February 2004

FERRIS FACULTY ASSOCIATION
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be the “Ferris Faculty Association, MEA-NEA,” an affiliated unit of the Michigan and National Education Associations. The Association shall be a non-profit corporation organized in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to represent the professional concerns of its members; to improve education and advance the interests of education and of educators; to assist in interpreting the role and function of higher education in the state and in the community; and to negotiate and administer the collective bargaining agreement for all bargaining unit members.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

All bargaining unit members shall be eligible for membership in the Ferris Faculty Association and shall become members upon electing to file for membership.

All members in good standing shall be members of the Michigan Education Association (MEA) and the National Education Association (NEA).

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS, BOARDS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Section 1 – Officers. The officers of the Association shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Section 2 – Governing Body. The governing body of the Association shall be an Executive Board consisting of:

a. Association officers as specified in Section 1 of this article;
b. immediate past president;
c. representatives as follows:
1 – College of Allied Health
4 – College of Arts and Sciences
3 – College of Business
1 – College of Education
1 – College of Optometry
1 – College of Pharmacy
3 – College of Technology
1 – University College
1 – Admissions and personal counselors
1 – Library
6 – Members elected at large. Three (3) elected during even years shall be the FFA representatives to the MEA Representative Assembly and alternates to the NEA Representative Assembly. Three (3) elected during odd years shall be the FFA representatives to the Michigan Association of Higher Education (MAHE) and alternates to the MEA Representative Assembly.
3 – Members elected at large who will be MEA Representative Assembly alternates and NEA Representative Assembly alternates.

d. The president and vice president shall be delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly. The treasurer, in odd years, and secretary, in even years, shall alternate, on an annual basis, as the third delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly. The president, vice president, secretary and treasurer shall also be alternate delegates to the MEA Representative Assembly.

e. Alternate delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly and the MEA Representative Assembly shall be elected by the membership at large.

Section 3 – Terms of Office. All elected officers, Executive Board members and delegates shall serve two year terms. All Executive Board members are eligible for re-election. If an Executive Board member is elected or appointed to another FFA Executive Board position, he/she must resign his/her previous position.

Section 4 – Replacement. Any member of the Executive Board who is absent from three (3) consecutive regularly scheduled meetings of the Executive Board (excluding summers) without notification to the Executive Board shall be removed from the Board and the position shall be declared vacant. Vacancies in office shall be filled according to procedures in the bylaws.

Section 5 – 13-A Coordinating Council. The Executive Board shall appoint the 13-A Coordinating Council representatives from among the membership of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V – DIRECT LEGISLATION – Initiative and Referendum, Recall

Section 1 – Popular Initiative and Referendum. Popular initiative or referendum may be instituted by a petition signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership of the Association. A majority vote of those voting shall be required for implementation of the action sought.

Section 2 - Recall

a. Recall proceedings may be instituted against any officer by a petition signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership of the Association. An affirmative vote by a majority of those voting shall be required for recall.

b. Recall proceedings may be instituted against any Executive Board representative by a petition signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership of the group which he/she represents. An affirmative vote by a majority of those voting from the representative group shall be required for recall.

c. Upon receipt of a petition as specified above, the Elections Committee shall announce a general election or ballot as indicated on the petition within fifteen (15) calendar days for the purposes presented in the petition.



ARTICLE VI – ELECTIONS

Section 1 – Elections

a. The Executive Board shall adopt rules and procedures necessary for conducting elections.

b. Candidates for all elective offices shall be nominated by petition. Any member of the Association, who, in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Executive Board, files a petition with the election committee bearing the signatures of not less than five percent (5%) of the membership of the Association, or his/her constituent part of the Association, shall be considered a candidate for the office named in the petition and his/her name placed on the ballot.

c. An election of officers and representatives shall be held each year by April 1

d. All newly elected Executive Board members, except the treasurer, shall take office by May 1. The newly elected treasurer shall take office commencing with the fiscal year.

Section 2– Vacancies.

An office shall be considered vacant when the person holding the office resigns, his/her membership in the Association expires, he/she is assigned to a position in the university which removes him/her from the bargaining unit, his/her employment at Ferris State University is terminated, he/she is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings of the Executive Board without permission of the president or the Executive Board (excluding summer session), or he/she is removed by recall procedures.

When a vacancy occurs in the office of the president, the vice president shall succeed to that office and the office of the vice president shall be considered vacant. When a vacancy occurs on the Executive Board, the Executive Board shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy. A person appointed or elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

ARTICLE VII – CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW AND REVISION

Section 1 – This constitution shall be reviewed each five (5) years from date of adoption. A committee to review the constitution shall be appointed by the Executive Board.

Section 2 – The committee shall report its finding to the Executive Board.

