Endeavor
We exist to help raise campus awareness, articulate the importance of service experience, and recruit those who already have international experience and wish to share their common interest.
 
That said, we want to create avenues so that our membership will be able to do what they dream of in an international service experience.
 
Finally we hope to get people connected to exciting new opportunities to help internationally via avenues at home and abroad.
 
Email csis.eboard@gmail.com today!
 
Constitution of Columbia Students for International Service Mission Statement Columbia Students for International Service is a non-partisan organization created as a forum through which to promote international service as an integral part of higher education, and as a resource for Columbia University students interested in pursuing international service through employment or volunteerism. Preamble Founded by students whose appreciation for international service brought them to Columbia University and informed and shaped their academic and life goals, Columbia Students for International Service, through this constitution, hopes to promote an appreciation of cross-cultural learning and exchange, as well as a commitment to the ideal of service as an essential duty of every responsible citizen of the world working towards the betterment of humanity. Definitions Columbia Students for International Service, hereafter referred to as “CSIS,” shall be governed by a board of officers, hereafter referred to as “the Executive Board.” Article I: Purpose Section I The purpose of CSIS shall be to promote the importance of international service, through volunteerism or employment, to all students at Columbia University. CSIS shall also be an educational resource and clearinghouse for all students interested in learning about and undertaking international service experiences. Section II The Executive Board shall facilitate the above stated purpose of CSIS by keeping the Columbia University student body informed about international service through the organization of events, including but not limited to: 1. Regular meetings. 2. Speakers and presentations concerning international service experiences and opportunities. 3. Excursions to relevant lectures, exhibits, and meetings. 4. Service activities benefiting international service organizations or benefiting relevant interests in the immediate Columbia University/New York City area. 5. Social activities relevant to the principles of CSIS. The Executive Board shall form a liaison with the Earl Hall Student Governing Board to ensure that the above stated events and opportunities comply with pertinent regulations. Article II: Membership Section I Membership shall be open to all members of the Columbia University community who are students, faculty, staff, or alumni and who express an interest in becoming CSIS general body members. Interest in CSIS can be expressed via e-mail or attendance at CSIS-sponsored events. Requests to be added to the CSIS mailing list, and presence on that list, do not in and of themselves constitute proof of membership or interest in becoming a member. Section II The privileges and responsibilities of membership are the opportunity to participate in and attend CSIS-sponsored events. Participants must act in a responsible manner while attending CSIS-sponsored events. Only Columbia University students may hold CSIS office. There are no dues for membership, although admission may be charged at certain CSIS-sponsored events. Section III Membership may be revoked by the initiation of one member of the Executive Board and must be ratified by a majority of the Executive Board at the earliest possible meeting. Membership may be revoked based upon a breach of the laws of the United States of America, the State of New York, the City of New York, the rules of Columbia University as outlined in FACETS (Facts About Columbia University Essential to Students), or the Columbia University Code of Conduct. Disruptive conduct at a CSIS-sponsored event, or the intent to engage in such conduct, may also be grounds for immediate revocation of membership. Upon termination of membership, the former member must return to the Executive Board any CSIS belongings in his or her possession. Article III: Meetings and Procedures Section I CSIS shall hold regular meetings at least, but not limited to, once per month during the Columbia University academic year. The Executive Board shall determine the time and place of CSIS meetings as it sees fit. Section II At any time, formal votes pertaining to CSIS policies and procedures may be initiated by any member of the general body. The proposal shall then go to a vote at the next general meeting, with the majority of members being present sufficient to pass the proposal. If such policy positions are initiated by the Executive Board and are not brought up for a vote, these positions must be stated as the position of the Executive Board of CSIS, not of CSIS as a whole. Article IV: Officers Section I CSIS shall have the following officers, to be elected in April of every academic year, to fill one-year terms: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Nomination is open to any CSIS member who is a student at Columbia University and who has attended at least two CSIS events during the academic year prior to nomination. Section II The duties of those officers shall be: 1. The President shall preside over meetings and perform such other duties as may be delegated by the Executive Board or the membership. The President may not serve as Treasurer simultaneously. 2. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the President’s absence, and shall perform any duties as may be delegated by the Executive Board or the membership. 3. The Treasurer shall keep CSIS funds and financial records, make disbursements as directed by the Executive Board, and perform such other duties as may be delegated by the Executive Board or the membership. The Treasurer may not serve as President simultaneously. 4. The Secretary shall keep minutes of meetings, all club records, and correspondence, and perform such other duties as may be delegated by the Executive Board or the membership. Section III Elected officers of the Executive Board shall hold their office for one year, with elections in April and term of office beginning at the end of the Columbia University academic year. Article V: Electing, Appointing, and Removing Officers Section I Organizational elections must take place at least once per year. For the CSIS Executive Board, elections will take place annually in April at a publicized general body meeting. Candidates meeting the above qualifications may be nominated by any CSIS member. No candidates may vote in their own contest nor distribute campaign materials. All in attendance may vote except the Executive Board official presiding over the election. The presiding official will count votes while the nominees are absent from the room. In case of a tie, the presiding official will ask for a second vote. Voting shall be done by secret ballot. Section II The members of the Executive Board may be removed from office by the membership or by other members of the Executive Board through a formal vote of two-thirds of the Executive Board, subject to override by three-fourths of those present at the next general body meeting. Section III In the event of a mid-term vacancy of an elected officer, a special election will be held at the next general body meeting. In the event of the mid-term vacancy of the President, the Vice-President will fill the President’s office and a special election will be held to fill the Vice-President’s office. Article VI: Committees Section I The standing committees of CSIS shall be: 1. Programming 2. Outreach 3. Projects 4. Research Section II The duties of each of these committees shall be: 1. The Programming Committee shall be responsible for finding speakers to give presentations at regular meetings and for providing material to be presented at meetings at which no invited speaker is present. 2. The Outreach Committee shall be responsible for publicizing meetings and events and attracting membership. 3. The Projects Committee shall be responsible for organizing relevant and related projects and recruiting members to participate. 4. The Research Committee shall be responsible for researching and providing information to members with specific inquiries about international service. Section III One Executive Board official shall preside over each committee. The body of the committee shall be made up, voluntarily, of CSIS members. Section IV Additional committees may be formed and dissolved by CSIS through a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board. Article VII: By-Laws Section I By-laws of the organization shall be established and altered by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board. Proposed by-laws and alterations of existing by-laws should be submitted, in writing, to the Executive Board at any regular meeting, and shall be voted on at the next regular meeting. Section II By-laws of the Executive Board shall be established and altered by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board at any regular meeting. Proposed by-laws and alterations of existing by-laws of the Executive Board should be submitted, in writing, to the Executive Board at any regular meeting, and shall be voted on at the next regular meeting. Article VIII: Amendments to the Constitution Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by any member of CSIS, in writing, to the Executive Board at a regular meeting. Amendments will be voted on at the next regular meeting and may be adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of the general membership. Article IX: Ratification This constitution shall be established by a vote of a two-thirds majority of the general body membership of CSIS present at the first meeting.