BY-LAWS OF THE RUTGERS COUNCIL OF AAUP CHAPTERS

Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters

American Association of University Professors - American Federation of Teachers

Click here for Part-time Chapter By-Laws

BY-LAWS OF THE FULL-TIME RUTGERS COUNCIL OF AAUP (AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS)
CHAPTERS, AAUP-AFT AND ITS CONSTITUENT CHAPTERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.	Membership
II.	General Membership Meetings
III.	Dues
IV.	Officers of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters
	A. List of Officers
	B. Election of Officers
	C. Recall of Officers
	D. Succession of Officers
V.	Duties of Rutgers Council Officers
	A. President
	B. Immediate Past President
	C. Vice President
	D. Secretary
	E. Treasurer
VI.	Executive Council of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters
	A. Membership
	B. Council Representative Terms of Office
	C. Elections for Council Representatives
	D. Quorum Rule
	E. Executive Council Duties
	F. Executive Council Standing Committees
	G. Council Administrative Committees
	H. Cooperation with Part-Time Lecturer Faculty
VII.	Executive Council Steering Committee
VIII.	Negotiating Committee
IX.	TA/GA Steering Committee
X.	EOF Steering Committee
XI.	Chapters
XII.	Chapter Officers and Duties
XIII.	Chapter Executive Committee
	A. Membership of the Executive Committee
	B. Chair of the Executive Committee
	C. Powers of Executive Committee
	D. Meetings of Executive Committee
	E. Quorum Rule
XIV.	Chapter Committees
XV.	Chapter Elections
XVI.	Chapter Meetings
XVII.	Department Representatives
	A. Purpose of Department Representatives
	B. Responsibilities of Department Representatives
	C. Election of Department Representatives
XVIII.	Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau
XIX.	Amendments
XX.	By-Laws Review
XXI.	Ratification of the By-Laws

PREAMBLE

The American Association of University Professors of Rutgers, The State University has associated itself into an organization within the provisions and objectives of the National American Association of University Professors, and the additional objectives applying to organizations representing public employees as defined by Chapter 303 of the Laws of 1968, in the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act and as subsequently amended.

The name of this organization shall be the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters. As the negotiating representative for faculty members, teaching and graduate assistants, and EOF Counselors at Rutgers, The State University, the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters seeks to promote and preserve the professional and economic well being of its unit members for whom it bears legal responsibilities. As a professional association and in addition to its responsibilities as negotiating representative, the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and its constituent chapters in Camden, Newark and New Brunswick, and its affiliate, the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter, seek to enhance the academic environment at the University.

These By-Laws regulate the functions of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters at all levels of the organization, except for those functions of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter that are regulated by that organization's by-laws.

ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP

The Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters shall consist of faculty, teaching and graduate assistants, and EOF Counselors who are dues paying members of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters. Such members shall, by virtue of their membership in the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, also belong to their geographic campus location chapters: New Brunswick, Newark and Camden. Each Rutgers University chapter shall have representation on an Executive Council of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, as provided for in Article VI.

Retired members of the bargaining unit of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters may hold associate membership in the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters based upon a reduced annual fee as established by the Executive Council.

Membership in the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters confers membership in National AAUP.

Only full members in good standing with respect to dues payment shall be eligible for office; membership on any committee of a chapter or the Executive Council; or have voting rights in elections, contract ratification, or any other matter submitted for membership approval. Associate members may vote for and hold elective office; they may serve on any committee of a chapter or the Executive Council.

ARTICLE II: GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

The Executive Council may call general membership meetings of all members of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters to be held under the auspices of each chapter -- Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick.

The Executive Council Nominating Committee shall deliver its report at general meetings held in the spring semester of each year.

The agenda of meetings shall be outlined in the call for the meeting. Any action taken at a meeting shall require passage by a simple majority of those present, except as indicated in Article XIX, Amendments.

The President of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, at his/her discretion, or upon receipt of a petition signed by forty (40) members, (at least five of whose number shall be from Camden, five from Newark, and five from New Brunswick) shall call special meetings of the general membership. The petition shall state the purpose of the special meeting. Special meetings shall be governed by the same rules as those for regular meetings, except that (a) the quorum shall be twice that required for regular meetings (see Article XVI, paragraph B) and (b) the petition may specify that the meeting shall be held in a designated geographic location.

In addition, the Executive Council and the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter may call joint membership meetings. No matters directly concerning elections, bylaws, collective negotiations, grievance handling, dues, or any other internal matters may be voted on at such meetings. Joint meetings shall be governed by the same rules as those for regular meetings, except that (a) the quorums required for general membership meetings of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter shall together constitute a quorum for a joint meeting and (b) members in good standing of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter shall be entitled to vote on all matters not excluded.

