BYLAWS OF THE MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
MEA/NEA
2003 Revision



Article I Name 1
Article II Objectives
Article III Membership
Article IV Officers
Article V Nominations and Elections
Article VI Meetings and Quorums
Article VII Board of Directors
Article VIII Committees
Article IX Contract Ratification
Article X Parliamentary Authority
Article XI Amendments
Article I
NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Mott Community College Education Association, MEA-NEA, herein after designated as the MCCEA (a local of the Michigan Education Association and National Education Association).

Article II
OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the MCCEA shall be:

A. To promote better understanding of the goals, methods, and philosophies of higher education, both within the community and without;

B. To strive constantly for improvement of educational standards at all levels, but particularly at the community college level;

C. To improve the professional, economic, and social status of community college personnel and to encourage professional growth at all times;

D. To work actively for the improvement of educational methods, materials, capabilities and physical facilities at MCC;

E. To foster communication and cooperation among similar institutions, in particular, and among educational institutions, in general;

F. To provide an effective channel of communication between the faculty, the administration, and the student body;

G. To provide an effective voice representing the viewpoint of MCC faculty to those outside agencies, entities, and individuals with whom communication is relevant;

H. To cooperate with other organizations as appropriate to fulfill the above objectives.

Article III
MEMBERS

A. Membership and Voting Rights

1. Active Members: All personnel recognized by the Master Contract as members of the bargaining unit shall be eligible for Active Membership and shall become members upon payment of current dues to the MCCEA, the Michigan Education Association, and National Education Association.

2. Honorary Life Members: Members who retire from the College will automatically receive honorary life membership in the MCCEA. Such members will serve in an advisory, non-voting capacity.

3. No member may be censured, suspended or expelled without a due process hearing, which shall include appropriate appellate procedures.

B. Dues

1. Active association membership shall entail payment of local, state and national dues.

2. The annual local dues of the MCCEA shall be up to .38% of W-2 wages earned for work under the Faculty Master Contract. The amount up to this level shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

3. Upon completion of one year’s service, an amount equal to NEA, MEA, and MCCEA dues for the school year during which they served shall be reimbursed to:

(1)Each officer of the MCCEA

(2)The Grievance Chair

(3)The Public Relations Chair

4. If necessary, amount may be pro-rated for partial years served.

Article IV
OFFICERS

A. The officers and their duties are:

1. The President

a. shall call and preside at meetings of the MCCEA and the Board of Directors;

b. shall attend all meetings of the MCC Board of Trustees or designate a representative to attend in his or her stead;

c. shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors, appoint the chairs of all MCCEA committees and make such other appointments as may be necessary and proper under the Bylaws, including the Grievance Chair and Public Relations Chair;

d. shall keep an up-to-date register of eligible voters;

e. shall advise and assist the Grievance Chair in the processing of grievances;

f. shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Elections and Nominations Committee;

g. shall represent the MCCEA on all appropriate occasions;

h. shall prepare and publish agendas prior to meetings of the membership and the Board of Directors;

i. shall serve as a delegate to the MEA Region #10 Council, M.A.H.E., and the MEA and NEA Representative Assembly, or designate another officer to attend in his or her stead;

j. shall perform such other necessary and proper duties as may be determined by the Board of Directors or the membership.

2. The Vice-President

a. shall be the faculty co-chair of the CPSC;

b. shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President;

c. shall serve as first alternate to the MEA and NEA Representative Assemblies;

d. shall perform such other necessary and proper duties as may be requested by the President or Board of Directors.

3. The Secretary

a. shall keep records and minutes of all meetings of the membership and the Board of Directors;

b. shall keep a proper file of all documents and correspondence relative to the MCCEA;

c. shall serve as second alternate to the MEA and NEA Representative Assemblies;

d. shall perform such other necessary and proper duties as may be requested by the President and the Board of Directors.

4. The Treasurer

B. Term of Office

1. Officers shall serve for a two year term beginning on the first day of January of each even numbered year and continuing until their successors assume office.

