BPKSA Constitution

Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology Student Association

Constitution

A. Name

Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology Student Association Constitution

The name of the union shall be the Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology Student Association (“BPKSA”) and shall be referred to as “the union.”

B. Objectives
The objectives of the union shall be:

i. To promote student interests within the department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (“BPK”) – referred to as “the department” – the Simon Fraser Student Society (“SFSS”), the university (“SFU”), and the community at large, to provide students the means and opportunity to involve themselves in the running of undergraduate affairs within the department to create a sense of community within the department.

C. Membership
Membership in this union shall be extended to, as defined by official academic status:

  1. All declared majors, minors and honours students in the department,
  2. All intended BPK Majors,
  3. All students currently enrolled in at least one BPK course

D. Executive Committee
The committee shall be composed of: Tier 1 Members:

  1. President,
  2. Vice-president,
  3. Treasurer,
  4. Secretary,
  5. SFSS Council Representative,
  6. Departmental Committees Representative, Biomedical Physiology,
  7. Departmental Committees Representative, Kinesiology,
  8. External Relations Officer,

Tier 2 Members:

  1. Promotional Coordinator,
  2. Promotional Assistant,
  3. Departmental Student Union Representative,
  4. Science Undergraduate Society Representative,
  5. BPK Student Space Coordinator,
  6. First Year Representative

Tier 3 Members:
xv. Sub-committee Member.

Powers and duties of Executive Members shall include the following:

  1. President
    a. Chair Meetings and facilitate discussion,
    b. Schedule meetings for each semester,
    c. Prepare agenda (issues, updates, event planning, etc.) for each meeting, d. Represent the union at department and union functions,
    e. Oversee union activities,
    f. Act as a signing authority for the union,
    g. Chair ad hoc committees until a chair is appointed at general meetings.
  2. Vice President
    a. Assist President as necessary or requested,
    b. Chair meetings and otherwise fulfill President’s role if President is unable todo so,
    c. Assume the responsibilities of the President should they resign or should theposition be otherwise vacant,
    d. Act as signing authority for the union.
  3. Treasurer
    1. Maintain all financial records of the union including a statement of assetsand anticipated intakes and expenditures,
    2. Make reports to the union membership, including an accounting of all fundsreceived and spent in the name of the union, as necessary or requested,
    3. Prepare and submit to the executive a proposed operating budget for eachsemester,
    4. Act as a liaison between the union and any sources of funding,
    5. Act as a signing authority for the union.
  4. Secretary

a. Record and distribute minutes of meetings,

b. Maintain files and records of inion activities,
c. Oversee union correspondence, including maintenance of the union mailing

lists.

