TWUGSA Bylaws
Approved by President's Cabinet March 31, 2004; approved by graduate students in a vote which closed on September 17, 2005.
I. TWUGSA Council Structure
Position descriptions for TWU Graduate Student Association Council members are developed/amended in consultation with the Advisor to the TWU Graduate Student Association (TWUGSA) and are subject to approval by the University President's Cabinet.
I.A. Executive Council
The elected representatives from the membership shall be as follows:
- President
- Vice President
- Vice President of Finance
All of these members are elected and shall be voting members of the TWUGSA Council.
I.A.1. Representatives
The representatives from various seminaries/graduate programs shall be elected by their respective constituency as follows:
- Association of Canadian Theological Seminaries (ACTS): 3 representatives from three different programs
- School of Graduate Studies (SGS): 3 representatives from three different programs
All of these members are elected and shall be voting members of the TWUGSA Council
I.B. Appointed TWUGSA Administration
The appointed TWUGSA Administration members shall be as follows:
I.B.1. General Positions
- Executive Assistant
- Communications Coordinator
- Events Coordinator
In the event of vacancies, Representatives may be required to fulfill various functions of these roles.
I.B.2. Committee Representatives
Committee Representatives offer a graduate student perspective on University Committees. They are appointed by the Executive Council of the TWUGSA when invited to represent graduate students on University committees.
I.B.3. Ad hoc Officers
The Executive Council may appoint other officers on an Ad hoc basis.
NOTE: Appointed members of the TWUGSA Council are non-voting members.
II. TWUGSA Council Members: Eligibility and Replacement
II.A. Qualifications
II.A.1. Academic
TWUGSA Council Members must be enrolled in a graduate program.
II.A.2. Conduct
a. TWUGSA Council Members must sign and uphold the Responsibilities of Membership in the Community of Trinity Western University statement and support the mission statement of the TWUGSA. If a Council member is placed on behavioral probation, conduct accountability, or suspension, as defined by the current TWU Student Handbook, the office is considered vacated and a replacement is made.
b. Conduct concerns relating to the fulfillment of TWUGSA position requirements should be handled according to the biblical model. Students with concerns should approach the member in question directly. If no progress is made and the matter is unresolved, students with concerns should then approach the Vice President of the TWUGSA, who will then join those concerned in confronting the member in question.
II.B. Vacancies
II.B.1. Fall Semester
Executive Council and Representative vacancies occurring before December 1, with the exception of the President, which shall be filled by the Vice President, shall be filled by a by-election. The by-election is to be held no later than four (4) academic weeks after the office is vacated.
II.B.2. Spring or Summer Semester
Vacancies occurring during the spring or summer semester will be filled or left vacated at the discretion of the TWUGSA Council. This shall be decided by a majority vote of the TWUGSA Council.
III. Election and Appointment Procedure
III.A. Election and Appointment Code
All elections for the TWUGSA Council positions and appointments for administration positions are to be conducted according to the guidelines as set forth in the Election and Appointment Code in the Policy Manual.
IV. Finances
IV.A. Audit
The TWUGSA's financial records shall be available for inspection by any member of the TWUGSA , upon giving twenty-four (24) hours notice to the Vice President of Finance for the TWUGSA. Each year an internal audit shall be conducted by the University in cooperation with the University's accountants.
The TWUGSA records form a part of the University's financial records and are therefore subject to the University's internal controls and procedures as well as the University's external audits.
IV.B. Fees
IV.B.1. General Assessment
A general fee shall be assessed each semester to each member of the TWUGSA.
IV.B.2. General Rate
The general fee will be charged commensurate with all tuition charges for all graduate course enrolments for credit throughout the year at a rate of $3 for each credit hour.
IV.B.3. Allocation and Use
The TWUGSA Council maintains responsibility and control over the allocation and use of revenue from fees. Unspent funds are to carry over into the following years account.
IV.B.4. Changes
Recommendations for changes to the TWUGSA fees shall be submitted to the University President's Cabinet by November 1 for approval and implementation for the following academic year. Students must be publicly notified of any changes to fees at least 6 weeks prior to the implementation of changes.
IV.C. Compensation
IV.C.1. Stipend Amounts
Each member of the TWUGSA Council shall receive a stipend from the TWUGSA funds based on the following:
President: $2000.00 per year.
Other elected Executive Council Representatives: $1500.00 per year.
Elected Representatives: $1000.00 per year.
Appointed TWUGSA Administration members: $500.00 per year.
NOTE: The base year for these stipends will be 2004/05 with indexing to occur in subsequent years.
The stipends shall not exceed 50% of the total TWUGSA budget (in which case the amounts will be prorated) and shall be indexed to the average percentage increase in tuition for graduate students at Trinity Western University.
IV.C.2. Stipend Distribution
Stipends shall be given out in two equal increments.
The third full week of September
The third full week of January
V. Rights of Membership
The rights of every TWUGSA member are as follows:
- Vote for representation within the Executive Council.
- Attend all General Assembly meetings of the TWUGSA Council with full speaking rights and ability to make privileged and incidental motions.
- Have access to minutes of all TWUGSA Council meetings.
- Eligible to participate on TWUGSA committees.
- Attend all TWUGSA events.
- Have access to a copy of the TWUGSA Constitution, By-laws and Policy Manual.
VI. Referendum, Recall and Initiative
VI.A. Referendum
Upon petition by ten percent (10%) of the members of the TWUGSA, any decision of the TWUGSA Council may be referred to the TWUGSA membership for approval or rejection. Such a petition must be filed with the President of the TWUGSA within ten (10) calendar days after the first signature. The TWUGSA Council shall after seven (7) days notice call for a referendum on the decision in question. Voting shall be by secret ballot. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of those voting shall be necessary to rescind a TWUGSA Council decision.
VI.B. Recall
Upon petition by twenty-five percent (25%) of the members of the TWUGSA, the TWUGSA Council shall after seven (7) days notice call for a special meeting of the TWUGSA. At this meeting the officer specified shall be given an opportunity to respond to the petition for recall. In the case of elected representative recallees, the petition must be referred to the voting members of the TWUGSA who are constituents of the recallee, within three (3) days of this meeting, for approval or rejection. In the case of all other recallees, the petition must be referred to all members of the TWUGSA, within three (3) days of this meeting, for approval or rejection. Voting shall be by secret ballot. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of those voting shall be necessary to implement the recall.
VI.C. Initiative
Upon petition by twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting members of the TWUGSA, any new measure may be referred to the TWUGSA membership for approval or rejection. Voting shall be by secret ballot. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of those voting shall be necessary and sufficient to implement such a petition. A copy of the said petition shall be filed with the President of the TWUGSA within ten (10) calendar days after the first signature.