Spring 2006

UNI - UNITED FACULTY

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA

B Y L A W S

Approved by:

Executive Board and Central Committee

February 3, 2006

Bylaws of United Faculty

Article I

RULES OF ORDER

The current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the authority on all ques­tions of procedure not otherwise specifically stated in these Bylaws.

Article II

MEETINGS

1. Executive Board - The Executive Board shall meet on a regular basis at least once each month during the academic year. Additional meetings will be held at the call of the President or at the request of three (3) members of the Executive Board.  The Executive Board may meet simultaneously with the Central Committee.

2. Central Committee - The Central Committee shall meet on a regular basis at least once each month during the academic year. Additional meetings may be held at the request of the President or ten (10) per cent of the Committee.

3. Quorum - Fifty-one (51) per cent of the total membership of the Ex­ecutive Board or Central Committee, shall constitute a quorum for all meetings of these bodies.

Article III DUES

The annual dues ofUnited Faculty will be determined annually by the Central Committee after the adoption of the budget for the upcoming year.

Article IV

FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year shall begin on the first day of September and end on the thirty-first day of August.

Article V

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS-      AT-LARGE TO THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

1. Nominations

A. During the month of February of each year, any active member of United Faculty may nominate a candidate or declare his/her own can­didacy for any office or member-at-large position scheduled for election.

B. Names of persons nominated shall be submitted to the Committee for Elections who shall report such nominations to the Membership prior to the March meeting of the Central Committee.

C. Every effort will be made to encourage minority participation in the governance and committee structure of the Association.

D. Central Committee members or other members present at the March meeting of the Central Committee may make further nominations for any open position from the floor.

E.  After the March Central Committee meeting has concluded, the nomination process is closed, and the Committee for Elections shall make the preparations for balloting described below.

2. Balloting

A. On or beforethe first school day in April, all active United Facultymembers in good stand­ing are eligible to vote for candidates.

B. Voting shall be by secret ballot in accordance with proce­dures developed by the Committee for Elections and approved by the Central Committee.

C. Officers or members-at-large may be elected by a write-in vote.

D. A plurality shall be required for election.

E.  The Committee for Elections shall report the results of the elec­tion to the President, who shall report the results to the Membership.

Article VI

FACULTY REPRESENTATIVES

1. Elections

A. Representatives to the Central Committee shall be elected on a basis of one (1) per fifteen (15) of United Faculty's members, or major fraction thereof, in each designated unit.

B. No unit shall have fewer than one (1) representative.

C. Each designated unit shall, if possible, also elect one alternate for each faculty representative from the designated unit.

D. In April, the Committee for Elections shall secure nominations and conduct the election of the faculty representatives and alternates. The election must be completed by the end of the last week of April. Only mem­bers in each designated unit may vote for the representative(s) and alternate(s) for that unit. Voting shall also provide for write in candidates. 

2. Attendance at Central Committee Meetings

A. Faculty Representatives shall attend the regular meetings of the Central Committee unless they receive prior excuse from the President.

B. After two unexcused absences of a Representative, the Central Committee may declare the seat vacant and fill the seat by an alternate if there is one, or through an election by the active members in the designated area or through an election within the Central Committee.  In any case, the representative must come from the designated area where the vacancy exists.

C. The Committee for Elections shall conduct special elections within the membership at large or the membership within any designated unit.

Article VII TERMS OF OFFICE

1. Officers and Faculty Representatives serve for a term of one year to coincide with the fiscal year of United Faculty.

Article VIII

DUTIES OF ELECTED LEADERS

1. President

A. The President shall preside over meetings of the Executive Board, the Central Committee, and the Membership; ap­point special committees; appoint all standing committees upon approval of the Executive Board; serve as an ex-officio member of all standing committees; and shall be the executive officer of United Faculty.

B. The President shall represent United Faculty before the public, either in person or through delegates, and shall perform all other functions usually attributed to this office.

2. Vice-President - The Vice-President of United Faculty shall perform those duties usually attributed to this office. The Vice-President shall work closely with one or more standing committees as the President may direct.The Vice-President shall chair the Grievance committee and be responsible for carrying out the United Faculty policies and procedures on grievances.  

3. Secretary - The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board, the Central Committee, and General Membership. In addition, the Secretary shall maintain official files, assist the President with correspondence, and distribute the agenda for each meeting in advance of the meeting. The Secretary shall send copies of appropriate material to the University Archives and shall maintain in the United Faculty office a record of materials so deposited.

4. Treasurer

A. The Treasurer shall hold the funds of United Faculty and disburse them upon authorization by the Executive Board.

B. The Treasurershall bill the members for their annual dues, supervise the collection of dues, and transmit amounts due to the organizations with which United Faculty is affiliated.

