Faculty Rules and Procedures

1. Article I Membership

a. Section 1

Automatic Eligibility

By reason of their rank or of their office, the following shall automatically be entitled to membership in and upon the faculty of Middlebury College and shall have the right to vote at all faculty meetings except as noted in c. Section 3. Voting Membership, below.

i. Faculty serving in rank: professor, associate professor, assistant professor, and instructor.

ii. Regular faculty serving on associate status.

iii. Full-time faculty with special appointments.

iv. Coaching faculty serving on special appointments with the rank of instructor in physical education, assistant in physical education, associate in physical education, and senior associate in physical education.

v. Full-time faculty on term appointments, including assistants in instruction whose positions are potentially subject to review by the Reappointments Committee.

vi. Part-time faculty on special and term appointments.

vii. The president, the provost, the dean of the faculty, the dean for faculty development and research, the dean of curriculum, the dean of the College, and the vice president for Language Schools, Schools Abroad and Graduate Programs.

viii. The dean of library and information services and the dean of admissions.

b. Section 2

Additional Eligibility

Additions to the above general rule will be allowed by a majority of the entire voting faculty. Requests for such additions are to be submitted to the faculty by the dean of the faculty.

c. Section 3

Voting Membership

Adjunct appointees shall be entitled to attend all faculty meetings, but they shall not have the right to vote. On-leave faculty shall be eligible to vote in on-line balloting for the election of faculty committees, or on mailed ballots conducted according to the provisions of subsection 3.f.iii. below. To be counted, mailed ballots must be returned by the time designated on each ballot.

2. Article II Organization of the Faculty

a. Section 1

Officers

i. The president of the College is the principal officer of the faculty and will preside at its meetings and will have the same right of debate as other members without yielding the chair. In his or her absence, the provost, or, if he or she too is absent, then an officer of the College designated by the president, will preside.

ii. The parliamentarian, to be appointed each year by the president, will serve at all meetings as adviser to the president on questions of order and procedure.

iii. The secretary, to be appointed by the president, will compile proper minutes and other necessary records of the faculty proceedings and will see to the proper custody of such records.

b. Section 2

Divisions and Departments

The several divisions and departments of instruction comprising the administrative organization for the instructional work of the College will serve also as component parts of the faculty, where appropriate.

c. Section 3

Committees

i. Major Councils and Committees

(a) The Council on Reviews (COR) consists of a Promotions Committee and a Reappointments Committee. The Promotions Committee will advise the president on each case in which a faculty member is under review for promotion to tenure or to full professor, or is facing dismissal. The Reappointments Committee will advise the president on each case in which a faculty member is under review for reappointment. The Reappointments Committee will also conduct ten-year reviews. The Council on Reviews shall hold an annual open meeting to explain review procedures and respond to questions and concerns from the faculty.

(b) The Educational Affairs Committee will make recommendations to the faculty on matters of academic policy, and will make recommendations to the president or the president's designate on matters of staffing the academic program.

(c) The Faculty Council will function as a body advisory to the president; as a channel of communication between the faculty and the president; and with the provost as adviser, it will function as a Committee on Committees. Some of its members will also serve as a Committee on Conference with the trustees. Others will also serve as a Committee on Finance and Planning.

(d) The Appeals Council will hear the cases of faculty members who believe their non-reappointment to involve procedural errors or violations of academic freedom.

ii. Standing Committees

There will be standing committees of the faculty as provided below in 4. Article IV. There will be such other standing committees as may be found convenient by the faculty for the discharge of its business.

3. Article III Faculty Meetings

a. Section 1

Time of Meetings

i. Faculty meetings will be scheduled as follows:

The September meeting will be held during the week before the start of classes, at a time and place established in conjunction with other activities of that week.

The December and May meetings will be held on the Mondays following the end of fall and spring semester classes, respectively, and will normally be scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

Regularly scheduled meetings will normally be on the first Monday of the month. The Faculty Council, in consultation with the administration, may choose to reschedule faculty meetings in order to avoid having a faculty meeting on the first day of classes for a term or the Monday immediately after a vacation. The meetings for October, November, February, March, and April will normally be scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m. At the September meeting a motion may be made to omit the October meeting.

The December and May meetings will be held on the Mondays following the end of fall and spring semester classes, respectively, and will normally be scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

The Faculty Council, in consultation with the administration, may choose to reschedule faculty meetings in order to take into consideration the timing of Spring Break, the end of the spring semester, and important holidays.

ii. Special meetings of the faculty will be convened when, in the opinion of the president, there is necessary business to be transacted.

iii. A special meeting of the faculty will be called by the president at the request of 10 members of the faculty.

b. Section 2

Attendance and Quorum

i. Voting members of the faculty are expected to be present at all faculty meetings.

ii. Voting members, and others invited by the president, will be privileged to participate in discussion in faculty meetings.

iii. A quorum in faculty meetings will consist of a majority of the voting members of the faculty. The secretary will inform the president of the presence of a quorum.

iv. Student eligibility for attendance and participation in faculty meetings will be governed by the regulations set forth below in 4. Article IV., a. Section 1.viii. and ix.

v. Smoking is prohibited at faculty meetings.

c. Section 3

Notice and Agenda

i. Notice and a statement of the agenda of each meeting of the faculty will be sent to all members prior to the meeting.

ii. Items to be placed on the agenda must be submitted in writing to the secretary at least one week prior to the meeting, and these items, including written reports and proposals, will be circulated to the faculty by the secretary in advance of the meeting.

iii. Matters not included among those on the agenda may be brought before the meeting when in order, but, in the case of important matters, as determined by the presiding officer, will be presented only for discussion.

d. Section 4

Order of Business

In meetings of the faculty the normal order of business will be:

i. Call to Order

ii. Quorum Call

iii. Minutes of Previous Faculty Meeting

iv. Reading and Ratification of Minutes of Administration Committee and Off-Campus Study (Programs Abroad) Committee.

v. Unfinished Business

vi. Action Reports of Committees

vii. New Business

viii. Information Reports of Committees and Officers

ix. Announcements

x. Adjournment

e. Section 5

Rules of Order and Suspension of Rules

i. The rules of parliamentary procedure as found in Robert's Rules of Order will govern the meetings of the faculty in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the regulations of Middlebury College.

ii. Rules and procedures governing the conduct of faculty meetings may be suspended by two-thirds of those voting.

iii. The faculty at any point in its proceedings may, by majority vote, declare itself in executive session, thereby limiting the meeting to voting members only. All discussions and actions taken in executive session shall be held in confidence until released by proper authority.

f. Section 6

Voting

i. In faculty actions, decisions will be taken by a majority of those voting unless otherwise specified.

ii. Voting at faculty meetings may be by voice, by show of hands, or by written ballot. A written ballot may be used at the discretion of the president and will be used when requested by 10 members.

iii. On matters affecting general educational policy, a vote of the faculty may require that balloting be conducted by mail through the Office of the Dean of the Faculty.

iv. Questions involving votes upon faculty members by name will be decided by written ballot.

v. If the discussion of any motion extends beyond 5:15 pm at any given faculty meeting, voting on that motion will be automatically suspended until the following meeting.

g. Section 7

Committee Reports

i. The Faculty Council and the Educational Affairs Committee will report at each faculty meeting.

ii. The Committee on Conference with the trustees will report at least once each semester.

iii. The Committee on Finance and Planning will report as appropriate, but at least twice each year.

iv. All other committees will report, when appropriate, at least once a year.

4. Article IV Committees

a. Section 1

General

i. The standing committees of the faculty, their respective objectives, duties, and functions, composition and method of election or appointment, will be as described in the Faculty Councils and Committees section in this chapter of the Handbook.

ii. The president of the College will be a member ex officio of all councils and committees.

iii. When, in the judgment of the president, or upon vote by the faculty, it is necessary to constitute a special committee to discharge a particular task that does not fall within the domain of any existing committee, such a committee may be established. The measure establishing such a committee will specify its instructions, its composition and method of appointment or election, and other necessary information.

iv. Matters brought to the attention of the faculty with a view to action thereon that fall within the sphere of any standing or special councils or committees will be referred to the appropriate councils or committees for consideration and for report or recommendation to the faculty, before being voted upon at any faculty meeting.

v. All councils and committees of the faculty will maintain such records of their proceedings as may be deemed necessary and will render report upon their deliberations and actions to the faculty.

vi. Unless otherwise specified in the provisions contained in the Handbook, the term of office of a member of any standing council or committee will commence on September 1.

vii. Should a vacancy occur on an elective standing council or committee before expiration of the normal term, the vacancy will be filled for the remaining period of that term by an election to be held within one month of the occurrence of the vacancy, or in September for vacancies occurring after May 15, in the manner prescribed for that committee. Vacancies occurring on appointive councils or committees will be filled by the Committee on Committees. Vacancies which occur on the Council on Reviews or the Educational Affairs Committee will be filled by means of the same procedures as are used to determine the original membership of those committees. Vacancies occurring because of leaves or termination of employment should, when possible, be filled at an appropriate time in the academic year preceding leave or termination of employment.

viii. All councils and committees with the exception of the Council on Reviews, the Educational Affairs Committee, the Faculty Council, and the Appeals Council, may have student members. Student members will be chosen as determined by the Community Council. The number of students, if any, for each committee, and the condition of membership, whether voting or non-voting, will be set by the faculty. By the May faculty meeting of each year, the Committee on Committees will make recommendations regarding changes in composition and function of any committee.

ix. The president and vice president of the Student Government Association, and the student members of the Community Council and Student Educational Affairs Committee, will be permitted to attend all faculty meetings with the right to speak. Student members of other College committees will be permitted to attend those faculty meetings in which their committees' recommendations are on the agenda, with the right to speak when those recommendations are being debated. Two representatives each from the Middlebury Campus and WRMC will be permitted to attend faculty meetings.

