Constitution – Natural Sciences Council

NATURAL SCIENCES COUNCIL CONSTITUTION

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE

1.1 The name of this body shall be the NATURAL SCIENCES COUNCIL, hereinafter referred to as NSC or the Council. The purpose of NSC shall be as follows:

1) To represent the students of the College of Natural Sciences in academic affairs and to promote interaction among them.

2) To serve as a forum for communication between the students and the administration, faculty, and staff of the College of Natural Sciences.

3) To provide Natural Sciences students with multi-discipline extra-curricular functions and programs.

4) To offer committee and leadership experience to members of Council.

1.2 This organization is a recognized student organization at The University of Texas at Austin and shall comply with all campus policies as set forth in the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities and Information on Students’ Rights and Responsibilities.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

2.1 Any individual who is an undergraduate student in or seeking an undergraduate degree in the College of Natural Sciences may apply for membership to NSC. Criteria for new member selection will be as follows: quality of application answers, interview performance, external time commitments, major and classification for filling representative positions, academic status within the university (applicant must not be on probation), and level of enthusiasm to actively participate in Council.

2.2 The membership shall consist of 2 types of roles: Executive Officers and At-Large Members.

2.2.1 There are 15 Executive Officers (See Articles III and IV).

2.2.2 There may be up to 85 At-Large Members. At-Large Members are full voting members of NSC, and will be selected at the beginning of each long semester.

2.3 As a representative body, the Council will strive to include at least one student from every academic department in the College and at least one student representing the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes.

2.4 At the end of each semester, all members who intend to return to NSC in the following semester must fill out an “Intent to Return” form to be considered an active member for the following semester. The ITR form may include a committee choice form in order to help partition committees. If a member fails to fill out a committee choice form by the due date set by the Membership Director, the Membership Director reserves the right to place the member on any committee with an open position.

2.5 In accordance with Sec. 6-203(b) of the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities and Information on Students’ Rights and Responsibilities, this organization restricts membership to students, faculty members, and staff members of the University,

2.6 In accordance with Sec. 6.203(a)(1) and Sec. 6.203(a)(2) of the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities and Information on Students’ Rights and Responsibilities, this organization may not deny membership on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, except that a registered student organization created primarily for religious purposes may restrict the right to vote or hold office to persons who subscribe to the registered student organization’s statement of faith; and a registered student organization may restrict membership based on the provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

ARTICLE III: OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

3.1 The Executive Committee shall serve as the leadership body of NSC.

3.1.1 The elected officers of NSC shall serve on the Executive Committee. This includes the President, Vice President, Financial Director, Membership Director, and Senate Representative.

3.1.2 The chairpersons of all standing committees shall also serve on the Executive Committee. This includes the Academic Affairs,; Catalyst,; Community Involvement,; Internal Relations,; Legislative,; Public Relations,; Student Access,; and Student/Faculty Chairs.

3.1.3 The coordinators shall also serve on the Executive Committee. This includes the Technology Coordinator and Outreach Coordinator.

3.1.4 Each Executive Committee member shall serve in their position for a term that begins once elected or appointed and ends once a new Executive Committee member is elected or appointed to said position by the methods outlined in the Constitution Bylaws and Election Code.

3.2 No person may simultaneously be a member of the Senate of College Councils Executive Committee or Leadership Team and a member of the NSC Executive Committee.

3.3 The Executive Committee shall meet weekly during long semesters at a time unanimously agreed upon by the Committee.

3.4 In the event that a member of the Executive Committee is not able to perform the duties of their position, the officer must speak with and declare their resignation to the President in writing or via email. With the approval of the staff advisor, the Executive Committee may also remove an Executive Committee member for improper conduct by a vote of two-thirds, not including the member in question. In either of these cases, a new application period for the position in question shall be opened at the discretion of and be appointed by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee, and serve for the remainder of the term.

3.5 The duties of the elected officers and coordinators shall be as follows. In addition to the listed roles, all officers may be required to perform other duties as required by the Constitution and Bylaws or by the Executive Committee.

