BY-LAWS
GRADUATE BUSINESS STUDENT ASSOCIATION (GBSA)
WEATHERHEAD SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
Statement of Purpose
It is the objective of these By-Laws to outline a general framework for the actions and structure of the GBSA Executive Board, GBSA sanctioned clubs, the Student Organization President’s Council, GBSA sanctioned events, and budgetary requirements for all clubs and activities. Reference to and co-use of the GBSA Constitution is required for proper interpretation and use of these By-Laws.
Use of the Weatherhead School of Management Name
The use of the Weatherhead name and rights of usage thereof shall be in accordance with the Office of the Dean and the Career and Student Life Center. No club has the right to use or interpret the use of the Weatherhead name unless otherwise authorized by these offices.
Amendment of By-Laws
Any amendments to these by-laws shall be proposed to the GBSA Executive Board in writing. The proposal will be entered as New Business at the next Executive Board meeting for review and discussion. At the following General Assembly meeting of the GBSA, the Executive Board shall authorize the proponents of the amendment to present their proposal. Immediately following the presentation, a vote will be held. The number of votes in favor of the amendment must be at least 5% of the GBSA and must represent a majority of those voting.
The above procedure must be followed except in the event that the Bylaws need to be changed to correct typographical and grammatical errors or to update names or titles. The GBSA Executive Board shall have the authority to make these changes after they are presented to the Board and a majority of the Board votes in favor of the changes.
Upon adoption, amendments shall appear as part of these By-Laws.
Membership
The Graduate Business Student Association consists of all graduate students who are currently enrolled in the Weatherhead School of Management.
I. Rules & Responsibility Pertaining to the GBSA Executive Board
A. Function of GBSA Executive Board
See Graduate Business Student Association Constitution
B. Election Dates
The GBSA Executive Board election will be held no later than the last weekday of the first week of March. The voting shall be open to all students for no less than five days. At the General Assembly meeting before the GBSA election, the Executive Board will announce the date of the election.
1. Ballots/Voting Procedures
Each member of the GBSA is allowed one vote per candidate and per position. The members of the Executive Board will determine the exact method of balloting.
2. Tally of Ballots
The office of the Career and Student Life Center will conduct/oversee the tally of ballots. The election results are made official by the approval of the Associate Director Student Life and Leadership Development, the GBSA President, the GBSA VP of Communications. In the event of a tie, a run-off will be held. The results of the run-off shall be announced no later than five (5) days after the run-off election. The members of the Executive Board will determine the exact method of balloting.
3. Notice of Election Results
- Each candidate will be contacted with the results by a phone call or email from a member of the Executive Board once the results have been determined. Notice of election results will be e-mailed to GBSA members once all of the candidates have been notified of the results.
Once the newly elected Executive Board meets for the first time, they will elect one of the VP’s to serve as the EVP.
4. Policy of Disclosure
The election results will be kept at the Career and Student Life Center and will be available for review on request no later than 24 hours following the end of the voting period. All candidates have five days after the posting of the election results to ask for a vote re-count. If, after a recount, the Associate Director Student Life and Leadership Development and the GBSA VP of Communications decide that a re-vote is in order, GBSA members will then have the opportunity to cast another vote. The members of the Executive Board will determine the exact method of balloting.
C. Meetings
1. Executive Board Meeting
- The elected officers of the GBSA are responsible for meeting at least once a month in the normal academic calendar. This meeting will be closed to the Executive Board only.
- For the GBSA Executive Board meeting, at least two-thirds, plus one, of voting officers must be in attendance to establish quorum. If quorum is not reached, any significant voting matter must be postponed to a later date. Failure to meet for two consecutive months during Fall and Spring semester will allow the Associate Director Student Life and Leadership Development to call for the immediate dismissal of the entire Executive Board. The Associate Director will then organize a special election to replace these officers.
- The Executive Board meetings shall be structured and run as stipulated in the latest edition of the Robert’s Rules of Order. Each Executive Board VP will have a copy of these rules in their binder.
2. General Assembly Meetings
A General Assembly meeting must be held at least once each normal academic month, excluding exams and Orientation. The only time that an exception can be considered by the Executive Board is when both the First and Second Year classes are convening class meetings/retreats in the same month.
The GBSA General Assembly meetings are scheduled by the Executive Board and are open to any GBSA member. Any GBSA member, with written notice to the GBSA VP of Communication, may arrange an emergency meeting at least one week in advance of the desired meeting date.
D. Funding
- Budget - The GBSA Executive Board will receive an annual budget comprised of funds from Career and Student Life Center.
- The GBSA Executive Board is responsible for responding to budget requests and appeals for funding from GBSA-recognized clubs and officers in a timely and objective manner.
