ASSN Board Charge

The Arts and Science Staff Network Board will serve as a channel of communication among members of the non-academic staff in the College of Arts and Science, as an advisory group to the Dean of the College and the Dean's staff, and as a liaison to other similar groups outside the college.  The Network has four goals:  to develop non-academic staff as a human resource; to enhance cooperation and the exchange of information among administrators, faculty, staff and students; to foster continued education and professional development; and to serve as a representative body making known the interest of the staff.  To achieve its goals, the Network Board will focus on general policies that affect staff, recognition of staff achievements, training and development opportunities for staff, and other issues identified by the staff, by Network members, or by the Dean.

Membership

Network members must be employed at least .75 FTE by the College of Arts & Science.  The Network Board will be composed of 12 members of the A&S staff drawn from the 3 peer groups:  Technical/Paraprofessional; Secretarial/Clerical; and, Administrative/Professional.  If members are not available from a sector or sectors, staff from the remaining peer group(s) will be selected to serve, even if the substitutions alter the peer-group ratio.  A member of the Dean's administrative staff appointed by the Dean will attend meetings in an advisory capacity.

Members will serve a two-year term beginning on July 1 in the year they are elected. Members may serve 2 consecutive two-year terms.  If elected for 2 consecutive two-year terms a member cannot serve again for 2 years.  In the event the Network board has too many members with expired terms at the same time, the following procedure will be followed.  There will be a drawing of newly elected members to determine who will serve a two-year term and who will serve a one-year term.  The number of one-year term members added to the number of those members already on the Network Board should equal six or one-half of the total membership.  The random drawing should take place no later than the August meeting.

Election of Members

The Elections Committee will manage the election of new Network Board members.  Nominations from Arts and Science staff will be solicited approximately two months prior to each election.  After nominations have been made and at least two weeks prior to voting, Arts and Science Staff will be notified of the upcoming election. The announcement will invite members to vote by ballot at the annual Spring Luncheon.  At the luncheon, the Elections Committee will distribute, collect and count the ballots. Absentee ballots will be available prior to the luncheon for those who are unable to attend the luncheon. Votes sent in by staff unable to attend the luncheon would be added to the totals.  Candidates who receive a simple majority will be the new Board members.  Results will be announced at the end of the luncheon and included in the next Network newsletter.  Newly elected Network Board members will receive written notification from the Elections Committee, with copies to the Dean, their chair and supervisor.  The Network Board Chair will encourage new members to attend at least one Network meeting (without voting rights) before their terms begin on July 1.

Officers

Network Board members will elect four officers, Chair; Vice-Chair; Secretary and Treasurer.  In nominating members for office, preference should be given to members serving the second year of their two-year term.  Officers will assume the following duties: The Chair will preside over Arts and Science Staff Network Board meetings. The Vice Chair will assume Chair's duties if necessary and perform additional duties as assigned by the Chair. The Secretary will prepare and distribute minutes of Network meetings and act as curator of Network records.  The treasurer will Maintain yearly budget records and disburse all funds.  Network Board subcommittees will be formed in response to the interests of Network members and A&S staff.  Subcommittees will report their recent activities at monthly Network Board meetings.  As staff interests change, subcommittees may be augmented or dissolved.  The following subcommittees are currently active:

            Events
            Connections
            Awards
            Election/Communications
            Retreat/Luncheon

If a Member Resigns Or Is Transferred:

If a member is transferred with six months or less remaining in the term, he/she may complete the remainder of the term.  If a Network member declines to serve shortly after election, or resigns, or transfers to another college with more than six months remaining in the term, the runner-up from the appropriate peer group will be asked to fill the vacated position.  If the runner-up declines, members will choose a replacement.  A two-thirds majority is required to approve any replacement member.

Meeting Participation

Because the contributions of individual members to the Network are vital to the vigor and growth of the Network, Board members who miss four meetings for unexcused reasons in an academic year will be asked to resign.  If more than six months remains in the dismissed members term, a replacement will be made at the discretion of the remaining members.  If six months or less remains in the term, the replacement may simply choose to complete the following two-year rotation without running for election.

Amendments to These By-Laws

Any member of the Network or of the Arts and Science Staff may propose an amendment to the By-Laws of the Arts and Science Network.  Network members will vote to determine whether or not the Arts and Science Staff should be asked to consider any proposed amendment.  If a two-thirds majority of Network Members votes to bring a proposed amendment before the entire Arts and Science Staff, a special election will be held.  A two-thirds majority of the Arts and Science Staff is required to pass any amendment.