ARTICLE I. THE BLACK GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION 

What is BGSA?

The Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) consists of five elected executive members: Academic Coordinator, Community Liason, Public Relations Coordinator, Secretary and Social Programming Coordinator, arranged in an organizational culture that reflects various Africana values such as communalism and shared responsibility/accountability. The BGSA is concerned with promoting the welfare and concerns of the black graduate student/staff body and communicating with CGU faculty and administration on behalf of these graduate students and staff. We want to bring black graduate students and staff of the graduate school together to serve as a support system as well as a mentoring resource for the 5C’s.  We also will sponsor social and cultural events throughout the entire year to help improve the quality of life for black graduate students.

What is the purpose of BGSA?

BGSA will serve the purpose of three main goals: increasing efforts to improve access, to improve retention, and to supply financial support of traditionally underrepresented black students. This will lead to an impact of demographic, cultural and social changes on the CGU campus. More specifically, this includes changes in campus services, intergroup relations, curricular and pedagogical practices, and institutional and organizational policies and procedures.

ARTICLE II. EXECUTIVE BOARD: Duties and Powers of the Executive Board

A. Overseeing BSGA activities. 

B. Enforcing association policies, programs, and directives of the membership. 

C. Chairing and setting agenda for said meetings. 

D. Calling, with ample notice, special and regular meetings as deemed necessary. 

E. Generating new activities with officers. 

F. Delivering an address to the membership at the beginning of each quarter regarding state of BGSA and Black graduate issues. The delivery shall include visions, recommendations, and resolutions for the association. 

G. Requesting committee reports from all chairpersons. 

H. Overseeing financial transactions. 

I. Submitting proposals and resolutions. 

J. Submitting end of the year reports. 

Section 4: Duties and powers of the Secretary shall include: 

Finance

A. Maintaining a current and detailed record of the fiscal condition and financial transactions of BGSA, including, revenues, obligations, and expenditures. 

B. Submitting financial and quarterly reports at each meeting and maintaining these reports in BGSA Master File. 

C. Bringing to the attention of the Executive Board discrepancies, improprieties and inefficiencies in the fiscal policies and operations of the BGSA. 

D. Coordinating all proposals for event-funding that need to be submitted to the CGU Black Graduate Student Association and other potential funders.

E. Co-Organizing all fund raising events. 

F. Co-signing with the selected member and/or advisor of the BGSA on purchases or other expenditures including deposits and withdrawals. 

G. Working actively with other committees and BGSA members.
 

Historian

A. Serving as recording Scribe to the BGSA and the Executive Board. 

B. Maintaining roll sign-in sheets for meetings including the active and non-active status of members. 

C. Recording, reproducing, and distributing minutes of executive meetings, general meetings and special meetings. (includes posting meeting minutes to the BGSA listserv.) 

F. Providing current versions of the Constitution. 

G. Notifying members of meetings and distribution of agenda prior to meetings. 

H. Providing and maintaining updated files of history of BSGA at CGU. 

I. Working actively with other committees and BGSA members.

Section 5: Duties and Powers of the Public Relations Coordinator shall include:

A. Producing and distributing general outreach information such as flyers, emails, brochures and newsletters. 

B. Producing and distributing special event information such as flyers, emails and posters.

C. Working actively with other committees and BGSA members. 

Section 6: Duties and Powers of the Social Programming Coordinator shall include:

A. Coordinating at least four to six social events per year. Three each semester, including two social dinners, one First-year grad student welcome activity/beginning of the year welcome, one end of the year activity/reception and one planning retreat.

B. Working with other BGSA participants to accomplish duties and goals. 

C. Coordinate media coverage and promotion. 

D. Working actively with other committees and BGSA members. 

Section 7: Duties and Powers of the Academic Coordinator shall include:

A. Serving as a contact person for graduate student academic, institutional and departmental concerns.

B. Co-Coordinating the Preparing Future Faculty Program with IDBS. 

C. Coordinating 2 interdisciplinary research colloquiums per year. 

D. Coordinating 2-4 academic workshops per year (such as qualifying exam workshops, speakers etc). 

E. Keep updated database of Scholarships, Internships and potential employment. 

F. Working actively with other committees and BGSA members.

Section 8: Duties and Powers of the Community Liaison shall include:

A. Serving as a contact person for members of the community, media for any current activity in BGSA.

B. Developing and maintaining positive relationships with the 7-college community and encourage collaborative efforts.

C. Working actively with other committees and BGSA members. 

D. Developing and maintaining relationship with the National BGSA. 

E. Developing and maintaining relationships with local businesses and non-profit organizations.

ARTICLE III: BGSA Advisor 

Section 1:  The Advisor must be a faculty or staff member of the Claremont Colleges, dedicated to the support of Pan-African participation and ultimate success in higher education. 

Section 2: The Advisor must be recommended by the Black Faculty, Staff, and students on campus, and approved by the Executive Board and BGSA membership. 

Section 3: The Advisor must attend all Executive Committee meetings (monthly) and, if deemed necessary, attend general and special meetings. 

Section 4: The Advisor shall provide guidance, assistance and recommendations to the BGSA officers and members. 

Section 5: The Advisor shall support a growing network of diverse research topics. 

Section 6: The Advisor shall play a significant part in Preparing Future Faculty and Professionals. 

Section 7: The Advisor should be willing to fulfill a one-year term. 

ARTICLE III: BGSA ADVISOR 

Section 1: 
The Advisor must be a faculty or staff member of the Claremont Colleges, dedicated to the support of Pan-African participation and ultimate success in higher education. 

Section 2:
The Advisor must be recommended by the Black Faculty, Staff, and students on campus, and approved by the Executive Board and BGSA membership. 

Section 3:
The Advisor must attend all Executive Committee meetings (monthly) and, if deemed necessary, attend general and special meetings. 

Section 4:
The Advisor shall provide guidance, assistance and recommendations to the BGSA officers and members. 

Section 5:
The Advisor shall support a growing network of diverse research topics. 

Section 6:
The Advisor shall play a significant part in Preparing Future Faculty and Professionals. 

Section 7:
The Advisor should be willing to fulfill a one-year term. 

ARTICLE IV: ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE; CONFLICT OF INTEREST 

Section 1:
All Executive Board Members must be enrolled graduate, professional students at CGU. Graduate or Professional students on a one-year hiatus may also be eligible under approval of majority vote. 

Section 2: 
Candidates for any position established by this Constitution are also required to meet any additional eligibility requirements contained in other Articles of this constitution. 

ARTICLE V. VACANCIES AND REMOVAL 

Section 1: 
Vacancies occur immediately in offices or positions established herein by: 

A. Resignation. 

B. Removal from office. 

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS

Section 1:
Any member may propose Amendments to this Constitution. 

Section 2: 
Amendments shall be adopted upon two-thirds vote of the full active membership. 

Section 3: 
Any Amendment to this Constitution shall take effect upon the date specified by the Membership at the time the Amendment is ratified. 

ARTICLE VII. RATIFICATION 

Section 1:
This document will take immediate effect upon ratification by simple majority vote of all the Black graduate students voting. 

Section 2:
Times, places, and procedure for a general referendum of issues concerning Black graduate students will be established by the Executive Board.

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