Who are we?
The International Studies Student Association (ISSA) is a departmental student association committed to promoting the interdisciplinary study of International Studies at Simon Fraser University, and to represent the interests of IS students. Any student who is a declared major, joint major, minor, or honours in History is considered a member of the ISSA. Any student who is intending to declare for one of these programs and any student enrolled in an IS class is also a member of the IS.
Our purpose is to promote engagement among IS students through our academic and social events and reach out to IS students to encourage participation in the ISSA. Throughout the year we put on a variety of events including, but not limited to, fall and spring socials, career events, launches of our Confluence Journal, and more!
If you would like to get involved with the ISSA please let us know, we'd love to have you join our team!
Our Constitution
1) Name of the Departmental Student Union:
a) The name of the Union shall be the “International Studies Student Association”, henceforth
referred to as the “ISSA”.
b) The name of the organization under which a bank account is registered shall be the SFSS
International Studies Student Association.
2) The objectives of the ISSA are as follows:
a) To promote activities that foster learning in areas of academic study relevant to all three
streams of the International Studies program.
b) To provide an organization to represent the academic welfare and interests of its members,
both those enrolled in undergraduate programs at the School for International Studies
(henceforth referred to as the “School”).
c) To promote and represent student interests within the International Studies program.
d) To undertake projects and activities to benefit the members.
e) To undertake such initiatives as the members decide.
f) The aims and objectives of the ISSA shall be consistent with those of the Simon Fraser Student
Society.
3) Membership:
a) Automatic membership in the ISSA shall be extended to all students currently attending an
International Studies class as well as intended and declared students in the International
studies Major, Minor, or Honours program.
b) Honorary non-voting membership in the ISSA shall be extended to all students registered in a
Graduate-level International Studies program.
c) No individual membership fees or levies pertaining to membership shall be assessed or
collected at any time through the ISSA, including those charged by
organizations external to the Simon Fraser Student Society to which the ISSA may be
associated.
4) Executive Committee:
a) There shall be an elected Executive Committee tasked with carrying out the will of the
membership, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the ISSA.
b) The responsibilities of the Executive Committee shall be to:
i) Officially represent members.
ii) Convene all necessary meetings, giving proper notice to the membership.
iii) Ensure that the membership is kept informed of all matters affecting the ISSA.
iv) Conduct the day-to-day operations of the ISSA.
v) Initiate projects and/or appoint members of the ISSA to undertake special projects as
required.
vi) Receive regular activity reports from the executive members to ISSA membership.
vii) Submit a written exit report upon leaving office.
viii) Maintain the highest ideals of honour and integrity while serving on the Executive.
c) The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, the Vice- Presidents, and the
Representatives of the ISSA.
i) The President and the Vice-Presidents are primarily responsible for the operations of the
ISSA.
ii) Representatives are primarily responsible for maintaining relations between the ISSA
and student organizations as well as other external bodies.
d) There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of a:
i) President
ii) Vice-President, Internal Relations
iii) Vice-President, Finances
iv) Vice-President, Events and Engagement
v) Vice-President, Communications
vi) Vice-President, Lower Division
vii) Departmental Committee Representative
viii) Simon Fraser Student Society Council Representative ix) Society of Arts and Social
Sciences Representative
x) Confluence Representative
e) All members of the Executive Committee shall be members in good standing of the ISSA as
enumerated above.
5) The Duties of the Executive Members:
a) The President shall be responsible for:
i) Chairing of all General and Executive Committee Meetings
ii) Coordinating activities within the ISSA
iii) Acting as primary liaison with the School
iv) Initiating new projects as decided upon by the ISSA executive and the ISSA
membership
v) Being responsible for promoting the ISSA to the campus community
vi) Coordinating of all executive committee efforts
vii) Being an ex-officio member of all committees within the ISSA
viii) Being one of three signing officers
b) Vice-President, Internal Relations shall be responsible for:
i) Preparing agendas for General and Executive meetings
ii) Recording all minutes of meetings
iii) Being responsible for ISSA correspondence
iv) Receiving and file all written communications, committee reports, and electronic
communications specific to the ISSA’s internal functioning
v) Liaising with the SFSS Student Union Organizer
vi) Being responsible for updating, maintenance and utilization of the web site or for
overseeing this job if delegated to a web master
vii) Being responsible for maintaining the ISSA e-mail lists
viii) Being one of the three signing officers
ix) Assuming and carrying out the rights, duties and obligations of the President during
their absence or in the event that they should resign, be impeached or abandon office.
