CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

The purposes of this organization are to:

1. Emphasize and initiate opportunities for professional development.
2. Establish a forum and support group to create an atmosphere in which solutions to work-related problems can be discussed and explored.
3. Initiate training programs for new equipment.
4. Provide input into decision-making via representative on various councils/committees.
5. Initiate opportunities to become better informed relative to activities in all departments/areas of the college.

Members in this organization shall consist of:

1. regular, full-time support personnel.
2. regular part-time (82.6%) support personnel.
3. regular part-time (less than 82.6%)/support personnel (no voting privileges).
4. temporary/hourly part-time support personnel (no voting privileges).

The Executive Board shall consist of the following elected officers who will serve for one year: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one Representative elected from each campus. Officers may succeed themselves, not to exceed two terms. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall succeed to the office for the unexpired term. However, in the event that the Vice President should have to succeed to an unexpired Presidential term equal to 2/3 (8 months) or more, the Executive Board will call for a special election to elect a new Vice President in order to adhere to the Bylaws Terms of Office, Section III.C.1. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President and Vice President, the Secretary shall succeed to the office of the President for the unexpired term. Any other office vacancy during the year will be filled by a special election.

The Support Staff Council shall meet the third Wednesday in the months of February, May, July and October. Additional meetings may be called by the President or upon written request signed by at least ten council members. The Executive Board shall meet the second Wednesday of each month. Additional meetings may be called by the President.

The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership present at any regular or special meeting of the general membership held after at least two weeks prior notice to the membership that such an amendment is to be considered.

1. Privileges

All regular full-time (82.6% or more) and regular part-time members will have equal vote and status in all matters. After one (1) year employment temporary hourly part-time employees and regular part-time employees (less than 82.6% appointment) may petition for voting privileges.
2. Duties of the Officers

1. President

The President shall:


1. Serve as the chief executive officer of the council;
2. Preside at the meetings of the council and of the Executive Board;
3. Chair the Mentoring Committee while serving as an ex-officio member for all other committees of the council;
4. Perform those duties assigned by the Constitution and Bylaws and by the Executive Board.

2. Vice President

The Vice President shall:



1. Preside in the absence of the President;
2. Assume the duties of the President in the event the President is unable to perform such duties;
3. Chair the Professional Development Committee;
4. Perform those duties assigned by the Constitution and Bylaws and by the Executive Board.

3. Secretary

The Secretary shall:

1. Be responsible for the records and minutes of the council;
2. Help prepare reports of the Executive Board to the membership;
3. Perform those duties assigned by the Executive Board and by the Constitution and Bylaws;
4. Prepare notices of meetings as directed by the President.

4. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall:

1. Maintain and administer any monies of the council;
2. Keep proper records of any financial transactions.

5. Representative at Large

The Representative at Large shall:

1. Help organize council activities at their campus. The Pellissippi Parkway Representative shall chair the Activities Committee;
2. Serve as a member of the Executive Board;
3. Attend all Executive Board meetings and provide input on planning and issues considered by the board.

3. Executive Board

1. Terms of Office



The officers and representative board members shall hold office for terms of one year and shall be permitted to succeed themselves for two terms with the exception of the President.


2. Meetings and Quorum



The Executive Board shall meet on the established monthly schedule in regular session and upon call of the President or a majority of the Executive Board members. Each member shall be notified of the time and place of meetings. A quorum consists of three (3) Executive Board members. If a member is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings without having an excused absence, he/she shall be notified that he/she is being dropped from the Board. His/her vacancy shall be filled as provided in Article IV of the Constitution.


3. Powers and Duties



The powers and duties of the Board shall be:




1. to serve the executive body of the council;
2. to set the time and place of council meetings;
3. to direct the affairs of the council and to carry out its policies;
4. to present recommendations to the membership on proposed amendments, policies, programs, or positions of the council;
5. to develop programs for the achievement of the stated purposes;
6. to perform those duties assigned it by the Constitution and Bylaws;
7. to approve appointments to fill vacancies or to declare elections in the event suitable appointments are not made.

4. Elections




An election is held in May for each office. Officers may succeed themselves not to exceed two terms with the exception of the President. Term of office is July 1 through June 30. The number of offices for which a person may run shall be limited to one. At the regular April meeting the President shall announce the names of the nominating committee which will, at the proper time, present a slate of at least two nominees for each office. This committee shall be chosen by the Executive Board at least ten days before the regular April meeting.

The nominating committee will consist of three (3) members who will choose a chairperson from among themselves. The report of the nominating committee shall be submitted in writing and copies shall be distributed to all members of the Council at least one week prior to a called meeting during spring semester when the election will be conducted by secret ballot. In case of a tie, a second secret ballot will be cast to break the tie.



5. Committees



Standing Committees

The following committees shall be regarded as standing committees for the council with chairpersons appointed by the President at the beginning of fall semester. The chairperson would then select members to serve as committee members.

1. Professional Development


1. Responsible for providing a Professional Development plan/agenda for the year.
2. Perform other duties assigned by the Constitution and Bylaws and by the Executive Board.


2. Activities


1. Responsible for contacting members for fundraising events. Assist the Professional Development Committee when needed.
2. Perform other duties assigned by the Constitution and Bylaws and by the Executive Board.


3. Mentoring


1. Responsible for acclimating new support staff employees to the college.
2. Shall maintain the support staff e-mail distribution list.


4. Historian


Responsible for documenting and preserving materials used to record the history and success of the Council.


Each standing committee shall make reports each month to the Executive Board.

5. Temporary Committees

The Executive Board may appoint temporary committees to study and report to the council on any issue of support staff concerns. A committee may exist on a temporary basis for no longer than one calendar year. After that time, a temporary committee either shall be accepted as a standing committee or shall be considered dissolved.

6. Amendments



The Bylaws may be amended or replaced by a simple majority vote of the membership present at any regular or special meeting held after at least two weeks prior notice to full membership that such action is to be considered.








Approved: Support Staff Council, October, 2005