5. Article V Amendments

a. Section 1

Proposed amendments to these Rules and Procedures will be initiated at a regular faculty meeting.

b. Section 2

Any such proposed amendment, if supported by at least 10 voting members, will then be referred to the divisions for discussion prior to the next faculty meeting.

c. Section 3

Notice of such proposed amendment will be included in the notice of the next regular faculty meeting and may there be adopted by a vote comprising at least a two-thirds majority of those present, provided at least a quorum is in attendance.

Faculty Councils and Committees

There are four general councils and committees of the faculty:

(1) The Council on Reviews (COR) consisting of the Promotions Committee and the Reappointments Committee

(2) The Educational Affairs Committee (EAC)

(3) The Faculty Council, encompassing the Committee on Conference with the Trustees and the Committee on Finance and Planning

(4) The Appeals Council

These bodies advise the administration and faculty on policy and act for the faculty in specified areas.

Any council may establish standing or ad hoc committees, in addition to those designated below, which may include persons who are not members of the parent body. All such committees will report to the faculty through the parent group. Any positions on such committees are filled through appointment by the Committee on Committees. The president is a member, ex officio, of all councils and committees.

No member of the faculty may serve simultaneously on more than one of the following committees: the Council on Reviews, the Educational Affairs Committee, the Faculty Council, and the Appeals Council. Faculty members who will be on leave during the year in which a term is scheduled to begin are ineligible for election.

After serving the equivalent of a full term (three years) on the Teaching Resources Committee and/or Educational Affairs Committee, or Faculty Council, faculty members may annually choose to have their names removed from the ballots for all elected committees for two years. Time spent on leave does not count towards this grace period. Members of the faculty will not be obligated to serve for more than a total of nine years (3 full terms) on any combination of these committees.

After three years of service on either the Promotions Committee or the Reappointments Committee, or the former Committee on Reappointment, professors may annually choose to have their names removed from the ballots for all elected committees for three years. Time spent on leave does not count towards this grace period.

After serving a total of six years (two full terms) on either the Promotions Committee or the Reappointments Committee, or the former Committee on Reappointment, professors may annually choose to have their names removed from the ballots for these committees for the rest of their employment at Middlebury College. A faculty member elected to a two- or three-year term on the Promotions Committee or the Reappointments Committee, who will satisfy the six-year lifetime service limit on those committees before the expiration of the elected term, may step down from the Promotions Committee or the Reappointments Committee at the end of the academic year in which the six-year limit is reached. Faculty who wish to exercise this option must notify the Office of the Dean of the Faculty by no later than November 1 in the year at the end of which they will step down.

A faculty member may request to be exempted from the ballots for elected committees and from selection for standing appointed committees, on an annual basis, for a period of time not to exceed four years in a career. Normally no more than two of these four years may be consecutive.

To be exempt from committee service during the following year, faculty members must normally notify the dean of the faculty by November 1.

Faculty members elected to two- or three-year committee terms must normally wait until the completion of the term to which they were elected before being able to avail themselves of this exemption. Such faculty members may, however, request to have their names removed from the ballots for elected committees that take precedence, in terms of the order of election, over the committee on which they are currently serving. If the request is made before the final year of a two- or three-year elected term of service, it will not count toward the total number of years for which one may request exemption from committee service.

If more than 12 percent of the full-time faculty request exemptions for a given year, then the requests will be honored on the basis of seniority, as determined by date of first appointment to the faculty.

Elections for all elected faculty councils and committees will take place on-line. The Office of the Dean of the Faculty will determine those members of the faculty, including faculty on leave, who are eligible to vote in the elections. Faculty members must enter their ID number and PIN to authenticate their identity when voting, but this information will not be associated with the votes cast.

The on-line polls for each election will remain open for a minimum of two working days, defined as days on which classes are scheduled, weekdays during the period between Winter Term and the spring semester, or weekdays during the examination period.

The order of committee elections is as follows: Promotions Committee, Reappointments Committee, Educational Affairs Committee, Faculty Council, Appeals Council. The schedule for elections in each academic year shall be determined by the dean of the faculty in consultation with the Faculty Council. The elections for the Council on Reviews and the Educational Affairs Committee shall be scheduled whenever possible to be completed before the beginning of the spring semester.

1. The Promotions Committee of the Council on Reviews

a. Function

The Promotions Committee advises the president on each case in which a faculty member is under review for promotion to tenure or to full professor, or is facing dismissal.

The provost sits with the Promotions Committee. It is expected that during the course of a review for tenure, the president shall become familiar with the scholarship and teaching record of the candidate. All decisions and recommendations by both the committee and the president shall be made and justified in accordance with the provisions and procedures specified in the Rules of Appointment and Tenure in the Faculty Handbook chapter of this handbook.

The committee as part of the Council on Reviews shall hold an annual open meeting to explain its procedures and to respond to questions and concerns from the faculty.

b. Election

i. The committee will consist of three tenured full professors from the full-time teaching faculty elected by the faculty. No more than two members of the committee may be from one division and no more than one from a department. Each year a member of the faculty will be elected to a three-year term.

ii. No faculty member may serve concurrently as a dean or other administrative officer and a member of the Promotions Committee.

iii. A faculty member elected to a two- or three-year term on the Promotions Committee who is on leave before the expiration of the elected term must serve the remaining years of the elected term after returning from leave.

iv. Promotions Committee members will be given reduced teaching loads, as determined by the dean of the faculty.

v. All balloting for the Promotions Committee will be conducted on-line and coordinated by the dean of the faculty.

vi. The preliminary ballot will list all tenured full professors, with the exception of current members of the Council on Reviews, those who will be on leave, and those made ineligible or whose obligation is waived because of stipulations set forth above. On the preliminary ballot, faculty members may vote for a maximum of two candidates for each position to be filled.

If a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast on the preliminary ballot, and the number of votes equals or exceeds 35 percent of the current voting membership of the faculty, he or she will be declared elected. If no one is elected to the Promotions Committee on the preliminary ballot, a run-off ballot will be distributed listing in alphabetical order the three candidates who received the greatest number of votes on the preliminary ballot. If no one receives a majority of the votes cast on the run-off ballot, a final ballot will be distributed, listing those two who received the greatest number of votes on the run-off ballot. For any second vacancy on the Promotions Committee, a subsequent election will be held. A ballot will be distributed listing in alphabetical order those three faculty members, still eligible for election to the Promotions Committee, who received the greatest number of votes on the preliminary ballot. If no one receives a majority on this ballot, another ballot will be taken listing those two who received the greatest number of votes on the preceding ballot. For any third vacancy on the Promotions Committee, a separate election will be conducted. If no one is elected on the run-off ballot, a final ballot will list the top two eligible candidates.

vii. A member of the Educational Affairs Committee, Faculty Council, or Appeals Council who is elected to the Promotions Committee will relinquish his or her position on the other committee.

2. The Reappointments Committee of the Council on Reviews (COR)

a. Function

The Reappointments Committee advises the president in all reappointment decisions. This committee also conducts ten-year reviews. The provost sits with the Reappointments Committee. All decisions and recommendations by both the committee and the president shall be made and justified in accordance with the provisions and procedures specified in the Rules of Appointment and Tenure in the Faculty Handbook chapter of this handbook.

The committee as part of the Council on Reviews shall hold an annual open meeting to explain its procedures and to respond to questions and concerns from the faculty.

b. Election

ii. No faculty member may serve concurrently as a dean or other administrative officer and a member of the Reappointments Committee.

iii. A faculty member elected to a two- or three-year term on the Reappointments Committee who is on leave before the expiration of the elected term must serve the remaining years of the elected term after returning from leave.

iv. Reappointments Committee members will be given reduced teaching loads, as determined by the dean of the faculty.

v. All balloting for the Reappointments Committee will be conducted on-line and coordinated by the dean of the faculty.

If a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast on the preliminary ballot, and the number of votes equals or exceeds 35 percent of the current voting membership of the faculty, he or she will be declared elected. If no one is elected to the Reappointments Committee on the preliminary ballot, a run-off ballot will be distributed listing in alphabetical order the three candidates who received the greatest number of votes on the preliminary ballot. If no one receives a majority of the votes cast on the run-off ballot, a final ballot will be distributed, listing those two who received the greatest number of votes on the run-off ballot. For any second vacancy on the Reappointments Committee, a subsequent election will be held. A ballot will be distributed listing in alphabetical order those three faculty members, still eligible for election to the Reappointments Committee, who received the greatest number of votes on the preliminary ballot. If no one receives a majority on this ballot, another ballot will be taken listing those two who received the greatest number of votes on the preceding ballot. For any third vacancy on the Reappointments Committee, a separate election will be conducted. If no one is elected on the run-off ballot, a final ballot will list the top two eligible candidates.

vii. A member of the Educational Affairs Committee, Faculty Council, or Appeals Council who is elected to the Reappointments Committee will relinquish his or her position on the other committee.

