Constitution

Definitions

  • “University” shall be taken to mean the University of British Columbia.
  • “Faculty” refers to the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies at the University.
  • “Association” shall be taken to mean the Doctoral Students Association (DSA) of the Faculty, established according to the terms set out herein.
  • “Officer” of the Association shall be taken to mean an individual duly elected according to the terms set out herein.
  • “Term” shall be taken to mean the Term of Office of an Officer of the Association, and shall conform as far as possible to the Academic Year of the Faculty.
  • “Doctoral Student” shall be taken to mean an individual currently registered in the Doctor of Philosophy of the Faculty.
  • Establishment
  1. There is hereby established, with the recognition of the Library and Archival Studies Student Association, an association of doctoral students to be named the iSchool Doctoral Students Association. The Association may also be referred to as the iSchool DSA or DSA.

Membership

  1. The membership of the Association shall consist of all doctoral students registered in the Faculty.
  1. All Members of the Association are entitled to participate fully in Meetings of the Association, to speak, propose motions, and vote on all questions.
  2. Members of the Association who are unable to attend a meeting of the Association may vote on matters before the meeting by communicating their vote in writing to the President.

Meetings

  1. The Association shall meet at least once in each Academic Term, and at such other times as one or more Members may request.
  2. Meetings of the Association shall be called by and chaired by the President or failing her/him, by the Vice President.
  3. Upon special invitation, the following persons may attend meetings of the Association, but they may not vote:
    1. Doctoral students whose status has lapsed but who intend resuming their studies, and who are still eligible to do so under the rules of The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and,
    2. Students who are intending to pursue doctoral studies in the Faculty.
  4. A quorum shall consist of five (5) members of the Association present at a meeting.
  5. A simple majority of members present at a meeting plus those voting by written communication to the President shall be required to pass a motion. The President or other individual acting as Chair shall not vote upon motions before the meeting, but shall cast the deciding vote in the case of a tie.

Officers

  1. President
    1. The Association shall elect a President for a one-year term of office at an annual meeting to be held at the beginning of each fall Academic Term.
    2. If a vacancy occurs during a President’s term of office, a President pro tempore shall be elected to complete the term of office.
  2. Vice President
    1. The Association shall elect a Vice President for a one-year term of office at an annual meeting to be held at the beginning of each fall Academic Term.
    2. If a vacancy occurs during a Vice President’s term of office, a Vice President pro tempore shall be elected to complete the term of office.
    3. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in the case of her/his absence.
  3. Secretary
    1. The Association shall elect a Secretary for a one-year term of office at an annual meeting to be held at the beginning of each fall Academic Term.
    2. The Secretary shall produce minutes of each meeting within seven (7) days of each meeting.
    3. If a vacancy occurs during a Secretary’s term of office, a Secretary pro tempore shall be elected to complete the term of office.
  4. Treasurer
    1. The Association shall elect a Treasurer for a one-year term of office at an annual meeting to be held at the beginning of each fall Academic Term.
    2. The Treasurer shall manage and record all financial activities of the Association.
    3. If a vacancy occurs during a Treasurer’s term of office, a Treasurer pro tempore shall be elected to complete the term of office.

 

No member shall serve more than four (4) full consecutive terms of as an Officer of the Association.

Election of Officers

  1. Candidates for positions as Officers of the Association shall be nominated by one (1) member, with the nomination seconded by one (1) additional member.
  2. Officers shall be elected by a simple majority of members present at the election meeting.
  3. Voting shall be conducted by secret ballot.

Amendment

  1. The wording of any proposed amendment to this Constitution shall be circulated in writing to all members at least fourteen (14) days prior to an Association meeting at which voting will take place.
  2. Approval of any amendment to this Constitution shall require a simple majority of voting members.

Effect

This Constitution shall take effect after ratification by a majority of members of the Association, and shall render void any prior Constitutions.