ARTICLE III: DUES

The AAUP membership, by mail ballot, shall determine a maximum dues structure. The Executive Council shall determine the actual dues structure within this maximum. Non-payment of dues shall be cause for removal from membership. Authorization for deduction of membership dues is effected through completion of the AAUP Membership Application. This authorization shall remain in effect unless terminated by the member upon written notice to the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters of withdrawal between December 15 and December 31 of any calendar year or by termination of employment.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS OF THE RUTGERS COUNCIL OF AAUP CHAPTERS

The officers of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters shall be the President; the Vice President; the Immediate Past President; the Secretary, and the Treasurer.
Election of officers of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters:

The officers of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters shall be elected by the membership through a secret mail ballot.
All officers shall serve two-year terms. These terms shall commence on July 1 following the election.
No person may serve more than two successive terms as President.
The Immediate Past President shall serve for the duration of his or her successor's tenure.
The Committee on Nominations and Elections of the Executive Council (see Article VI, Paragraph G) shall prepare a slate to the membership. Additional candidates may be nominated by petition of ten (10) members. Petitions must be submitted to the Executive Council Committee on Nominations and Elections within fifteen working days following announcement of the committee slate.
Ballots shall be mailed to all members of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters at all geographic locations. The mailing shall be conducted by the staff of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters or the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau in the New Brunswick office, under the supervision of the Committee on Nominations and Elections of the Executive Council.
Ballots shall be counted by the staff of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters or the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau in the New Brunswick office under the direct supervision of the Executive Council's Committee on Nominations and Elections.
No ballots received after the announced deadline for the return of ballots shall be counted.
The election process shall be completed by May 1 of each year.

Each officer is subject to recall by the members of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.

A recall election must be initiated by a petition stating the major reason for the proposed action and signed by 100 dues paying members, at least 10 of whom shall be from each campus chapter.
The Secretary shall, within fifteen (15) days of receipt of a petition demanding a recall election, certify the authenticity and the member status of each signer and present the petition to the Executive Council.
No recall petition shall be certified after March 1 of the year in which the election is demanded; and the election shall be completed no later than 30 days after the petition has been certified.
A recall election shall be conducted by the Executive Council's Committee on Nominations and Elections.
An officer shall be removed if two-thirds of those casting ballots so vote, provided only that the total voting for recall shall be no less than a majority of total votes cast in the election of that officer.
When a vacancy occurs because of a recall election, the position shall be filled according to the procedures listed below under Section IV-D, Succession of Officers.

Succession of officers:

In the event the President cannot complete his/her term, the term shall be completed by the Vice President.
In the event that the Vice President, the Secretary, or the Treasurer cannot complete his/her term, the Executive Council, by a majority of those voting, shall elect a replacement to complete the term.

ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF RUTGERS COUNCIL OFFICERS

President:

Be the spokesperson and official representative for the AAUP.
Appoint the chairs and the members of the standing committees, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council. Such persons shall be drawn from the membership of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.
Appoint with the advice and consent of the Executive Council the members of the administrative committees of the Executive Council; such members shall be drawn from the membership of the Executive Council.
Appoint the chair and members of special committees with the advice and consent of the Executive council. Such persons shall be drawn for the membership of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.
Preside over meetings of the Executive Council.
Appoint staff members for the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters with the advice and consent of the Executive Council. Nominate staff members to the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau with the advice and consent of the Executive Council pursuant to Article XVIII below.
Oversee office operations and the operations of the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau in the provision of services to the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.
Initiate court action on behalf of the Rutgers council of AAUP Chapters; such action shall be approved by the Executive Council prior to its initiation.
Provide direction to other officers and oversee their activities.
Serve as one of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters' representatives on the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau.

Immediate Past President:

Assist the incumbent President in the performance of the President's duties as requested by the President and/or the Executive Council.
Provide guidance and assistance to the organization as needed.
Preside over meetings of the Executive Council and the Steering Committee in the absence of the President and the Vice President.

Vice President:

Preside over meetings of the Executive Council or Steering Committee in the absence of the President.
Perform such duties as are requested by the Executive Council and/or the President.

Secretary:

Oversee the maintenance of the records of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.
Keep minutes at all meetings of the Executive Council; prepare these minutes for reproduction and distribution.
Preside over meetings of the Executive Council in the absence of the President, Vice President and Immediate Past President.
Perform other administrative duties as requested by the President.

