Chapter 5: Department Representatives

5.01 Definitions
  1. There shall be one position (referred to as “Representative for...”) for each graduate degree granting department

5.02 Appointment
  1. Positions shall be available for the next year’s senate beginning the day after the last general body meeting of the spring semester and are not elected positions.
  2. Applications for Department Representative positions shall be submitted to the Vice President and evaluated and endorsed by the Executive Council.
  3. Individuals seeking candidacy for Department Representative positions shall be enrolled in a graduate degree granting program offered by the department for which they are a candidate.
  4. Minimum eligibility shall be determined by Article IV of the Constitution.
  5. After the endorsement of an applicant for a Department Representative position, a member of the Executive Council shall submit via resolution the candidate for position of Department Representative. Upon concurrence of a majority of voting members present, the candidate shall be confirmed as Department Representative.

5.03 Term Length
  1. Department Representatives shall serve on GSS for more than one academic year depending on their interest in continuing their service on GSS and if in good standing on renewable basis either through a department-wide election process, or a recommendation of department chair or graduate chair in their respective department, or a concurrence of votes at a GSS General Body Meeting
  2. Certain departments follow a different selection process and term length. GSS will respect this process. Those departments will tell GSS who their representative will be and their term limit. Therefore, there will be no need to review applications for the position.

5.04 General Duties
  1. Ensure open and timely communication of interests, concerns, and needs of their constituents with the GSS and among their fellow Senators, Commissioners, and Department Representatives.
  2. Act in accordance with the Constitution and R&P.
  3. Attend all general meetings of the GSS in person or by appropriate proxy.
  4. Attend all committee meetings to which they have been assigned
  5. Serve on at least one GSS committee or Ohio University standing committee as determined by the Executive Council.
  6. No Department Representative shall have more than one vote for any reason.
  7. Hold at least two office hours per week.
  8. Attend all trainings as mandated by the Executive Council.