OGSA Constitution

Rutgers University

Oceanography Graduate Student Association

Created May 3, 2002

DEFINITIONS

OGSA – Oceanography Graduate Student Association

DMCS – Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences

GPO – Graduate Program in Oceanography

MOOP – Masters of Operational Oceanography Program

GSA – Rutgers University Graduate Student Association

“Faculty” – a faculty member of GPO in DMCS

 

ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE

SECTION A.              This organization shall be known as Oceanography Graduate

Student Association (OGSA).

SECTION B.               The purpose of this organization shall be to further the social,

cultural, academic and research interests osf the students in the

graduate program in Oceanography and to act as an intermediary between the graduate students and the faculty in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (DMCS).

SECTION C.              The Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University (DMCS) stands in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and the LBGTQ+ community. Recent social movements have illuminated our internal shortcomings in addressing and overcoming the systemic racism that plagues our society. Our department and the field of Marine Sciences suffer from a lack of diversity that does not reflect our surrounding community, nor our nation. We must act now to promote inclusion rather than being complicit by way of inaction. We will strive to create an inclusive environment free from discrimination and harassment, so that all members of our community feel welcomed and able to thrive. We recognize that this mission requires a long-term sustained commitment, and that we ourselves must change for it to be successful. We look forward to both small and large steps towards this brighter future.

 

We aim to make DMCS a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, as defined by the Rutgers University department of Diversity, Inclusivity, and Community Engagement:

• Diversity refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, age, religion, language, disability status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and more.
• Equity refers to actively working to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented full participation across differences in culture and circumstance, specifically redressing the exclusion of historically underrepresented groups in higher education. Attention to equity involves ensuring access, opportunity, and advancement for all students, faculty, and staff in every stage of education and career development.
• Inclusion refers to the act of creating environments in which individuals and groups feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued by eliminating practices and behaviors that marginalize. An inclusive climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions so that all people can fully participate in the University’s opportunities.

SECTION D.              This organization shall be in full compliance with all pertinent

University Regulations and any other rules, regulations, and policies of Rutgers University.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

SECTION A.              All currently enrolled students in the Graduate Program in Oceanography (GPO) and Masters of Operational Oceanography Program (MOOP) shall be voting members of this organization.

SECTION B.              Any graduate student enrolled at Rutgers University may be a non-voting member.

SECTION C.              Graduate students who are not currently enrolled in GPO or MOOP can achieve membership by emailing the current president who will then add them to our mailing list.

SECTION D.              All active members must join the OGSA Get Involved page.

ARTICLE IX – FACULTY ADVISOR

SECTION A.              A member of the faculty of GPO shall serve as the advisor to the organization and shall be approved for the following year during the annual election meeting.

ARTCILE III – MEETINGS

SECTION A.              At least one regular meeting shall be held each Fall and Spring

semester

SECTION B.              Prior to the beginning of each semester, regular monthly meeting dates, times and location(s) will be determined for that semester by the Elected Officers.

SECTION C.              Special meetings shall be called by the President upon written request of members of the organization or at their own accord.

SECTION D.              A quorum for all regular and special meetings shall consist of

members present.

SECTION E.               Any situation not provided for in this constitution shall be decided according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.

SECTION F.               Monthly meetings shall be “Open General Gatherings” as defined by the Rutgers Graduate Student Association (GSA), meaning any graduate student who wishes to attend is welcome. To encourage unity across the graduate student population and to recognize the value in diversity of opinions and backgrounds, this is open to any graduate student. Funds may be used for this type of gathering if in accordance with the GSA Funding Policies.

SECTION G.              Executive meetings will be arranged by the current officers to their discretion. No GSA funds nor GSA funded equipment may be used for these meetings.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

SECTION A.              The elected officers of the Oceanography Graduate Student

Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and

a Treasurer.

SECTION B.              All officers shall serve without salary or financial remuneration.

SECTION C.              Officers are expected to serve for the duration of an academic year.

Clause 1.         No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same position.

Clause 2.         A partial term shall be considered a full term if it is longer than 1/2 the length of a normal term.

Clause 3.         No individual shall hold more than one elected position in the organization concurrently.

SECTION D.              The duties of the officers shall be the following:

1. President
   1. Preside at all meetings of the organization.
   2. Call special meetings when requested under Article III, Section C.
   3. Serve as a graduate student representative of the graduate programs by:
      1. Accurately represent the experience of the organization’s members to the faculty of DMCS
      2. Attending all appropriate meetings as a representative of the graduate program to the faculty
   4. Informing members of issues and of proceedings of faculty/departmental meetings
   5. Submit necessary forms for Rutgers Day
   6. Perform other such duties as customarily pertain to this office.
2. Vice President
   1. Be an aide to the President
   2. In the case of the absence of the President, Vice President will assume and perform the duties of the President
   3. Act as the liaison to the Undergraduate Oceanography Club
   4. Ensure this constitution is up-to-date and accurate to the organization at the end of the Spring term.

