Bylaws

Article I Name

The name of this organization shall be the Physiology Society of the University of Kansas Medical Center (hereafter called the KUMC PS).

Article II Purpose

The purpose of the KUMC PS is:
1.  To promote the welfare of KUMC Graduate Students in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology; representation of their interests and concerns to the faculty and chair of the Department.
2.  To enhance the cultural, social and professional growth of Graduate Students in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology.

Article III Physiology Society

Section 1         Membership

The membership of the KUMC PS shall include all Graduate Students who have formally joined the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology.  Said members of KUMC PS are entitled to all privileges of membership and shall be expected to adhere to all regulations of the KUMC PS.

Section 2         Legislative Power

The legislative power of the KUMC PS shall be vested in the Graduate Students who regularly attend the KUMC PS meetings as outlined in Article V.

Section 3         Meetings

Meetings of the KUMC PS are announced and open to all Graduate Students in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and to those first year IGPBS students who have not yet formally joined a laboratory in another basic research department.  Faculty from the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology may also attend meetings.  They may participate in the discussions as deemed appropriate by the KUMC PS.

Section 4         Tenure: Officers

The term of office for the PS Officers shall begin with the summer term and continue for one academic year. 

Section 5         Attendance at Meetings

Attendance at regular meetings is expected of every officer of the KUMC PS.  Regular attendance at meetings is also required of every member of the KUMC PS to maintain voting privileges (see Article V).

Article IV Officers and Committees of the KUMC Physiology Society

Section 1         Executive Committee

The KUMC PS shall have three (3) elected officers: President, Vice President/Secretary, and Social Event Coordinator.  These three officers shall serve as the Executive Committee of the PS.  The Executive Committee will set the meeting agenda for the full KUMC PS, review proposals, and act on behalf of the KUMC PS when necessary.

Section 2         Election of Officers

Officers of the KUMC PS shall be elected by a majority vote of the PS at the June meeting. In this fashion the incoming (newly elected) officer has three months to view the outgoing (current) officer at that position before taking over duties commensurate with that office in the fall.

Section 3         Impeachment/Removal of Elected Officers

Following the submission of a petition to remove or impeach an officer signed by no less than four (4) members of the KUMC PS, a written vote shall be taken.  The results of this vote shall be tallied and reported by the Vice President.  A two-thirds (2/3) vote constitutes removal from office.  The vacancy shall be filled by a new election.

Section 4         Responsibilities of the President

A.  To act as the executive officer of the KUMC PS, enforcing its resolutions and bylaws at all times.
B.  To develop the meeting agenda with appropriate assistance from the executive committee.
C.  To call to vote any act, measure or motion proposed by the KUMC PS, and amendments to the bylaws by initiative independent of the KUMC PS, by referendum to adopt or reject any measure, action or motion of the KUMC PS.
D.  To vote on KUMC PS issues only in the case of a tie vote.  In the case of a tie, the President’s vote shall constitute the majority decision.
E.  To call for an expression of interest from the Graduate Students of the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and to communicate that interest to the Chair of the Department.
F.  To create special committees as necessary, and to appoint members to these committees.
G.  Attendance at each meeting.
H.  To coordinate members of the Executive Committee.

The President of the KUMC PS shall, at the end of the KUMC PS year, compile a comprehensive year-end report.  This report shall include at least all legislation passed by the KUMC PS, a copy of original committee actions, and a report on how those and all other subsequent issues were acted upon.

Section 5         Responsibilities of the Vice President

The Vice President of the KUMC PS shall execute no less than the following responsibilities:

A.  To assume all responsibilities and duties of the President in the absence of the President.
B.  To serve as Public Relations Officer for the KUMC PS.
C.  Attendance at each meeting.
D. To prepare and distribute to all members of the KUMC PS and the public (as required)

1. A list of current KUMC PS members.
2. Timely notification of meetings and other KUMC PS events or their cancellation.
3. Other PS communications as required.
4. A copy of KUMC PS bylaws.
5. Minutes of all KUMC PS meetings in an appropriate format.

E.  To begin and maintain a list of those members of the KUMC PS who have voter eligibility as outlined in Article V.

The Vice President of the KUMC PS shall, at the end of the KUMC PS year, compile a comprehensive year-end report. This report shall include summaries of at least all representatives, names, phone numbers and addresses for all KUMC PS members, attendance, individuals to receive various communications, a copy of all minutes, and a copy of all handouts and flyers.