Treasurer:

Oversee the financial affairs of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.
Together with the Treasurer-elect chair the Executive Council Budget Committee and prepare the annual budget for submission to it and the President.
Review monthly the organization's expenditures.
Prepare and present a financial report for the Executive Council and the general membership at least once a year, no later than June 1; prepare and present other financial reports as requested by the President and/or the Executive Council. Review the organization's expenditures on a monthly basis.
Recommend appropriate management of funds of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.
Preside over meetings of the Executive Council in the absence of the President, the Vice President, the Immediate Past President, and the Secretary.
Serve as one of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters' representatives on the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE RUTGERS COUNCIL OF AAUP CHAPTERS

The policies and activities of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters shall be coordinated by an Executive Council consisting of the President; Vice President; Immediate Past President; Secretary; Treasurer; the President and Vice President of each chapter; one (1) Executive Council representative from each chapter's Department Representatives; chairs of standing committees; each chapter, shall have one (1) Executive Council representative for every one hundred (100) chapter members or fractions thereof; one (1) TA/GA representative elected by the TA/GA Steering Committee for every one hundred (100) TA/GA chapter members or fractions thereof, one (1) EOF representative elected by the EOF members and two (2) Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter representatives elected by the PTLFC members. Following the annual election of officers, the person elected as the next President shall become a member of the Executive Council.
The terms of Executive Council representatives shall be two years. If an Executive Council representative is unable to complete his/her term, a replacement shall be appointed by the appropriate Chapter Executive Committee.
Elections for Executive Council representatives shall take place every March; the elected representatives shall take office September 1 of the same year.
Fifty percent minus one of the membership of the Executive Council shall constitute a quorum.
The Executive Council's duties shall include:

Determine membership dues in accordance with Article III.
Assume responsibility for general fiscal affairs and approve the annual budget.
Conduct the affairs of the organization through its standing and special committees.
Authorize legal action on behalf of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.
Authorize, after a mail vote by the membership, job actions in support of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters' collective bargaining goals.
Authorize joint meetings with the Executive Board of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter. No matters directly concerning elections, bylaws, collective negotiations, grievance handling, dues, or any other internal matters may be voted on at such meetings.
Establish specific charges for each Executive Council committee.

The Executive Council shall establish the following standing committees:

Academic Freedom and Tenure ("A");
Negotiating ("N") (See Article VIII);
University Governance ("T");
Discrimination and Affirmative Action;
Fringe Benefits;
University Budget and Priorities;
Membership;
Legislative Relations;
Grievance and Working conditions;
Health and Safety;
and Newsletter.

The Executive Council shall establish the following administrative committees:

Budget and Personnel;
Nominations and Elections;
By-Laws (See Article XVIII);
and Annual Award Dinner.

Except that they may not vote on matters of collective negotiation, grievance handling, elections, dues, bylaws, or any other internal matters, the standing and administrative committees of the Executive Council of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters may work jointly with the standing and administrative committees of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter.

ARTICLE VII: EXECUTIVE COUNCIL STEERING COMMITTEE

The Executive Council Steering Committee shall consist of the officers of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters; the President of each constituent chapter; the chairs of the Negotiating, Grievance and Membership Committees; and two members of the Executive Council elected by the Executive Council. Following the annual election of officers, the person elected as the next President shall become a member of the Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee is empowered to act on behalf of the Executive Council when circumstances require action and the Executive Council cannot be convened. Such action is subject to review by the Executive Council. The Steering Committee may also act at the direction of the Executive Council.

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ARTICLE VIII: NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE

The Negotiating Committee shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Executive Council.
The Negotiating Committee shall be composed of the chairperson and at least three additional members of the faculty chosen so that there shall be one member from each of the constituent chapters of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters. The Committee shall also include one Teaching/Graduate Assistant member, selected by the Teaching/Graduate Assistant Steering Committee.
The President shall be an ex-officio member of the Negotiating committee.
The Negotiating Committee shall function under negotiating policies determined by the Executive Council.
The chair of the Negotiating Committee shall serve a term of one year or until the Agreement is concluded, whichever is longer.
The contract negotiated shall be ratified, in a mail ballot sent to all AAUP members who are Faculty or Teaching or Graduate Assistants in the bargaining unit concerned, by a majority of those who vote.

