It's Time for Change

Our Board of Advisors has not been active for some time, so we're officially proposing its removal from the Constitution. Its former responsibilities will be reassigned to our Executive Council and other appropriate leadership positions to better reflect how the CSS operates today.

We're updating our Constitution to reflect the Executive Council that operates today. This includes updated position titles, updated portfolio names, and two Executives of Marketing. The President will remain the only elected Executive position, with the rest of the team appointed through a hiring process.

We're expanding CSS membership opportunities to UVic students pursuing a Business minor. At the President's discretion, these students will also have the opportunity to become CSS members. We're also ensuring that eligible students away on co-op or exchange can continue voting in Presidential elections and referendums.

We're putting our Presidential election process into writing. From nomination deadlines and campaign periods to voting and the announcement of our next President at the Greater Victoria Business Banquet, the Constitution will now clearly outline what students and candidates can expect.

We're introducing clearer procedures for hiring and, when necessary, dismissing Executives and Directors. These changes outline formal warnings, meetings, and approval requirements to help ensure that our team members are held accountable to their responsibilities.

We're clarifying who is responsible for approving spending within the CSS. Under the proposed changes, the President and Executive of Finance can approve unbudgeted expenses up to $5,000, while larger expenses require additional approval from the Executive Council or CSS members through a referendum.

We're introducing requirements for CSS budgets to be regularly updated and reviewed throughout the year. Our Executive of Finance will also present financial statements to members at our January Annual General Meeting, giving students an opportunity to learn more about the CSS's financial position.

Our January Annual General Meeting will continue to be open to all CSS members, with advance notice sent by email. Students interested in attending our regular monthly CSS team meetings can also do so by submitting a written request to the President.

We're making sure there's a clear plan in place if the President resigns, is recalled, or is temporarily unable to fulfill their duties. In these situations, the Executive, Internal will step in as Acting President until the President returns or a new election can take place. We're also clarifying the process for recalling a President, including ensuring they cannot oversee their own recall vote.

CSS members will continue to have the ability to initiate referendums through a petition signed by 50 members. We're also clarifying how changes to the Constitution can be proposed, while maintaining the requirement for student approval through a referendum. This means students continue to have a direct say in important decisions about how the CSS is governed!

We're strengthening expectations for our Executive Council by outlining attendance requirements, responsibilities, and the importance of maintaining accurate records. These changes will help our leadership team stay organized, accountable, and prepared to support students throughout the year.

We're updating how CSS policies are created, approved, and maintained. Our Executive Council and President will take responsibility for approving policies, while ensuring important documents are accessible to incoming leadership teams.

We're moving toward a more organized digital recordkeeping system. The updated Constitution will establish how official documents are stored, maintained, and passed down between leadership teams, helping preserve the history of the CSS and make future transitions easier.