3.5.1 President shall:

a) Preside over general meetings of NSC and meetings of the Executive Committee.

b) Represent NSC to the University and at Senate of College Councils meetings.

c) Coordinate the general business and affairs of NSC.

d) Act as the liaison for NSC to the CNS Dean’s Office, receiving and responding to communications from the Dean’s Office.

e) Register NSC as a student organization with the Student Activities – Office of the Dean of Students and with the College of Natural Sciences Dean’s Office.

f) Serve as the contact person for students, administrators, and other external entities.

g) Cast the tie-breaking vote in cases deemed necessary and appropriate.

h) Define the purpose of activities/events hosted by Council and make any necessary final decisions on the date of the activity/event.

i) Chair the College Tuition and Budget Advisory Committee (CTBAC).

j) Meet individually with each member of the Executive Committee once a semester to evaluate each officer’s performance and discuss areas of improvement for the officer, the Executive Committee, and the Council at large.

k) Preside over NSC officer nominations and elections.

l) Plan the executive committee retreat

m) Serve on the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee (DSAC), coordinate the DSAC membership selection process each Fall in conjunction with Student Government and CNS Black and Latinx Advocacy Council (BLAC) and schedule at least one meeting each semester.

n) Coordinate the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee (DSAC) selection process to ensure that membership of the committee is representative of the CNS student body.

3.5.2 Vice President shall:

a) Act as President in the absence of the President due to resignation of office, removal, or other miscellaneous reasons.

b) Fulfill and/or assist the President in performing any duties necessary, including presiding over general and Executive Committee meetings in the President’s absence.

c) Oversee the application process and recruitment of new members, and aim to ensure the appropriate representation of different majors and backgrounds.

d) Oversee New Member Projects each semester.

e) Keep close association with Committee Chairs in order to oversee the planning of events hosted by Council, assess the effectiveness of executing said events, and assist Committee Chairs with any of their further responsibilities.

f) Meet with each Committee Chair no less than once a semester to review their performance and identify areas for improvement.

g) Collect Project Guides from all events no more than one week following the conclusion of the event and maintain a record of them for future use.

h) Oversee the planning of New Member Workshops and collaborate with the necessary parties to organize New Member Retreats.

i) Serve on the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee

3.5.3 Financial Director shall:

a) Maintain the balance sheet for NSC.

b) Develop the annual budget for NSC, after meeting with members of the new Executive Committee in the spring, and present it to the staff advisor for approval once complete.

c) Represent NSC at Senate of College Councils meetings.

d) Make all purchases for all events hosted by NSC and ensure all purchase orders, account transfers, or reimbursements are done in a timely and accurate manner.

e) Pay for administrative costs, such as web page fees, bank fees, etc. from the appropriate NSC account.

f) Make deposits as needed for fundraising money, dues, donations, and other income.

g) Regularly meet with the staff financial advisor to oversee the state of NSC’s accounts.

h) Collect and maintain a record of dues for NSC members.

i) Collaborate with the Outreach Coordinator to manage funding sources for NSC.

j) Collaborate with the Public Relations Chair to purchase and be responsible for official NS Week and Council shirts and other NSC merchandise.

k) Maintain an accurate inventory of physical assets belonging to NSC, including those in the NSC office, attic, and other storage locations.

3.5.4 Membership Director shall:

a) Produce and distribute the weekly email update for general members.

b) Update and maintain a published list of NSC membership policies.

c) Keep an up-to-date roster of NSC members in good standing and keep track of all NSC points earned by members.

d) Keep the office clean and in working condition.

e) Host a council-wide Research and Development (RAD) meeting each semester, review issues concerning the internal Natural Sciences Council, and present member feedback to the Executive Committee.

f) Collaborate with the Academic Affairs Committee Chair to grow and maintain the NSC alumni network, specifically with respect to current industry professionals.

g) Collaborate with the Vice President to chair ad hoc Recruitment Committee meetings.

h) Create and publish a semesterly NSC census to evaluate the extent to which membership is representative of the student body and spearhead initiatives to improve representation in NSC as deemed necessary.

i) Gather information on members’ intent to return at the end of each semester and use that information to partition members into committees for the following semester.

j) Reserve rooms for NSC meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and NSC events.