- All funding requests for the following academic year from GBSA recognized clubs must be submitted to the GBSA V.P. Student Organizations (Student Organization President’s Council Chair) by the last Friday in April. All funding requests from GBSA Executive Board officers must be submitted to the GBSA VP of Finance by the last Friday in April. The VP of Finance should work with the V.P Student Organizations to formulate the recommendations for club budgets. These two officers must then make their recommendations for all club and officer budgets to the Executive Board for review and approval before the start of the fall semester.
- If any GBSA-recognized club wishes to appeal to the funding decision, the presiding officer may submit an appeal to the V.P. Student Organizations in writing no later than two weeks after the budget is approved and announced to the Student Organization President’s Council. If any GBSA Executive Board officer wishes to appeal to the funding decision, that officer may submit an appeal to the VP of Finance in writing no later than two weeks after the budget is approved and announced to the GBSA Executive Board.
E. Accountability
1. Resignation
A GBSA officer may resign from the Executive Board should he/she decide to do so. A written notice must be submitted to the GBSA President two weeks before the effective resignation date. The remaining Executive Board members will then elect one of the existing board members to preside in the interim. Should the President resign, the Executive Vice President will then sit as interim President until a new President is elected.
2. Dismissal
Each officer of the Executive Board is expected to perform his/her duties as specified in the GBSA Constitution. Should students of GBSA agree that these duties have been neglected, the students have the right to form a petition to impeach the selected officer.
a. Petition
- The petition must be signed by at least 5% of the GBSA and submitted to the office of Career Services and Student Life. The Associate Director Student Life and Leadership Development will bring the petition to the next Executive Board meeting.
- Once the petition is brought before the Executive Board, an emergency General Assembly meeting will be scheduled within two weeks.
- At the emergency General Assembly meeting, attendance must be at least 10%, plus 1, of the GBSA, excluding Executive Board officers, to establish quorum. Both the officer and the opposition will be given the opportunity to present two speakers to present on their behalf. At the end of the presentation, a vote will be taken by closed ballot. GBSA Executive Board members are excluded from voting. The ballots will be given to the Associate Director Student Life and Leadership Development for verification and the result will be posted the following day.
b. Executive Board Action
- A petition signed by a majority of the Executive Board will trigger an Executive Board removal action. The petition must be delivered to the office of Career Services and Student Life. The Associate Director Student Life and Leadership Development will bring the petition to the next Executive Board meeting.
- At the next Executive Board meeting, an emergency Executive Board meeting will be called no later than two weeks after the meeting. The meeting must be publicized to give the GBSA.
- At the emergency Executive Board meeting, the Board member shall have a chance to speak and have the opportunity to allow other GBSA members to speak on his or her behalf.
- The Executive Board will then vote on the petition to dismiss. Two-thirds, plus one, of the remaining executive board members must vote to dismiss for the petition to be granted. The Associate Director Student Life and Leadership Development or an authorized representative must be in attendance to certify the results. Upon removal, the President may then appoint a replacement Vice-President from the second-year class (or first-year class if the dismissed member is a first-year representative) provided the appointee is approved by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board.
- If the President is removed from office under an Executive Board action, the remaining Executive Board will either assume together or elect an interim President by a two-thirds, plus 1. If there is an opening on the Executive Board after the new President has been elected, the new Vice-President will be voted in by a simple majority of the Executive Board.
3. Restrictions on Club Leadership and Participation in Special Events
While in the office as an elected GBSA Executive Board member, one cannot lead, chair, or be the main decision maker in any WSOM affiliated student club or flagship special event (i.e. International Fest, Casino Night, and the Weatherhead Business Symposium).
F. Student Events Not Club-Related
All students with ideas for new events (i.e. Casino Night, Weatherhead Business Symposium, International Fest) should present them to the Associate Director Student Life and Leadership Development and/or the Executive Board. It is their responsibility to ensure that the goals and motivation of the proposed event mesh with the vision statement of the Weatherhead School of Management, the current strategic objectives of the student body, and the annual student events calendar. A majority vote in support of the event is then required from the Executive Board before the Board can consider issues of financial, logistical and/or public relations support for the event as requested by its student-sponsors
II. Rules Pertaining to GBSA-Recognized Student Clubs
A. Objectives
The objective of GBSA student-organized clubs is to promote student activities outside of the traditional classroom environment for both social and academic purposes.
B. GBSA Recognized Student Clubs shall have the following benefits:
- The opportunity to reserve and use Weatherhead facilities, services, resources, and protections for meetings and events sponsored by the organization;
- The opportunity to be affiliated with the Weatherhead School of Management by name.
C. Membership of Clubs
All GBSA recognized clubs are required to be open to all active GBSA members.
D. Club Charter Induction
A club seeking designation as a GBSA recognized club shall send a written proposal to the GBSA Executive Board at least one week before an Executive Board meeting. At the meeting, the club organizers will present the objectives and purpose of the club to the Executive Board. The club objectives and membership status must meet the criteria of the Rules Pertaining to GBSA Student Clubs section as described below.
