BY-LAWS
of
TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE - WACO
STAFF SENATE
UPDATED July 1999
ARTICLE I - Offices
The principal office of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate shall be located at 3801 Campus Drive, Waco, Texas 76705.
ARTICLE II - Members
1. QUALIFICATIONS.
Members must be individuals who are full-time, part-time, or contracted employees with six consecutive months of service at TSTC Waco. All such employees, with the exception of the College President, Deans and Managers with direct accountability to the College President, Faculty, and those whose employment depends in whole or part upon their status as a currently enrolled student, shall be members of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate.
2. CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP.
Memberships shall be of five categories:
1) Clerical-Secretarial, which includes all persons whose assignments typically are associated with clerical activities or are specifically of a secretarial nature.
2) Professional Non-Faculty, which includes all persons whose assignments would require either College graduation or experience of such kind and amount as to provide a comparable background. Included would be all staff members with assignments requiring specialized professional training whose activities could not be classified as executive or faculty, and who should not be included with any of the four non-professional groups. This category also includes eligible persons whose employment classification is Exec/Admin/Mgr.
3) Service/Maintenance, which includes all persons whose assignments require limited degrees of previously acquired skills and knowledge and in which workers perform duties which result in or contribute to the comfort, convenience, and hygiene of personnel and the student body, or which contribute to the upkeep and care of building, facilities, or grounds of the institutional property. This category includes, but is not limited to, employees such as custodial personnel, grounds maintenance, construction workers, equipment maintenance, and security personnel.
4) Skilled Crafts, which includes all persons whose assignments typically require special manual skills and a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the processes involved in the work, acquired through on-the-job training experience or through apprenticeship or other formal training programs.
5) Technical and Paraprofessional, which includes all persons whose assignments require specialized knowledge or skills which may be acquire through experience or academic work such as is offered in many two-year technical colleges, junior colleges, or through equivalent on-the-job training.
3. PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP.
Each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote on each matter submitted to the membership for a vote in any membership meeting. Each member shall be entitled to attend any open meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee appointed by the Board of Directors. Each member is entitled to submit information, suggestions, requests, or motions at any membership meeting.
4. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.
Memberships shall be terminated by termination of employment at TSTC Waco.
ARTICLE III - Meeting of Members
1. ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual meeting of the members shall be held in July of each year at the hour of 12:00 Noon, beginning with the year 1999, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.
(Article amended November 5, 1998)
2. SPECIAL MEETINGS.
Special meetings of the members, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by the President or by the Directors, or shall be called by the President at the request of not less than a quorum of all the members of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate entitled to vote at the meeting.
(Article amended November 5, 1998)
3. REGULAR MEETINGS.
Regular meetings shall be held at the day and time designated by the Board of Directors. Regular meetings shall be held in January, April, and October of each year. The first regular meeting shall be in August 1996.
(Article amended November 5, 1998)
4. PLACE OF MEETING.
The directors may designate any place within the TSTC Waco campus as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting called by the Directors. A waiver of notice signed by all members entitled to vote at a meeting may designate any place within the TSTC Waco campus as the place for holding such meeting. If no designation is made, or if a special meeting be otherwise called, the place of meeting shall be the principal office of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate.
5. NOTICE OF MEETING.
Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of regular or annual meetings and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten nor more than thirty days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by written mail, by or at the direction of the President, or the Secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each member of record entitled to vote at such meeting,. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited
By-laws in the TSTC Waco campus mail, addressed to the member as it appears on the membership books of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate.
6. MEMBERSHIP LISTS.
The officer or agent having charge of the membership list of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate shall make, at least five (5) days before each meeting of members, a complete list of members entitled to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment thereof arranged in alphabetical order, with the address and membership category of each member, which list, for a period of five (5) days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the principal office of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate and shall be subject to inspection by any member at any time during usual business hours. Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and the place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any member during the whole time of the meeting.
7. QUORUM.
At any meeting of members, 15% of the members of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. If less than said number of the members are represented at a meeting, a majority of the members so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. The members present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough members to leave less than a quorum.
(Article amended November 5, 1998)
8. PROXIES.
At all meetings of members, a member may vote by proxy executed in writing by the member. Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate before or at the time of the meeting.
