By-Laws

Article 1: Dues
Section 1
  
Annual dues shall be due and payable by September 30 of each year.
Section 2
  
Building Representatives shall be responsible for the collection of membership dues and the forwarding of same to the Membership Director.
Article 2: Officers
Section 1
  
The President shall preside over all meetings, direct and administer the business and affairs of the Association consistent with its bylaws and subject to the approval of the membership. The President may appoint committees and chairpersons of said committees for UHSA functions. In case of a tie, the President shall cast the deciding vote at a meeting. The President may appoint, as needed, an Auditing Committee consisting of two members who are not members of the Executive Board.
Section 2
  
The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his absence and perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.
Section 3
  
The Recording Secretary shall keep a record and report of all meetings of the Executive Board, and all general board meetings.
Section 4
  
The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for all communications, distribution of notices and minutes of meetings and the preservation of all official documents, papers and letters. The Corresponding Secretary shall mail to all non-voting members any pertinent information.
Section 5
  
The Treasurer shall receive all revenues of the UHSA and give proper receipt for the same. All funds shall be deposited in a FDIC insured commercial bank under the name of the University of Hartford Staff Association. The Treasurer shall pay all due invoices after approval by the President. The Treasurer shall keep a detailed account of all monies received, disburses and keeps all vouchers of all expenditures, and shall render a current report at each meeting of the Staff Association.
Section 6
  
The Membership Director shall coordinate in conjunction with Building Representatives, the recruitment of new members and membership renewals for the UHSA. The Membership Director shall work with Building Representatives to ensure that membership information shall be available to all eligible staff members. The Membership Director shall collect annual dues and forward to the Treasurer for deposit.
Article 3: Building Representatives
Section 1
  
The Building Representatives shall be those members elected according to the bylaws by the body they represent. They shall be representatives of their respective constituents and shall carry all concerns of those persons to the Staff Association. Building Representatives are responsible for informing their respective bodies, in a timely manner, of information presented at the Staff Association meetings.
Section 2
  

At any meeting of the Staff Association a majority shall constitute quorum.
Section 3
  

Each of the following areas shall have at least one Building Representative.
 

Alumni House
Auerbach Hall
Bates House
Computer Center
Dana Hall
East Hall
Gengras Student Union
Hartford College for Women
The Hartt School
Hartford Art School

Hillyer Hall
Mortensen Library
Operations & Maintenance
Residential Life
South Cottage
Sports Center
United Technologies Hall
University Affairs
University Commons


Section 4
  
All members of the Staff Association have an equal voice and vote in the proceedings.
Article 4: Nominations and Elections
Section 1
  
The Nominating Committee (NC) shall be the Volunteer Committee that uses the procedures for the nomination and elections of Officers and Building Representatives as outlined in this Article.
Section 2
  
The NC shall consist of five (5) members, one of whom shall be appointed as Chairperson by the President. This Committee is nominated from the floor every two years at the October Meeting of the Staff Association. No Executive Officer is eligible to serve on the Nominating Committee.
Section 3
  
The NC shall proceed with the nominations of Officers and Representatives as
follows:
   
(a)
The NC shall require the Membership Director to submit the names of those members under each Building Representative's jurisdiction within fifteen (15) days of the NC's elections. These names will be verified as members in good standing.
(b)
The NC shall send to all current Building Representatives a nominating form for the Executive Board.
(c)
The above mentioned nomination shall be distributed to all members by their Building Representative, with a membership list.
(d)
Each completed nominating form shall be returned to the Building Representative in a sealed envelope.
(e)
These sealed envelopes must be returned to the Chairperson of the NC by the Representatives on or before December 15.
(f)
The NC shall meet for the purpose of counting the nomination forms.
(g)
Nomination forms having been counted and verified, the C shall compile a ballot with the names of the top three nominees and ties for each executive office.
(h)
At the same time, the NC shall compile ballots for Building Representatives following the same procedure as that for executive office.
(i)
The NC shall, upon completion of the ballot compilation, notify those nominees of their nomination for their acceptance or rejection. Every member nominated shall have the right to accept or reject his nomination.
(j)
Upon complete of notification all members accepting their nomination shall have their names placed on an election ballot.
(k)
Should any executive office not receive any nominees, or accepting nominees, the NC shall have the responsibility of nominating a member for that position from the current membership list. If no one accepts, the position will remain vacant.
(l)
Should a building not receive any nominees or accepting nominees for Building Representatives, the Nominating Committee shall have the responsibility of nominating someone from the membership list in good standing for that position. If no one accepts, the position will remain vacant.
(m)
The NC shall have the election ballots compiled no later than February 1.
Section 4
  
The NC having compiled ballots, shall proceed with elections as follows:
   
