This charter establishes the governance structure for the Cornell Tech Student Government (hereinafter “CTSG”), concerned with those matters directly affecting graduate masters students of Cornell Tech at Cornell University (hereinafter “the Student Body”).

The CTSG aims to serve Cornell Tech by giving graduate masters students a voice, representing student opinions, and maintaining tradition to enrich the overall quality of student life.

The purpose of CTSG By-Laws is to provide a comprehensive procedure for the continued involvement of graduate masters students in the governance of non-academic affairs, as well as to foster an increased sense of community among all constituencies through shared responsibilities.

CTSG will actively seek to involve Cornell Tech’s diverse graduate student population in the

CTSG’s decision-making activities. Particular effort will be made to ensure that underrepresented groups have access to CTSG representatives.

ARTICLE 1: AUTHORITY

Section 1.1: Scope of Authority

CTSG shall have a voice in those activities, program areas, and non-academic policies that affect graduate students at Cornell Tech. The CTSG shall serve as a body for the exchange of views between the graduate student population and the administration. The CTSG shall explore opportunities to enhance the role and function of graduate students and their contribution to the well-being of Cornell Tech. The CTSG will have appropriation authority over the Cornell Tech Student activities funding allocating to student led and organized events as it sees fit.

Section 1.2: Legislative Authority Over Policies

The CTSG shall have the authority to examine any policies that impact graduate masters students. The CTSG shall have the authority to make recommendations to the appropriate bodies and Cornell Tech administrators concerning these matters. The CTSG shall be consulted with respect to the modification and development of non-academic policies that directly affect graduate students.

Section 1.3: Ethical Conduct of CTSG Members

Ethical Conduct
Members of the CTSG are expected to conduct themselves ethically and professionally in all their interactions. This includes but is not limited to avoiding conflicts of interest, refraining from using their position for personal gain and treating all members of the Cornell Tech community with respect and dignity.
Misuse of Position
Any misuse of one’s position, including but not limited to the misappropriation of funds, breach of ethical conduct, or failure to act upon the responsibilities required for the role will be considered a serious breach of trust and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the CTSG.

ARTICLE 2: CTSG MEMBERSHIP

CTSG shall be comprised of the Council and an Executive Board, all advised by the Cornell Tech Director of Student Services.

Section 2.1: Council Representatives

Each academic program shall elect at least one representative to the CTSG. How elections are run are contingent on individual programs (whether a traditional election or nomination process), and programs may solicit the help of others to help run independent elections as-needed:

Johnson Cornell Tech MBA
Master in Computer Science
Master in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Master in Operations Research and Information Engineering
Master of Laws
Technion-Cornell Dual Masters in Connective Media
Technion-Cornell Dual Masters in Urban Tech
Technion-Cornell Dual Masters in Health Tech

Section 2.1.1: Council Members

Responsibilities for elected Council members include:

Attend all CTSG meetings on-time.
Represent the program’s student body as a model student (i.e., behavior outside of Council activities)
Informing the Council of any faculty or class issues
Providing suggestions for improvement (e.g., refining curricula, resource recommendations)
Scheduling and attending periodic student town hall meetings with the entire student body
Decide on repercussions of infractions of responsibilities

Restrictions on Council Members:

Due to the nature of the election process for Executive Board positions referenced in Section 3.2, newly elected Council members are ineligible to serve in Executive Board positions.

Section 2.1.2: Speaker of the Council

Serves as the liaison to the Student Body
Is the primary presenter at Town Hall Meetings
May be assigned on a rotating basis

Section 2.2: Executive Board

The Executive Board shall consist of seven positions nominated, selected, or elected by the Council: Co-President (from a professional program) Co-President (from a technical program), Communications Chair, Treasurer, Student Activities Chair, External Relations Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Chair.

In addition to attending each CTSG meeting, responsibilities of the individual appointed officers are outlined below:

Section 2.2.1: Communications Chair

Serve as a primary point person for CTSG communications.
Monitor, manage and update content for the CTSG website.
Record CTSG meeting minutes and make the meeting minutes available to the council.
Create and distribute a student newsletter periodically to notify the student body of CTSG activities and events.
Create new pathways for communication with the student body and Cornell Tech community at large.

