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Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

GPSA R17 (2021-2022): Amending GPSA Election Procedures

Accepted by the President

  • Resolution:
    GPSA R17 (2021-2022): Amending GPSA Election Procedures
  • Day:
    May 2, 2022
  • Action:
    Accepted by the President
  • Summary / Notes:
    This resolution seeks to provide the entire graduate and professional student community with the ability to participate in GPSA elections.
  • File Attachments:
  • Text Attachment:
    Dear Preston,
     
    Thank you for sending the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Resolution #17: Amending GPSA Election Procedures.
     
    Your efforts to create more equitable participation in shared governance by opening elections to all graduate and professional student body members for GPSA officers and Voting Members is commendable. In order for the GPSA to proceed with its plan for elections the week of May 2, I am “conditionally approving” this resolution. While the recommended revisions to the GPSA charter and the GPSA bylaws for the election of voting members, officers, and standing committee members are meaningfully aligned with the goal of increasing student engagement with campus governance, there are some procedural edits I would ask you to make:
     
    • Amend line 132 to read:
    o  Adding, “GPSA Election Rules” to the GPSA Bylaws as “Article V” (current Article V: “Suspension of the GPSA Bylaws” would become Article VI)” so that the last article of the Bylaws remains, “Suspension of the GPSA Bylaws”
     
    • Amend line 192 to remove the dollar amount noted, as this is a budgetary consideration. Each assembly has authority to determine how to spend its funds and would be voted on by members of each new assembly. 
     
    Additionally:
     
    • Please clarify the processes related to “solicitation of candidates”, and “email voting” and specify if these will include support from the Office of the Assemblies, or the Graduate School, or if the GPSA will continue to manage its own elections internally. If support will be required, please work with those offices to confirm expectations and coordinate calendars; noting that not all of the new provisions may be possible this year given the time constraints.
     
    Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of the current GPSA elections and these revisions designed to support equity and engagement among all graduate and professional students.
     
    Sincerely,
     
    President, Cornell University
    300 Day Hall
    Ithaca, NY 14853