Below you'll find our AGSA bylaws.
AGSA Bylaws
ARTICLE I. NAME
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Anthropology Graduate Student Association.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
Section 1. The purpose of this organization is to further the academic and professional development of anthropology graduate students at SDSU. We will provide students with support to conduct and present research, opportunities to network with faculty and professionals, and outlets to share their knowledge with the San Diego community at large.
ARTICLE III. AUTHORITY
Section 1. This organization is a recognized student organization at San Diego State University and adheres to all campus policies as set forth in the SDSU Student Organization Handbook.
Section 2. This organization may establish Standing Rules to govern administrative and procedural matters (such as time and location of meetings, etc.). Standing Rules shall not conflict with these bylaws. Standing Rules may be adopted, amended, or temporarily suspended by a majority vote present at an organization meeting where a quorum is present (advance notice is not required).
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in the organization shall be open to those regularly enrolled San Diego State University students who are anthropology graduate students in good standing.
Section 2. Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected student officer positions may not be limited on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. The organization shall have no rules or policies that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the organization shall be the Officers.
Section 2. Powers and Duties of Officers:
1. The President shall serve as the chief executive officer of the organization, shall compile an agenda prior to monthly AGSA meetings, and shall preside at all meetings of the organization. The President shall be the official spokesperson of the organization, representing the policies, views, and opinions of the organization in its relations with the campus and community at large.
2. The Vice President shall preside at organization meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall perform all legal duties assigned by the President. The Vice President will maintain the AGSA website by providing updates as needed to the web chair, and shall manage online correspondence via the AGSA email. The Vice President shall assume the office of President if
the office becomes vacant.
3. The Treasurer shall handle all financial affairs and budgeting of the organization, maintain all necessary accounting records, and prepare monthly financial reports for the membership. Said records shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Treasurer shall collect and deposit all dues and fees. The Treasurer shall maintain bank
accounts in the organization’s name, requiring signatures of both the Treasurer and President for authorized disbursements. The treasurer shall control disbursement and allocation of student travel grants in accordance with AGSA’s regulated mandates.
4. The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings of the organization, keep these on file, and submit required copies to all organization members. The Secretary shall be responsible for all organization correspondence and shall keep copies thereof on file. The Secretary shall maintain membership records for the organization.
5. The Fundraising Chair shall be responsible for the organization of all fundraising events assembled by the organization including, but not limited to, restaurant benefits, stadium fundraisers, bake sales, etc. The Fundraising Chair shall recruit volunteers for events, solicit money through outside support, research grants available for graduate students and manage the direct mail campaign.
6. CAL Council Representative shall be responsible for attending weekly meetings of the Council and serving as a liaison between the organization and the council.
7. Faculty-Student Representative: The faculty-student representative is to act as a liaison between the graduate student body and the department faculty members. The person who holds this position is expected to attend monthly faculty meetings and compile minutes. The minutes will be distributed by email to the graduate students. In this way, the students remain informed about departmental news. The faculty-student representative is also responsible for attending monthly AGSA meetings so that she/he may represent the general opinion of the graduate students accurately. Any questions about topics discussed in faculty meetings may be brought to the AGSA faculty advisor for clarification. The representative may be asked to leave meetings when sensitive and confidential issues are addressed. She/he should be available to graduate students to explain department decisions. This communication will increase understanding between students and faculty and decrease the dissemination of false information.
Section 3. Qualifications necessary to hold office in this organization are as follows:
California State University policies require that to be eligible for office, candidates must be in good standing and regularly enrolled students at San Diego State University. Additionally, California State University policies require that the President and Treasurer maintain a minimum overall 2.0 grade point average each term and not be on probation of any kind. The President and Treasurer must be enrolled in at least six units (three units for graduate and credential students) each semester while holding office. Undergraduate students with over 150 semester units or 125 percent of the units required for a specific baccalaureate degree objective, whichever is greater, or graduate and credential students with over 50 semester units or 167 percent of the units required for the graduate or credential objective, whichever is greater, are ineligible to hold the office of President or Treasurer. No member may hold more than one office. No member may serve more than 2 semesters in the same office.
ARTICLE VI. SELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers are elected each year, or as needed. Elections are held at the end of each academic year and shall take place at a regularly scheduled meeting of the organization at which a quorum is present. At least one week’s notice shall be provided for any meeting at which an election is to be held.
