Statutes

§ 1: Name and date of founding

1. The name of this student organization shall be Symbiosis.
2. It was founded February 17, 2009.

§ 2: Mission 

1. Symbiosis is a student organization for the Masters students in the Industrial Ecology (Ind.Ecol.) program. The goal of Symbiosis is to create a meeting place and a voice for a growing student body in the program. As this is an international, multidisciplinary program where many of the students are new to NTNU, it is important to have a proper student organization to promote unity.

§ 3: Vision 

1. Symbiosis has three core areas of activity:
1. Organizing social events to foster close relationships within the student body of Ind.Ecol.
2. Promote and ensure the quality of the study program by including the student representatives in the board of Symbiosis.
3. Acting as a liaison between Symbiosis members and the Industrial Ecology community at large, companies and organizations in other educational institutions.
2. Symbiosis’s objectives are the following:
1. Involve as many of the Ind.Ecol. students as possible in the social events.
2. Promote the different interests of the members.
3. Good contact with the business communities.

§ 4: Membership

1. To be eligible for membership in Symbiosis, one must be enrolled in the Masters program in Ind.Ecol.  Students in the Ind.Ecol. program are automatically enrolled as members. Should they wish to not be a part of Symbiosis, they must inform one of the board members on this matter.
2. Engineering students at NTNU specializing in Ind.Ecol. and/or other students following Ind.Ecol. core classes may apply for membership. The application will be considered by the board.
3. Graduates from the Ind.Ecol. program can serve as Alumni members of Symbiosis. Alumni members are not active members of Symbiosis, but they will be invited to Immatriculation balls and other formal occasions.
4. Non-members or, in particular cases, members, who have contributed beyond expectations to promoting Symbiosis or the study program can be rewarded by the title “Honorary member of Symbiosis”. Candidates can be suggested by all members, and the board will consider the suggestion.

§ 5: General Assembly

1. The General Assembly shall be an annual meeting in which all active members of Symbiosis are expected to attend.
2. The General assembly should meet within the first two weeks of February every year for the election of the board.
3. The board is granted the right to call for extraordinary General Assembly meetings if there is an urgent matter. Notice of extraordinary General Assembly must be given at the latest three days before the meeting.

§ 6: Election of the board

1. The board shall be elected by a General Assembly. At least 1/3 of the General assembly must be present for the election to be legitimate.
2. The President will be responsible for announcing the exact date of election no later than two weeks prior to the election date.
3. The outgoing Vice-President will be responsible for receiving nominations for board positions.
4. Nominations are accepted from two weeks prior to the election date and until the time of election.
5. Votes shall be counted by the Vice-President.
6. The new board will take office the second board meeting after the election. During the first board meeting after the election, the outgoing board will be present to hand over responsibilities to the new board.

§ 7: Board terms and positions

1. The board members are elected by the General assembly (§ 6) for a one-year term, lasting from February one year to February the following year.
2. The board has the following positions:
1. President:
1. Calls the board meetings and presides over meetings of Symbiosis.
2. Enforces due observance of the statutes.
3. Rectifies any violations of the statutes as soon as possible, and report such violations to the board in a timely manner.
4. Represents only the majority opinion of the board when acting on behalf of Symbiosis.
5. Is the liaison between Symbiosis and other student organizations at NTNU.
6. Is the main spokesperson for the ideals and initiatives of Symbiosis.
2. Vice-President:
1. Assumes the duties of the President of Symbiosis if the latter is absent.
2. Assists and works in conjunction with the President.
3. Co-ordinates all affairs related to the update and maintenance of the statutes.
4. Is responsible for the ordering and distributing of Symbiosis shirts or products.
5. Records the minutes of the annual general meeting, all council and extraordinary meetings and keep copies available on the board web area.
6. Is responsible for maintaining an up-to-date record of Symbiosis’s activities.
7. Co-ordinates all affairs concerning voting procedures, for all elections and referenda.
3. Finance Manager:
1. Submits a budget for approval by the board before the end of the spring term.
2. Is responsible for the distribution of organization funds in accordance with the budget.
3. Submits all budgets and balance sheets as required to the board.
4. Obtains estimates of all proposed expenditures.
5. Ensures that all money related issues are voted on by the board.
6. Arranges organization purchases and the payment of organization debts.
7. Supervises the sale and distribution of tickets for organization functions.
8. Works in conjunction with the incoming Finance Manager in preparing the next year’s budget.
9. Briefs the incoming Treasurer on the current state of all organization financial affairs before they take office in February.
10. Keeps the board informed on Symbiosis’s financial status, in the form of a fixed point on the board meeting agenda and a short written notification at the end of each semester.
11. Is the sole signing officer of the organization.
4. Events Manager:
1. Is responsible for organizing all social functions of the club.
2. Submits a budget for approval to the board prior to all social events.
3. Informs Symbiosis members of upcoming social events.
4. Promotes Symbiosis participation when invited to social events organized by other groups.
5. Promotes traditional events like the Christmas Party and Wednesday Night Beer.
6. Organizes sports activities.

§ 8: Amendment of the statutes

1. The statutes can be amended by an ordinary or extraordinary General assembly.
2. Suggestions of amended statutes must be made known for the members no later than two weeks before the General assembly meets.
3. Amendments require a majority of 2/3 of the members.