THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA
The University Support Personnel Association
BYLAWS

Article II
PURPOSES

Section 1 -The University Support Personnel Association shall be concerned with all activities that affect its members as specified in the University of North Florida Constitution.

The University Support Personnel Association shall also serve as a forum wherein an individual or group of its members may voice their beliefs, concerns, problems and/or suggestions regarding any and all aspects of the University. The Association shall be the representative voice of its members and shall work closely with the administration and other constituent associations in the overall governance of the University as provided for in the Constitution of the University of North Florida.

Article III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - The Membership shall include all persons who have achieved permanent status in USPS positions at the University of North Florida.

Article IV
OFFICERS

Section 1 - Association officers shall consist of the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary/Treasurer. Any member of the Association shall be eligible to serve as an officer.

THE PRESIDENT

Section 2 - The President shall act as presiding officer of the Association and chair of the Staff Affairs Committee.

In addition to the duties prescribed by the Association's parliamentary authority, the President shall represent the Association at meetings, conferences, and other occasions, provide leadership for Association activities, keep the membership advised concerning needs, programs, and accomplishments of the Association- coordinate the work of the Association, serve as an ex officio (nonvoting) member of all Association committees- appoint such special committees as the Association deems necessary to conduct business- and be the accountable officer for the Association's budget.

THE VICE PRESIDENT

Section 3- The Vice President shall- assume the duties of the President in the President's absence. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice President shall succeed to the Presidency for the duration of the unexpired term.

The Vice President shall assist the President in coordinating Association work- receive motions, resolutions, and proposals from the members and place all such matters on a legislative calendar in the order received.

THE SECRETARY/TREASURER

Section 4 - The Secretary/Treasurer shall- keep the records and minutes of the Association's proceedings and shall make a report at each Association meeting and shall be available to members upon request.

The Secretary/Treasurer shall- conduct the Association's general correspondence, notify members of meeting time and place,- make the physical arrangements for Association meetings; maintain the records of the Association and Staff Affairs Committee Meeting, notify officers, committee members, and delegates of their election, and, in the absence of both President and Vice President, call the meeting to order and preside until the election of a President pro tem.

TERMS OF OFFICE

Section 5 - Officers shall be installed at a specified fall general assembly. Terms of office shall begin immediately upon installation and shall terminate when successors are installed.

No officer may hold more than one office at a time or serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office, An officer who has served more than half a term is considered to have served a full term in that office.

VACANCIES

Section 6 -If the position of President becomes vacant and the Vice President is unable to fulfill these duties, then a President Pro-tem may be appointed by a majority vote of the remaining officer and Staff Affairs Committee until elections can be held at the next general assembly meeting.

The current bylaws state that there shall be one meeting each semester, so it provides a way to conduct elections as necessary while allowing a pro-tem to serve until then.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Secretary/Treasurer, a Secretary-Treasurer may be appointed by the President and approved by a majority vote of the remaining officers and Staff Affairs Committee.

REMOVALS

Section 7- Failure to execute faithfully the duties of the office constitutes cause for an officer's removal. Removal of an officer shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the Staff Affairs Committee.

Article V
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

        Section1 - The rules of order of the USPA shall be in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

        Section 2 - All members have the right and privilege to attend meetings of the Association without fear of sanction provided prior approval has been granted by their supervisor.

        Section 3 -The University Support Personnel Association shall meet at least twice yearly, once in the Fall Semester and once in the Spring Semester. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the Association President.

        Section 4 - The Staff Affairs Committee will meet a minimum of once per month. This meeting is open to all USPA members, however, agenda items should be given to an officer or representative before the meeting time.

        Section 5 - Special meetings may be called with due notice by the President of the Association.

        Section 6 - The Secretary shall give members due notice of all regular meetings. Notice of all meetings shall indicate the agenda to be considered.

        Section 7 - A quorum for any general meeting of the USPA shall consist of those members in attendance. A majority of committee members shall constitute a quorum for all Association committee meetings. There shall be no proxy votes.

        Section 8 - The usual order of business will be as follows:

1. Approval of minutes
2. Reports of officers and representatives
3. Reports of Staff Affairs Committee
4. Reports of ad hoc committees
5. Special reports
6. Legislative calendar

        Section 9 - Members are to present motions, resolutions, and proposals to the Vice President of the University Support Personnel Association prior to the scheduled meeting date. The Vice President shall place all such items on the legislative calendar in the order they are received. Items may be removed from the calendar by a majority of the members voting for such removal for any reason including immediate action by the body or referral to the appropriate committee.

        Section 10 - The meetings of the University Support Personnel Association are open, and when permission is granted by the Staff Affairs Committee, non-members may have the floor.

        Section 11 - Decisions of the Association shall be forwarded to the Vice President for Administration and Finance who shall transmit them to the University President with recommendations within ten working days of receipt. Upon approval by the President, these decisions shall become the policies and practices of the University.

Article VI

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

        Section 1 - Nominations of Association officers shall be made at the fall general assembly meeting. No member may accept nomination to more than one office. No officer shall serve more than two terms in the same position. A term, wherever mentioned in this document, shall be construed to be two years.

        Section 2 - Election of Association officers shall be by ballot at a designated place during and following the fall general assembly. If no candidate for an Association office receives a majority of votes cast, the two candidates receiving the most votes for that office shall be in a runoff election to be conducted after the fall general election.

        Section 3 - At the annual meeting the special committee for nominations and elections shall submit nominations for all positions on the Staff Affairs Committee scheduled to become vacant on the date of the fall general assembly meeting. These nominations shall be in accord with the representative appointment described in Article VI I of these bylaws. Additional nominations for positions on this committee may be made from the floor. The USPA President shall select delegates or representatives to other University committees as required.

        Section 4 - There shall be no proxy votes.

Article VII

COMMITTEES

        Section 1 - There shall be one standing committee, the Staff Affairs Committee, which shall be the primary legislative body of the University Support Personnel Association, and such special committees as are necessary for the Association to conduct its affairs and meet its responsibilities.

        Section 2 - Except as provided hereafter, the Staff Affairs Committee shall have eleven (11) members.

        Section 3 - Each Association committee member shall be elected for one term. No committee member shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same position. A member to fill a vacancy shall be appointed by the President of the Association and approved by the Staff Affairs Committee. This member shall be considered to have served a full term.

        Section 4 - The Vice President for Administration and Finance or a designee shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member of the Staff Affairs Committee of the Association.

        Section 5 - Minutes of the Staff Affairs Committee and any ad hoc committee shall be placed on file with the Association Officers within five (5) working days after the meeting. Minutes shall include items submitted for the committee's consideration, items considered by the committee, and a count of the committee's final vote on each action item. The committee's report at each Association meeting shall include a summary of deliberations on each action.

        Section 6 - Committee members who fail to execute faithfully the duties of their positions or who fail to attend three consecutive meetings may be removed by vote of the Staff Affairs Committee. A vacancy in any committee position shall be filled by appointment by the President and approved by the Staff Affairs Committee.

Article VIII
FINANCE

        Section 1 - At the fall general assembly , the President shall submit to the Association a proposed budget request for the following fiscal year. Upon approval by the Association, the President shall submit the budget request to the Vice President for Administration and Finance prior to June 1.

        Section 2 - Any funds allocated to the Association shall be handled through the office of Administration and Finance and shall be included in the University's Annual Operating Budget. The Association President shall be the accountable officer.

Article IX

AMENDMENTS

        Section 1 - The Association may amend these bylaws by a majority of the members present and voting, provided that the text of the proposals to amend have been made available to the members of the Association at least two weeks (ten working days) prior to the meeting at which the amendments are to be considered.