SGSL Constitution

The name of the organization shall be the University of Cincinnati Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum.

The purpose of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum is to act as an organization in which graduate students can express ideas, complaints and achievements with peers while allowing for an open and non-constrained environment. Information to and from the sociological faculty is made available and discussed. The Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum allows the opportunity for graduate students to present research in an informal atmosphere creating additional questions and trains of thought.

• 3.1 There shall be three classes of members; voting, non-voting, and honorary.
• 3.2 Voting membership shall be open to any full- or part-time graduate student presently attending the College of Arts and Sciences program in Sociology.
• 3.3 Non-voting membership shall be open to any student, and any member of the University faculty or administrative staff.
• 3.4 Honorary membership shall be open to any person desiring such members elected to such membership by a majority of the voting members.
• 3.5 There shall be no limit on the size of the membership of this Graduate Student Organization, provided, however, that the number of the non-voting and honorary members together, shall not exceed the number of voting members.

• 4.1 The officers of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum shall be a President (and/or Co-Presidents), Vice-President (and/or Vice-Presidents), Secretary (as deemed necessary by The Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum's voting members), and Treasurer.
• 4.2 Each officer shall be a voting member and a matriculating graduate student achieving and maintaining a 2.00 grade point average per semester and in good standing with the College of Arts and Sciences.
• 4.3 All officers serve for a term of one year or until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.
• 4.4 Any officer who, during the term of her/his office, ceases to be a voting member, or fails to maintain her/his status as a matriculating graduate student maintaining a 2.00 GPA per semester, in good academic and disciplinary standing with their respecting college, shall be removed from her/his office and a replacement shall be elected thereto.

• 5.1 Regular meetings of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum shall be held a minimum of three times per semester, the time for such meetings shall be determined by the Executive Board, with the approval of the voting members.
• 5.2 Special meetings of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum may be called at any time by the Executive Board upon 48 hours notice to each member or by a petition of a majority of the membership, submitted 72 hours before the scheduled meeting.

The Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum shall have a University Advisor who shall be a full-time member of the College of Arts and Sciences or the Department of Sociology faculty, staff, or administration.

• 7.1 Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any member and shall be voted upon at the next meeting of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum following notice of such proposed amendment to the voting members, such notice shall be given within one week of the time any such amendment is proposed.
• 7.2 Amendments to this Constitution shall be the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all voting members and with the approval of the appropriate governing board.

Ratification by two-thirds of the charter members of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum shall be sufficient to establish this Constitution between said members so ratifying and with the approval of the appropriate governing board.

• 1(1) The President (and/or Co-Presidents) shall be the Executive Officer(s) of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and shall preside over all meetings of the Graduate Student Organization and the Executive Board.
• 1(2) The Vice-President (and/or Vice-Presidents), in the absence of the President (and/or Co-Presidents), shall preside over all meetings of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and the Executive Board. *The Vice-President (and/or vice- Presidents) shall keep the records of the membership and the minutes of the meetings of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and the Executive Board. She/He shall make a report at the annual meeting of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and at such time as the President (and/or Co-Presidents) or the Executive Board may direct.* *The Vice-President (and/or Vice-Presidents) shall take over these duties, which are the responsibilities of the Secretary, if a Secretary is not in office. The voting members of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum may determine that a position of Secretary is not deemed necessary for that voting year, in which the position will be filled by the Vice-President (and/or Vice- Presidents).
• 1(3) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all funds paid to the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and shall deposit them in the official depository and shall disburse them on order of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum. She/He shall co-sign all checks with the University Advisor in payment of bill. She/He shall keep the account and books, which at all times must be open to inspection by the President (and/or Co-Presidents), Executive Board, and any authorized auditor. She/He shall make reports at the meetings every semester of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and at other times as the President (and/or Co-Presidents) or Executive Board may direct.
• 1(4) The Secretary shall keep the records of the membership and the minutes of the meetings of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and the Executive Board. She/He shall make a report at the annual meeting of The Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and at such time as the Present (and/or Co-Presidents) or the Executive Board may direct. (*This position may not be filled if the voting members of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum do not elect a person for this position or deem the position not necessary. The duties of the Secretary would then be fulfilled by the Vice- President (and/or Vice-Presidents)).

• 2(1) Elections will be held in the month of May.
• 2(2) All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of those persons casting ballots.
• 2(3) Officers will assume duties at the first regular meeting of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum in October.

• 3(1) The Executive Board shall be composed of the elected officers of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and the University Advisor.
• 3(2) The Executive Board shall determine the policies and the activities of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and have general management of the Organization.
• 3(3) The Executive Board shall meet at the call of the President (and/or Co-Presidents).

• 4(1) The University Advisor shall consult with the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and ensure that the activities of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum are consistent with the stated purposes of the Organization.
• 4(2) The University Advisor shall grant approval for all off campus activities in which students formally represent the organization, such as conferences, meetings, etc.
• 4(3) When the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum sponsor programs which use off campus speakers, it is the obligation of the University Advisor to be present at the program.

• 5(1) Special committees may be appointed by the President (and/or Co-Presidents) or by the faculty of the Department of Sociology for such purposes and periods of time as the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum may authorize.

• 6(1) Meetings shall be held at such places as determined by the President (and/or Co-Presidents) or the majority of the voting members of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum.
• 6(2) The meetings every semester of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum shall be given at least five days notice of the place of the meetings every semester.
• 6(3) At all meetings, a quorum shall be b-10 of the voting members of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum. A quorum is necessary for the organization to conduct official business.
• 6(4) All matters coming before the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum which require the approval of the membership, and the election of officers, shall be carried by the majority vote of the voting members present, providing that a quorum is present, except for business specified in the Constitution or By-law which requires a specific number, i.e. ratification, etc.

• 7(1) The annual dues shall be decided by the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum.
• 7(2) Revenue from sources other than those defined in this section may be raised as determined by the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and the University Advisor, along with the approval of the appropriate University Offices.
• 7(3) The disbursement of said revenue shall be determined by the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and in accordance with University policies.
• 7(4) The Treasurer shall be responsible for the accountability of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum monies, and shall report to the Organization.

• 8(1) Any member charged with conduct not in accord with the purposes of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum and against whom such charged are sustained after due and proper hearing processes before the Executive Board, may be expelled from membership by a two-thirds vote of the entire Executive Board.

• 9(1) Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these by-laws.

• 10(1) Amendments to these By-laws may be proposed by any member and shall be voted upon at the next meeting of the Sociology Graduate Student Lyceum following notice of such proposed amendment to the voting members. Such notice shall be given within one week of the time any such amendment is proposed. * This Constitution was adapted from the Constitution of the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health Graduate Student Organization (1999).

Lyceum Constitution & By-Laws