Professional Employees Senate

Table of Contents

By-Laws to the Constitution of the Professional Employees Senate

Article I - Name

The name of this organization is "The Professional Employees Senate of Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico."

Article II - Purpose

Section One: The purpose of the Professional Employees Senate (here after referred to as Senate) is to administer the authority designated by the governance policy.

Section Two: The Senate is the official body representing the professional employees to the university administration and to the Board of Regents, and serves as liaison between the administration and the professional employees. The following indicates the responsibilities of the Professional Employees Senate: to disseminate information; to advise the president on matters of note; to discuss significant issues; to initiate and respond to university policy and procedure; and to investigate areas of concern.

Article III - Membership

Section One:  Each member in the Senate:

A. Shall be employed one full year (a 12 consecutive month period) prior to being elected to the Senate.

B. Shall be a full-time professional employee on a 12 month contract.

C. Shall be a professional employee as defined in the Professional Employees Handbook.

Section Two:  Membership terms shall be for a period of three (3) consecutive years with provision for staggered terms. A senator may not be re-elected for one (1) year following a term.

Article IV - Officers

Section One:  The Senate elects from its membership the following officers by simple majority vote.

A. President

B. Vice President/Parliamentarian

C. Secretary/Treasurer

Section Two:  The duties of the officers are those associated with the office.

Section Three:  The officers constitute an executive committee to plan meetings and act for the Senate between meetings. The president is chairperson of the executive committee.

Section Four:  The term of office for each officer shall be for one (1) year, serving until new officers are installed. The presidency will be filled automatically by the preceding year's vice president. The Vice President shall be in his/her second year as a Senator. Terms of office begin at the first meeting of the academic year.

Article V - Meetings

Section One:  The Senate shall convene for a regular business meeting once a month.

Section Two:  Special meetings of the Senate may be called by the executive committee or the Senate president.

Section Three:  No action may be taken by the Senate in any business meeting unless a quorum is present. A quorum is defined as a simple majority of the Portales Campus membership.

Article VI – Parliamentary Authority

Section One:  In all parliamentary matters not covered by its by-laws, the Professional Employees Senate shall be governed by the Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure.

Article VII - Attendance of Members in Meetings

Section One:  Attendance of all Senate members at meetings is necessary.

Section Two:  A Senate member with excessive absences at meetings will be removed from the Senate.

Article VIII - Committees

Section One:  The Senate shall appoint membership to standing committees in compliance with the ENMU Governance Document, and may establish Ad Hoc committees as deemed necessary for the purpose of the Senate.

Article IX - Amendments

Section One:  The constitution of the Senate will be established and may be amended by two-thirds majority vote of the total Senate membership and ratified by a majority of the constituency casting votes, provided:

A. A written copy of the proposed amendments has been distributed among the members of the Senate at a meeting in advance of the time the amendment shall be introduced for adoption, and further,

B. That at least ten (10) days shall have elapsed between the meeting at which a copy of the amendments was distributed and the meeting at which formal action for adoption is taken.

By-Laws to the Constitution of the Professional Employees Senate

Article I - Name

Article II - Purpose

Section One:  Statement of purpose.

Section Two:  Statement of representation and responsibility.

A. Recommendations for, and response to, policy should be in accordance with Section I of the University Governance Document.

B. It is the responsibility of the Senate to distribute minutes of Senate meetings to constituents.

Article III - Membership

Section One:  Criteria for Senate membership.

A. The Senate shall be composed of 14 representatives.

1. The Portales campus will have four (4) representatives each from Academic Affairs/Planning & Analysis, Business Affairs/President's Office and Student Affairs/University Relations.

2. The Roswell campus will have two (2) representatives.

3. The Ruidoso Instructional Center will have one ex-officio, non-voting member.

Section Two:  Staggered terms of membership and elections.

A. The three-year terms of Senate members will be staggered so that no more than two-thirds of the membership shall retire at one time.

Section Three:  Executive Committee.

Section Four:  Term of office.

A. If an officer is removed or resigns from the Senate, the Senate will elect a replacement from its membership at the meeting in which the removal or resignation becomes effective.

Article IV - Officers

Section One:  Senate officers.

Section Two:  Duties.

Article V - Meetings

Section One:  Regular meetings.

Section Two:  Special meetings.

Section Three:  Quorum required for action.

A. A simple majority is one person over half of the total membership.

Article VI – Parliamentary Authority

Section One:  Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure.

Article VII - Attendance of Members in Meetings

Section One:  Importance of attendance.

Section Two:  Excessive absences

A. Senate members who miss three (3) consecutive meetings without notifying an officer of the Senate will be removed from the Senate.

B. Elections will be held in July of each year with terms to begin with the first meeting of the academic year.

1. Elections will be conducted on each campus by mail to all constituents and are a responsibility of the Senate.

2. Constituents will vote only in their area of representation (i.e., Student Affairs/University Relations, Academic Affairs/Planning & Analysis, Business Affairs/President's Office, Roswell campus, and Ruidoso campus.)

3. All constituents eligible for membership, as stated in Article III, Section I of the constitution, will be included on the ballot.

4. A Senate member removed for excessive absences will not be considered an eligible constituent for the term following said removal.

C. Replacement of a Senator who is removed or one who resigns with more than six (6) months remaining in their term, shall be by election from that Senator's area of representation within two weeks after resignation or removal.

1. The election procedure will be as outlined in Article III, Section II, B, 1, 2, 3, and 4 of these by-laws. 

D. Replacement of a Senator who is removed or one who resigns with less than six months remaining in their term, will be by Senate appointment from that Senator's area of representation within two weeks after resignation or removal.

Article VIII - Committees

Section One:  Appointment to committees.

A. Representatives to standing committees outlined in the Governance Document, will be appointed by vote of the Senate at the first meeting of the academic year.

Article IX - Amendments

Section One:  Procedure for amendments.