Bylaws

Purpose

The Mount Holyoke College Staff Council shall establish avenues for addressing employee issues and concerns; advocating for an environment of respect, fairness, and security; and helping to build a sense of community by facilitating effective communications. The Staff Council will work to effect change and to achieve common goals by advising, consulting, and making recommendations to the College administration on matters affecting the staff. The Staff Council functions as a voice of the staff to the president and other College administrators.

Structure

The Mount Holyoke College Staff Council shall consist of 13 elected staff representatives who are not teaching faculty, bargaining union employees, or full-time members of the student body. (Employees covered by collective bargaining agreements will continue to be represented by their elected representatives.)

Council chair(s) and a secretary shall be elected by the 13 members. The council chair(s) shall act as liaison to appropriate administrative bodies. The secretary shall be responsible for the recording and distribution of minutes. Additional council seats will be filled on a volunteer basis at a special Staff Council orientation meeting to be held in June, after the annual elections.

The elected members of the Staff Council shall meet regularly throughout the year. In addition, the Staff Council can call open meetings, which the entire College community is welcome to attend.

While the number of elected representatives to the Staff Council is limited, all employees are encouraged to participate in the activities of the Staff Council through open meetings and any established subcommittees.

Terms

The Staff Council shall consist of 13 voting members. As outlined in the Election Process, members are to be elected from the divisions of the College for two-year terms beginning in June. Nominations of candidates and voting shall be open to all members of the Mount Holyoke College community who are not teaching faculty, bargaining unit employees, or full-time members of the student body.

Staff Council representatives may not serve more than two consecutive terms but may be re-elected after an absence from the council of three years or more.

Subcommittees

The Staff Council may establish subcommittees to assist in operations as the need arises. These subcommittees will report back to the Staff Council, which will in turn pass the information gathered to the appropriate administrative bodies.

College Committees

Where appropriate, the Staff Council may suggest appointments to standing and ad hoc College committees. The Staff Council shall make recommendations for staff appointments/nominations to any College committees that involve issues of concern to staff. The Staff Council may seek and receive nominations for appointments to campus committees.

Task Force Recommendation Procedure

The Staff Council may recommend the formation of a committee or task force by written request to the appropriate administrative bodies as the need arises. The request shall include a description of the project and the issues that a task force might address; suggestions for task force membership; and, to ensure clarity in expected feedback, a suggested timeframe for response. The Staff Council may work in partnership with the appropriate administrative bodies in making such recommendations.

Nominations and Elections

The Staff Council shall seek and receive nominations for elections in April of each year. The Council shall oversee elections to Staff Council positions in May of each year according to procedures in the Elections Process.

Nominations and elections to fill vacancies resulting from resignations will take place during the annual election process, or representatives may be appointed at the council’s discretion and will serve for the balance of the term.

Election Process

All employees who are not teaching faculty, members of a bargaining unit, or full-time members of the student body are eligible to run for office from their division. Each representative will be elected for a two-year term. Election or appointment of representatives to fill vacancies resulting from resignation will be for the remainder of that term. Each of the six divisions of the College will be represented by one to five representatives depending on the number of employees in that division.