Name, Purpose, Organization

A. The Staff Advisory Council is a body elected by Macalester staff employees holding regular full-time and part-time appointments. However, membership excludes the President’s office, those who report directly to the President, and all collective bargaining unit employees. The Council determines eligibility in doubtful cases.

B. The Council meets regularly to recommend and review policies affecting College staff employees. It solicits concerns and opinions regarding such policies, presents staff viewpoints to the College administration when and where appropriate, and keeps staff informed of its proceedings.

C. The Council appoints staff representatives to standing College committees and to new committees as requested by the President or his/her representative. The Council will attempt to appoint a representative to the Benefits Advisory Committee who is currently enrolled in the College’s health care plan.

D. The Council may form subcommittees as needed.

E. The Council elects two of its members to serve for the year as chair and chair elect, representing the Council where appropriate. Thereafter, a chair-elect will be elected.

Article II

Meetings

A. The Council will hold at least one regular meeting per month during the academic year. The President of the College may call meetings at his/her discretion. Meetings during the summer months are held when considered necessary.

B. At least once each semester, the Council as a whole will meet with the President of the College.

C. Six (6) members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.

D. The Council will appoint one of its members to attend the President’s Council.

Article III

Nominations, Elections, Vacancies

A. Representation on the Council consists of nine (9) members, elected by the following two classification groups in the numbers indicated:

1. Exempt (5 representatives)

2. Non-exempt (4 representatives)

In the event that a SAC representative changes classification during his/her three year term, the representation will be adjusted at the next spring election.

B. The Council will elect three new members each year. Members are elected for three-year terms.

C. Elections are held in the late spring of each year prior to Commencement. Newly elected members assume their terms on June 1 following the election.

D. Nominations for election to the Council are solicited each year through announcements in campus publications. All those nominated will be contacted. Those willing to serve, if elected, will appear on the ballot. Ballots are then sent to all employees eligible to vote (as defined in Article I). The open positions for each classification are filled by the candidates receiving the highest number of votes (for example, if there are two exempt vacancies, the top two vote-getters are elected). In cases of tie, run-off election is to be held within 5 working days.

E. All elections are administered by an Elections Subcommittee, to be comprised of at least two Council members who are not running for election. Balloting totals are filed with the Council chair until the next election.

F. A vacancy for the unexpired term of a member is filled at the discretion of the Council, either through nominations by a Council member and approval by the Council, or through a special election following the rules in Article III, D.

Article IV

Amendment

A. This constitution may be amended with the approval of seven of the nine Council members, subject to the concurrence of the President of the College.