c) Vice-President, Finances shall be responsible for:
i) Keeping records of the allocation of ISSA’s funds
ii) Checking and updating the ISSA’s asset list on a monthly basis
iii) Giving an account of the ISSA’s financial standing and make the record books open to
members or to the SFSS if requested to do so
iv) Reporting on the financial state of the ISSA to the Executive and General meetings, and
present a budget at the General Meeting each semester
v) Being one of the three signing officers
vi) Being in charge of coordinating all financial aspects of the ISSA’s fundraising initiatives
and events
vii) Being responsible for the submission of all grant proposals and funding requests be
they to the SFSS, the School or to outside institutions
viii) Being the second of three signing officers
ix) Being responsible for promoting the ISSA to the campus community
d) Vice-President, Events and Engagement shall be responsible for:
i) Coordinating and directing events including, but not limited to guest speakers, debates,
trips and social, and shall be responsible for all room bookings, catering and sponsorship
ii) Liaising with the executive committee to coordinate all aspects of events planning that
fall under other executive jurisdiction
iii) Being responsible for promoting the ISSA to the campus community
e) Vice-President, Communications shall be responsible for:
i) Communicating to the membership all activities, events, and opportunities relevant to
the ISSA membership and in accordance with the ISSA and Department objectives
ii) Coordinating all forms of campus advertisement, including, but not limited to, posters,
e-mail campaigns, classroom announcements, The Peak, campus televisions
iii) Managing and maintaining the ISSA’s media and communication channels such as the
ISSA website, Facebook page and Facebook group
iv) Being responsible for the planning and production of promotional material as needed
by the ISSA for its activities and events
f) Departmental Committee Representative shall be responsible for:
i) Attending such Departmental or Faculty Committees as exist with voting or non-voting
student representative’s seats on them, as specified by the Faculty, Department, or
Program constitution
ii) Reporting on the business of the Committees on which representatives sit, to the
Executive and to the membership at general meetings on a regular basis
iii) Conducting an annual survey to gain feedback from the general membership on issues
including, but not limited to, student advocacy, department decisions impacting
students, ISSA activities, etc
iv) Taking the direction of the general membership in attending to the business of the
Committee to accomplish the aims and interests of the ISSA
v) Notifying the Chair of any Committee meetings to which the Committee representative
cannot available to attend
vi) Notifying the membership of student vacancies on the Committee
vii) Being responsible for promoting the ISSA to the campus community
g) Simon Fraser Student Society Council Representative (SFSS) shall be responsible for:
i) Consulting with and take the direction of the general membership concerning the issues
and business before Council, to represent the best interests of the ISSA. The position of
SFSS Council Representative may be taken by an executive officer concurrent with other
duties
ii) Reporting on the business of and issues before Council to the membership at general
meetings on a regular basis and to the Executive Committee when general meetings are
not regularly scheduled
iii) Communicating business of Council to the general membership and executive
committee in a timely manner
iv) Being responsible for promoting the ISSA to the campus community
h) Society of Arts and Social Sciences Representative (SASS) shall be responsible for:
i) Attending all Society of Arts and Social Sciences meetings
ii) Reporting on the business of SASS to the membership at formal meetings on a regular
basis, and to the Executive Committee when formal meetings are not regularly
scheduled
iii) Communicating issues or concerns from the ISSA to SASS in a manner that best
represents the ISSA membership
iv) Liaising with SASS and collaborate in their activities and events that may benefit the
ISSA membership and SASS as a whole
i) Vice President, Lower Division shall be responsible for:
i) Representing the interests of lower division members to the ISSA executive
ii) Promoting the ISSA and its activities to lower division members
