Bylaws
Bylaws for Staff at Carleton
Revised April 2005. The new SAC bylaws will take effect on July 1, 2005.ARTICLE I -NAME-FISCAL YEAR
Section 1 The name of the organization shall be known as Staff At Carleton (hereinafter referred to as SAC) and the membership will consist of all permanent, full and part-time, non-union, non-exempt staff who are employed by Carleton College.
Section 2 The use of SAC's name must be approved by the SAC Board of Representatives.
Section 3 SAC shall be governed by these bylaws.
Section 4 The fiscal year of SAC shall be July 1 through June 30 of the following calendar year.
ARTICLE II -PURPOSE-OBJECTIVES
Section 1 The purpose of SAC shall be to serve as a means of communication for all members with the administration, exempt staff, faculty, and union staff of the College and to promote a sense of unity within the membership.
Section 2 The objectives of SAC shall be:
A. To provide professional growth opportunities.
B. To promote recognition of staff as part of the educational team.
C. To strive to collect and disseminate suggestions, concerns, and questions related to the personnel policies of the College.
D. To improve communication between the membership, the administration, the exempt staff, faculty, and union staff and to serve as a liaison for campus-based groups and committees.
E. To investigate and respond to issues presented to SAC.
F. To stay informed of issues and trends locally and nationally as they relate to membership.
G. To develop a plan of activities and establish project subcommittees from among the membership to further plan and implement the activities of SAC.
H. To work with the college administration to bring about necessary changes and improve working conditions.
ARTICLE III- MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Membership shall include all permanent, full and part-time, non-union, non-exempt staff of Carleton College.
Section 2 All members shall be eligible to serve on subcommittees and may hold office in accordance with Article VIII.
Section 3 All members are eligible to vote to elect representatives and officers, to amend bylaws and to vote on issues directed by the Board of Representatives to the membership at large.
ARTICLE IV-OFFICERS
Section 1 Leadership will be provided by two Co-chairs, Secretary, and Representative to the College Council. These officers shall conduct the business of SAC in accordance with the governing documents and the parliamentary authority adopted by SAC in accordance with Article X. The Co-chairs will have joint and equal responsibility for leadership functions and will preside, together or separately, at all meetings of the membership. The Co-chairs retain the same rights as other Board of Representatives to discuss and vote on questions before the Board. In the matter of a tie, the “second term” Co-chair will abstain from voting.
Section 2 All officers shall be elected in the manner provided in Article VIII of these bylaws.
Section 3 The term of office of the Co-chairs shall be two years, staggered to provide consistency. One Co-chair is elected each spring for a term beginning July 1st.
Section 4 The term of office of the Secretary shall be one (1) year.
Section 5 The term of office of the Representative to the College Council shall be (2) years.
Section 6 An officer elected or appointed to a one-year term shall be deemed to have served one (1) year if that officer has served for a period of (12) twelve consecutive months in that position.
Section 7 An officer who has served less than one (1) term in any office shall still be eligible for two (2) full terms.
Section 8 Elected officers listed in Section 1 shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms.
Section 9 In the event an officer cannot fulfill his/her term, SAC's Board of Representatives, at its discretion, may elect a replacement or establish a nomination and election procedure. In the case of a vacancy in the office of Co-chair, the remaining Co-chair may assume sole leadership to complete the term.
ARTICLE V - BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES
Section 1 The SAC Board of Representatives (hereinafter referred to as the Board) shall consist of the two Co-chairs, Secretary, Representative to the College Council, geographical representatives and alternates, one faculty appointee, and one administrative staff appointee.
Section 2 One representative and one alternate shall be elected for each geographic area unless the number of staff people exceeds twenty (20) in which case an additional representative and alternate will be elected for the geographical area affected. Representatives shall be elected from the following seven (7) geographic areas:
∙ Leighton
∙ Laird
∙ West End (Severance, West Gym, Scoville, Willis, Chapel, Musser)
∙ Sayles-Hill and Shop
∙ Library
∙ East Side (CMC, Boliou, Cowling, Olin Mudd, Music Hall, Goodsell, Hulings, Rec Center, and LDC)
∙ South Side Houses (Hoppin, Johnson, Nutting, Henry, Henrickson, Strong, and Bird Houses; River City Books)
Section 3 The Board shall be elected in the manner provided in Article VIII of the Bylaws.
Section 4 Representatives and alternates elected or appointed to a one year term shall be deemed
to have served one (1) term if that representative or alternate has served for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months in office.
Section 5 Representatives shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms of office.
Section 6 With the approval of the Board, the Co-chairs may appoint others to the Board in support or advisory capacities. These appointees shall have no voting privileges.