Section 2. Nominations for officers shall be made at the regular meeting immediately preceding the election. Nominations may also be made from the floor immediately prior to the election for each office. Members may nominate themselves for an office.
Section 3. Officers shall be elected by majority vote. [Optional: If no candidate receives a majority vote, a runoff election shall be held between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes. In the event of a tie, there shall be a re-vote. If the result of the re-vote is still a tie, the election shall be decided by the flip of a coin.]
Section 4. Votes shall be cast by secret ballot; however, when there is only one candidate for an office, a motion may be made to elect the candidate by acclamation.
Section 5. Officers may be recalled from office for cause. To initiate a recall election, a petition signed by one third of members must be submitted at a regular meeting and a recall vote shall be taken at the next regular meeting. The officer subject to recall shall be given written notice of the recall at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at which the recall vote will be held and shall be given an opportunity to provide a defense. A two-thirds vote is required to remove an officer.
Section 6. If the position of President becomes vacant as the result of resignation, ineligibility or recall, the Vice President shall assume the office of President. Vacancies in any other elected office shall be filled by an election held at the next regular meeting where the vacancy was announced. Nominations may be made at the meeting where the vacancy is announced, and nominations may also be made from the floor at the time of the election. The President may appoint an interim officer to fill the vacancy until the election is held.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meetings shall be scheduled monthly during the academic year. Officers will be required to meet bi-weekly.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Committee. All members must be given a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the meeting time.
Section 3. Business cannot be conducted unless a quorum of the membership is present. A quorum for this organization is defined as a majority of the voting membership.
Section 4. Members must be present to vote. Absentee or proxy voting is not permitted.
Section 5. In order to vote a member must be in good standing.
ARTICLE VIII. ADVISOR(S)
Section 1. The organization shall appoint an individual employed as a faculty or staff member by San Diego State University to serve as the university advisor to this organization as required by the California State University. Auxiliary staff and student assistants are not eligible to serve as advisors. The advisor shall fulfill the responsibilities specified in the SDSU Student Organizations Handbook. Advisors shall serve on an academic year basis or until their successor has been selected.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be presented to the membership, in writing, one meeting prior to the meeting where the amendment will be voted upon.
Section 2. Bylaw amendments require approval by two-thirds of the voting members present at a regular meeting. The amendment shall be effective immediately unless otherwise stipulated in the amendment.
Section 3. A copy of any amendments to these bylaws must be submitted to the Student Activities and Campus Life Office at San Diego State University within two weeks after adoption.
ARTICLE X. FINANCIAL ALLOCATION/DISBURSEMENT
Section 1. AGSA will maintain a positive balance of $50 in its bank account at all times. This value can be adjusted as total funds increase.
Section 2. As active members of CAL council, the organization will receive $100 for food and supplies at the beginning of each school year. Receipts must be submitted and money will be dispersed as a refund. Officers will allocate this money for buying necessary supplies for the organization.
Section 3. AGSA’s remaining budget will be allocated as follows: 90% will provide travel grants for students attending/presenting at conferences and 10% will be reserved for AGSA use as needed.
Section 4. Money for social events will be acquired through CAL council. The acting treasurer will formulate a budget for submission. If funds are not approved or no longer available through CAL council, officers will vote on how much of the AGSA budget can be allocated to social events, never exceeding more than 20% of total funds.
Section 5. Each academic year, a call will be put out for all applications for travel grants, which are funds to assist members as they travel to opportunities for professional development. Applications must be received by March 15th.
Section 6. Those members requesting travel funds from AGSA must meet the following requirements: 1) Be an active member of AGSA (attends meetings, fundraisers, etc.), 2) Has submitted the application form provided on AGSA’s website, which addresses the logistics of their travel: At which conference/site/etc. will you be presenting at/attending/conducting research? If presenting, what is the subject of your talk? How will your attendance benefit the anthropology department at large? What is the estimated total cost of the trip? 3)Has submitted a budget breakdown for travel/accommodations/food etc.
Section 7. Preference will be given to members presenting at conferences, or actively involved in fieldwork and research. All remaining funds will be divided between select applicants. All applicants who successfully meet all requirements will be entered into a drawing. A select number of attendees will be chosen at random in a lottery-style fashion by the acting Treasurer. Grant amounts will be determined each semester based on the number of applications and total available funds.
