Program Board's Consitution
The GW Program Board Constitution
ARTICLE I APPELLATION
The below constituted body shall be known as The George
Washington University Program Board, hereafter referred to as the Program
Board.
ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The George Washington University Program Board shall work
with students, faculty, staff, and alumni in developing and implementing a
broad cultural, intellectual, social, public service and recreational program
for the University community.
ARTICLE III DUTIES
A. The Program Board shall be responsible for carrying out
programs as defined under Article II subject to University regulations,
including the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and under
authority delegated by the Vice President of Student & Academic Support
Services.
B. The specific nature of the Program Board's duties shall
be:
1. To work with the Marvin Center and Student Activities
Center staff, and the University community in the planning and execution of
programs, as defined in Article II;
2. To establish a committee structure which will assist in
the day-to-day programming of activities;
3. To work with other organizations in University-wide
programming, subject to policies governing co-sponsorship;
4. To survey, on a regular basis, campus programming needs;
5. To administer a budget approved by the Vice President of
Student and Academic Support Services;
6. To serve The George Washington University students on a
non-partisan basis;
7. To do everything necessary and proper to implement
purposes and duties of the Program Board.
ARTICLE IV MEMBERS
A. The elected Executive Members (students) of the Program Board shall be:
1. Chairperson;
2. Vice-Chairperson;
B. The appointed Executive Members (students) of shall be:
1. Secretary;
2. Treasurer;
3. Advertising Chairperson;
4. Arts Chairperson;
5. Concerts Chairperson;
6. Corporate Relations Chairperson;
7. Cultural Affairs Chairperson;
8. Films Chairperson;
9. Graduate Affairs Chairperson;
10. Parties Chairperson;
11. Political Affairs Chairperson;
12. Information Technologies Chairperson;
13. Community Service Chairperson.
At the discretion of the selected Committee Chairperson, and
with the approval of a majority vote of the Board, co-chairpersons may be
appointed. Co-chairpersons shall
share one vote.
C. The Executive Committee shall be composed of:
1. The elected Executive Members;
2. The appointed Executive Members.
ARTICLE V ELECTION AND SELECTION OF MEMBERS
A. Only students who have previously served on the Executive
Committee of the Program Board are eligible to be elected to the position of
Chairperson. All elections shall be won by a plurality.
B. Discrepancies with the Joint Elections Committee shall be
heard by an appropriate body of the University Judicial System of The George
Washington University. In instances where the Joint Elections Committee rules
are inconsistent with this Constitution, The George Washington University
Program Board Constitution supersedes any other rules and regulations.
C. The representatives to the Joint Elections Committee
shall be nominated by the Program Board Chairperson and confirmed by two-thirds
of the Executive Board. A Joint
Elections Committee member cannot:
1. Be a current Executive Board member;
2. Be a candidate for any elected Program Board position;
3. Apply for an appointed Executive Board position within
the same year.
D. The appointed Executive Committee Members of the Program
Board shall be appointed by a Selections Committee of the Program Board
composed of:
1. Chairperson-elect (casts two votes) and
Vice-Chairperson-elect (casts one and one-half votes);
2. Current Chairperson (casts one vote) and Current Vice-Chairperson
(casts one vote);
3. Program Board advisor (non-voting);
4. Current Chairperson of the particular committee (casts
one and one-half votes), except in the case that the person is running for
re-appointment; in the case of
Treasurer and Secretary this vote
shall be excluded;
5. Current Secretary (casts one vote);
6. Current Treasurer (casts one vote);
7. In the event the current Chairperson is elected or runs
for a Program Board appointed position, that position on the Selection
Committee will be excluded;
8. In the event that one person is able to vote from more
than one position as a result of re-election or election to a new position,
that person shall only vote from the new position.
9. In accordance with Article VI, Section A of this Constitution,
the current Chairperson shall break all ties.
ARTICLE VI DUTIES OF THE CURRENT MEMBERS
A. The Chairperson shall:
1. Preside at all meetings of the Program Board;
2. Serve as Chairperson for the Executive Committee;
3. Oversee all Program Board Committees;
4. Fill all vacancies after initial open-University
petitioning that occur on the Program Board, subject to a two-thirds approval
by the Executive Committee;
5. Establish committees as deemed appropriate by the
Executive Committee;
6. Vote to make or break a tie;
7. Serve as a liaison between the Program Board and other
student organizations and the administration.
B. The Vice-Chairperson shall:
1. Assume the office of Chairperson in the event of
resignation or permanent incapacity of that officer;
2. Preside at all meetings of the Program Board in the
absence of the Chair;
3. Arrange and coordinate all publicity for the Program
Board, including but not limited to, press releases and radio announcements;
4. Communicate to the University the overall activities of
the Program Board;
5. Establish and maintain channels of communication among
the Program Board and also with students, staff, faculty, administration, and
alumni;
6. Oversees all special projects involving more than three committees;
7. Coordinate membership activities including, but not
limited to:
a. General Membership Meetings
every semester
i. In common areas of the University such as the
Marvin Center and Freshman
dormitories
b. Membership activities that
are committee specific, planned in conjunction with the committee chair
c. Brainstorm and implement
incentive programs for member recruitment and retention
d. Actively meet with
potential members and help them find appropriate committee(s)
8. Arrange intra- and inter-organizational activities for
the Program Board.
C. The Secretary shall:
1. Maintain and distribute (to all Program Board Executive
Committee members before the next meeting of the Program Board) official
minutes and scheduling reservations of the Program Board and such files and records as the
Program Board shall direct;
2. Serve as office manager in charge of general office
maintenance;
3. Fill work-study positions as necessary.
D. The Treasurer shall:
1. Advise committees as to the status of expenditures and
receipts;
2. Ensure that adequate financial records are kept and
provide for sound financial procedures;
3. Serve as liaison to the Fiscal Affairs staff on all
matters pertaining to Program Board finances and fiscal policy.