3. Educational Affairs Committee (EAC)

a. Function

The Educational Affairs Committee has two functions of equal importance: (1) to oversee the general direction of the College curriculum and (2) to make recommendations on staffing and the allocation of teaching resources. The Educational Affairs Committee considers proposals for new majors and programs, changes in degree requirements and the College academic calendar, and other matters of general educational policy, and refers the proposals it approves to the full faculty for further action. The committee considers proposals for new and restored positions on the faculty and for replacement staffing for faculty on leave, and recommends the proposals it approves to the president or the president's designate. The committee's purpose is to provide guidance and direction to the manner in which resources are allocated to carry out Middlebury's educational mission as a liberal arts college.

b. Composition

The Educational Affairs Committee will be composed of seven members: five elected, full-time, tenured members of the faculty; and two academic administrators appointed by the president, one of whom will chair the committee. When voting is necessary, only the elected faculty members shall vote, except in the case of a tie, when the chair shall cast a deciding vote. Faculty members elected to the Educational Affairs Committee normally shall not, during their term of office, serve on any other committee or serve as chair of a department or division. In carrying out its functions, the Educational Affairs Committee shall create, as it deems necessary, ad hoc committees to obtain information and recommendations about particular issues. The composition of such ad hoc committees shall be at the discretion of the Educational Affairs Committee, except that ad hoc committees on matters of general educational policy or academic regulations shall always include at least one student member.

The Student Government Association shall be responsible for the appointment of four student representatives to serve as members of a Student Educational Affairs Committee. The Student EAC shall invite one faculty member of the EAC to serve in an advisory capacity. The EAC will meet with the Student EAC at least once a month to discuss matters of general educational policy. The EAC will consult with the Student EAC prior to presenting proposals that require approval of the full faculty, such as proposals for new majors and programs, changes in degree requirements and the College academic calendar, and other matters of general educational policy. The Student EAC may initiate proposals for consideration by the EAC. The members of the Student EAC are permitted to attend monthly faculty meetings, with the right to speak during consideration of curricular measures presented by the Educational Affairs Committee.

c. Election

i. The five elected members of the Educational Affairs Committee shall be elected at large by all voting members of the faculty. No more than two members of the committee may be from one division, and no more than one from a department. The elected members shall serve three-year terms. Each year EAC members will be relieved from teaching one semester course and one winter term course.

ii. All balloting for the EAC will be conducted on-line and coordinated by the dean of the faculty.

iii. The preliminary ballot will list all tenured members of the full-time teaching faculty, with the exception of the members of the Council on Reviews and those who will be on leave during the following year. On the preliminary ballot, faculty members may vote for a maximum of two candidates for each position to be filled.

iv. If a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast on the preliminary ballot, and the number of votes equals or exceeds 35 percent of the current voting membership of the faculty, he or she will be declared elected. If no one is elected to the EAC on the preliminary ballot, a run-off ballot will be distributed listing in alphabetical order the three candidates who received the greatest number of votes on the preliminary ballot, or, if there are two open positions on the EAC, the six candidates who received the greatest number of votes on the preliminary ballot. If no one receives a majority of the votes cast on the run-off ballot, a final ballot will be distributed, listing those two (or four, if there are two vacancies on the committee) candidates who received the greatest number of votes on the run-off ballot. If there are two open positions of different lengths on the EAC, the person receiving the most votes will be elected to the longest term position, and the person receiving the second highest number of votes will be elected to the second-longest term position. For any third vacancy on the EAC, a separate election will be conducted. If no one is elected on the run-off ballot, a final ballot will list the top two eligible candidates.

v. A member of the Faculty Council or Appeals Council who is elected to EAC will relinquish his or her position on the other committee.

d. Procedures

i. Educational Policy

(a) All proposals affecting general educational policy will be recommended to the faculty through the Educational Affairs Committee.

(b) The Educational Affairs Committee will make recommendations regarding general educational policy at one faculty meeting, and such recommendations will be discussed in divisions prior to the next faculty meeting.

ii. Programs and Majors

(a) The Educational Affairs Committee will recommend for approval by a vote of the faculty any new program or major or the elimination of any existing program or major.

(b) Proposals for new programs and majors to be introduced in the following year's catalog should be submitted, with divisional approval, to the Educational Affairs Committee no later than November 15. All proposals for new programs and majors recommended by the Educational Affairs Committee will be presented to the full faculty for a vote.

iii. Academic Regulations

(a) Proposals for changes in academic regulations included in the catalog and the College Handbook will be referred to the Educational Affairs Committee.

(b) The Educational Affairs Committee may either consider these proposals itself, refer them to an ad hoc committee, or refer them to the Curriculum Committee. Recommendations regarding changes in academic regulations may be brought directly to the faculty for a vote by an ad hoc committee or by the Curriculum Committee.

e. Standing Committees

The various standing committees will keep the Educational Affairs Committee informed of their activities through minutes of all their meetings. In a given year the EAC may also decide to concentrate its attention on the issues arising before a particular standing committee: at the EAC's request, one of its members may be named to sit on such a committee and to serve as a liaison between the two groups. The standing committees include:

i. Curriculum Committee

(a) Composition: the dean of curriculum, who is chair, four faculty members from different divisions, and two student members, elected by the Student Government Association.

(b) Function: To approve or reject requests for additions, deletions, or alterations of courses that have been recommended by the appropriate divisions and/or departments; to act upon proposed changes in requirements for programs, majors, and minors; to exercise general oversight of the distribution requirement and the cultures and civilizations requirement; to exercise general oversight of the first-year seminar program; to undertake responsibility for the administration of an effective and well-balanced winter term program; to approve, in consultation with the dean of the College or designee, proposals from students for Independent Scholar status. The divisions may propose to the Curriculum Committee that certain courses be given divisional designations rather than departmental letters. Such proposals require prior consent of the instructor's department and the division in which the course is to be offered.

(1) Proposals for the addition of courses to the curriculum must be presented to the Curriculum Committee for approval. Proposed courses for the fall term should be submitted to the Curriculum Committee by March 1. Proposed courses for the spring term should be submitted to the Curriculum Committee by October 1.

(2) Proposals for changes in requirements for programs, majors, and minors should be submitted to the Curriculum Committee by February 1.

(3) Disposition of proposals in categories (1) and (2) may take one of the following forms:

Changes approved unanimously by the committee become a part of the curriculum except those involving financial commitments or teaching staff.

All proposals other than those passed unanimously may, at the discretion of any member of the Curriculum Committee, be brought by the committee to the Educational Affairs Committee for action; if approved, they become part of the curriculum except those involving financial commitments or teaching staff.

The Curriculum Committee will consult the Educational Affairs Committee before acting on proposals which involve questions of financial commitments or teaching staff.

All approved changes will be reported to the faculty.

ii. Administration Committee

To consider any appeals regarding a student's status including readmission.

iii. Athletic Policy Committee

The committee has the responsibility to formulate and recommend to the faculty policy concerning intercollegiate athletics for Middlebury College undergraduates, in accordance with the rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Eastern College Athletic Conference, and the New England Small College Athletic Conference, in which Middlebury maintains membership. The committee acts as an executive committee. Its decisions are subject to review at the following faculty meeting through approval of the minutes of its meeting. As an executive committee, the committee has the following responsibilities: (a) approving all athletic schedules within the limits established by the faculty; (b) approving the number of classes missed for a particular event; (c) making exceptions to established faculty athletic policy; and (d) obtaining financial authorization from the administration prior to taking executive action or recommending action by the faculty. One of the faculty members of the committee shall serve as the College's NCAA faculty representative. The chair of the Athletic Policy Committee, who shall be a tenured member of the faculty, shall also serve as a member of the Physical Education and Athletics Committee on Reappointment (PEACOR).

iv. Preprofessional Committees

To prepare committee recommendations; to assist students in their applications to medical, dental, engineering, and other professional schools.

v. Teacher Education Committee

To work with the director of teacher education in an advisory capacity. The committee consists of the director of teacher education and two faculty members.

vi. Information Services Committee

The committee is charged with reviewing and recommending priorities and policies about the acquisition, deployment, use, and support of library, media, and computing resources.

vii. Off-Campus Study

To review, appraise, and approve or disapprove all student applications for a leave of absence to study off campus. The committee shall be composed of two members of the faculty, one of whom is from the foreign language division, the director of off-campus study, and two senior students who have participated in off-campus programs.

viii. Career Services Advisory Committee

To work with the executive director of career services in an advisory capacity. The committee consists of the executive director and two faculty members.

ix. Honorary Degree Committee

Two faculty members will be appointed to serve on the trustee committee that recommends to the president candidates for honorary degrees and Commencement speakers.

3. The Faculty Council; The Committee on Conference with the Trustees, and The Committee on Finance and Planning

a. Function

The council will advise the president and serve as a channel of communication between the faculty and the president. Three of its members will also serve as a Committee on Conference with the Trustees. The other three will also serve as a Committee on Finance and Planning. The council will

i. Meet with the president or the provost at least once a month. It may, through its secretary, request meetings with the president at other times.

ii. Advise the president concerning allocations of space.

iii. Advise the president on academic administrative appointments.

iv. Consider items referred to it by the faculty and report to the faculty its recommendations.

v. Keep permanent records of all council proceedings. It will upon request of any member take a formal vote on any matter.

vi. Report to the faculty its deliberations at the earliest faculty meeting and subsequent to each council meeting.

vii. Act, with the advice of the provost, as a Committee on Committees. The Committee on Committees will appoint the faculty members to all regular standing committees and subcommittees. The council will determine terms of appointment to councils and committees and announce these to the faculty. It may recommend to the faculty the reconstruction or the abolition of committees. In this function, the council's actions are subject to ratification of the faculty.

viii. Act, through three of its members, as a Committee on Conference with the Trustees. This subcommittee will meet at least twice a year (more often if asked to do so by the council) with the Trustee Committee on Conference to discuss matters of mutual concern. The secretary of the council will also serve as chair of the Committee on Conference with the Trustees.

ix. Act, through the other three of its members, as a Committee on Finance and Planning. This subcommittee will

(a) Advise the president on faculty salaries, benefits, general financial planning, and long-range priorities.

