Eligibility
All continuing graduate students in good academic standing shall be eligible.
All candidates must be self-nominated and must provide personal descriptions of intent for the specific position.
Self-nominations may take the form of a written declaration of intent to run or a voice nomination presented at a meeting of the GSA Senate.
Only members of a specific department are eligible to run for the representative position of that department. Department representative positions shall be allocated proportional to population, with one representative for every fifty (50) matriculated graduate students and at least one (1) representative per department. Current apportionment is:
a. Chemistry (1)
b. Environmental and Forest Biology (3)
c. Environmental Resources Engineering (1)
d. Environmental Science (2)
e. Environmental Studies (1)
f. Forest and Natural Resources Management (2)
g. Landscape Architecture (1)
h. Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (1)
Election results shall be posted on the GSA Senate webpage and distributed to the GSA. Members of the GSA not elected into the Senate can still serve on the Senate under an appointed but non-voting capacity and can serve on GSA Senate committees.
All candidates must be self-nominated and must provide personal descriptions of intent for the specific position.
Self-nominations may take the form of a written declaration of intent to run or a voice nomination presented at a meeting of the GSA Senate.
Only members of a specific department are eligible to run for the representative position of that department. Department representative positions shall be allocated proportional to population, with one representative for every fifty (50) matriculated graduate students and at least one (1) representative per department. Current apportionment is:
a. Chemistry (1)
b. Environmental and Forest Biology (3)
c. Environmental Resources Engineering (1)
d. Environmental Science (2)
e. Environmental Studies (1)
f. Forest and Natural Resources Management (2)
g. Landscape Architecture (1)
h. Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (1)
Election results shall be posted on the GSA Senate webpage and distributed to the GSA. Members of the GSA not elected into the Senate can still serve on the Senate under an appointed but non-voting capacity and can serve on GSA Senate committees.
POSITION descriptions
President
The President shall:
1. Maintain GSA as a recognized organization at SUNY-ESF that abides by all regulations set forth by the Office of Student Affairs.
2. Preside at all meetings of the GSA Senate.
3. Prepare and circulate a structured agenda for each meeting of the GSA Senate.
4. Be granted access to the graduate student listserv to publicize meetings and other agenda items of the GSA Senate.
5. Initiate a vote among the GSA Senate to settle issues of contention or debate.
6. Vote only on Motions if there is a tie.
7. Certify monetary payments in coordination with the Treasurer and Faculty Advisor.
8. Appoint with approval of the GSA Senate additional committees and Vice Presidents deemed necessary and not provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws.
9. Appoint with approval of the GSA Senate additional committees and Vice Presidents deemed necessary and not provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws.
This includes representation on Faculty Governance Standing Committees, including:
i. Curriculum (non-voting)
ii.Instructional Quality and Academic Standards (voting)
iii.Research (non-voting)iv.Student Life (voting)
10. Serve as ex-officio member of all committees of the GSA Senate.
11.Compile and archive individual Executive Reports as an Annual Report and Assessment.
12.Maintain and update the Annual GSA Process and People to Know document.
1. Maintain GSA as a recognized organization at SUNY-ESF that abides by all regulations set forth by the Office of Student Affairs.
2. Preside at all meetings of the GSA Senate.
3. Prepare and circulate a structured agenda for each meeting of the GSA Senate.
4. Be granted access to the graduate student listserv to publicize meetings and other agenda items of the GSA Senate.
5. Initiate a vote among the GSA Senate to settle issues of contention or debate.
6. Vote only on Motions if there is a tie.
7. Certify monetary payments in coordination with the Treasurer and Faculty Advisor.
8. Appoint with approval of the GSA Senate additional committees and Vice Presidents deemed necessary and not provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws.
9. Appoint with approval of the GSA Senate additional committees and Vice Presidents deemed necessary and not provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws.
This includes representation on Faculty Governance Standing Committees, including:
i. Curriculum (non-voting)
ii.Instructional Quality and Academic Standards (voting)
iii.Research (non-voting)iv.Student Life (voting)
10. Serve as ex-officio member of all committees of the GSA Senate.
11.Compile and archive individual Executive Reports as an Annual Report and Assessment.
12.Maintain and update the Annual GSA Process and People to Know document.
Vice president of grants & awards
The Vice President of Grants & Awards shall:
1. Constitute and chair the Grants & Awards Committee to facilitate and execute events, grant opportunities, and awards.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of Grants & Awards for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.
4. Prepare the guidelines and solicit applications for the grants offered through GSA.
5. Solicit nominations for the honorary awards offered through GSA.
6. Update and follow the process outlined in the ‘Grant Review Process’ document.
7. Constitute and chair a fair and equitable selection processes to determine recipients for graduate student grant opportunities and honorary awards.8.Coordinate with the Treasurer to disburse and track funds awarded to recipients.
9. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
1. Constitute and chair the Grants & Awards Committee to facilitate and execute events, grant opportunities, and awards.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of Grants & Awards for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.
4. Prepare the guidelines and solicit applications for the grants offered through GSA.
5. Solicit nominations for the honorary awards offered through GSA.
6. Update and follow the process outlined in the ‘Grant Review Process’ document.
7. Constitute and chair a fair and equitable selection processes to determine recipients for graduate student grant opportunities and honorary awards.8.Coordinate with the Treasurer to disburse and track funds awarded to recipients.
9. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
Vice president of international activities
The Vice President of International Activities shall:
1. Constitute and chair the International Committee to facilitate and execute events.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of International Activities for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.
4. Represent International Graduate Student interests at GSA Senate meetings.
5. Facilitate gatherings of the international graduate student community.
6. Organize events oriented toward international students, including but not limited to:
i.Open forum for International Student Concerns during the Fall semester
ii.Multicultural Celebration in the Spring semester
7. Attend international graduate student orientation each academic semester.
8. Maintain a working relationship with the ESF Offices of International Education and Multicultural Affairs, and the Syracuse University Slutzker Center for International Services.
9. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
1. Constitute and chair the International Committee to facilitate and execute events.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of International Activities for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.
4. Represent International Graduate Student interests at GSA Senate meetings.
5. Facilitate gatherings of the international graduate student community.
6. Organize events oriented toward international students, including but not limited to:
i.Open forum for International Student Concerns during the Fall semester
ii.Multicultural Celebration in the Spring semester
7. Attend international graduate student orientation each academic semester.
8. Maintain a working relationship with the ESF Offices of International Education and Multicultural Affairs, and the Syracuse University Slutzker Center for International Services.
9. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
Vice president of professional development
1. Constitute and chair the Professional Development Committee to facilitate and execute events.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of Professional Development for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.
4. Organize panel and workshop events representing the professional interests of the graduate student body.5.Assist the Faculty Governance Research Committee in preparation of the graduate student portion of Spotlight on Student Research Events.
6. Maintain a working relationship with the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies (OIGS).
7. Keep logistical and preparation records regarding each event.
8. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of Professional Development for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.
4. Organize panel and workshop events representing the professional interests of the graduate student body.5.Assist the Faculty Governance Research Committee in preparation of the graduate student portion of Spotlight on Student Research Events.
6. Maintain a working relationship with the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies (OIGS).
7. Keep logistical and preparation records regarding each event.
8. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
vice president of social activities
1. Constitute and chair the Social Committee to facilitate and execute social events.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of Social Activities for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.
4. Be responsible for coordinating and managing all social affairs of the GSA.
5. Keep a file of the logistics and preparation required by each social event.6.Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of Social Activities for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.
4. Be responsible for coordinating and managing all social affairs of the GSA.
5. Keep a file of the logistics and preparation required by each social event.6.Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
Vice president of speakers & presentations
1. Constitute and chair the Speaker Committee to plan, coordinate, facilitate and execute speaking engagements for the ESF campus community, with an emphasis on graduate-level, relevant topics and speakers.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of Speakers & Presentations for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.4.Solicit recommendations for and invite speakers for the Standing on the Shoulders of Giants and Shifting Paradigms speaker series that represent the general interests of the Graduate Student Body. When possible, leverage resources with other campus speaker organizations such as the Adaptive Peaks program or Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE).
5. Organize and facilitate the Graduate Student Speaker Series to highlight student research on campus.
6. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
2. Prepare an Executive Report of committee activities prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Vice President of Speakers & Presentations for the following academic year, documenting and assessing the year’s activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.
3. Maintain an updated budget of event and committee expenses.4.Solicit recommendations for and invite speakers for the Standing on the Shoulders of Giants and Shifting Paradigms speaker series that represent the general interests of the Graduate Student Body. When possible, leverage resources with other campus speaker organizations such as the Adaptive Peaks program or Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE).
5. Organize and facilitate the Graduate Student Speaker Series to highlight student research on campus.
6. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
Vice president of communications
The Vice President of Communications shall:
1. Constitute and chair the Communications Committee to manage and maintain GSA’s online presence and facilitate and execute the annual GSA Survey and GSA Elections.
2. Maintain the GSA website hosted at www.esfgsa.com and the GSA GMail account.
3. Maintain the GSA calendar of events, including GSA Senate meetings, on the GSA Google Calendar
4. Maintain the organization of Google Drive through the GMail account, and archive all contents onto the GSA harddrive at the end of the academic year.
