Bylaw 500 - A Bylaw respecting Membership
VP Internal as responsible for enacting Bylaw 500 on regular operational basis.
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Definitions
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International Students: Students currently holding a valid study permit and paying the international students’ differential fee at the University of Alberta.
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Council or ISC: The International Students’ Council (ISC) is the council of the International Students’ Association (ISA).
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Chancellor: The speaker of the International Students’ Council and the council’s representative in the ISA Board.
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ISA Board (ISA-B): The Executive Committee of the International Students’ Association (ISA). It consists of,
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the President of the International Students’ Association (ISA);
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Vice Presidents of the International Students’ Association (ISA);
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the Chancellors of the Councils;
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ISA Legislature: Constitution and Bylaw’s of ISA are considered as ISA legislature and they should be used to govern the framework/operations of ISA.
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UAI: University of Alberta International
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SU: University of Alberta Students’ Union
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GSA: University of Alberta Graduate Students’ Association
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Delegate: An executive delegated by a representative students’ association to seat on the International Students’ Council (ISC).
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Representatives: A member who represent a representative students’ association in the ISC.
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Councillor: Every elected member of the council with voting right.
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Membership Classifications
Following are the membership categories in ISA:
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General Member:
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Every graduate and undergraduate international student studying at the University of Alberta and paying the international students’ differential fee is a general member of the ISA by default.
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Graduate General Member:
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Every graduate international student studying at the University of Alberta and paying the international students’ differential fee is a graduate general member of the ISA by default.
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Undergraduate General Member:
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Every undergraduate international student studying at the University of Alberta and paying the international students’ differential fee is an undergraduate general member of the ISA by default.
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Council Member:
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A general member with a membership of the ISA-G or ISA-U and paying the international differential fee is considered as a council member of ISA-G or ISA-U and is known as a councillor; and,
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Elected as per Article 3.
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Graduate Council Member:
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A general member with a membership of the ISA-G and paying the international differential fee is considered as a council member of ISA-G and is known as a graduate councillor; and,
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Elected as per Article 3.
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Undergraduate Council Member:
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A general member with a membership of the ISA-U and paying the international differential fee is considered as a council member of the ISA-U and is known as an undergraduate councillor, and; and,
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Elected as per Article 3.
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ISA Board Member:
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A graduate or undergraduate general member elected to hold a board position;
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Cannot hold an executive position in any representative student association; and,
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Considered a member of the ISA Board.
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ISA Graduate Board Member:
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A graduate general member elected to hold a graduate board position;
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Cannot hold an executive position in any representative student association; and,
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Considered a member of the ISA Board.
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ISA Undergraduate Board Members:
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An undergraduate general member elected to hold an undergraduate board position;
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Cannot hold an executive position in any representative student association; and,
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Considered a member of the ISA Board.
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Honorary Members:
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This membership is granted to individuals who have done exceptional work for the ISA. All members of the other membership classes can apply to be an honorary member and the councils shall decide on every individual application by a simple majority vote in each council;
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These members can attend any ISA council/board meeting, and;
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Members with advisor title, shall have all rights in the council/board meetings except voting right.
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Have free access to all ISA hosted or sponsored events for their lifetime.
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Membership Standing
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If a member does not attend at least 50% of the meetings held in the last three months in which they were eligible to attend, they shall be considered in a bad standing with an exception to general members;
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If a candidate does not respond to three consecutive official emails sent to them directly, they shall be considered in a bad standing with an exception to general members;
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A general member cannot be expelled as long as they pay the international students’ differential fee or voluntarily leave the ISA;
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Honorary members cannot be impeached or expelled nor can their advisor status be changed or revoked;
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If a member is found to be involved in any of the following unethical activities, they shall be subjected to a bad standing with an exception to general members:
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Fraud;
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using ISA’s name for personal means without a permission from the ISA Board;
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Violating the university;
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Violating the ISA legislature;
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Attempting to bypass constitutional procedures;
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Using the ISA funds for personal use;
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Representing the ISA without an authority to represent;
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Making statements on behalf of the ISA without being a spokesperson;
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Disclosing in-camera sessions details;
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Contesting or manipulating the election process;
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Accusing fellow members without sufficient evidences of wrongdoing;
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Refusing to handover the ISA assets to the elected executives.
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The membership of a member in a bad standing shall be reviewed by the ISA Board and a decision shall be by the ISA Board meeting.
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Every ISA member has the right to resign one’s membership by notifying ISA.
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Every ISA member has the right to reinstate one’s membership by notifying ISA.
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ISA’s Commitments to its general members
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A general member cannot be expelled as long as they pay the international students’ differential fee or voluntarily leave the ISA;
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Every member has the right to resign with a 2 weeks advance notice to the ISA Board;
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Every general member has the right to reinstate their general membership by notifying ISA.
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General members have the right to attend and speak in the Councils;
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General members have the right to meet with any ISA Board member;
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The ISA Board members shall not ignore any general members’ email directed to them;
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Every member of the ISA has the right to question and hold the ISA accountable for its actions by participating in the Council meetings;
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Make changes by hosting a referendum;
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Every general member of ISA has the right to contest in council/board elections;
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Every international student has the equal right to vote in council elections and referendums;
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The ISA shall be made by students and ultimately governed by students;
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The ISA shall be committed to ultimately stand by best interests of international students, irrespective of its political agendas or self-interests.
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ISA’s inclusivity Policy
ISA is committed to accommodate all the needs of LGBTQ2S+ and other visible minorities.
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All ISA legislatures and documents will be gender neutral.
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No form or application will ever ask for the gender of any individual.
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Any defaming/discriminatory statements by any member of ISA will lead to membership in bad standing.
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ISA is dedicated/obliged to ensure that the needs of members of LGBTQ2S+ are respected and accommodated.
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Any member of LGBTQ2S+ can file an anonymous complaint against anyone in ISA and the identity of the member will not be disclosed at any cost, thus right to information will not be applicable.
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Members of LGBTQ2S+ are an important part of our university and thus for ISA.
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No comments based on religion or race shall be tolerated in ISA.
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Comments or statements leading to division among the international community will also not be tolerated.
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All ISA councils and board members shall use pronouns on all official engagements.
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Treaty 6 acknowledgement is mandatory in all ISA’s official meetings.
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No force or effect
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Any decision of the ISA’s councils/board that conflicts with the federal or provincial statute, common law, or traditional law and/or practices is of no force or effect.
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Any decision that violates the constitution or the bylaws, is of no force or effect.