Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges

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WSSSC Constitution and Bylaws



PREAMBLE

The administrators primarily responsible for student services in the Washington State Community & Technical College System hereby establish the Washington State Student Services Commission (WSSSC), which shall be directly responsible to the presidents' organization WACTC of the Washington Association of Community & Technical Colleges.


ARTICLE I - Objectives

In order to achieve these purposes, the Commission shall organize to accomplish the following objectives:

Section 1 To develop student services policy recommendations through a program of research, development, and evaluation which will be articulated to appropriate agencies.

Section 2 To work with appropriate agencies and organizations to develop and promote an understanding of student services.

Section 3 To serve as the parent body for student services organizations.

Section 4 To provide mutual exchange of information and ideas for the purpose of increasing the effectiveness of student services.


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ARTICLE II - Organizational Structure

Section 1 - Membership

A. Voting Members

Voting members of the Commission shall consist of the chief student services officer, or designee, from each community and technical college in the system.

B. Ex Officio Members

(1) State Board liaison for Student Services

(2) Liaison from the community college presidents' organization (WACTC).

Section 2 - Officers and Responsibilities

A. Officers

Officers of the Commission shall be a president, a president-elect, a secretary, a treasurer, and the immediate past president.

B. Responsibilities

(1) President

a. Shall convene and preside over Commission and executive committee meetings and establish the agenda for all such meetings.

b. Shall establish committees and appoint committee members as appropriate.

c. Shall make all liaison appointments to councils.

d. Shall represent the Commission on all official matters and serve as Commission representative to designated WACTC committees.

(2) President-Elect

a. Shall assume the duties and powers of the Commission president in the absence of that officer and assume special assignments as designated by the President.

(3) Secretary

a. Shall be responsible for the records and correspondence of the Commission.

b. Shall distribute minutes and related information within twenty (20) days of each regular meeting.

c. Shall assist the President or his/her designee in preparing and distributing agendas for the Commission meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee.

(4) Treasurer

a. Shall establish and maintain financial records and report at regular meetings.

b. Shall provide for the payment of all authorized Commission expenses.

c. Shall coordinate the arrangements necessary for each regular meeting of the Commission (lodging, meals, meeting facilities, parking, hospitality events, and meeting registration announcements and registrations for meetings).

(5) Immediate Past President

a. Shall serve as a member of the executive committee.

b. Shall chair the nominating committee.

c. Shall maintain the Commission's web site and membership directory.

C. Election of Officers

(1) Election of officers shall be the last order of business at the spring quarter meeting.

(2) A full slate of officers will be presented by a nominating committee.

(3) Election will be by a simple majority of the members present.


ARTICLE III - Rules of Order

Roberts' Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the authority of questions of parliamentary rule.


ARTICLE IV - Amendments

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present, providing notification has been made at the previous meeting or by written notice sent out at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. All amendments will be written out in full for the study of the members.


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BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - Operational Procedures

Section 1 Meetings

A. Regular Meetings

There shall be a minimum of three (3) commission meetings each academic year.

B. Special Meetings

Other special meetings may be held at the discretion of the president.


ARTICLE II - Committees

Section 1 - Executive Committee

A. The executive committee shall assist the president in carrying out the business of the Commission.

B. Membership

(1) President, president-elect, past president, secretary, treasurer, and two (2) members-at-large appointed by the president and any members appointed to serve on standing committees of WACTC.

Section 2 - Nominating Committee

A. Membership

The committee will be comprised of three (3) members appointed by the executive committee. One of the three shall be the immediate past president, who shall chair the committee.

B. The nominating committee shall be responsible for presenting a complete slate of officers at the spring meeting.

Section 3 - Other Committees

The president shall have the authority to appoint other committees as needed.


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ARTICLE III - Councils

Section 1 - Membership

A. Councils of WSSSC include:

1. Advising and Counseling Council (ACC)

2. Admissions and Registration Council (ARC)

3. Career and Employment Services Council (CESC)

4. Council of Unions and Student Programs (CUSP)

5. College Women's Programs Council (CWPC)

6. Disability Support Services Council (DSSC)

7. Financial Aid Council (FAC)

8. Multicultural Student Services Directors Council (MSSDC)

Section 2 - Recognition

A. Additional councils may be recognized by WSSSC via a formal written request and a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present. The same procedure shall be used to delete councils.

B. The WSSSC will communicate with WACTC on a regular basis to provide input on additions and deletions of councils.

Section 3 - Articulation

A. Councils' Role and Responsibilities

1. Maintain a written constitution or charter and by-laws that identify to whom the group is responsible.

2. Provide a written set of goals each year and submit an annual report summarizing the year's activities and accomplishments.

3. Respond to issues posed to the group by the WSSSC.

4. Communicate ideas, issues and concerns to the WSSSC for its review, consideration, and advice.

B. Role of the WSSSC Related to Councils

1. Provide support to the councils by:

(a) Assigning a member of the WSSSC as the representative of the Commission. Each representative shall attempt to attend all meetings of the council to which he/she is assigned, or attempt to send an alternate to each council meeting.

(b) Providing advice on issues upon request.

(c) Representing the concerns and issues of council to other groups.

2. Initiate communication and coordination by:

(a) Providing minutes of regular meeting and pertinent correspondence of the WSSSC to the chairpersons of the councils.

(b) Hosting an annual meeting of the WSSSC executive board and the council chairpersons.

3. Generally recognize and empower the councils toward the achievement of their goals.

C. Role and Responsibilities of WSSSC Liaison Members

1. The liaison from the WSSSC to the council is the official representative of the Commission and is a non-voting member of the council.

2. The liaison representative shall be the official to the WSSSC from the specific council.

3. The liaison representative shall attempt to attend all meetings of the council to which he/she is assigned, or attempt to send an alternate.

4. The host campus dean should make every effort to attend a council meeting on his/her campus if the WSSSC liaison is not available.

5. Provide to the WSSSC President updated versions of the constitution, by-laws, officers and budget of the assigned council.

6. Give an oral and, if appropriate, written report at a quarterly WSSSC meeting regarding issues and activities of the council.

7. Communicate ideas, concerns and advice between the WSSSC and the council.


ARTICLE IV - Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present, providing notification has been made at the previous meeting or by written notice sent out at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. All amendments will be written out in full for the study of the members.

Constitutional history of review, revision and re-adoption:
Adopted February 1966
Adopted November 1969
Adopted November 1974
Adopted February 1977
Adopted February 1983
Commission Meeting February 1, 1983 Approved February 2, 1983
Constitution/By-Laws revisions adopted October 20, 1988; Approved February 9, 1989
Constitution/By-Laws revisions approved October 17, 1997
Constitution/By-Laws revisions approved April 23, 1999
Constitution/By-Laws revisions approved April 19, 2002


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WA State Board for Community and Technical Colleges   |   Phone: 360-704-4400   Fax: 360-704-4415

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