BYLAWS OF THE STAFF COUNCIL
(As Amended April 9, 2008)

ARTICLE I: PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY OF THE STAFF COUNCIL

1.      The Staff Council shall have the purpose and authority defined in the Constitution of the Staff Council (hereinafter the “Council”) of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (hereinafter the “Constitution”).

ARTICLE II: STAFF COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP

Section I. Right to Vote and Hold Office

1.      Any member of the Staff of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as defined in Article I of the Constitution, shall have the right to attend all regular and special business meetings of the Council to make nominations and vote for a representative for his/her respective area in Council elections, and shall have the right to hold office and be an officer on the Executive Board upon election according to procedures described in these Bylaws.

ARTICLE III: THE STAFF COUNCIL

Section I. Composition

1.      The Staff Council shall consist of the Executive Board (President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer), and the Area Representatives elected by the staff of each constituency of the University herein defined:

Chancellor/President’s Division

Academic Affairs

Business Affairs and Finance

Student Affairs

University Relations & Community Affairs

Development & Alumni Affairs

2.      The composition of constituency representation shall be revised as deemed necessary upon approval by the majority of the Council at any regular or special meeting held in accordance with these Bylaws.

Section II. Powers and Duties

1.      The Council and its elected area representatives shall have the exclusive right to represent the staff organization of the University.

Section III. Standing and Special Committees

1.      The President shall have the authority to establish such special or standing committees, as deemed appropriate and shall appoint the membership thereof.

2.      The President may recommend co-chairs to such standing or special committees as are established. Such appointments are not effective until approved by a majority of the Council at a convened meeting.

3.      The standing committees consist of the following:

Section IV. Election Process

1.      Elections will be conducted annually.  Solicitation for nominations of candidates will begin on the Monday following June 1st.                    

2.      Voting Method:  Each staff member will receive Procedures and Voter’s Guide via email for upcoming elections for either area representatives or for the position(s) on the Executive Board that need to be filled on any given year. 

3.      The Secretary will be responsible for collecting the list of nominees submitted either on-line or via nomination form.   The Election Support Committee confirms the accuracy of the list by contacting the nominees to inform them of their nomination and verification of their interest in serving on the Staff Council.  The Election Support Committee will verify the candidates’ eligibility.  After confirmation from the nominees and verification of eligibility, the list of names is submitted to the Secretary for electronic voting.  The Secretary notifies the university staff of the nominations and provides voting instructions.

4.      Each ballot will list all candidates from each respective area and all candidates for President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary, as outlined in the previous tables.

5.      Each staff member shall be entitled to one (1) vote thereon as follows:

·   one (1) candidate from the staff member’s respective area (even or odd numbered year as applicable)

·   one (1) candidate for President

·   one (1)  candidate for Vice President

·   one (1) candidate for Treasurer (even or odd numbered year as applicable)

·   one (1)  candidate for Secretary (even or odd numbered year as applicable)

6.      The ballots will be submitted electronically via the Staff Council’s web site.  Special provision ballots will be collected by two members of the Election Support Committee accompanied by the Vice President and delivered to the Secretary by a designated deadline. The candidates receiving the most votes in any category shall be declared elected.

7.      Elected candidates will be notified by a member of the Elections Support Committee and will be provided with information regarding their responsibilities as representatives for their respective areas.

8.      Runoffs will be held in case of a tie vote and shall follow the guidelines outlined above.

Section V. Qualifications, Removal, Terms of Office, Term Limits, and Elections Schedule

A.  Area Representatives: 

        1:  Qualifications for and Removal from Office for Area Representatives

        2:  Length of Term and Term Limits for Area Representatives

        3:  Election Cycles for Area Representatives

B.  Executive Board:

        1:  Qualifications for and Removal from Office for Executive Board

        2:  Length of Term, Term Limits and Election Cycles for Executive Board

Section VI. Attendance

1.      All elected representatives shall attend all meetings of the Council or shall provide (alternate) representation when unable to attend.