(b) Meet with the president, the provost, the Educational Affairs Committee, and other members of the administration each spring to discuss faculty salaries, benefits, general financial planning, and long-range priorities.

(c) Organize an informational meeting and discussion session for the faculty normally in October to consider faculty salaries, benefits, general financial planning, and long-range priorities.

(d) Follow up on the October meeting with recommendations to the administration by December.

(e) If called upon to do so by the Faculty Committee on Conference, join that committee in meeting with the Trustees' Conference Committee.

(f) Report to the faculty as appropriate, but at least twice each year. Provide the faculty with information about faculty salaries, benefits, general financial planning, and long-range priorities, and seek faculty input on these matters.

(g) Meet at least once a year with the Staff Council.

b. Composition

i. The council will consist of four tenured and two nontenured members. A member of the faculty must have completed two years of full-time faculty status at Middlebury before his or her elected term begins. A member of the Faculty Council may not serve on the Council on Reviews, the Educational Affairs Committee, or the Appeals Council.

ii. The council will choose a Committee on Conference with the Trustees and a Committee on Finance and Planning from its members. It will elect as secretary one of its tenured members, who also will serve as the chair of the Faculty Conference Committee component. It also will elect a chair of the Committee on Finance and Planning. The secretary of the council, in consultation with the provost and the council, will prepare an agenda for each monthly meeting. The secretary of the council may call additional meetings of the council for the purpose of preparing an agenda.

iii. Term of Election: Normally, both tenured and nontenured members of the faculty will serve for three-year terms. A nontenured member who receives tenure during his or her term will complete the term as a tenured member, and the resulting vacancy in the nontenured ranks will be filled by election, as specified below.

c. Election

All balloting for Faculty Council will be conducted on-line and coordinated by the dean of the faculty. A preliminary ballot will list all tenured members of the faculty, except members of the Council on Reviews and the Educational Affairs Committee, and all eligible nontenured members of the faculty. Members of the faculty in their first or second year of appointment are not eligible for election, nor are those on part-time, associate, visiting, or other special appointments, or those who are currently under tenure review. Full-time members of the department of physical education are eligible for election to Faculty Council in the nontenured category after two or more years of service on the faculty. Also, faculty who will be on leave during the year in which a term is scheduled to begin are ineligible for election.

Depending on how many people are to be elected in each category (tenured or nontenured) in any one year, the faculty will be asked on the preliminary ballot to name twice that number from all eligible faculty members. A final ballot will be distributed after the preliminary ballot has been counted. Of those people who received the most votes on the preliminary ballot, the names of twice as many people as need to be elected in each category will be listed. On the final ballot, voting faculty will be asked to name the exact number of people to be elected. Those people with the highest number of votes in their respective categories will be elected to available positions, with the person receiving the most votes elected to the longest term position, the person receiving the next highest number of votes elected to the second-longest term position, etc. In case of a tie or ties, a run-off ballot will be conducted.

A member of the Appeals Council who is elected to the Faculty Council will relinquish his or her position on the other committee.

4. The Appeals Council and Appeal Committees

a. Function

The Appeals Council will form an Appeal Committee to hear the case of any faculty member who believes that his or her non-reappointment is based on grounds involving procedural errors that may have influenced the Promotions Committee or the Reappointments Committee and/or the president, or violations of academic freedom, as outlined in the Rules of Appointment and Tenure, Appeal Procedures, in the Faculty Handbook chapter of this handbook.

b. Election of Appeals Council

The faculty will elect five tenured faculty to serve as an Appeals Council. The Appeals Council will select a secretary. All tenured members of the faculty, except the members of the Council on Reviews, the Educational Affairs Committee, and the Faculty Council, and administrative officers, are eligible for election to the Appeals Council. No two members of the Appeals Council may be from the same department.

All balloting for the Appeals Council will be conducted on-line and coordinated by the dean of the faculty. Each year members of the faculty will be elected to three-year terms to fill vacant positions on the Appeals Council. A preliminary qualifying ballot will list all tenured members of the faculty, except the members of the Council on Reviews, the Educational Affairs Committee, and the Faculty Council, and administrative officers. People who will be on leave during the year in which a term is scheduled to begin are ineligible for election. On the preliminary ballot, faculty members may vote for a maximum of two candidates for each position to be filled. If a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast in this ballot, and the number of votes equals or exceeds 35 percent of the current voting membership of the faculty, he or she will be declared elected.

If no one is elected to the Appeals Council on the preliminary ballot, a run-off ballot will be distributed listing in alphabetical order the names of the three candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the preliminary balloting. If no one receives a majority of the votes cast on this ballot, a final ballot will be taken, listing those two who received the greatest number of votes on the run-off ballot. If there is another vacancy, the remaining two names on the first ballot will be presented for election. If an additional vacancy must be filled, the third person on the first ballot will be declared elected.

c. Formation of an Appeal Committee

When an appeal is to be heard, the Appeals Council will form an Appeal Committee, choosing its chair and two other members by rotation from the Appeals Council. In no case will a member of an Appeal Committee be a member of the appellant's department. In the event of an appeal resulting from a negative PEACOR review, an additional member will be selected at random from the pool of eligible senior associates in athletics to serve on the Appeal Committee alongside two regular members of the Appeals Council. The selected senior associate in athletics should have no shared coaching responsibilities with the appellant. The Appeals Council will hear and act upon any request (whether by a panel member or by the appellant) that any member be disqualified from serving on an Appeal Committee; such request must be submitted to the Appeals Council within one week after the appellant has been notified of the Appeal Committee's membership.

5. Physical Education and Athletics Committee on Reappointment

The Physical Education and Athletics Committee on Reappointment (PEACOR) will be composed of the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, a senior department member elected by the members of the department of physical education, the chair of the Faculty Athletic Policy Committee, and the dean of the College. This committee will conduct major reviews of faculty in the department of physical education in accordance with the provisions for "Review and Reappointment in the Department of Physical Education" included in the rules of reappointment and tenure.

College-Wide Committees

A. Community Council

The Community Council serves as a forum in which all the segments of the College community: administration, faculty, staff, and students, have a voice on nonacademic issues facing the College. With this representative membership, Community Council deliberations and decisions take into consideration the interests and concerns of the whole community. The diverse membership assures that each member of the council hears and understands the views of the other sections of the community, thus linking the four groups that compose the Middlebury College community.

The Community Council has a dual role in the College governance structure. Sometimes the council makes decisions and then implements those decisions as College policy. On certain matters, the council serves as an advisory body to the president and administration.

1. Authority

a. The Community Council considers policies and issues in all areas pertaining to the nonacademic life of the College in which students, faculty, and/or staff share mutual concerns.

b. The Community Council may make decisions about matters when it can be held accountable for the consequences of those decisions. Examples include student appointments to certain committees and considering house grievances.

c. The Community Council may recommend actions to the president and administration on matters in which the council has an interest, but cannot be held accountable (legally or financially) for the consequences of decisions made. Examples include handbook policy changes and creation/termination of social/academic interest houses.

2. Legislated Duties

a. Responsibilities

i. Charged with oversight of the coeducational social house system and the academic interest house system and the implementation of changes mandated by the trustees in January 1990, the Community Council may hear an annual report from the Inter-House Council early in the year concerning the role of each house in the residential system of Middlebury and each house's compliance with the trustee-mandated reforms. (In the fall of 2000, the Community Council established the Subcommittee on the Social and Academic Interest Houses for oversight of the houses; see below.)

ii. Oversight of Academic Interest Houses: The Community Council may hear a report from the Academic Interest House Council each year to determine if the house serves a useful and needed purpose in the residential system of Middlebury College.

iii. The Community Judicial Board, the Academic Judicial Board, and the Judicial Appeals Board are accountable to the Community Council.

b. Delegated Responsibilities: Subcommittee on Social and Academic Interest Houses.

i. Subcommittee on Social and Academic Interest Houses

The mission of the subcommittee:

1. Review annually at the beginning of the year, the goals and purposes of each of the social houses and the academic interest houses.

2. Evaluate each of the houses in January to make sure that the

(a) houses are in compliance with College policy

(b) houses have realized their goals and purposes for the academic year

3. Based on a review, the Subcommittee on the Social and Academic Interest Houses can recommend to the Community Council that houses

(a) be continued

(b) be continued with conditions (provisional status), or

4. In addition to overseeing compliance with College policy, this subcommittee will take on special projects as requested by Community Council.

The Subcommittee on Social and Academic Interest Houses may also make recommendations to the Community Council for updating guidelines and regulations for students in houses, consider house grievances, and make appropriate recommendations to the Community Council. In addition to the fall and January reviews, the subcommittee will meet as needed. Review of all rush and pledge (education) procedures for the social house system will be considered by the president of the IHC, the adviser to the IHC, the faculty representative, and the staff representative.

The Community Council will meet with the subcommittee after the fall and January reviews to consider the recommendations. When a recommendation has been made to discontinue a house, house members will be invited to the Community Council meeting for a full discussion. This does not preclude Community Council from taking independent action.

