 1992; amended on April 11, 2008 and April 20, 2009)

[This applies to all students and student groups that invite outside performers or speakers and use student activity money to pay them or tender honoraria.]

In accordance with the bylaws waiver approved by the Board of Trustees at its meeting of April 30, 1984, the President of the Graduate School & University Center functions as the College Association. This function is delegated to the Doctoral Students' Council under the direct supervision of the Dean for Student Affairs and the Assistant Vice President for Finance. [This waiver is now superseded by the CUNY Bylaw regarding College Associations adopted by the Board of Trustees, but the provisions herein are still applicable.] When DSC money is involved, there shall be a written contract specifying time, date, reason for the fee and the amount of the fee paid to performer or speaker.

1. The maximum permissible fee in the use of DSC money for performers or speakers shall be $500, unless approved by the general body of the DSC in an open vote at a regularly scheduled meeting.
2. If a fee is paid, a person authorized by the DSC must attend at least part of the event at which the speaker or performer is present and be willing to sign a document to such effect; there must be other documentation, approved by the DSC, that proves that the event did take place.
3. All security procedures must conform to the guidelines set down by the Graduate Center. Any additional security procedures must be approved by the president or his/her designee.
4. Any group of students may apply for funds for outside speakers through the Cultural Affairs or Professional Development Committees. The DSC and its Chartered Organizations also have the right to use their monies to invite speakers or performers. All individuals that do not fit into this category, but wish to use student activity funds, must bring their proposal to the general body of the DSC.

BYLAW #6 STUDENT ACADEMIC APPEALS COMMITTEE

(Approved in 1997)

Each spring the students from each program shall elect a student Academic Appeals Officer from their program for a term of one year. The election shall be conducted by the DSC on the annual DSC ballot in tandem with the election of program representatives.

The Student Academic Appeals Officer shall be available to sit on appeals panels of the Graduate Council Student Academic Appeals Committee and serve as consultants should the appeals panel wish to obtain information from a student regarding the program involved in the appeal.

BYLAW # 7 ADJUNCT ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION

(Approved in November 1998)

Section 7.1 Name and Purpose of Activity

The name of the activity shall be The Adjunct Project to recognize that it is an on-going project of the DSC, and is concerned solely with the interests of the GSUC student adjuncts. The Adjunct Project shall advocate on behalf of and disseminate information to and concerning the GSUC student adjuncts, with attention given to the CUNY-wide adjunct situation and the state of academic labor as a whole.

Section 7.2 Hiring Co-Coordinators

New co-coordinators shall be hired by joint decision of the incumbent co-coordinators, at least one DSC Co-Chair, and one Steering Committee member (who shall comprise the "Hiring Team") after public advertisements have been posted for at least two (2) weeks. Resumes must be obtained from each applicant. All qualified applicants must be interviewed. The co-coordinators must be registered GSUC students with experience as CUNY adjuncts. Other specific qualifications may be stipulated by the hiring team. Any member of the hiring team has the right to request that an applicant be interviewed. Interviews must be attended by all members of the hiring team. Co-Coordinators shall serve at the pleasure of the DSC, and may be removed from their positions by a two-thirds majority vote of the DSC. Incumbent co-coordinators may continue in their positions beyond one year.

Section 7.3 Co-Coordinator Tenure and Compensation

The co-coordinators shall serve from August 1 to May 31. Unless otherwise formally agreed upon by the DSC, the co-coordinators shall be paid $700 per month.

Section 7.4 Co-Coordinator Responsibilities

The co-coordinators, with the guidance of the DSC, shall be responsible for determining the specific issues to address and the means of addressing them, as well as for ensuring that all activities of The Adjunct Project are within the limits of the law, the CUNY Fiscal Accountability Handbook, and the DSC Constitution.

The co-coordinators shall be responsible for hiring staff.

