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This is an archival copy of the 2006–2017 Assemblies website. This information is no longer updated.

R.7: A Resolution regarding GPSA Funding Policy

As discussed Monday, 29 January 2007.

Whereas Appendix B, the GPSA Charter’s Guidelines for Funded Organizations, was not reviewed and reinstated in 2004; and,

Whereas the GPSA’s Funding Policy committee of 2006–2007 has been charged with a thorough review of Appendix B; and

Whereas Appendix B is subject to review every two years;

Be it therefore resolved that the GPSA admit the following as Appendix B into the Charter effective immediately, for the academic years 2007–2009:

Appendix B Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Guidelines for Funded Organizations 2007–2009

I. Preamble The Graduate and Professional Student Activity Fee is set by the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GPSA). This mandatory charge is included in the University billing statement of all students. The purpose of the Fee is to support financially organizations and programs that are student-determined and student-directed. Funded organizations must be seen to provide a valuable service to the Cornell student body.

The GPSA recognizes that along with setting and distributing the Fee comes accountability. Each organization that receives funding from the GPSA is subject to Guidelines set by the Assembly in consultation with the organizations and the Cornell student body.

The GPSA recognizes the significant differences in purpose and reporting relationships between the GPSA and Graduate Finance Commission on the one hand and other Fee recipients on the other. The Funding Guidelines of the two groups of organizations are therefore enumerated separately.

II. Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Finance Commission

  1. The Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Finance Commission (GPSAFC) is a review committee of the GPSA and is bound by all provisions of the GPSA Charter.
  2. The GPSAFC Chair shall present directly to the GPSA every Fall semester a full written accounting of their operations for the previous academic year, including the names of organizations requesting funding, the amount requested, the amount awarded, and the amount actually spent as well as figures for the Commission as a whole.
  3. The GPSAFC Executive Committee shall be comprised of its Chair and approximately six graduate and professional student members appointed by the GPSA.
  4. Any revisions of the GPSAFC Treasurers Handbook must be approved by a majority vote of the GPSA.
  5. Criteria for funding of graduate student organizations are also determined by the GPSA and may not be altered or waived without express GPSA approval.

III. Self-Programming Organizations All recipients of the Student Activity Fee shall adhere to the following Guidelines:

  1. For all events (concerts, lectures, films, etc.) funded by Fee allocations and for which admission is charged, Cornell students shall receive a reasonable discount to reflect their prior contribution via the Student Activity Fee. Fee recipients are strongly encouraged to offer such discounts for all their events.
  2. The GPSA shall have the option of appointing a Cornell student to serve as a non-voting Liaison to each organization or, where appropriate, its Advisory Board or Steering Committee. Organizations that own capital equipment are strongly encouraged to include depreciation in their full yearly budgets and must report balances in all depreciation in yearly financial statements. Capital equipment purchases must be reported in the financial statements of the year purchased.
  3. Each organization shall every Fall semester provide directly to the GPSA a full written accounting of the use of its Fee allocation (or, if necessary, of its entire operation) for the previous academic year, as well as an oral summary of its activities, including usage statistics and future programming plans.
  4. For accounting and reporting purposes, the Student Activity Fee monies shall be held in a separate university account.
  5. Each organization shall report to the GPSA prior to an event all monies received for that event from other Fee recipients, including organizations funded by the GPSAFC.
  6. Each organization shall regularly advertise its existence and encourage student participation in its meetings, which shall be open to the public.
  7. Each organization shall every September provide the GPSA with a written Mission Statement outlining its perceptions of its roles and responsibilities.
  8. Each organization shall include the following (or similar) statement on all fliers, posters, promotions, programs, and literature: “Funded in part by the GPSA.”
  9. For all events (concerts, lectures, films. etc.) funded by the Fee allocations and for which admission is charged, Cornell students shall be given the first opportunity to purchase tickets. At least the first day of ticket sales must be for Cornell students exclusively.
  10. All organizations receiving Student Activity Fee funds must abide by the campus poster policy and any repeated violation of the policy will lead to an investigation of that organization’s funding by the Assembly.
  11. All organizations must notify the GPSA prior to any changes in the organizations/bylaws and/or constitution.
  12. Organizations which repeatedly violate these guidelines shall have their eligibility for funding investigated.

