Constitution

Part 1 General regulations
1. The Postgraduate Association exists and shall continue to exist unless AGM amends the constitution to remove it.
2. The Postgraduate Association Executive Committee represents the needs of all postgraduate students registered at the University of Bath
3. The Postgraduate Association is bound under the Students’ Union Constitution including the Safe Space and Equal Opportunities Policy, and should remind their members of these as necessary
4. The Postgraduate Association remains bound by these regulations
5. A written report must be submitted at least once a term to Union Executive summarising the activities of the Postgraduate Association
6. The Postgraduate Association Executive Committee is elected in the beginning of each academic year through e-elections on bathstudent.com
7. Spaces on the PGA Executive Committee can also be filled at a General Meeting at any point during the academic year
8. The Postgraduate Association Executive Committee can co-opt members as it deems necessary. Co-opted members do not have a vote on the Executive.
9. The Postgraduate Association shall be assigned a budget, which is subject to the financial rules and regulations of the University of Bath Students’ Union. This budget shall form part of the Academic and Welfare (AWARE) budget and as such all expenditure is authorised by the AWARE budget holder and manager. The Postgraduate Association treasurer shall be responsible for managing the budget
10. All properties of the Postgraduate Association are the properties of the University of Bath Students’ Union

Part 2 Officer Profiles

Chair:
The Chair of the PGA Executive Committee is the primary spokesperson and figurehead of the Postgraduate Association, seeking to positively uphold and implement the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Association and the aims and objectives of the Students’ Union. 

- All the work of the PGA is co-ordinated by the Chair. 
- The chair is responsible for the overall representation and coordination of the Association’s work, including representing students at all levels of the University and Students’ Union. 
- to attend and represent postgraduate students at University Senate 
- to attend and represent postgraduate students at the University Research Students Committee 
- to attend and represent postgraduate students at Students’ Employability Advisory Council 
- to report to the Postgraduate Association Executive Committee after each Senate and URSC committee meetings 
- to represent and promote postgraduate interests at any and all levels 
- to co-ordinate the Postgraduate Association to provide a full and comprehensive service to all postgraduates 
- to liaise with the Students Union President and all Vice Presidents of the Union Executive as appropriate on all academic and welfare issues 
- to liaise with and coordinate the work of the PGA Administrator with respect to all issues affecting postgraduate students. 
- to liaise with the National Postgraduate Committee (if the PGA opts to become a member for the academic year) 
- to carry out any other duties set out in the Students’ Union Constitution and to carry out any action mandated by Union Council 
- to positively promote the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Association

PGA Students’ Union Representative:
The PGA SU Representative assists the PGA Chair in the overall representation and co-ordination of the association's work, particularly by working closely with the Students’ Union Sabbatical Officers, Councillors and staff. 

- To represent the PGA at all Student’s Union Council meetings including Annual General Meeting and Emergency General Meetings 
- To report to the PGA Executive Committee after every Students’ Union Council meeting and consult the Committee in advance (if possible) on any issues requiring voting. 
- To raise awareness of postgraduates within the Students’ Union 
- To inform postgraduates through the publicity officer of any issues affecting them with regard to the operation of the Students’ Union 
- The PGA/SU Representative, together with the Chair, is to work closely with the Students' Union Executive to tackle short term Post Graduate issues and to develop ideas for the progress of the PGA and the Students' Union in the long term. 
- to positively promote the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Association

Treasurer:
The treasurer is responsible for managing the Postgraduate Association budget, and to advise the Postgraduate Association Executive Committee appropriately. 

-  to prepare a yearly estimate of expenditure and budget submission 
- to be the only person to sign off any expenditures and payment claims (only in rare cases should this be mandated to the Chair) 
- to keep an up to date record of accounts 
- to co-ordinate fund-raising and sponsorship 
- to advise Postgraduate Association Executive on financial matters 
- to attend the Students’ Union Finance Committee and report to the PGA Executive Committee on any issues affecting postgraduate students 
- to positively promote the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Association

Publicity Officer:
The Publicity Officer is responsible for designing and producing materials to positively promote the Postgraduate Association and its activities. This includes publishing items on BathStudent.com, the PGA facebook website, writing articles for Impact and liaising with the Vice Presidents for Communications and for Welfare and Campaigns. 

