To maintain effective graduate student representation and empowerment, the GSO encourages graduate students to volunteer to serve on various GSO and University-wide committees. Graduate students are encouraged to contribute their respective skills and participate in one or more committees. All internal GSO committees serve to oversee the general practices, policies and procedures of the Organization as a whole. In general, each committee is chaired by a member of the Executive Board and are required to have a minimum of three other graduate students. Graduate student representation on University-wide committees is critical, as these are the bodies within which we are able to voice our concerns and protect our interests during various decision-making processes carried out by the University’s administrators. Volunteers serving on such committees are expected to act as
liaisons between the graduate student body and the University administration, and to report to the GSO Senate issues that concern graduate student life on campus. Meeting hours and dates have been provided as best as possible. Please check with the GSO for further
information.

I. GSO COMMITTEES

To sign up for any of these committees please give your name, telephone number and e-mail address to the GSO Vice President and indicate which committee you are interested in serving on. CONSTITUTION, BY-LAWS AND CHARTERING COMMITTEE Chaired by the Vice President and must have at least three other members recommended by the chair and approved by the Senate. This committee oversees reviewing the GSO Constitution and By-laws and, whenever necessary, recommends changes to be presented to the Senate and voted on by graduate students through referenda publicized in advance. This committee also reviews new charter requests, and upon approval, recommends the charter request to the Senate to be voted on.
Meetings: Members of this committee meet when necessary and as determined by themselves.

GENERAL ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
Chaired by the Vice-President and must have at least three other members recommended by the chair and approved by the Senate. This committee oversees the GSO General Elections and Referenda processes, and is officially responsible for the running of elections and of referenda. [This Committee’s composition and duties will be under review by the GSO Senate during the Fall 2005 semester.] Meetings: Members of this committee meet during the Spring semester as frequently as necessary.

BUDGET COMMITTEE
Chaired by the Treasurer and must have at least three other members recommended by the chair and approved by the Senate. This committee assesses various GSO budget allocations and works on the financial infrastructure of the GSO. It proposes a beginning-of-the year budget to be ratified by the Senate and regularly updates budget files. It also informs the Senate and gets its approval for various allocations after providing some recommendations in relation to the overall expenditures of the GSO, and, when necessary, to the particular worth of any project for the body of graduate students. Meetings: This committee meets at least twice a month, usually before Senate meetings.

GRADUATE STUDENT CONFERENCE, TRAVEL, AND RESEARCH FUND (GSCTRF) COMMITTEE
Chaired by the Treasurer and must comprise of a faculty member and at least three other members. This committee reviews GSCTRF applications, and decides the amount of reimbursement to each accepted applicant. The decisions of this committee are not subject to Senate approval, but might be subject to control by the Treasury Overseeing Committee.
Meetings: As determined by the GSO Treasurer

COMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Chaired by an Executive Board member and must have at least three other active members recommended by the Committee chair and approved by the Senate. The purpose of this committee is to investigate and address issues that impinge upon the academic rights and freedoms of graduate students as members of the campus community, as academics, and as professionals. Meetings: when necessary.

TREASURY OVERSEEING COMMITTEE
Responsible for the supervision of the finances of the GSO, that is, the supervision of the records of the disbursement of funds, the transferal of monies and the state of all GSO accounts. It is chaired by the Assistant to the President or a non-Executive Board member and has as its other members the Executive Board and minimally three other graduate members appointed by the Senate. The Committee is expected to meet at least once a month during the academic year (September to May) for overseeing the transaction of the GSO funds. For quorum, the presence at least one of the non-Executive Board members is mandatory. The Committee is expected to report its findings to the Senate regularly, and to make a formal report to the Senate at least once a semester. In case of discovery of any irregularities, the Committee is responsible for bringing such cases to the attention of the Senate, and for consulting the matter with the Chief Financial Officer of SUNY Binghamton.

GRADUATE STUDENT GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE
Chaired by the Graduate Vice President of Multicultural Affairs. This committee handles students' grievances, especially concerning the well being within, and treatment of students by, departments and the university in general, and will give guidance and support for individual students who have individual grievances filed with university-wide committees. It also deals with any grievances related to the GSO and its various internal committees.
Meetings: when necessary.

AD HOC COMMITTEES
The creation of ad hoc committees is among the powers of the Senate. The Executive Board may recommend the creation of and make appointments to such committees subject to the approval of the Senate.


II. UNIVERSITY-WIDE COMMITTEES

These committees generally schedule meetings on dates and times most suitable for their respective members. Typically, they meet once a month or when necessary. Check with the GSO for details concerning meetings. If you are interested in signing up for any of these committees, the GSO will relay your contact information to the committee chairs.

HARPUR COLLEGE COUNCIL
Three graduate students representing respectively the Humanities, Social Sciences, and
Science/Mathematics. The HCC has eight standing committees: Academic Honesty; Academic Standards; Admissions; Curriculum; Educational Planning and Policies; Elections; Innovational Projects Board; and Summer Committee. The standard meeting time for HCC is Wednesday from 1:15 pm – 2:05 pm in UU 133 and it only meets as needed.

GRADUATE COUNCIL
Four graduate students, including the GSO President, and three others chosen such that the four representatives include two from Arts and Sciences, and two from the Professional Schools. The Graduate Council has five standing committees: Graduate Budget Advisory Committee; Curriculum Committee; Academic Standards and Planning Committee; Advisory Committee for Scholarship and Research; and Grievance Committee. Meetings: Once a month on Mondays 3:00-4:30 pm. Check with GSO for further details.

FACULTY SENATE
Seven standing committees that allow for one graduate student representative each: Budget Review Committee; Convocations Committee; Educational Policy and Priorities Committee; Library Committee; Educational Opportunity Program Advisory Committee; Committee for the University Environment; and All University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.
Meetings: The Faculty Senate meets on Tuesdays at 11:45 am in UU133 only when there is business.

AUXILIARY SERVICES COMMITTEE
One or more graduate student representatives, as indicated below:

Contract Dining and Cash Food Services (1)
Catering and Chenango Room (1)
Bookstore (2)
Vending (2)
Childcare (3)

Meetings:

> The Bookstore Advisory Committee will have its first meeting on October 19th
in UU324, 12:00-1:00 pm. Please notify the GSO as soon as possible if you are interest so that luncheon arrangements can be made with the Bookstore Committee. Further meetings will probably be scheduled.

> The Vending Advisory Committee has two (2) scheduled meetings at this time, both on Wednesdays. The first meeting is on 16th
November, 2005 from 3:30-4:30 pm in UU102. The second meeting will be on 22nd March, 2006 from 3:30-4:30 pm in UU101.

> The Childcare Advisory Committee will be meeting on Thursdays, in the back room of the Chenango Room from 12:00-1:00 pm. Lunch will be provided.

The meeting dates for Fall 2005 are: October 6th, November 3rd , December 1st.
The meeting dates for Spring 2006 are: February 2nd, March 2nd and April 6th.


SERVICE AWARDS COMMITTEES
One graduate student for each of the two committees. The first selection committee reviews the nominations and recommends no more than two nominees to the university's President for the University Award for Excellence in Professional Service. A second selection committee recommends no more than two nominees to the university's president for the University Award for Excellence in Classified Service. Meetings: As necessary, and generally during the Spring semester.

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
One graduate student representative. Note: This position has been filled.

PERSONAL SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
One graduate student representative.

STRATEGIC PLANNING COUNCIL
One graduate student representative, preferably a GSO executive committee member.

PARKING COMMITTEE
One graduate student representing graduate students' interests on parking space issues and parking policies.