These bylaws were revised on November 6, 2013.
ARTICLE I. NAME
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Anthropology Graduate Student Association.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
Section 1. The purpose of this organization is to further the academic and professional development of anthropology graduate students at SDSU. We will provide students with support to conduct and present research, opportunities to network with faculty and professionals, and outlets to share their knowledge with the San Diego community at large.
ARTICLE III. AUTHORITY
Section 1. This organization is a recognized student organization at San Diego State University and adheres to all campus policies as set forth in the SDSU Student Organization Handbook.
Section 2. This organization may establish Standing Rules to govern administrative and procedural matters (such as time and location of meetings, etc.). Standing Rules shall not conflict with these bylaws. Standing Rules may be adopted, amended, or temporarily suspended by a majority vote present at an organization meeting where a quorum is present (advance notice is not required).
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in the organization shall be open to those regularly enrolled San Diego State University students who are anthropology graduate students in good standing.
Section 2. Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected student officer positions may not be limited on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. The organization shall have no rules or policies that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the organization shall be the Officers.
Section 2. Powers and Duties of Officers:
1. The President shall serve as the chief executive officer of the organization, shall compile an agenda prior to monthly AGSA meetings, and shall preside at all meetings of the organization. The President shall be the official spokesperson of the organization, representing the policies, views, and opinions of the organization in its relations with the campus and community at large.
2. The Vice President shall preside at organization meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall perform all legal duties assigned by the President. The Vice President will maintain the AGSA website by providing updates as needed to the web chair, and shall manage online correspondence via the AGSA email. The Vice President shall assume the office of President if
the office becomes vacant.
3. The Treasurer shall handle all financial affairs and budgeting of the organization, maintain all necessary accounting records, and prepare monthly financial reports for the membership. Said records shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Treasurer shall collect and deposit all dues and fees. The Treasurer shall maintain bank
accounts in the organization’s name, requiring signatures of both the Treasurer and President for authorized disbursements. The treasurer shall control disbursement and allocation of student travel grants in accordance with AGSA’s regulated mandates.
4. The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings of the organization, keep these on file, and submit required copies to all organization members. The Secretary shall be responsible for all organization correspondence and shall keep copies thereof on file. The Secretary shall maintain membership records for the organization.
5. The Fundraising Chair shall be responsible for the organization of all fundraising events assembled by the organization including, but not limited to, restaurant benefits, stadium fundraisers, bake sales, etc. The Fundraising Chair shall recruit volunteers for events, solicit money through outside support, research grants available for graduate students and manage the direct mail campaign.
6. CAL Council Representative shall be responsible for attending weekly meetings of the Council and serving as a liaison between the organization and the council.
7. Faculty-Student Representative: The faculty-student representative is to act as a liaison between the graduate student body and the department faculty members. The person who holds this position is expected to attend monthly faculty meetings and compile minutes. The minutes will be distributed by email to the graduate students. In this way, the students remain informed about departmental news. The faculty-student representative is also responsible for attending monthly AGSA meetings so that she/he may represent the general opinion of the graduate students accurately. Any questions about topics discussed in faculty meetings may be brought to the AGSA faculty advisor for clarification. The representative may be asked to leave meetings when sensitive and confidential issues are addressed. She/he should be available to graduate students to explain department decisions. This communication will increase understanding between students and faculty and decrease the dissemination of false information.
Section 3. Qualifications necessary to hold office in this organization are as follows:
California State University policies require that to be eligible for office, candidates must be in good standing and regularly enrolled students at San Diego State University. Additionally, California State University policies require that the President and Treasurer maintain a minimum overall 2.0 grade point average each term and not be on probation of any kind. The President and Treasurer must be enrolled in at least six units (three units for graduate and credential students) each semester while holding office. Undergraduate students with over 150 semester units or 125 percent of the units required for a specific baccalaureate degree objective, whichever is greater, or graduate and credential students with over 50 semester units or 167 percent of the units required for the graduate or credential objective, whichever is greater, are ineligible to hold the office of President or Treasurer. No member may hold more than one office. No member may serve more than 2 semesters in the same office.
ARTICLE VI. SELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers are elected each year, or as needed. Elections are held at the end of each academic year and shall take place at a regularly scheduled meeting of the organization at which a quorum is present. At least one week’s notice shall be provided for any meeting at which an election is to be held.