Section 2.2.2: Treasurer

Plan and present appropriation of Student Activity budget to the Council on a semesterly basis
Make budget available to the Council
Prepare and present financial reports and documents of the student activity fund at each CTSG meeting
Tracks student activity expenditures by keeping a record of all transactions – deposits, checks, and adjusting entries accordingly.
Acts as a liaison between the Council and the Administration’s Finance staff.

Section 2.2.3: Student Activities Chair

Plan and present schedule of student social activities to the Council on a semesterly basis
Manage a Social Events Committee (e.g., recruitment, organizing periodic meetings)
Oversee budget and planning social activities agreed upon by the Social Events Committee

Section 2.2.4: External Relations Chair

Acts as a liaison between the Council and Cornell Tech Alumni Committee
Coordinate and plan gatherings with the Cornell Tech Alumni Committee
Coordinate and plan gatherings with the Roosevelt Island Community.

Section 2.2.5: Diversity & Inclusion Chair

Acts as a liaison between the Council and Cornell Tech Diversity & Inclusion Groups
Coordinate and plan gatherings with D&I Groups
Communicate needs of D&I Groups with respect to funding & support to the Council

Section 2.3: Co-Presidents

Two Co-Presidents shall serve primarily as liaison with the Cornell Tech and broader Cornell administration. As such, they shall keep the CTSG aware of any issues brought to them for the Council’s action. To ensure effective communication, Co-Presidents shall be required to have knowledge of all CTSG activities. To promote the acquisition of this knowledge, Co-Presidents shall draft and propose CTSG meeting agendas and serve as meeting facilitators.

Section 2.4: Filling Vacant Seats

If one of the seats on the Executive Board becomes vacant during the term of office, said vacancy shall be immediately communicated to the Senior Director of Student & Academic Affairs and the student body.

If one of the seats in the Council becomes vacant during the term of office, the cohort with which the vacancy is associated with will select a new member within a timely manner. This shall be through runners-up from the initial Council election for the cohort. If the majority of the program reps from the CTSG consider that the potential candidates are not qualified to fulfill said role, the rest of the members of the CTSG may be considered to fill in the vacancies. In case a CTSG member is considered, all the CTSG members will vote, except for the candidate. If there are no such individuals, other means of selection shall be sought.

Section 2.4: Absentees

Any Executive or Council Member who is absent for five regularly scheduled meetings -normally held on a weekly basis- cumulatively during their term will have their position vacated. At the discretion of the Executive Board, a member will not be counted as if they were absent for an excused reason (such as for an interview for a job, a required academic event, a religious holiday, or a personal emergency). The Executive Board will review each circumstance individually.

ARTICLE 3: Selection Process

Section 3.1: Council Members

Council members are selected by the student bodies of each respective degree program. The methodology, timing, and logistics of the selection process remain at the discretion of each individual degree program and are to be self-organized. To ensure proper representation and to avoid external influence, only members of a particular degree program may select the student representative (e.g., via voting or discussion). If an individual wishes to serve on the Executive Board, they should not seek to serve on the Council, these roles are mutually exclusive. Students in two year programs may choose to step down from Council at the conclusion of their first year and run for Executive Board at the beginning of their second year.

Section 3.2: Speaker of the Council

The Speaker of the Council shall be selected during the CTSG meeting prior to the first town hall. The methodology and logistics of the selection process remain at the discretion of the Council.

Section 3.3: Executive Board Members

Candidates for the Executive Board shall be drawn from the Student Body. The Council will then appoint the official officers of the Executive Board by following the procedure established in article 4.

ARTICLE 4: Voting

All voting within the CTSG shall be conducted in a fair, transparent, and democratic manner. Voting may be conducted in person, electronically, or by other means, provided that the chosen method ensures the integrity of the voting process. Unless specified otherwise in these bylaws, a simple majority of votes cast shall be required.

Section 4.1: Approval of Student Interest Groups

The CTSG Council shall approve of all official student interest groups. Student interest groups interested in receiving student activities fund shall be required to have official approval from the CTSG council. To approve official status requests, attendance of a majority of the Council and the Executive Board will constitute a quorum. To receive official status, student interest groups must receive a 2/3 majority vote by said quorum.

