Constitution
ARTICLE I MEMBERSHIP
The URI Chapter of AAUP shall consist of active members who have signed a membership card and pay Chapter and National dues determined in accordance with Article VII.
Members eligible to vote on collective bargaining issues shall be limited to those members paying Chapter dues who are members of the bargaining unit as defined in the recognition clause of the collective bargaining agreement.
ARTICLE II OFFICERS
The officers of the Chapter shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The term shall be for two years and no officer shall serve for more than two successive terms in the same office. The vote will be by secret ballot mailed to all members eligible to vote under Article I. Provision shall be made to ensure the anonymity of the voter. (Two-year term to become effective with the election of the 1999-2000 executive committee.)
The President has the authority to call meetings of the Chapter, shall preside over meetings, and has the responsibility for carrying out the purposes and aims of the organization.
The Vice President has the responsibility for acting in the absence of the President.
The Secretary shall record minutes of meetings of the Chapter and of the Executive Committee and shall have custody of all records except financial records, of the organization.
The financial authority shall be the Treasurer in conjunction with the Executive Committee. The treasurer shall prepare the budget and shall report to the membership on the financial state of the Chapter at a general meeting at least once a year. The Treasurer shall be bonded by a corporate surety company for not less than 10% of the funds he annually handles. All checks shall be signed by the Treasurer, and checks over $500 shall be countersigned by a member of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE III EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers, the immediate past President, and six other members elected from the membership at large. The at-large members shall serve for terms of two years, elected on a staggered basis, and may serve only two successive terms. After serving two successive terms, an individual becomes eligible for election to the Executive Committee after the lapse of at lease one year. Elections shall be by a plurality. Fifteen days written notice in advance of any election shall be sent to members. The vote will be by secret ballot mailed to all members eligible to vote under Article I. Provisions shall be made to ensure the anonymity of the voter. (Two year term to become effective with the election of the 1999-2000 executive committee.)
The Executive Committee has the power and authorization to act for the organization between meetings. The membership at a general meeting can always rescind, repeal, or amend any action of the Executive Committee except when the action is no longer within control of the members or when the action has been specifically assigned as the power of duty to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee also has the duty to administer and carry out the collective bargaining agreement as ratified.
Elected members of the executive committee may serve as delegates to AAUP/Collective Bargaining (CBC) meetings.
The Executive Committee shall report regularly on its activities to the membership.
A faculty member holding elected office in the National AAUP including membership on the National Council or the CBC Executive Committee, shall serve as an ex-officio, voting member of the URI/AAUP Executive Committee so long as s/he hold such office or membership. (To become effective July 1, 1998.)
ARTICLE IV THE ALL-UNIVERSITY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall appoint up to fifteen (15) members to the All-University Collective Bargaining Committee from all the Colleges. The Executive Committee shall also select one member from its ranks.
A new All-University Collective Bargaining Committee shall be chosen for each new contract period. The Executive Committee shall appoint a replacement, should a vacancy occur.
The duties of the Committee shall be to collect information relative to bargaining, to formulate proposals to be presented, and to turn over to the Executive Committee a package of proposed changes in the contract at which point the All-University Collective Bargaining Committee will cease to exist.
A new Negotiating Team shall be chosen for each new contract period. It shall consist of five members, at least one of whom shall be from a previous Negotiating Team and at least one shall be a member of the Executive Committee, and one from the All-University Collective Bargaining Committee. There shall be no more than three members from any one college.
The Negotiating Team shall be appointed by the Executive Committee (including the officers) from nominees solicited from the membership. When vacancies occur, they shall be filled as soon as possible by appointment by the Executive Committee.
The Negotiating team shall have authority to conduct contract negotiations with the Board of Governors (or its successor) and the University Administration. The Team shall be responsible to and shall report to the Executive Committee. Should any questions of policy arise in which no agreement between these two bodies can be worked out, these questions shall be brought before the membership for determination. As soon as a contract is ratified by both parties, the Negotiating Team will cease to exist.