Section 7.5 Hiring Staff

When necessary and affordable (as determined by the DSC on the recommendation of the Co-Chair for Business) the co-coordinators may hire office staff. When hiring staff, the co-coordinators must hire registered GSUC students following at least two weeks of public postings or other appropriate means of advertising. Compensation for hired staff shall be determined through negotiations between the co-coordinators and the Co-Chair for Business.

Section 7.6 Outside Funding

The co-coordinators are encouraged to solicit extra funds through any legitimate means. Such funds shall be deposited by the Co-Chair for Business into a budget line for gifts and contributions to The Adjunct Project, to be used solely for The Adjunct Project's activities and at the discretion of the co-coordinators.

Section 7.7 Vacancy of Offices

Should the position of co-coordinator be vacated in the middle of the term, the co-coordinators may select a replacement from applications received following at least two weeks of public advertisement. Previously filed applications may be considered as well. The hiring shall follow the process described in Section 2 of this bylaw.

BYLAW # 8 PROGRAM ALLOCATIONS

(Amended on April 24, 2009)

Each program with representation for a given semester is entitled to the greater of $200 or $5 per student enrolled in the program. Funds remaining after fall semester shall be made available during spring semester.

BYLAW #9 USS DELEGATE DSC RESPONSIBILITIES

(Approved on April 8, 2005; amended on April 11, 2008; repealed January 1, 2010)

The USS delegate shall be a non-voting ex-officio of both the Executive and the Steering Committees; the alternate delegate shall also serve as an alternate non-voting ex-officio in the absence of the delegate. The USS delegate shall be elected by the DSC following the election of the Steering Committee. The Alternate USS delegate shall be elected by the DSC following the election of the USS delegate. Constitutional rules on elections shall apply to these positions. Any DSC member is eligible to serve as USS delegate, but may only collect one stipend for Steering Committee duties if serving concomitantly as USS delegate and as a voting member of the Steering Committee. The USS delegate may choose to waive receipt of monthly stipends in lieu of performing Steering Committee duties.

BYLAW #10 INTERIM USS DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE

(Approved on April 8, 2005; repealed January 1, 2010)

In the event that the office of USS delegate or alternate shall be vacant, the position or positions shall be filled on an interim basis by the Co-Chair for Student Affairs and the Co-Chair for Communications, respectively.

BYLAW #11 DSC WEBSITE AND MEDIA BOARD

(Approved on May 13, 2005; amended on May 12, 2006; amendments to take effect on June 1, 2006)

Section 11.1 Name and Job Description

The name of the job position shall be the DSC Webmaster to recognize that this employee maintains the DSC website and all subsidiary pages. The DSC Webmaster shall work directly with the Co-Chair for Communications and with the Steering Committee and Media Board (as needed) to disseminate information deemed important by the DSC.

Section 11.2 Hiring the DSC Webmaster

The DSC Webmaster shall be hired by majority vote of the Media Board after public advertisements have been posted for at least two weeks. Hiring preference will be given to registered GSUC students. Resumes must be obtained from each applicant. All qualified applicants must be interviewed. Interviews with at least two applicants must occur before the webmaster is hired from those who have been interviewed. Any member of the Media Board has the right to request that an applicant be interviewed, or be interviewed twice.

Section 11.3 DSC Webmaster Tenure and Compensation

The DSC Webmaster’s tenure spans the fall and spring terms and includes a holiday break. This term specifically begins one week before the fall semester begins and ends on the last day of the final exam period for the spring. The DSC webmaster shall be paid an appropriate hourly wage or annual stipend as determined by the DSO Wage and Stipend Schedule (Bylaw 15).

Section 11.4 DSC Webmaster Responsibilities

The DSC Webmaster shall be responsible for uploading website content, as determined by the Steering Committee. The DSC Webmaster shall be responsible for website design and structure.

Section 11.5 Vacancy of Office

Should the position of DSC Webmaster be vacated in the middle of the term, the Media Board may reconsider previously filed applications or follow the normal hiring process stipulated in Section 11.2, at its discretion.

