UNIVERSITY STAFF COUNCIL
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Section 1
Section 2
Name
The name of this organization shall be the University Staff Council.
The University Staff Council serves on behalf of all University Staff, limited term, and project
appointment employees of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (hereafter referred to as
University Staff).
ARTICLE II
Purpose
The University Staff Council (hereafter referred to as the Council) promotes active participation in
university decision-making, informed communication and a positive professional environment for all
University Staff. The Council supports equality, respect, and a spirit of collegiality among all
members of the university community, including faculty, staff and students.
ARTICLE III
Section 1
Membership
There shall be 13 members of the Council, including at least one limited term employee and/or one
project appointment employee. Members will be elected according to the fiscal year calendar by the
University Staff at large prior to the April general meeting. Any University Staff as defined in Article I,
Section 2, shall be eligible to serve on the Council.
Terms of Office: Members shall be elected for a two-year term. Members may be reelected for a
maximum of three consecutive terms. Newly elected individuals shall be seated as members at the
first meeting of the Council following the election (usually held in May of each year).
Officers: There will be one Chair, one Chair-elect, one Past Chair, one secretary, and one treasurer.
Officers will be elected by the Council at the last meeting held in the academic year, with the
exception of the Chair-elect who will assume the Chair position. The officers of the previous council
shall serve until such time as new officers have been elected. Officers serve one-year terms and may
be reelected for a maximum of three years.
Officer Duties: Chair: Calls and presides over the Council meetings; coordinates activities; represents
the Council on Chancellor’s Cabinet. Chair-elect: Serves as acting chair (and preforms those duties)
when the chair is absent or unable to perform their duties; prepares and distributes meetings
agendas; makes University Staff committee appointments to standing and ad-hoc committees;
assumes chair after completing one-year service as chair-elect. If the Chair-elect cannot serve as the
next year Chair, a new Chair will be elected from the remaining Council members. Treasurer:
Manages, reconciles, and reports on the budget to the Council as necessary; oversees all payments
for bills and obligations; attends monthly Council meetings. Secretary: Takes minutes at Council
meetings and publishes them in Campus Announcements; attends monthly Council meetings. Past
Chair: Serves in an advisory role for the committee for a one-year term.
Attendance: A position on the Council will be considered vacant if a member misses three
consecutive meetings or five meetings during the course of a year.
Vacancies: Should a vacancy occur among the members of the Council, the Chair will ask the
recipient of the next highest votes in the most recent election to fill the remainder of the term. If no
one from the most recent election is willing to serve, the Chair will appoint a University Staff member
to fill the remainder of the vacant term.
Nominations and Elections: The assigned Council member will send out a call for nominations to all
University Staff by March 1. Nominations for openings on the Council will be received until March 15.
*A slate of nominees will be sent to all University Staff by April 1. All University Staff may vote by
April 8. New Council members will be announced at the April general meeting. (Dates are
approximations depending upon how the calendar lays out for the year.)
*If there are fewer members nominated than open Council seats, the nominees will be the new
Council members; no actual election is necessary.
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
ARTICLE IV
Section 1
Meetings
The Council will meet monthly (except in June & July) at a time and place mutually agreeable to the
members. Council meetings are open. The Council meeting schedule will be posted to the University
Staff Council website in August of each year. A quorum of the Council consists of seven members.
All Council members have voting privileges. Meetings may be held during paid work hours.
University Staff are urged to discuss flex time with their supervisors, if necessary, to attend the
meetings.
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Section 2
A general meeting for all University Staff will be held annually in April. Date and time will be
published at least one week in advance. A quorum of the general meeting consists of those present.
General meetings will be held during paid work hours. University Staff are urged to discuss flex time
with their supervisors, if necessary, to attend the meetings.
ARTICLE V
Subcommittees
Subcommittees may be established by the Council. They will consist of one member of the Council
and up to five other University Staff appointed by that Council member. They will select a chair from
among themselves. If necessary, appointments are for one-year and are open for reappointment for
a maximum of three years. Subcommittee meetings may be held during paid work hours as stated in
article IV, section 2.
ARTICLE VI
Amendments
Any University Staff member may propose an amendment to the bylaws. Amendments to the bylaws
will be presented in writing and electronically. The proposed amendment will be distributed by the
Council by UWSP email. Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote completed through an
electronic survey of all University Staff.
ADOPTED 04-29-1993
REVISED
3-1996
REVISED
3-2007
REVISED
8-2009
REVISED
02-2013
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