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ARTICLE IX: TEACHING ASSISTANT/GRADUATE ASSISTANT STEERING COMMITTEE

There shall be a Teaching Assistant/Graduate Assistant Steering Committee consisting of four representatives elected only by TA/GA members in New Brunswick, two elected only by TA/GA members in Newark, one elected only by TA/GA members in Camden and one alternate elected at large.
Elections of TA/GA Steering Committee representatives shall be conducted annually in November under the supervision of the Executive Council Committee on Nominations and Elections. Any TA/GA member may nominate herself/himself as a candidate for the TA/GA Steering Committee representative or alternate by sending a letter to the President of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.
The TA/GA Steering Committee shall establish rules for the conduct of its meetings and other activities.
The TA/GA Steering Committee shall have the following responsibilities:

Select two representatives to serve on the Executive Council.
Select the TA/GA member of the Negotiating Committee.
Prepare bargaining proposals for the Negotiating Committee.
Conduct TA/GA membership campaigns.
Select and train at least one TA//GA member to serve as counselor(s) in the TA/GA grievance procedure.
Carry out other activities which may be assigned to it by the Executive Council or the President.

ARTICLE X: EOF STEERING COMMITTEE

There shall be an EOF Counselor Steering Committee consisting of all Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters members who are in the EOF bargaining unit.
The EOF Steering Committee shall establish rules for the conduct of its meetings and other activities.
The EOF Steering Committee shall have the following responsibilities:

Select one representative to serve on the Executive Council.
Select the EOF Negotiating Committee.
Prepare bargaining proposals for the Negotiating Committee.
Vote on the ratification of the contract negotiated.
Conduct EOF membership campaigns.
Select and train at least one EOF member to serve as counselor(s) in the EOF grievance procedure.
Carry out other activities which may be assigned to it by the Executive Council or the President.

ARTICLE XI: CHAPTERS

The constituent units of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters shall be:

Camden, composed of members assigned to the academic units of the Camden geographic area.
Newark, composed of members assigned to the academic units of the Newark geographic area.
New Brunswick, composed of members assigned to the academic units of the New Brunswick geographic area.

Members assigned to University Wide units may affiliate with the chapter for the geographic area closest to their primary work location.
Associate members may affiliate with the chapter of their choice.
The Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter is an affiliate with its own organization and bylaws. The only Articles of these bylaws that apply to the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter are those that directly refer to that Chapter.

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ARTICLE XII: CHAPTER OFFICERS

The officers shall be a President, a Vice President, and a Secretary-Treasurer, elected from among the active members of each chapter by secret ballot of the membership in March of each year for one-year terms beginning September 1 of the same year.
The chapter President shall administer the unit's affairs, shall preside at membership and Executive Committee meetings and shall serve ex-officio on all standing committees.
The duties of the chapter Vice president shall be general supervisory and administrative duties as assigned by the President with the advice of the chapter Executive Committee.
The chapter Secretary-Treasurer shall keep all minutes and records of the AAUP chapter.
If for any reason an officer becomes unable to serve, his/her place shall be filled by recommendation of the Nominating Committee and with the approval of the chapter Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be the sole judge of such inability to serve.

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ARTICLE XIII: THE CHAPTER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

There shall be an Executive Committee for each chapter composed of the following members:

All chapter officers and the chapter Immediate Past-President;
Four additional members to be elected by the chapter membership for terms of two (2) years, to be staggered in such a manner that two (2) terms of office shall expire annually;
The chairpersons of chapter standing committees;
One TA/GA representative selected from among the chapter's TA/GA membership according to procedures determined by the TA/GA Steering Committee (Article IX).
Following the annual election of officers, the person elected as the next chapter president shall become a member of the Executive Committee.

The chapter President, or in his/her absence, the chapter Vice President, shall serve as chair of the Executive Committee.
The chapter Executive Committee shall have the power to supervise the administrative affairs of the chapter; to receive reports of any committee and advise thereon; to call special meetings of the chapter; to take action on all administrative matters not specifically provided for herein; and to take final action on any matter the urgency of which makes it impracticable to call a regular or special meeting of the chapter.
There shall normally be at least two meetings each semester of the chapter Executive Committee; other meetings may be called upon the request of the President or three members of the Executive Committee.
Fifty percent minus one of the membership of the chapter Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum. All actions of the Executive Committee shall be taken by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Executive Committee members present.

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ARTICLE XIV: CHAPTER COMMITTEES

Immediately upon assuming office, the chapter President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the chapter Executive Committee, the following standing committees:

Nominations and Elections; and
Program.

The chapter Executive Committee may establish such other special and standing committees as it may deem necessary.
The chapter President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees with the exception of the chapter Nominating Committee.