Section 11.6 Annual Review

The Media Board shall conduct an annual review of the incumbent webmaster during the spring semester of each year and, if satisfied with the performance, may offer a reappointment for the following year without opening a regular job search.

BYLAW #12 MANDATORY WELLNESS CENTER EXPENDITURE

(Submitted on October 21, 2005; approved on November 18, 2005; expired June 30, 2009)

The student activity Fee having been increased by $12 per semester due to a referendum for the purpose of subsidizing graduate student health care, the DSC shall allocate $48,000 for the operating and administrative costs of Student Health Services at the Wellness Center each semester. Student activity fee money earmarked for student health care in excess of $48,000 shall be allocated to other health services by the DSC with the advice of the Standing Committee on Health Issues. This provision shall take effect upon the ratification of the provisions of the 2005 student health services referendum by the Board of Trustees and shall expire on June 30, 2009 unless previously renewed.

BYLAW #13 HEALTH ISSUES COMMITTEE

(Following a resolution passed on September 10, 2004; submitted on November 18, 2005; approved on December 9, 2005; amended on April 11, 2008)

Section 13.1 Name and Purpose

The name of the committee shall be the Standing Committee on Health Issues. Issues relating (but not limited) to student health services at the Wellness Center, inoculations programs, and student health insurance shall fall under the purview of the committee. It will be the responsibility of the committee to advocate improvements in student health.

Section 13.2 Chairperson

The Steering Committee shall appoint from among its members a chairperson of the Standing Committee on Health Issues, subject to approval by the plenary. The Steering Committee may appoint two co-chairpersons, also subject to plenary approval.

Section 13.3 Membership

The DSC shall appoint no fewer than three (3) and no greater than nine (9) members, not including the chairperson(s). In the event that there are two co-chairpersons, the maximum number of members appointed by the plenary shall be eight (8). One DSC Co-Chair shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member. The membership need not consist of DSC members.

Section 13.4 Term of Office

Members of the Health Issues Committee shall serve until the expiration of the term of office of the DSC that appointed them.

Section 13.5 Secretary

The chairperson shall appoint a secretary of the committee from among the committee members. The chairperson may ask that secretarial duties be rotated among the membership.

Section 13.6 Subcommittees

The committee may name subcommittees for investigation, advocacy and recommendations pertaining to particular issues within the purview of the committee. Membership in subcommittees shall be limited to the members of the committee. The chairperson of the committee shall appoint a subcommittee chair from among the members of each subcommittee. The committee chair shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of each subcommittee. All subcommittees shall expire on June 30 of each year unless renewed. Subcommittees and their members shall be subject to all other provisions of this bylaw.

Section 13.7 Meetings

§13.7.1 Schedule

The committee chairperson shall schedule at least one (1) meeting of the committee per semester, in consultation with the membership, and shall notify the membership at least one (1) week in advance of each meeting. All meetings must be advertised in accordance with New York state laws on Open Meetings. Subcommittees shall not have a minimum number of meetings.

§13.7.2 Presiding Officer

The chairperson shall preside over committee meetings and shall not vote except in the case of a tie. In the event that there are co-chairpersons, they shall rotate presiding officer duties. At each such meeting, the co-chair not chairing shall serve as a voting member of the committee.

§13.7.3 Quorum

Quorum shall consist of at least half of the current membership, including the chairperson or co-chairs, not including ex-officio members.

§13.7.4 Records

All public agendas and minutes shall be posted in accordance with New York state laws on Open Meetings, through the auspices of the office of the Co-Chair for Communications.

Section 13.8 Annual Reports

§13.8.1 Committee Reports

The chairperson or secretary of the committee shall submit an annual report on the activities of the committee no later than the May DSC meeting of each year. Such report shall be deposited with the office of the Co-Chair for Communications by the chairperson or secretary no later than June 30.