2. Officers may succeed themselves.

C. Vacancies

1. The President shall appoint temporary replacements for vacancies in any elected office other than President, Vice President, or divisional delegates. These appointments must be confirmed by the Board of Directors and will continue until the next regular election.

2. In the case of a prolonged absence or disability of the President or Vice President, the Executive Committee shall recommend and the Board of Directors shall appoint an acting President or acting Vice President. These acting officers shall serve until the elected President or Vice President returns or their term of office ends, whichever comes first.

3. In the case of a vacancy in the office of President or Vice President, a special election will be held within 60 days of the vacancy. This election will follow the same procedures as a regular election of officers. A President or Vice President elected at a special election will serve until the next regular election or when their successors assume office.

Article V
NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND ELECTIONS

A. Nominating Committee

1. The Nominating Committee shall be a special committee of five active MCCEA members appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors each election year. Election years are odd numbered years.

2. The Nominating Committee will seek to include Third World persons so that the representation of Third World persons is at least proportional to the membership. This includes all Board of Directors candidates, including representatives to the MEA RA and NEA RA.

3. Additional nominations may be made in writing by any member and submitted to the Secretary before the November meeting.

4. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the November meeting. Nominations will be closed at the end of this meeting.

5. No one shall be a candidate for office except by nomination by the Nominating Committee, by nomination signed by one member and presented to the Secretary before the November meeting, by nomination from the floor at the November membership meeting, or being added to the ballot as a write in vote.

6. No one may be nominated or elected without his/her consent.

7. Only active members may hold office.

B. Elections

The President shall appoint an Election Committee of five MCCEA members to serve for a two year term beginning in an even numbered non-election year.

1. This committee shall establish procedures for conducting a secret ballot and shall hold the election of officers and at-large delegates not later than the second Monday in December in each odd numbered (election) year.

a. Ballots shall be placed in the mailboxes of all faculty at least eight calendar days in advance of the election.

b. Each faculty member will be entitled to one vote for each office.

c. The Election Committee shall prepare, distribute, and receive the ballots and shall certify and publicize the results to the President and membership.

d. A certified copy of the tabulated results shall be filed with the Secretary for a permanent record. Ballots shall be preserved for one year.

e. An official report of the election will be filed with the MEA not later than 30 days following the election.

C. Other Elections

1. The Election Committee shall also conduct other elections as required by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors, following the procedures in Article V, Section B1.

2. Divisional Representation

a. Each division shall establish procedures for the nomination and election of divisional delegates and alternates to the Board of Directors.

b. Each division shall take necessary measures to provide opportunity for full participation by part-time faculty.

>Article VI
MEETINGS AND QUORUMS

A. Regular Meetings

1. The MCCEA shall have regular meetings at least twice during the academic year.

2. The President, with the consent of the Board of Directors, shall set the dates of these meetings.

B. Special Meetings

1. Special meetings may be called:

a. by the President,

b. by the Board of Directors,

c. as required by these bylaws, or by petition of five percent of the membership.

C. The membership year and the fiscal year shall be September 1 through August 31.

D. Quorums

1. The quorum for MCCEA membership meetings shall be a number equal to 15 percent of the full-time membership in good standing.

2. The quorum for meetings of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of those elected.

3. The quorum for committee meetings shall be a majority of the members of the committee.

   
Article VII
Board of Directors

A. Composition

1. There shall be a governing body, to be known as the Board of Directors, which shall consist of:

a. those officers named above;

b. one delegate from each division of the College;

c. one delegate to Michigan Association for Higher Education (M.A.H.E.);

d. one delegate to the MEA Region #10 Council;

e. five delegates at large, three of whom shall be full-time instructors, and two of whom shall be part-time instructors;

f. A CPSC representative elected by the whole faculty.

2. The Grievance Chair and Public Relations Chair shall be nonvoting, ex-officio, members of this Board.

3. All members of the Board of Directors shall be members in good standing of the MCCEA.

B. Executive Committee

An Executive Committee consisting of the four elected officers and the Grievance Chair shall comprise the Executive Committee. The Grievance Chair shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member of this Committee.