(a)
The NC will distribute to each Building Representative(s) no later than February 15, a set of ballots corresponding to the total membership in the area of his representation for the purpose of electing Officers and Building Representatives.
(b)
Each compiled nomination form shall be returned to the Building Representative in a seal envelope.
(c)
These sealed envelopes must be returned to the Chairperson of the NC by the Building Representative(s) no later than March 1.
(d)
The NC shall meet for the purpose of counting the ballots by March 15
(e)
Upon immediate completion of the ballot count, a "Statement of Election: listing all offices and all names and their respective counts shall be compiled and signed by all members of the NC.
(f)
The Chairperson of the NC shall notify those members elected of their election.
(g)
New Officers and Building Representatives shall be installed in their respective offices at the April meeting.
Section 5
  
Vacancies of Officers and Bulding Representatives shall be filled as in accordance with the following:
   
(a)
Should the Office of President be vacated prior to the end of the term of office, the Vice President shall assume that Office for the remainder of the term.
(b)
Should any other Executive Office be vacated, the Staff Association shall meet and select a replacement from amount the membership for the remainder of the term. This shall be accomplish3ed within thirty (30) days of said vacancy.
(c)
No person shall occupy two Executive Offices concurrently.
Article 5: Recall of Officer(s) And Representatives(s)
Section 1
  
Procedures for the recall of Officer(as) and Representative(s) are as follows:
   
(a)
The recall of an Officer(s) shall be initiated by member(s) filing charges with the Executive Board. These charges shall be in writing and shall be only those in direct violation of chargeable offenses as outline in Section 2 of this Article.
(b)
The Officer(s) shall be notified and give a correct copy of the written charges and my file a written defense with the Executive Board.
(c)
A meeting of the Executive Board shall be held within thirty (30) days for the purpose of airing the written charges and a written defense. Should the charges be against the President, the Vice President shall conduct the meeting.
(d)
Should the Executive Board deem it necessary, a committee shall be appointed by the President to investigate the said charges. Should the charges be against the President, the Vice President shall appoint the committee.
(e)
After the airing and/or investigation, the Staff Association shall ballot on the charges, at the regular monthly meeting, excepting the accused Officer(s) and accuser(s). Three-fourths (3/4) of the current UHSA membership eligible to vote is necessary to suspend the accused Officer(s)
(f)
The suspended Officer(s) shall have the right to appeal within ten (10) days of the decision before the Executive Board and to have his accuser(s) present.
(g)
Having heard the appeal of the suspended Officer(s), the Staff Association shall ballot as in the Subsection (e) of this Article. The decision shall be considered final.
(h)
Should the suspended Officer(s) not appeal within ten (10) days of his suspension, his office shall be vacated and filled in accordance with Article 4, Section 5 (a) and (b) of the bylaws.
(i)
If acquitted, the Officer(s) shall be fully reinstated. If found guilty of the charges, the Officer shall be recalled from Offi e. That individual(s) shall be permanently excluded from holding any elected position or appointment within the UHSA.
(j)
A Representative(s) shall be recalled only by written petition, consisting of written charges and signed by no less than two-thirds (2/3) of the membership in his jurisdiction. The petition must be filed with the Executive Board.
(k)
The recalled Representative(s) shall have the right of appeal before the UHSA at its next regular meeting.
(l)
The Executive Board shall summon the recalled Representative(s) and a delegate(s) from their petitioner(s) to attend this meeting to hear the appeal.
(m)
The UHSA will hear the appeal at its next monthly meeting.
(n)
Should the recalled Representative(s) not appeal within ten (10) days, his or her office should be vacated.
(o)
Having heard the appeal of the recalled Representative(s), the UHSA shall ballot to deny or grant the appeal, as outlined in Subsection (e).
(p)
Should the appeal be denied, the position shall be vacated and open to appointment in accordance with Article 4, Section 5(d) of these bylaws.
(q)
Should the UHSA grant the appeal, the recalled Representative(s) shall be fully reinstated.
Section 2
  
Chargeable Offenses.
   
(a)
Violation of any provision of this Constitution and Bylaws.
(b)
Misappropriation, embezzlement, or illegal or improper use of UHSA funds.
(c)
Refusal or deliberate failure to carry out legally authorized decisions of the Executive Board.
(d)
Using the name of the UHSA in an unauthorized manner or for an unauthorized purpose.
(e)
Willful violation of or withholding information regarding any agreements entered into or negotiated with the administration, which shall be detrimental to Article I, section 2, of the UHSA Constitution.
(f)
Acting in collusion with the administration to the detriment of the welfare of the UHSA.
Article 6: Grievances
   
I.
The Staff Association may, on an annual basis each June, appoint or reappoint a Grievance Officer.
II.
The Grievance Officer must be a current member of the Staff Association in good standing.
III.
The Grievance Officer will be available to all current members of the Staff Association and all new members.
IV.
The Grievance Officer is available to speak with members prior to the filing of an official grievance with the University, and upon request, can assist members in the actual grievance process as outlined in the University of Hartford Staff handbook.