DSC Constitution
(current as of 4/1/13)
Article I : PURPOSE
The DSC’s primary purpose is to work toward enhancing the quality of student life in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP). The DSC facilitates communication between students, faculty, and staff, organizes student events, and also serves as a liaison between DUSP and other departments or organizations. The Council also gives students a strong voice in shaping the academic and social life – as well as overall culture – of the department. Any MIT member is welcome to join.
Article II : MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the DSC is open to any member of the MIT community. Membership entails attending weekly meetings to organize events for the department and advocate on behalf of issues important to the DUSP student body.
Article III : OFFICERS
Elected officers of the DSC Board include MCP2, MCP1, PhD, and undergraduate representatives, as well as any member of the MIT community who may be interested in joining. The SPURS Fellows also internally elect or appoint one representative. These positions are outlined below, and will be held from one term to the next.
1. MCP2 Representatives (4)
(i) This position is open to rising MCP2 students.
(ii) This is a full, one-year term position and elections are held at the start of the spring semester.
(iii) The MCP2 Representatives act as the primary liaison between the MCP2 students and the DSC, and represent their interests.
(iv) The MCP2 Representatives assist with general board duties.
2. MCP1 Representatives (2)
(i) This position is open to first-term MCP1 students, SB/MCP students in their first year, and SM students.
(ii) This is a half-term (one semester) position with a half-stipend, if applicable, and elections are held at the start of the fall semester.
(iii) The MCP1 Representatives act as the primary liaisons between the MCP1 students and the DSC, and represent their interests.
(iv) The MCP1 Representatives will also assist with general board duties.
3. PhD Representative (2)
(i) This position is open to PhD students that plan on being residential in the following year.
(ii) This is a full, one-year term position and elections are held at the start of the spring semester.
(iii) The PhD Representative acts as the primary liaison between the PhD students and the DSC, and represents their interests.
(iv) The PhD Representative will also assist with general board duties.
4. Undergraduate Representative (1)
(i) This position is open to undergraduate students in their second or third year.
(ii) This is a full, one-year term position and elections are held at the start of the spring semester.
(iii) The Undergraduate Representative acts as the primary liaison between the undergraduate students and the DSC, and represents their interests.
(iv) The Undergraduate Representative will also assist with general board duties.
Article IV: DSC BOARD LEADERSHIP
Once elected by the student body, DSC officers internally elect or appoint the following leadership positions: DSC Co-Chairs (2), Treasurer, and a Secretary, as needed. These positions are open to all DSC officers and must be filled by the first week of the incoming DSC’s tenure. The roles are further outlined below.
1. DSC Co-Chairs (2)
(i) The Co-Chairs act as the primary face of the DSC Board and are responsible for verifying that tasks are completed in a timely manner.
(ii) The Co-Chairs are the primary liaison between the DSC Board and the student body, and between the DSC Board and various faculty members, including the head of the department and the dean of the School of Architecture and Planning.
(iii) The Co-Chairs preside over all meetings, including weekly DSC meetings and bi-annual Town Hall meetings.
2. Treasurer (1)
(i) The Treasurer is responsible for DSC’s budget and the disbursal of funds.
(ii) The Treasurer also acts as the primary liaison between the DSC and the GSC funding board, as well as between the DSC and the appropriate administrative staff within the department.
3. Secretary (1)
(i) The Secretary is responsible for recording meeting minutes from all DSC meetings, circulating them to the rest of the DSC board for approval, then posting the approved notes on Plaza.
Article V: ELECTIONS
Elections will be held twice a year: once at the beginning of the fall semester to elect the MCP1 Representatives, and once at the beginning of the spring semester to elect all other positions. Running elections is the responsibility of the current DSC Board, which may use Plaza and other electronic media to run elections and voting. Sincere efforts should be made to promote awareness of elections.
(i) Candidacy restrictions are described above. Additionally, no member may be elected to more than one position.
(ii) Voting is open to the entire student body with the following restrictions:
(a) Only undergraduates may vote for the Undergraduate Representative.
(b) Only PhD students may vote for the PhD Representatives.
(c) Only MCP1, first year SM/MCP, and SM students may vote for the MCP1 Representatives.
(d) Only rising and current MCP2 students may vote for the MCP2 Representatives.