C. Duties of the Board of Directors

Upon the Board of Directors shall rest the duties and responsibilities of the MCCEA and the authority for the conduct of its business, subject to the right of the membership to review and to alter any decision made by the Board.

1. The Board of Directors

a. shall establish its own operating procedures;

b. shall meet monthly during the academic year;

c. shall hear and act upon committee and officer reports;

d. shall develop local objectives and policies for the MCCEA;

e. shall authorize payments of monies by the Treasurer, arrange for the bonding of the Treasurer, and commission an annual audit of MCCEA financial records;

f. may by majority vote direct the President to call a special meeting of the Board;

g. shall oversee the work of the Bargaining Team and shall have the authority to remove or replace any and all members of the Team;

h. shall approve or reject appointments made by the President or Vice President.

2. Except for the President and Vice President, any Board member who is unable to attend a meeting may designate another MCCEA member as a substitute for that meeting.

D. Duties of Delegates to the Region #10 Council and M.A.H.E.

1. The delegates shall attend the appropriate state and regional meetings, and both delegates shall attend the meetings of the MEA and NEA Representative Assemblies.

2. The delegates shall report significant actions of the Region #10 Council, M.A.H.E., and the MEA and NEA Representative Assemblies to the Board of Directors.

3. The delegates shall perform such other necessary and proper duties as may be requested by the President or the Board of Directors.

E. The Grievance Chair

1. shall be a member in good standing of the MCCEA;

2. shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors;

3. shall be responsible to the Board of Directors and shall report to each regular meeting of the Board where he/she shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member;

4. shall take care to confer with all grievants and to fairly represent their views to the Board of Directors;

5. shall keep the President informed of all grievances and shall seek his/her advice and assistance in the processing thereof;

6. shall serve as a nonvoting, ex-officio member of the Executive Committee, which shall constitute the MCCEA Grievance Committee, for the purposes of processing grievances;

7. shall serve for two years and may succeed him/herself.

F. The Public Relations Chair

1. shall be a member in good standing of the MCCEA;

2. shall be appointed by the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors;

3. shall be responsible to the Board of Directors and shall report to each regular meeting of the Board where he/she shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member;

4. shall edit and publish the faculty newsletter;

5. shall generate content for the MCCEA website;

6. shall schedule and promote non-governance related events sanctioned by the Board of Directors (commemorative parties, celebrations, etc.);

7. shall foster relationships between the MCCEA and the media;

8. shall issue MCCEA press releases;

9. shall promote a positive, pro-faculty viewpoint for the public.

G. Recall and Referendum

1. At Large

a. Any officer or member of the Board of Directors elected at large may be recalled by a majority of those voting in an at large election, such election to be called by the Secretary and held within 15 calendar days after receipt of a proper notice of initiation.

b. Such an election may be initiated by;

(1) a majority vote of the Board of Directors,

or,

(2) a petition signed by 25 percent of the full-time faculty equated membership.

2. The respective divisions may establish provisions for recall of divisional delegates to the Board of Directors.

3. The rights of initiative shall rest with the membership in good standing. Upon receipt of a petition signed by a number equal to 25 percent of the full-time faculty equated membership in good standing, the Secretary shall announce a general meeting or ballot as indicated on the petition within 15 calendar days for the purposes presented in the petition. A majority of the voting membership in good standing shall be required for its adoption, which shall take effect 30 days later.

4. By majority vote, the Board of Directors has the right to propose a referendum of the faculty. A majority of the voting membership in good standing shall be required for its adoption, which shall take effect 30 days later.

Article VIII
COMMITTEES  

A. The College Professional Study Committee

1. The CPSC shall have membership as established in the current Faculty Master Contract.

2. The Vice President will appoint the faculty members of the CPSC, with the approval of the Board of Directors, except that one member will be the CPSC representative elected by the faculty to the Board of Directors.