Section 3 – The Executive Board must approve all recommendations for change.

Section 4 – A copy of the proposed revised constitution shall be sent to each member of the Association at least ten (10) days prior to the date of voting.

Section 5 – Adoption of these changes requires an affirmative vote by two-thirds majority of the membership voting on the recommended changes.



ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1 – Amendments to this constitution may be introduced by a majority vote of the Executive Board or by a petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the members of the Association. A copy of the proposed amendment(s) shall be sent to each member of the Association at least ten (10) days prior to the date of voting. A vote on the proposed amendment(s) shall be conducted within thirty (30) days of submission. The vote shall be by secret ballot under all relevant rules and procedures governing the election of officers. An affirmative vote by two-thirds majority of those voting shall be required for adoption of proposed amendment(s).

Section 2 – When two (2) or more amendments are proposed and are being considered in the same election, each proposed amendment shall be voted upon separately. An affirmative vote by two-thirds majority of those voting shall be required for adoption of proposed amendment(s).

ARTICLE IX – EFFECTIVE DATE

This constitution shall become effective immediately upon ratification.

ARTICLE X – AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

The FFA supports affirmative action principles.


February 2004

FERRIS FACULTY ASSOCIATION
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY

BYLAWS

I. RULES

Robert’s Rules of Order (current edition) shall be the authority on all questions of procedure not in conflict with the constitution and bylaws

II. MEETINGS

a. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS. Meetings of the Association shall be called by the president of the Association with the concurrence of the Executive Board as to time and place during the fall and spring of the academic year.

All meetings shall be open to members.

A member shall be permitted to address a meeting under rules established by the FFA.

b. SPECIAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS. Special meetings of the membership may be called at the discretion of the Executive Board for the purpose of discussing only those matters for which the special meeting was convened.

c. NOTICE. Notice of general membership meetings shall be given, in writing, to the members of the Association at least five (5) days prior to the meeting and shall specify the date, time, place and agenda. However, when unusual circumstances so necessitate, the president of the Association may change the time and place of membership meetings provided notice is given to the members at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting.

d. EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING. Executive Board meetings shall be held at least once each month during the academic year. The date, time and place shall be determined by the president of the Association. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the president of the Association or by three (3) members of the Executive Board.

III. QUORUM

a. A quorum for all-general membership and special meetings shall consist of thirty-three and one third percent (33 1/3%) of the current membership. Decisions shall be made by a majority of those members present and voting.

b. A quorum for Executive Board meetings shall consist of a simple majority of those elected and seated. Decisions shall be made by a majority of those members present and voting.

IV. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

PRESIDENT. The duties of the president of the Association shall be:

1. Preside at Executive Board, general membership and special meetings.
2. Appoint chairpersons and members of standing committees, subject to confirmation by the Executive Board.
3. Appoint chairpersons and members of all ad hoc committees.
4. Execute all directives promulgated by the Executive Board and all decisions generated by the members at general and special membership meetings.
5. Insure proper administration of collective bargaining agreements and, with the approval of the Executive Board, enter into letters of understanding with the administration of Ferris State University.
6. Serve as ex-officio member of all standing committees.
7. Serve as delegate to NEA representative Assembly meetings.
8. Represent the Association before the public, the administration, the faculty, agencies of the State of Michigan, and all other agencies and organizations with which the Association has relationships.
9. Perform all other functions attributed to the office.
10. Perform other duties assigned by the Executive Board.

VICE PRESIDENT. The duties of the vice president of the association shall be:

1. In the absence of the president, preside at Executive Board, general membership and special meetings.
2. Perform other duties assigned by the president or the Executive Board.
3. Serve as delegate to NEA Representative Assembly meetings.

SECRETARY. The duties of the secretary of the Association shall be:

1. Record proceedings of all Executive Board, general membership and special meetings.
2. Maintain a file of all minutes, records and papers (except financial) of the Association which is available for inspection by members.
3. Call roll and record attendance at all Executive Board meetings.
4. Perform duties assigned by the president or the Executive Board.

TREASURER. The duties of the treasurer of the Association shall be:

1. Insure receipt and proper safeguarding of all Association monies.
2. Insure timely payment of all legal accounts and obligations incurred by the Association.
3. Initiate and maintain records of all receipts and expenditures of Association monies.
4. Receive and process applications for membership into the Association.
5. Maintain official roster of all bargaining unit members.
6. Report the financial status of the Association at each Executive Board meeting.
7. Prepare the annual budget for the Association.
8. Perform other duties assigned by the president or the Executive Board.

The Association shall provide for an annual audit. The treasurer shall be provided with a surety bond.




V. DUTIES OF REPRESENTATIVES

Duties of representatives shall be:

1. Attend meetings of the Executive Board.
2. Call meetings of their constituents.
3. Provide communication between members and the Executive Board.

