Constitution

The name of this organization shall be the Biomedical Graduate Student Association, hereafter referred to as BGSA.

BGSA shall be the coordinating student body charged with representing all masters and doctoral students enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) program or Masters and Certificate Programs (MaC). The mission of BGSA is to improve the general welfare of PSOM students by supporting academic, social and professional development events and advocating on their behalf.

• BGSA shall represent the concerns of PSOM students to BGS administration, MaC administration, PSOM administration, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA), the twelve graduate schools (G12), and University of Pennsylvania administration.
• BGSA shall serve as a liaison amongst the student populations and graduate groups of BGS, which are Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics (BMB), Cell & Molecular Biology (CAMB), Epidemiology & Biostatistics (GGEB), Genomics & Computational Biology (GCB), Immunology (IGG), Neuroscience (NGG), and Pharmacology (PGG), and the programs of MaC.
• BGSA shall monitor issues of importance to the PSOM community and foster dialogue among its members for the purpose of identifying relevant issues of advocacy. BGSA shall advocate for changes that will enhance the quality of life and the quality of education for PSOM students.
• BGSA shall sponsor academic, cultural, and social events of interest to the PSOM community in order to strengthen social and academic bonds between PSOM students themselves and between PSOM students and faculty. In doing so, BGSA aims to strengthen the tie of PSOM students to PSOM and the University of Pennsylvania at large.
• The primary vehicles for these purposes shall be the Executive Board, the Program Representatives and the General Assembly. 

This organization is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Biomedical Graduate Studies program and Masters programs.

• Section I: Restrictions 

  • Membership is restricted to all currently enrolled masters and doctoral students of the University of Pennsylvania’s BGS programs or MaC programs. 

• Section II: Eligibility

  • Membership in BGSA and the General Assembly is automatically conferred on all masters and doctoral students currently enrolled in BGS and MaC programs. Application for membership is not required. Membership remains valid while the student is enrolled as a BGS or MaC student and cannot be revoked for any other reason.

• Section III: Rights 

  • Any member of BGSA retains the right to vote or run for office. These rights are restricted to BGSA members. All BGSA members are encouraged to participate in BGSA events and proceedings.

• Section IV: Non-discrimination Policy

  • This organization and its members shall not discriminate against any individuals for reasons of race, national origin, color, religion, gender, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/or ability status.

  • BGSA reserves the right to withhold funding from groups or individuals that do not adhere to this non-discrimination policy and/or the non-discrimination policies of the University of Pennsylvania.

BGSA shall not collect dues from its members.

• Section I: Officer Positions

  • The officers of BGSA shall consist of:

    • Chair

    • Vice Chair for BGS Student Affairs

    • Vice Chair for MAC Student Affairs

    • Vice Chair for Finance

    • Vice Chair for Operations

    • Vice Chair for Academic Affairs

    • Vice Chair for Social Affairs

    • Vice Chair for IDEAL Affairs

    • Vice Chair for Social Media

    • Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA) Representatives

• Section II: Eligibility

  • Any member of BGSA may run for any office.

    • Except for the Vice Chair of BGS Student Affairs and the Vice Chair of MaC Student Affairs. The Vice Chair of BGS Student Affairs must be held by a student enrolled in a BGS program, and the Vice Chair of MaC Student Affairs must be held by a masters student enrolled in a MaC program.

  • No officer may simultaneously hold more than one office in BGSA.

  • Additionally, no officer may simultaneously act as a BGSA Program Representative.

• Section III: Terms

  • The term of each office shall be one fiscal year — from July 1^st to June 30^th. There shall be no term limits.

• Section IV: General Elections

  • General elections for the following term shall take place during the May General Assembly meeting.  The General Assembly shall be given at least one week’s notice of general elections.

• Section V: Special Elections

  • Should an officer’s position be/become vacant, a special election shall be held at the next BGSA General Assembly meeting, provided there is at least one week until the meeting.

    • If less than a week remains before the next General Assembly meeting, the election shall be held at the first subsequent General Assembly meeting. The General Assembly shall be given at least one week’s notice of special elections.

• Section VI: Removal of an officer

  • A member of the Executive Board who is found to be in violation of this Constitution, the BGSA By-Laws, the Rules of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, or University policy may be removed upon a vote of three-fourths of the General Assembly at any General Assembly meeting, provided that the member whose conduct is in question has been given one week’s written notice stating the violation or violations and has been granted an opportunity to be heard in front of the General Assembly.

    • Just cause, i.e., malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance, must be shown in any case involving the removal of a member of the Executive Board

• Section I: Program Representatives

  • Each program, defined as the seven graduate groups within BGS plus MaC (see Article II Section B), shall have one representative for every 100 students (1-199 students = 1 Program Representative, 200- 299 = 2 Program Representatives, etc). Each BGS graduate group-based program will have a minimum of one representative; MaC will have a minimum of seven “at large” members. The number of Program Representatives shall be revised annually in the fall to reflect current enrollment numbers.

• Section II: Eligibility 

  • Any member of BGSA may run to be a Program Representative for the program of which they are a student. No Program Representative may simultaneously hold an Executive Board office in BGSA. 

• Section III: Terms

  • The Program Representative term shall be from the time of their election to June 30^th. There shall be no term limits.

• Section IV: Elections

  • Elections for the current year’s Program Representatives shall take place during the regularly scheduled September General Assembly meeting. The General Assembly shall be given at least one week’s notice of Program Representative elections.

• Section V: Special Elections

  • Should a Program Representative’s position be/become vacant, a special election shall be held at the next BGSA General Assembly meeting, provided there is at least one week until the meeting. If less than a week remains before the next General Assembly meeting, the election shall be held at the first subsequent General Assembly meeting. The General Assembly shall be given at least one week’s notice of Program Representative elections.

• Section VI: Removal of a Program Representative

  • A Program Representative who is found to be in violation of this Constitution, the BGSA By-Laws, the Rules of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, or University policy may be removed upon a vote of two-thirds of the General Assembly at any General Assembly meeting, provided that the member whose conduct is in question has been given one week’s written notice stating the violation or violations and has been granted an opportunity to be heard in front of the General Assembly.

    • Just cause, i.e., malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance, must be shown in any case involving the removal of a member of the Executive Board.

• Section I: Constitutional Amendments

  • This constitution shall be amended by a vote of three-fourths majority of the General Assembly at any General Assembly meeting. Constitutional amendments approved by the General Assembly must be ratified by a three-fourths majority of the Program Representatives and a three-fourths majority of the Executive Board.

• Section II: By-Law Amendments

  • The BGSA By-Laws shall be amended by a vote of two-thirds majority of the General Assembly at any General Assembly meeting. By-Law amendments approved by the General Assembly must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Program Representatives and a two-thirds majority of the Executive Board.

• Section III: Notice of Amendment

  • The General Assembly and the Executive Board shall be given one week’s notice of amendment, including the text of the proposed amendment, in writing.