Ratified –February 28, 2008

ARTICLE I

NAME

Section I.                 The official name of this organization shall be the Classified Senate of Chaffey Community College District.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE AND MISSION

Section I.        The Chaffey Community College District Classified Senate is a permanent organization originally sanctioned by the Governing Board in 1982 with the established purpose of  providing a body of representation for the district’s classified staff in the shared  governance process. In affirmation of Chaffey Community College's commitment to shared governance as a fundamental policy of the college “to ensure faculty, staff, and students the right to participate effectively in district and college governance, and the opportunity to express their opinions, and to ensure that these opinions are given every reasonable consideration” (AB 1725); and In recognition of the expertise, commitment, and essential role of the classified staff in the effective functioning of the college; The Classified Senate is charged with the responsibility to work as an independent body within the college that provides an organized voice for interpreting and expressing the viewpoint of the classified staff in the analysis of policies, procedures and practices as they relate to non-bargaining issues. Objectives of the Classified Senate shall be as follows:

A.         To promote and facilitate the exchange of ideas and understanding among   

classified staff, faculty, administrators and students.

B.         To stimulate awareness of and commitment to the philosophy, mission, and goals

of Chaffey College;

C.         To involve classified staff in campus committees which review nonrestrictive

policies, procedures, practices, need assessments, and development of new ideas;

D.         To voice the classified needs, concerns, viewpoints and recommendations on

college issues to the superintendent/president and governing board;

E.          To promote the recognition of classified staff as a valued part of the college

workforce.

Section II.              The mission of the Senate to work in cooperation with faculty and administrators to provide students with the support needed to achieve an excellent educational experience by promoting excellence in all aspects of support services provided to the college community. Specifically, the Classified Senate has the responsibility to:

A.         Provide the classified staff a voice and participation in the initiation, development, and evaluation of District policy and procedures.

B.         Provide the Administration and Governing Board with a means of ascertaining the convictions and suggestions of the classified staff on academic and professional matters.

C.         Appoint classified staff to participate in college-wide standing and ad hoc committees.

D.         Accept leadership responsibility for policy recommendations in innovation and professional growth, excluding all areas that would require collective bargaining.

E.          Provide consensus participation by the classified staff in the college budget and   policy processes.

F.          Encourage the exchange of ideas, understanding, and cooperation between classified staff, faculty, administrators and students in the interest of enriching the educational environment.

G.         Promote the recognition of classified staff as a valued part of the college workforce.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICERS

Section I.                 For the purpose of this constitution, the term “Classified Staff” shall mean employees designated by the district to be contract classified employees whose duties do not require an administrative or instructional credential.

Section II.              All classified staff, as herein defined, shall be eligible for membership in the Classified Senate.

Section III.           The Classified Senate shall consist of four executive officers and ten at-large representatives; additional membership may include one representative from the contract part-time staff, one representative from the Chino Campus, one representative from the combined Fontana and other off-site centers, one representative from the confidential classified staff, and one representative from the supervisory classified staff, all with voting privileges.

Section IV.           Appointment to office must follow the procedures set forth in the by-laws of this constitution and current policies and procedures of the Classified Senate.

Section V.              Non-voting membership shall consist of the immediate past president, the current CSEA president as liaison to the collective bargaining unit, one courtesy executive management designee appointed by the district as liaison to administration, one professional development committee member as liaison and up to three ex-officio members serving in an advisory and support capacity only, due to limited ability to carry out full senatorial responsibilities.

ARTICLE IV

AMENDMENTS

Section I.                 Amendments to this constitution shall be approved only at a regular meeting of the Classified Senate and by a two-third’s vote of the members present.

Section II.              Amendments to the by-laws may be enacted, rescinded, or amended only at a regular meeting of the Classified Senate and by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

ARTICLE V

ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

Section I.                 Elections shall be held in accordance with the specific provisions of the by-laws of this constitution.

Section II.              Appointed positions shall be filled in accordance with the specific provisions of the by-laws of this constitution.

Chaffey Community College

Classified Senate

By-Laws

Ratified –February 28, 2008

ARTICLE I

By-Laws

Section I.                 These bylaws shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote cast by the Classified Senate. These bylaws shall provide for membership eligibility, regular meetings, methods of nominating and electing officers, the filling of vacancies and such other procedures as shall be needed to carry on the business of the Classified Senate.

