STAFF COUNCIL CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be the Mississippi University for Women Staff Council, hereinafter referred to as Staff Council.
ARTICLE II
Purposes
The purpose of Staff Council is to act as a liaison between the MUW staff and the Administrative Council. Staff Council will extend communication between the professional and support staff and University administration; provide a forum for staff to advocate and discuss their role in the total University system as well as to discuss issues involving University policies and procedures; advise University administration in matters relating to professional and support staff before implementation of new policies, procedures, and programs; recommend changes in existing policies as needed; and serve as a resource through which staff employees may be nominated to serve on University committees.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1. Staff Council is composed of eleven (11) members. All employees from professional and support staff that are full-time or part-time who have been employed by the University for at least one year shall be eligible to serve as representatives on the Staff Council.
Section 2. Members will be selected from professional and support staff positions based on the EEOC listing as of May 30th of each year. The Staff Council will periodically review, at least every three years, these categories to make any necessary adjustments for fair and proportionate representation.
Section 3. Members of office shall serve for two (2) years and must have served on Staff Council for at least one year. If a Staff Council member resigns during a term, another staff member from the same category who applied for a position shall fill the vacancy, or the Staff Council President may appoint a person with the recommendation from the Staff Council.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1. Officers of the Staff Council shall be President, Vice President, Reporter and Secretary/Treasurer. Officers will be elected from the active membership of the Staff Council. The past President also will serve as ex-officio officer. The Staff Council at the first meeting of the new fiscal year shall elect officers.
Section 2. The President of the Staff Council shall serve as the presiding officer at all meetings; appoint election committee members and any other committee members as needed. Staff Council President shall serve as a representative to the Mississippi Association of Staff Council Organizations (MASCO), as representative to the University Administrative Council, and as a representative to the Expanded President’s Cabinet.
Section 3. The Vice President of Staff Council shall serve as presiding officer in the absence of the President. The Vice-President shall coordinate any special functions of Staff Council, assist new members, and be responsible for assuring that all committee reports are reviewed and given to the Secretary each month for inclusion in a permanent file.
Section 4. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings of the Staff Council, conduct all correspondence of the Staff Council with the approval of the President, maintain a record of attendance, and perform other duties as assigned.
Section 5. The Reporter shall be in charge of releasing information and announcements to the appropriate media representatives.
ARTICLE V
Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer of the Staff Council and the past President who will serve as an ex-officio member. The Executive Board will be responsible for setting meeting agendas, holding meetings as needed and providing direction for Staff Council activities. The President will, serving as budget manager, oversee purchases from the Staff Council budget up to $100.00. At least 51% approval of Staff Council must be reached for purchases above $100.00.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
Staff Council will hold at least eleven (11) monthly meetings each calendar year.
ARTICLE VII
Amending Procedures
Any amendments to the constitution and bylaws shall be proposed by MUW Staff, in writing, to the Staff Council at least seven days before the meeting during which it is to be presented for a vote. Proposed amendments will be considered by the Staff Council for a vote. A two-thirds vote of Staff Council is necessary for approval of amendments. Amendments shall become effective as soon as the affirmative vote has been certified.
ARTICLE VIII
Non-Discrimination
Staff Council, in all of its activities, does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, religion, disability, or national origin.
Staff Council By-Laws
ARTICLE I
Meetings
Section 1. The Staff Council hereinafter referred to as Staff Council, will meet on the first Wednesday of the month at 2:00 p.m.
Section 2. Attendance at regular meetings is required of all members except those submitting to the Staff Council Secretary, in advance of the meeting, valid reasoning for absence. Members with three (3) absences during a fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) will be under review of the Executive Board. Unresolvable member attendance problems may result in removal of said member by the Executive Board. The Staff Council President may appoint a replacement with recommendations from and approval by the Staff Council.
Section 3. Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised, shall be parliamentary authority.
Section 4. A quorum shall consist of (2/3) of the members of the Staff Council members. No vote shall be taken in the absence of a quorum.
Section 5. Matters requiring a vote shall be adopted receiving the vote of a simple majority of the Staff Council members present and voting “yea” or “nay”. In case of a tie the President shall cast the deciding vote.
Section 6. The President, with the consent of the Executive Board, may change the date or place of any meeting. Members shall be notified of a change in meeting date or place at least three (3) days in advance of the changed meeting date. The President may call special meetings. All members should be notified at least three (3) days in advance of a special meeting.
Section 7. The minutes of the previous meeting and the agenda for the next meeting will be e-mailed to members no later than one (1) week prior to the next scheduled meeting.
Section 8. All meetings of Staff Council are open to the public unless by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present, the meeting is declared to be in executive session. These executive sessions shall be attended by guests invited by majority vote of the Council, and members only.
ARTICLE II
Selection of Members
Section 1. Beginning the month of June, the President of Staff Council will request the Vice President to solicit from the Deans, Directors, and Department Chairs and the professional and support staff nominations to fill vacancies occurring within their College or Department. A Staff Council Membership application will be made available via website for the input of nominations. The membership application must be submitted in a timely manner before the next scheduled meeting. The nominee(s) will be forwarded from the Vice President to the President of Staff Council and the Election Committee.
Section 2. Beginning in the month of July, the Election Committee will meet with the Executive Board to recommend a list of nominees to fill each anticipated vacancy.
Section 3. The Executive Board will make the final selection and the President will notify the new appointees. Newly appointed members will be invited to the next meeting scheduled.
ARTICLE III
Election of Officers
Section 1. Beginning the month of June, nominations from the active membership of Staff Council will be given. Voting will be by a written ballot and election by a simple majority of a quorum.
Section 2. Newly elected officers will assume office July 1.
Section3. In the event a vacancy occurs in the position of President; the Vice President will assume vacancy. If a vacancy occurs in any other office, the Executive Board may name a temporary replacement, disperse responsibilities among other officers, or refer the vacancy to the Election Committee.
ARTICLE IV
Amending Procedure
Any amendments to these by-laws shall be proposed by Staff Council, in writing, to the Staff Council at least seven days before the meeting during which it is to be presented for a vote. Proposed amendments will be considered by the Staff Council for a vote. A two-thirds vote of Staff Council is necessary for approval of amendments. Amendments shall become effective as soon as the affirmative vote has been certified.