iii) Ensuring that ISSA events, meetings and activities are accessible to lower division
members
iv) Working with the Departmental Committee Representative to ensure that lower division
member’s interests are represented to the department
v) Working with the VP Events and Engagement to plan events that engage lower division
members
j) Confluence Representative shall be responsible for:
i) Acting as a liaison between the Confluence team and the ISSA Executive
ii) Reporting on the activities of Confluence and the progress of the Journal and other
events hosted by the Confluence team at the meetings of the ISSA Executive
iii) Seeking support from the ISSA Executive and membership when necessary to support
Confluence events and initiatives in order to ensure that all ISSA affiliated projects occur
in accordance with the Constitution and principles of the union
iv) Promoting the activities of Confluence, including but not limited to the Journal, to the
membership and student body
6) Signing Officers
a) Signing Officers for the ISSA shall be:
i) The President
ii) Vice-President, Finances
iii) Vice-President, Internal Relations
iv) Other ISSA members as designated by the general membership
b) The Signing Officers shall be responsible for:
i) Signing cheques for expenditures authorized by the membership
ii) Processing reimbursements from the SFSS core, trust, or grant funding accounts, or the
ISSA bank account for expenditures authorized by the general membership
iii) Filing a set of bank account transfer authorization letters with the Vice- President of
Finances for forwarding to the SFSS Student Union Organizer following the
establishment of a current bank account, or after any change in signing authority
7) Meetings
a) Minutes shall be recorded for all meetings
b) Formal Meetings
i) There shall be a minimum of three Formal Meetings per semester.
ii) Quorum for a Formal Meeting shall be half the Executive. At least seven days notice
must be given to members of the ISSA by manner of a notice by email to all members,
before a Formal Meeting may be called. A copy of the notice of meeting shall be sent to
the SFSS Student Union Organizer
iii) All motions (except motions of recall or constitutional amendments) at Formal Meetings
shall be decided by a simple majority vote and each member of the ISSA shall be
entitled to one vote on each motion
iv) All allocation of Trust and Core funds must be voted on at Formal meetings by majority
vote at a quorate formal meeting. Executive committee may allocate trust and core
funding to subcommittees, but must indicate the purpose and amount to be allocated
within the authorizing motion
v) A Formal Meeting must be called whenever a petition containing the signatures of ten
members of the ISSA is presented to the Executive
c) Annual General Meetings (AGM) and Special General Meetings (SGM)
i) There will be one AGM held during the Spring semester each year
ii) Quorum for AGM/SGM shall consist of half the acting members of the Executive and 5
general members of the ISSA
iii) A minimum of seven days notice of this meeting must be given to members of the ISSA
through email notification as well as on campus advertising. A copy of the notice of
meeting shall be sent to the SFSS Student Union Organizer
iv) All Executive Committee positions shall be elected at the AGM
d) Regular business to be conducted at the AGM
i) Appointing a Chair for the AGM
ii) Receiving and filing the minutes of the previous years’ AGM and any SGM’s held since
the last AGM
iii) Receiving the Annual Report of the Executive
iv) Receiving the Vice-President Finance’s Report
v) Any other business set forth by the Executive Committee and the membership of the
ISSA
e) Sub-Committee Meetings
i) A Sub-Committee is a body that advises the Executive Committee as well as carrying
out functions as deemed expedient for the operations of the ISSA
ii) Sub-Committee Meetings must be called if requested by two members of the Executive
iii) Quorum for a Sub-Committee shall be 3 members of the ISSA. Sub- committee
Meetings shall be open to all members of the ISSA and the Chairperson shall make
available all pertinent information relative to the time and place of such meetings
f) Failure to Call a Meeting
i) If, at any time, no member of the Executive is able or willing to call a meeting upon
request of the membership, any member may do so providing proper notice is given and
the SFSS Student Union Organizer is informed of the particulars.
g) Conduct of Formal Meetings, Annual General Meetings, and Special General Meetings.