3.5.5 Senate Representative shall:

a) Attend all Senate of College Councils meetings and NSC meetings.

b) Serve on the Senate of College Councils Senate Representative Committee

c) Report Senate activities to the Council, and Council activities to the Senate

d) Collaborate with Internal Senate, Other Councils, UT Student Government, and the UT Graduate Student Assembly.

e) Present Senate legislation to Council, conduct discussion and debate, and vote on behalf of Council at Senate meetings.

f) Send all NSC Resolutions to the listed recipients, oversee the implementation of

passed resolutions in collaboration with college or university administration

g) Update the Executive Board and the Council At-Large on the implementation of any piece of Legislation with an NSC-associated author or sponsor passed in the two preceding semester. This must occur prior to the end of each semester.

h) Update the NSC Constitution during the annual transition period between Executive Committees.

i) Coordinate Serve on the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee in conjunction with

the NSC President

j) Meet with the Editor-In-Chief of the Daily Texan and Equity and Inclusion Director of the Senate of College Councils in order to update and maintain the UT Austin Sexual Misconduct Database

3.5.6 Technology Coordinator shall:

a) Maintain the NSC website, including updating the NSC calendar for both members and the public and posting NSC legislation online.

b) Collaborate with the Membership Director to chair Research and Development (RAD) meetings, review issues concerning the internal Natural Sciences Council, and present member feedback to the Executive Committee.

c) Collaborate with the Catalyst Chair to maintain the Catalyst website, and work with the Financial Director to ensure timely payment for all servers and URLs.

3.5.7 Outreach Coordinator shall:

a) Secure funds for NSC through grant applications, a corporate sponsorship packet, HornRaiser, and 40 Hours for the Forty Acres.

b) Collaborate with the Financial Director to manage funding sources for NSC, including the Event’s Co-Sponsorship Board, the University Co-Op, and Texas Parents.

b) Develop NSC’s professional network through digital and in-person networking with industry professionals, and by working closely with Career Services.

c) Collaborate with the Membership Director and the CNS Development Office to grow and maintain the NSC alumni network, specifically with respect to current industry professionals.

d) Work with the Public Relations Chair to coordinate external relations, fueling productive collaborations with CNS student organizations or other external entities.

3.6 In accordance with Sec. 6-101 (14) and Sec. 6-101(15) of the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities and Information on Students’ Rights and Responsibilities, this organization may have a “Sponsored Student Organization Advisor”, who is a University staff or faculty member from the sponsoring Academic or Administrative Unit who is serving in an advisory capacity to provide guidance to the Sponsored Student Organization and its members. In accordance with section 51.9361, a person serving as an Advisor to a Sponsored Student Organization must be someone who

a. is at least twenty-one years of age;

b. is not enrolled as a student at the University;

c. serves as a part-time or full-time employee of the University; and

d. completes the Safety Education Program advisor training at least once in their tenure as an advisor.

ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS

4.1 There shall be the following standing committees, each directed by a committee chair: Academic Affairs,; Catalyst,; Community Involvement,; Internal Relations,; Legislative,; Public Relations,; Student Access,; and Student/Faculty. All At-Large Members must serve on one standing committee.

4.2 The duties of the committee chairs shall be as follows. In addition to the listed roles, all officers may be required to perform other duties as required by the Constitution and Bylaws or by the Executive Committee.

4.2.1 Academic Affairs Committee Chair shall:

a) Enhance and promote professional and academic growth for CNS students.

b) Maintain relationships with industry professionals in order to host events for students to network and explore their future and current career options, such as CNS Connections.

c) Maintain relationships with CNS Career Services, the Health Professions Office, and the Office of Experiential Learning to enhance the Professional and Academic resources offered to CNS Students.

d) Coordinate events catered towards students seeking opportunities in industry, postgraduate education, and current opportunities within undergraduate education (including, but not limited to pre-health and pre-graduate students).

e) Coordinate outreach and consolidate academic resources, including but not limited to study abroad opportunities, research opportunities, advising and registration, degree plan changes and updates.

4.2.2 Catalyst Committee Chair shall:

a) Oversee the online and print publications of Catalyst.

b) Coordinate research, writing, editing, and distribution of Catalyst articles and projects.

c) Lead projects dedicated to increasing Catalyst’s utility to CNS students, such as guides to registration, FRI streams, student organizations, etc.

d) Collaborate with the Technology Coordinator to maintain the Catalyst website and work with the Technology Coordinator and Financial Director to ensure timely payment for servers and URL.

e) Initiate outreach to individuals and organizations outside of the Natural Sciences Council for contributions to Catalyst.

4.2.3 Community Involvement Committee Chair shall:

a) Coordinate all NSC community service projects and volunteer events.

b) Establish and maintain communication with the CNS Dean’s Office pertaining to major on-campus volunteer events.

c) Oversee and sustain internal service programs, including Young Scientists and Kids Who Code, as deemed necessary by the chair

4.2.4 Internal Relations Committee Chair shall:

a) Oversee and plan all social events and activities of NSC.

b) Plan events to foster social relations among all CNS students.

c) Develop and maintain a culture in Council that fosters member participation and enthusiasm.

d) Ensure all social activities promote inclusivity within Council.