9. VOTING.
Each member entitled to vote in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Constitution of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate and these By-Laws shall be entitled to one (1) vote, in person or by proxy. Upon the demand of any member, the vote for directors, and upon any question before the meeting shall be by written secret ballot. All elections for directors shall be decided by plurality vote; all other questions shall be decided by majority vote.
10. ORDER OF BUSINESS.
The order of business at all meetings of the members shall be as follows:
1. Roll Call.
2. Proof of notice of meeting or waiver of notice.
3. Reading of minutes of preceding meeting.
4. Reports of Officers.
5. Reports of Committees.
6. Election of Officers and Directors.
7. Unfinished Business.
8. New Business.
11. INFORMAL ACTION BY MEMBERS.
Unless otherwise provided, any action required to be taken at a meeting of the members, or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of the members, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the members entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof
ARTICLE IV - Board of Directors
1. GENERAL POWERS.
The business and affairs of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate shall be managed by its Board of Directors. The directors shall in all cases act as a board, and they may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of their meetings and the management of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate, as they may deem proper, not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Texas or the policies of the TSTC System Board of Regents.
2. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS.
The number of directors of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate shall be eleven (11). Two directors shall be elected from each of the five membership categories, and one director shall be elected from the membership at large. Each of the directors shall hold office for a period of two years, except the director elected at large, who will hold office for a period of one year. The tenure of directors shall be staggered such that one vacancy for director in each membership category occurs each year.
3. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE.
The directors of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate shall be elected at the regular meeting in July each year and serve for the following two (2) fiscal years, except the director at large, who will serve for the following one (1) fiscal year. Nominations shall be accepted by the Election Committee at the regular membership meeting prior to July 1st and reported to the Secretary by July 1st. The secretary will prepare a ballot containing the names of the nominees for each member. Each member shall complete the ballot and return it to the Secretary in person, by mail, or by proxy at the annual meeting in July. The ballots shall be counted at the annual meeting. The nominee receiving the greatest number of votes shall be deemed as elected. Each director shall hold office until a successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until such director shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. (Article amended November 5, 1998)
4. REGULAR MEETINGS.
A regular meeting of the directors shall be held without other notice than this by-law immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of members. The directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.
5. SPECIAL MEETINGS.
Special meetings of the directors may be called by or at the request of the president or any three (3) directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the directors may fix the place for holding any special meeting of the directors called by them.
6. NOTICE.
Notice of any special meeting of the directors shall be given at least five (5) days previously thereto by written notice delivered personally or mailed in the campus mail to each director. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the TSTC campus mail so addressed. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
7. QUORUM.
At any meeting of the directors, a majority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if less than said number is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting without further notice.
8. MANNER OF ACTION.
The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors.
9. NEWLY CREATED DIRECTORSHIPS AND VACANCIES.
Newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of membership categories and vacancies occurring in the board for any reason except the removal of directors without cause may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than exists. Vacancies occurring by reason of the removal of directors without cause shall be filled by vote of the members of the membership category of the director removed. A director elected to fill a vacancy caused by resignation, death or removal shall be elected to hold office for the unexpired term of the predecessor.
10. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS.
Any or all of the directors may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the members in the director's membership category or by action of the board. Directors may be removed without cause only by a two-thirds majority vote of the members in their membership category. Whenever a member terminates membership, directorship shall also cease.
11. RESIGNATION.
A director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the board, the president or the secretary of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the board or such officer, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
12. COMPENSATION.
No compensation shall be paid to directors, as such, for their services.
13. PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT.
A director of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate who is present at a meeting of the directors at which action on any TSTC Waco Staff Senate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless a dissent for this director shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless a written dissent to such action is filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before adjournment thereof or such dissent is forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
14. EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES.
The board, by resolution, may designate from among its membership an executive committee, and it may designate committees from the general membership, with each such committee consisting of as many members as deemed necessary for the purpose of the committee. Each such committee appointed from the general membership shall have representation from each of the Membership Categories. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the board.