The membership of the Subcommittee is: president of the IHC, adviser to the IHC, faculty representative, student representative, and staff representative.

c. Decisions

i. Community Judicial Board. Early in the spring semester, the Community Council will appoint a selection committee comprised of one faculty member and two students from the Community Council, two nonvoting advisory members from the Community Judicial Board, and the associate dean of the College, to advertise for, interview, and select a slate of four student members and two student alternates to serve on the Community Judicial Board. The Community Council ratifies the slate of candidates.

ii. Academic Judicial Board. Early in the spring semester, the Community Council will appoint a selection committee comprised of one faculty member and two students from the Community Council, two nonvoting advisory members from the Academic Judicial Board, and the administrative co-chair of the Judicial Appeals Board to advertise for, interview, and select a slate of four student members and two student alternates to serve on the Academic Judicial Board. The Community Council ratifies the slate of candidates.

iii. With respect to social houses the Community Council:

(a) Approves changes in guidelines and regulations for students in houses proposed by the deans and the houses

(b) Considers house grievances

These responsibilities may be delegated to the Subcommittee on Social and Academic Interest Houses.

d. Recommendations

i. The Community Council recommends to the president policies in all areas pertaining to the nonacademic life of the College in which students, faculty, and/or staff share mutual concerns. This includes changes to current College policy as presented in this Handbook.

ii. The Community Council convenes an Honor System review committee at least every fourth year, and it makes recommendations on changes proposed by the committee. Recommendations for changes in the Constitution of the Undergraduate Honor System require approval by a referendum in which two-thirds of all students who are currently registered for classes vote, and in which two-thirds of those voting support the change, subject to ratification by the faculty. The Community Council will submit its recommendations for changes in other aspects of the judicial system to the Faculty Council for review and ratification by the full faculty.

iii. Community Judicial Board, Academic Judicial Board, and Judicial Appeals Board: The Community Council may consider or make recommendations about changes in the operation of the judicial boards. The Community Council will submit its recommendations to the Faculty Council for review and final approval by the full faculty.

iv. With respect to social houses and academic interest houses, the Community Council:

(a) Recommends action or changes in policy concerning the houses when the deans and one or more of the houses have an unresolved disagreement or when a member of the community files a complaint against a house with the council or suggests policy changes.

(b) Recommends to the president the creation or termination of a house.

3. Other Duties

a. The Community Council may hear any proposals brought forth by members of the College community concerning nonacademic issues that affect members of the community. Action may be taken on submitted proposals according to the guidelines established in section 1 above.

b. The Community Council itself may initiate discussion on any nonacademic issue affecting the College community. Action may be taken according to the guidelines established in section 1 above or the council may encourage other appropriate groups to consider the issue in question.

4. Composition

a. Membership

The voting members of the Community Council are the dean of the College (or designate), two members of the administration appointed by the president, two members of the faculty appointed by the Faculty Council, the vice president of the Staff Council, a second member of the staff appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Staff Council, the president of the Student Government Association, the student co-chair of the Community Council elected by the student body, and six other students. Nonvoting members include two students who are selected as alternates for the student voting positions, an administrative alternate appointed by the president, and a staff alternate appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Staff Council. The dean of the College and the elected student co-chair serve as co-chairs of the Council.

b. Appointment of Members

i. The two administration members and one alternate are appointed by the president of the College.

ii. The two faculty members are appointed by the Faculty Council.

iii. The vice president of the Staff Council serves as the MCSC representative to the Community Council. The second staff member and alternate are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Staff Council.

iv. The student members are appointed by the Student Government Association.

B. Environmental Council

1. Purposes

a. To promote environmental awareness among faculty, staff, and students.

b. To make policy recommendations to the president of the College designed to:

i. ensure a safe and healthy environment for all who live and work on the College campus.

ii. promote environmentally sound ecological (air, land, and water) stewardship practices.

iii. promote throughout the College community conservation of resources, energy efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, pollution prevention, increased reliance on renewable resources, and other measures consistent with sustainable living.

iv. further long-range environmental planning by the College.

v. assist the College in carrying out its civic responsibilities in the area of the environment.

c. oversee a biannual College-wide assessment process to ensure strong environmental performance and share the assessment with members of the College community.

d. encourage faculty to provide students opportunities within the framework of academic courses to conduct research on campus and local environmental issues; and to ensure that such research is shared with the Environmental Council and appropriate officials within and outside the College so that it can be used to formulate improved policies and programs.

e. design and coordinate environmental programs on campus as directed by the president.

2. Membership

Members are appointed to the Environmental Council as follows (continuing membership is encouraged):

a. Director of Environmental Affairs shall automatically be chair.

b. Campus Sustainability Coordinator shall automatically be vice chair and project coordinator.

c. The president may appoint a member of the College community to serve as co-chair of the council.

d. Seven student representatives shall be appointed by the Student Government Association, through the appointment process in the fall. If replacements are needed in the spring, this process will be repeated. The Environmental Council shall supply the SGA with selection criteria, students shall apply to the SGA, and an Environmental Council representative can sit on the interviewing committee without a vote.

e. Three or four staff representatives shall be appointed by the Staff Council during the summer. The Environmental Council shall supply the Staff Council with selection criteria and recommendations and staff will apply to the Staff Council during the summer.

f. Three or four faculty representatives shall be appointed by the Faculty Council acting as Committee on Committees in part of the regular faculty committee appointment process. The Environmental Council will supply the Faculty Council with selection criteria and recommendations.

g. Members of the town community, or alumni, may be appointed to subcommittees in an advisory capacity on an as-needed basis.

Members are expected to attend Environmental Council meetings on a regular basis and actively participate on one or more subcommittees. Inactive members will be replaced.

C. Committee on Art in Public Places at Middlebury College (CAPP)

CAPP has existed since the fall of 1994, when the president and Board of Trustees entrusted it with the exhibition, purchase, and placement of works of art on the campus, apart from the Middlebury College Museum of Art.

1. Charge of the Committee

The Committee has been charged with achieving the following goals:

Establish a program of exhibition of art in public places to be administered jointly by the Middlebury College Museum of Art and CAPP.

Expand the educational mission of the Middlebury College Museum of Art, the Department of History of Art and Architecture, and the Program in Studio Art by providing interesting and challenging work of high quality, accompanied by an interpretive program to make works accessible to the non-specialist.

Elicit gifts and loans of works of art that can enhance the aesthetic and educational mission of the arts.
Involve a broad representation of the community in choosing, placing, and interpreting art in public places.
Designate the Center for the Arts and its grounds as a place for public art, as well as selected sites in other spaces on campus.

Provide funding for the purchase, installation, maintenance, and interpretation of works of art in public places;
Ensure the security and care of these objects.

2. Mandate and Operating Procedures for CAPP

The College has established a policy of "One Percent for Art;" that is, one percent of the total budget of any renovation or new construction at the College would be earmarked for the purchase, installation, maintenance, and interpretation of works of art in the public places associated with the building renovated or constructed.

The college shall undertake a concerted effort to acquire gifts of works of art, as well as monetary gifts leading to the acquisition, care, and interpretation of works of art in public places.

The College shall consider the audience for such works to be the entire College community and shall take into account the mission of the institution, which will be reflected in the acquisition, siting, and interpretation process. Works of art shall be acquired for exhibition in public places following the guidelines established by the Middlebury Museum of Art for the acquisition of art for its collection.

Distinctive works of art chosen or created for the public spaces of the campus will represent a broad range of artistic styles and be of sufficiently high quality to merit their inclusion in the College's permanent collection.

All works will be reviewed for site specifications, function of site, primary users of the site, site-specific maintenance and safety questions, and appropriateness of a loan or permanent placement.

Loans of works to be exhibited in public places will be considered, especially as they allow for experimental and challenging works to be shown.

The College will be fiscally responsible in accepting works for loan exhibition, reviewing financial and legal obligations regarding the acquisition of works of art, including covering artist fees, travel costs, transportation of work, site preparation, signage, potential repair and restoration costs, insurance and security costs, and costs for an educational program designed around the work and for publicity to introduce the work to the community. A budget for exhibition of works of public art on loan will be established before loans are accepted.

Bearing in mind recent legal discussions about the rights of artists concerning the discussion, alteration, and placement of works of art, the College shall take such ethical considerations into account when choosing and negotiating for works of art to be displayed in public places.

CAPP will have the right to deaccession works guided by the same standards used by the Collections Committee of the Museum.

3. Policy for the temporary exhibition of works of art on the Middlebury campus

CAPP does not presume any authority over works of art, photographs, etc., that faculty and staff place on view in their offices, that departments choose to install in their offices and teaching spaces, that students place in their rooms, that Commons choose for their lounges.

CAPP welcomes temporary installations in public spaces organized by departments or individuals. There is no need for CAPP to monitor short exhibits (three weeks or less), but such presentations must always be clearly labeled to indicate their source and the educational purpose that lies behind them.

CAPP, or the on-campus subcommittee of CAPP, which has been authorized to make practical decisions that are too cumbersome to be managed by the Committee as a whole, must approve any work or works to be placed on view for a longer period. (This subcommittee consists of the chair of CAPP, the director and assistant director of the museum, the director of the Program in Studio Art and the chair of the Department of the History of Art and Architecture.)

When a work or works are approved for temporary exhibition, the length of time it/they will be on view must be clearly indicated and stipulated in writing, indicating the agreement between the installer and the subcommittee. Normally, an academic year would be the longest time for such an exhibition. If the department or individual wishes, a request may be made at the end of the designated period to extend the exhibition, or to acquire the work or works for permanent installation. If CAPP does not approve the extension, the work or works must be removed.