Section 4.2: Budget Requests

Budget requests shall be submitted to the Treasurer at least twenty-four hours in advance of the upcoming CTSG meeting. To review budget requests, attendance of a majority of the Council and the Executive Board will constitute a quorum. To receive approval status, expenditures must receive a 2/3 majority vote by said quorum.

Section 4.3: Emergency Funds

In the case of unforeseen circumstances where funds are needed within a 24-hour period, the individual requesting funds shall immediately contact the Treasurer. The Treasurer is responsible for notifying the Council about the need for an immediate vote to take place in the manner prescribed in Section 4.1 previously agreed upon by the Executive Board (usually via Slack). To receive approval status, expenditures should receive a majority vote by either the Executive Board or Council, preferably both.

Section 4.4: Amendments to the By-Laws

Any member of the CTSG may propose amendments to these By-Laws at least three

(3) days in advance of the upcoming CTSG meeting.

To review amendments, the attendance of a majority of the Council and Executive Board will constitute a quorum.
To receive approval status, amendments must receive a 2/3 majority vote by said quorum.
If the proposed amendment is approved, it shall become a part of these bylaws.

Section 4.5 : Termination or Removal of a Member

Notwithstanding any other provisions in these bylaws, section 4.5 of the Bylaw shall be deemed unamendable and may not be altered, amended, or repealed unless the student council votes unanimously for an amendment following the procedure established in article 4.

The unamendable nature of the specified section is based on the belief that this provision is fundamental to the care values, principles, and objectives of CTSG.

4.5.1 Ground for Termination or Removal of a Board Member

Any member of the board may be subject to termination or removal from their position or membership for any of the following reasons:

Conduct deemed detrimental to the goals, reputation, or functioning of CTSG
Failure to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of their position
Any other just case as determined by a 2/3 majority vote from CTSG.

Initiation of Termination or Removal Proceedings

Termination or removal proceedings may be initiated by a written notice signed by 2/3 majority vote from CTSG. This notice shall be served to the member in question, outlining the grounds for the action.

Hearing

The member facing termination or removal have the right to a hearing before CTSG. The member may present evidence, witnesses, and arguments in their defense.
The student council shall make a decision regarding termination or removal by a 2/3 majority vote. The decision is final.

Replacement of a board member

In the event of termination or removal of a board member, a special election shall be held within 2 weeks to fill in the vacant position, following the procedure outlined in section 3.3 of the bylaws.

4.5.2 Grounds for Termination or Removal of a Council Member

Any member of the council may be subject to termination or removal from their position or membership for any of the following reasons:

Conduct deemed detrimental to the goals, reputation, or functioning of CTSG
Failure to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of their position
Any other just case as determined by a 2/3 majority vote from CTSG.

Initiation of Termination or Removal Proceedings

Hearing

The member facing termination or removal have the right to a hearing before the student council. The member may present evidence, witnesses, and arguments in their defense.
The student council shall make a decision regarding termination or removal by a 2/3 majority vote. The decision is final.

Replacement of a council member

In the event of termination or removal of a board member, a special election shall be held within 2 weeks to fill in the vacant position, following the procedure outlined in section 3.1 of the bylaws .

ARTICLE 5: PROTECTION

Section 5.1: Confidentiality

When a subject under discussion or examination by the CTSG requires the use of personal confidential information, all reasonable efforts shall be made to safeguard the confidentiality of this information.

Revision History

V1.0: May 23, 2017 — Kiyan Rajabi (‘18) and Jayna Patel (‘17)

V2.0: September 11, 2017 — Jonathan Kroll (‘18), Aleo Mok (‘18), Samantha Yip (‘18)

V2.1: October 30, 2017 — Thomas Saitz (‘18)

V2.2: November 8, 2017 — Jonathan Kroll (‘18)

V2.3: October 11, 2019 — Sandra Ebirim (‘20), William Grenis (‘20)

v3.0: October 1, 2021 – Vince Hartman (‘22)

v3.1: March 15, 2022 – Vince Hartman (‘22)

v3.2: September 6, 2022 – Michael Choie (‘23), Luca Koval (‘23)

V3.3: November 18, 2022 – Michael Choie (‘23), Valeria Monturiol (‘23)

V4.1: September 10th, 2023 – Jan Carbonell (‘24), Burke Reimann (‘24)

V4.2: September 26th, 2023 – Mathiew Kratos (‘24), Jan Carbonell (‘24)