2.      Any member of the Council that misses three (3) meetings in one year will be asked about their commitment. When any member misses four (4) meetings in one year, the Council may vote to remove and replace the member.

3.      Alternate representatives may attend any and all meetings, bring issues to the Council and relay information back to their assigned area on behalf of or in the absence of their elected representative.  In general, alternates will not have voting privileges at Council meetings.  Alternates will, however, vote to approve minutes of the monthly meeting(s) attended in the absence of their elected representative.

4.      All elected area representatives will serve on at least one (1) standing committee.

Section VII.  Unexpected Vacancies of Representatives

An unexpected vacancy of a representative shall be filled as follows:

1.      If a vacancy in a Council seat should occur through termination of employment, change of voting district, resignation from the Council, or expulsion from the Council, the position shall be filled upon written notification and written acceptance by the person currently serving as the alternate for that area.

2.      The alternate position will then be filled by the person with the next highest number of votes in that area from the previous election.

3.      If there is a tie between two or more individuals with the next highest number of votes who are interested in filling the vacant Council seat, there will be a runoff election within thirty (30) days of the occurrence. In the event that no one is available, an election shall be held within thirty (30) days of the occurrence.

Section VIII. Unexpected Vacancy of Officers

1.      President - A vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by the Vice President for the unexpired term.

2.      Vice President - A vacancy in the office of Vice President shall be filled by election by majority vote of the Staff Council.

3.      Secretary - A vacancy in the office of Secretary shall be filled by appointment of the President upon approval by a majority vote of the Staff Council.

4.      Treasurer - A vacancy in the office of Treasurer shall be filled by appointment of the President upon approval by a majority vote of the Staff Council.

5.      Area Representatives - Refer to Article III, Section VII – Unexpected Vacancies of Representatives.

Section IX. Meeting of the Staff Council

1.      No business requiring the voting decision of the Council can be conducted unless a quorum of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members of the Council are present.

2.      There shall be no proxy voting privileges without prior approval from the President of the Staff Council.

3.      The President shall prepare and distribute an agenda to all Council members prior to a designated meeting date.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section I. President

1.      The President will preside over all regular and special Council meetings and represent the staff in all other duly-constituted university forums, meetings and representative meetings.

2.      The President will serve as President Ex-Officio for one (1) year after his/her term.  As President Ex-Officio, he/she will attend meetings as needed and will be available for consultation.

Section II. Vice President

1.      The Vice President shall assume all duties, responsibilities and privileges of the office.

2.      The Vice President will serve on committees and assume any tasks as delegated by the President.

Section III. Secretary

1.      The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence, agenda requirements and other clerical requests of the Council and its Executive Board as described in Article III. Section IV.

Section IV. Treasurer

1.      The Treasurer will help prepare budgets for activities and assure that the Council stays within that budget.

2.      The Treasurer will give a financial report at each Council meeting.

3.      The Treasurer will be responsible for disbursement of funds from the budget.

Section V. Area Representatives

1.      The Area Representatives shall attend all the meetings of the Executive Committee and communicate the ideas and concerns of the staff from their particular area.

ARTICLE V: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND BYLAW AMENDMENTS

Section I. Proposal

1.      Any member of the staff (as defined in Article I of the Constitution) may propose an amendment to the Constitution or Bylaws. The proposal shall be in writing and shall be directed to the Staff Council.

Section II. Adoption

1.      Amendments to the Constitution of the Staff Council shall become effective only upon approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the staff members present and voting at any regular meeting and subsequent approval by the Chancellor.  

2.      Amendments to these Bylaws shall become effective only upon approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the staff members present and voting at any regular meeting. No Bylaws inconsistent with this Constitution may be implemented.

First updated March 28, 2006, with By-Law Amendments effective January 18, 2006.

Second update:  April 9, 2008