CNSSA Constitution

PREAMBLE: 

1. The purpose of this document is to define the roles and structure of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society Student Association (CNSSA) and to serve as a guide to its Executive in their efforts to represent the interests of its members.

ARTICLE 1:  Name and Purpose

 1. The CNSSA exists to represent the student affiliates of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) and serve in an advisory capacity to the CNS Executive Committee.  As such, the CNSSA is committed to:

A. Promoting and advancing the interests of scientific research done by students.

B. Enhancing the professional development of its student members through opportunities for collaboration and networking.

C. To foster student unity.

D. To develop and organize events, projects, and subcommittees with the goal of benefiting the student members of CNS.

 ARTICLE 2:  Membership

 1. All student affiliates in good standing with the Cognitive Neuroscience Society shall be members of the CNSSA.

 2.  All student affiliates shall be treated without discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or mental or physical disability.

ARTICLE 3: Meetings

1.  The General Meeting of the CNSSA will be held once per year at the annual CNS meeting.  The Executive Council will continue communication throughout the year in preparation for the upcoming conference.

2.  All meetings of the Executive Council of the CNSSA shall be open to any member of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society who wishes to attend. 

3.  The Chair shall set the agenda for meetings of the council.  Any student who wishes to raise an issue or question before the Council should notify a member of the Council in writing at least six weeks before the General Meeting for inclusion in the agenda.

ARTICLE 4: Officers, Duties, and Terms of Office

 1.  The executive officers shall serve one-year terms.  At the end of their term executive members may choose to run for re-election or resign.  All five officers will have full voting rights on the council.

2.  Qualifications for persons who are nominated to run for an Executive Council position are:

- All students with current CNS memberships shall be student affiliate members of CNSSA

- All Executive Council positions shall be held by students with graduate school status.

3.  In the event that there are not enough members interested in filling all of the Executive positions, the existing Executive members will share the duties among themselves as the need arises.  If the need arises, new positions will be created to accommodate interests expressed by the general membership.

4. The Executive Council officers’ specific duties shall include the following:

CHAIR:

- The Chair is responsible for organizing and chairing CNSSA Executive Council meetings, and shall supervise, in a general way, all the functions of the CNSSA Executive Council.  Before the General Meeting, the Chair is responsible for preparing the agenda and notifying all executive members of the date and issues to be discussed.  The Chair will serve as the liaison between the Student Association and the CNS Executive Committee via the Executive Director of CNS.  The Chair is also responsible for coordinating social events for CNSSA members.

VICE CHAIR:

 -  The Vice Chair will work closely with and share all responsibilities of the Chair.  The Vice Chair shall act on the Chair’s  behalf in his / her absence and preside at the General Meeting should the Chair  not be able to attend.

COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING OFFICER:

 - Is responsible for the Executive Council minutes; information networking (e.g., electronic mail systems); membership recruitment; and organizing the Campus Representatives Program.

SOCIAL EVENT COORDINATOR:

 - In close communication with the Chair, responsible for organizing CNSSA social events and group outings.  These events include but are not limited to social evenings at a venue in the city where the annual conference is being held.  It is required that Social Event Coordinators are present at all social events to guide and assist student members.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR:

 - Works with conference planner to recruit volunteers for the meeting.  The Volunteer Coordinator is also responsible for compiling a list of affordable accommodations for students and organizes the hotel match-up program.

PAST-CHAIR / ADVISOR:

 - This position is automatically offered to the Chair at the end of his / her term.  The advisor is responsible for offering guidance to the current Chair on the tasks and duties of the CNSSA.  This includes passing on resources from the previous year pertinent to CNSSA tasks and duties. 

ARTICLE 5: Removal of Officers

1. A member of the Executive Council may be removed from office by the unanimous vote of the other Executive Council members and the CNS Executive Committee. The Chair shall then appoint a person to take over the duties of the vacant office with the approval of the majority of the Executive Council and the CNS Executive Committee until the next annual meeting.

ARTICLE 6: Ammendments

1. These bylaws may be amended by unanimous vote of the Executive Council or the student members who reply to an email ballot sent to the total membership.  Bylaws amendments may be initiated by the Executive Council, by petition of 2/3 of the total student membership.