HISTORY AND PURPOSE
The Plant Sciences Graduate Student Council (PSGSC) was founded in 2000 by combining the graduate student councils of horticulture, agronomy, and plant breeding, and plant genetics (PBPG). The PSGSC was created to foster enhanced communication and promote more social interaction among the graduate students of horticulture, agronomy, and PBPG, including those not located in Moore Hall.
The council has four main goals:
- To be mediators between students and faculty;
- To plan events designed to foster fellowship among plant scientists and provide education and awareness;
- To be keepers of the “Blue Books” (a set of books that contain reflections and memories of past preliminary exams written by students who successfully completed their exams);
- And, to manage the candy cart.
ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP
- MEMBERSHIP. All members are required to be current graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in a program that focuses on plant sciences.
- DUES. There are no dues required for membership in this organization.
ARTICLE II
FINANCE
- FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the PSGSC shall be from January 1 to December 31, inclusive.
- CHECKS. All checks issued on behalf of the PSGSC shall be issued by approval of the President, Vice President, or Treasurer.
- PAYMENTS. All payments due to the PSGSC shall be made to the Treasurer, who shall record them.
- ACCOUNTS. The PSGSC will conduct all banking using the savings and checking accounts under the council name at the UW Credit Union.
ARTICLE III
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
- TIMELINE FOR ELECTION.
- NOMINATION. Nomination of future officers will occur one month before the current officer’s term ends.
- ELECTION. Election of officers will occur three weeks before the currents officer’s term ends.
- TIE BREAKERS. Tie breakers will occur two weeks before the current officer’s term ends.
- TRANSITION BETWEEN NEW AND OLD OFFICERS. Transition between new and old officers will occur during the final week of the current officer’s term.
- NOMINATION. All members of the organization will be allowed to nominate current members of the organization to each of the twelve available positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Journal Club Chair, Agroecology Representative, Agronomy Representative, Botany Representative, Horticulture Representative, Integrative Biology Representative, Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics Representative, Plant Pathology Representative, and Soil Science Representative. A person can be nominated for more than one position; however, that person can only serve as one of the officer positions if they is elected to both positions. Current officers may not serve as officers in consecutive years.
- ELECTION. Each member will be allowed one vote per officer position. Votes will be submitted anonymously on the PSGSC website. Election to an officer position will be determined by which candidate receives the most votes.
- TIE BREAKERS. In the case of a tie between two candidates the members will be allowed to revote for that position. A new ballot will be given to members with the candidates involved in the tie and the same election rules stated in Article III Section 3 will apply.
- TRANSITION BETWEEN NEW AND OLD OFFICERS. It is the responsibility of each officer to inform the new officer of their specific roles. It is also the responsibility of each officer to provide any documents that are necessary for the position.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICER REQUIREMENTS
- All officers are required to be members of the PSGSC. This requirement implies that all officers are required to be current graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying plant sciences.
- There shall be twelve officers of the PSGSC, who will serve a one year term, beginning January 1 and ending December 31.
ARTICLE V
OFFICER DUTIES
- PRESIDENT
- Keep open communication between plant sciences faculty and students
- Represent plant sciences graduate students on campus
- Assist in graduate student recruitment
- Keep up social and networking events for members
- Schedule and facilitate regular officer meetings
- VICE PRESIDENT
- Aid the President in daily activities
- Maintain the PSGSC website
- Maintain communication with plant sciences graduate student programs at other universities
- Facilitate inclusion of plant sciences graduate students outside of the agronomy, horticulture, and plant breeding and plant genetics graduate programs
- TREASURER
- Maintain the bank accounts through UW Credit Union
- Maintain an organized log of council expenditures
- Empty out and deposit funds from the candy cart
- JOURNAL CLUB CHAIR
- Keep abreast of current, relevant & stimulating literature in plant sciences
- Select articles to discuss in weekly meetings of the PSGSC Journal Club
- Encourage discussion leadership and paper suggestions from PSGSC members
- Engage with other officers to fulfill the PSGSC purpose
- DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES
- Organize lunch with PSGSC members when the department brings in guest speakers
- Contact new students about the PSGSC and welcome them
- Facilitate social events and fundraisers for members
ARTICLE VI
HAZING
- All forms of hazing shall be prohibited.
- Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created intentionally to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities and situations include, but are not limited to: creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; wearing apparel in public which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and jokes; moral degradation and humiliation in games or activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with the regulations and policies of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
ARTICLE VII
RULES OF ORDER
- The PSGSC and its officers shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised except in matters specifically provided for in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
- These Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of the voting members of the PSGSC provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given in writing one week prior.