Bylaws

NASSR Graduate Student Caucus (NGSC) Bylaws

**These Bylaws are out of date. If you’re interested in updating them, please contact Caroline at NASSRGradStudentCaucus [at] gmail [dot] com**

Mission Statement

The NASSR Graduate Student Caucus

  • provides a venue, under the aegis of NASSR, for students interested in the study of Romanticism to make contact with one another, and to share intellectual and professional resources.
  • furthers the interests, not only of the graduate student community in Romantic studies, but also of the broader profession, by helping to train active and engaged scholars who will continue to strengthen and advance themselves and the discipline.
  • addresses the concerns of student-scholars and attends to their needs as pre-professionals.

Membership

Membership in the NGSC is free and open to all graduate student members of NASSR.

Administrative Structure

The NGSC is administered by the Co-Chairs and the Executive Board, under the supervision of the Faculty Advisors.  The Co-Chairs may create additional Sub-committee Chairs as needed.

Governance: Co-Chairs, Executive Board, and Faculty Advisors

1) Co-Chairs

There will be four Co-Chairs, elected by the members of the NGSC to serve a two-year term.  Two Co-Chairs must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program in the United States and two Co-Chairs must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Canada. Prospective Co-Chairs have not completed their degree prior to the election nor previously served as an NGSC Co-Chair.  Terms will be staggered so that two Co-Chairs will be up for election each year.
Duties of the Co-Chairs include:

  • promote the NGSC by developing strategies to increase membership and member participation.
  • set annual goals for the NGSC.
  • ensure that the NGSC remains true to its mission statement.
  • organize and run the Annual Meeting of the NGSC at the annual NASSR conference.
  • oversee the nomination process and elections.
  • plan the NGSC’s special session for the annual NASSR conference.
  • encourage graduate students to join NASSR and to attend the annual conference.
  • regularly communicate the NGSC’s progress to the Faculty Advisors.  Twice yearly the co-chairs will provide a written assessment of the state of the NGSC for the Faculty Advisors.
  • serve as liaisons between graduate student community and NASSR board.
  • oversee the work of the Executive Board and any Sub-committee Chairs.
  • create Sub-committees and Sub-committee chairs where appropriate.
  • update the NGSC by-laws as needed.

2) Faculty Advisors

Duties of the Faculty Advisors include:

  • ensure that the NGSC’s work is consistent with NASSR’s mission and principles.
  • offer guidance and helpful suggestions to the Co-Chairs and Executive Board members.
  • act as liaisons between the NASSR board and the NGSC Co-Chairs and Executive Board.
  • be present at the Annual Meeting of the NGSC.
  • obtain periodic written feedback from the Co-Chairs on the state of the NGSC.
  • The method for nominating and selecting future faculty advisors tbd.

3) Secretaries

There will be two Secretaries, elected by the members of the NGSC to serve a two-year term.  One Secretary must be enrolled in a graduate program in the United States and one Secretary must be enrolled in a graduate program in. Canada.  Prospective Secretaries have not completed their doctorate prior to the election.
Duties of the Secretaries include:

  • maintain an updated roster of NGSC members.
  • e-mail important announcements to all NGSC members.
  • record minutes for all meetings.  E-mail minutes to Co-Chairs, Executive Board members, and Faculty Advisors.  Maintain a file with all minutes from the year.
  • perform other duties as assigned by the Co-Chairs.

4) Webmasters

There will be two Webmasters, elected by the members of the NGSC to serve a two-year term.  One Webmaster must be enrolled in a graduate program in the United States and one Webmaster must be enrolled in a graduate program in. Canada.  Prospective Webmasters have not completed their doctorate prior to the election.
Duties of the Webmasters include:

  • maintain and regularly update the NGSC blog.
  • utilize Facebook, Twitter, and other social media technology to help build a stronger graduate student community.
  • perform other duties as assigned by the Co-Chairs.

5) Conference Liaison

The NASSR conference committee will nominate one graduate student to serve as Conference Liaison for that year’s conference.   This student will be enrolled at the host institution and will help coordinate between the conference and the NGSC.

6) Sub-committee Chairs

Sub-committee Chairs are appointed by the Co-Chairs on an as-needed basis.  Their terms and duties are set by the Co-Chairs.  Potential Sub-committee Chairs might oversee publicity, awards, or the NASSR conference special session.

Nomination Procedures: Candidates for Co-Chairs may be nominated by any member of the NGSC or by any faculty member of NASSR.  Nominators may nominate themselves.  Each nominator is limited to one nomination.  Nominations must be made at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting of the NGSC.  All nominations will be made online through the NGSC blog.
Candidates for Secretary or Webmaster will nominate themselves through the NGSC blog.  No individual may run for more than one position in any election.
Prior to the election, if there are not enough American or Canadian candidates for any position, then the Faculty Advisors will nominate the requisite number of individuals.
Election Procedures: Elections will be conducted electronically so that all members of the NGSC can vote, whether or not they are present at the annual conference. Nominees are encouraged to submit a statement explaining why they are the best candidates for the position.  These statements will be posted to the NGSC blog. All ties will be resolved via a run-off election.  Subsequent ties will be resolved through a coin toss.