This section contains the bylaws approved the the Sonoma County Junior College District Classified Senate.
| # | Name |
|---|---|
| ARTICLE I - REPRESENTATION | |
| 1.1 | Representation shall consist of one (1) member or one (1) alternate from each District sector, hereinafter identified as Senators, who shall be permanent classified employees. (Refer to Article III of the Constitution for a description of membership. |
| 1.2 | There shall be twenty District sectors, with twenty elected Senators, each representing one of the sectors. Sectors shall be determined by dividing the district geographically, with representation based on population of the classified staff. |
| 1.3 1.4 |
There shall be one classified staff member appointed by the senate as coordinator and a committee formed for a mentorship program designed to provide leadership and guidance to newly hired classified staff members. There shall be one ex-officio representative from the Classified Executive Council (SEIU, Local 1021). |
| ARTICLE II - TERMS OF OFFICE | |
| 2.1 | The term of office for all Executive Board Officers, except the President shall be two (2) years commencing immediately after the last meeting of the spring semester. The President shall serve one (1) term (four (4) years) commencing immediately after the last meeting of the spring semester. |
| 2.2 | The term of office for Senators shall be two (2) years commencing immediately after the last meeting of the spring semester, with one-half replaced annually. |
| 2.3 | A Senator shall be eligible for re-election with no restrictions. |
| 2.4 | An Officer, except President, shall be eligible for re-election, but shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms and will again become eligible for election after one (1) year. The President will be eliglable for the re-election two (2) years after the conclusion of their term. |
| ARTICLE III - SELECTION OF EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS | |
| 3.1 | The President shall serve for one (1) term upon election by a simple majority of votes cast by classified staff members who meet the membership qualifications. Election shall be administered by the Classified Senate and conducted during the spring semester. |
| 3.2 | The Vice President shall serve for one (1) term upon election by a simple majority of votes cast by classified staff members who meet the membership qualifications. Election shall be administered by the Classified Senate and conducted during the spring semester. |
| 3.3 | The Communication Specialist, Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve for one (1) term election by a simple majority of votes cast by classified staff members who meet the membership qualifications. Elections shall be administered by the Classified Senate and shall be conducted during the spring semester. |
| ARTICLE IV - SELECTION OF SENATORS | |
| 4.1 | District sector Senators shall serve for one (1) term or more and shall declare their candidacy according to the Election Procedures outlined in Article V. Elections shall be administered by the Classified Senate during the spring semester. The District sector Senators shall select their own alternate(s). |
| ARTICLE V - ELECTION PROCEDURE | |
| 5.1 | Election shall be by secret ballot. A balloting chairperson and one or two tellers shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Senate to tally the ballots cast and announce the result. Candidates for office may not serve as the chairperson or as a teller. The chairperson shall declare the member receiving the most votes cast elected to the respective office. In case of a tie vote on any ballot for one or more officers, a new election shall take place immediately. This process shall continue until a deciding vote is reached. |
| 5.2 | Candidates for President will submit a Candidacy Statement with their nomination form, that wull be distributed with the ballot for review by the voting body. |
| 5.3 | If there is only one candidate for Officer or Senator a ballot will be issued with an opportunity for people to write in a name and be distributed for votes. |
| 5.4 | Elections shall be held on an annual basis during the spring semester. |
| ARTICLE VI - ATTENDANCE | |
| 6.1 | Any Senator unable to attend a meeting shall, in advance of the meeting, designate the alternate within the sector to attend. |
| 6.2 | Senators shall accept responsibility for 100% attendance at meetings. |
| 6.3 | In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside. |
| 6.4 | In the absence of both the President and the Vice President, the President shall appoint another officer to preside for that meeting. |
| ARTICLE VII - VACANCIES | |
| 7.1 | Senate vacancies shall exist, as so declared by a simple majority of the Classified Senate, upon acknowledgment of resignation, leave of absence, recall or other incapacity. |
| 7.2 | Vacancies in the Executive Board shall be filled by appointment of the Classified Senate until the next regularly scheduled election in the spring semester. |
| 7.3 | Vacancies in the office of Senator shall be filled by appointment of the Classified Senate until the next regularly scheduled election in the spring semester. |
| 7.4 | Recall of an Executive Board member may be initiated by a petition of 40 percent of all classified persons who meet the membership requirement. Upon establishment of the authenticity of the petition, the Classified Senate must conduct a recall election among classified staff. A two-thirds majority of those voting recalls the Executive Board Member from office. |
| 7.5 | Recall of District sector Senators may be initiated by a petition of 40 percent of the membership in of the Senator's sector. The Classified Senate shall authorize the sector to conduct a recall election upon establishment of the authenticity of the petition. A two-thirds majority vote of those sector members, will recall the sector Senator from office. |
| ARTICLE VIII - RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD | |
| 8.1 | PRESIDENT |