• Secretary
  1. Keep the record of the proceedings of all meetings.
  2. Conduct the correspondence of the organization.
  3. Maintain email listing and website (Get Involved) for the organization.
  4. Coordinate event operations.

1. Treasurer
   1. Maintain the financial records of the organization.
   2. Be responsible for receiving all revenue of the organization.
   3. Pay all authorized bills for the organization.
   4. Render and account at each meeting, or more often if requested, of all receipts and expenditures.
   5. Submit, at the last regular meeting of the Spring term, a written, detailed annual report of the income and expenditures of the organization.
   6. Arranging reimbursement for food and beverage for the Oceanography Graduate Student Association events.

SECTION D.              All officers shall:

1. Share the responsibility of representing the organization at meetings of the Rutgers University Graduate Student Association
2. Share the responsibility in the annual Graduate Student Organization Recognition process by the GSA in the Fall Semester
3. Attend at least three-fourths of the regular meetings each term, unless having prior approval of one Officer

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

SECTION A.              Special Committees may be established by the President or by a

vote of the organization and shall report to the organization.

SECTION B.              OGSA shall maintain representation on the Department of Marine and Coastal Science Seminar Committee and Diversity Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.) Committee.

SECTION C.              List of Committees and Responsibilities as follows:

1. The Seminar Committee – The committee has five (5) graduate student members and one (1) faculty member. The committee is responsible for coordinating and hosting weekly department-wide seminars with guests of many disciplines. The Seminar Committee may decide internally to appoint some committee members to host the annual Distinguished Speaker Seminar or divide this task amongst themselves.
   1. Additional details regarding The Seminar Committee operations can be found in “DMCS Seminar Guiding Document.”
2. The D.E.I Committee – This committee is external to the organization.

• Rutgers Day Committee – Advised and run by the President. The committee oversees planning, coordinating, and assisting with all Rutgers Day events. The President is responsible for submitting necessary paperwork for Rutgers Day and may alter the event schedule with the approval of other Officers. Each event has their own Standard Operating Procedure. Organization Members will be asked to volunteer for set shifts during the day. Rutgers Day Events historically been as follows:
  1. Touch-Tank
  2. Marine Technology Display
  3. Mini-glider ballasting activity
  4. Sediment Core
  5. Density Tank

SECTION C.              Committee members will be appointed at officer election meetings and serve for one full year.

ARTICLE VI – ELECTIONS, OFFICER REMOVAL AND VACANCIES

SECTION A.              Officers shall be elected by a majority of the legal votes cast by the

members of the organization

SECTION B.              A call for candidates must be announced at the second to last meeting of the Spring Semester or earlier and via email.

SECTION C.               All candidates for an office must:

1. Be members of the organization
2. Intend to be members of the organization for the length the academic year.
3. Not have served as an officer for more than two consecutive terms in the position they are running for.
   1. A partial term shall be considered a full term if it is longer than 1/2 the length of a normal term.
4. Not hold more than one elected position in the organization concurrently.

SECTION D.              Elected Officers shall lose their position should they:

1. Cease to be a member of the organization.
2. Fail to attend at least three-fourths of the regular meetings each term without approval of one Officer.
3. Be removed by unanimous vote of all other Officers for failure to perform their duties.

SECTION C.              If any elective office shall become vacant, the President shall order at the earliest date a special meeting of the organization for the purpose of filling such position; The requirements outlined in Article VI, Sections C shall still hold; The member thus elected shall immediately enter upon his/her duties and shall remain in office until the next regular election.

ARTICLE VIII –  AMENDMENTS

SECTION A.              The proposed amendment must be submitted to the Secretary in

writing by no fewer than 20% members of the organization.

SECTION B.              The proposed amendment shall be discussed at the next regular

meeting after the meeting at which it was submitted, provided that

all members of the organization have been previously informed of

its content.

SECTION C.              20% of the legal votes cast shall be required to pass

the amendment.

 

APPENDIX – CURRENT OFFICERS

 

Name	Email	NetID	Officer Position
Alaimo, Samantha	alaimo@marine.rutgers.edu	sna98	President
Jong, Bor-jiun	bor-jiun.jong@marine.rutgers.edu	bj309	Vice President
Horwitz, Becca	bhorwitz@marine.rutgers.edu	bh535	Treasurer
Gonzalez, Logan	logan.gonzalez@marine.rutgers.edu	lmg336	Secretary