Constitution of the Plant Pathology Graduate Student Organization

ARTICLE I- GENERAL

Section 1:         The official name of this organization shall be the Plant Pathology Graduate Student Organization.

Section 2:         The organization shall operate as a non-profit organization.

Section 3:         The organization shall abide by the applicable rules and policies of the University of Minnesota pertaining to student organizations.

Section 4:         This organization shall exist for the following purposes:

a. To provide a forum for interactions with faculty and staff within the Department of Plant Pathology.

b. To provide a support group for graduate student supported symposiums and seminars.

c. To provide organized communication of other activities outside the Department of Plant Pathology.

                                    d. To provide social activities and events for the membership.

ARTICLE II _ MEMBERSHIP/IMPEACHMENT

Section 1:         Voting membership is open to all official graduate students of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota.

Section 2:         Voting members shall consist of official graduate students of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota.

Section 3:         Membership is open to all students without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, creed, marital status, public assistance status, or sexual orientation.

Section 4:         To become a member, one must be accepted into the graduate program of the Department of Plant Pathology. Membership shall terminate upon graduation.   

Section 5:         Any member/officer may be impeached for misconduct to be defined by the group (for example - failure to perform duties, attendance, misuse of funds, etc.) The member/officer shall be given a seven-day notice and an opportunity to defend him/herself. This impeachment vote shall require a 2/3-majority vote.

ARTICLE III - OFFICERS

Section 1:         The officers of this organization shall consist of President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer.

Section 2:         All officers must be graduate students in good standing in the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota.

Section 3:         Officers shall be selected during the May meeting, and shall serve for a period of one year. Officers shall be elected by plurality of the voting members present providing a quorum is present.

Section 4:         The duties of the officers are as follows:

a. President - Preside over all meetings of the organization. Act as official representative of the organization at other meetings and events.

b. Vice President - Preside at meetings of the organization in the absence of the president. Succeed the president if the president were unable to complete his/her term of office. Attend COGS meetings.

c. Secretary/Treasurer - Record and produce minutes of all meetings. Handle the organization's correspondence. Handle all financial transactions of the organization. Maintain thorough and accurate records of all transactions. Produce financial reports as required by the organization.

ARTICLE IV ­ COMMITTEES

Section 1:         Special committees may be established to carry out special assignments.

ARTICLE V - MEETING

Section 1:         A regular meeting shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month during the academic year. A special meeting may be called by any officer, or by a petition of ten percent of the voting membership.

Section 2:         A quorum shall be present in order to conduct official business of the organization. A quorum shall consist of those present at the meeting, but must consist of a minimum of 1 officer and 3 students.   

Section 3:         Decisions of the organization shall be enacted by a majority vote of those at the meeting.  Decisions will be made available to all students within 24 hours of the meeting.  Objections can be made up to 1 week after the meeting in which the decision was made.  

ARTICLE VI - FINANCIAL MATTERS

Section 1:         The organization shall not provide monetary gain, incidentally or otherwise to its directors or membership. This does not restrict the payment of an honorarium by the organization for services rendered.

Section 2:         Unless otherwise specified by the membership at the time of dissolution of the organization, residual assets shall be distributed to the Department of Plant Pathology Computer Center.

ARTICLE VII - BY-LAWS

Section 1:         By-laws may be proposed by the membership and may be adopted by a majority vote of those present at the meeting when a quorum is present.

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1:         any member of the organization may propose Amendments to the constitution. Such proposals shall be submitted in writing to any officer, or voiced at a regular meeting.    

Section 2:         Duty proposed amendments should be submitted to a vote of the voting members. A two-thirds majority vote of all members in favor shall be required for adoption of such amendments.

            Constitution ratified: (month, day, year)_______________________________________________

            Witnessed:        President________________________________________________________

                                    Other___________________________________________________________