Staff Council By-Laws

NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Delta State University Administrative Staff Council, herein after referred to as the council.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

SECTION I. The Administrative Staff council shall serve as a liaison between the administration and the staff of Delta State University to provide a formal process for staff to discuss issues involving University policies and procedures and to forward ideas, recommendations, and opinions to the President.

SECTION II. The Council shall institute programs to provide individual and staff development, to promote increased communication among departments and employees, to enhance job satisfaction and motivation, and to recognize outstanding achievement and work performance by members of Delta State University.

SECTION III. The Council shall be dedicated to excellence in service and the continued growth and development of Delta State University.

ARTICLE III (to top)

MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I. General: The membership of the Council shall include Designated Members and At-Large members.

Designated Members shall include:
· Administrative Secretary, Department of Athletics
· Bursar
· Director of Continuing Education
· Dean of Student Development
· Director of Accounting
· Assistant Director of Alumni and Foundation
· Director of Audio-Visual Center
· Director of Career Services & Placement
· Director of Center Community Development
· Director of Counseling
· Director of Flight Operations/University Pilot
· Director of Food Services
· Assistant Director of Health Services
· Director of Housing and Residence Life
· Director of Human Resources
· Director of Information and Technology Services
· Director of Institutional Research & Planning
· Director of Library Services
· Director of Multicultural Affairs
· Director of Performing Arts Center
· Director of Physical Plant
· Director of Police Department
· Director of Public Information
· Director of Purchasing
· Director of Recreation & Wellness Center
· Director of School Relations & Recruitment
· Director of Student Financial Assistance
· Director of Telecommunications
· Director of Union
· Laundry Supervisor
· Manager of University Bookstore
· Registrar and Director of Admissions
· Postal Supervisor
· University Archivist

At-Large Members shall be elected from each of the following areas by the Council in September; shall serve a term of office of one year, and may be re-elected:

One (1) At-Large member - Professional Non-Faculty
One (1) At-Large member - Secretarial/Clerical
One (1) At-Large member - Skilled Craft
One (1) At-Large member - Technical/Paraprofessional
One (1) At-Large member - Service/Maintenance

The At-Large Members shall be selected with the intention of providing equitable representation for all areas of the University. Should an At-Large member be elected to the Executive committee, that member will automatically serve as the representative of his/her area.

Should a Designated or At-Large Member elect not to serve on the Council or if an At-Large Member should leave employment at Delta State University, the Council shall elect a replacement to represent the affected area.

Members may be removed upon cause and upon a two-third majority vote of the overall membership present and voting, provided a quorum is present.

SECTION II. Responsibility of membership: By accepting membership on the Council, each member represents that he/she will adhere to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Council.

ARTICLE IV (to top)

OFFICERS

SECTION I. General: There shall be four officers of the council: Chair, Chair-elect, Executive Secretary, and Ombudsman. Chair, Chair-Elect, and Executive Secretary shall be nominated in June and elected in September upon a majority vote of a quorum of the overall membership and may be Designated Members or At-Large members.

The Ombudsman shall be appointed by the Chair.

Terms of office will begin in October

SECTION II. Duties of the Chair: The Chair of the Council shall be the executive head of the organization and shall be endowed with such discretionary powers as are required to direct the affairs of the Council in an orderly and business-like manner, included but not limited to the following:

A. Preside at all council meetings;
B. Appoint all special committees and their Chairs;
C. Issue call for all special meetings of the Council, stating the business to be considered;
D. Serve as the official spokesperson for the Council and as the official representative of the Council in all of its business;
E. Rule on all questions involving interpretation of the Constitution and By-laws and the general procedures of operation on the Council;
F. Serve as non-voting ex-officio member of standing committees and as hoc committees.

SECTION III. Duties of the Chair-Elect:
A. The Chair Elect of the Council shall act in ad advisory capacity to the Chair
B. In the absence of the Chair, shall perform the duties of the Chair.
C. Following the term as Chair-Elect, the Chair-Elect shall serve as Chair.
D. The Chair-Elect shall be responsible for public relations, Quarterly newsletter, university relations, and liaison to the University Faculty Senate.

SECTION IV. Duties of the Executive Secretary:
A. The Executive Secretary shall oversee the official record keeping of the council, including membership records and official minutes of Council meetings
B. Notify the membership of meetings, and perform the functions assigned the position by the Chair.

SECTION V. Duties of the Ombudsman: The Ombudsman shall receive communication, written or oral, from an employee and refer that information to the Council.

SECTION VI. Term of Office: The term of office for each officer shall be for one year, except the Chair-Elect who shall serve one year as Chair-Elect followed by one year as Chair.

ARTICLE V (to top)

MEETINGS

SECTION I. Regular Meetings: The council shall meet as a whole on the First Tuesday of each month at a time and place to be designated by the Chair. The council shall not have regular meetings during the summer months of July and August.

SECTION II. Called Meetings: Called meetings shall be held at the request of the Chair or upon the petition of one-half of the membership.

SECTION III. Open Meetings: All meetings shall be open, but the Chair or the membership, upon a majority vote, may choose to close the meetings or to specifically exclude individual parties or groups.

ARTICLE VI (to top)

VOTING

SECTION I. Voting Representatives: Each Designated Member and each At-Large Member shall be entitled to one (1) vote on each question. Members must be physically present at the time the question is called in order to vote.

SECTION II. Quorum: A simple majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum. A quorum must be present at Regular and Called meetings in order for official business to be conducted.

ARTICLE VII (to top)

ATTENDANCE

Any member who is unable to attend a Regular or Called meeting should send a representative from the respective area.

ARTICLE VIII (to top)

COMMITTEES

SECTION I. Standing Committees: The Standing Committees of the Council shall be: Executive; Project; Incentives and Recognition; Staff Development; Salaries and Benefits.

SECTION II. Ad Hoc Committees: The Chair of the Council shall appoint and dissolve such Ad Hoc committees as deemed appropriate or necessary.

SECTION III. Committee Membership: Each Standing Committee shall be composed of a minimum of six members to be appointed for a term of one year by the Chair, with advice from the membership, except the Executive Committee, which shall be composed of the officers of the Council. Each member of the council, including the officers, shall serve on a minimum of one Standing Committee and a maximum of two. Each Standing Committee shall elect a Committee Chair from its membership.

The Chair of the Council shall appoint all members, plus the Chair, of each Ad Hoc committee.

ARTICLE IX (to top)

EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS
DEPOSIT OF FUNDS

SECTION I. Execution of Documents: All official documents of the Council shall be signed by the Chair and the Executive Secretary

SECTION II. Deposit of Funds: The officers of the Council shall select depositories for any funds of the Council, and the Chair and the Executive Secretary shall have the power to sign checks for disbursement of such funds in accordance with the instructions of the membership.

ARTICLE X (to top)

DUES

The council, upon action of the Chair, may solicit voluntary payment of dues or funds from individual members for special needs and projects. However, membership shall not be conditioned upon payment of dues.

ARTICLE XI (to top)

AMENDMENTS

Adoption of amendments requires a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the membership. Amendments must be submitted to the general membership at least seven (7) days prior to the vote.

ARTICLE XII

NON-DISCRIMINATION
POLICY

The Administrative Staff Council is committed to a policy of equal employment and educational opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental handicap, status as to disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran, or age as specified by applicable laws and regulations.

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