ARTICLE V CONTRACT RATIFICATION
Prior to the ratification of the contract between the bargaining unit and the University, the provisions of the contract shall be explained and discussed in a meeting (or meetings) of the University AAUP Chapter arranged by the Executive Committee and Negotiations Team. Unless the Executive Committee jointly with the Negotiations Team decide otherwise, at least five (5) days shall be allowed members of the unit for study of the proposed contract terms. Copies of the proposed agreement shall be made available to all members of the bargaining unit. Voting shall be by a majority of those eligible members voting. The vote will be by a secret ballot at the ratification meeting. Proxy votes or mail ballots shall not be allowed unless by special action of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES
The Executive Committee shall appoint all special and standing committees which are deemed appropriate except as provided for elsewhere in the Constitution or in the current contract. At least one member of each special and standing committee shall be chosen from the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII DUES
Annual dues shall be established by a majority vote of the members at a general meeting, and no changes may be made in the rate of dues and no assessment may be levied except by the procedures stated in this Article and only after five (5) days notice in writing has been given of the proposal.
ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS
There shall be at least one meeting each semester of the membership. There shall be a meeting at the end of the Spring Semester for the election of officers and members of the Executive Committee. The President is obliged to call a meeting when requested by the All-University Collective Bargaining Committee or when he/she receives a petition signed by 40 members of the Chapter. Except in unusual circumstances, an agenda shall be sent to members prior to general meetings.
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this Constitution shall be made as follows: the proposed amendment shall be distributed to the membership at least ten (10) days prior to a general meeting at which the proposed amendment shall be considered; voting on the amendment will take place either at a subsequent general meeting or by mail ballot, but in any case, it will be by secret ballot. Any amendment to the Constitution must be approved by two-thirds of those voting at a general meeting or mail ballot.
ARTICLE X BY-LAWS
By-Laws governing procedure, structure of committees, and like matters shall be adopted by a majority of those members voting either at a general meeting or by mail ballot.
ARTICLE XI ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Every member has the right to information concerning the rules, actions, and other matters affecting the membership of the Chapter. The Chapter shall forward a copy of each collective bargaining agreement to those members whose rights are directly affected by it, shall make available to each member an up-to-date copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chapter, shall permit any member to examine the accounts and minutes of the Chapter and the Executive Committee as well as the list of the names and addresses of the membership.
ARTICLE XII THE GRIEVANCE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION COMMITTEE
The Grievance and Conflict Resolution Committee shall consist of at least seven persons selected from those members who are members of the bargaining unit as defined by the Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board. Three shall be elected by a majority vote of those members voting. The vote will be by secret ballot at a general meeting. The other members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.
The Grievance and Conflict Resolution Committee shall have the duty of carrying out the functions relating to the complaint and grievance provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
The Grievance and Conflict Resolution Committee shall be responsible to and shall report to the Executive Committee. Should questions of policy arise in which an agreement between these committees cannot be resolved then these questions shall be brought before the membership for determination.
ARTICLE XIII RATIFICATION
This Constitution shall become effective when ratified by a majority vote of the membership except that the present officers and the present membership of the Grievance and Conflict Resolution Committee shall retain office until the first elections under this Constitution.
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Adopted March, 1973
Amended April, 1988
Amended May, 1998
Amended November, 2001
Amended April, 2006
Amended April, 2018
Bylaws
I. ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting for the election of officers and members of the Executive Committee shall be held at least two weeks before the scheduled date of the last classes in the Spring Semester.
II. TERMS OF OFFICE
The terms of officers and members of the Executive Committee elected at the Annual Meeting shall begin on July 1 and shall continue until the following June 30.
III. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The meeting of the AAUP and its committees shall be conducted in accordance with the rules laid down in the latest edition of Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.) except as may be provided otherwise by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chapter. The President of the Chapter may appoint a parliamentarian to advise him/her on parliamentary procedure.
IV. GRIEVANCE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION COMMITTEE
Elected members of the Grievance and Conflict Resolution Committee shall be chosen at a general meeting in the Spring Semester. The term of office of both elected and appointed members of the Grievance and Conflict Resolution Committee shall be approximately two (2) years commencing with the date of election or appointment and continuing until their successors are elected or appointed. Members may be re-elected or re-appointed. The Chair of the Grievance and Conflict Resolution Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.
V. NOTICES OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Unless otherwise specified in the Constitution and By-Laws or collective bargaining contract, and in the absence of a clear emergency, the call for all general meetings of the membership, including information regarding time, place, and agenda, shall be emailed to all members in sufficient time so that they will have seven (7) days notice. The agenda shall state all items of business to be considered which are known at the time the call for the meeting is issued described with sufficient detail to enable all members to prepare for action thereupon
VI. QUORUM
A quorum at all general meetings shall consist of twenty-five members. A quorum at Executive Committee meetings shall be six.
VII. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
There shall be a nominating committee composed of five members: the immediate past president, two elected at a general meeting in the Spring Semester and two appointed by the Executive Committee as soon as possible following this election. The Executive Committee shall designate the chair of the committee. Members of the committee shall serve until their successors are chosen.
