The primary purpose of the Diversity & International Students Committee (“Diversity Committee”) is to promote diversity and inclusion in all its forms within the GPSA membership and within the broader graduate and professional student community at Cornell University. The Diversity Committee shall have a chairperson, elected by the GPSA.

The SAIF Commission (SAIFC) of the Assembly is responsible for evaluating applications for funding through the SAIF. The rules governing the operation of the SAIFC are contained in Appendix C of the Charter. The Commission should consult and collaborate with the Campus Sustainability Office on projects related to sustainability. Additionally, The Commission should consult and collaborate with Campus and Community Engagement and/or the Dean of Students Office on long-term projects. The Commission shall consist of no more than 17 commissioners. The commissioners must include five voting members of the Assembly, consisting of a Chair, three Assembly members, and one New Student voting member of the Assembly, internally elected following the Fall election. The remaining commissioners will consist of at least seven and no more than twelve undergraduate students. No SAFC Commissioners shall serve as voting members of the SAIFC (with the exception of the VP Finance). The Director of the Office of the Assemblies or their designee shall serve as an ex-officio non-voting member. Chair to be elected by the Assembly.

The committee shall serve as the body through which the Assembly, the diversity councils of the undergraduate schools and colleges, the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI), and the Center for Intercultural Dialogue coordinate their efforts to promote awareness and understanding of the increasing importance of diversity and create an environment that brings together diverse perspectives and fosters diversity of thought. The committee shall be a meeting grounds for interested students to meet members of the administration to brainstorm, formulate and lead implementable policies in the field of diversity and inclusion; review the efforts of the Diversity Committee and diversity councils of the colleges; provide a brief report of its progress to be presented by the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Assembly by the final meeting in the fall semester, as well as a full report to include (but not limited to) the goals of the academic year, the strategies devised for achievement of these goals, the progress of UDC initiatives, college- specific initiatives, obstacles, and potential goals for the next academic year to be presented in the same manner at the final meeting of the spring semester. Student members of the committee may be recruited from institutions and organizations such as the diversity councils of the colleges, Women’s Resource Center, Center for Intercultural Dialogue, ALANA, Haven Executive board, Cornell Outdoor Education, International Student Union and any member of the Cornell student body who is interested in diversity initiatives. The LGBTIA+ Liaison at-large, Women’s representative, International representative, both Minority Liaisons, First Generation Students Representative, Students with Disabilities Representative, and the Vice President for Communications are required to be members of the committee. The Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Student Assembly will chair the Diversity and Inclusion committee. 

The commission will research issues affecting the campus and its surrounding area, as well as provide recommendations for reducing Cornell’s environmental impact. The committee will be charged with creating new legislation and enforcing past environmental legislation. This committee is also charged with providing environmental education and outreach in order to better inform students and the campus community about the campus’s environmental impact and sustainability issues. The committee will work closely with students, administrators, student environmental organizations, the Cornell Sustainability Office, the Campus Planning Committee, the Campus Infrastructure Committee, and the City and Town of Ithaca Sustainability to better recognize and address the environmental concerns of the campus and its community as well as to encourage collaboration in working toward the creation of a more sustainable environment. The committee should coordinate and report their operations with the Campus Sustainability Office. Membership to be selected by the Assembly. Chair to be elected by the Assembly.