  1. SFSS Council Representative
    a. Represent the union in the SFSS Council,
    b. Maintain communication between the union and Council,
    c. With the direction of the union, promote the interests of the union in theCouncil,
    d. Uphold all other duties and obligations of Councillors as prescribed in By-Law6, section 16 “Duties and Obligations of Council” of the SFSS By-Laws. e. Must be the only executive role that the union member holds
  2. Departmental Committees Representative, Biomedical Physiology
    1. Attend all department meetings on which the union has representatives,such as the Undergraduate Programming Committee,
    2. Keep the union informed of departmental affairs,
    3. With the direction of the union, promote the interests of the union in thedepartment committees,
    4. Must be an intended or approved Biomedical Physiology Major.
  3. Departmental Committees Representative, Kinesiology
    1. Attend all department meetings on which the union has representatives,such as the Undergraduate Programming Committee,
    2. Keep the union informed of departmental affairs,
    3. With the direction of the union, promote the interests of the union in thedepartment committees,
    4. Must be an intended or approved Kinesiology Major.
  4. External Relations Officer
    a. Act as the primary point of contact for external organizations,
    b. Maintain and update a contact list of representatives as necessary.
  5. Promotional Coordinator
    a. As guided by the union, develop promotional materials for union events, b. Arrange position and disbursement of promotional items,
    c. Organize volunteer scheduling for academic and social events.
  6. Promotional Assistant
    1. As guided by the union, assist in development of promotional material forunions events,
    2. Maintain presence on social media platforms owned by the union.
  1. Departmental Student Union Representative
    a. Attend all Departmental Students Union Meetings on behalf of the union, b. Keep the union informed of SFU Departmental Students Union affairs,
    c. With direction of the union, promote the interests of the union to theDepartmental Student Unions and Student Engagement Coordinator.
  2. Science Undergraduate Society Representative
    a. Attend all Science Undergraduate Society Meetings on behalf of the union, b. Keep the union informed of Science Undergraduate Society affairs,
    c. With direction of the union, promote the interests of the union to theScience Undergraduate Society.
  3. BPK Student Space Coordinator
    a. Coordinate the planning and execution of events in BPK student space,
    b. Assist in the maintenance of BPK Student Space,
    c. Assist in the distribution of promotional materials within BPK student space, d. Bring any ideas or concerns involved with BPK student space to the union.
  4. First Year Representative
    a. Attend the union’s General Meetings,
    b. Share responsibility in helping the Union function
    c. Ensure that issues and view pertaining to members of the Union in their firstyear of Post-Secondary education are well-represented within the ExecutiveCommittee and the Union as a whole
    d. Must be an intended or approved BPK student in their first year of study at

    university

  5. Sub-committee Member.

a. Have an unspecified role in the planning and execution of union events.

E. Meetings

The organizational structure of the union shall be based upon regular general meetings (referred to as simply “meetings”) and an Annual General Meeting (“AGM”). Responsibilities for accomplishing specific tasks may be assigned on an ad hoc basis to interested volunteers.

i. All Meetings of the union shall be open to all members of the union, and all members of the union shall have a voice and vote.

ii. Goals of meetings shall encompass the following:
a. Further the objectives of the union,
b. Allocate all funds and approve intended budgets,
c. Notify the membership of the AGM and associate Executive elections,

  1. Establish a general format of activities for the forthcoming semester and year,
  2. Establish ad hoc committees and organize volunteers as necessary,
  3. Maintain communication between the union and other student unions andexternal organizations.
  1. Regular General Meetings
    a. Must be held on at least a monthly basis,
    b. An additional meeting must be called if at least 4 Executive Members or atleast 7 members request it,
    c. Quorum shall be four members which includes three Tier 1 Members andone Tier 2 or Tier 3 Members,
    d. Executive Members are expected to give notice of their absence to general

    meetings.
    e. Agenda items for the meeting may be submitted by any Executive Member,

    so long the union is given at least 4 days’ notice prior to the meeting.

  2. Annual General Meetings:
    1. Shall be held annually during the Spring term, between Week 7 and Week 10(i.e. by the 3rd week of March)
    2. Quorum Shall be 6 members which includes three Tier 1 Members and 3 Tier2 or 3 Members,
    3. A minimum of one week’s notice must be given to the union membershipprior to an annual general meeting (AGM)
    4. Notice of the AGM shall contain particulars of time and place of the meetingplus a list of the main items of business to be discussed,
    5. Notice shall consist of emails sent via the department undergraduate mailinglist and the union mailing list.
    6. Executive Members are expected to give notice of their absence to annualgeneral meetings.
    7. All Executive Members are welcome to report on the union’s activities forthe given term and make suggestions for the upcoming term, so long as themember has notified the union preceding the annual general meeting.
    8. The Treasurer is expected to report on the financial standing of the union.

F. Voting

  1. In all meetings of the union, issues will be decided by a simple majority of members present and voting, except where a larger majority is called for by this constitution.
  2. Voting shall be by an open hand count, except for any vote that is to be conducted by secret ballot. Secret voting can be called for by any union member if seconded.
  3. All Executive elections will be by secret ballot.
  1. The union should go to reasonable effort to enlist a staff or faculty volunteer from the department to count votes, in the presence of a union representative, in the interest of transparency and fairness.
  2. Each union member present at any meeting is entitled to one vote on any issue.
  3. Proxy voting is not allowed.