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ARTICLE XV: CHAPTER ELECTIONS

Every Fall term, the chapter Nominations and Elections Committee shall prepare a slate of nominees for each of the following chapter positions:

President;
Vice President;
Secretary-Treasurer;
Two Executive Committee Members (two-year terms); and
Representatives to the Executive Council. (See Article VI, Paragraph A for terms and number.)

The candidates put forward by the chapter Nominations and Elections Committee shall be announced at the same time as the candidates for University-wide officers of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters are announced. (See Article IV, Paragraph B-5.)
Nominations of chapter officers, Executive Committee members, and representatives to the Executive Council may also be made by a petition signed by ten (10) members of the chapter and presented to the Executive Council, no later than fifteen working days following the presentation of the chapter Nominations and Elections Committee slate.
The election of chapter officers, Executive Committee members, and representatives to the Executive Council shall take place at the same time as the election for the University-wide officers of the Rutgers council of AAUP chapters. (See Article IV, Paragraph B-5.)
Ballots shall be mailed to all chapter members by the staff of the Rutgers council of AAUP Chapters or the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau, under the supervision and with the assistance of the chapter Nominations and Elections Committee.
Ballots shall be counted by the staff of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters or the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau under the immediate supervision of the Committee on Nominations and Elections of the Executive Council.
No ballots received after the announced deadline for the return of ballots shall be counted. All election procedures must be completed by April 1.

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ARTICLE XVI: CHAPTER MEETINGS

The chapter Executive Committee shall call a general membership meeting of all chapter members during the spring semester prior to the annual election of chapter officers.
Ten (10) chapter members shall constitute a quorum in Camden, fifteen (15) in Newark, twenty-five (25) in New Brunswick.
The chapter President shall deliver his/her annual report to the membership and the chapter Nominating Committee shall deliver its report at the Annual Meeting.
The agenda of the meeting shall be outlined in the call for the meeting. Additions to the agenda shall be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members attending a meeting.
Any action taken at a meeting shall require passage by a simple majority.
At the discretion of the chapter President, or upon receipt of a petition signed by ten (10) members of the chapter, a special meeting of the general membership shall be called by the President. Special meetings shall be governed by the same rules as those for regular meetings.

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ARTICLE XVII: DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES

To develop a broader involvement by the membership in the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, each department or appropriate academic unit within the constituent chapters may elect or appoint a Department Representative and alternate.
The major responsibility of the Department Representative is to serve as the liaison between the Executive Council and the general membership.
Each constituent chapter must elect from among its Department Representatives a person to serve on the Executive Council for a two-year term. When this election is appropriate it shall be held at the annual meeting.

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ARTICLE XVIII: THE RUTGERS AAUP SERVICE BUREAU

The Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, together with the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter, shall establish the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau. The purpose of the Bureau is to provide technical and clerical assistance and consumable supplies to the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and to the affiliated Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter in carrying out their functions.
The Presidents and Treasurers of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter shall be the members of the Bureau.
The duties of the members of the Bureau shall be:

To appoint staff to carry out Bureau business upon nomination by the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter;
To supervisor the purchase of consumable supplies and services;
To monitor the expenditure of Bureau funds;
To determine the allocation of Bureau resources between the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter;
To report to the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter at least twice each year concerning the receipt and expenditure of Bureau funds: one report to be given by November 1 based on the audited financial records of the previous fiscal year and one report to be given in April based on the financial records available as of March 30 of the current fiscal year.

Funding for the Bureau's affairs and business shall be provided by the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, in an amount to be determined by the Executive Council, and by the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter, in an amount to be determined in accordance with its bylaws.
Either the Rutgers council of AAUP Chapters or the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter may terminate its participation in the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other. If either party terminates its participation in the Bureau, the Bureau will be dissolved.
If the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau is dissolved, funds and supplies shall be returned to the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and to the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter in the ratio in which each had contributed funds to the Bureau in the previous fiscal year.

ARTICLE XIX: AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those responding to a mail ballot sent out by the Executive Council.

ARTICLE XX: BY-LAWS REVIEW

The Executive Council shall appoint at three-year intervals a By-Laws committee to review these By-Laws and make recommendations for necessary changes.

ARTICLE XXI: RATIFICATION OF THE BY-LAWS

These By-Laws shall become effective on the date of ratification. Amendments shall become effective on the date of their approval by the membership.

ADOPTED 9/27/72
AMENDED 6/30/79
AMENDED 6/2/80
AMENDED 5/9/83
AMENDED 4/24/86
AMENDED 11/1/88
AMENDED 2/16/90
AMENDED 5/3/04
AMENDED 5/2/05

BY-LAWS OF

THE PART-TIME LECTURER FACULTY CHAPTER,

THE RUTGERS COUNCIL OF AAUP

(AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS) CHAPTERS -

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

PREAMBLE

The Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter, Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, has organized itself into an organization within the provisions and objectives of the National American Association of University Professors, and the additional objectives applying to organizations representing employees as defined by Chapter 303 of the Laws of 1968, in the New Jersey Employee Relations Act, as subsequently amended.

The Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter, as the negotiating representative for part-time faculty, seeks to promote and preserve the professional and economic well being of its unit members for whom it bears legal responsibilities. As a professional association and in addition to its responsibilities as negotiating representative, the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter, together with its affiliate, the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, seeks to enhance the academic environment at the University.

These By-Laws regulate the functions of the Part-Time Faculty Chapter and its relationship with the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.

ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP

The Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter, affiliated with the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, shall consist of part-time lecturers and other persons employed for less than 50% of full-time in a teaching or research capacity, who are dues paying members of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter. Persons who are in the negotiating unit represented by the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters may not be members of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter. Members not doing bargaining unit work for a year or more may retain limited membership, as “associate” members, with reduced dues of $8.00 per year and limited privileges. “Associate” members in good standing are not eligible for office, but may serve on any committee of the Executive Board. They shall have voting rights in elections of officers only. The Chapter officers and members shall serve on the Chapter Executive Board as provided in Article VI. Membership in the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter confers membership in National AAUP.

Members may submit written resignation to the PTLFC at any time, but membership withdrawal will only be processed during the months of June or December.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

The Chapter Executive Board may call general membership meetings of the Chapter at any time. There shall be at least one general membership meeting per year. Fifteen (15) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum including one (1) from each campus: Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick. The agenda of the meeting shall be outlined in the call for the meeting. Additions to the agenda shall be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members attending the meeting.

The Chapter Executive Board may call, together with the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, joint membership meetings. No matters directly concerning elections, by-laws, collective negotiations, grievance handling, dues, or any other internal matters may be voted on at such meetings. Members of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters and of the Part-Time Lecturers Faculty Chapter in good standing shall be entitled to vote on all matters considered at these meetings. The agenda of such joint meetings shall be outlined in the call for the meeting. Any action taken at a meeting shall require passage by a simple majority of those present.

The Chapter President, at his/her discretion, or upon receipt of a petition signed by twenty (20) members, (at least three from each campus: Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick) shall call special meetings of the general membership. The petition shall state the purpose of the special meeting. Special meetings shall be governed by the same rules as those for general membership meetings, except that the quorum shall be twice that required for general membership meetings.

ARTICLE III: DUES AND FINANCES

Dues shall be determined by the Chapter Executive Board within a maximum determined by the membership by mail. Non-payment of dues shall be cause for removal from membership. Only members in good standing with respect to dues payment shall be eligible for office, membership on any committee of the Executive Board, or have voting rights in elections, contract ratification, or any other matter submitted for membership approval.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS OF THE PART-TIME LECTURER FACULTY CHAPTER, RUTGERS COUNCIL OF AAUP CHAPTERS

A. The officers of the Chapter Executive Board shall be the President, the Vice-President, the Camden Vice-President, the Newark Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.

B. Election of officers of the Chapter Executive Board:

1) The officers of the Chapter Executive Board shall be elected by the membership through a secret mail ballot.

2) The President shall be elected every two years and shall serve for a period of two years beginning on September 1 of the year in which he/she has been elected.

3) A President may be nominated for the office of President in the year following his/her initial election and service.

4) The Vice-President shall be elected every two years and shall serve for a period of two years beginning September 1 of the year in which he/she has been elected.

5) Depending on which campus the Vice-President in 4) is from, two other Vice-Presidents shall be elected so as to ensure that there is a Vice-President elected from each of the three campuses. These two Vice-Presidents shall serve for a period of two years beginning September 1 of the year in which they are elected.

6) The Secretary and the Treasurer shall be elected every two years for a period of two years. Each shall take office on September 1 of the year in which he/she has been elected.

7) The Committee on Nominations and Elections of the Chapter Executive Board (see Article VI, Paragraph G) shall prepare a slate for election of officers by soliciting nominations from the membership and shall announce it to the membership.

8) Ballots shall be mailed to all members of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter at all geographic locations. Members shall be given a minimum of four weeks to return their ballots. The mailing shall be conducted by the Rutgers Service Bureau Staff, or by Chapter staff in the New Brunswick office, under the supervision of the Committee on Nominations and Elections of the Chapter Executive Board.

9) Ballots shall be counted by the staff in the Chapter’s New Brunswick office under the direct supervision of the Chapter Executive Board’s Committee on Nominations and Elections.