ARTICLE II

Organization

Section I.                 Members elected to the Classified Senate shall serve two-year terms of office, or until successors are elected, so established that one-half of said terms shall terminate each academic year.  A voting member of the Classified Senate absent from three consecutive regular meetings in any academic year, without an acceptable explanation and timely notification, including but not limited to: vacation, illness, or emergencies beyond your control, may be considered for removal from office by the senate.

Section II.              The Classified Senate shall consist of four executive officers and ten at-large representatives; additional membership may include one representative from the regular part-time staff, one representative from the Chino Campus, one representative from the combined Fontana and other off-site centers, one representative from the confidential classified staff, and one representative from the supervisory classified staff, all with voting privileges.

Section III.           Non-voting membership shall consist of the immediate past president, the current CSEA president, one executive management designee, one professional development committee member and up to three ex-officio senate members, appointed with liaison and advisory capacities as specified in Article III, Section V of the Constitution.

Section IV.           Officers of the Classified Senate shall be President, Vice President, Recording Officer, and Treasurer.

Section V.              The Executive Board shall consist of the officers, who shall serve in their elected capacities, and the immediate past president.

ARTICLE III

Duties of Officers

Section I.                 The President shall:

A.         Serve personally or by designee as official representative of, and advocate for, the membership in all functions of the college, as outlined in Article II, Section II, of the constitution;

B.         Give direction in any development of the Classified Senate on its purposes;

C.         Be accountable for Classified Senate administration, and responsible for reports and recommendations;

D.         Have general authority to administer and/or maintain the affairs of the Classified Senate between meetings;

E.          Serve as coordinator of committee chairs and as an ex-officio member of all committees, have charge of referral processes, and be responsible for information on current status of work assigned to committees;

F.          Determine the agenda for all meetings of the Classified Senate and the general membership as directed in Article VI of the constitution, and to preside at all such meetings; and,

G.         Serve as liaison with other college senates.

Section II.            The Vice President shall:

A.         Assume the duties of the President during the President’s absence, at the request of the President, or for the unexpired term in the event that the President is unable to complete a term of office;

B.         Coordinate the appointment of all members of standing and ad hoc committees;

C.         Chair the Nominating Committee and serve as Chief Election Officer for all elections conducted by the Classified Senate, except of Classified Senate officers; and,

D.         Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary, as delegated by the Senate President, or as assigned by the Classified Senate, within the limits of these bylaws.

Section III.           The Recording Officer shall:

A.         Assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President and Vice President;

B.         Be official historian of the Classified Senate of Chaffey Community College District;

C.         Serve as research and resource person;

D.         Assume the responsibility of recording all minutes of the Classified Senate and general membership assemblies and distribute copies of same appropriately;

E.          Organize correspondence; disseminate notifications and reminders of appointments, meeting times, and assemblies; be responsible for a register, or roll, of senate attendance at regular and special meetings; and,

F.          Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary, as delegated by the Senate President, or as assigned by the Classified Senate, within the limits of these bylaws.

Section IV.           The Treasurer shall:

A.         Assume duties of the President in the absence of the President, Vice President, and Recording Officer;

B.         Be responsible for maintaining all financial record reports of the Classified Senate of the Chaffey College Community District;

C.         Advise of financial status and make recommendations to the Executive Board and other members of the Classified Senate; and,

D.         Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary, within the limits of these bylaws.

Section V.       The Senators shall:

A.         Represent the classified staff at all meetings;

B.         Meet with their constituents as necessary to gain feedback; and,

C.         Report back to constituents on what transpired at the previous meeting of the Classified Senate.

D.         Actively participate in the planning and/or execution of senate sponsored activities.

ARTICLE IV

Terms of Office

Section I.        Terms of Office

A.         All elected members of the Senate shall serve two-year terms, unless otherwise stated.

B.         No officer shall hold more than one office concurrently.

C.         Elected officers shall take office on July 1 of each calendar year.

D.         Appointed Senate members shall serve from the time they are appointed and conclude until the end of term for appointed position.

Section II.       Vacancies

A.    Vacancies shall be filled by any classified personnel, as stipulate din Article III, Section I of the constitution.

B.     A vacancy in an unexpired term on the Classified Senate or the Executive Board will be filled by appointment of the President, with the approval of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V

Meetings and Attendance

Section I.                 Regular meetings of the Classified Senate shall be held twice each month, or once a week, as may be deemed necessary.

Section II.              The time and place of the meeting shall be arranged by the Classified Senate.

