The name of the organization shall be the Operating Staff Council (OSC) of Northern Illinois University.
The members of the operating staff of Northern Illinois University have the right to organize a council to represent their constituency. The OSC is an integral part of the University governance system through its participation, communication, advisement, and assistance on the resolution of issues and the formulation of policies relevant to the general welfare of operating staff employees. The operating staff, through its OSC, may communicate its concerns to the relevant administrative bodies, to the appropriate vice president(s), to the president of the University, and shall then have the right of ultimate appeal to the Board of Trustees.
Operating staff employees in status positions are eligible to become elected members of the OSC. The manner and process for determining eligibility are contained in the Bylaws.
The OSC shall consist of sixteen (16) elected representatives. There shall be at least one elected representative from each division that employs operating staff. However, if a division does not provide a candidate by the deadline for submission of application, they will be assumed to have waived the seat for that year and the seat will be filled from the operating staff at large. The balance of open seats shall be filled by election from members of the operating staff at large. The election process is described in the Bylaws.
For election purposes a university "division" is defined as a section of the university employing operating staff. These divisions are separated from one another by reporting structure (i.e., to a vice president who reports directly to the president).
Each representative shall serve a term of three (3) years.
It shall be the responsibility of the OSC Executive Committee to bring forward to the OSC any formal recommendations to revoke OSC membership. Membership shall be revoked by a vote of no less than two-thirds (2/3) of the members present at a regular or special meeting.
Regular meetings of the OSC shall be held once per month throughout the calendar year.
Special Meetings may be called by the President of the OSC as needed. Notification of such meetings shall be provided to all OSC members as far in advance as possible.
Attendance at regular and special meetings shall be considered mandatory for all OSC members. The President of the OSC shall be notified in advance of any absence from scheduled meetings.
Items for the proposed agenda should be received by the OSC President no later than ten (10) business days prior to each OSC meeting. Other agenda items may be presented at any regular meeting before the approval of the agenda.
Standing committees of the OSC shall be: Executive, Personnel/Staff Development/Benefits, Elections/Appointments, Public Relations/Activities, and others as determined by regular OSC action. Each OSC member shall be required to serve on at least one (1) standing committee of the OSC.
Certain University committees and commissions require representation from Operating Staff. (See Bylaws for constituency and election procedures.)
Officers of the OSC shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Officers shall be elected for a one-year term by the members of the OSC. Absentee ballots will be permitted. Retiring officers shall continue to hold office until the new officers are elected. The President of the OSC shall have served at least one year on the OSC.
Any member of the OSC may propose an amendment to the Constitution by presenting it, in writing, to the President of the OSC. The amendment shall be presented for consideration at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
An amendment to the Constitution shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full OSC membership for adoption.
Any member of the OSC may propose an amendment to the Bylaws at any regularly scheduled or special meeting of the OSC.
An amendment
to the Bylaws shall require a simple majority of the voting members
present at any regularly scheduled or special meeting.
Approved: June 12, 1997
Revisions Approved:
July 8, 1993
September 9, 1993
June 8, 1995
February 8, 1996
June 9, 1998