Bylaws of the Professional Staff Senate

ARTICLE I. NAME AND AUTHORITY

Section 1. Name. The name of the official professional staff organization is the Professional Staff Senate of Marywood University.

Section 2. Authority. The Professional Staff Senate was formally established in 1995 with the approval of the President of the University.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

Section 1. Advisory Body. The Senate is an advisory body through which the professional staff participates in the governance of the University and helps to advance its mission.

Section 2. Addresses Staff Concerns. The Senate identifies the interests and represents the views of the staff on matters of concern, and makes recommendations to the administration of the University for the welfare of its members.

Section 3. Informs Staff. The Senate endeavors to keep constituents advised of issues, policies, and activities affecting the welfare of the staff.

Section 4. Reviews University Policies. The Senate reviews proposals referred to it for the development and revision of University policies and procedures and makes recommendations about them.

ARTICLE III. STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP.

Section 1. Structure. The Professional Staff Senate consists of the Assembly, an Executive Council, standing committees, and ad hoc committees.

Section 2. Membership. The Assembly includes all full-time and all regular part-time employees of Marywood University in the Middle Management and Professional/Coordinator categories.

Termination of employment nullifies membership in the Senate.

ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES

Section 1. Executive Council. The Executive Council consists of seven members of the Assembly elected by majority vote: one representative each from the Presidential Area, Academic Affairs, Business Affairs, Student Affairs, University Advancement, and two at-large representatives.

One of the members is elected to serve as Chair, another as Vice Chair, and another as Secretary-Treasurer of the Executive Council and the Assembly. The Chair votes only in the event of a tie.

Elections are conducted by the Professional Staff Senate Election Committee during the month of May and are effective the following July 1. The term of office is two years with eligibility for election to the same office limited to two full consecutive terms. Eligibility commences again after a period of at least one year has elapsed.

In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Council, the first alternate on a rank-ordered list from the last preceding election shall fill the remainder of the term of office. The second ranking alternate then becomes the first alternate. In the event the position of Chair of the Executive Council is vacated, the Vice Chair shall assume those duties for the remainder of that term of office. The members of the Council will then elect someone to serve as Vice Chair.

The term of office for a member of the Executive Council is two years. A member of the Executive Council shall be eligible for election to the Council for no more than two full consecutive terms. Eligibility commences again after a period of at least one year has elapsed.

The Chair of the Executive Council accepts agenda items for meetings of the Assembly, approves the agenda with the advice of the other members of Council, and schedules and presides over meetings Other assignments of Council responsibilities are made by mutual consent of the sitting members of the Executive Council.

Section 2. Standing Committees. A standing committee consists of at least three and not more than twelve members. Appointments are for one year and may be renewed for a maximum of five additional one-year terms. Appointments are made by the Chair of the Executive Council with the advice of other Council members during July.

Chairpersons of standing committees may be elected by the members of the committee or, at the option of the committee, may be appointed by the Chair of the Executive Council.

No member of the Executive Council may serve as chair of a standing committee, but may attend and participate in its discussions. Executive Council members do not have the right to vote in the proceedings of a standing committee.

Election Committee
Purpose: To organize and conduct Professional Staff Senate elections

Section 3. Ad Hoc Committees. An ad hoc committee may be appointed for a specified period of time by the Chair of the Executive Council with the advice of the other members of the Council. The Chair may be elected by the members of the committee or, at the option of the committee, may be appointed by the Chair of the Executive Council.

Normally, members of the Assembly serve on no more than one ad hoc committee at a time. No member of the Executive Council may serve as chair of an ad hoc committee, but may attend and participate in the discussions of the committee. Executive Council members shall not have the right to vote in the proceedings of an ad hoc committee. Ad hoc committees shall present their findings on an issue to the Chair of the Executive Council.

An ad hoc committee may be dissolved before the limit of its term by the Chair of the Executive Council with the advice of Council members.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS.

Section 1. Regular Meetings. Meetings are held at the call of the Chair of the Executive Council once during the fall and once during the spring semester.

Notice of a meeting and its agenda are communicated by the Secretary of the Executive Council to all members of the Assembly at least one week in advance of the meeting.

Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Assembly may be called by the Chair or by ten or more members of the Assembly. Should several members wish to call a meeting, they must submit a written request to the Chair, signed by at least ten members.

Section 3. Quorum. A quorum for the conduct of business at Assembly meetings is defined as the lesser of either twenty-five voting members or 25 per cent of all members. An Executive Council or committee quorum is a simple majority of voting members.

Section 4. Action Without Formal Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Assembly, the Executive Council, or any committee may be taken, if necessary, without a formal meeting. Regular mail, e-mail or telephone may be used for polling. A report of the action must be ratified at the next meeting of the group involved and must be recorded in its minutes.

ARTICLE VI. REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS.

Section 1. Bylaws Review. Every three years, prior to the end of December, the Executive Council shall review these Bylaws.

Section 2. Amendments. An amendment may be proposed to the Assembly by the Executive Council after Bylaw review. Any member of the Assembly may propose an amendment to the Executive Council at any time.

A recommendation to amend the Bylaws may be approved by a two-thirds majority of the members present at an Assembly meeting, with due consideration of the requirement for a quorum.

The effective date of an amendment is the date of approval by the President of the University.

Section 3. Non-substantive Changes. The Secretary of the University maintains the official copy of the Bylaws in the Marywood University Policies and Procedures Manual. This assumes the authority to make grammatical, punctuation, and other non-substantive changes that improve the precision of its language.

ARTICLE VII. PARTIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Any procedure not herein prescribed shall be governed by the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.