(iii) Terms are one year, running from the spring semester to the following spring semester, except in the case of MCP1 Representatives, who serve terms that run for the fall semester only.
(iv) A member is elected if he or she wins a majority of the voting members.
(v) If more than two people are running and no one wins a majority, then the person with the largest percentage of votes cast is elected.
(vi) Officers may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the entire DSC.
Article VI: MEETINGS
Three primary types of meetings will be held throughout the year. DSC Board members are expected to attend all meetings. All notes taken during the meetings must be available on Plaza for public viewing.
(i) General DSC Meetings are generally held weekly in the DUSP Common Room and are open to the entire student body. The meetings are run by the Co-Chairs, who also set the agenda with the Board’s input.
(ii) Special DSC Meetings are held as needed to address internal DSC issues or to plan for upcoming events like Town Hall.
(iii) Town Hall Meetings are held once a semester and are open to the entire student body, faculty, and staff. These meetings are run by the Co-Chairs, with additional support from other DSC Board members. Town Hall meetings are intended to encourage direct dialogue between the student body and the faculty and staff. The DSC Board will collect the ideas and concerns from Town Hall meetings and take appropriate actions on behalf of the DSC. There is no required quorum for these meetings.
Article VII: Finance and Budgeting
Budget and Accounting
(i) The Treasurer must account for all expenses, accounts receivable, accounts payable,
Funding approval for DSC-led initiatives
(i) The DSC reserves the right to host, fund, and/or sponsor any event, cause, and/or meeting that the organization deems to benefit and represent the DUSP student body.
(ii) Determining the funding allocation for any DSC-led event requires a two-thirds vote of the DSC members present, with a mandatory one-third quorum.
Funding approval process of student-led initiatives
(i) Only current DUSP students are welcome to submit funding proposals to the DSC. Instructions are posted on the DSC website.
(ii) The DSC members will either approve, deny, or request for more information from the applicant. Approval or denial requires a two-thirds vote of the DSC members present, with a mandatory one-third quorum.
(iii) The DSC must ensure quick and speedy decisions on proposals, responding no later than one week from the original proposal submission date.
(iv) All approved funding proposals must advertise that the event was sponsored by DSC.
Article VIII: Communications
The DSC will maintain communication with the DUSP student body, administration, faculty, and staff through the following means:
(i) Posting meeting notes, the DSC Constitution, and all relevant documents on Plaza.
(ii) Advertisement of all DSC-led events through posters, email, Plaza, and other creative means.
(iii) Maintaining the DSC website, which is currently http://web.mit.edu/dusp/dsc/
Article IX: AMENDMENTS
Amendments may be made to the Constitution in the following manner :
(i) Amendments may be presented by any member of the DSC. The amendment must be discussed at a General DSC Meeting and/or on Plaza before a vote may occur.
(ii) Amendments shall be passed by a two-thirds vote of the DSC.
(iii) Quorum for amending the Constitution is one-third of the members of the DSC.
Article X: ASA Governance Clause
The DSC agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Association of Student Activities, and its executive board. This constitution, amendments to it, and the by-laws of this organization shall be subject to review by the ASA Executive Board to insure that they are in accordance with the aforementioned rules and regulations.
Amendment I: Membership Clauses Ratified 11/1/04
Student Membership Clause
This group will at all times have at least five MIT students as members and will be at least 50 percent MIT students.
Non-discrimination Clause
The DUSP Student Council shall not discriminate based on any characteristics listed in MIT’s non-discrimination policy.
Economic Hardship Clause
The DUSP Student Council is open to all students in the department and does not charge dues. However, should the DUSP Student Council ever makes the decision to charge monetary dues, there will be exemptions made for MIT students who cannot afford such dues.
Amendment II: Decision-Making Clause Ratified 11/1/04
Decision-Making Process
Decisions at all DSC meetings are made by consensus when possible. In the event that consensus talks on an issue break down and no solution can be reached that is acceptable to all members of the DSC, the DSC Co-Chairs may initiate a vote on an issue and will abide by the decision of the majority of members in attendance. There must be a one-third quorum at a General Meeting or at Town Hall for a majority vote to be binding. No quorum is required for decisions reached by consensus.