Prior to preparing its reports, the nominating committee shall solicit suggestions from all members of the Chapter. It shall obtain the consent of its nominees before publicizing their names. It shall complete and submit its report to the Secretary in sufficient time to be included in the call for the meeting at which the election is to be held. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the meeting provided the consent of the nominee is obtained.
At the Annual Meeting the committee shall present a list of nominees as follows: up to two persons for each position as an officer, nine to twelve persons for the six positions as elected members of the Executive Committee. The committee shall nominate up to six persons for the three positions as elected members of the Grievance and Conflict Resolution Committee.
VIII. VACANCIES
If the President's office becomes vacant the Vice President shall become the Acting President until an election is held to fill the vacancy at the next Spring general meeting. When vacancies occur in the Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer offices, the Executive Committee shall appoint an acting officer until an election is held to fill the vacancy at the next Spring general meeting. When vacancies occur in other elected positions, unless otherwise provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws, the vacancies shall be filled by election at the next Spring general meeting.
IX. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COMMITTEE
The All-University Collective Bargaining Committee shall consist of up to fifteen (15) members chosen by the Executive Committee, plus one member selected by the Executive Committee from its ranks.
Prior to the selection of the All-University Collective Bargaining Committee, the Executive Committee shall solicit nominations from all the colleges. AAUP members may nominate themselves.
The Executive Committee must select at least three faculty members from the College of Arts & Sciences and at least one faculty member from each of the other colleges: College of Business Administration, College of Education and Professional Studies, College of Engineering, College of the Environment and Life Sciences, College of Health Sciences, College of Nursing, Graduate School of Oceanography and the College of Pharmacy, and the University Libraries, to the All-University Collective Bargaining Committee.
X. INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
The Investment Committee shall consist of the Chapter President, Treasurer, and three other bargaining unit members appointed to staggered three-year terms and shall be appointed by the Executive Committee based on recommendations from the President in consultation with the Executive Director and Treasurer. The committee shall elect a chair from among the appointed members.
The Investment Committee shall be charged with:
Reviewing the Investment Policy and proposing modification to it, as needed, to the Executive Committee.
Ensuring implementation of the Investment Policy.
Meeting, on at least a semiannual basis, with the portfolio manager to review the performance of the investment portfolio.
Providing a report summarizing the status of investments to the Executive Committee following each meeting with the portfolio manager.
XI. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
There shall be a membership committee of seven members; four of which will be appointed by the Executive Committee and three of which will be elected at the general membership meeting. Members will serve for a period of two years until successors are chosen. Elections take place in the spring. The purpose of the membership committee is to recruit faculty members to join the National AAUP.
XII. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
SECTION 1. ELECTION COMMITTEE
It shall be the duty of the Election Committee to oversee and/or perform any tasks necessary to the conduct of an election. These tasks shall include: assuring proper notice of elections, checking ballots prior to elections for errors and unclear wording and format, maintaining the security of the ballot box, verifying the eligibility of voters, counting ballots, certifying elections results, and undertaking any other tasks or duties which may arise during the course of an election and which the Committee, acting on its own or at the direction of the Executive Committee, deems necessary for the fair and proper conduct of an election.
The Election Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and shall consist of the Chapter Secretary, three URI/AAUP Chapter members and one additional non-voting member. Initially, the three voting members shall be appointed for terms of one, two and three years, respectively. Thereafter, all terms shall be for three years. Members shall be eligible for reappointment, but at no time shall two members be from the same college.
The additional member of the Committee shall not be a voting member of the AAUP. It is the duty of the non-voting member to serve as a witness to the activities of the Election Committee, and to report to the Executive Committee any actions which they may deem improper. The non-voting member may attend all meetings of the Election Committee, and shall be allowed to join in any discussions. Once appointed, the non-voting member shall remain in office until he or she is replaced, resigns, or leaves the University community.
SECTION 2. ELECTIONS
The election of individuals to Local Chapter offices shall follow the rules and standards described below. Deviation shall be considered grounds for setting aside an election.
The selection and eligibility of candidates shall be determined by Article VII, Nominating Committee, of the URI/AAUP by-laws which states:
There shall be a nominating committee composed of five members: the immediate past president, two elected at a general meeting in the Spring Semester, and two appointed by the Executive Committee as soon as possible following this election. The Executive Committee shall designate the chair of the committee. Members of the committee shall serve until their successors are chosen.
