The Constitution.

Constitution of the Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (HPME) Graduate Students Union (HPME-GSU)

I. Name

The name of the organization shall be the HPME Graduate Students Union (HPME-GSU) at the University of Toronto, Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (HPME).

II. Purpose

The HPME-GSU will officially represent the graduate students of the Department of HPME and design and undertake actions in the students’ common interest.

III. Membership:

All full-time and part-time graduate students registered in the HPME Department shall automatically be members of the HPME-GSU.

IV. Objectives:

To represent the members of the department of HPME on all matters in which representation may be in the interests of such student(s).

To promote and maintain communication between the members of HPME-GSU and the personnel of the Department of HPME, the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Toronto’s Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) and the University of Toronto.

To initiate, sponsor, coordinate, and promote social, academic, cultural, and athletic events in which the members of HPME-GSU may be interested, and to promote the welfare and interests of the individuals registered in the Department of HPME at the University of Toronto.

V. Executive:
The HPME-GSU Executive shall consist of at least three (3) members, elected from the membership of HPME-GSU. Executive roles are outlined in section VI of this document. Dual/ multiple roles may be assumed upon unanimous agreement from the Executive.
The first year representatives for each of the MHSc programs will be elected in the fall term from and by the first year members of their particular streams. These elected representatives may continue to serve as their stream’s second year representative. If necessary, a by-election shall be held to fill a vacant office.

Meetings of the Executive shall be held as necessary, but no less frequently than once per month. A quorum for general meetings shall be 50% of the members sitting on council.

VI. Executive Roles:
Ideally the Executive shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Graduate Students Union Representative, Curriculum Committee Representative, MSc/PhD Advisory Committee Representative, Secretary, Past HPME-GSU Representative, HPME Professional Stream year one and year two representatives, and an alumni association representative as well as any other necessary Executives to conduct ongoing business.

The duties of the officers shall be:

i) President - to act as the official representative of HPME-GSU and undertake all duties assigned by HPME-GSU and chair meetings of the HPME-GSU or Executive.

ii) Vice-President – shall assist the president in duties assigned by the HPME-GSU in manners deemed appropriate by the president or the Executive. Shall assume the responsibilities of the president in the president’s absence or in the event that the president’s position is vacated without replacement. The vice-president shall also assume the duties of chair in the absence of the chairperson but retain all voting privileges.

iii) Treasurer - to be responsible for the procurement and disbursement of funds of HPME-GSU. A year-end financial statement shall be submitted to the incoming Treasurer, and an interim financial statement shall be submitted to the Executive quarterly at Executive meetings. The Treasurer shall also guide the budgetary process from year to year and is responsible for submitting applications for head grants on a yearly basis.

iv) Secretary - to record minutes of all HPME-GSU/Executive meetings and to distribute them for the review of HPME-GSU membership. The Secretary shall also preside over HPME-GSU meetings in order to facilitate the efficient working of the council, prepare and distribute agendas and notify the Executive of upcoming meetings for widespread dissemination.

v) Past HPME-GSU Representative - to act as counsel for the current president and the rest of the Executive.

vi) Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) Representative – will act as the primary liaison between the University of Toronto’s GSU and the HPME-GSU. Will attend monthly meetings and attend to any business arising from such meetings. Will report at monthly meetings to the HPME-GSU on business arising from the GSU. Will also represent the HPME-GSU’s interests at the GSU level. Should this position not be filled, the duties of the GSU representative can be rotated amongst the Executive to ensure HPME representation at the GSU.

vii) Curriculum Committee Representative – will attend Department of HPME curriculum committee meetings to ensure and promote student representation in curriculum committee matters. Representative will liaison with the Executive as needed and will report progress on a monthly basis at HPME-GSU meetings.

viii) Alumni Association Representative – will liase with the Society of Graduates to promote student and alumni issues at the alumni association’s meetings. Will liase with Executive as needed and will report progress on a monthly basis at HPME-GSU meetings.

ix) Year One HPME Professional Stream Representative – will be a representative chosen from the Year One of the professional stream. Will liase with year one and will represent their interests at the monthly Executive meetings. Will relate HPME-GSU matters to the class as needed for input.

x) Year Two HPME Professional Stream Representative - will be a representative chosen from the Year Two of the professional stream. Will liase with year one and will represent their interests at the monthly Executive meetings. Will attend Department of HPME MHSc Program Advisory Committee meetings to ensure and promote student representation in MHSc Program Advisory Committee matters. Will relate HPME-GSU matters to the class as needed for input.

xi) MSC-PhD Program Advisory Committee Representative - will be a representative chosen from the MSc/PhD stream. Will liase with students from their stream and will represent their interests at the monthly Executive meetings. Will attend Department of HPME MSc/PhD Program Advisory Committee meetings to ensure and promote student representation in MSc/PhD Program Advisory Committee matters. Will relate HPME-GSU matters to colleagues as needed for input.

VII. Elections and Eligibility:

All Executive officers shall be elected annually from and by the membership of the HPME-GSU. The elections shall be held as determined by a majority decision of the HPME-GSU no later than February 28th of any given academic year.

Notice of elections and request for nominations must be given no later than February 15th of any given academic year.

Nominations are open to all students enrolled in the Department of HPME with at least one year remaining in their academic program.

Candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by a member of the HPME-GSU. In the event that no candidate for a position has been nominated prior to the Election Day, the position will be considered vacant.

In the event that a position is vacant after a general election, the Executive is free to pursue means of recruiting interested members to fill that position in means it deems reasonable.

All members of the department of HPME are eligible to vote regardless of the remaining number of years in their program.

The term of the Executive shall end on July 1st of any given academic year and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

VIII. Amendments:
This constitution may be amended at any general meeting, by two thirds vote of students present at the meeting. The Executive may also amend the Constitution with unanimous vote at monthly Executive meetings.

IX. General Meetings:

General meetings of the HPME-GSU can be called at any time upon petition of 15% of members. At least one general meeting shall be called each academic year, normally in September at the beginning of the academic year. Every general meeting shall be publicly announced.

X. Financial Statements:

Annual financial statements shall be made publicly available at the end of each fiscal year. The fiscal year begins on September 1st to follow the academic year. The financial statements of the HPME-GSU shall be made available for viewing or auditing to the University of Toronto GSU upon request.

XI. Recalls:

Members of the Executive Committee may be recalled at a general meeting with two-thirds vote and if there is a member student willing and able to fill the position. Executive Committee members will be recalled if they commit a criminal act against the Student Union (hence member students) including theft or fraud of Union funds.

Ratified September 21st, 2006 at the monthly meeting of the HPME-GSU Executive.

University of Toronto

Health Sciences Building, 425 – 155 College Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M5T 3M6

gsu.hpme@utoronto.ca

Catherine L. Mah

2006-10-26