Departmental Student Advisory Councils

a. Each academic department and program that offers a major will establish a Student Advisory Council (SAC). The department will make every effort to seek advice from the council on matters of new faculty appointments and curricular changes. The council may also initiate recommendations to the department.

b. Composition: The faculty, in consultation with majors in their department or program, will determine the size and composition of the Student Advisory Council. Majors will be eligible for election to the department's council in the spring preceding their junior and senior years, and at least one member will be elected in each department and program. Joint majors and independent scholars are eligible for election and are eligible to vote in one department of their choice. Elections will be held at the beginning of the fall semester. All prospective majors in the department or program are eligible to vote. Once the council has been elected, the majors will elect a chair from among the newly elected council members.

c. Meetings of the Student Advisory Council: The student chair of a department's Student Advisory Council will be responsible for calling two general meetings of department majors, one in winter term and the other in spring semester. Other meetings may be called by the chair at any time, and will be called upon request of five departmental majors or the chair of the department. At each meeting the SAC representative should address any concerns of departmental majors, as well as inform the majors of any news within the department. At the discretion of the SAC, additional meetings may be held throughout the year as needed.

d. Student Advisory Councils and Faculty Appointments: The SAC participates in all new faculty appointments within their department or program. The SAC is contacted by the search committee, which arranges a meeting with job candidates. The SAC should make an informal recommendation to the search committee.

e. Student Advisory Councils and External Reviews: SAC members participate in external reviews of their department or program. Along with members of the Student Educational Affairs Committee, they meet with the external review committee.

Student Government Association (SGA)

The Student Government Association is the vehicle through which students can participate in the formulation of institutional policy affecting academic and student affairs and collectively express their views on matters of general interest to the student body. The SGA makes student appointments to student, joint student/faculty, and trustee councils and committees. The SGA also allocates student activities fees and authorizes student activities for their eligibility to receive funds. The SGA provides services to the student body as deemed necessary.

The purpose, structure, and function of the SGA are set forth in the Student Government Association Constitution and By-Laws. Further information concerning the SGA and the committees to which it appoints students can be found in the Student Government Association Guidebook.

Senators are elected in the first month of school.

Students, faculty, and staff are all invited to contact any SGA officer.

CONSTITUTION OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (as of August 2006)

I. Purpose: In an effort to broaden student discussion and representation on all issues, the students of Middlebury College have assembled this Student Government Association (SGA). This Student Government Association shall represent the student voice in every capacity.

II. Structure of the SGA: The SGA shall be composed of the Student Senate and the Presidential Cabinet.

A. Function of the Student Senate and Presidential Cabinet: To propose and pass all SGA legislation; to decide on issues relevant to the interests of the student body; to determine all official SGA positions, and to carry out all other duties as outlined in the Constitution and bylaws.

B. Voting Members of the Student Senate:

1. Commons Senators: Each Commons will elect one Senator. The Commons Senators are responsible for reporting to their Commons Council on a weekly basis. They also report relevant Commons' activity to the SGA as well as their weekly activity with relation to their job as a student Senator. All Commons Senators will attend all regular SGA meetings.

2. Class Senators: All Class Senators are expected to report the current concerns of their constituents to the SGA at each regular meeting. Additionally, each will report about their weekly activities with relation to their job as a student Senator.
i. First Years: Two full-year Senators.
ii. Sophomores: Two full-year Senators.
iii. Juniors: One full-year Senator; one fall/winter term Senator; one spring term Senator.
iv. Seniors: Two full-year Senators.
v. Senior February Students: One fall/winter term Senator.
vi. Freshman February Students: One spring term Senator.

3. House Senator: The IHC will have one Senator.

4. The Student Co-Chair of Community Council.

5. The President of the SGA.

C. The Presidential Cabinet: The Student Senate shall determine the structure of the Presidential Cabinet. Changes to the Presidential Cabinet require the majority consent of the Student Senate. The President of the SGA shall appoint the members of the Presidential Cabinet with the consent of the Student Senate. The bylaws of the SGA shall explain the duties and composition of the Presidential Cabinet.

D. Qualifications of Members of the Student Senate and Presidential Cabinet:

1. All positions are open to any matriculated student of the College.

2. Class Senators must be a member of the class they represent. Class Senators must be on campus for the duration of their office, with the exception of winter term.

3. Commons Senators must be a resident of the commons they represent for the duration of their office. Commons Senators must be on campus for the duration of their term, with the exception of winter term.

E. Vacancies

1. In the event that the President cannot fulfill the position of SGA president, the Student Co-Chair of Community Council will assume the dual role of SGA president and Student Co-Chair of Community Council only until a special election is administered to elect a permanent President.

2. In the event that the Student Co-Chair cannot fulfill the position of Student Co-Chair of Community Council, then the SGA President will assume all responsibilities of the Student Co-Chair of Community Council during the interim of his/her absence or only until a special election is administered to elect a permanent Student Co-Chair of Community Council.

3. In the event of a vacancy of any appointed office in the SGA, the president shall appoint a new officer, subject to proper ratification.

4. In the event of a vacancy on the Student Senate, the Elections Council shall hold an election to fill the vacancy.

III. Committees

A. Standing Committees: A standing committee is a committee that is stipulated by the SGA Constitution or bylaws. The Presidential Cabinet shall make all appointments to standing committees, subject to proper ratification unless otherwise stipulated. Standing committees must make a report to the Student Senate at least once per semester. The Presidential Cabinet shall advertise all committee positions before appointments are made.

B. Ad Hoc Committees: The Student Senate can create an ad hoc committee with a majority vote. These committees shall exist for a maximum duration of one year. Ad hoc committees may exist for a second year subject to majority approval of the Student Senate. After a period of two years, the Student Senate must decide to transform the committee with a majority vote into a standing committee or the committee must be dissolved.

C. Rules Concerning Committee Members:

1. Any member of the student body may serve on a committee.
2. A student may not serve on more than three SGA committees. The Presidential Cabinet is not an SGA committee.
3. Before any committee shall commence its work, the committee's members shall be subject to proper ratification, unless the committee must begin work before the first Student Senate meeting. Committee members must be ratified on a yearly basis.

IV. Ratification

A. The Ratification Committee shall ratify all members of the Presidential Cabinet and SGA committees unless otherwise stipulated.

1. Ratification Committee: The Ratification Committee consists of students Senators, elected by the Student Senate, excluding the President of the SGA and Student Co-Chair of Community Council. The committee self-selects their chair.

2. The Ratification Committee ratifies all nominations by a majority vote. The Chair shall vote only in the event of a tie.

3. If the Ratification Committee rejects a nominee, then the Presidential Cabinet must make a new nomination or appeal the decision. The appeal is made by the Presidential Cabinet to the Student Senate, and requires a three-fourths vote to overturn the Ratification Committee's decision.

V. Meetings

A. Speaker of the Senate. The Student Senate shall select the Speaker of the Senate by majority vote during the first meeting of the year. The Speaker of the Senate is a member of the Senate and is allowed to vote. The Student Senate can remove the Speaker of the Senate by a two-thirds vote.

B. Agenda: The President shall set the agenda for each Student Senate meeteing, yet cannot block legislative items from the agenda.

C. Attendance: All members of the Student Senate must attend all Student Senate meetings. Members of the President's Cabinet will attend Student Senate meetings at the discretion of the President.

1. A member of the Student Senate missing more than two Senate meetings without proper excuse shall be removed from office.

D. Emergency Meetings: The President, Elections Council, or any five members of the Student Senate shall have the power to call an emergency meeting of the Senate.

E. Quorum: Quorum shall consist of half of the voting members of the Student Senate.

VI. Legislation

A. Any student may author legislation.

B. Only a member of the Student Senate may sponsor legislation.

C. Unless otherwise stipulated in the Constitution or bylaws, the affirmative vote of a majority of Senators present is required to pass all proposals.

VII. Elections

A. Elections Council: The Elections Council shall be responsible for running all SGA elections and referenda in accordance with the SGA bylaws.

1. The Elections Council shall consist of five members appointed by the Presidential Cabinet. The Director of Membership shall chair the Elections Council unless he is a candidate for office in which case the President shall appoint another member of the Cabinet to serve as temporary chair. No other members of the Presidential Cabinet or Senate shall serve on this committee.

2. The Elections Council does not require ratification.

B. President and Student Chair of Community Council: The President and Student Co-Chair of Community Council shall run on separate tickets. Upon completion of the eligibility requirements as defined in the bylaws, candidate petitions must be reviewed and confirmed by a majority of the SGA Senate before the commencement of campaigning.

C. Student Senators: Candidates for the Student Senate must meet all requirements defined in the bylaws and must receive the permission of the Elections Council before commencing campaigning.

D. Violations of Procedures: If any candidate violates any election procedures, the Elections Council shall have the power to call a special meeting of the Student Senate. During this meeting, the Elections Council will make a recommendation to the Student Senate regarding the eligibility of the involved candidate. The Student Senate, by a two-thirds vote, may then nullify said candidacy.

VIII. Finance and Constitution Appeals

A. The Appeals Committee shall hear complaints and review decisions made by the SGA Finance Committee and Constitution Committee based upon criteria established in the Constitution and bylaws.

1. The Appeals Committee shall consist of the SGA President and four Student Senators. The four Student Senators shall be chosen at the first Senate meeting of the year by a majority vote of the Senate. The Committee shall select one of the Student Senators to be chair.

2. Two of the Student Senators, excluding the Committee Chair, shall be selected by the Committee to be appeals reviewers.

3. The Appeals Committee does not require ratification.

B. Student organizations have the right to file an appeal with the Appeals Committee once communication between said organizations and the Finance or Constitution Committee have been exhausted. The bylaws of the SGA shall detail the grounds by which an organization may make an appeal.

C. Student organizations have the right to a fair and impartial hearing before the Appeals Committee. The bylaws of the SGA shall detail the appeals process.

1. In the event that a member of the Appeals Committee is involved in any way with the case, they shall abstain from participation.

2. If fewer than four members of the Committee are eligible to participate, an additional Student Senate member shall be sought to fill the void.

D. Changes to Appeals Guidelines: The Student Senate may amend the Finance and Constitution Appeals Guidelines, as stated in the SGA bylaws, by a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate. Changes shall go into effect at the beginning of the next semester.