Furthermore, individual organizations shall adhere to the following additional Guidelines:

Cornell Concert Commission
Cornell Concert Commission aims to produce 1 free show in the Arts Quad, 2 Bailey shows, and 2 Barton shows during the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 academic years.

Cornell Cinema

  1. Cornell Cinema shall not increase student ticket prices without the express approval of the Student Assembly and the GPSA.
  2. Cornell Cinema shall at every film showing provide a suggestion box or similar medium for determining student preferences.
  3. Cornell Cinema shall maintain the range, quality and amount of programming it used to offer in the next two years.
  4. Cornell Cinema shall offer a wide range of high quality films, most not available through mainstream channels.
  5. Cornell Cinema shall organize and stage successful fundraising events each year; continue to get by with a minimal staff, incorporating the functions of publicist and development officer into our existing positions; raise co-sponsorship funding from academic departments every year, throughout the year.

Cornell University Program Board

  1. The Program Board shall use its Student Activity Fee allocation to bring speakers with honoraria of not less than $6,000.
  2. The Program Board will fund for at least one lecture per year with an honorarium of at least $10,000.
  3. The Program Board can subsidize expenses for no more than one elected or appointed public official per year, regardless of cost. At the speaker’s request, any honorarium paid may go to a charity.
  4. CUPB would designate an additional 5% of our budget($3000) to assist in the costs of two productions by other Cornell organizations(one per semester). In addition to providing funds, CUPB would also provide planning and production support for the events.
  5. CUPB shall have at least one event free of charge to all Cornell students.
  6. CUPB shall offer students reduced ticket prices as well as the opportunity to purchase the best seats available at performance venues two full days before being sold to the general public.

Emergency Medical Services

  1. Cornell EMS will continue to provide exemplary emergency response and basic emergency care for the Graduate and Professional students of the Cornell community using updated equipment and emergency response vehicles.
  2. Cornell EMS will continue to offer and provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillation (AED) instruction, along with First Aid classes for training of EMS members and interested Graduate and Professional students.
  3. Cornell EMS will continue to provide emergency response support for special events on the Cornell campus.

Big Red Barn

  1. Continue to offer summer TGIF and the Year End BBQ
  2. Upgrade the program in following aspects: Offer on hot item at TGIF once a month; Add magazine and newspaper subscriptions; Increase the programming for each fellows to bring in more local artist /teacher /performers.
  3. Do one ‘special’ event each semester to enhance the program as a whole.

Sporting Events

  1. The monies requested from the GPSA will assist in subsidizing the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, in return providing the Graduate and Professional students and their families free admission to all home athletic contests. This does not include men’s ice hockey; in which the Graduate and Professional students and families are eligible to purchase tickets at a reduced price upon presenting proper Cornell identification.
  2. The Department of Athletics and Physical Education will continue to provide access to the numerous fitness center locations and many fitness opportunities (exercise classes, intramural sports, etc.) for the Graduate and Professional Student community, providing the opportunity to engage in a healthy lifestyle and foster personal development.
  3. The Department of Athletics and Physical Education will continue to provide a wide range of physical education courses to the Graduate and Professional Student community. In addition, to physical education courses, the department will provide opportunities for outdoor education through the Outdoor Education Program and related programs for the Graduate and Professional Student community.

IV. Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Obligations The Student Assembly shall assist Student Activity Fee recipients in adhering to the Guidelines as follows:

  1. The GPSA shall provide each organization as well as the Dean of Students and the Dean of the Graduate School a current copy of these Guidelines each semester and of the GPSA Charter each year.
  2. Each organization, shall be notified of any GPSA, meeting in which legislation concerning or affecting Fee recipients is pending.
  3. The GPSA Vice-President for Finance shall wherever possible, and as early as possible attend at least one meeting of each organization each year and shall assist, when desired, organizations to prepare their written and oral reports to the Assembly.

V. Duration and Supersedence

  1. Once approved by the GPSA, these Funding Guidelines shall take effect on 1 Feb 2007 and shall expire on 1 Feb, 2009, unless amended or renewed by the GPSA.
  2. These Funding Guidelines supersede all previous legislation of the GPSA and its predecessor bodies, as well as all charters, constitutions, by-laws, and other legislation of all Student Activity Fee recipients and other student organizations.

VI. Amendments The funding guidelines may be amended only in consultation with the GPSA.

Respectfully Submitted,
Yu Yu
GPSA Funding Policy Chair 2006–2007