International Students
www.isu-norway.no
§ 1. Objectives
ISU is an anti-racist; non-profit, non-religious, non-political student organisation concerned with serving and promoting the interests of foreign who are (or will be) studying in Norway at institutions of higher education. It is the national organisation for all member organisations in the union.
§ 2. Membership
§ 2.1 Any student who has a student ID number and a valid semester card
in any of the universities and university colleges in Norway is qualified to
be a member or a supporter of ISU. Those studying at PhD programs are also included.
§ 2.2 A member of ISU is a student meeting one of the following requirements:
a) Any student not holding a Norwegian passport
b) Any student holding a dual passport, or
c) Any student with at least one parent of non-Norwegian descent and who has notified both ISU, Norwegian Student Union (NSU) and Studentenes Landsforbund (StL) that she/he is a member of ISU.
§ 2.3 Ola and Kari Nordmann Clause: Any student not meeting the proceeding requirements may be considered a supporter. A supporter retains the same rights as a member, excluding voting rights.
§ 3. Organisation
a) National Assembly
b) National Administration
c) Local Branches
d) Committees
§ 3.1 National Assembly
National Assembly is the highest organ of ISU and carries out the working plans,
realises the budget, elects the National Coordinator and Vice National Coordinator.
§ 3.1.1 The National Assembly consists of:
a) Representatives with speech, proposal and voting rights:
Two representatives from each ISU Local Branch plus the National Co-ordinator.
The National Coordinator has an extra vote in case of a tie.
b) Observers with speech and proposal rights:
1) One from each committee
2) ISU National Secretary
3) One from NSU
4) One from StL
§ 3.1.2 National Assembly meetings are open for everyone. The National Assembly can decide which meetings can be exclusive.
§ 3.1.3 National Assembly has the necessary quorum when 80% of the delegates are present.
Simple majority decides National Assembly's resolution.
§ 3.1.4 National Assembly can, with a 2/3-majority vote, deny delegates their rights given to them in §3.1.1. if their branch has violated §§ 3.3.6. or 5.8. They will then get a status as ”not elected” and are not included in the 80% quorum-demand in
§ 3.1.5 Simple majority decides National Assembly’s resolution.
§ 3.1.6 The National Coordinator calls National Assembly, usually once each semester. An extraordinary National Assembly must be called if:
a) The National Coordinator demands it
b) Three fourths of the Branches demand it
c) 3/4 of the branches demand it.
§ 3.2 National Administration
National Administration consists of a National Coordinator and a National Secretary.
§ 3.2.1 The National Coordinator
The post of National Co-ordinator is held for duration of 1 year, after which new elections are held. The National Coordinator has an overlapping period of 1 month from the time a new National Coordinator is elected. The National Coordinator answers to the National Assembly.
Duties of the National Coordinator:
- Maintaining communication between the local branches
- Being the link between local branches and national ISU, NSU and StL
- Representing international students in NSU’s and StL`s national meetings
- Preparing National Assemblies
§ 3.2.2 The National Secretary
The National Secretary appointed by a hiring board, which consists of the National Coordinator, a representative of NSU, the National Secretary and one representative of local branches accepted by the National Coordinator.
Duties of the National Secretary:
- Writing case papers for National Assemblies
- Taking care of ISU`s correspondence
- Taking care of ISU`s archives
- Responsibility for ISU`s finances
§ 3.3 Local Branches
§ 3.3.1 ISU`s local branches are the highest organisations for international students at the universities and university colleges in Norway. Every local branch has a president who is responsible for operation of respective branch.
§ 3.3.2 Local branches
must give a written report on their activities for the National Assembly. Branch’s
president is responsible for this.
§ 3.3.3 Local branches are taking care of international students' interests and are the connection link between international students, Norwegian student, local student organisations, National Assembly and National Administration at a local level.
§ 3.3.4 Local branches have the autonomy to decide their own activities
and they can apply to get external funding.
§ 3.3.5 Local branches can
promote their cases in ISU’s National Assembly.
§ 3.3.6 Local branches are to be run in a democratic manner.
§ 3.4 – Committees
§ 3.4.1 National Assembly approves the establishment of each committee.
National Assembly also gives the committee instructions on how to approach the
task at hand.
§ 3.4.2 Committees are allowed to promote the cases to National Assembly,
National Council or National Administration.
§ 4. The Foundation of ISU
§ 4.1 Every local branch constitutes it’s own constituency.
§ 4.2 ISU consists of eight branches: ISU Oslo, ISU Bergen, ISU Trondheim, ISU Tromsø, ISU Ås, ISU University College of Oslo and ISU University College of Narvik, ISU University College of Stavanger
§ 4.3 National Assembly can increase the number of local branches in order to include international students studying at colleges of art and science in Norway.
§ 4.4 One is allowed to occupy the same position only for two consecutive years.
§ 5 Economy
§ 5.1 National Co-ordinator, assisted
by the National Secretary, prepares a preliminary budget for National Assembly.
§ 5.2 ISU receives
the economic resources from:
- NSU according to the contract between NSU and ISU
- Ministry of Education and Research
- Grants from other organisations and institutes
- Other sources
§ 5.3 ISU’s financial year runs from 1st January and ends 31st
December.
§ 5.5 National Assembly approves the final budget.
§ 5.6 The money granted for the local branches are equally distributed.
§ 5.7 National Administration has the right to examine the Local Branches
balance sheet.
§ 6 Impeachment of Officers
§ 6.1 Officers can be removed from their positions by a vote of simple
majority in case of:
a) Economic frauds (will report to police in special
cases)
b) Anti-union activities
§ 6.2 Impeachment of National Coordinator
National Coordinator can be removed from his/her position by 2/3 majority of the
National Assembly. In this case the Vice National Coordinator will take the place of
National Coordinator until next National Assembly.
National Coordinator can be removed from his position in case of:
a) Economic frauds (will report to police in special cases
b) b) Anti-union activities
§ 6.3 Impeachment of National Secretary
National Secretary can be removed from his/her position by 2/3 majority of the
National Assembly. In this case the National Coordinator is responsible for organising a hiring board and the final appointment of a new National Secretary.
§ 7. Amendments to the ISU`s constitution
§ 7.1 Amendment proposals should be sent to National Administration at least
5 weeks before
National Assembly.
§ 7.2 To make amendment proposals a statute, they need to get 2/3 majority when voted on at
tNational Assembly.
§ 8 – Dissolution of ISU
Dissolution of ISU is possible if all delegates are present at National
Assembly and unanimously decide to dissolve ISU. All property and resources
will be returned to their origin.