IX. Impeachment

A. Any member of the Presidential Cabinet or Senate shall be impeached when they violated the SGA Constitution or bylaws in a clear and intention manner. Proceedings shall be commenced by.

1. A written petition signed by one-quarter of a member's constituency to the Impeachment Committee.

2. A written statement by a member of the Student Senate or Presidential Cabinet that is submitted to the Chair of Impeachment Committee.

B. The Impeachment Committee shall examine any petition or statement given to it and recommend to the Student Senate whether or not the member should be removed from office.

1. The Impeachment Committee shall consist of three Senators chosen by majority vote of the Student Senate. The Speaker of the Senate, President of the SGA and Student Co-Chair of the Community Council may not serve on the Impeachment Committee. The Committee shall self-select a chair. The Impeachment Committee does not require ratification.

2. The Impeachment Committee procedures shall be outlined by the SGA bylaws. The Student Senate may change Impeachment Committee procedures by a two-thirds vote.

3. The accused shall receive a fair and impartial hearing before the Impeachment Committee. If a member of the Committee has brought the charges, said member must recuse himself or herself. In such a case, the Chair of the Impeachment Committee shall select another member of the Student Senate to replace said member.

C. The full Student Senate shall hold an Impeachment
hearing if recommended by the Impeachment Committee.

1. The Speaker of the Senate shall chair impeachment proceedings. If the Speaker brought charges or is subject to charges, then the Senate shall choose a temporary Speaker by majority vote. Members of the Impeachment Committee may not serve as the temporary chair.

2. Removal from office requires a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate.

3. Impeachment hearing procedures shall be outlined in the SGA bylaws. The Student Senate may change impeachment guidelines by a two-thirds vote.

XI. Amendments

A. Constitution. Amendments to the Constitution of the SGA require the consent of the Student Senate and student body.

1. Amendments must first be brought before and consented to by the Student Senate.

a. Amendments are brought to the floor of the Senate in the same fashion as bills, with the exception that they are made available one week before they are voted upon.

b. Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the Student Senate before a student body referendum is held.

2. Upon approval by the Student Senate, a student body referendum is held.

a. The Elections Council shall be responsible for conducting the referendum.

b. The referendum must be held within one month of Student Senate approval.

c. The student body must approve the amendment by majority vote of those participating in the referendum.

3. If approved by the student body, the amendment takes effect at the beginning of the next semester.

B. Bylaws: Amendments to the bylaws of the SGA require the majority consent of the Student Senate unless otherwise stipulated in the Constitution.

1. Amendments to the bylaws are brought to the floor of the Senate in the same fashion as bills, with the exception that they are made available one week before they are voted on.

2. If approved by the Student Senate, the amendment takes effect at the beginning of the next semester.

Middlebury College Staff Council Constitution

Article I. Name

The name of this organization is the Middlebury College Staff Council (hereinafter referred to as MCSC).

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of the MCSC is to help make Middlebury College a better place to work. The MCSC is elected by the staff employees, and acknowledged by the Board of Trustees, to establish priorities and implement planning for the staff. The MCSC's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

A. Listen and respond to the ideas, opinions, problems, concerns, and grievances of staff employees, and consider other matters that require the MCSC's attention;

B. Organize data, staff views, and other information into reports, and formulate recommendations for actions, changes, and solutions, as required;

C. Convey reports and recommendations to the College administration;

D. Meet with the College administration on a regular basis to discuss reports and recommendations, seeking through mutual agreement to achieve improvements;

E. Report regularly to both staff and administration;

F. Pursue any other lawful action consistent with making Middlebury College a better place to work.

Article III. Members, Officers, and Elections

A. Membership

Voting membership of the MCSC consists of 10 Middlebury College staff employees. The executive vice president and treasurer (or designate) serves as a non-voting member. Voting members of the MCSC serve two-year terms, which begin on the first Monday after their election. Expiring terms are refilled by election. Each voting member serves on at least one MCSC committee and/or the MCSC Executive Committee.

One member of the MCSC is elected to represent the entire staff as a member-at-large.

Four members of the MCSC are elected to represent employee work groups. One member is elected from each of the following work groups:

Custodial Services Employees (those whose pay originates from the organization number 308013)

Dining Services Employees

Facilities Management Employees (those whose pay originates from the organization number 309606)

Library/ITS Employees

Five members of the MCSC are elected to represent campus work areas. These campus work areas are combined into five districts based on the chart of accounts and number of employees. One member is elected from each of the following campus districts:

District A, roughly those working in the Museum, Admissions,, Dean of Faculty

District B, roughly those working in Summer/Off Campus Programs or College Advancement

District C, roughly those working in Student Affairs, Center for Campus Activities and Leadership, Center for Counseling and Human Relations, Center for Teaching and Learning, Public Safety, Alliance for Civic Engagement, Chaplain and Scott Center, Health Center, Registrar, Institutional Research, and Vermont Campus Compact

District D, roughly those working in the offices of the President, Commons, Athletics, Americans with Disabilities Act, CIA, Davis UWC Scholars Program, Dean of the College, Institutional Planning and Diversity, International Student and Scholar Services

District E, roughly those working in the offices of the Treasurer, or Assistant Treasurer/ Director of Business Services and Student Financial Services, 51 Main Street

Position in an employee work group or campus district is determined by and subject to review by the MCSC Election Committee under the supervision and approval of the MCSC. Composition of campus districts is monitored and determined by the MCSC to assure balanced representation. Any change in individual districts will result in a rewrite/replacement of this section without necessitating amendment procedures.

Regular and "Time Limited" (a duration of work at least 9 months and a predetermined end date) Middlebury College staff employees, who are not voting members of the faculty, are eligible to participate in MCSC meetings, to vote in MCSC elections and to serve as elected MCSC representatives.

High school students or Middlebury College students working for Middlebury College are not eligible to be voting members of MCSC.

[Article III section A "Membership" revised March 2009]

B. Officers

A president, vice president, and co-secretaries are elected from among the voting members of the MCSC by its voting members. Each officer serves for one year and may be reelected. The four officers of the MCSC make up the MCSC Executive Committee.

a. The MCSC president presides at meetings of the MCSC, prepares the agenda for MCSC meetings, and casts a vote in case of a tie vote. In addition, the MCSC president is the official representative of the staff and the MCSC to the College president and the College community at large. The MCSC president also serves as the budget administrator for the MCSC budget, which is a regular College budget account. The president may choose to appoint any MCSC member to serve as budget administrator.. The MCSC president serves as an ex officio member of all MCSC committees.

b. The MCSC vice president presides at MCSC meetings in the absence of the MCSC president, provides general assistance to the MCSC president, and serves as the MCSC representative to the Community Council. In addition, the MCSC vice president oversees the development of grievance procedures and the periodic review of such procedures.

c. The MCSC secretaries share responsibility for the secretarial duties of the MCSC. Those duties include but are not limited to: taking minutes of each MCSC meeting and distributing these minutes to all MCSC members and to appropriate locations on campus; informing MCSC members and staff employees of the date, time, location, and agenda of MCSC meetings; maintaining the records of the MCSC; hiring a recording clerk, when necessary, to take the minutes of MCSC meetings. Allocation of secretarial duties is determined by the secretaries and the MCSC.

The MCSC Executive Committee meets annually with the executive vice president and treasurer to review general guidelines and practices for staff salaries and benefits for the purpose of recommending improvements in these areas. The MCSC Executive Committee meets periodically with representatives of the Board of Trustees and with the College president to address and discuss staff issues.

The MCSC Executive Committee is responsible for ensuring that part-time and full-time concerns are considered in addressing all MCSC issues.

When necessary, the MCSC Executive Committee may reassign duties among the executive officers. In the event that a member of the MCSC Executive Committee is unable to attend a meeting, another member of the MCSC may be appointed by the MCSC president to serve at that meeting. If a member of the Executive Committee resigns or is unable to continue in office, MCSC representatives will elect a new officer to complete the unexpired term.

C. Elections

MCSC elections are held annually in May.

The MCSC Election Committee, under the direction of the MCSC, develops election procedures, establishes election deadlines, conducts nominations and elections for MCSC representatives, validates the results, and resolves any problems that arise from the election process.

All voting is by secret ballot.

Nomination Procedure

a. Four weeks before the final election date, election procedures, including deadlines and nomination forms, are sent to all staff employees whose representatives are up for election.

b. The nomination forms for representatives of specific employee work groups or campus districts list the names of all eligible employees in that group or district and are distributed to members of that group or district only.

c. Staff employees may nominate one person from their specific employee work group or campus district.

d. In the case of the member-at-large, the nomination form provides space for one write-in candidate. A list of all staff employees eligible for nomination will be distributed. Nominations must be made from that list.

e. Nomination by official ballot takes place at least three weeks before the date of the final election.

f. A nominee may appear on one final ballot.

g. A nominee may decline to run for office.

Election Procedure

a. At least two weeks in advance of the final election date, the Election Committee sends out ballots to voting staff employees.

b. The staff employees who received the most nominations and agreed to run are listed on the ballot for each vacant representative's seat. Each ballot may list up to four nominees. The ballots also contain space for write-in candidates.

c. Staff employees may vote once within their employee work group or campus district and once for the member-at-large representative.

d. The candidate who receives the most votes for each vacant representative's seat in which they are eligible to serve is elected to the MCSC. In case of a tie, a run-off election will be held within a month between the highest vote-getters to determine a winner.

If an MCSC representative resigns or is unable to continue in office, another staff employee from the representative's employee group or campus district will be appointed by the MCSC to serve until the next regular election. In the case of the member-at-large, the appointment will be made from among all eligible staff members. When an election is held to fill the unexpired term of the resigned MCSC member, the nomination and election for the replacement will be held in the same manner as provided for in nomination procedure and election procedure above.

