Constitution of the University of Manitoba Economic Graduate Students Association, (UM – EGSA).
 

Article 1: Name

• The name of the student group shall be the University of Manitoba Economic Graduate Students Association, hereafter referred to as UM-EGSA.

 

Article 2: Purpose of UM-EGSA

1. To provide a variety of educational experiences that will encourage organization members to broaden their knowledge of and increase their enthusiasm for their chosen occupational areas (i.e. occupational related field trips, seminars, etc.).

2. Provide opportunities for members to participate in conferences

3. Provide opportunities for social interaction among organization members.

 

Article 3: Membership

• Membership is open to any graduate student in Economics of the University of Manitoba. Memberships for the group last for a full academic year, September to August.

 

Article 4: Compliance with University of Manitoba, UMSU/SGPAC Policies and Procedures

• UM-EGSA will follow all bylaws, policies, and procedures of the University of Manitoba, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), the Student Group Promotion and Affairs Committee (SGPAC), and the UM-GSA.

 

Article 5: Executive Officers and Duties

The following are the Executive officers of UM-EGSA, along with their duties:

1. President:

• Shall attend all meetings of UM-EGSA

• Shall act as a signing authority for UM-EGSA

• Shall act as spokesperson for UM-EGSA to the public

• Shall be the contact person for UMSU and SGPAC

• Shall act as Chair for meetings if no other Chair has been appointed

• Shall be responsible for getting representatives from the department to serve on the GSA council.

 

2. Vice President (Finance):

a) Shall attend all meetings of UM-EGSA

b) Shall act as a signing authority for UM-EGSA

c) Shall maintain adequate financial records of UM-EGSA

d) Shall prepare and submit an annual budget for UM-EGSA

 

3. Vice President (Events):

1. Shall attend all meetings of UM-EGSA

2. Shall organize and oversee social, academic and cultural events on behalf of UM-EGSA

3. Shall be responsible for booking equipment for all events

 

Article 6: Executive Elections and Terms of Office

• All UM-EGSA elections for the upcoming year will occur no later than March 31st. Prior to the election, the Executive shall appoint a Chief Returning Officer (CRO) to oversee the elections; the CRO does not have to be a member of UM-EGSA, and cannot be a person who is running in the election.

 

The CRO shall:

a) Oversee and administer the elections for UM-EGSA

b) Publicize the elections to the membership of UM-EGSA

c) Hear and decide on any appeals or complaints related to the elections

d) Oversee and administer the counting of votes or ballots for the elections

e) Announce the results of the elections and inform UMSU of who next year’s Executive will be

 

Voting Process:

1. Nominations for the three elected positions will last for three days. Candidates who wish to be nominated should inform the CRO during that period, and must be a member in good standing of UM-EGSA at the time of their nomination.

2. Each nominated candidate is allowed to campaign on behalf of themselves and any slate (or team) they are a part of during the campaigning period, which will last for at least a week.

3. The CRO will collect a brief biography and campaign platform from each candidate and distribute them in an e-mail to all members of UM-EGSA prior to voting.

4. Voting will be open for at least two days, and will be held in a safe and secure location accessible to all members of the group. At least one poll clerk will be present at all times with the ballot box.

5. Depending on the recommendation of the CRO, and where convenient, voting could be done using an electronic process. (i.e. online)

6. The ballots will be collected by the CRO and counted; results will be sent to candidates and UM-GSA.

 

Article 7: Transition of the Executive

• During the period from the end of the second week of April until the first day of May, when the new Executive will assume office, it is the responsibility of the departing Executive to orient the newly elected executive officers to their jobs. This includes teaching the incoming executive about student group and Students’ Union policies and procedures, transitioning custodianship of club records and materials (including office and mailbox keys, locker combinations and all passwords to all student group email accounts), and preparing the new Executive to be effective in their roles for the next year's work.

• It is the responsibility of the departing President to ensure that all student requirements to the Students’ Union, including submission of a complete annual report and the removal of all student group records and materials from the club office and locker, have been fulfilled before the incoming Executive assumes office.

• It is the responsibility of the departing President and VP Finance to bring all accounts up to date to the end of the fiscal year, and to prepare any required financial statements of the club. In addition, the outgoing President and VP Finance must arrange with the respective incoming Executive for the transition of the student group bank accounts into the incoming President’s and VP Finance’s names. These tasks are to be completed and their outputs delivered to the new Executive no later than the last day of April.

• It is the responsibility of the incoming Executive to assume custody of all student group records and materials and accountability for all financial activities of the student group (as outlined in Article 5) and for all club requirements to the Students’ Union commencing with the first day of May.

 

Article 8: Meetings

a) The Executive will schedule at least two meetings a year for the entire UM-EGSA membership.

b) The President may call an Executive meeting at any time, but must give the other Executive officers at least 48 hours notice.

c) There shall be at least one Executive meeting per month during the academic year (September to April).

 

Article 9: Amendments to the Constitution

• The proposed changes must be made available to all members of the group at least two weeks before the meeting, and require the support of at least two-thirds of the members present and voting at the meeting.

• copy of the amended constitution must be submitted to UMSU within two weeks of the meeting.