3. Each of the faculty representatives on this Committee shall be a member in good standing of the MCCEA.

B. The Bargaining Team

1. The Team shall be appointed by the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors.

2. The Team shall include at least one part-time faculty member.

3. The Team shall be responsible to the Board of Directors, and its chair shall report regularly to the Board.

4. The Team shall establish its own operating procedures, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

5. The Team shall select its own chair.

6. The Team and its individual members shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

7. Reimbursement:

The appointed members of the Team shall receive at the end of each calendar year, a reimbursement of MCCEA, MEA and NEA dues paid for that calendar year; payment of the total sum is contingent upon dependable service throughout the bargaining period, as determined by the Board of Directors. The Board may approve additional or alternative remuneration for negotiating services as needed.

C. Political Action Committee

1. The political activities of the Mott Community College Education Association shall be governed by a council herein after referred to as the Mott Community College Education Association – Political Action Committee (MCCEA-PAC).

2. MCCEA-PAC shall promote the cause of public education.

3. Membership

a. MCCEA-PAC shall have up to seven members, all of whom shall be members of the MCCEA. They may succeed themselves.

b. At each regular election held in accordance with Article V of the MCCEA Bylaws, the membership of the MCCEA shall elect the chair of the MCCEA-PAC for a two year term.

c. The Ed-Pac Chair, with the approval of the Board of Directors, will appoint the members of the committee for a two year term.

4. Duties

The MCCEA-PAC shall:

a. encourage participation in and awareness of political action and responsibility by local officers, faculty and staff;

b. aid in identification, selection, and retention of qualified public officials;

c. promote the objectives and interests of the organization through a coordinated political action program;

d. establish rules governing fund-raising and distribution, endorsement of candidates and intra-organizational matters.

5. Funding

a. The MCCEA shall provide a budget for meetings and supply staff assistants for organizational activity and administrative functions.

b. MCCEA-PAC shall administer funds collected for political issues, organizational affiliations, parties and candidates. Such funds shall not be included in the dues or other revenue of the MCCEA. All contributors shall be advised of the political nature of funds collected under voluntary procedures established through written policies of the MCCEA-PAC.

6. Other Standing Committees

a. The President will appoint the members of the following standing committees, with the approval of the Board of Directors:

(1) Sabbatical Review Committee

(2) Elections Committee

(3) Outstanding Staff Member Committee

(4) Nominating Committee

7. Special Committees

a. The President may appoint special committees as needed.

b. The Board or the membership may request that the President appoint other committees by majority vote at any regular or special meeting.

Article IX
CONTRACT RATIFICATION  

A. Members of the MCCEA shall be notified of contract terms at least forty-eight hours in advance of the ratification vote. Only a proposed contract tentatively agreed to by the Bargaining Team may be submitted for ratification vote.

B. The ratification vote will be by secret ballot.

C. Only MCCEA members in good standing are eligible to vote on ratification.

D. A majority of the total vote is required to ratify.

E. The Elections Committee shall conduct the ratification vote.

F. In the event that classes are in session at the time of contract ratification, ballots, together with instructions for their use, shall be placed in the mailboxes of all faculty at least seven calendar days before the conclusion of the ratification vote.

G. Letters of understanding or new contract language proposed subsequent to contract ratification must be recommended for approval by the Bargaining Team and approved by a two- thirds vote of the Board of Directors. If the letter of understanding or new contract language would affect the faculty at large, it must be submitted to the faculty for ratification in accordance with the contract ratification procedures above.

Article X
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY  

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the MCCEA in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and special rules of order the MCCEA may adopt and any statutes applicable to this organization that do not authorize the provisions of these Bylaws to take precedence.

Article XI
AMENDMENTS

A. An amendment to these Bylaws may be introduced by any member of the MCCEA at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, to be acted upon not later than the next regular Board of Directors meeting. A copy of the proposed amendment, together with the recommendations of the Board of Directors shall be sent to each member of the MCCEA, after which it shall be discussed at the next membership meeting.

B. Ballot voting shall take place in division offices or by mail within two weeks thereafter.

C. A two-thirds vote is required to adopt the proposed amendment.

D. Any amendment becomes effective immediately upon adoption unless otherwise provided.