4.2.5 Legislative Committee Chair shall:

a) Create Resolutions relevant to the academic interests of the CNS student body.

b) Create Bills pertaining to modifying the structure of NSC.

c) Assist in Oversee the implementation of passed resolutions.

d) Collaborate with the Senate Representative to oversee the implementation of passed resolutions

e) Ensure that legislation written by NSC addresses the concerns of the student body and does not disproportionately harm any groups.

4.2.6 Public Relations Committee Chair shall:

a) Coordinate and plan all public relations activities.

b) Collaborate with other NSC committees to publicize and advertise all NSC events to campus and the surrounding community.

c) Maintain all of NSC’s social media accounts, including but not limited to Facebook and Instagram.

d) Maintain contact with the CNS Student Life Office to advertise NSC initiatives and events through the Dean’s newsletters and emails to student organizations.

e) Take photographs and videos to document all NSC events

f) Collaborate with the Financial Director to purchase, design, print, and be responsible for all NSC materials including official NS Week and Council shirts and other NSC merchandise.

g) Collaborate with the Outreach Coordinator to coordinate external relations, including with CNS student organizations.

4.2.7 Student Access Committee Chair shall:

a) Coordinate programs to receive CNS student feedback, student life, and accessibility issues.

b) Collaborate with related campus entities to acknowledge and address concerns across the entire CNS student body.

c) Pursue initiatives that address issues of resource accessibility, student wellness, and outreach to student organizations in CNS.

d) Work with the Student Life Office to outreach to and collaborate with university student organizations.

e) Represent NSC at the CNS Community & Belonging Committee meetings and amplify student perspectives.

f) Oversee applications and select award finalists for the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Banquet, and submit them to the faculty advisor for approval.

4.2.8 Student/Faculty Committee Chair shall:

a) Represent the students of the College to members of the CNS faculty in a professional and thoughtful manner.

b) Coordinate and plan all events related to student/faculty interaction, including luncheons and professor talks.

c) Plan and coordinate the annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Banquet.

d) Pursue initiatives to promote relationships and discussion between students and faculty from groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences.

4.3 While planning events, Committee Chairs are responsible for delegating to committee members or performing the following activities: deciding on the location, sending out invitations, organizing catering and equipment reservations, setting the agenda for the event, and providing other incidental items (i.e. name tags and decorations). Committee Chairs are also responsible for maintaining records of everything they did for the event, and turning in a Project Guide to the Vice President no more than two weeks after the event.

4.4 Standing committees may be created or dissolved by a two-thirds majority of a full Council vote as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may additionally form ad-hoc committees for special purposes as deemed necessary.

ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS

5.1 Amendments to the Constitution may be submitted by a member at any time to the Executive Committee for review and approval.

5.2 The approved version of the amendments is to be submitted by the Executive Committee, with an explanation of the purpose of the amendment, to the members of the Council for approval by a formal ballot vote.

5.3 An amendment to the Constitution that becomes ratified takes effect immediately unless otherwise stated within the said amendment.

5.4 All amendments or changes to this constitution must be reflected in an updated constitution that must be submitted to Student Activities in the Office of the Dean of Students at 2609 University Ave., Suite 2.112 within 14 days of its approval.

Ratified 10/15/01

Amended 10/14/02, 02/10/03, 04/11/05, 09/18/06, 10/30/06, 02/18/08, 05/04/09, 05/03/10, 02/28/11, 02/13/12, 02/02/15, 02/01/16, 02/15/16, 04/24/17, 04/02/18, 4/22/19, 11/18/19, 02/26/20, 4/28/20, 5/5/20, 11/5/21, 04/01/22, 02/13/23, 12/04/23

NATURAL SCIENCES COUNCIL BYLAWS

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

ARTICLE I: VOTING, QUORUM, AND EARLY VOTING

1.1 The Council will conduct formal votes on legislative and academic matters, including resolutions and bills being considered within NSC or within the Senate of College Councils. All active members of NSC shall have voting privileges. Votes will be calculated from written or online ballots.

1.1.1 After a Council vote on a Senate of College Councils Resolution or Bill or a Joint Resolution, the Senate Representative must vote on behalf of the Council at the Senate of College Councils General Assembly according to the result of the Council vote and provided the circumstances outlined in sections 1.1.2 and 1.1.3 do not occur.

