Bylaw 900 – The Bylaw respecting Representative Regional Student Associations.
Vice President Internal and Vice President External are responsible for enacting Bylaw 900 on regular operational basis.
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Definitions
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Regional Representative Student Association (RRSA) or Representative association: an association of students recognized by ISA as a representative of a enumerable constituency, to which ISA has exclusively delegated its representative authority.
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ISA’s Council(s): The undergraduate council of ISA is considered as ISA’s Council (only in this bylaw).
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International Students: Students currently holding a valid study permit and paying the international students’ differential fees at the University of Alberta.
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Regional Students’ Associations: Student groups whose members are students from a specific country or region in the world, outside of Canada.
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Representative Students’ Associations: The partner Regional Students’ Associations or Student Representative Associations (SRAs) that have representation in the ISA’s Councils.
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Delegate: An executive delegated by a representative students’ association to the ISA’s Councils.
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Roles and Mandate
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The mandate of a Regional Representative Student Association is to act on behalf of and for its constituency. The Regional Representative Student Association is to conduct itself in a manner that is transparent, open, democratic, credible, accountable, and fiscally prudent. The roles of an Association are to:
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Act as the official representative of its membership on student issues;
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Provide services which are beneficial to its membership; and
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Foster student engagement and a sense of community within its constituency.
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The Regional Representative Student Association shall not advocate on issues in contradiction to Students’ Union or ISA’s political policy
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Membership
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The base membership shall be agreed upon by the Regional Representative Student Association and ISA upon recognition.
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The members of a Regional Representative Student Association have the following rights:
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To resign one’s membership by notifying the Regional Representative Student Association;
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To reinstate one’s membership by notifying the Regional Representative Student Association;
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For one to be afforded the same voting power as any other member of the Regional Representative Student Association at a General Meeting, in a referendum or plebiscite, and in an election for its officers;
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For one to be afforded the same voting power as any other member of a membership category of the Regional Representative Student in an election for a representative of that membership category; and
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For one to be afforded the same access to services and events as any other member in the same membership category of the Regional Representative Student Association.
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Delegation
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ISA’s Councils have the right to delegate their representative authority to any association and making it a Regional Representative Student Association as per this bylaw.
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The Regional Representative Student Association cannot delegate this authority further.
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Recognition
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ISA’s Council may choose to delegate its representative authority to any student association that wishes to advocate for its membership to the University or ISA, provided that:
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The student association represents a definable and enumerable constituency.
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The student association has legislation and procedures that are compliant with ISA and Students’ Union legislatures; and
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The student association is registered and recognized by the ISA and Students’ Union as a student group.
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A minimum of 50% execs need to be undergraduate international students.
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Make its meeting minutes and finances publicly available to all members.
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Official student group status with the University of Alberta is not a necessary prerequisite for being recognized as a Regional Representative Student Association.
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Derecognition
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A Regional Representative Student Association could be derecognised by ISA’s Council , if:
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The Regional Representative Student Association applies for derecognition;
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A majority of the students which the Regional Representative Student Association represents petition for derecognition; or
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A Regional Representative Student Association is found to be in gross negligence of its fiduciary responsibility.
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Violation of ISA or UASU legislatures.
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Upon derecognition, ISA shall recognize a new Regional Representative Student Association.
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Legislatures
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Regional Representative Student Association. shall have legislation, consistent with the requirements of ISA’s bylaws, specifying, at minimum:
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The official name of the Regional Representative Student Association;
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The mandate of the Regional Representative Student Association;
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The membership, membership categories, and rights of members of the Regional Representative Student Association;
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The procedure for adoption, amendment, and rescission of its legislation;
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The procedure for adoption, amendment, and rescission of its policies and/or procedures;
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The mechanism for calling a General Meeting;
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The powers and responsibilities of each of its officers;
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The powers and responsibilities of each of its boards, committees and/or councils;
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The manner of free and fair elections of its officers and the manner of removal of its officers;
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The manner in which elections are to be conducted;
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The manner in which finances and property are managed including the budgeting and auditing processes;
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Procedures outlining the annual transition of its executive and board officers.
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Reporting
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Regional Representative Student Association shall provide the ISA with:
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A document confirming the legitimate selection of the Association’s officers and their contact information;
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Statements of expectation signed by each of the Association’s officers on their mandated responsibilities as per ISA bylaws;
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Confirmation that the Association is in compliance with University policy;
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An outline of organizational and financial goals;
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Financial report; and
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Appoint an exec as delegate to ISA.
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Liability
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The International Students’ Association is not responsible or liable for any damages, costs, suits, or claims arising from the actions of any Regional Representative Student Association.