Constitution

University of Waterloo

School of Optometry and Vision Science

Preamble: The Graduates in Vision Science (GIVS) propose to serve as a departmental graduate student association recognized by the Graduate Student Association of the University of Waterloo and provide services to all full-time and part-time graduate students at the School of Optometry and Vision Science.  These services include, but are not limited to, promoting social interaction among vision science graduate students, participating in the development of policies that relate to the graduate students, organizing and/or participating in academic activities related to vision science and vision science graduate students, and promoting the exchange of information with vision science graduate student representatives and departmental representatives.

Graduates in Vision Science Constitution

  • The organization shall be known as Graduates in Vision Science (GIVS).
  • The purpose and goals of the GIVS are,
    • To provide services for vision science graduate students.
    • To promote interaction among vision science graduate students.
    • To participate in the development of policies, which relate to the graduate students, particularly vision science graduate students.
    • To promote the exchange of information with vision science graduate student representatives.
  • All full- and part-time graduate students in the School of Optometry and Vision Science shall be member of the GIVS. 
  • All full- and part-time graduate students in the School of Optometry and Vision Science (VS) shall be member of the Council of GIVS and have an equal vote on issues pertaining to the operation of GIVS.
  • The council shall be responsible for carrying out the following activities;
    • In May of every year the Council shall elect a committee comprising the following: President, a Vice President, Treasurer, Communications officer and Vision Science Research Scientific Symposium (VSRSS) Committee Representative with duties as outlined below
  • President
    • Represent graduate students at the School of Optometry and VS, Graduate & Research (G&R) meetings
    • Represent graduate students at faculty council meetings
    • Plan and organize social events
    • Approve funding applications
    • Speak for GIVS to faculty, administration, etc
  • Vice president
    • Co-ordinate planning and execution for fundraising events
    • Stand in for the president including meeting attendance whenever he/she is unavailable
    • Help plan and organize social events
    • Represent GIVS at GSA meetings and report GSA information to GIVS members.
  • Treasurer
    • Manage GIVS funds
    • Organise and co-ordinate applications for grants
    • Purchase memberships on behalf of GIVS (may include memberships that provide discounted supplies and/or access to academic societies
    • Organise the purchase and delivery of supplies for GIVS events and other activities
    • Collect and manage funds for supplies and GIVS events
  • Communications Officer
    • Send out communications/announcement emails to staff, students and faculty about upcoming events
    • Design, take pictures and update GIVS website
    • Take minutes of GIVS council meetings
  • VSRSS Representative
    • Assist with the planning and execution of Vision Science Graduate Student research conferences
    • Represent GIVS on the Vision Science Series seminar organising committee
    • Organise the purchasing and giving of gifts to invited lecturers at Vision Science Seminar Series seminars
  • Host(s) for Writing Café
    • Send out a survey at the beginning of each term for everyone's availability and choose the most optimal time/date to host the café
    • Communicate with the main-campus Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) and inform WCC of the new hosts every term and the scheduled time and date of the café every week
    • Communicate with the WLRC to reserve the computer desks
    • Keep track of Writing Café participants each week using attendance sheets provided by the WCC
    • Purchase supplies (coffee/tea/snacks/plates/napkins)
    • Set up and take down the supplies each week
    • Set up the timer for each writing session

In case of president or VP cannot attend a meeting - then other members of the council shall attend the meeting on behalf of President or Vice President.

Hosting Writing Café is a two-person job. If there is only one host for the term, other GIVS Council members will rotate and assist the host to run the café. 

All positions support each other.

  • Council meetings shall be called and held under the following conditions:
    • Meetings may be called on by the president or by signed petition of ten percent of the council.
    • All councillors shall be sent notification of the call for a Council meeting at least one week before the meeting date.
    • The presence of twenty percent of Graduates in vision science shall suffice for a quorum for a council meeting. If the quorum is not met the meeting is declared null and void.
  • Amendments of this constitution may be made by a simple majority of those present at a council meeting.