1.1.2 In the event that the Council is unable to hold a vote on a Senate of College Councils matter or in the event that Senate legislation has experienced significant changes since the council vote was conducted, including but not limited to amendments, the Senate Representative, along with any other Council representatives present, are given discretion on how to cast the Council’s vote at the Senate of College Councils General Assembly. All Council representatives present at that General Assembly must update the Council as to the rationale behind the decision at the following NSC general meeting.

1.1.3 The President, Financial Director, and Senate Representative (or whomever the Council representatives at a General Assembly are) may come to a unanimous agreement regarding how to vote on any given Senate Resolution or Bill. If this occurs, they are given the discretion to cast the Council’s vote how they please. They must update the Council as to the rationale behind their decision at the following Council general meeting.

1.1.4 Before a Senate of College Councils election, a council-wide vote must be called to determine which candidates are supported by members of the Council. During the General Assembly in which the Senate of College Councils election is held, The President, Financial Director, and Senate Representative (or whoever the Council representatives are at that General Assembly) may come to an agreement concerning which candidate to vote for. If this occurs, they may cast all NSC ballots for this candidate. If there is no unanimous agreement among the Council representatives present at that General Assembly, each may cast a ballot for the candidate of their choice and must cast the council-wide ballot in the manner in which the Council voted.

1.2 The quorum is defined as fifty percent of all active NSC members. A quorum must be established before a formal vote can be taken on an NSC resolution, bill, or constitutional amendment, as well as any vote that must be submitted to the Senate of College Councils, except in the case of an online vote, where a quorum is established by the number of online ballots submitted.

1.3 For a resolution to pass, a simple majority of members present must vote in favor of the resolution. For a bill or Constitutional amendment to pass, a two-thirds majority of members present and voting must vote in favor of the bill.

1.4 Early voting is defined as a vote from a Council member prior to the meeting in which the vote will take place. A member may submit an early vote on a legislative or academic matter to the Senate Representative in the week preceding the vote. A member who votes early may not cast another vote at the meeting. All members who wish to vote early must have all the required information about the voting issue in question. Members who vote early add to the number needed to reach a quorum.

1.5 A member cannot be compelled to vote and has the right to abstain if the member is present for a vote. If a member has direct personal interests in the matter up for a vote that can result in a conflict of interest, that member is obligated to abstain from the vote. If a member chooses to abstain from the vote, this does not count as a vote and cannot affect the outcome of the vote.

ARTICLE II: FEES AND MEMBERSHIP

2.1 Mandatory membership semester fees may be established by the Executive Committee at the beginning of each school year. Membership fees shall be paid by the deadline set by the Financial Director for that semester. Special consideration for exemption or payment plans will be given by the Financial Director to members upon request.

2.2 To be considered as an active member in good standing and eligible for membership benefits, a member must fulfill the points requirements set forth by the Membership Director every points period. The Membership Director has the discretion to waive or adjust individual point requirements on a case-by-case basis.

2.3 Failure to meet the required points for a points period will result in the assignment of a demerit and the delinquent member being classified as an active member not in good standing. Active members not in good standing are subject to a probationary system defined by the Membership Director. If a member fails to meet the required points for two points periods in a given academic year, the member must meet with the Executive Committee to defend their position in Council. The Executive Committee reserves the right to remove the member in question from Council. If the delinquent member chooses not to meet with the Executive Council, whether by not responding to the request to meet, not showing up, or denying the request, the Executive Committee reserves the right to vote on the member’s standing in their absence.

2.4 A member may declare themselves inactive to the Membership Director in writing or by email by the last day of the first points period of the semester. A member may declare themselves inactive at any other time during the semester due to extenuating circumstances (i.e. illness, death in family) with the approval of the Membership Director. Inactive members are not considered At-Large members and therefore do not need to complete any points for the semester and may not vote in any capacity during their inactivity. The Executive Committee reserves the right to request payment from an inactive member should they choose to participate in NSC social events. Inactive members may become active again at the beginning of the following long semester and must declare their active status to the Membership Director. A member is restricted to two non-consecutive inactive semesters in their Council career. A member cannot go inactive for two consecutive semesters. The Membership Director has the discretion to adjust [inactivity policy] on a case-by-case basis.

