Members

2024-2025 Representatives
  
Representing EEO Job Classification 1:  Administrators, Managers
Laura Hetrick laura.hetrick@msutexas.edu
Ashley Hurst ashley.hurst@msutexas.edu  
  
Representing EEO Job Classification 3:  Professional Staff
Elizabeth Ysasi elizabeth.ysasi@msutexas.edu
Dottie Westbrook dottie.westbrook@msutexas.edu   
Kenley O'brien kenley.obrien@msutexas.edu 
Chantin Miles chantin.miles@msutexas.edu
Dr. Phillis Bunch phillis.bunch@msutexas.edu 
  
Representing EEO Job Classification 4:  Administrative Support
Gabby Scott gabby.scott@msutexas.edu 
Melissa Miller melissa.miller@msutexas.edu
Kristin Grassi kristin.grassi@msutexas.edu 
Kamy Holloway kamy.holloway@msutexas.edu 
  
Representing EEO Job Classification 5:  Technicians & Paraprofessionals
Richard Elliott richard.elliott@msutexas.edu
  
Representing EEO Job Classification 6:  Skilled Craft Workers
Charles Chumley charles.chumley@msutexas.edu
  
Representing EEO Job Classification 7:  Service Maintenance & Security
Melanie Whitbey melanie.whitbey@msutexas.edu
Paige Chumley elizabeth.chumley@msutexas.edu 
Juan Maya juan.maya@msutexas.edu 

 

 

Executive and Communications Committee
Chairperson Ashley Hurst
Vice-Chairperson Richard Elliott
Secretary/Treasurer Elizabeth Ysasi
Parliamentarian Dottie Westbrook
Membership Committee
Kamy Holloway Richard Elliott
By-Laws Committee
TBD Richard Elliott
Scholarship Committee
Dottie Westbrook Melissa Miller

Constitution and Bylaws

Mission

The mission of the Midwestern State University Staff Senate, herein after referred to as the Staff Senate, shall be to promote and enhance the status of the University staff, to ensure the effective contribution of staff expertise toward University goals, and to act as a liaison between the University President and staff employees. The council shall represent the collective body of the staff and shall report directly to the University President.

 

Article I

 

  1. Eligibility

Membership on the Staff Senate is limited to regular full-time employees who have served in benefits-eligible, non-faculty positions at Midwestern State University for at least 12 continuous months immediately preceding January 1 of the year in which they are nominated.

 

Article II

 

  1. Membership Representation

The number of senate seats shall be allocated according to the number of budgeted staff positions within each EEO job classification category on record with and provided by the Director of Human Resources. 

                                               

  1. EEO Job Classification Categories:
    1. EEO1 Officials and Administrators (Excluding president, vice presidents, provost, and associate vice presidents)
    2. EEO3 Non-faculty Professional
    3. EEO4 Administrative Support
    4. EEO5 Technicians and Paraprofessionals
    5. EEO6 Skilled Craft Workers
    6. EEO7 Service and Maintenance

 

  1. Allocation Chart

       

        Number of Staff Budgeted Positions                           Number of Staff

Within EEO Classification                                              Senate Representatives

                29 or less                                                                             1

                30-59                                                                                     2

                60-89                                                                                     3

                90-119                                                                                   4

                120 +                                                                                     5

 

  1. Officers
    The officers of Staff Senate shall be the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary/Treasurer, and Parliamentarian, which will constitute the Executive Committee. During the month of August, senators who will serve in the next fiscal year, will hold an organizational meeting to elect officers for the new term. The current Chairperson will preside over the organizational meeting and no other business will be conducted. Members elected to the Executive Committee shall serve as officers for a one year term beginning September 1.  The Chairperson of the Staff Senate shall be a voting member of the Administrative Council and shall attend the meetings of the Board of Regents.  The Executive Committee may appoint ad hoc committees within the membership as deemed necessary.

 

The Staff Senate Executive Committee will serve as representatives on University committees. These committees include:

  • Board of Regents (Chairperson)
  • Administrative Council (Chairperson-voting member)
  • Faculty Senate (serve as a non-voting member)
  • Student Affairs (serve as a non-voting member)
  • Academic Council (serve as a non-voting member)

 

Throughout the year, the University President or Cabinet will request representation from the Staff Senate. The Executive Committee will make recommendations for representation from Staff Senate, based on the needs and request. The Staff Senate Executive Committee reserves the right to expand their requests to other MSU Texas staff, outside of the Staff Senate membership, based on the needs and requests of the University President or Cabinet.

