Executive Committee Members (Reserved for first years only)

External Financial Director

  1. Shall be a First Year Student.
  2. Shall co-chair the Finance Committee with the Internal Financial Director.
  3. Shall be responsible for all fundraising activities such as merchandise sales, business card sales, and locker rentals.
  4. Shall have signing authority for financial transactions in addition to the Internal Financial Director.
  5. Shall work to find outside sources of funding for GPAC, such as through Student Government.
  6. Shall liaise with the Outreach and Professional Development Committee to assist with fundraising from alumni and other members of the community.

Communications Director

  1. Shall be a First Year Student.
  2. Shall record and preserve the minutes and correspondence of GPAC. This includes authoring General Assembly meeting minutes and compiling minutes from Standing Committee meetings.
  3. Shall execute all GPAC correspondence, provide to the General Assembly copies of all available official business, and create a permanent record for the posterity of the organization.
  4. Shall be responsible for managing all GPAC communications tools, to include the GPAC website, listservs, email accounts, social media accounts, calendars, and shared file storage.
  5. Shall be responsible for managing the legislative process, including receiving legislation.
  6. Shall be responsible for distributing a meeting agenda, including all Bills, Resolutions, andReferendums to be presented, by 5:00PM on the day before the meeting.

Parliamentarian

  1. Shall be a First Year Student.
  2. Shall be responsible for maintaining proper parliamentary procedure during meetings
  3. Shall advise members of the General Assembly on parliamentary procedure
  4. Shall train newly elected members on Robert’s Rules of Order at the time of their election.
  5. Shall enforce attendance rules as stipulated in these by-laws and notify the Executive Committee when a representative must be removed from office so that a replacement can be found.
  6. Shall be responsible for managing the Appointment Process as defined in Article V of the Bylaws
  7. Shall compile reports sent by appointees to the Graduate Student Assembly, Student Government, and Senate of College Councils and present the updates at each GPAC General Assembly Meeting.
  8. Shall serve as the back-up representative to the Graduate Student Assembly, Student Government,and Senate of College Councils should the current appointed representative be unable to attend a meeting.

Academic and Internal Affairs Committee

The purpose of the Academic and Internal Affairs Committee is to serve as a liaison between the Student Body and the administration on matters dealing with academic courses, procedures, and policies; teacher quality and quantity; and related initiatives of the LBJ School. In order to provide such service, the Academic and Internal Affairs Committee shall:

  1. Be chaired by the Vice President. Seven Elected Representatives shall be elected to this committee, including one Ph.D. Representative.
  2. Provide an open forum during its bi-weekly meeting for students to address concerns about life at the LBJ School. Feedback received shall remain anonymous and be disseminated to the appropriate member of the administration.
  3. Organize and facilitate town hall meetings, forums, and/or guest speakers to address diversity policy issues on a national, state, and local level and within the LBJ School.
  4. Provide the Student Body with information on how to register a complaint if they are victims of discrimination or sexual harassment, and help ensure adequate resolution of such cases.
  5. Meet with the Associate Dean for Academics and Research regularly to discuss academic matters and other matters of interest to the Student Body.
  6. Nominate students, faculty and staff for LBJ and University-wide recognition including fellowships, scholarships, and awards.
  7. Coordinate the spring awards ceremony for the LBJ School faculty.
  8. Serve as the student voice to the administration with regard to renovations or other matters of the LBJ School environment or facilities.

Finance Committee

The purpose of the Finance Committee is to coordinate the appropriations process, including the disbursal of funds from both the Administrative Account and from the Discretionary Account. In order to provide an equitable and accountable system, the Finance Committee shall:

  1. Be co-chaired by the Internal Financial Director and the External Financial Director. Four additional Elected Representatives shall be elected to this committee.
  2. Conduct the Appropriations Process three times per academic year as defined in these Bylaws.
  3. Coordinate, on behalf of GPAC, all fundraising activities such as merchandise sales, business card sales, and locker rentals.
  4. Monitor GPAC spending and provide a semester-end financial report to the General Assembly.
  5. Be responsible for maintaining a balance sheet for each account under the control of the Committee.
  6. Work to find outside funding sources for GPAC, such as those available through the University-wide Student Government.

Outreach and Professional Development Committee

The purpose of the Outreach and Professional Development Committee is to promote the positive image of the LBJ School while ensuring that current students are fully prepared to enter into their careers in public affairs. In order to effectively fulfill this responsibility, the Outreach and Professional Development Committee shall:

  1. Be chaired by the Professional Development Director. Ten Elected Representatives shall be elected to this committee.
  1. Foster productive and mutually beneficial relationships with alumni, including alumni-student dinners, mentorships, Brown Bag speakers, network building, monthly newsletters, and participation in activities for admitted students.
  1. Work closely with the Assistant Dean for Communications and the LBJ Communications Director to provide student influence in the public relations campaigns undertaken by the LBJ School.
  1. Work with LBJ ITS to provide relevant GPAC information for the main LBJ School Website and in the online calendar.
  1. Promote events on campus using the LBJ Students listserv and other online means.
  1. Create promotional materials, such as flyers and press releases, regarding events of interest.
  1. Provide assistance and creative support to the Finance Committee with regard to fundraising activities.
  1. Facilitate the creation and timely dissemination of the LBJ Student Directory.
  1. Organize and facilitate the informal Brown Bag series, and solicit input from the Student Body on desired speakers and topics of discussion.
  1. Coordinate speaker selections with GPAC-Recognized Organizations that seek to sponsor particular speakers.
  1. Coordinate, in collaboration with the Summer Transition Chairs, the student organization and internship fair during orientation week.
  1. Assist the Dean’s Office with LBJ School Commencement Day activities, including selection of the class speaker and class gift.
  1. Coordinate LBJ School events with ongoing UT-wide events such as Faculty Appreciation Week.

Student Life Committee

The purpose of the Student Life Committee is to provide opportunities that contribute to the physical, mental, and emotional enrichment of the Student Body, faculty, and staff. In order to provide such opportunities, the Student Life Committee shall:

  1. Be chaired by the Student Life Director. Seven Elected Representatives shall be elected to this committee.
  1. Coordinate social activities, including but not limited to happy hours, parties, picnics, spelling bees, and arts and crafts events.
  1. Organize events that promote the fitness and wellness of the Student Body, such as coordinating intramural sports, participating in public athletic events, facilitating stress-relieving activities, and hosting mental health awareness and service events.
  1. Work with the Outreach and Professional Development Committee to plan the social events during the days preceding commencement.
  1. Ensure that events are reflective and inclusive of the Student Body diversity and existing minority groups, such as international students, students of color, the GLBT community, etc.
  1. Administer a survey to the Student Body at least once per semester. This survey shall gauge student opinion on various aspects of the LBJ School student experience.

Community Outreach Committee:

The purpose of the Community Outreach Committee is to organize community service events and build relationships with community organizations. In order to effectively fulfill this responsibility, the Community Outreach Committee shall:

  1. Be chaired by the Community Outreach Director. Four Elected Representatives shall be elected to this committee.
  2. Facilitate community service activities at which LBJ students volunteer their service for the betterment of the greater community.
  3. Build relationships with community organizations who share common interests with the LBJ School such as professional organizations, non-profits, advocacy organizations and political organizations.