5. Archive meeting minutes on the GSA website.
6. Post GSA event descriptions, information, and advertisement flyers on the website in a timely manner.
7. Administer and moderate the Facebook GSA Group and Page.
8. Organize and execute the GSA Survey within the first 6 weeks of each Fall semester
9. Organize and execute GSA Elections according to the guidelines laid out in the Elections section of the GSA Bylaws.
10. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
11. Prepare an Officer Report prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Senator for the following academic year, documenting and assessing responsibilities, resources, challenges and recommendations.
1. Constitute and chair the Communications Committee to manage and maintain GSA’s online presence and facilitate and execute the annual GSA Survey and GSA Elections.
2. Maintain the GSA website hosted at www.esfgsa.com and the GSA GMail account.
3. Maintain the GSA calendar of events, including GSA Senate meetings, on the GSA Google Calendar
4. Maintain the organization of Google Drive through the GMail account, and archive all contents onto the GSA harddrive at the end of the academic year.
5. Archive meeting minutes on the GSA website.
6. Post GSA event descriptions, information, and advertisement flyers on the website in a timely manner.
7. Administer and moderate the Facebook GSA Group and Page.
8. Organize and execute the GSA Survey within the first 6 weeks of each Fall semester
9. Organize and execute GSA Elections according to the guidelines laid out in the Elections section of the GSA Bylaws.
10. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
11. Prepare an Officer Report prior to the final meeting of the academic year, to be delivered to both the President and the incoming Senator for the following academic year, documenting and assessing responsibilities, resources, challenges and recommendations.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall:
1. Keep an account of all receipts and disbursements.
2. Direct the payment of money only on written orders properly certified by the Treasurer, the GSA Senate President, and the GSA Senate Faculty Advisor.
3. Safeguard the monetary capabilities of the GSA Senate and ensure its ability to address all monetary obligations.
4. Coordinate with the President and Vice Presidents to facilitate the expenditures necessary to conduct the business of the GSA.
5. Prepare the yearly budget and present financial reports to the GSA Senate when requested.
6. Submit an itemized written report to the GSA Senate of all financial transactions at the end of his or her term of office.
7.Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
1. Keep an account of all receipts and disbursements.
2. Direct the payment of money only on written orders properly certified by the Treasurer, the GSA Senate President, and the GSA Senate Faculty Advisor.
3. Safeguard the monetary capabilities of the GSA Senate and ensure its ability to address all monetary obligations.
4. Coordinate with the President and Vice Presidents to facilitate the expenditures necessary to conduct the business of the GSA.
5. Prepare the yearly budget and present financial reports to the GSA Senate when requested.
6. Submit an itemized written report to the GSA Senate of all financial transactions at the end of his or her term of office.
7.Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
Secretary
The Secretary shall:
1. Prepare meeting minutes of all GSA Senate meetings.
2. Upon request, provide a copy to any member of the GSA.
3. Maintain an accurate record of the total number of department and general representatives by contacting the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies in the Spring semester prior to GSA Senate elections.
4. Lead the review of the constitution and bylaws during the appropriate time.
5. Help assemble the Annual Report and organize archive folders on GSA Senate hard drive.
6. Keep attendance at meetings through the roll call.
7. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
1. Prepare meeting minutes of all GSA Senate meetings.
2. Upon request, provide a copy to any member of the GSA.
3. Maintain an accurate record of the total number of department and general representatives by contacting the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies in the Spring semester prior to GSA Senate elections.
4. Lead the review of the constitution and bylaws during the appropriate time.
5. Help assemble the Annual Report and organize archive folders on GSA Senate hard drive.
6. Keep attendance at meetings through the roll call.
7. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
Department representatives
All departments will have one representative, except Environmental Forestry Biology which shall have three, and GPES which shall have two.
The department representatives shall:
A. Represent the students of the following departments:
1. Chemistry (1)
2. Environmental and Forest Biology (3)
3. Environmental Resources Engineering (1)
4. Environmental Science, Division of (2)
5. Environmental Studies (1)
6. Forest and Natural Resources Management (2)
7. Landscape Architecture (1)
8. Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (1)
B.Facilitate communication between the students and faculty of his or her respective department via mechanisms that shall consist of, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
1. Attending faculty meetings
2. Receiving a copy of the formal faculty meeting minutes
3. Scheduling meetings with the department chair or coordinator at least once a semester.
4. Hosting internal departmental forums
5. Holding office hours to receive general comments or concerns
C. Provide assistance in executing all GSA Senate activities during the year by serving on at least one committee per semester.
D. Serve on the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies (OIGS) Advisory Committee. When called upon, provide feedback to the OIGS on campus issues concerning graduate students.