| 8.1.1 | Serves as liaison between Administration, Faculty, Students, and Classified Staff |
| 8.1.2 | Attends Board of Trustees, Academic Senate and Classified Executive Council meetings, whenever possible; |
| 8.1.3 | Presides at all scheduled Classified Senate meetings; |
| 8.1.4 | Together with other members of the Executive Board, develops agenda items for all scheduled Classified Senate meetings; |
| 8.1.5 | The outgoing President shall be present at the first regular Classified Senate meeting of the new year; |
| 8.1.6| 8.1.7 8.1.8 8.1.9 8.1.10 |
Serves as the spokesperson for the Classified Senate. Serves by position on Institutional Planning Council (IPC), College Council and President’s Staff; Meets with the Superintendent/President once a month. The office of the Superintendent/President offers release time of 16 hours per month for the Classified Senate President to participate in the additional activities required by this position. Appoints one Classified employee to Classified Interview Committees formed for both Transfer and regular hiring processes. |
| 8.2 | VICE PRESIDENT |
| 8.2.1 | Serves as liaison to all Classified Senate standing committees; |
| 8.2.2 | Attends Academic Senate meetings as necessary; |
| 8.2.3 | Attends Classified Executive Council (SEIU, Local 1021) meetings as necessary; |
| 8.2.4 | Attends Board of Trustees meetings in the absence of the President; |
| 8.2.5 | Presides at scheduled Classified Senate meetings in the absence of the President. |
| 8.2.6 | The Vice President will assist the President in Facilitation of meetings by serving as the official timekeeper. |
| 8.3 | COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST |
| 8.3.1 | Serves as point of contact for SharePoint information organization and provides training; |
| 8.3.2 | Maintains website |
| 8.3.3 | In collaboration with Classified Senate Committee Chairs, creates and distributes promotional materials for senate events and awards. |
| 8.4 | SECRETARY |
| 8.4.1 | Records, maintains, and distributes agenda and minutes of all scheduled Classified Senate meetings; |
| 8.4.2 | Maintains all correspondence between the Classified Senate and other district groups; |
| 8.4.3 | Updates and distributes yearly calendar of meetings. Secures reservations for meetings and all related logistics. |
| 8.5 | TREASURER |
| 8.5.1 | Records and disburses monies for the Classified Senate account; |
| 8.5.2 | Acts as liaison to Business Services on all budget-related matters; |
| 8.5.3 | Submits monthly report on the budget to the Classified Senate; |
| 8.5.4 | Acts as liaison to the Foundation and Scholarship Offices on matters relating to the Classified Senate Scholarship. |
| ARTICLE IX - RESPONSIBILITIES OF SENATORS | |
| 9.1 | SENATORS |
| 9.1.1 | Attend Classified Senate meetings for the elected term; |
| 9.1.2 | Assume responsibility to inform and send alternate if unable to attend a scheduled Classified Senate meeting; |
| 9.1.3 | Attend at least one (1) Board of Trustees meeting during elected term, if possible; |
| 9.1.4 | Act as liaison between sectors and the Classified Senate; |
| 9.1.5 | Communicate any information, as discussed at the Classified Senate meetings, to classified staff in their sectors; |
| 9.1.6 | Serve on Classified Senate committees and encourage other classified staff to serve as needed; |
| 9.1.7 | Review annually a roster of employees in their sector. |
| ARTICLE X - COMMITTEES | |
| 0.1 | COMMITTEES OF THE CLASSIFIED SENATE |
| 10.1.1 | Classified Senate committees shall be established or dissolved by the Executive Board and ratified by the Classified Senate. |
| 10.1.2 | The purpose of each Classified Senate committee shall be established by the Executive Board. |
| 10.1.3 | Classified Senate Committee Chairs shall be appointed by the Executive Board. Classified Senate Committee members shall not be limited to members of the Senate. The minimum number on any one committee shall be three, but no more than seven. |
| 10.1.4 | The Classified Senate Committee Chair shall report committee activities to the Classified Senate at its regularly scheduled meeting. |
| 10.1.5 | Classified Senate committees may include, but are not limited to, the following: Awards Communications Community Building Events Fundraising Mentorship Program Sector Review |
| 10.2 | AD HOC COMMITTEES OF THE CLASSIFIED SENATE |
| 10.2.1 | Ad hoc committees shall be established by the Executive Board as needed. |
| 10.3 | CAMPUS-WIDE COLLEGE COMMITTEES |
| 10.3.1 | Requests and recommendations for classified staff appointments on campus-wide college committees may be made to the Classified Executive Council (SEIU, Local 1021) on behalf of the Classified Senate. |
| 10.3.2 | The Classified Senate shall maintain a communication with the Classified Staff Development Committee. |
| ARTICLE XI - MEETINGS | |
| 11.1 | The Classified Senate shall adopt and post a schedule of monthly meetings for each fiscal year/calendar year for attendance by all sector Senators of the classified staff. Special meetings may be called by the Classified Senate President with consent from the District Superintendent/President. All meetings shall be open to any interested persons. |
| 11.2 | Agendas, minutes, and reports of the Classified Senate activities shall be distributed to all Senators and may also be distributed to the Classified Staff, District Superintendent/President, Management Team, Academic Senate, and Associated Students and posted at various locations whenever possible. |
| 11.3 | Parliamentary Authority: The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be observed. |
| ARTICLE XII - QUORUM | |
| 12.1 | A minimum of two elected Officers and one-third of the elected Senators or their alternates shall constitute a quorum. |
| ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS | |
| 13.1 | These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the classified staff. |
Approved: May 1994; Revision April 1998; Revision March 2005; Revision January 2015; Revised November 2016.
Questions or comments may be sent to Classified Senate.