§13.8.2 Subcommittee Reports

Subcommittees are not required to submit reports. When subcommittees have reports, they are to be submitted to the committee—not the plenary—by the subcommittee chairperson. Such reports shall be deposited with the office of the Co-Chair for Communications by the committee chairperson or secretary no later than June 30.

§13.8.3 Substitutions

In the event that one subcommittee handles the majority of the committee’s work for any given year, the report of that subcommittee may be substituted for the committee report at the discretion of the committee chairperson.

Section 13.9 Removal from Office

Any member, chairperson, or co-chair of the Health Committee may be removed by two-thirds vote of the plenary, provided that they have been sent notification via certified mail at least two (2) weeks before the meeting at which the vote takes place.

Section 13.10 Absenteeism

All voting members of the Health Issues Committee must inform the chairperson of any impending meeting absence. When the chairperson shall be absent, he/she shall appoint and inform a deputy chairperson from among the membership. When there are two co-chairs, one need only inform the other of impending absence. No excuse need be given. Such action shall deem the absence “excused.” In the event of two unexcused absences, a member or chairperson shall be understood to have resigned from the committee. Excused absences can also be declared retroactively by the committee.

BYLAW # 14: CONFERENCES, PUBLICATIONS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

(Submitted on March 24, 2006; approved on April 28, 2006)

Section 14.1 Membership

The Steering Committee shall appoint to the Professional Development Committee at least three (3) matriculated students at the Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York. The members of the Professional Development Committee shall include students registered in at least three (3) different programs at the City University Graduate School & University Center. The Professional Development Committee shall include the Co-Chair for Business and one member of the Steering Committee. The Co-Chair shall be responsible for setting meetings of the committee and for processing requests for funding in a timely manner.

Section 14.2 Term of Office

Members of the Professional Development Committee shall serve until the expiration of the term of office of the Steering Committee that appointed them.

Section 14.3 Removal from Office

Members of the Professional Development Committee may be removed by two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee, provided that they have been sent notification (via certified mall at least two (2) weeks before the meeting at which the vote takes place) that such a vote will take place.

Section 14.4 Funding

The Professional Development Committee shall administer an annual allocation set as part of the DSC budgetary process. Funds not allocated by the end of the Professional Development Committee term of office shall revert to the DSC general fund.

Section 14.5 Appeal

Decisions of the Professional Development Committee may be appealed in writing to the Steering Committee.

Section 14.6 Grants

The Professional Development Committee shall grant monies to individual students registered at the Graduate School and University Center, to program organizations, to Chartered Organizations, and to ad hoc groups of students registered at the Graduate School & University Center. Such grants shall be made solely for the purposes of holding conferences, publishing academic materials or conducting professional development events open to all students at the Graduate School & University Center. No individual, ad hoc group, chartered organization or program organization shall receive grants in one Professional Development Committee term totaling more than ten percent (10%) of the annual allocation, except in extraordinary circumstances as defined below. All events must be publicized at the Graduate School & University Center at least fourteen (14) days in advance of the event to be eligible to receive grants from the Professional Development Committee.

The DSO shall set aside each year at least 2% of the annual income of the DSC to be spent specifically on Professional Development grants.

Extraordinary Circumstances:
Any proposal to exceed the 10% limit for a Professional Development grant must meet the following qualifications for disbursement:

1. The proposal must show significant educational or professional benefit for students.
2. The proposal sponsors must provide persuasive evidence that the grant money is unavailable elsewhere.
3. Disbursement of the requested amount would not deny adequate funding for other eligible proposals the Committee is considering at that time.
4. The proposal must then pass a majority vote of the Professional Development Committee, who may approve all or part of the requested amount.
5. Disbursement of the money approved by the Professional Development Committee will be allowed after a majority vote in the plenary.