Section III.           The Executive Board may elect as needed to meet thirty minutes prior to the regular meeting of the Classified Senate.

Section IV.           Special meetings of the Classified Senate may be called by the President or any three members of the Senate.

Section V.              Rules for attendance shall be:

A.         Any member that is unable to attend a meeting is to contact the Recording Officer or the Administrative Assistant, prior to the meeting.

B.         At the first meeting, following elections, all new members will be given an orientation to the Classified Senate’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Section VI.      During the first quarter of the new fiscal year (July- September) an installation ceremony will be conducted by the Superintendent/President of the College.

ARTICLE VI

Dismissal and Resignation

Section I.        Dismissal of a senator (including an executive board member) may be considered with a majority consensus of the complete senate, save the senator in question, due to excessive absenteeism (as defined in Article II, Section I) from meetings without notification or general ineffectiveness in duties assigned.  In the event such a senator is identified it will be the duty of the executive board to address the issue(s) with the individual directly and in writing, with a detailed outline of expectations to be met by a specified deadline.  At the next regular meeting following the deadline, the senate will reassess the standing of the senator and proceed accordingly, with a revised declaration of good standing or a majority vote for dismissal.

Section II.       Any member of the senate may resign by written notice to the executive board.

Section III.     Procedures for filling the vacancy are outlined in Article III, Section VII.

ARTICLE VII

Committees

Section I.        A committee may be either a “standing committee,” appointed for a specific time, such as one session or for a period of one year, or it may be an “ad hoc” committee appointed for a particular end or specific purpose.

Section II.       It shall be the duty of each committee to receive and analyze referred matters, to prepare resolutions or amendments, and to make reports and recommendations through appropriate channels to the Classified Senate.

Section III.     It shall be the responsibility of all classified staff to provide the Classified Senate with an oral or written report/update on campus-wide committee activities upon request.

ARTICLE VIII

Elections

Section I.                 The Nomination & Election Committee shall present a slate of candidates for Senate upon the consent of the candidates. Any member may make nominations (including self-nomination) through his or her Senator.

Section II.              Elections by secret ballot by all regular classified staff members, as defined in Article IV, Section I of the constitution, shall be held in the final quarter of each year. The Nomination & Election Committee shall tally the ballots cast and announce the results. 

Section III.           In the event of a tie for any executive board or at-large position, a runoff election will be held between the candidates with the two (2) highest numbers of votes.  Any ties for the runoff election will be decided by lot.

Section IV.           There shall be no at large proxy voting.  However, the Senate may elect, with time and technology permitting, to provide electronic voting to accommodate the voting rights of classified staff scheduled at off-site locations.  Such electronic voting will be concluded prior to the election date and so noted on the official sign-in document to prevent any member from voting twice.

Section V.              Officers

A.         Nominations of candidates for officer positions in the Classified Senate shall be open to any full-time, permanent classified employee, including confidential and supervisory staff.

B.         Officers shall be elected to a two-year term of office beginning July 1.

Section VI.           Senators-at-Large

A.         Nominations of candidates for Senators-at-Large in the Classified Senate shall be open to any regular classified staff member.

B.         Each representative shall be elected to a two-year term of office beginning July 1; so established that one half of said terms shall terminate at the end of each academic year.

Section VIII.   Confidential and Classified Management Senators

A.    Nominations for Confidential and Classified Management shall be open to all confidential and supervisory personnel.

B.     Each representative shall be elected to a two-year term of office beginning July 1.

ARTICLE IX

Amendments

Section I.                 Amendments to the by-laws may be enacted, rescinded, or amended only at a regular meeting of the Classified Senate and by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

ARTICLE X

Action without Meeting

Section I.                 The Executive Board may take action(s) that are within its powers and responsibilities as required or needed without a formal meeting.  Action(s) taken without meeting can only be initiated with written majority approval by the senate, including via electronic mail notification and response.  Such approval shall be noted in the minutes of the next regular Classified Senate meeting.

ARTICLE XI

Academic Year

Section I.                 The Classified Senate academic year shall be from July 1 through June 30, and all terms of officers and members shall coincide with the academic year, as stipulated herein.

ARTICLE XII

Quorum

Section I.                 Half of the current voting membership plus one additional member at any meeting of the Classified Senate shall constitute a quorum authorized to transact any business duly presented.

Section II.              A majority on any and all committees shall constitute a quorum.

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