Prior to preparing its reports, the nominating committee shall solicit suggestions from all members of the Chapter. It shall obtain the consent of its nominees before publicizing their names. It shall complete and submit its report to the Secretary in sufficient time to be included in the call for the meeting at which the election is to be held. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the meeting, provided the consent of the nominee is obtained.
At the Annual Meeting the committee shall present a list of nominees as follows: up to two persons for each position as an officer, nine to twelve persons for the six positions as elected members of the Executive Committee. For the Spring election, the committee shall nominate up to six persons for the three positions as elected members of the Grievance and Conflict Resolution Committee.
Ballots for standard elections:
Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Executive Committee shall undertake, with the assistance of the Election Committee, the preparation of ballots. Ballots shall be mailed to all eligible voters at least 14 days prior to the ending date of an election period and shall constitute official notice of an election.
Included with the ballot shall be clear instructions for its completion and submission. Such instructions shall include the location of the ballot box, hours for in-person voting, and the precise date and time after which neither mail nor in-person ballots will be accepted.
After the completion of a ballot by a voter, it shall be placed in a small signed envelope, which, in turn, shall be placed in a larger return envelope. A signature is necessary to establish the eligibility of the voter, and ballots contained in unsigned envelopes shall be considered invalid. However, before the Election Committee tallies the votes, ballots must be removed from their signed envelopes and placed in a separate receptacle so that no association can be made between a ballot and a voter.
All ballots, whether returned by mail or cast in person, shall be placed in a ballot box which shall remain sealed until the end of an election period. Ballots shall be counted as soon as possible after the close of an election period. The Election Committee has responsibility for counting the ballots, but may enlist the assistance of any other individuals who are not candidates in the election. The time and place for the counting of ballots shall be included within the instructions for voting, and any interested member of the Local Chapter shall be allowed to attend.
Following certification by the Election Committee, results shall be posted outside of the Local Chapter office, and an official transmittal of results shall be made, in writing, to the Executive Committee and to all candidates. All ballots, signed envelopes, tally sheets, transmittals of results and other records incidental to the election shall be retained by the Local Chapter for a period of no less than one year.
The Election Period:
Ballots may be returned to the Local Chapter by mail or in person. In-person voting shall begin the day after ballots are mailed, and continue until the time and date specified in the instructions for voting. As mentioned, the voting period shall last for at least 14 calendar days.
Eligibility for Voting:
In order to be eligible to vote in a Local Chapter election, an individual must meet the requirements of membership under the constitution and by-laws of the Local Chapter and the National Association and be a member in good standing. Any bargaining unit member who qualifies for Local Chapter membership becomes eligible to vote immediately upon joining or rejoining the Local Chapter. There is no waiting period for eligibility. (See URI/AAUP Constitution, Article I, Membership.)
Challenges to Elections:
Any Local Chapter member who wishes to file exceptions to an election shall do so as soon as possible after the election period, but in no case later than 30 days following the certification of election results.
Exceptions shall be presented, in writing, to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall schedule a meeting to hear exceptions within seven days of receipt of a complaint. The Executive Committee shall conduct the meeting in such a manner as to give all complainants ample opportunity to present their arguments and evidence. Within a reasonable amount of time, the Executive Committee shall issue its decision, and apprise complainants of any avenues of appeal available to them under the constitution of the national association.
The Executive Committee may take whatever action it deems necessary to remedy a complaint, including the ordering of a new election.
Elections Using Remote Electronic Voting Systems:
When an election is conducted using a remote electronic voting system, the process and procedures shall comport with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards for elections using remote electronic voting systems.
SECTION 3. MISCELLANEOUS
At least two weeks prior to the mailing of ballots, the Election Committee shall make all bargaining unit members aware of the impending election. Such announcement shall indicate the offices to be decided and eligibility requirements for voting. The announcement shall urge bargaining unit members who are not current Local Chapter members to join.
The Election Committee shall also oversee the contract ratification process as outlined in Article V of the URI/AAUP by-laws as well as amendments to the Constitution and by-laws as outlined in the URI/AAUP Constitution, Article IX.
All elections shall be in compliance with the Constitution and by-laws.
XIII. AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended in conformity with Article X of the Constitution by a majority of the members voting at a general meeting or by mail ballot.
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Adopted November, 1973
Amended April, 1988
Amended September, 1989
Amended November, 1990
Amended November, 1992
Amended November, 1999
Amended November, 2001
Amended October, 2003
Amended April, 2016
Amended April, 2018
Amended November, 2022