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albrady
University of Massachusetts
Second Edition
Authors’ Preface
Introduction: The following pages present the first edition of the constitution for the English Graduate Organization (EGO). This document was drafted to meet the needs of EGO in the context of standard practices and policies of analogous organizations in peer institutions.
Rationale: The motivation for producing this document was to meet the procedural needs of EGO and to fulfill the requirement of the Graduate Student Senate (GSS), the campus-wide governmental body on which our legitimacy depends, that each graduate student organization has in place an effective constitution.
Status: This document should be understood as a transitional instrument for practical purposes. Amendments can and should be allowed when their need arises. These needs can and should be determined by the members of EGO.
Ultimately, we leave it to EGO under the leadership of each yearly body of members to decide on which amendments, if any, to pursue.
Sincerely,
Amy Brady
Chair 2010
EGO
Department of English
University of Massachusetts Amherst
September 09, 2010
CONSTITUTION OF THE ENGLISH GRADUATE ORGANIATION, SECOND EDITION
ARTICLE I - Name and Purpose
Section 1: Name of the Organization
The organization shall be named the English Graduate Organization (EGO)
Section 2: Purpose
The UMass Amherst English Graduate Organization (EGO) is a student-run organization dedicated to enhancing the academic experience of all English graduate students here at UMass Amherst. The goals of EGO are advocacy for graduate students with and to the faculty, enhanced communication within the graduate student community, and professionalization of the English graduate body. EGO also seeks to coordinate its activities with other English department committees such as the Graduate Studies Committee, and to deliver graduate students’ ideas and concerns to these
other committees.
ARTICLE II - Membership, Non-Discrimination Policy
Section 1: General Definition of Membership
Membership shall be open to all English graduate students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Section 2: Non-Discrimination Policy
EGO does not discriminate for any purpose on the basis of race, ethnicity, linguistic abilities, religion, sexual identity, political affiliation, disability status, or marital status.
ARTICLE III - Officers, Duties, and Terms
Section 1: Titles
Five or six individuals will be duly elected for either 5 or 6 positions which will form the standing executive committee of EGO. The number of co-chairs elected will be voted by the committee.
Co-Chair
Co-Chair (optional)
2 Wiki Moderators
Treasurer
Communications Officer
Section 2: Duties
The duties of each officer will be as follows:
1. Chair/Co-Chair
The co-chair serves as an internal coordinator for the English Graduate Organization. He or she (or both co-chairs) will track the overall business and functioning of the Graduate Student Association. This/these person(s) will call and announce meetings, request and prioritize agenda items (with input from GSA members), facilitate meetings, create special subcommittees, place appointees, monitor ongoing and new issues, and maintain regular communication with other representatives such as the Department Chair and GPD, members of the Graduate Student Committee, and GEO representatives on graduate student issues. The co-chair will be available to attend faculty meetings as a graduate student representative when appropriate.
2. Co-Chair (optional position)
(As above under description 1.)
3. Wiki moderators (2)
Generally responsible for the accurate and impartial documentation, collection, and dissemination of information as well as relevant news via the wiki site and Facebook.
4. Treasurer
Maintaining a bank account. When EGO is looking for funding s/he is responsible for submitting proposals to the English department and/or GSS one week prior to any Senate meeting and should attend that meeting in order to make a presentation to the full Senate. S/he is also responsible for keeping and organizing the budget for the annual graduate student conference.
5. Communications Officer
Generally responsible for publicity, postings, and maintaining an EGO email listserv.
Section 3: General Terms of Office
Each executive officer's term will begin on July 1 and end on June 30. No elected officer is binded by a given length of time for their elected term, but 2 years is highly encouraged.
Section 4: Special Term Requirements of Outgoing Chair
The outgoing Chair shall remain an honorary member of the executive committee to serve as an advisor to the incoming Chair until the end of the first general meeting of the new executive committee, or until the outgoing Chair and committee feel that the incoming chair is fully comfortable with taking over the position.
ARTICLE IV - Election and Appointment Procedures
Section 1: Election Schedule
The election for all executive committee positions shall be held toward the end of each school year. The election day shall be announced in the immediately prior general meeting.
Section 2: Nomination Eligibility
Any EGO member may be nominated for any position. Any member may nominate any member including her/himself.
Section 3: Nomination Acceptance
Each nominee may accept or decline the nomination of her/his name during the meeting at which s/he is nominated.
Section 4: Votes Counting
Votes shall be counted by a suitable, impartial third person, who is also a member of EGO.
Section 5: Determinations
A winner shall receive a majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the leading candidates sharing the tie may choose to share the position.
Section 6: Appointment Procedures
In the event of a sudden or continued vacancy in an executive position, the Chair or Co-Chairs may choose to appoint a member to the position in a temporary manner until an election can be held for the position. The appointed member may remain in his/her position throughout the year by a majority vote among EGO members.
ARTICLE V - Meetings
Section 1: General Meetings
General Meetings shall be held at least once a month.
Section 2: Special Meetings
Executive meetings and special meetings may be called by the Chair.
Section 3: Professional Development Seminars (PDS)
PDS may be determined by a majority vote amongst EGO members. All graduate students can and should be allowed to attend PDS without having to officially join EGO or attend EGO meetings.
Section 4: Proposing Topics and Actions for Discussion
Any member during any general meeting shall be permitted to suggest any topic or action for discussion during an appropriate time as indicated by the agenda set for that particular general meeting. The actual discussion shall begin after a move to pursue a discussion has been presented by another member, and seconded by yet another member.
ARTICLE VI - Rights and Privileges of Members
Section 1: General Rights of Members
All members are permitted to attend general meetings.
Section 2: Voting Rights of Members
All members shall have the right to vote in any general meeting.
ARTICLE VII - Amendments to the Constitution
Section 1: Proposal
A member may propose an amendment by distributing it in written format and reading it aloud in a meeting. Voting of a proposal can but does not have to take place in the same meeting as that in which the proposal was made. Following the meeting, the proposal shall be made known to all members of EGO.
Section 2: Approval
During the next general meeting, and only after a thorough discussion to the satisfaction of all members present for the voting of a proposal, a vote shall be taken on its approval. The amendment must secure two thirds of the votes available during the meeting.
Section 3: Recording
Any successful amendment shall be recorded and copies of the new constitution shall be presented on the EGO website.
ARTICLE VIII - Committees
Section 1: EGO members may authorize the creation of any standing or ad hoc committees as they deem necessary.
Section 2: The leadership of any standing or ad hoc committee may be decided by the EGO Chair or by any member of the committee.
Section 3: The English Graduate Conference (EGC) shall be a committee both recognized and organized by members of EGO. A member of the EGC shall attend all general EGO meetings.
Last modified on September 09, 2010.