Constitution

ARTICLE I. Name

This organization shall be known as the University of Alaska Southeast Staff Council Association, hereafter referred to as the Association.

ARTICLE II. Purpose

The Association will provide an important communications link between the University non-represented staff, the University administration, the Chancellor, and specific University assemblies, councils and/or committees.

ARTICLE III. Objectives

1. To encourage, support, and contribute to the development of higher education in Alaska.
2. To bring together University non-represented employees into relations of mutual assistance and cooperation.
3. To improve standards and conditions for University non-represented employees by promoting, encouraging, and recommending relevant in-service training and securing the working conditions essential to the best performance of professional service.
4. To encourage the hiring and retention of competent employees by recommending continual improvement of standards and working conditions.
5. To study and recommend improvements in personnel policy.
6. To facilitate understanding, communication and cooperation between the non-represented staff, the administration, the faculty and among all units of the University of Alaska.
7. To advocate the principle that University non-represented employees' pay and fringe benefits should, at all times, be at least equivalent to the pay and fringe benefits of employees with comparable positions in private industry and the state and federal governments and make recommendations thereon.
8. To encourage and support the maintenance of professionalism in any position, whether it be non-represented staff, faculty, or administrative.
9. To provide non-represented employees a means of representative participation towards the solution of problems, formulation of new policies, change in existing policies, and other matters of affecting the working conditions or services performed by the non-represented personnel of the University of Alaska.
10. Do all other things necessary or appropriate to the carrying out of these objectives.

ARTICLE IV. Membership

Section 1. University of Alaska non-represented staff including half-time employees currently employed with the exception of work study students, shall be eligible for membership in the Association.

Section 2. Those employed on a temporary basis for thirty (30) days or less shall not be eligible for membership in the Association.

ARTICLE V. Officers

Section 1. The powers of the Association are vested in the membership. Between membership meetings, the powers of the Association may be exercised by the officers with due regard for the rights of the majority of the minority, of individual members, of absentees, and any combination thereof.

Section 2. The officers shall consist of a president, the vice-president, the secretary, and a member at large appointed by the officers from membership, from a unit not represented by the officers.

Section 3. The officers shall have the power to interpret and enforce the Constitution. They may delegate the exercise of any of its powers to any officer or officers of the Association, appoint committees, and perform all other acts necessary in order to carry out the purposes of the Association and not in conflict with this Constitution.

Section 4. The officers shall propose by-laws not in conflict with this Constitution. Any newly proposed by-laws shall be presented to the general membership at the next meeting following their presentation to the officers. By-laws may also be proposed by a written petition signed by at least one-fourth of the membership. New by-laws shall be approved by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership on the submission of a ballot to the entire membership.

Section 5. The officers may establish ad hoc committees necessary for conducting the Association's business.

Section 6. The officers shall be permanent full-time non-represented employees.

ARTICLE VI. Elections and Vacancies

Section 1. A nominating committee shall be appointed annually by the officers of the Association and chaired by the member at large.

Section 2. The officers of the Association shall be elected during the month of May each year or as soon thereafter as elections may be held.

Section 3. The officers shall be elected by the entire membership.

Section 4. No officer may serve in the same office for more than two (2) consecutive terms; a term being one year.

Section 5. Election shall be by secret ballot. Any member of the Association employed by the University of Alaska for at least six (6) months full-time shall be eligible for an office. Any member may vote in an election.

Section 6. A vacancy in any office of the Associate occurs whenever the officer ceases to be eligible for membership or is voted out by a majority of the full membership.

Section 7. The officers shall he the power to fill any vacancy in any office, subject to ratification at the next regular general membership meeting.

ARTICLE VII. Membership

Section 1. The general membership shall meet at least once every two months. Special meetings may be called by the officers or by a petition on one-fourth of the general membership.

Section 2. The officers shall attend the general meetings and may be called to special meetings by the president of the Association.

Section 3. A quorum at a membership meeting shall consist of 25 percent of the members.

Section 4. The officers may submit special questions by secret ballot to the membership by mail. Action taken upon such a ballot is equivalent to action of am membership meeting, except that such an action may not be reversed except upon the approval of over 50 percent of the total membership.

ARTICLE VIII. Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the officers or by a written petition signed by at least one-fourth of the membership.

Section 2. A first reading and discussion of the proposed amendment shall be scheduled at the first general meeting following the submission of the proposal to the officers.

Section 3. Amendments shall be approved by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership on the submission of a ballot to the entire membership.

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the officers or by a written petition signed by at least one-fourth of the membership.

ARTICLE IX. Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained the current ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER- NEWLY REVISED shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with rules regularly adopted by the Association.

ARTICLE X. Ratification

This constitution shall become effective when ratified by a majority affirmative vote of all eligible members of the Association present.

By-Laws

Section 1. (Article V- Officers)

A. The president shall:

1. Preside at all meetings of the officers and of the Association.
2. Assume the responsibilities as alternative representative to the University assemblies or any subsequent organizations, in compliance with assembly and by-law procedures.
3. Serve as the official representative of the Association.
4. Implement decisions of and be responsible to the membership.
5. Prepare an agenda for each meeting of the Association.
6. Place on the agenda all proposals presented in writing by a member of the Association.

B. The Vice-President shall:

1. Assume the duties of the president in the absence of the president, and complete the term if vacancy occurs.
2. Assist the president in the implementation of the decisions of the membership.
3. Assume the responsibilities of representing the Association in the University assemblies or any subsequent organizations, in compliance with assembly and by-law procedures.

C. The Secretary shall:

1. Record and preserve the minutes of al meetings of the Association.
2. Prepare and distribute copies of all such minutes or a summary thereof to all members.
3. Maintain a list of members of the Association.
4. Provide notice of all such meetings to all members within a reasonable period of the time prior to such meetings.
5. Manage the official correspondence of the Association.

D. The one member at large of the Association shall:

1. Attend all meetings of the officers.
2. Assist the officers in the carrying out of their functions.
3. Act as liaison between officers and the general membership.
4. Shall serve as chairperson of the nominating committee.