10) No ballots received after the announced deadline for the return of ballots shall be counted.

11) The election process shall be completed by August 15 of each year.

C. Each officer is subject to recall by the members of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter.

1) A recall election must be initiated by a petition stating the major reasons for the proposed action and signed by twenty (20) dues paying members, at least five (5) of whom shall be from each campus.

2) A petition demanding a recall election shall be presented to the Chapter Executive Board through the Secretary, who shall certify the authenticity and the member status of each signer.

3) No recall petition shall be received after March 1 of the year in which the election is demanded; and each recall election shall be completed no later than 30 days after the petition has been certified.

4) A recall election shall be conducted by the Chapter Executive Board’s Committee on Nominations and Elections.

5) An officer shall be removed when two-thirds of those casting ballots so vote, provided only that the total voting for recall shall be no less than a majority of total votes cast in the election of that officer.

6) When a vacancy occurs because of a recall election, the position shall be filled according to the procedures listed below under Section IV-D, Succession of Officers.

D. Succession of Officers:

1) In the event the President cannot complete his/her term, the term shall be completed by the Vice-President until a special election fills the vacancy.

2) After serving temporarily as President, the Vice-President shall resume his/her duties for whatever remains of the term of office.

3) In the event that the Vice-President cannot complete his/her term, the term shall be completed by the Secretary until a special election fills the vacancy.

4) In the event that the Secretary cannot complete his/her term, the Chapter Executive Board, by a majority of those voting, shall elect a replacement to complete the term.

ARTICTLE V: DUTIES OF CHAPTER OFFICERS

A. President:

1) Be the spokesperson and official representative for the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter.

2) Appoint the chairs and the members of the standing committees, with the advice and consent of the Chapter Executive Board.

3) Appoint with the advice and consent of the Chapter Executive Board the members of the administrative committees of the Chapter Executive Board; such members shall be drawn from the Chapter Executive Board membership.

4) Appoint the chair and members of special committees with the advice and consent of the Chapter Executive Board.

5) Preside over meetings of the Chapter Executive Board.

6) Initiate court action on behalf of the Chapter; such action shall be approved by the Chapter Executive Board prior to its initiation.

7) Provide direction to other officers and oversee their activities.

8) Serve as one of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter’s representatives on the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau. (See Article VIII.)

B. Vice President:

1) Be the spokesperson and official representative for the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter in the absence of the President.

2) Assist the President as needed.

3) Preside over meetings of the Chapter Executive Board in the absence of the President.

C. Camden Vice-President:

1) Be the campus representative and spokesperson.

2) Preside over campus meetings.

D. Newark Vice-President:

1) Be the campus representative and spokesperson.

2) Preside over campus meetings.

E. Secretary:

1) Oversee the maintenance of the records of the Chapter.

2) Keep minutes at all meetings of the Chapter Executive Board, prepare these minutes for reproduction and distributions by the Chapter or Service Bureau staff.

3) Preside over meetings of the Executive Board in the absence of the President and Vice-President.

4) Perform other administrative duties as requested by the President.

F. Treasurer:

1) Oversee the financial affairs of the Chapter.

2) Chair the Chapter Budget Committee and prepare the annual budget for submission to the President and the Executive Board.

3) Review monthly the organization’s expenditures.

4) Prepare and present a financial report for the Chapter Executive Board and the general membership at least once per year, no later than June 1; prepare and present other financial reports as requested by the President and/or the Executive Board.

5) Recommend appropriate management of Chapter funds.

6) Preside over meetings of the Executive Board in the absence of the President, the Vice-President, and the Secretary.

7) Serve as one of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter’s representatives to the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau. (See Article VIII.)

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE PART-TIME LECTURER FACULTY CHAPTER OF THE RUTGERS COUNCIL OF AAUP CHAPTERS

A. The internal affairs, collective negotiations and grievance handling policies and activities of the Chapter shall be coordinated by a Chapter Executive Board consisting of the President; most recent Past President; Vice-President; Secretary; Treasurer; the Newark Vice-President and the Camden Vice-President; chairs of standing committees; and one (1) Board representative at large for every one hundred (100) chapter members or fraction thereof, at least one (1) of which shall be from Camden and at least one (1) of which shall be from Newark with a minimum of at least three (3) at-large representatives. The Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters may select, through its own processes, two (2) non-voting delegates to attend the Executive Board meetings.