Section 7 One faculty member and one member of the administrative staff shall serve on the Board. Based upon the Board's recommendations, these positions will be appointed by the Chair of the FAC (Faculty Affairs Committee) and the President of the College respectively to serve a one-year term of office. There shall be no limit to the number of terms the appointees can serve in this capacity. The appointees shall have no voting privileges.
Section 8 It is recommended that each standing committee be chaired by an elected member of the Board.
Section 9 The Board shall perform the duties described in these bylaws and shall conduct the affairs of SAC as determined by the membership and/or the Board.
Section 10 The Board shall meet at least once a month. All meetings of the Board shall be open to all members of SAC.
Section 11 At meetings of the Board, at least two-thirds of the elected officers and representatives shall constitute a quorum.
Section 12 Alternates shall have no voting privileges except in the absence of elected representatives.
Section 13 In the event of the incapacity of any Representative, the elected alternate shall assume the duties of the representative. Ballots will then be consulted to determine the person receiving the next highest number of votes and that person will assume the alternate's responsibilities.
ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1 An Executive Committee composed of two Co-chairs, Secretary, Representative to the College Council and two representatives elected by the Board of Representatives shall have and exercise the authority of the Board of Representatives in the management of SAC during periods between meetings of the Board of Representatives.
Section 2 The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Co-Chairs and shall submit a report to the Board of Representatives of any action taken at the next full Board meeting.
Section 3 At meetings of the Executive Committee a majority of that committee shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 At least one annual business meeting of SAC shall be held at a time and place determined by the Board. Members of SAC shall be notified at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
Section 2 SAC may hold special meetings and conferences at a time and place determined by the Board.
Section 3 It is recommended that notices of all monthly meetings shall be made to each member at least one (1) week prior to the date for such events.
Section 4 At annual business meetings of SAC, fifty (50) members shall constitute a quorum for voting. The Membership Committee shall count those present and declare a quorum.
Section 5 All materials to be disseminated at meetings of SAC must be approved by the Board or the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII - RULES OF ELECTION
Section 1 The Nominations and Elections Committee shall make a strong attempt to seek a slate of two or more nominees for each position vacant among officers, representatives and alternates.
Section 2 Candidates for any office must be nominated in writing. No candidate may be placed on the ballot without the candidate's consent (the Nominations and Elections Committee shall seek such consent).
Section 3 Candidates for the office of Co-chair, Secretary and Representative to the College Council must have served previously as an elected representative and must have a minimum of one (1) year's experience on the Board.
Section 4 Candidates for representative shall have been employed by Carleton for at least six (6) months immediately prior to the date of election.
Section 5 Candidates for the office of representative and alternate must work within the geographical area for which they are a candidate.
Section 6 Elections for officers, representatives and alternates will be conducted by ballot during Spring Term.
Section 7 Candidates elected, by receiving the highest number of votes, as officers, representatives, and alternates, shall be notified of the results of the election by June 1st.
Section 8 A candidate elected to more than one position shall automatically serve in the highest position to which he/she was elected. (The order of progression being Co-chair, Representative to the College Council, Secretary, Representative, Alternate.)
Section 9 In case of a tie, a runoff election among the tying candidates shall be held. A candidate may withdraw his/her name from the runoff ballot. If only one person remains on the ballot, that person shall be declared elected.
Section 10 Ballots shall be retained by the chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee for a period of one (1) year from the date of publication of the results of the election.
Section 11 No member may hold more than one (1) elected office at a time.
Section 12 Officers, representatives and alternates shall assume their duties on the first day of July following their election. They shall be introduced at the first meeting of the general membership of SAC following their election.
ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES AND APPOINTMENTS
Section 1 It is recommended that Standing Committees and Appointments be:
* Benefits and Salary
* Bylaws
* Nominations and Elections
* Staff Development
* Web Coordinator
* Special Projects
Section 2 The Board may authorize special committees.
Section 3 Guidelines, duties, and responsibilities for each standing and each special committee shall be specified by the Board.
Section 4 The Co-chairs shall serve as ex-officio members of all standing and special committees except the Nominations and Elections Committee.
ARTICLE X-- PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, latest edition, shall govern the conduct of all meetings of SAC, the Board of Representatives, the Executive Committee, and all standing and special committees.
ARTICLE XI -- AMENDMENTS
Section 1 Amendments to the Bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the Bylaws Committee Chair. A report on proposed amendments shall be presented to the Board of Representatives for information prior to presentation to the general membership for vote.
Section 2 Proposals of the Bylaws Committee shall be provided to the membership no later than thirty (30) days prior to scheduled voting.
Section 3 Voting on amendments to the Bylaws shall be by ballot.
Section 4 A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the general membership in favor of proposed amendments shall be required for adoption.
Section 5 Ballots from any bylaws referendum shall be retained by the Chair of the Bylaws Committee for one (1) year from the date of certification of results of the referendum.