ARTICLE I. PURPOSE

The name of this organization is the Professional Staff Association/UMD. Its purpose is to facilitate productive discussions of issues confronting the professional staff of UMD; to be an advisory body to UMD administration; to be a liaison for professional staff to the Campus Assembly and the Student Association; to promote the interests of higher education and research and to advance the interests, stature and welfare of the Association at UMD.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

A person shall be qualified for membership in the Professional Staff Association if he/she meets any of the following criteria:

1. Professional staff definition as defined in Duluth Campus Assembly Bylaws (1983), Article II, Sec 3; or

2. Professional as defined by Minnesota Law 179-A.03, sub.d 13; or

3. as defined by University of Minnesota Civil Service guidelines; or

4. as resolved by a committee established to address membership questions.

5. as such, the following job classifications and requirements are eligible members of the Professional Staff Council:
   
   Civil service and P&A employees with 75-100%.
   
   P&A's must not have a faculty appointment.
   
   0015-0791, 7xxx, 8xxx, 9300-9359, 9363-9399, 9621-9640, 9700-9799, 9516, 9535, 9538-9540, 9545-9546, 9548-9549, 9552-9559, 9590-9591.

ARTICLE III. MEETINGS

The Professional Staff Association shall meet at least two times each year.

ARTICLE IV. GOVERNANCE

The governing body of the Professional Staff Association shall be the Professional Staff Council whose members shall be elected by the Association.

1. Membership

   1. The Professional Staff Council shall consist of 12 members elected to two-year terms.

   2. Council members may be elected for more than one term.

   3. Council terms shall be arranged so that fifty percent of the members shall be up for election each year; election to be held before May 1st each year.
      
      
   4. Vacancies on the Council due to resignation shall be filled by the person with the next highest number of votes received during the previous election. If a candidate is not available from the previous election, the Council will elect a candidate from the Association roster.
      
      
   5. Officers of the Professional Staff Council are considered to be officers of the Professional Staff Association.

2. Officers: The officers of the Professional Staff Council shall be President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers shall be elected to 1-year terms with a maximum of two consecutive terms.

   1. Council officers shall be elected at the first council meeting after July 1st.

   2. The President shall preside over meetings of the Council and the Association. He/she shall establish an agenda for meetings; he/she shall bring such items or concerns as the Council determines to the Administration, Campus Assembly, UEA, Student Association or other constituencies or individuals as deemed appropriate.

   3. The Vice-president shall preside over meetings in the absence of the President and perform other duties as requested. He/she shall be parliamentarian for the Council and Association using Roberts Rules of Order (revised) as a guide.

   4. The Secretary shall record minutes of all Council and Association meetings and submit a copy of these to all Council members and other constituencies as determined by the Council.

   5. The Treasurer shall receive monies, dispense funds and shall conduct the financial affairs of the Council and Association. An annual financial report will be presented to the Council at the first meeting of the academic year and distributed to Association members.

3. Meetings: The Professional Staff Council shall meet at least two times each quarter. At least one meeting of the Council shall be held each summer. Council or Association members shall submit agenda items to the President.

   1. A quorum of the Council is defined as a simple majority of the regularly elected Council members.

   2. All persons shall be entitled to speak at Council meetings at the discretion of the Chair.

   3. All Council meetings shall be open.

   4. Only members of the Council shall be entitled to vote on motions or matters of substance.

   5. A member of the administration shall meet periodically with the Council.

4. Committees: The Council shall establish such committees as is deemed necessary or appropriate. The President shall appoint the Chair for each committee.

   1. An election committee shall be appointed each Spring to solicit nominees to the Council and to conduct the election process for the Council and the UMD Campus Assembly representatives from the Professional Staff Association.

   2. A membership committee shall be established when necessary to resolve membership questions.

ARTICLE V. BY-LAWS

The Council may establish by-laws and make changes to such by-laws by a simple majority of the membership of the Professional Staff Council.

ARTICLE VI. CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

Changes to the constitution must be approved by 75% of the elected membership of the Professional Staff Council.

Amended 8/12/09