2.5 Any member who fails to make any points within the first points period of a semester will be given two weeks to either declare inactivity or meet with the Executive Committee. Failure to comply may result in removal from Council at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

2.6 The Executive Committee will select new At-Large Members within the first three weeks of each semester or within a time frame set at the discretion of the Executive Committee. The selection process shall be overseen by the Vice President. Interested parties will submit applications, and then the Executive Committee will decide who receives an interview. From the group that receives interviews, the Executive Committee will decide who makes it into the Council.

2.7 All new At-Large Members must participate in a New Member Project during their first semester in Council. The New Member Projects will be overseen by the Vice President; however, new members will be urged to lead the project (select the event, select when it will be held, etc.). The New Member Projects will have an allotted amount of funding provided by NSC for use in creating the project. This amount will be determined by the Financial Director at the end of each spring semester.

ARTICLE III: MEETINGS

3.1 General meetings shall be held once a week on Mondays at 5pm. The President may call special meetings. This Council shall run general meetings in a professional manner as seen fit by the Executive Committee.

3.1.1 Under the case of extenuating circumstances or as deemed necessary under Section 3.1.3, the Executive Committee may temporarily change the weekly meeting time for a semester or the remainder of a semester as long as council-wide general meetings still occur once a week. The Executive Committee should utilize member input, to the extent possible, in determining the new time. A motion for this change must be presented in writing, physically or electronically, by a member of the Executive Committee to the rest of the Committee for a formal vote. A quorum, defined as fifty percent of all Executive Committee members, must be established prior to the vote. For a motion to temporarily change the weekly meeting time to pass, a two-thirds majority of executive committee members present and voting must vote in favor of the motion.

3.1.2 Should the Executive Committee vote to alter the weekly meeting time following the process outlined in Section 3.1.1 of the Natural Sciences Council Bylaws, the President must communicate this change and relevant justifications in writing, physically or electronically, to all NSC members prior to the first changed meeting date and no later than one week after the vote to change the time. No later than the second meeting under the new time, the council must hold a formal vote with a quorum of active members on whether or not the new time should remain in effect for the rest of the semester.

3.1.3 A changed meeting time will be in effect for the remainder of the semester during which it is enacted, unless specified otherwise in the written motion passed by the Executive Committee. This change cannot remain in effect past the end of the semester during which it is initially enacted. The process outlined in Section 3.1.1 of the Natural Sciences Council Bylaws must be followed again for any changes to the weekly meeting time in subsequent semesters.

3.1.4 The weekly meeting time can only be changed by the Executive Committee if the existing weekly meeting time of Mondays at 5pm has the potential to pose a significant barrier to attendance for many active members. After the change and justification has been communicated in writing, physically or electronically, to all NSC members, the Executive Committee must consider any complaints presented by members and re-evaluate the necessity of the change. The Executive Committee can vote to return to normal weekly meeting times prior to the date specified in the initial motion following the same process outlined in Sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 of the Natural Sciences Council Bylaws. If the meeting time is changed and a member is forced to go inactive as a result, that semester will not count towards the member’s limit of inactive semesters.

3.2 The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a week during the long semester to review previous NSC activities, provide updates about ongoing NSC initiatives, and plan future activities and projects. Executive Committee meetings shall be open to members of the Executive Committee and any other invited member of NSC.

ARTICLE IV: AMENDMENTS

4.1 Amendments to the Bylaws may be submitted at any time to the Executive Committee for review. The final version of the amendment is to be submitted to the members of the Council for approval by ballot vote. A member quorum must be established, and a two-thirds majority is required to ratify an amendment to the Bylaws.

4.2 An amendment to the Bylaws takes effect immediately upon ratification unless otherwise stated within said amendment.

4.3 All amendments or changes to this constitution must be reflected in an updated constitution that must be submitted to Student Activities in the Office of the Dean of Students at 2609 University Ave., Suite 2.112 within 14 days of its approval.

ARTICLE V: RATIFICATION AND DISSOLUTION

5.1 This Constitution shall take effect when:

5.1.1 The Executive Committee must reach a unanimous decision to present the Constitution to the membership for a vote.

5.1.2 The membership shall vote in favor of ratification by a two-thirds majority.

5.1.3 All aspects of the Constitution shall be implemented by the beginning of the next academic semester. The Executive Committee reserves the right to keep all members of the Executive Committee until the next officer election.

5.2 In the event of the dissolution of NSC, all assets shall be handled by the College of Natural Sciences Dean’s Office.

