Class Officers
Represent your class at Commencement and on the Alumni Council
There are three Class Officer positions open to election for the Class of 2013.
Nominations will be open from Monday, April 29 12pm until Wednesday, May 1, 12pm; all eligible HSPH graduates are eligible to be nominated or to self-nominate.
Voting will be open from Monday May 6, 12pm until Wednesday, May 8, 12pm
In addition to three elected positions, Student Government appoints two class marshals from within their elected representatives.
Each elected officer should be committed to devoting time and attention to the responsibilities of these positions.
Below please find descriptions for each position. Please note that all positions function as procession marshals at Commencement ceremonies. All officers’ terms last until the individual is no longer in a position to carry out the duties of that office.
- President
Leads the five Class Marshals in the Commencement ceremonies. Serves as a member representing the graduating class on the Alumni Council for a term of three years. Please see the detailed description below from the Office of Alumni Affairs. - Vice President
Assists the president. - Secretary
Works with the President and Vice President in coordinating communication between the class members and the school. Solicits news about fellow class members to be submitted to the Harvard Public Health Review. Acts as one of five Class Marshalls in the Commencement ceremonies.
Class President Responsiblities:
Summary of Alumni Councilor requirements and expectations:
Election to the HSPH Alumni Council is a 3 year term beginning at the annual fall meeting which is usually held in September in Boston as part of Alumni Weekend. Based on a vote at an April 2010 Alumni Council meeting, the official expectations of current and incoming Council members are as follows:
- participation by phone/videoconference or in person in at least 2/3 of Council meetings (usually 2-3 meetings a year),
- financial support of the Alumni Fund for Student Assistance at a suggested [not minimum] level of $100,
- and membership on at least one Alumni Association committee.
Further, it was unanimously adopted at the April 2011 meeting that we clarify the expectations of councilors by adding that travel expenses, and lodging are the responsibility of the Council member and no stipends for travel to meetings are provided by the school. However, several meals are typically provided during the meetings.
In-person meetings are typically a two day planning meeting held the first weekend of April and Alumni Weekend held the last weekend of September, both at HSPH in Boston. Other Council meetings called Special Meetings can be held via video conference, phone, etc. on an as-needed basis throughout the year. Alumni Association Committees are expected to meet quarterly via phone or video conference and at the annual April meeting and all Councilors must participate on at least one committee.
Note this particular passage regarding the election of the Class representatives:
“As set forth in Article V, Section 2, Councilors elected by the graduating class shall be elected according to the rules of the graduating class and are not included in the nomination and election process of these bylaws.”
ARTICLE V – ALUMNI COUNCIL
34 Section 1. Purpose. The Alumni Council, subsequently referred to as “the Council,”
35 shall be the policy-making authority and executive power of the Association unless
36 otherwise directed by a majority of the Members of the Association, subsequently
37 referred to as “the Council.”
38
39 Section 2. Composition of the Council. The Council shall be comprised of (2) elected
40 Officers, nine (9) elected Councilors plus the President and Immediate Past-President.
41 Three (3) of the nine (9) elected positions shall be reserved for a representative of the
42 graduating class who shall be elected by that class.
43
44 Section 3. Eligibility. Any member of the association as set forth in Article III,
45 Section 1 shall be eligible to serve as a Councilor or as an Officer. Persons shall be
46 eligible to serve as an Officer regardless of the number of terms they have served as
47 Councilor.
1
2 Section 4. Nominations for Councilors and Officers. At least 6 months prior to the
3 Annual Meeting of the Association, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee
4 composed of five members, at least one of whom will be a member of Council. The
5 Nominating Committee will develop two nominations for each position to be filled by
6 election. The Nominating Committee will confirm the willingness of each nominee to
7 serve in the designated position if elected. The Nominating Committee shall be
8 responsible for determining the eligibility of nominees. The Nominating Committee will
9 provide the Secretary of the Council with the list of nominees at least 4 months before the
10 Annual Meeting. As set forth in Article V, Section 2, Councilors elected by the
11 graduating class shall be elected according to the rules of the graduating class and are not
12 included in the nomination and election process of these bylaws.
13
14
15 Section 5. Election of Councilors and Officers. The Secretary shall prepare a ballot
16 with the two nominees for each position and with a space for a write-in candidate for
17 each position. The ballot will list the names of the nominees in chronological order
18 according to the first year of residence at the Harvard School of Public Health. The
19 ballot will be distributed by mail or electronically to all members of the Association at
20 least 3 months before the Annual Meeting. Appropriate methods will be used to ensure a
21 single ballot is marked by each member submitting a ballot. Ballots may be submitted by
22 mail or electronically, and must reach the Alumni Office ten (10) working days before
23 the Annual Meeting. The nominee with the highest number of votes for each position
24 will be announced at the Annual Meeting.
25
26 Section 6. Limitations and Term of Office. All Councilors including the graduating
27 class representatives shall serve a term not to exceed three (3) years and councilors may
28 not serve more than two terms. The terms of the newly-elected Officers and Councilors
29 shall begin at the completion of the Annual Meeting of the Association.
30
31 Section 7. Vacancies. If there is a vacancy of any Councilor, the President may
32 appoint a replacement pro-tempore and the position will be filled permanently by election
33 according to the rules set forth in Article V, Sections 4 and 5.
34
35 Section 8. Removal of Councilors. Councilors may be removed from office with or
36 without cause by a two-thirds vote of the Council at a regular or special meeting of the
37 Council where thirty (30) days previous notice has been given.