An MCSC representative may serve three consecutive terms, with a hiatus of two years before running again.

Recall Procedure

An MCSC representative may be recalled from office by the following procedure:

a. A recall may be initiated by the staff employees in the employee work group or district that the MCSC member represents, provided that a recall petition is signed by one-third of the staff employees in that group or district. In the case of the member-at-large, a petition must be signed by 100 eligible staff employees.

b. Upon receipt of the petition, the MCSC will conduct a recall vote within 30 days.

c. The recall vote will be taken among the staff employees represented by the MCSC member for whom the recall has been petitioned.

d. A simple majority of those voting in favor of a recall is required for the recall to take effect. If the required number of votes is not achieved, the MCSC member will remain in office.

e. No MCSC member will undergo a recall vote more than once a year during his/her term of office.

f. If the required number of votes for a recall is achieved, the MCSC will appoint a replacement in the same manner as provided for above.

Article IV. Committees

A. Standing Committees

Each standing committee operates under the authority of the MCSC and makes recommendations for action to the MCSC. In turn, the MCSC acts on committee recommendations, and reports to each committee the results of MCSC actions. Listed below are the standing committees and their specific areas of responsibility:

1. Compensation Committee: studies and reviews salary issues, benefits, leaves and vacations, job categories, and related subjects;

2. Election Committee: conducts nominations and elections for MCSC positions including written notification of election procedures and deadlines; validates election results; determines and reviews representation of employee groups with the approval of the MCSC;

3. Publicity & Events Committee: surveys staff employee opinions; publishes articles in Middlebury College publications regarding activities of the MCSC and staff employees; plans and coordinates MCSC activities and events (e.g. MCSC open meetings, picnics, parties);

4. Staff Development Committee: studies, develops and plans for workshops, on-the-job training, staff education/orientation, and related programs;

5. Safety and Work Environment Committee: conducts research and examines issues related to the campus as a workplace and worker safety.

6. HR-6: Comprised of three MCSC members and three HR employees whose purpose is to keep the lines of communication open between HR and Staff Council. The mission is to identify and develop recommendations for HR-related issue

Membership

a. All staff employees eligible to participate in MCSC may volunteer for MCSC committees.

b. The MCSC makes every effort to ensure that each MCSC committee includes representation from the various employee groups. The MCSC may recommend committee assignments when new committee members are needed. The MCSC reserves the right to limit the size of MCSC committees.

c. Each MCSC committee includes a chair, vice chair, and secretary as provided below.

Leadership

a. Committee chairs are approved and may be removed by the MCSC. They serve for one year as committee chair and may be appointed for a second year. While the chair may be, but is not required to be, a member of the MCSC, at least one elected member of the MCSC serves on each committee.

b. The chair conducts the meetings of the committee. The MCSC representative conveys the results of each committee meeting to the MCSC and the results of each MCSC meeting to the committee.

c. Each committee elects from its membership a vice chair and a secretary.

i. The vice chair assists the chair in conducting the business of the committee and fills the duties of the chair if the chair is unable to do so.

ii. The secretary keeps the minutes of all meetings of the committee and distributes the minutes to all members of the committee and to the MCSC secretary. The secretary informs all committee members of the date, time, location, and agenda of committee meetings.

B. Ad hoc Committees

As the need arises, the MCSC may create ad hoc committees to deal with particular issues, and recommends the names of volunteers to serve on such committees. Once an MCSC ad hoc committee has dealt with the issue in question as directed by the MCSC, or, if the MCSC determines that the ad hoc committee is no longer needed, it is dissolved by the MCSC. If however, MCSC feels that a specific ad hoc committee is needed and would better continue as a standing committee, an amendment petition and vote will be held to make it a standing committee.

The chair of each ad hoc committee is appointed by the MCSC. The chair may be, but is not required to be, a member of the MCSC. During the period that the ad hoc committee is active, its chair reports to the MCSC as directed.

Each ad hoc committee has one or more members who are elected members of the MCSC.

C. Middlebury College Committees and Positions

The MCSC makes appointments or recommendations for appointments to College committees. These include, but are not limited to: Wage and Salary Review Committee, Human Relations Committee, Community Council, Community Judicial Board, Environmental Council, and Staff Appeals Panel. The MCSC also makes recommendations to the College president for the positions of ombudspersons.

Article V. Meetings and Records

A. Meetings

Annual Meeting

a. Within 30 days of the annual MCSC elections, an annual meeting of the MCSC is held.

b. At the annual meeting the MCSC elects its officers and appoints the chairs of standing committees. The MCSC also makes recommendations for committee assignments.

Regular, scheduled meetings of the MCSC

a. The time and number of meetings per year is determined by the MCSC.

b. A written agenda of each meeting is distributed by the MCSC secretary, or his/her designate, to MCSC members and to designated posting locations on campus during the week prior to the meeting.

c. Regular meetings are open to all Middlebury College staff members.

d. An executive session may be entered into at any time by a majority vote of the MCSC. Executive sessions are conducted in the following manner:

i. The motion to go into executive session indicates the nature of the business to be considered during the executive session.

ii. The executive session is limited to the consideration of the business for which the executive session was called.

iii. Attendance is limited to voting members of the MCSC and persons invited by the MCSC.

e. MCSC members are expected to attend all MCSC meetings and are to be compensated at their normal rate of pay. In addition, MCSC meeting time is counted toward the weekly total of hours in order to determine overtime pay for nonexempt employees. Overtime pay will be charged to the employee's department. Absences are to be made known in advance to the MCSC secretary.

Public meetings

a. On a regular basis, at least twice a year, the MCSC conducts public meetings for all staff employees to communicate the activities of the MCSC and to solicit input and reaction from the staff.

b. Public meetings are held at such times and places as to enable staff employees to attend. Notice of public meetings is made at least one week in advance.

c. Release time without penalty is provided to all Middlebury College staff employees for attendance at public meetings.

Special meetings

a. Special meetings of the MCSC may be called by the MCSC president at the request of any MCSC member or at the request of the College president.

b. The section on regular, scheduled meetings of the MCSC above applies to special meetings.

Conduct of meetings

a. The MCSC president conducts all meetings of the MCSC.

b. Two-thirds of the voting membership of the MCSC constitutes a quorum.

c. A majority of the MCSC members present is required to pass a seconded motion. In the case of a tie vote, the MCSC president casts the deciding vote.

d. Voting on all matters other than the election of officers is made by voice vote. A roll-call vote will be taken on any matter should a simple majority of MCSC members request such a vote.

e. Any member of the Middlebury College community may address the MCSC with prior permission from the MCSC president. Permission to address the MCSC is obtained at least one week prior to the date of the meeting.

f. Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised may be consulted as needed to maintain orderly procedure.

Content of meetings

a. Business for the MCSC's attention may originate from any member of the MCSC or the Middlebury College community in the following manner:

i. Through contact with an elected MCSC member.

ii. Through contact with an MCSC committee

iii. At the request of the College president

b. Regular meetings of the MCSC usually include the following:

i. Approval or amendment of the minutes of the previous meeting

ii. Reports from the MCSC committee chairs

iii. Old business and new business

iv. Opportunity for public comment

c. The MCSC may invite groups or individuals not affiliated with Middlebury College to address the MCSC.

d. Business at special meetings is limited to discussion of the matters about which the special meetings are called.

Committee meetings

a. Committee meetings are held as needed.

b. Committee meetings are open to all members of
the Middlebury College staff. Notice of each committee meeting is posted at campus locations during the week prior to the meeting.

c. A committee may enter into executive session at any time by a majority vote of the committee members. Committee executive sessions are conducted as provided for in the section on regular, scheduled meetings of the MCSC, d. i. and ii. above. Attendance is limited to voting members of the committee and to those who are invited by the committee.

d. Committee members are expected to attend all committee meetings and are to be compensated at their normal rate of pay. In addition, MCSC meeting time is counted toward the weekly total of hours in order to determine overtime pay for nonexempt employees. Overtime pay will be charged to the employee's department. Absences are to be made known in advance to the committee secretary.

B. Records

The permanent records of the MCSC are maintained by the MCSC secretary in a secure campus location. These records include:

1. The MCSC Constitution and its amendments.

2. Minutes of all MCSC meetings.

3. Minutes of all MCSC committee meetings.

4. All correspondence and other documentation of the MCSC.

A permanent record is maintained by the secretary of each MCSC committee of

1. Minutes of all committee meetings.

2. All correspondence and other documentation of the committee.

Article VI. Amendments

A. A motion to amend this constitution must be accompanied by a petition signed by at least 50 Middlebury College staff employees who are eligible to vote in MCSC elections

B. The motion to amend must be stated on the agenda for the MCSC meeting at which the amendment is to be considered

C. A motion to amend must be passed by six of the ten voting members of the MCSC.

D. A special open meeting to explain the amendment will be held prior to the vote.

E. If the proposed amendment is passed by the MCSC it is put to a referendum vote for all eligible Middlebury College staff employees within 30 days.

F. A simple majority of those casting ballots is required for the amendment to be adopted.

Article VII. Dissolution

A dissolution vote will be held within 30 days of receipt of a petition signed by one-third of the staff employees of Middlebury College eligible to vote in MCSC elections. All eligible employees will be notified of the dissolution vote at least 10 days prior to the vote. If a simple majority of those casting ballots vote for dissolution, the MCSC will be dissolved.

College Governance

Faculty Rules and Procedures

Faculty Councils and Committees

College-Wide Committees

Departmental Student Advisory Councils

Student Government Association (SGA)

Middlebury College Staff Council Constitution