E. The Advertising Committee Chairperson shall:
1. Assume responsibility for composition of Program Board
advertisements, as requested;
2. Assume responsibility for maintenance and replenishment
of advertising supplies.
F. The Arts Committee Chairperson shall:
1. Arrange and coordinate all arts programming, including
but not limited to dance, drama, comedy, photography, and literature.
G. The Concerts Committee Chairperson shall:
1. Arrange and coordinate all concerts and concert-related
activities.
H. The Corporate Relations Committee Chairperson shall:
1. Work with local and national corporations in order to
obtain complimentary or discounted items or financial support as needed.
I. The Films Committee Chairperson shall:
1. Develop and arrange a schedule of films on a semester
basis;
2. Arrange and coordinate special film showings.
J. The Graduate Affairs Committee Chairperson shall:
1. Coordinate events and activities for the graduate
population on campus;
2. Help to inform graduate students of Program Board
activities.
K. The Cultural Affairs Committee Chairperson shall:
1. Arrange and coordinate programs to facilitate
international cultural interaction;
2. Stimulate awareness of international students needs;
3. Provide a channel for international cultural programming.
L. The Special Events Committee Chairperson shall:
1. Arrange and coordinate festivals and parties, including
but not limited to, those held outdoors or in the Marvin Center.
M. The Political Affairs Committee Chairperson shall:
1. Coordinate speakers, panels, and debates on political
topics on a non-partisan basis;
2. Work with campus organizations to sponsor political
programs;
3. Stimulate campus interest and activity in political
matters.
N. The Information Technologies Chairperson shall:
1. Construct, modify, upgrade, and maintain the Program
Board web site;
2. Evaluate, maintain, and upgrade the computers and other
high-technology equipment within the Program Board office as necessary;
3. Conduct web "cyber programs" including
interactive chat forums with celebrities, polls and surveys, and other
innovative programs of this nature;
4. Provide technical assistance in programming matters to
the University community as requested.
O. The Program Board and Mount Vernon Programming Council
Liaison Shall:
1. Facilitate communication between Program Board and MVPC;
2. Coordinate at least one event per year where members of
each Executive Board can meet each other.
P. The Community Service Chair Shall:
1. Arrange and coordinate programs to facilitate community
service programs;
2. Stimulate awareness of community service needs;
3. Provide a channel for community service programming.
ARTICLE VII MEETINGS
A. The Program Board shall meet at least semi-monthly during
the academic year. Special meetings shall be called by the Chairperson or at
the request of three Committee Chairpersons with a least forty-eight (48) hours notice to the Executive Committee. The meetings shall
be publicized and open to the University Community.
B. The Executive Committee shall meet in a closed session at
least once monthly during the academic year.
C. A quorum for all meetings shall be one-half plus one of
the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII PARLIAMENTARY CONDUCT
The meetings of the Program Board shall be conducted in a
manner deemed appropriate by the Chairperson. The Executive Committee, by a
two-thirds majority, may invoke Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised where
those rules are not in conflict with these Articles.
ARTICLE IX REMOVAL OR CENSURE OF MEMBERS
A. All procedure for removal or censure of members of the
Executive Committee will be in accordance with the fundamental principles of
due process as noted in the "Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities."
B. The Program Board, by a three-fourths vote of the
Executive Committee, may censure any appointed member of the Executive
Committee with cause.
C. The Program Board, by a three-fourths vote of the
Executive Committee, may remove from office any appointed member of the
Executive Committee with cause.
D. Procedures for removal of an elected member from office
are predicated on a petition in support of that removal containing a quantity
of names not less that a majority number of votes cast for that elected member.
If a petition is so presented, the Program Board, by a three-fourths vote of
the Executive Committee, may remove from office the elected member with cause.
E. Any Executive Committee member who has been censured or
removed from office may direct an appeal of this action to the Vice President
of Student & Academic Support Services, who may, at their discretion,
request an appropriate body of the
University Judicial System conduct a finding of fact.
ARTICLE X COMMITTEE OF CO-SPONSORSHIPS
Negotiations of co-sponsorships with other student
organizations shall take place between a representative of the other
organization and the Committee Chairperson under whom the proposed activity
shall fall. Final approval of co-sponsorships rests with the Executive
Committee. Rules of co-sponsorship shall be set by a general policy statement
from the Executive Vice-Chair. Financial arrangements and duties will be
settled upon by the Executive Committee and a representative of the
co-sponsorship organization.
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these Articles shall be subject to the
approval of two-thirds vote of the Program Board Executive Members present and
the approval of the Vice President of Student & Academic Support Services.
The vote shall take place one week after notification to the Program Board by
the Chairperson.
ARTICLE XII ENABLING CLAUSE
This Constitution of the Program Board shall take effect
immediately upon final approval of the Program Board by a two-thirds vote of
the members present, and upon final approval of the President of the
University. This Constitution, upon final approval, supersedes any previous
Constitutions of the said body.
ARTICLE XIII NON-DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE
Program Board will not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, religion,
disability, age, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.
ARTICLE XIV UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Program Board will abide by University policies at The
George Washington University.
ARTICLE XV MEMBERSHIP
Only registered GW students are considered members of the
Program Board; all others (friends, family, faculty, staff) are considered
guests. Guests are welcome to attend events, but they cannot hold officer positions
or handle money on behalf of Program Board.
Last Updated: 11 September 2009.
A .pdf version of the PB Constitution is available
here.