STANDING COMMITTEE

USS Standing Committees: 

The standing committees of USS Ethics Committee, Audit, Committee, Scholarship Committee, Academic Affairs Committee, Legislative and Fiscal Affairs, Committee, Civic Affairs Committee, and the Student Voter Awareness Committee, as well as such other, as well as such other standing committees as may be established by USS. All such committees shall report to the full USS membership of their activities twice each semester.

All current CUNY students are eligible to serve on a USS Standing Committees.

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ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

a. The Academic Committee must consist of the elected Vice Chair for Graduate Affairs, Vice-Chair for Senior Colleges, and Vice Chair for Community Colleges.

b. The Academic Committee shall consist of additional members who shall be appointed by the Chairperson, upon the election of the three Vice Chairs.

c. The Academic Committee shall consist of a Chair to be determined by a simple majority vote by the membership of the committee, upon approval by the USS Chairperson.

 

d. The Academic Committee shall have as its primary goals:

  • To identify and formulate solutions to problems of admission, curriculum, examinations, graduation, accreditation and other related problems faced by an individual student, a group of students, a single campus, or a group of campuses of CUNY.
  • To investigate ways and means of establishing new, or reinstated previously suspended, academic programs at CUNY.
  • To interact with each student government at each of the CUNY Colleges to hear concerns and problems students at said Colleges are having with their College’s academic programs and to develop ways and means to improve the quality of education at CUNY.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

a. The members of the Audit Committee shall be elected to said committee by the Senate at the meeting following the completion of the election of officers to the Steering Committee of USS. No member of the Steering committee or the Ethics Committee may serve on the Audit Committee.

b. The Audit Committee shall receive a full financial report from the Vice Chair of Fiscal Affairs upon request.

c. The Audit Committee shall also entertain requests from any Delegate/Officer of USS to receive a full financial report and shall obtain said financial report from the Vice Chair of Fiscal Affairs for said Delegate/Officer.

d. The Audit Committee shall also assume such other duties as USS may, from time to time, direct.

e. The Audit Committee shall be limited to seven (7), including the Chair.

CIVIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

a. The Civic Affairs Committee must consist of the Vice Chair for Evening and Part Time Affairs, the Vice Chair for the Affairs of Students with Disabilities, the Vice Chair for International Affairs, and the Vice Chair for Technology Fee.

b. The Civic Affairs Committee shall consist of additional members who shall be appointed by the Chairperson, upon election and consultation of the five Vice Chairs.

c. The Civic Affairs Committee shall act as a single unit, or in the alternative, with a structure of as many sub-committees as it sees fit, though limited to five.

d. The Civic Affairs Committee shall elect in its first meeting, a committee Chair from its membership for the purpose of managing the workflow and priorities of the committee, all subject to the approval of the USS Chairperson.

e. The Civic Affairs Committee shall have as its primary goals:

  • Identification and formulation of solutions to problems, including but not limited to, of discrimination, lack of or inadequate student services, and marginalization of any student or student groups;
  • Investigation of any offenses brought forth upon students by CUNY, individual colleges, other students or student groups, and/or any external entity;
  • Interaction with each student government at each of the CUNY Colleges to ensure proper advocacy and protection of student groups to proper administration on all levels of student representation.

ETHICS COMMITTEE

a. The members of the Ethics Committee shall be elected to said committee by the Senate at the meeting following the completion of the election of officers to the Steering Committee of USS. No member of the Steering Committee or the Audit Committee may serve on the Ethics Committee.

b. The Ethics Committee shall hear and investigate all complaints of misconduct it receives from any Delegate, Alternate or Officer of USS.

c. Upon full investigation, the Ethics Committee shall implement either disciplinary or impeachment procedures in accordance with Article VII and Article VIII, respectively.

d. The Ethics Committee shall also perform periodic reviews of the USS Bylaws in light of possible abuses or misuses of authority and examinations for conformance with Board policy.

e. The Ethics Committee shall also assume such other duties as USS may, from time to time, direct.

f. Membership of the Ethics Committee shall be limited to seven (7) including the Chair.

LEGISLATIVE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

a. The Legislative and Fiscal Affairs Committee must consist of the Vice Chair for Legislative Affairs and Vice Chair for Fiscal Affairs.

b. The Legislative and Fiscal Affairs Committee shall consist of additional members who shall be appointed by the Chairperson, upon the election of the two Vice Chairs.

c. The Legislative and Fiscal Affairs Committee shall act as a single unit, or in the alternative, as two separate sub-committees.

d. The Legislative and Fiscal Affairs Committee shall have as its primary goals:

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  • Research of developments in the city, state, and federal governments and a compilation report of analysis of said developments and how they may affect CUNY to be given at each plenary meeting;
  • Development and maintenance of relationships with other student groups, nonprofits, Universities, private individuals, and political agencies;
  • Identification and formulation of solutions to problems of funding throughout CUNY including but not limited to USS, the student governments at each College, and each college within CUNY;
  • Provision of consultation to student clubs and organizations and student governments, on matters relating to their funding and legislative efforts;
  • Transparency to students throughout CUNY on matters relating to funding and legislative efforts by USS.

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

a. The members of the Scholarship Committee shall be appointed to said committee by the newly elected Chairperson upon her/his assumption of office.

b. The Scholarship Committee shall have as its primary goals:

  • Develop a relationship with one or more corporate entities with a view towards raising funds to establish a USS Scholarship Fund.
  • Investigate academic areas in which a scholarship could be established.
  • Develop a method of determining criteria necessary for awarding scholarships to deserving CUNY students.

c. The Scholarship Committee shall also assume such other duties as USS may, from time to time, direct

STUDENT VOTER AWARENESS COMMITTEE

a. The members of the Student Voter Awareness Committee shall be appointed to said committee by the newly elected Chairperson upon her/his assumption of office.

b. The Student Voter Awareness Committee must consist of the Vice Chair for Legislative Affairs, the Vice Chair for Community College Affairs, and the Vice Chair for Senior College Affairs.

c. The Student Voter Awareness Committee shall have as its primary goals the mobilization of the voting population within the CUNY student body. This will be done through, but not limited to,

  • To register eligible students to vote in New York State elections.
  • To keep students informed of upcoming city, state, and federal elections.
  • To provide students with the necessary resources to educate themselves on the process of voting in New York State elections.
  • To enlighten students on the correlations between voting and the issues affecting higher education.