Classified Senate Constitution and Bylaws

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Constitution & Bylaws

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Constitution

ARTICLE 1: ORGANIZATION

Section 1. Name of Organization

The name of this organization shall be the Santa Clarita Community College District Classified Senate (hereinafter referred to as the “Classified Senate”).

Section 2. Membership of the Classified Senate

Membership shall be automatic for all regular Classified employees, both probationary and permanent, including permanent part-time and Confidential Classified employees (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Classified membership,” and individually as “Classified professionals”).

Short-term employees and Classified management positions shall not be included in the Membership of the Classified Senate.

Section 3. Campuses

The Classified Senate shall consist of one council representing each main campus site of Classified professionals:

1. Valencia Campus

2. Canyon Country Campus

3. Online Campus

ARTICLE 2: PURPOSE

The organization is formed to:

1. Support and improve the College through the collective actions and contributions of the Classified membership.
2. Facilitate communication among the Classified Senate membership, and with the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, students, and the college
3. Represent the Classified membership on District matters that are not under the purview of collective bargaining or the Classified Union.
4. Ensure the Classified membership is afforded equitable opportunities to participate in the planning and decision-making processes of the College, including the development, review, and evaluation of District board policies, administrative procedures, and in matters directly impacting Classified professionals.
5. Make recommendations and reports on behalf of the Classified membership to the Board of Trustees, Administration, and other internal organizations and groups on topics deemed outside the scope of collective bargaining.
6. Facilitate the participation of Classified professionals in areas of collegial-consultation within the governance structure;
   1. Appoint Classified professionals to committees, as designated via the delegation agreement with the Classified Union where applicable.
   2. Establish Classified Senate standing and ad-hoc committees as needed.
   3. Collaborate with the Classified Union to regularly review and ensure equitable representation of the Classified membership.
   4. Accept leadership responsibilities on behalf of the Classified membership in all areas outside collective bargaining.
7. Provide a forum for Classified professionals to share their needs, interests, ideas, and perspectives on all matters related to the operations of the Santa Clarita Community College District outside of collective bargaining.
8. Evaluate, disseminate, and discuss operating procedures, plans, guides, and other District or stakeholder group proposed actions.
9. Promote the involvement of the Classified membership in professional opportunities outside of the purview of the Classified

ARTICLE 3: COMMITTEES

The Classified Senate President shall be empowered to form Classified Senate Standing and Ad Hoc committees, including but not limited to:

1. Nominations and Elections Committee

2. Constitution and Bylaws Committee

3. Fundraising Committee

4. Ad Hoc committees

ARTICLE 4: Officers And Members of the Board and Executive Board

Section 1: Senate Executive Officers.

Executive Officers are elected by the membership, per the election procedures outlined in Article 5 of this Constitution. These Officers include:

1. President

2. Vice President

3. Secretary

4. Treasurer

5. Public Relations Officer

Section 2: Non-Executive Officers

Non-Executive Officer positions are appointed per the procedures outlined in Article 5 Section 2 of this Constitution. These Officers Include:

1. President Emeritus

2. Union Liaison

3. Senators

Section 3: The Senate Board and Executive Board

The Senate Board shall consist of all Senate Officers, both Executive and Non-Executive, as defined in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article.

The Executive Board shall consist of only the elected Executive Officers, as defined in Section 1 of this Article.

ARTICLE 5: ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

Section 1. Election Rules and Procedures

1. Elections for Officers shall be held in accordance with the specific provisions of the Bylaws of this Constitution.

2. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall be formed to provide oversight, secure ethical vote-casting, and perform counting of ballots during any contested The Nominations and Elections committee shall be formed in accordance with the specific provisions of the Bylaws of this Constitution.

3. To be elected to any Executive Officer position, a candidate must receive a majority vote of the electorate present during the meeting in which votes are cast in a contested election.

   1. In the event that a candidate is running unopposed by the nomination deadline, that candidate shall automatically be declared the officer-elect for that position.

   2. Any officer position unfilled by the end of election meeting, or vacated post-election, shall be filled by appointment of the Classified Senate President until the next election cycle for that position.

   3. There shall be no absentee or by-proxy voting permitted in any election.

Section 2. Appointment Procedures

1. Non-Executive Officers serve under the purview of the Executive Board. The President Emeritus is the only Officer whose appointment is automatic upon relinquishing authority as a Senate. All other Non-Executive officers shall be appointed by the Classified Senate President.

2. The ceremonial swearing-in of Executive Officers shall occur at the next General meeting following the meeting in which the election was held.