 

  1. Terms

Members shall serve two-year terms beginning September 1.  The terms will be staggered in such a manner to ensure that no less than one-half of the terms will expire each year. Members will be limited to two consecutive terms and may be re-elected after an absence from the senate of one year. In order to initially establish the staggered terms, the forming committee shall, as evenly as possible, allocate one and two-year terms to each EEO job classification with the stipulation that a seat in a representative classification having only one senate seat shall initially be filled by a two-year term. In the event that two or more new seats are added, the initial terms should be set so that the fifty-fifty balance of the Senate is maintained, with an odd seat, if it exists, elected for a two-year term.

 

Article III

 

  1. Elections

                Elections will be held each April to fill seats which will be vacant on the following September 1. The nomination process will be held during the month of March.  Eligible staff may self-nominate if they have an interest and desire to serve.  The senate will determine the deadline for nominations, conduct the election through secret ballot, and notify the nominees.  All benefits-eligible, non-faculty staff members are eligible to vote for nominees within their respective EEO classification.  In the event of a tie, a run-off election will be held.  The election results will be published within ten working days after the election.  In the event of a vacancy occurring prior to a regular election, and an alternate is not available, a special election may be called.

 

  1. Vacancies

        Senate seats which become vacant prior to a regular election shall be filled by alternates from the respective EEO job classification, in succession beginning with the alternate receiving the highest number of votes in the most recent election. Alternates will serve until the next regular election and time served as an alternate will not be counted against the term limits. If no alternate from the respective classification is available to serve at the time the vacancy occurs, the seat may be filled through a special election or the seat may remain unfilled until the next regular election.

 

Article IV

 

  1. Meetings
    The Executive Committee will schedule regular monthly Senate meetings with a minimum of six regular meetings held within each fiscal year. One week prior to the scheduled meeting, the Executive Committee will meet to set the agenda. The agenda of the next scheduled meeting along with the publication of the minutes from the most recent meeting shall be announced to the university community at least three working days in advance of the meeting date. Meetings will be open to the university community except when in the judgment of the Executive Committee it is determined that the meeting should be held in closed session. Individuals wishing to address the Senate or place items on the agenda may submit a written request through the membership. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the membership. Procedure will be determined by Roberts Rules of Order unless dictated by policy.

 

  1. Attendance

Members shall be allowed a reasonable amount of time to devote to Staff Senate meetings and senate work as part of their normal working duties. Members must inform their supervisors well in advance of time required to conduct the Senate’s business. When absence cannot be avoided, Senators shall contact an Executive Committee member of their absence, prior to the start of the meeting.

 

 

  1. Expulsion
    A member who has three unexcused absences in a Staff Senate year shall be subject to review and possible removal from his/her position by the Staff Senate. An appeal for reinstatement may be filed with the Executive Committee by presenting documentation of good cause. In the event the Executive Committee upholds the expulsion, the next alternate in the respective EEO classification will be notified to serve.

 

  1. Resignation

 

When a Senator resigns or is removed as a result of absences or an expulsion ruling, an Alternate shall move up to the vacant position. The Alternate shall move up within the designated EEO classification in order of previous election results.

 

  1. Classification Changes

If a Senator changes classification, he/she must inform the Executive Committee of the change. At that time, the Senator may choose to remain as a Senator in the original class or to resign. If the Senator resigns within the period, he/she shall be eligible to run in the new classification as the next general election. If the period has expired, the Senator may resign, but must then wait on year before running in the new classification.

 

  1. Amendments
    Any full-time benefits-eligible staff member currently employed at Midwestern State University may propose a Staff Senate constitutional amendment by placing the item on a Senate meeting agenda. Constitutional amendments require approval by a majority vote of the Staff Senate and approval of the president and the Board of Regents.   