i) The Chair shall adopt Robert’s Rules of Order for the conduct of the meetings upon the
request of any ISSA member
ii) Proxy votes are not allowed, including electronic balloting.
iii) Voting on any motion or in any internal election must be done at a meeting called for
that purpose, and be done by either a show of hands, or by secret ballot on the request
of any member
iv) Attendance will be taken at the meetings and recorded in the meeting minutes. It shall
include names of all voters. Members’ email addresses may be included with their
permission
8) Terms of Office, Executive Appointments, and General Elections
a) Terms of Office of the Executive Committee
i) Terms of office for executives elected at the AGM have a duration of one year, May 1st of
year elected until April 30th of the following year. Terms of office for any executives
elected after May 1st are effective upon being elected, with the end of term aligned as
above
ii) Any members in good standing of the ISSA are eligible for positions on the Executive
Committee
iii) Positions are elected in March and executive members are expected to work on ISSA
initiatives over the summer, even if they will not be on campus
iv) Absence from two consecutive formal meetings or 5 formal meetings within a term of
office without approved regrets will result in the position being considered to have
been abandoned
v) In the event that a vacancy occurs in one of the positions of the Executive Committee,
the ISSA shall appoint a temporary non-voting replacement at the soonest Formal
Meeting who will hold the position until the next AGM/SGM
b) General Elections
i) Elections for Executive Committee shall take place at the AGM each year. The notice of
meeting shall contain notice of elections. Nominations are open until noon the day prior
to the election
ii) All voting for elected positions shall be by secret ballot, with the person receiving a
majority vote being elected. If there is no majority, the person receiving the fewest votes
shall be eliminated, and a new vote shall be held
iii) The members may recall any person elected to represent them by a two- thirds vote of
the members present at a quorate meeting called for this purpose. Notice of the
meeting shall contain the purpose
iv) In the event that all positions are not filled during the annual election, or an executive
resigns their seat before the full term is served, an election shall take place at the next
scheduled AGM/SGM. Notice of this meeting shall include notice of the election
9) Recall
a) Conditions for commencing Recall:
i) Executive members shall be subject to recall at any time upon presentation to the
Executive Committee of a petition signed by ten members of the ISSA, and showing just
cause. Just cause includes, but is not limited to, behaviour that is contrary to the policies
and objectives of both ISSA members and the objectives stated in the ISSA constitution
Removal requires two-thirds approval at a quorate Special General Meeting called for this
purpose. Notice of motion to recall must be include with the notice of meeting
scheduled to vote on recall
b) Upon presentation of the petition, the Executive shall call a Special General Meeting
10) Amendments to this Constitution
a) This Constitution may be amended by a 2/3rds majority of the members present and voting at
a quorate general meeting called for the purpose
b) Amendments proposed by the Executive Committee must be posted prior to the meeting in
clear view near the Departmental Office as well as on the website for a period equivalent to
regular meeting notice requirements. Notice of such constitutional amendments will be sent
out to the membership via email
c) Notice of meeting must indicate where copies of the amendment(s) can be readily obtained
d) Amendments approved by the membership must be ratified by the SFSS Student Union
Organizer before they can be put into effect or included in the official constitution of the ISSA
e) Section 11, Dissolution, shall not be amended
11) Dissolution
a) This article shall not be altered except with the prior written consent of the Simon Fraser
Student Society
b) In the event that the ISSA becomes inactive, all assets of the ISSA revert to the Simon Fraser
Student Society, to be held in trust for a minimum period of two years. For the purpose of this
article, the Student Union shall have be deemed inactive if the membership does not hold the
minimum number of quorate general meetings as required by this constitution for two
consecutive semesters
c) If the ISSA is regenerated to represent the interests of students within the
Program/Department/School during this period, the trust shall be dissolved and all assets
shall be at the direct disposal of the ISSA
d) If the trust has not been dissolved after two years, the Simon Fraser Student Society may
redistribute the assets as it sees fit
12) Ratification
a) This Constitution was ratified by the Simon Fraser Student Society’s designate on this date:
October 22, 2015