GPSA R1 (2015-2016): Resolution Approving the GPSA Charter and Bylaws for 2015–2016

Conveyed to the President

• Resolution:
  GPSA R1 (2015-2016): Resolution Approving the GPSA Charter and Bylaws for 2015–2016
• Day:
  October 2, 2015
• Action:
  Conveyed to the President
• Summary / Notes:
• File Attachments:
• Text Attachment:
  Dear President Garrett,
  
  There was a discussion at the start of this year over the need to have all resolutions sent to your office. For the GPSA, it will remain our practice to send you all resolutions we pass, in accordance with our governing documents. However, I will try to indicate when more thorough replies are not necessarily required. I believe that most of the resolutions passed by the GPSA are of a substantive nature and we will request a thorough response. In this case, we have shared our first two resolutions for your consideration, but official approval is not required as both are within the authority of the GPSA. Though they primarily affect our internal structure, I would like to draw your attention to some of the changes made to our charter and bylaws in R1. Especially relevant for your office will be the creation of a new Vice President for Communications, who will serve as an integral member of the GPSA's executive team going forward. I hope this person can be included in the conversations between the GPSA leadership and senior administrators.
  
  First, I would like to communicate GPSA Resolution 1 - Charter and Bylaw Changes for the 2015-2016 School Year. As stated in our charter and bylaws, the GPSA must approve its own governing documents at the start of each semester. In addition to a few minor changes that align the charter and bylaws with what we have actually practiced, this year we made extensive changes primarily focused around our communications committee and our representatives to the General Committee of the Graduate School. The chair of the Communications Committee has now been made the Vice President of Communications, and we have designated five Chiefs of Communication for the five caucuses of the GPSA (Humanities, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Professional Schools). It is our hope that these changes will help streamline our communications outward to the broader graduate and professional student community, and provide clearer conduits for communication back to the GPSA. Additionally, in response to the elevation of student members on the General Committee of the Graduate School to be voting members, we have made these positions elected instead of appointed.
  Respectfully,
  Richard Walroth,
  President, GPSA