- to publicise the meetings and events of the Postgraduate Association 
- to attend the PGA Events Committee meetings 
- to liaise with Vice Presidents (Communications, and Welfare and Campaigns) on any issues affecting postgraduates 
- to promote, update and maintain a lively and vibrant BathStudent website 
- to promote, update and maintain an active and lively Facebook PGA group site 
- to prepare together with the Chair the annual report due for the last SU Council meeting and publish this report afterwards 
- to update and edit the annual PG handbook in liaison with the Graduate Office 
- to liaise with Impact and to encourage the publication of PG relevant articles 
- to positively promote the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Association

Postgraduate Academic Representative:
The PG Academic Representative is responsible for representing postgraduate students to the University of Bath University Research Students Committee, the University Learning and Teaching Committee and to the Students’ Union Executive. The Academic Representative should keep up-to-date with current affairs related to and affecting postgraduate studies. 

- to attend and represent postgraduate students at University Research Students committee 
- to attend and represent postgraduate students at University Learning and Teaching Committee 
- to report to the Postgraduate Association and its Executive after these meetings 
- to represent the academic needs of postgraduate students 
- to liaise with SSLCs and School and Faculty Research Students Committee Representatives on all academic issues 
- to liaise with the Graduate Office Generic Skills Training Coordinator on the provision, availability and quality of such courses 
- to liaise with the Students’ Union Executive on issues such as tuition fee debates, postgraduate funding, research funding 
- to report to the Postgraduate Executive on current affairs affecting Postgraduate Students 
- to liaise with the SU Research and Support Co-ordinator on current affairs affecting postgraduate students 
- to positively promote the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Association

Events Officer:
The Events Officer is responsible for chairing and coordinating the PGA Events Committee whose aim it is to canvass the opinion of a wide range of postgraduate students on social events they would like to have. This committee will also organise and co-ordinate events for all postgraduate students. 

- To chair and coordinate the PGA Events Committee consisting of PGA Executive Committee members and a wide range of PG volunteers who can participate as and when required 
- to survey postgraduate students about events they would like to have 
- to report to the PGA Executive committee and ensure full support 
- to liaise with the Treasurer on the financial feasibility and funding available 
- to co-ordinate events for postgraduate students (including campaign events and RAG) 
- to maintain and promote a list of any events (including externally organised ones) of interest and relevance to postgraduates through the Publicity Officer and the PGA website 
- to attend fresher’s week team meetings and to liaise with the Freshers’ Week Event Managers on preparations for Freshers’ Week. 
- to positively promote the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Association

Conference Representative:
The Conference Representative is to arrange the annual Postgraduate Research Conference. The Conference Representative is responsible for chairing and coordinating the PGA Conference Committee whose aim it is to canvass the opinion of a wide range of postgraduate students on the conference and to plan this event from the beginning of the academic year onwards. 

- To plan and organise the annual PG Research Conference 
- To chair and coordinate the PGA Conference Committee consisting of PGA Executive Committee members and a wide range of PG volunteers 
- To liaise with the PGA, SU, University, and other (external) stakeholders during the preparation of the conference 
- To draft a budget and preliminary timetable for the conference 
- To revise the contents and structure of the conference

Open Representative(s):
This position has no specific portfolio, but is open to any student wishing to have an input into and to assist in the running of the Postgraduate Association. There is a maximum of three members for this position. This representative could, for instance, be responsible for particular aspects such as campaigning for social space, representation of international students’ interests in the PGA, representing PGs at library and the equality and diversity meetings. 

- to attend Postgraduate Association meetings 
- to work with the Postgraduate Executive Committee 
- to positively promote the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Association

PGA Administrator
The secretary position has been replaced by the full-time PGA Administrator. The PGA administrator’s role has been defined by the Students’ Union, however, the main task is supporting the PGA Executive Committee with administrative, organisational and research tasks. The administrator is responsible for keeping an up-to-date file of the business of the Postgraduate Association. It also includes liaison with the AWARE, STARS and other Students’ Union staff in keeping information up-to-date and managing the BathStudent.com membership lists and emails. 

- to organise the meetings of the Executive 
- to take notes during Postgraduate Association meetings and publish minutes on Bathstudent.com 
- to keep the bathstudent PGA website and membership lists up-to-date 
- to keep up-to-date records and files of the activities of the Postgraduate Association 
- to liaise with the AWARE and STARS staff on Postgraduate issues 
- to conduct research into issues and problems as directed by the PGA Executive committee 
- other duties as specified in SU contract 
- to positively promote the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Association