B. The Chapter Executive Board shall hold a minimum of five (5) meetings distributed throughout the year.

C. The terms of Chapter Executive Board representatives shall be one (1) year. If a Chapter Executive Board representative is unable to complete his/her term, a replacement shall be appointed by the Chapter Executive Board. If a representative misses three (3) consecutive meetings, s/he shall be considered withdrawn unless the Executive Board determines special circumstances.

D. Elections for Chapter Executive Board representatives shall take place no later than July; the elected representatives shall take office September 1 of the same year.

E. Fifty percent minus one of the membership of the Chapter Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.

F. The Chapter Executive Board’s duties shall include:

1) Determine membership dues in accordance with Article II.

2) Assume responsibility for general fiscal affairs and approve the annual budget.

3) Conduct the affairs of the organization through its standing and special committees, and joint activities with the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters as provided in both organizations’ By-Laws.

4) Authorize legal action on behalf of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter.

5) Authorize, after a mail vote by the membership, job actions in support of the Chapter’s collective bargaining goals.

6) Authorize joint meetings with the Executive Council of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters. No matters not directly concerning elections, by-laws, collective negotiations, grievance handling, dues, or any other internal matters shall be voted on at such meetings.

7) Select from its members two (2) non-voting delegates to the Executive Council of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters.

8) Establish and abolish special committees as it may deem necessary.

9) Establish specific charges for each Chapter Executive Board committee.

G. The Executive Board shall establish the following standing committees:

1) Negotiating (See Article VII);

2) Membership;

3) Grievance and Working Conditions; and

4) Newsletter.

H. The Executive Board shall establish the following additional standing committees as it deems necessary:

1) Academic Freedom and Tenure;

2) University Governance;

3) Discrimination and Affirmative Action;

4) Fringe Benefits;

5) University Budget and Priorities

6) Legislative Relations; and

7) Health and Safety.

I. The Executive Board shall establish the following administrative committees:

1) Budget and Personnel;

2) Nominations and Elections;

3) By-Laws (See Article X); and

J. These standing and administrative committees, at the discretion of the Executive Board, may be conducted jointly with the standing and administrative Committees of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters. No matter, however, concerning collective negotiations, grievance handling, elections, by-laws, dues, or other internal matters shall be voted on at such meetings.

ARTICLE VII: NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE

A. The Negotiating Committee shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Chapter Executive Board.

B. The Negotiating Committee shall be composed of the chairperson and at least three (3) additional members of the PTLFC chosen so that there shall be one (1) member from each of the three (3) main campuses of Rutgers.

C. The Negotiating Committee shall function under negotiating policies determined by the Chapter Executive Board.

D. The contract negotiated shall be ratified, in a mail ballot, by a majority of the membership who vote.

ARTICLE VIII: THE RUTGERS AAUP SERVICE BUREAU

A. The Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter, together with the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, shall establish the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau. The purpose of the Bureau is to provide technical and clerical assistance and consumable supplies to the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter and to the affiliated Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters in carrying out their functions.

B. The Presidents and Treasurers of the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter and of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters shall be the members of the Bureau.

C. The duties of the members of the Bureau shall be:

1) To appoint staff to carry out Bureau business upon nomination by the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter and the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters;

2) To supervise the purchase of consumable supplies and services;

3) To monitor the expenditure of Bureau funds;

4) To determine the allocation of Bureau resources between the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter and the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters;

5) To report to the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter and the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters at least twice each year concerning the receipt and expenditure of Bureau funds: one report to be given by November 1 based on the audited financial records of the previous fiscal year and one report to be given in April based on the financial records available as of March 30 of the current fiscal year.

D. Funding for the Bureau’s affairs and business shall be provided by the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter, in an amount to be determined by the Executive Board, and by the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, in an amount to be determined in accordance with its by-laws.

E. Either the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter or the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters may terminate its participation in the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other. If either party terminates its participation in the Bureau, the Bureau will be dissolved.

F. If the Rutgers AAUP Service Bureau is dissolved, funds and supplies shall be returned to the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter and to the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters in the ratio in which each had contributed funds to the Bureau in the previous fiscal year.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended by two-thirds vote of those responding to a mail ballot sent out by the Chapter Executive Board.

ARTICLE X: BY-LAWS REVIEW

The Executive Board shall appoint at three (3) year intervals a By-Laws Committee to review these By-Laws and make recommendations for necessary changes.

ARTICLE XI: RATIFICATION OF THE BY-LAWS

These By-Laws shall become effective on the date of ratification. Amendments shall become effective on the date of their approval by the membership.

Revised 3/1/92

Revised 7/23/04
Revised 6/30/06
Revised 4/3/08