VI. POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The powers of the Executive Board shall be:

1. Administer, execute, and supervise all the activities of the Association.
2. Decide whether a grievance shall be submitted for arbitration. The grievant may appeal this decision to MEA.
3. Confirm appointments to standing committees.

VII. STANDING COMMITTEES

By June 1 of each academic year the president shall appoint the chairs and membership of all standing committees of the Association subject to the approval of the Executive Board. After the approval of the Executive Board, standing committees will serve the Association for the following academic year. The standing committees of the Association shall be as follows:

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: It is the responsibility of this committee to 1) maintain a current list of all active members of the Association; 2) maintain a current list of those individuals who are eligible but not active members; and 3) recommend to the Executive Board association activities designed to promote and strengthen association membership.

ELECTIONS COMMITTEE: It is the responsibility of this committee to: 1) make the necessary arrangements for all elections including ballot preparations, election supervision, ballot counting and results publication; and 2) recommend to the Executive Board election arrangements and absentee ballot procedures.

GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE: It is the responsibility of this committee to: 1) process grievances; 2) report the status of grievances to the Executive Board; and 3) make a recommendation to the Executive Board on whether or not a grievance should go to arbitration.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

INTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

VIII. AD HOC COMMITTEES

The president shall have the ability to appoint ad hoc committees to attend to tasks not in the purview of the standing committees. These committees shall be time limited, serving only as long as necessary.



IX. NEGOTIATION OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT

a. Negotiations on behalf of the bargaining unit members of Ferris State University with the Board of Trustees and the administration of the University shall be conducted by a negotiating team of at least three (3) persons appointed by the Executive Board. The negotiating team will elect its own chairperson.

b. The function of the negotiating team shall be to receive and reflect the desires of the faculty concerning bargaining issues and to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.

c. The Executive Board, upon recommendation of the negotiating team, shall call for a contract ratification meeting in accordance with Article II of these bylaws.

d. If the purpose of this meeting is to discuss a tentative collective bargaining agreement, a written digest of the significant changes and a copy of the tentative agreement for each bargaining unit member shall be sent to each bargaining unit member.

e. At the meeting of the membership to discuss the tentative agreement, reports and recommendations from the Executive Board and the negotiating team shall be presented. Subsequent to the meeting of the members, the Executive Board shall conduct a ratification election on the terms of the tentative collective bargaining agreement. The members of the Association shall be given at least five (5) days notice of the date, time and place of balloting. The tentative collective bargaining agreement shall be considered ratified when approved by a majority of the FFA members voting in the ratification election.

f. Upon completion of the ratification process, the negotiating team is authorized to sign such agreement on behalf of the membership.

g. In the event that the Board of Trustees and the negotiation team are unable to agree on the terms of a tentative bargaining agreement, or a tentative collective bargaining agreement is not approved by the members of the Association, the Executive Board shall decide what procedures shall be followed in order to facilitate the development of an agreement between the Board of Trustees and members of the Association. However, such procedures, other than the continuation of negotiations, shall not be followed without a vote held at a general membership or special meeting.

X. VOTING PROCEDURES

Elections shall be conducted by secret ballots bearing the names of all persons nominated in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Additionally, for each office, the ballot shall provide places for writing in the names of persons equal to the number of persons to be elected to that office.

In those units electing more than one representative, each member shall be entitled to one vote for each position. Persons elected shall be those individuals receiving the highest number of votes.




XI. DUES

Dues collected by the Association shall consist of the total amount of local, state and national dues. Local dues shall be established by the Executive Board.

XII. BYLAW REVIEW

1. The bylaws of the Association shall be reviewed every five (5) years after the date of adoption. A committee to review these bylaws shall be appointed by the Executive Board.
2. The committee shall report its finding to the Executive Board.
3. Proposed changes approved by the Executive Board shall be submitted to the membership for approval.
4. A copy of the proposed revised bylaws shall be sent to each member of the Association at least ten (10) days prior to the date of voting.
5. Adoption of these changes requires an affirmative vote by a majority of the membership voting on the recommended changes.

XIII. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these bylaws may be introduced by a majority vote of the Executive Board or by a petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the members of the Association. A copy of the proposed amendment(s) shall be sent to each member of the Association at least ten (10) days prior to the date of voting. A vote on the proposed amendment(s) shall be conducted within thirty (30) days of submission. The vote shall be by secret ballot under all relevant rules and procedures governing the election of officers. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members voting shall be required for adoption of the proposed amendment(s).

When two (2) or more amendments are proposed and are being considered in the same election, each proposed amendment shall be voted upon separately. A majority vote of the total membership shall be required for adoption of any one (1) of the proposed amendments.

XIV. EFFECTIVE DATE

These bylaws shall become effective immediately upon ratification.
.