G. Elections

i. Executive Members are to be elected at the AGM.
a. The exception to this rule shall be the First Year Representative, to be elected

during September of the following Fall Semester (executive term will run

from September through April 30th)

  1. Candidates for elections must make known their intent to run a minimum of oneweek in advance by emailing the President or by making their desire known at aprevious meeting.
  2. Candidates for vacancies must make known their intent to run a minimum of oneweek in advance by emailing the President or by making their desire known at aprevious meeting.
  3. Term of office is one year, beginning May 1st and ending on April 30th the followingyear.
  4. Vacancies can be chosen to be filled by two-thirds majority vote at a quoratemeeting. Should there be multiple candidates, there will be a follow-up vote wherethe candidate with the most votes will be appointed.
  5. All union members are eligible for Tier 1 Member elected positions after at least 1term as a regularly involved member of the union. Tier 2 and Tier 3 Member elected positions are open to all union members, regardless of previous involvement with the union.
  6. After the candidates nominated for a position are announced, they are to leave the room to allow for discussion. Once the votes for that position are cast, they shall be allowed to return.
  7. Whichever candidate receives the most votes will be elected.
  8. Executive Members of the previous election cycle are responsible for participating inthe training of their respective incoming Executive Members. Had the position been vacant, the sitting President and Vice-President bear the responsibility of participating in the incoming Executive Members’ training.

a. There shall be a 2–3-week training period conducted by Executive Members for their respective incoming Executive Members prior to the start of the next Executive term.

H. Dissolution

i. In the event that the membership decides to dissolve the student union, or in the event that the union becomes inactive, all assets of the student union become the

property of the Simon Fraser Student Society, to be held in trust for a minimum

period of two years.

  1. If, during this period, a new union is formed to represent the interests of studentswithin the department, or if this union becomes active, the trust shall be dissolved,and all assets shall become the property of the student union.
  2. After two years, if the trust has not been dissolved, the Simon Fraser Student Societymay dispose of the assets as it sees fit.
  3. For the purpose of this article, the student union shall have become inactive if, fortwo consecutive semesters, the membership does not hold the minimum number ofquorate general meetings as required by article five of this constitution.
  4. This article shall not be altered except with the prior consent of the Simon FraserStudent Society.

I. Recall

  1. Any Executive Member can be recalled at any quorate meeting by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
  2. Notice of recall must be given at the preceding meeting.
  3. The union member(s) proposing a recall vote must give one week’s written notice(by email or otherwise) to the Executive Member whose position is in question.
  4. Reasons for the recall vote must be put to the union membership before the vote.
  5. The questioned Executive Member, if present, must be given opportunity to defend his or her actions before the vote.
  6. If an Executive Member is recalled, the vacant position may be filled immediately by the procedures outlined in section G.

J. Resignation

  1. An Executive Member must make their intent to resign known to the union a minimum of one week in advance by emailing the President or by making their desire known at a previous meeting.
  2. Resigning members must participate in the training of their respective incoming Executive Members unless there are no candidates.

K. Amendments

i. ii. iii.

L.

Amendments to this constitution shall be allowed if passed by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting at a quorate general meeting.
The general nature of the proposed amendment must be clearly stated in the notice of meeting preceding that general meeting.

All amendments must ultimately be approved by the SFSS before ratification.

Freedom of Information

1.

i. ii.

Copies of this constitution shall be freely available to all union members upon request.
Access to all union records, minutes, plans and other information shall be made available to all union members on request.

Ratification and Amendments

  1. This constitution was ratified September 29, 1998
  2. Keyed in June 28, 2004
  3. Amended January 27, 2012
  4. Amended December 4, 2017
  5. Amended January 2, 2020
  6. Amended September 17, 2020
  7. Amended January 26, 2021
  8. Amended March 9, 2021
  9. Amended June 10, 2021

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