Bylaws Employee Relations Advisory Committee
Amended 08/22/07
UNIVERSITY CHARGE
The Employee Relations Advisory Committee (ERAC) is strongly
committed to a proactive stance in advising the President,
through the Vice President for Finance and Administration, on
matters of policy and programs pertaining to employee
relations. Areas of primary concern include the following:
communication, problem solving mechanisms (resources),
compensation (salary and benefits), working conditions, staff
recognition and development.
PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES MEMBERSHIP
The Committee consists of seventeen voting members: nine
members elected from the nonexempt staff, and eight
representatives elected from the exempt staff. The Associate
Vice President for Human Resources will serve as the
ex-officio member. In addition, for the purpose of providing
continuity, the outgoing Chairperson, will also serve as a
nonvoting, ex-officio member for one year following his/her
term as Chairperson.
To be eligible for election to the committee, employees must
be nominated and have completed one year's service at the
university.
If an elected member leaves the employ of the university or
resigns their committee membership, a standby candidate
selected during the previous election process shall fill the
seat. If no standby candidate is available, the seat shall
remain vacant until the next election. If an elected member
transfers from one employee group to another, he/she will
retain their seat on the committee until the next election.
Members will generally serve three-year staggered and
nonconsecutive terms, except as noted below under Terms of
Office.
The committee will determine all questions of membership
eligibility.
TERMS OF OFFICE
Representatives will generally be elected to serve three-year
staggered and non-consecutive terms. The staggered term rule
shall mean that each year at least three non- exempt positions
and at least two exempt positions will be open for election
each year.
OFFICERS
The committee shall choose from its elected members a vice
chairperson and a secretary to serve on an annual basis. The
vice chairperson will be selected from among the returning
(second-year) members of the committee. The vice chair will
serve also as ?chairperson elect? and will become the chair in
the third year of his/her term. If a vice chair is unable to
serve as chair, a new chair will be selected by the members.
Selection of officers will normally be made during the
scheduled meeting in June. Officers who are not carrying out
their responsibilities properly may be removed from office by
a quorum vote of the committee.
MEETINGS
The committee shall determine its own meeting schedule.
Normally, the committee meets monthly from September to June.
Meetings may be called by the chairperson, written request of
three elected members, or at the request of the vice
president. The committee shall determine whether it shall meet
during the months of July and August.
MAJORITY and QUORUM
All actions of the committee are by simple majority vote of
those elected members present. The committee may act at all
times unless challenged by an elected member that a quorum is
not present. In such a case, a quorum shall be defined as 51%
of the total elected membership.
BUDGET
The chair and vice chair shall act as account executives of
ERAC's budget for the duration of their term. The vice chair
will monitor and maintain the budget. The chair will be
responsible for notifying the Controller's Office of any
changes pertaining to the ERAC budget, including change of
account executives and/or authorized signers.
ELECTIONS
The committee, or subcommittee thereof, will conduct an
election each spring to fill vacant seats and expiring terms
for exempt and nonexempt staff. The university faculty will
select the faculty representatives in accordance with its own
rules and regulations.
From January through April of each year, the committee will
electronically announce, through the University News Bulletin,
a nomination process that is open to all exempt and nonexempt
staff. Anonymous nominations will not be accepted.
Nominators can nominate persons outside their employee group.
Individuals nominated and willing to serve will have their
names placed on the electronic ballot of their respective
employee group. New members will be announced and introduced
at the annual Staff Faculty Appreciation Dinner.
Elections will be by written, secret ballot or via secure
electronic ballot. The electorate will electronically vote for
nominees in their respective employee groups and may vote for
as many individuals as there are announced openings.
The committee will determine all questions of nominee
eligibility, election process and balloting.
Amendment added to nomination-election process, February 9, 2011