BYLAW #15: DSO WAGE AND STIPENDS SCHEDULE

(Amended April 11, 2008, April 24, 2009, and December 11, 2009)

Monthly Stipends

Officers

• Co-Chair for Student Affairs: $800/month for 10 months (August-May)
• Co-Chair for Communications: $800/month for 10 months (August-May)
• Co-Chair for Business: $800/month for 11 months (August-June)
• USS Representative: $500/month for 10 months (August-May)
• UFS Liaison: $250/month for 10 months (August-May)
• Other Steering Committee Members: $250/month for 8 months (September-December; February-May)

Adjunct Project

• Adjunct Project Coordinator: $425/month for 9 months (September through May)

All monthly stipends will be paid during the first week of each month.

Advocate Stipends

• Advocate Editor-in-Chief: $775/issue
• Advocate Managing Editor: $775/issue
• Advocate Layout Editor: $775/issue

Hourly Wages

• DSC Webmaster: $18/hour

BYLAW #16 DSC ALTERNATE DELEGATES TO GRADUATE COUNCIL

(Submitted on April 28, 2006; approved on May 12, 2006; amended October 23, 2009; repealed January 1, 2010)

Section 16.1 Graduate Council

The Co-Chairs being the DSC delegates to Graduate Council, the other Steering Committee members shall serve as alternate DSC delegates to the Graduate Council in the event that one or more of the Co-Chairs is unable to attend. The order of succession shall be determined by the incoming Steering Committee at the joint meeting in May of each year, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Section 16.2 Graduate Council Executive Committee

(Approved October 23rd, 2009)

The Co-Chair representative to the Executive Committee of the Graduate Council shall be selected by the incoming Steering Committee at the joint meeting in May of each year, or as soon as possible thereafter. In the event that the selected Co-Chair cannot attend, the other Co-Chairs shall serve as alternates following an order of succession determined by the incoming Steering Committee at the same time.

BYLAW #17: ELECTRONIC MATERIALS & SUBMISSIONS

(Submitted on November 16, 2007; approved on December 14, 2007)

In keeping with modern interpretations of how information is disseminated, “mail” can refer to information sent via U.S. Postal Service, courier service (such as FedEx or UPS), or electronic media (such as “email”). “Postmark” can refer to not just a cancellation of stamps (as still done in some U.S. Post Offices), but also to electronic documentation (such as printed stamps, courier delivery documentation with notation of sent date and time, and electronic media receipts or headers which include date/time of sending). Materials requested to be submitted “in writing” may be appropriately submitted via electronic means, such as via email, website, or other documentable means.

BYLAW #18: COMPLIANCE WITH NEW YORK STATE LAWS

(Submitted on March 14, 2008; approved on April 11, 2008; repealed January 1, 2010)

While good faith efforts are constantly ongoing to maintain the Constitution and Bylaws as legally compliant documents, the DSC and its Steering Committee will adhere to applicable New York state laws, including the Open Meetings Law, when conflicts may arise among the documents.

BYLAW #19: DEFINITION OF SEMESTER

(Submitted on March 13, 2009; approved on April 20, 2009)

A semester shall be defined as the first day of classes through 10 business days following the last day of classes, as set by the GSUC academic calendar.

BYLAW #20: FREE AND OPEN SOURCE MEDIUM

(Submitted on October 23, 2009; approved on November 20, 2009)

Section 20.1 Name and Purpose of Medium

The name of the digital medium shall be OpenCUNY to recognize the on-going interest of GSUC students in free and open source digital media. OpenCUNY shall advocate on behalf of and provide GSUC students access to free and open source digital media, with attention given to the CUNY-wide free and open source digital media situation and its relations with GSUC students.

Section 20.2 Membership

Membership shall be open to any GSUC student, including non-matriculated students. Voting membership shall be restricted to any matriculated GSUC student who is a registered member of OpenCUNY.org.

