CONSTITUTION
NAME OF THE SOCIETY
1.The name of the Society is the Society for Students with a Disability (SSD).
PURPOSES OF THE SOCIETY
2. The purposes of the Society are to:
- represent the interests of students with a disability at UVic;
- promote the full and equal participation of students with a disability in all areas of university life;
- raise awareness of the barriers and challenges faces by students with a disability and advocate for their removal;
- prevent, expose, and eliminate institutional discrimination;
- create anti-oppressive spaces where students with a disability can relax, socialize, and share experiences; and
- be a constituency organization as defined by the Constitution and Bylaws of the UVSS
ACTIVITIES OF THE SOCIETY
3. The Society will strive to achieve the purposes stated in article 2 by (among other things):
- advocating for students with a disability within the UVic Community and beyond;
- fostering greater awareness of the rights and interests of students with a disability at UVic through public education and information programs and activities;
- organizing or sponsoring events if a social or educational nature for members and others;
- collaborating with other constituency organizations and groups at UVic to achieve shared goals and objectives; and
- supporting anti-oppression and social inclusion of marginalized people with disabilities.
THE SOCIETY’S LOGO
4. The Society’s logo will be the design shown above and will be used, where appropriate, in all communications or publications of the society.
DISSOLUTION
5. On dissolution of the Society, any assets remaining after satisfaction of its debts and liabilities will be transferred to the UVSS and held by it in trust until such time as the Society is reactivated, or a new society is created in its place.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
6. The Society will not discriminate against any person on any ground set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the British Columbia Human Rights Code and will strive in all of its activities to promote respect for human rights, equity, and fairness.
7. The Society actively encourages the intersectional inclusion of all minorities such as racialized persons, low-income folks, gender non-conforming individuals, queer, and socially marginalized folks as outlined by the anti-discrimination policy.
BYLAWS
BYLAW #1: INTERPRETATION
8. In this Constitution and any Bylaws of the Society, the following definitions will apply:
- “Administrative Council” the student member(s) of the SSD elected by SSD membership to oversee and manage the affairs and activities of that group.
- “Campus” means the campus of UVic.
- “GSS” means the University of Victoria
- “Incoming students” means any person who has received an admissions offer from UVic that is currently valid and who has not accepted an admissions offer from another institution.
- “Returning students” means any former fee-paying member of the UVSS or GSS with the intent to return to accredited UVic classes within 18 months of their last semester as a UVSS or GSS member.
- “Self-identify” to describe oneself as belonging to a particular group based on personal understanding or experience. In the context of disability, this term is often used for individuals who consider themselves disabled but may not have a formal diagnosis.
- “Society” means the Society for Students with a Disability.
- “Special resolution” means a resolution adopted by a majority vote of not less than 75% of eligible voters present at a meeting.
- “Students with a disability” means any person who self-identifies as someone with a physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment that in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in the social and academic life of UVic on an equal basis with others.
- “UVic” means the University of Victoria.
- “UVic Community” means students, faculty, and staff of UVic and includes any constituency or other groups on campus.
- “UVSS” means the University of Victoria Students Society.
- For greater certainty, definitions including other grammatical forms of the same words and those words will be given a corresponding meaning.
- In accordance with the Society’s gender-neutral practice, the pronoun ‘they’ shall be used in place of he or she in these Bylaws.
BYLAW #2: MEMBERSHIP
9. Membership in the Society will consist of Full Members and Associate Members.
10. Full Members of the Society include anyone who:
- is a member in good standing of the UVSS or GSS at UVic,
- and self-identifies as a person with a disability.
11. Associate Members include anyone who:
- is an alumni member of the Society; or
- is an incoming student who identifies as a student with a disability; or
- is a returning student who identifies as a student with a disability; or
- is a caregiver, care aid, or support worker to a UVic student (incoming or returning), community or alumni with a disability; or
- is a member of the UVic Community and is accepted by the Collective Council of the Society as an Associate Member.
RIGHTS OF FULL MEMBERS
12. Full Members of the Society will have the following rights:
- right to be nominated or self-nominate for open Council positions and to hold an Council role if successfully elected into that role;
- UVSS staff are ineligible to be considered full members, regardless of whether they fulfil all other eligibility requirements for full membership.
- to participate in and vote at Annual, Semi-Annual, and Special General Meetings of the Society;
- to attend meetings of the Council, other than in-camera sessions, and speak at such meetings;
- to become a voting member of Society committees;
- to obtain a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws;
- to obtain a copy of all Council minutes within 5 business days of requesting minutes, if no formatting accommodations are requested;
- to obtain, in a timely manner, a copy of any Council minutes or of the Constitution and Bylaws in alternative formats that are reasonably available;
- to have access to the financial records of the Society on giving reasonable notice to the Finance Director;
- to receive reasonable accommodations at Society events; and
- join in learning opportunities and workshops offered by and for the Society.
RIGHTS OF ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
13. Associate Members will have the same rights as Full Members except for the right to vote in Annual, Semi-Annual, and Special General Meetings.
14. Associate Members may not be nominated or elected into council roles.