ARTICLE VI: CALENDAR OF IMPORTANT EVENTS

6.1 Transitional Meeting: The Executive Committee will hold at least one transitional meeting that will include the current and new elected and appointed officers. This meeting(s) will take place after new chairs are appointed by the newly elected Executive Committee and prior to the last general meeting of the Spring semester. The transition meeting agenda and time will be set by both the previous President and President-elect and shall include, but is not limited to, discussion about the constitution and events held throughout the year to prepare new officers.

6.2 Budget Planning: The Financial Director will meet with all necessary officers before the end of the spring academic semester to plan and make the budget for the next year.

6.3 Executive Retreat: The Executive Committee will hold an Executive Retreat before the start of the fall and spring academic semesters. The agenda for the retreat will be set by the President and shall include, but is not limited to, calendar planning and long-term event planning.

6.4 New Member Selection: The Executive Committee will select new Council members within the first three weeks of each semester or within a time frame set at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

6.5 Natural Sciences Week: The Council shall devote one week each academic year to holding events that celebrate, raise awareness, and provide opportunities to the students in the College of Natural Sciences. Natural Sciences Week shall consist of at least four events to be held at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Ratified 10/15/01

Amended 10/14/02, 02/10/03, 04/11/05, 11/14/05, 09/18/06, 10/30/06, 02/18/08, 05/04/09, 11/16/09, 05/03/10, 02/28/11, 02/13/12, 09/09/13, 11/25/13, 02/02/15, 02/01/16, 04/24/17, 04/02/18, 2/25/19, 4/22/19, 11/18/19, 2/26/20, 4/28/20, 5/5/20, 9/22/20, 2/2/21, 2/24/21, 12/04/23

NATURAL SCIENCES COUNCIL ELECTION CODE

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

ARTICLE I: NOMINATION PROCEDURE

1.1 There shall be five elected positions on the NSC Executive Committee, in the following order of precedence.

1) President

2) Vice President

3) Financial Director

4) Membership Director

5) Senate Representative

1.2 Nominations will take place the week before Spring Break, as set forth by the University of Texas at Austin’s Official Calendar.

1.3 The President shall preside over the nomination process, which will proceed through the five elected positions in the order of precedence. Any active member of Council may nominate any other active member of Council to run for a position, including themselves. The nomination must be seconded by another active member of Council, after which the member who has been nominated may choose to accept or decline the nomination. To be nominated for President, a member must have previously served on the Executive Committee for at least two semesters.

ARTICLE II: CANDIDATE PROTOCOL

2.1 The election procedure shall be overseen by the Election Chair and Election Committee. The role of Election Chair shall be filled by the highest officer in the order of precedence, starting with the President, who is not a candidate for election. The Election Committee shall be composed of graduating seniors at the discretion of the Election Chair.

2.2 Candidates are prohibited from campaigning. Campaigning includes but is not limited to posting fliers, requesting votes from members, and using social media. Candidates may meet with members to discuss their platform and gather feedback. If a candidate is judged by the Election Committee to be campaigning, he or she will be disqualified from the election.

2.3 Each candidate must complete and submit a candidate information sheet by the deadline set by the Election Chair, no later than the Sunday before the election. In the candidate information sheet, a candidate may declare one elected role, below their first-choice role in the order of precedence, as their drop-down position. If they do not win the election for their first-choice role, they will be entered as a candidate for their drop-down position.

ARTICLE III: ELECTION PROCEDURE

3.1 Elections will take place in the two general meetings following nominations, extending to the third general meeting after nominations if necessary. The first two meetings for elections shall be 90 minutes long. Elections will proceed in the order of precedence and be divided over the two weeks at the discretion of the Election Chair.

3.2 Before each officer election can proceed, a quorum of fifty percent of eligible voting members must be established. For the purpose of officer elections, all active members are eligible voting members.

3.2.1 Members who are inactive during an election, and who will not be graduating at the end of their inactive semester, are also considered eligible voting members if they complete the requirements set forth by the Election Committee. The Election Committee may institute requirements for inactive members who intend to vote in officer elections in order to ensure that all eligible voting members are properly informed about the candidates seeking election.

3.3 Each candidate for a given position will deliver a three-minute presentation to the Council, followed by a five-minute question-and-answer period. After all candidates for the position have presented, Council will have a five-minute period of discussion. The question-and-answer and discussion periods may be extended if necessary. The Election Chair shall preside over the general procedure of each election, including timing and extensions.