Section 20.3 OpenCUNY Committee

The OpenCUNY Committee shall determine governance policies for the digital medium while respecting the following priority: OpenCUNY shall primarily serve GSUC students as their general digital medium and as a means of communication regarding their rights and educational, cultural, and professional interests. The OpenCUNY Committee shall be composed of the OpenCUNY Coordinator and four members of OpenCUNY.org. Members of the OpenCUNY Committee, with the exception of the Coordinator, shall be elected annually by the members of OpenCUNY.org. All five members of the OpenCUNY Committee, including the Coordinator, shall have equal voting power.

Section 20.4 OpenCUNY.org Terms of Participation

The OpenCUNY Committee shall maintain a Terms of Participation that defines its governance policy and any other policies deemed appropriate by the committee. The OpenCUNY Committee shall independently determine the content of the proposed Terms of Participation. The proposed Terms of Participation must then be approved by OpenCUNY.org members. After receiving approval from OpenCUNY.org members, the proposed Terms of Participation must then be approved by a majority vote at the following meeting of the DSC. The proposed Terms of Participation shall be submitted to the Media Board at least two weeks prior to the meeting of the DSC. The Terms of Participation shall be ratified once approved by the OpenCUNY Committee, by OpenCUNY.org members, and by the DSC.

Section 20.5 Hiring OpenCUNY Coordinator

The OpenCUNY coordinator must be a registered GSUC student and member of OpenCUNY.org. The coordinator shall be hired by majority vote of the Media Board after public advertisements have been posted for at least two weeks. Resumes must be obtained from each applicant, and additional materials may be requested from all applicants at the discretion of Media Board. Interviews with at least two applicants must occur before the coordinator is hired from those who have been interviewed. Any Media Board member has the right to request that an applicant be interviewed or interviewed twice. Interviews must be attended by a simple majority of the Media Board.

Section 20.6 Coordinator Tenure and Compensation

The coordinator shall serve from August 1 to May 31 and paid according to the amount specified in the DSO Wage and Stipends Bylaw.

Section 20.7 Coordinator Responsibilities

As authorized by Media Board, the coordinator shall be responsible to facilitate communication and decision-making among the OpenCUNY Committee, publicly maintain an updated Terms of Participation, and ensure that all activities of OpenCUNY are in compliance with the DSC Constitution and Bylaws. The coordinator shall also perform maintenance on the digital medium, administer user accounts and requests, periodically review alternative free and open source software, and ensure the reliability of the medium and adoption of open standards.

Section 20.8 Vacancy of Office

Should the position of coordinator ever be vacated in the middle of the term, the Media Board may select a replacement to fill out the term from previously filed applications. The replacement may begin work pending an interview.

Section 20.9 Annual Review

The Media Board shall conduct an annual review of the incumbent coordinator during the spring semester of each year and, if satisfied with the performance, may offer a reappointment for the following year without opening a regular job search.

BYLAW #21: INTERIM MEDIA BOARD

(Submitted November 20, 2009; approved December 11, 2009)

The Media Board shall consist of five members:

• The DSC Co-Chair for Communications,
• Two DSC representatives appointed from the DSC, and
• Two delegates elected in the Spring by the student body.

The senior employee of each DSC-operated medium shall be a nonvoting advisor.

Members of the Media Board shall serve for terms coterminous with DSC officers and shall appoint their own chairperson. In the event that one of the delegates elected from the student body is not able to complete his or her term of office, a new delegate shall be selected from the student body by the DSC. The appointed delegate may not serve concurrently as a representative to DSC. The Media Board shall meet no less than twice per semester. The current members and chair of the Media Board shall retain their positions through the end of their terms.

The Media Board will propose an operating budget for each DSC-operated medium to the DSC Co-Chair for Business annually, as well as propose capital expenditures as required.

The Media Board shall be responsible for the selection and/or removal of the senior employee of each DSC-operated medium by a majority of at least three votes.

The Media Board will act as arbitrator when necessary in order to resolve conflicts within the media staff.

Neither the DSC nor the Media Board are responsible for the editorial content of the student newspaper.