E.Maintain a record of specific departmental contacts and procedures.
F.Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
The department representatives shall:
A. Represent the students of the following departments:
1. Chemistry (1)
2. Environmental and Forest Biology (3)
3. Environmental Resources Engineering (1)
4. Environmental Science, Division of (2)
5. Environmental Studies (1)
6. Forest and Natural Resources Management (2)
7. Landscape Architecture (1)
8. Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (1)
B.Facilitate communication between the students and faculty of his or her respective department via mechanisms that shall consist of, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
1. Attending faculty meetings
2. Receiving a copy of the formal faculty meeting minutes
3. Scheduling meetings with the department chair or coordinator at least once a semester.
4. Hosting internal departmental forums
5. Holding office hours to receive general comments or concerns
C. Provide assistance in executing all GSA Senate activities during the year by serving on at least one committee per semester.
D. Serve on the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies (OIGS) Advisory Committee. When called upon, provide feedback to the OIGS on campus issues concerning graduate students.
E.Maintain a record of specific departmental contacts and procedures.
F.Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
Undergraduate Student association representative
The Undergraduate Student Representative shall:
1. Attend meetings of the USA and/or review USA meeting minutes. Contact the USA President for information regarding meeting times and place.
2. Coordinate the use and maintenance of shared resources, specifically the bar.
3. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
4. Act as a liaison between the GSA and USA as needed on pressing issues.
1. Attend meetings of the USA and/or review USA meeting minutes. Contact the USA President for information regarding meeting times and place.
2. Coordinate the use and maintenance of shared resources, specifically the bar.
3. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
4. Act as a liaison between the GSA and USA as needed on pressing issues.
Syracuse university graduate student organization representative
The Syracuse University GSO Representative shall:
1. Represent the interests of ESF graduate students as applicable in GSO matters by attending meetings of the GSO and reporting back to the GSA Senate.
2. Circulate information regarding GSO services available to ESF students.
3. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy
1. Represent the interests of ESF graduate students as applicable in GSO matters by attending meetings of the GSO and reporting back to the GSA Senate.
2. Circulate information regarding GSO services available to ESF students.
3. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy
board of trustees representative
The Board of Trustees Representative shall:
1. Attend the Board of Trustees meetings to which he or she is invited.
2.Before the first Board of Trustees meeting of the academic year, coordinate with the USA Board of Trustees representative to ensure that rotation between the graduate and undergraduate representative alternates on a yearly basis. The graduate representative shall hold the vote every academic year where the fall semester is an even year.
3. Voice graduate student interests and concerns to, and obtain relevant information from members of the Board of Trustees.
4. Act as liaison between the Board of Trustees and the GSA Senate as needed on pressing issues.
5. Keep a record of the Board of Trustees actions during his or her term of office.
6. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
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1. Attend the Board of Trustees meetings to which he or she is invited.
2.Before the first Board of Trustees meeting of the academic year, coordinate with the USA Board of Trustees representative to ensure that rotation between the graduate and undergraduate representative alternates on a yearly basis. The graduate representative shall hold the vote every academic year where the fall semester is an even year.
3. Voice graduate student interests and concerns to, and obtain relevant information from members of the Board of Trustees.
4. Act as liaison between the Board of Trustees and the GSA Senate as needed on pressing issues.
5. Keep a record of the Board of Trustees actions during his or her term of office.
6. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy.
_
Faculty advisor
A.The Faculty Advisor is not considered a member of the GSA Senate and therefore cannot participate in any voting process.
B. The Faculty Advisor shall:
1. Provide information and adviceto the GSA Senate as requested and support GSA Senate initiatives in College venues as appropriate.
2. Maintain a record of involvement and activities to be passed on to the incoming Faculty Advisor, or to be held by the continuing Faculty Advisor.
3. Certify monetary payments in coordination with the President and Treasurer.
4. Oversee all events where alcohol is served, according to the official campus Alcohol Policy.
5. Communicate Faculty Governance and other Student Affairs issues to the GSA Senate.
6. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy faculty member or administration.
B. The Faculty Advisor shall:
1. Provide information and adviceto the GSA Senate as requested and support GSA Senate initiatives in College venues as appropriate.
2. Maintain a record of involvement and activities to be passed on to the incoming Faculty Advisor, or to be held by the continuing Faculty Advisor.
3. Certify monetary payments in coordination with the President and Treasurer.
4. Oversee all events where alcohol is served, according to the official campus Alcohol Policy.
5. Communicate Faculty Governance and other Student Affairs issues to the GSA Senate.
6. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the GSA Senate or identify a proxy faculty member or administration.
