Winona State University Faculty Association Constitution

The current Constitution of the WSU FA (PDF) is also available to download.

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the Winona State University Faculty Association.

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the welfare of the faculty of Winona State University and to improve education at the university.

Article III – Membership

Members of the WSU faculty Association are those persons employed by the university who are members of the Inter-Faculty Organization. Membership in the Inter-faculty Organization is subject to the provisions of the IFO constitutions and bylaws.

Article IV - Officers

The officers of the WSU faculty Association shall be

1. The President
2. The Vice-President
3. *The Secretary
4. *The Treasurer
5. The WSU representatives to the IFO board of Directors
6. The Members of the IFO Negotiating Team
7. The Immediate past President
8. The immediate past member of the IFO Negotiating Team

*Elected by and from the Faculty Senate These officers shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Association.

Article V – The Faculty Association Senate

Section 1. Composition:

The Faculty Association Senate shall be composed of the President, the Vice-president, the WSU representative (s) to the IFO Board of Directors, the member of the IFO Negotiating Team, the immediate past President, and the immediate past member of the IFO Negotiating Team, together with twenty (20) members elected by and from the member of the Association. All officers of the WSU Faculty Association shall have the right to vote. The Association President shall chair meetings of the Faculty Association senate; in the absence of the president, the vice-president shall chair meetings.

Section 2. Powers:

The Faculty Association Senate shall be the policy-making body of the Association and shall conduct all business of the Association. The Senate may, at its discretion, refer matters to the members of the Association for final decision.

Section 3. Quorum:

The quorum for meetings of the Faculty Association Senate shall be 60% of its members, not to include those members on official leave.

Section 4: Meetings:

Meetings of the Faculty Association Senate shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised. Senate agenda shall be distributed to the Association members at least two days before a regular meeting of the Senate. The minutes of the Senate shall be distributed to the Association members within ten (10) days following a meeting. Special meetings of the Senate may be called by the Association President and shall be called on petition of fifty (50) members of the Association.

Section 5: Committees:

The Faculty Association Senate is responsible for establishing committees/task forces and for making committee appointments, including representation to IFO Standing Committees. Committee on Committees shall generally solicit for committee candidates and forward recommendations to the Faculty Senate. Chairpersons are determined by the committees.

The Faculty Association Senate shall designate a local committee or committees corresponding to the IFO standing committees, which shall include the representatives to the statewide committee(s). The Faculty Association committee may serve as the designated committee for more than one standing committee, inclusive of the representatives to the statewide committee(s). Faculty Association representatives will provide regular reports to the Faculty Association Executive Committee and/or Faculty Senate by these committee(s). The Faculty Association representatives to the corresponding IFO standing committees are also members of the Faculty Association committees.

The committees responsible to the Faculty Association Senate shall be those committees designated by that Senate. Decisions of committees responsible to the Senate may be altered by the senate by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of those Senate members present and voting.

Section 6. Referendum:

If fifty (50) members of the Association sign a petition objecting to a decision of the Senate, and if a majority of Senate members hold to the initial Senate position, the Senate shall submit the matter to the members of the Association for referendum within 10 days of receipt of the petition. A majority of those Association members casting ballots shall be sufficient to decide the matter and the Senate shall be bound by the result of the referendum. The initial decision of the Senate shall prevail, until the result of the referendum is announced by the Association President, which shall be no later than 20 days after a petition is first submitted to the Senate.

Article VI – Elections

Section 1. President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer:

The Association President, the Vice President, and the members of the Faculty Association Senate shall be elected by and from the members of the Association. The Secretary and the Treasurer shall be elected by and from the Association Senate. The Association President and Vice-president shall be elected in the spring of odd-numbered years for a term of two years and shall take office September 1 of odd-numbered years. The Association Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected annually during the spring by and from the member of the Faculty Association Senate for the following year.

Section 2. The Faculty Association Senate:

Ten (10) members of the Faculty Association Senate shall be elected annually by and from the members of the Association for a term of two years to begin September 1.

Section 3. WSU representative(s) to the IFO Board of Directors and the Member of the Negotiating Team:

The WSU representative(s) to the IFO Board of Directors and the member of the Negotiating Team shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of the IFO Constitution and bylaws or by directive of the IFO Board of Directors. In the absence of such provisions or directives, these persons shall be elected by and from the members of the Association.

Section 4: Elections by and from members of the Association:

Elections by and from the members of the Association shall be conducted in the following manner:

1. The Elections committee of the Faculty Association shall inform each Association member of an impending election and shall request that those members who desire their names on the ballot submit signed statements to that effect.

2. The ballot containing the list of those desiring election shall be distributed to all members of the Association with the following instructions:

Each member may cast one vote for each open seat.
If the election outcome for Faculty Association president, vice president, negotiator, or IFO Board of Director(s) creates one or more open seats, the seats may be filled by appointment by the Faculty Association Senate.
If only one person is to be elected, each member casting a ballot shall vote for one.

3. The person or persons receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected.

4. In the event of a tie, a special run-off election shall be held. The names of those tied shall be listed on the ballot.

Article VII – Amendment

This constitution may be amended by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of those members casting ballots. All proposed amendments shall require approval of a majority of the members of the Faculty Association Senate present and voting. Proposed amendments shall be distributed to the Faculty Association members at least one week before a scheduled vote.

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