ARTICLE V - Officers
1. NUMBER.
The officers of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary, a treasurer, and a parliamentarian or any combination thereof not inconsistent with these by-laws and the policies of the TSTC System Board of Regents. Each of these officers shall be elected by the directors. Such other officers and assistant officers as deemed necessary may be elected or appointed by the directors.
2. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE.
The officers of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate shall be elected at the regular meeting of directors in July each year and serve for the following fiscal year. Nominations shall be taken from the directors. The nominee receiving a majority of the votes shall be deemed as elected to the respective office. In the event that a nominee does not receive a majority of votes, a run-off election shall be held to determine the election. Each officer shall hold office until a successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until such officer shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. (Article amended November 5, 1998)
3. REMOVAL.
Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the directors may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the directors whenever in their judgement the best interests of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate would be served thereby.
4. VACANCIES.
A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
5. PRESIDENT.
The president shall be the principal executive officer of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate and, subject to the control of the directors, shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate. The president shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the directors. The president may sign, with the secretary, any instruments which the directors have authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the directors or by these by-laws to some other officer or agent of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate. The president in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and shall attend meetings of the College President's Council. The president shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the directors.
6. VICE-PRESIDENT.
In the absence of the president or in the president's inability or refusal to act, the vice-president shall have all the power of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The vice-president shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the president or by the directors.
7. SECRETARY.
The secretary shall keep the minutes of the members' and of the directors' meetings in one or more books provided for that purpose and see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws or as required. The secretary shall be custodian of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate records and keep a register of the campus address of each member, which shall be furnished to the secretary by such member. The secretary shall have general charge of the membership books of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate and in general perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as may be assigned by the president or by the directors.
8. TREASURER.
If required by the directors, the treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the directors shall determine. The treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate. The treasurer shall receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the TSTC Waco Staff Senate from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such moneys in the name of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected in accordance with these by-laws. The treasurer shall in general perform all of the duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties as may be assigned by the president or by the directors.
9. PARLIAMENTARIAN.
As required by the directors, the parliamentarian shall monitor the meetings of members and directors and ensure that all proceedings conform to Robert's Rules of Order. The parliamentarian shall serve as the chair of the Election Committee and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the president or by the directors.
10. PAST PRESIDENT.
The immediate Past President shall serve the Board of Directors in an advisory capacity as a non-voting member of the board. This position shall not be filled if the immediate Past President is a current member of the Board of Directors.
11. SALARIES.
The officers of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate shall receive no compensation for their services.
ARTICLE VI - Contracts, Loans, Checks and Deposits
1. CONTRACTS.
The directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances and shall be consistent with policies, procedures, rules and regulations established by the TSTC System Board of Regents.
2. LOANS.
No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the directors and approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of memberships and shall be consistent with policies, procedures, rules and regulations established by the TSTC System Board of Regents. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances and shall be consistent with TSTC Waco practices and procedures.
3. CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC.
All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate, shall be signed by such officer of officers of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate in such manner as shall be determined by resolution of the directors consistent with TSTC Waco practices and procedures and shall be consistent with policies, procedures, rules and regulations established by the TSTC System Board of Regents.
4. DEPOSITS.
All funds of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate not otherwise employed shall be deposited to the credit of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the directors may select consistent with TSTC Waco practices and procedures and shall be consistent with policies, procedures, rules and regulations established by the TSTC System Board of Regents.
ARTICLE VII - Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate shall begin on the first day of September in each year.
ARTICLE VIII - Waiver of Notice
Whenever any notice is required to be given to any member or director of the TSTC Waco Staff Senate under the provision of these by-laws or under the provisions of the articles of TSTC Waco Staff Senate, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
ARTICLE IX - Amendments
These by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed and new by-laws may be adopted by a vote of the members representing a two-thirds (2/3) majority of all members at any membership meeting or a any special members' meeting when the proposed amendment has been set out in the notice of such special meeting.
ARTICLE X - Disclaimer
These by-laws do not constitute an employment contract or create a property or liberty interest for the TSTC Waco Staff Senate or any individual member, director, officer, or employee thereof.
ARTICLE XI - Texas Law to Govern
These By-laws shall be governed by and construed and interpreted under the laws of the State of Texas.
President Secretary
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