Section 2. Nominations for officers shall be made at the regular meeting immediately preceding the election. Nominations may also be made from the floor immediately prior to the election for each office. Members may nominate themselves for an office.
Section 3. Officers shall be elected by majority vote. [Optional: If no candidate receives a majority vote, a runoff election shall be held between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes. In the event of a tie, there shall be a re-vote. If the result of the re-vote is still a tie, the election shall be decided by the flip of a coin.]
Section 4. Votes shall be cast by secret ballot; however, when there is only one candidate for an office, a motion may be made to elect the candidate by acclamation.
Section 5. Officers may be recalled from office for cause. To initiate a recall election, a petition signed by one third of members must be submitted at a regular meeting and a recall vote shall be taken at the next regular meeting. The officer subject to recall shall be given written notice of the recall at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at which the recall vote will be held and shall be given an opportunity to provide a defense. A two-thirds vote is required to remove an officer.
Section 6. If the position of President becomes vacant as the result of resignation, ineligibility or recall, the Vice President shall assume the office of President. Vacancies in any other elected office shall be filled by an election held at the next regular meeting where the vacancy was announced. Nominations may be made at the meeting where the vacancy is announced, and nominations may also be made from the floor at the time of the election. The President may appoint an interim officer to fill the vacancy until the election is held.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meetings shall be scheduled monthly during the academic year. Officers will be required to meet bi-weekly.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Committee. All members must be given a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the meeting time.
Section 3. Business cannot be conducted unless a quorum of the membership is present. A quorum for this organization is defined as a majority of the voting membership.
Section 4. Members must be present to vote. Absentee or proxy voting is not permitted.
Section 5. In order to vote a member must be in good standing.
ARTICLE VIII. ADVISOR(S)
Section 1. The organization shall appoint an individual employed as a faculty or staff member by San Diego State University to serve as the university advisor to this organization as required by the California State University. Auxiliary staff and student assistants are not eligible to serve as advisors. The advisor shall fulfill the responsibilities specified in the SDSU Student Organizations Handbook. Advisors shall serve on an academic year basis or until their successor has been selected.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be presented to the membership, in writing, one meeting prior to the meeting where the amendment will be voted upon.
Section 2. Bylaw amendments require approval by two-thirds of the voting members present at a regular meeting. The amendment shall be effective immediately unless otherwise stipulated in the amendment.
Section 3. A copy of any amendments to these bylaws must be submitted to the Student Activities and Campus Life Office at San Diego State University within two weeks after adoption.
ARTICLE X. FINANCIAL ALLOCATION/DISBURSEMENT
Section 1. AGSA will maintain a positive balance of $50 in its bank account at all times. This value can be adjusted as total funds increase.
Section 2. As active members of CAL council, the organization will receive $100 for food and supplies at the beginning of each school year. Receipts must be submitted and money will be dispersed as a refund. Officers will allocate this money for buying necessary supplies for the organization.
Section 3. AGSA’s remaining budget will be allocated as follows: 90% will provide travel grants for students attending/presenting at conferences and 10% will be reserved for AGSA use as needed.
Section 4. Money for social events will be acquired through CAL council. The acting treasurer will formulate a budget for submission. If funds are not approved or no longer available through CAL council, officers will vote on how much of the AGSA budget can be allocated to social events, never exceeding more than 20% of total funds.
Section 5. Each academic year, a call will be put out for all applications for travel grants, which are funds to assist members as they travel to opportunities for professional development. Applications must be received by March 15th.
Section 6. Those members requesting travel funds from AGSA must meet the following requirements: 1) Be an active member of AGSA (attends meetings, fundraisers, etc.), 2) Has submitted the application form provided on AGSA’s website, which addresses the logistics of their travel: At which conference/site/etc. will you be presenting at/attending/conducting research? If presenting, what is the subject of your talk? How will your attendance benefit the anthropology department at large? What is the estimated total cost of the trip? 3)Has submitted a budget breakdown for travel/accommodations/food etc.
Section 7. Preference will be given to members presenting at conferences, or actively involved in fieldwork and research. All remaining funds will be divided between select applicants. All applicants who successfully meet all requirements will be entered into a drawing. A select number of attendees will be chosen at random in a lottery-style fashion by the acting Treasurer. Grant amounts will be determined each semester based on the number of applications and total available funds.
These bylaws were revised on November 6, 2013.