 

 

III. RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBJECTIVES

 

  1. The Staff Senate shall develop, maintain, and implement standard operating procedures.
  2. The Staff Senate shall develop and maintain communication between itself and:
  3. University Staff
  4. Faculty Senate
  5. University Administration
  6. University President
  7. The Staff Senate shall appoint committees as necessary to accomplish its work.
  8. The Staff Senate may, when appropriate, nominate Senate members to serve on other councils and committees.
  9. The Staff Senate shall prepare and submit to the University President proposals and position papers on staff concerns as determined by a majority of the Staff Senate and prepare and submit reports as requested by the University President.
  10. The Staff Senate shall prepare and submit to the University President and the staff an annual summary of all activities and reports by August 31 of each year.
  11. The Staff Senate shall disseminate minutes via the campus Postmaster and Staff Senate webpage.
  12. The Staff Senate may monitor, review, and make recommendations on administrative actions that affect staff employees.
  13. The Staff Senate shall monitor, review, and make recommendations on University Policy and Procedure Statements that affect staff employees. The Staff Senate Chair shall serve as official reviewer of all University Policy and Procedure statements.

 

  1. OFFICERS

 

  1. Officers
  2. Chairperson

The Chairperson presides over all meetings and appoints committees under the advisement of the Executive Committee, attends and is a voting member of the Administrative Council, attends Board of Regents meetings, and meets regularly with the University president to relate staff concerns.

  1. Vice Chairperson

The Vice Chairperson presides over all meetings in the absence of the Chairperson, represents the Staff as appointed, and assists with the appointment of committee members.

  1. Secretary

The Secretary/Treasurer maintains accurate records of attendance; informs the campus via the Postmaster of meetings; keeps and disseminates the minutes of all business conducted by the Staff Senate; and reserves meeting rooms;

  1. Parliamentarian

The Parliamentarian assists with the enforcement of rules, proceedings and debate in accordance with parliamentary procedure as well as maintaining decorum in meetings. 

  1. Elections
  2. Officers are elected at the meeting in August for one year terms.

 

  1. ORGANIZATION

 

The Staff Senate shall consist of the following committees:

     

  1. Executive Committee

        The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Parliamentarian. This committee prepares the meeting agenda and assists with the appointment of committees.

  1. Long Range Review and Planning Committee

The Long Range Review and Planning Committee shall consist of a minimum of two Staff Senate members.  The Committee shall maintain an ongoing study to determine the future needs and priority of University matters relating to staff and advise the Staff Senate on these matters. 

  1. Communication Committee

The Communication Committee shall consist of a minimum of two Staff Senate members.  The Committee shall maintain the Staff Senate website and oversee communication between the Staff Senate and our constituents as well as the greater campus community.

  1. Membership Committee

The Membership Committee shall consist of a minimum of two Staff Senate members.  The Committee shall coordinate Staff Senate elections and orientation for new senators.

  1. Bylaws Committee

The Bylaws Committee shall consist of a minimum of two Staff Senate members.  The Committee shall review the Bylaws as needed and make recommendations to the Executive Committee.  The Committee shall ensure updates to the Bylaws are made as amendments are approved. 

  1. Staff Senate Scholarship Committee

The Staff Senate Scholarship Committee shall consist of a minimum of two Staff Senate members.  The committee shall design, update, and disseminate application forms for the annual Jesse W. Rogers Staff Senate Scholarship award.  The Staff Senate Scholarship Committee will solicit applications from all eligible staff members, receive and review all submitted applications, and suggest recipients to the Staff Senate.  Once recipients have been selected, the committee shall inform the campus of the awards.

 

  1. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

 

  1. Proposal of Amendments
  2. Any Senator desiring to amend the Bylaws shall work with the Bylaws committee and submit the proposed amendments in writing to the Executive Committee.
  3. The Executive Committee shall review the proposed amendment(s) and recommend course of action by Staff Senate at its next regular meeting.
  4. The Secretary shall send a copy of the amendment to the Staff Senate prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. Voting will take place during the next month’s regularly scheduled meeting.
  5. Amendments are recorded by Bylaws Committee upon approval.

     

  1. Adoption of Amendments
  2. Amendments to the Bylaws shall become effective upon approval by a two-thirds vote of the Staff Senate.

 

VII. QUORUM

 

  1. A majority of the Senate shall constitute a quorum.
B.     Any cases of procedure not specifically covered in the Staff Senate Constitution and Bylaws shall be resolved by Roberts Rules of Order.