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 May shall elect officers if necessary.
Section 2. The President of the Staff Council shall serve as the presiding officer at all meetings and appoint committee members. 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 President, Vice President, or Secretary 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 $250.00. At least 51% approval of Staff Council must be reached for purchases above $250.00.
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 a decided date and time every month. The acting President will provide dates and times to vote on by the beginning of June 1st. Once a date and time has a two-thirds vote from Staff Council, that date and time will be the established meetings. Emergency meetings may be called when necessary.
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 made available to members no later than one (1) week prior to the next scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE II
Selection of Members
Section 1. Beginning the month of May, the President of Staff Council will request the Vice President to solicit from the Deans, Directors, Department Chairs, Faculty, and Staff of MUW for 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 then to the members of Staff Council.
Section 2. 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 May, 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 by June 1st.
Section 3. 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 or disperse responsibilities among other officers.
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.