3.4 Council members will vote for each position on a paper or electronic ballot, which may be distributed by the Election Committee no earlier than the beginning of the discussion period. Early voting for officer elections is not permitted. The Election Committee may institute requirements as they see fit to ensure the validity and integrity of the elections process.

3.5 The Election Committee shall count the votes and declare the result immediately thereafter.

3.5.1 If an election has three or more candidates, the instant runoff system will be used. In this system, each voting member may rank as many candidates as they choose, in order of preference. Ballots will then be distributed according to first-preference votes. If any candidate has a majority of votes, they are declared the winner. Otherwise, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and each of their votes is redistributed to the next-preference candidate on the ballot who is still in the running. This process continues until one candidate has a majority of votes, who is then declared the winner.

3.5.2 If an election has two or fewer candidates, the candidate that receives a simple majority of the votes will be declared winner. Voters shall have the option to abstain from voting for either candidate on the ballot. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a failed election will be declared and a new nomination period will open as outlined in section 3.5.3.

3.5.3 If fifty percent or more of ballots are returned as blank or abstentions, then a failed election shall be declared. A new nomination period shall immediately be opened, with the retry election to take place at the following meeting. The Election Chair may consider the distribution of drop-down positions and nominees for the retry election to determine if other elections can be held before the retry election.

3.6 The committee chair and coordinator positions shall be appointed by the five newly elected officers. All active and inactive members of Council are eligible to apply for committee chair and coordinator positions. Applications for the appointed positions shall be released no later than 24 hours after the second election meeting and shall be due within two weeks of the release date, at the discretion of the newly elected Executive Committee. The five newly elected officers shall read and discuss all applications and declare their appointments within one week of the due date.

NATURAL SCIENCES COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

ARTICLE I: PURPOSE

1.1 This Code of Conduct is intended to outline the shared values and guiding principles that Members of the Natural Sciences Council are expected to adhere to while representing NSC. This also defines as a set of rules which, if violated, are grounds for immediate removal or other disciplinary action at the discretion of the Executive Committee

ARTICLE II: INFRACTIONS

2.1 The following infractions represent violations that can lead to removal from NSC or other disciplinary action:

Harmful Behavior
1. Any behavior that threatens the health or safety of another person (students, faculty, staff, or other). This includes, but is not limited to, bullying, harassment, or discrimination.
Hazing
1. State law and Sec. 14-103(3) of the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities and Information on Students’ Rights and Responsibilities define hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off of the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a person, for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization.
2. Any member found in violation of the University’s Hazing Policy may be subject to immediate removal from Council at the discretion of the Executive Committee. This includes threats of hazing, whether intended to be taken seriously or not.
Sexual Misconduct
1. NSC maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct of any kind. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and sex discrimination as defined by The University of Texas at Austin Handbook of Operating Procedures 3-3031.
2. Any NSC member found to be in violation of the Council’s policy towards sexual misconduct is subject to immediate removal from NSC. This extends to violations at any formal NSC functions, informal NSC functions, in the NSC Office, or while representing NSC.
3. NSC Members who are victims of sexual misconduct can contact the University’s Title IX Office or other University or community resources.
Misuse of Council Resources
1. The use of any Council resources and/or physical items in association with illegal activity or harmful behavior. This includes but is not limited to official funds, on-campus storage/workspaces, official NSC lines of communication, or anything considered to be NSC property.
Providing False or Misleading Information
1. Acting with malintent to lie or deceive the University, staff and administration, or NSC Executive Committee acting in the course of their duties while investigating a potential violation of the NSC Code of Conduct.

ARTICLE III: RESPONSE TO INFRACTIONS

3.1 The Executive Committee has the right to investigate the potential infraction of the Code of Conduct and to determine consequences accordingly. Consequences can include, but are not limited to, a temporary suspension of duties, a probationary period, or removal from NSC and reporting to the Dean of Students if deemed necessary. Should someone choose to report anonymously, they are accepting that the Executive Committee may not be able to fully investigate claims made based on the limited information made available at the time, and may result in the inability to solve said issue.

ARTICLE IV: AMENDMENTS

4.1 Amendments to the Code of Conduct may be submitted at any time to the Executive Committee for review. The final version of the amendment is to be submitted to the members of the Council for approval by ballot vote. A member quorum must be established, and a two-thirds majority is required to ratify an amendment to the Code of Conduct.

4.2 An amendment to the Code of Conduct takes effect immediately upon ratification unless otherwise stated within said amendment.

Ratified 9/22/20
Amended 12/04/23