Constitution

The mission of the CGC is to foster increased interaction between the different graduate schools affiliated with Columbia University, both on Morningside campus and the uptown medical campus.

1. CGC shall provide a forum for the elected representatives from any school affiliated with Columbia University to discuss and organize events in collaboration.  Said events will seek to enrich the experience of all graduate students across Columbia University in the pursuit of social, academic, and career oriented goals.

2. CGC recognizes the obligation to:

a. Foster dialogue and communication among Columbia’s individual schools,
b. Work toward meeting the needs of students with common interests not organized into formal groups, and c. Provide an opportunity for graduate schools to collaborate and combine skill sets in order to cultivate accelerated academic and social environments.

1. The composition of CGC will consist of a. at least, but not limited to one graduate student to serve as representatives from any of the schools in the Columbia University System willing to participate1 (including but not limited to BUS – CC – GS – GSAPP – GSAS – LAW – PH – P&S – SEAS Graduate – SIPA – SoA – SoD – SoJ – SoN – SPS – SSW – TC – UTS).

2. Delegate Selection.

a. Student General Body:  Will be appointed by their respective schools’ student government, dependent upon their internal procedures2. b. Administrative Advisors: Will serve on a voluntary basis.  Persons to serve as administrative advisors will serve as non-voting advisors to the CGC.

3. Terms of Office: Students. a. Duration: Student delegates shall hold their positions for a minimum of 1 academic year. Participating students enrolled in programs extending beyond 1 academic year are encouraged to serve a 2-year term to promote continuity.
b. Each school is responsible for conducting appointments and selecting delegate terms that best suits their program.2

4. Terms of Office: Administrative Advisors
. a. Duration: Administrators shall hold their positions indefinitely, pending their voluntary participation.

1)To date CGC consists of representatives from GSAS, PH, SEAS, SIPA, SoD, SoN, SSW, and TC, but the inclusion of more, and eventually all schools is the ultimate goal. b.  At least two administrative personnel serving in an advisory capacity, from any of the participating schools for a given year.

2)In the past some schools have included CGC participation in the responsibilities of their Interschool Chair, while others specifically select a delegate for CGC.  We will not seek to standardize the selection process as long as a delegate can be provided that remains in good standing, in order to maintain that school’s participation in CGC.

1. All CGC Delegates (and by extension the schools they represent):

a. Are considered in good standing if s/he has fulfilled all of the duties of a CGC delegate outlined below:

I. All delegates should strive to attend every CGC meeting.  At least one delegate from each school must have attended at least two of the past four CGC meetings, including the present meeting at which voting is taking place. II. Each delegate shall serve on one CGC committee and should strive to attend any separate meetings of the committee on which one serves.

b. Only delegates in good standing receive voting privileges. 


c. Good standing may be granted to any delegate by a 2/3 majority vote of the CGC body in good standing.

2. CGC Executive Board: 
a. Elections: An Executive Board consisting of a Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected from among the student delegates before Spring Break each spring semester.  Their term begins on the first day of classes after Spring Break. No later than the end of the spring semester, Committee Chairs will be elected for the different responsibilities of event planning: Event Logistics, Promotions, Volunteering, Entertainment, and Food & Drink.  b. Eligible Candidates: CGC delegates in good standing will be eligible to run for any position. c. Eligible Voters: All CGC delegates in good standing. d. Chair: Shall officially call and preside over each meeting, and serve as the primary spokesperson to Administrators and Columbia University. Secretary: Shall preside over any CGC meeting the Chair is unable to attend.  Shall take minutes of general CGC meetings and make them available as soon as possible to all CGC delegates in electronic form. Responsible for maintaining the organization of electronic materials on the CGC shared file system.  f. Treasurer: Responsible for maintaining the total funds available for allocation to an event and keeping an up to date budget. The Treasurer will keep other CGC delegates informed of detailed information regarding these funds and the proper procedures for generating contracts and invoices by which the funds will be spent on resources for the event in collaboration with the financing school’s administrator.

1. All elected or appointed delegates of CGC may be expelled for failing to fulfill the responsibilities set forth in Article III of the CGC Constitution. 2. Any CGC delegate in good standing may propose expulsion of another delegate directly to the acting CGC Chair. The proposing delegate must provide a list of reasons warranting expulsion. In the event that the Chair is to be expelled or has a conflict of interest, the proposal shall be directed to the Secretary.  The origin of the proposal is to remain anonymous.
3. The delegate in question shall be notified at least one week before the vote for expulsion takes place. The Chair must provide the delegate in question with the list of reasons warranting their expulsion (Article IV, Section 2).
4. Expulsion of a delegate may be voted on at a regular meeting of the CGC or at a special meeting. The delegate in question must be given the opportunity to address the list of reasons warranting their expulsion. The proposal for the expulsion must be ratified by 2/3 majority vote of current delegates in good standing.

a. All vacancies must be filled by students attending the same school as the expelled delegate. b. Vacant positions may be filled by nomination from a current CGC delegate or by appointment from the school that the delegate was from.

5. In the event that the Chair is expelled, the Secretary shall become the acting Chair until the next regular meeting of the CGC, at which time a majority vote shall be necessary for his/her continuation as Chair or nominations can be sought from the entire CGC body.

1. The most recent version of this constitution shall govern the CGC, a continuing body, whose actions are valid unless subsequently repealed or modified.

2. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by any delegate of the CGC in good standing.


3. Ratification of Amendments require a 2/3 majority of all CGC delegates in good standing.

4. Amendments to the constitution must be noted in the meeting minutes and must appear in an updated version of the constitution.

5. Amendments shall take effect immediately upon ratification.