Section 6         Responsibilities of the Social Events Coordinator

The social events coordinator of the KUMC PS shall execute no less than the following responsibilities:

A.  To coordinate, and be responsible for all aspects of, social events held by the KUMC PS.

1. Monetary exchange for KUMC PS sanctioned events will initially be the responsibility of the social event coordinator, prior to receiving reimbursement by the Physiology Department.

B.  Attendance at each meeting.
C.  To be responsible for other duties as may be assigned by the President or Vice President.

The Social Events Coordinator of the KUMC PS shall, at the end of the KUMC PS year, compile a comprehensive year-end report. This report shall include a summary of at least all activities coordinated by the Social Events Coordinator, their cost, time line, contacts, and success.

Section 7         Physiology Society Committees/Designees

A. KUMC PS Annual T-shirt
B. Departmental Interaction with incoming IGPBS

Article V     Legislative Process

Section 1         Voting

All members of the KUMC PS can vote on any motion, unless the voter eligibility rule is invoked.

Section 2         Voter Eligibility Rule

Any member of KUMC PS may invoke the Voter Eligibility Rule, regardless of their own voter eligibility status, anytime a vote is called or required for the due process of the KUMC PS in accordance to its bylaws.

A.  Voter Eligibility Rule, when invoked, will limit the voting on the current motion, amendment, act or legislation to those who have their eligibility to vote at the beginning of the KUMC PS meeting in progress.
B.  The eligibility to vote, for the members of KUMC PS, will be maintained and determined by the current Secretary of the KUMC PS based on the following guidelines:

1. Eligibility to vote will be based on attendance to the scheduled KUMC PS meetings.
2. All members of the KUMC PS will have the eligibility to vote at the beginning of the first KUMC PS meeting of the academic year (beginning in the fall semester).
3. A member of the KUMC PS will lose his/her eligibility to vote when he/she is absent at two consecutive scheduled KUMC PS meetings.  Therefore, a member who misses two consecutive meetings will lose his/her eligibility to vote as of the conclusion of the second meeting.
4. A member of the KUMC PS will regain his/her eligibility to vote when he/she attends two consecutive scheduled KUMC PS meetings.  Therefore, a member who attends two consecutive meetings will regain his/her eligibility to vote as of the conclusion of the second meeting.

C.  The vice president will record in the notes of the meeting when a vote was voted as an eligible vote.

Section 3         Initiative and Referendum

A.  Any member of the KUMC PS shall have the power to propose any act, measure, or motion, regardless of that member’s voting eligibility status.
B.  Any member of the KUMC PS can move to table any issue until the next regular meeting, regardless of that member’s voting eligibility status.
C.  All motions, acts, and measures must be voted upon by the KUMC PS and passed before being enacted.

Section 4         Enactment of Legislation and Petitions

A.  All legislation regarding acts, measures, or motions shall be passed by a simple majority vote by KUMC PS, giving due consideration of all current Graduate Students of the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology.
B.  All legislation and petitions regarding amendments to the Bylaws shall be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the KUMC PS, giving due consideration to the opinions and needs of all current Graduate Students of the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology.

Article VI Funds and Budgets

The KUMC PS has the authority to utilize the funds in its account.

Article VII Meetings

Section 1         Scheduling

Meetings of KUMC PS shall be held at least once a month throughout the entire year.  Meetings shall be scheduled in such a way as not to conflict with known class times.

Section 2         Notice of Meetings

Meetings shall be announced by a written notice sent to members at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting date. Meetings shall be called by the President.

Section 3         Agenda

The agenda shall be drawn up by the President with the assistance of the Executive Committee.

Section 5         Voting

The vote of the simple majority of the KUMC PS shall decide the action of the KUMC PS, unless the amount of majority required is stated otherwise elsewhere in the bylaws.  The voting procedure shall be followed as outlined in Article V.

Section 6         Special Meetings

The President of the KUMC PS may call a special meeting of the KUMC PS without giving normal notice if such a meeting is necessary to address an emergency situation. A special meeting may be held upon twenty-four (24) hour notice delivered personally or by phone.

Section 7         Non-Public Documents

Documents and letters sent to the KUMC PS or any of its officers by another body of the University governance system, by the Chancellor, the Chair of the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, or any other member of the Administration, by the Board of Regents, or by to the State of Kansas, with a specific request that such material not be made public, are not subject to open record provisions.  The issue shall be discussed in a closed door meeting and the request shall be duly noted in the minutes.

Article VIII Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by a favorable two-thirds (2/3) vote of the KUMC PS.  Proposed changes in the Bylaws of the KUMC PS shall be submitted in writing for consideration at a regularly scheduled meeting.  An official vote to accept or reject said amendment shall be called no earlier than the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Revised with amendments 7/07
Approved with amendments