3. All newly elected Executive Officers(s), including those running unopposed, shall assume office, attain all powers of their elected office(s), and may conduct the business of the Classified Senate in their new role(s) following the adjournment of the Classified Senate meeting in which the election for such office was held, and the election result(s) are confirmed.

4. Additional election policies and procedures are set forth and shall be carried out in accordance with the Bylaws of this Constitution.

ARTICLE 6: MEETINGS

Section 1: General Meetings

1. A General Meeting is an open meeting of the Classified Senate in which any interested parties/persons including those enrolled as students of the District may attend.

2. The Classified Senate shall adopt a schedule of meeting times for each calendar Barring extenuating circumstances, the Classified Senate shall host no fewer than six (6)General meetings per year.

3. Those interested in speaking at a Senate meeting may do so when recognized by the President, or when acknowledged by alternate Officers that the Classified Senate President has delegated to assist in facilitating the meeting.

4. Members may submit requests to add a discussion item to a Classified Senate Members interested in adding an agenda item must contact the Executive Board via e-mail or other written notification fourteen (14) calendar in advance of the intended Classified Senate meeting.

5. The Board shall evaluate all agenda item requests and determine the appropriateness of the Upon making a determination, the Board shall notify the requesting member of its decision and, if added to the agenda, when the item will appear on the docket and the amount of time allotted for the item.

6. Non-members may request to address the membership. Non-members must notify the Executive Board no less than seventy-two (72) hours prior to the open meeting at which they wish to address the membership, and may be allotted a reasonable opportunity to address the Senate, such as a two (2) minute window to address the membership during the open forum. Special exceptions for longer-format presentations may be made by the Executive Board, such as for keynote or guest speakers or Board Member introductions. However, in general, the principle time allotted for Classified Senate meetings should be prioritized for Classified member presentations and discussions. Non-members requesting a special exception, and in turn, their own agenda item, shall notify the Classified Senate Executive Board not less than fourteen (14) calendar days in advance of the meeting in which the presentation is intended. Classified professionals presentations will be given priority consideration if there is conflict of time.

7. Attendees who are disruptive, or who otherwise speak out of turn and/or are not recognized by the hosting officer/s may be removed or muted during any The removal and/or muting of attendees is at the discretion of the Classified Senate President, or any delegated officer assisting in facilitation of the meeting, but should be reserved for instances of overtly disruptive behavior,and is not intended to censor civil disagreement of perspectives.

Section 2: Special Meetings

1. The Classified Senate President may call a Special Meeting of the Classified

2. Unless otherwise noted, Special Meetings that are not joint meetings with other representative organizations, will follow the same operating procedures as a General Meeting, as listed in Article 7 Section 1, with the exception that these meetings may be closed to non-members.

3. A Special Meeting that is jointly held with another representative organization, such as a Classified Union and Classified Senate meeting, will operate at the discretion of the organization's leadership facilitating the meeting, in order to allow for flexibility to reconcile differences in standard meeting operating procedures between the two organizations.

Section 3: Board and Executive Board Meetings

1. The Classified Senate President may call for a Board or Executive Board meeting at their Ideally, these meetings will be planned with enough regularity and advanced notice to ensure that the majority of Senate Officers can attend.
2. It is expected that Classified Senate Officers will communicate with one-another regularly, to prepare the agenda and to work-on or review other projects as needed.
3. The Classified Senate President may call an Emergency Senate Board or Executive Board meeting as needed. These unplanned meetings shall be reserved for time-sensitive action items.

ARTICLE 7: AMENDMENTS 

Section 1: Constitutional Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution shall be approved only at a General or Special Meeting open to all members of the Classified Senate and must be ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Classified membership present. The Executive Board reserves the right to reformat or correct spelling or technical errors, so long as such changes do not change the meaning and intent of the Constitution.

Section 2: Amendments to the Bylaws

Amendments to the Bylaws shall be approved only at a General or Special Meeting open to all members of the Classified Senate and must be ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Classified membership present. The Executive Board reserves the right to reformat or correct spelling or technical errors, so long as such changes do not change the meaning and intent of the Bylaws.

Section 3: Notice Requirements

Any proposed changes to the Constitution or Bylaws shall be issued to the Executive Board no less than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the next General or Special meeting, and in accordance with Article 7 subsection D. The Executive Board will notify the membership by attaching the proposed language and sending out the agenda with this item included no later than seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the meeting where action is to be taken.

 

Revised by the Classified Senate, September 28, 2017

Ratified by the Classified Constituency, April 6, 2021