C. The Treasurershall keep accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements and shall submit financial report to each meeting of the Central Committee.

D. The Treasurer shall present the financial records of United Faculty for an annual audit to the Audit Committee at least one month before it is due at the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board. The Treasurer shall serve as a member of the Audit Committee.

  E. The Treasurer shall assist the Budget Committee in the initial drafting of an annual pro forma budget for the upcoming year. Said pro forma budget shall be presented to the Central Committee for its consideration on or before the last meeting of the Central Committee during the academic year.  The pro forma budget shall also contain a recommendation for the dues structure for the upcoming year.

F. The Treasurershall maintain an accurate roll of members.

5. Faculty Representatives

A. The Faculty Representative shall call meetings of his/her constituency to discuss United Faculty business.

B. The Faculty Representativesshall discover the wishes of the members that he/she repre­sents and interpret them to the governing bodies of United Faculty.

Article IX

DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board shall be responsible for the management of United Faculty, recommend approval of all expenditures to the Central Committee, carry out the policies of the United Faculty as established by the Central Committee, and suggest policies for consideration by the Central Committee.

Article X

DUTIES OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

The Central Committee shall approve the budget, set the dues for United Faculty, act on reports of committees, approve resolutions and other policy statements and shall adopt the procedures for implementing the Constitution and Bylaws and those to be followed in censuring, suspending, and expelling members for cause and for reinstating members. It may adopt such rules governing the employment of staff, the conduct of United Faculty, and the conduct of meetings as are consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws. It shall be the final judge of the qualifications and election of officers and faculty representatives. The Central Committee shall have power to act for the Membership in all matters except the final ratification of a collective bargaining contract or the amendment of the Constitution or this article of the Bylaws.

Article XI

STANDING COMMITTEES

1. Structure -There shall be eight (8) standing committees in this Association. They are:

A. Communications

B. Governmental Affairs

C. Membership

D. Negotiations

E. Academic Freedom and Professional Rights

F. Grievances

G. Election

H. Budget

I.  Audit

2. Membership - These committees shall have sufficient membership to carry out their assigned tasks. Care shall be exercised to see that each committee has representation from the various groups which comprise United Faculty Membership.  The President shall present his or her selections of members for all committees to the Central Committee, for its approval, on or before the October meeting of the Central Committee.  The President may make additional appointments, subject to approval of the Central Committee, to committees as needed during the year.

3. Meetings - Each committee shall meet regularly to insure completion of the tasks assigned to it by the Central Committee. Committee meetings shall be open to all members of United Faculty.  Committees, except the Election Committee, shall elect a chair from among its members at its first meeting.  The Secretary shall serve as chair of the Election Committee.  The chair of each committee is a member of the Central Committee until replaced by another duly elected chair.

4.  Committee Charge and Procedures:  The Central Committee shall provide a written charge to each committee, which may include procedures.

5. Reports - The chair of each standing committee shall make report of the committee's activities to the Central Committee as requested.

6.  No candidate may serve on the Election Committee.  No officer, with the exception of the Treasurer who will serve as a member, may serve on the Audit Committee.

Article XII

SPECIAL COMMITTEES

The President shall appoint committees as needed for expeditious handling of United Faculty business, and shall discharge them upon completion of their duties.

Article XIII

ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO STATE AND NATIONAL BODIES

1. The Central Committee shall select the allocated delegates and alternates to the various delegate assemblies of the state and national associations to which the United Faculty is affiliated.

2. The election as President of United Faculty shall be considered election as one of those allocated delegates.

3. All active members of United Faculty shall be eligible for election and shall have the right to vote in the election by secret ballot for any allocated delegate seat.

4. Any vacancies which occur after the election shall be filled by the Central Committee.

Article XIV

GENERAL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

1. Conflict of Interest - There shall be no business or financial conflict of interest by any of the officers or agents of United Faculty or members of their immediate family.

2. Preferential Loans - United Faculty shall make no preferential loans of United Faculty money to officers or agents of United Faculty. Any officer of United Faculty member who is more than 90 days in arrears of paying his/her dues cannot continue to serve in his/her office.

3. Open Records - All financial records shall be open for inspections by any member in good standing of United Faculty upon written request and reasonable notice.

4. Bonding of Agents of United Faculty - All officers and agents of United Faculty shall be bonded according to regulations developed by the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board.

5. Political Contributions - United Faculty shall not make any monetary contributions from dues to any political party or individual candidate.

Article XV

AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote at any regular meeting of the Central Committee provided that proposed amendments have been previously studied by the Executive Board and that copies have been sent to Committee members at least one (1) Week in advance of the meeting.