E. Requirements
1. Finance
All clubs who request money are required to have a budget and financial statements that can be presented to the GBSA Executive Board upon request.
2. By-Laws
Each club must have by-laws that clearly state the purpose and objectives of the organization. Clubs are required to submit to the GBSA V.P. Student Organizations any changes to their by-laws after such changes are approved.
3. Officers
Each club is required to have at least one officer responsible for club activities in the coming year. Elections for the club officer(s,) who will be responsible for running the club the following academic year, shall be held each spring. The spring elections shall be held after the Spring GBSA election. Clubs may also hold fall elections for 1st year and accelerated representatives.
4. Club Events
Each club is responsible for hosting one program open to all GBSA members each semester. These events can be social and/or educational (e.g. Business Casual). Two clubs may co- host this event jointly. Each club is responsible for submitting a proposed date. The proposal shall be given to the V.P. Student Organizations of the GBSA by the third Friday from the start of the semester. Each club that submits a proposed event will be given a budget at the beginning of the school year set aside by the GBSA for hosting these events. Any costs above the allocated funding will be covered by that student organization’s available funds.
F. Communications
1. Club Data Sheet
Each club is required to turn in a Club Data Sheet by the 2nd Friday of April with information regarding club membership, officer’s summer contact information and financial status and past year’s transactions.
2. Posting of Club Events and Meetings
All clubs must submit to the GBSA V.P. Student Organizations and CSLC, on an ongoing basis, a list of club-sponsored events and meeting dates in order to avoid conflicts between other school and club activities.
G. Revocation of Club Status
1. A club may lose its recognition as a GBSA-recognized club if it does any of the following:
- Neglects club finances and/or inappropriately uses club funds.
- Fails to submit a club data sheet or inform the GBSA V.P. Student Organizations of any changes in club statutes.
- Fails to hold at least two membership meetings for an entire semester.
2. Any club that has been inactive for an entire semester should have its GBSA funds folded back in to the general budget of the GBSA Executive Board for redistribution to other student activities. Any funds generated by the individual club itself shall remain in the club’s budget.
H. Reimbursement and Additional Expenses incurred by a student club
- In the event that a student organization/club or a member of the GBSA Executive Board seeks reimbursement for a student sponsored event, he or she must turn in all the receipts for the event/activity within 30 days, thus closing out all outstanding claims against GBSA/student clubs.
- While the GBSA Executive Board is fully committed to supporting the activities of the student clubs, any additional expenses incurred by the clubs that go above the budget set by the individual club require the approval of the GBSA Executive Board before such an event or activity takes place.
III. GBSA Committees
A. Standing Committees
- Social & Cultural Activities Committees: The V.P Social and Cultural Activities will oversee the following committees: Social and Community Service. Representatives will be appointed by the Executive Board. Such representatives will work in council with the V.P. Social and Cultural Activities and the 1st year Social and Cultural Activities Chairperson to coordinate activities, events, funds, etc. on behalf of the student body.
- Social Committee: Plans and organizes school social activities. Chaired by the GBSA VP of Social and Cultural Activities
- Community Service Committee: Plans and organizes community service projects. Chaired by the GBSA VP for Social and Cultural Activities
- Academic & Student Affairs Committees: The V.P Academic and Student Affairs will oversee the following committees: Evening Students, Accelerated Students, Joint Degree Students, SLMC and Alumni Networks. Representatives will be appointed either by the Executive Board. Such representatives will work in council with the V.P Academic and Student Affairs and the 1st year Academic and Student Affairs Chairperson to coordinate activities, events, funds, etc. on behalf of the student body.
- Student Learning Management Committee: Acts as intermediary between 1st Year MBA students, GBSA, and Weatherhead administration. Chaired by the V.P. Academic and Student Affairs and the 1st year Academic and Student Affairs Chairperson.
- By-Laws and Constitution Oversight Committee: Periodically reviews by-laws and constitution of GBSA, recommending necessary changes. Staffed by VP of Communications and President of GBSA Executive Board.
B. Ad Hoc Committee
The GBSA Executive Board shall establish and dissolve ad hoc committees with responsibilities consistent with the purposes of the GBSA.
IV. Student Organization President’s Council
A. Membership
The president or chair of each GBSA-recognized club is a member of the Student Organization President’s Council. The chair of Casino Night and the Social Committee Chair are also members of the Student Organization President’s Council.
B. Objective
The Student Organization President’s Council is a student-leader forum for the purpose of addressing issues relevant to student clubs. The members are conduits of information between the student clubs and the GBSA Executive Board. The Council will determine annual objectives that benefit all clubs and attempt to meet them. Meetings are to be organized and facilitated by the GBSA V.P. Student Organizations and should be convened at least once each month. (Refer to the GBSA Constitution for more information on the Student Organization President’s Council).
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