Graduate & Professional Student Association
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
GPSA CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE MEETING 44-02
MINUTES
Monday, September 23, 2024
9:00 AM
ONLINE MEETING:
VIRTUAL: https://unlv.zoom.us/my/gpsa.meeting.room
Passcode: GPSAUNLV
US Phone: +1 719-359-4580
Phone Code: 14888624
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE AGENDA AND PUBLIC MEETING NOTE:
PERTAINING TO VIRTUAL MEETINGS:
In accordance with the Board of Regents’ Bylaws, Title 1, Article V, Section 12, a quorum may be gained by telephonic, video, or electronic transmission provided that notice to that effect has been given.
Public Comment may be submitted via email to gpsapresident@unlv.edu. Messages received by 9:00 AM on the business day prior to the meeting may be entered into the record during the meeting. Any other public comment form submissions and/or voicemails received prior to the adjournment of the meeting will be transcribed and included in the permanent record.
Members of the public wishing to listen to the meeting may do so via: https://unlv.zoom.us/my/gpsa.meeting.room
CONTINUED:
Below is an agenda of all items scheduled to be presented and considered at the meeting. Notification is hereby provided that items on the agenda may be taken out of the order and presented, two or more agenda items may be combined for consideration, and an agenda item may be removed from the agenda or discussion relating to an item on the agenda may be delayed at any time.
Some agenda items are noted as having accompanying reference material. Copies of the reference materials that are distributed at the meeting may be requested by emailing the Executive Board at gpsa@unlv.edu.
This meeting’s agenda has been posted in accordance with NRS 241.020. Copies of the agenda and reference material will be made available as follows: 1. Digitally at the UNLV.edu/GPSA/Agendas and the Nevada Public Notice Website, 2. Physically located on the First Floor of the Lied Library at 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV, 3. Physically located in the Carol C. Harter Classroom Building Complex (CHB) at 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV.
Reasonable efforts will be made to assist and accommodate persons with a disability attending the meeting. Please email the GPSA Manager at gpsa@unlv.edu in advance so that arrangements may be made.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Public comment will be taken during this agenda item. No action may be taken on a matter raised under this item until the matter is included on an agenda as an item on which action may be taken. Comments will be limited to three minutes per person. Persons making comment will be asked to begin by stating their name for the record and to spell their last name. The Board Chair may elect to allow additional public comment on a specific agenda item when that agenda item is being considered. In accordance with Attorney General Opinion No. 00-047, as restated in the Attorney General’s Open Meeting Law Manual, the Chair may prohibit comment if the content of that comment is a topic that is not relevant to, or within the authority of, the Body, or if the content is willfully disruptive of the meeting by being irrelevant, repetitious, slanderous, offensive, inflammatory, irrational or amounting to personal attacks or interfering with the rights of other speakers.
2024-2025 Constitution and Bylaws Committee Member
- ☑ Teresa Marie, Chair, College of Urban Affairs
- ☑ Devin Lopez, Committee Member, College of Liberal Arts
- ☑ Kevin Navarrete-Parra, College of Liberal Arts
Members-at-Large:
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Members of the Public Present:☑ Virginia Smercina – Business Manager Bill Robinson – Faculty Advisor
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AGENDA
Called to order at 9:01 am
Quorom has been established.
- PUBLIC COMMENT INFORMATION ONLY
(See foregoing notation regarding public comment)
No public comment.
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
4a) This is the first meeting of this committee no minutes available.
- REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS INFORMATION ONLY
5a) Chair Report
Chair Marie is working on the organization chart and the committee will continue working on the GPSA constitution.
5b) GPSA Manager & Advisor
- UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
Unfinished Business is any motion or action item that was under discussion and was postponed or moved to this meeting at the discretion of the public body as approved by the chair.
New business is any motion that is new to this meeting. All items will be for possible action unless otherwise stated.
7a) GPSA Constitutional Updates Articles I-VII FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
Chair Marie request time for discussion and possible action of the review and updates for the constitution of GPSA. 5 mins
Motioned by Devin, seconded by Kevin to open the discussion. Passed unanimously.
A motion was made to suspend Robert’s Rules of Order. Motioned by Kevin, seconded by Devin. Passed unanimously.
The committee discussed the roles and responsibilities of its members, including the positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. They also deliberated on the optional position of Chief of Staff, which is appointed by the President and oversees matters handled by the appointed directors of the President's Cabinet. Kevin suggested making the duties of the Chief of Staff more explicit. The conversation ended with the decision to update the language and ensure the position is overseen by the Council, with the final decision on the Chief of Staff's role left open. The committee also discussed the challenges of finding someone comfortable to direct communications and marketing, and Kevin proposed drafting a memorandum of understanding to define the position's duties.
Chair Marie, Kevin, and Devin discussed the appointment and duties of the Chief of Staff. They agreed to outline the Chief of Staff's duties via a Memorandum of Understanding in line with the GPSA Bylaws, approved by the GPSA Council at the time of the Chief of Staff's confirmation. They also discussed the qualifications and election of council members.
Chair Marie and Kevin discussed the financial issues faced by their institution, with Chair Marie highlighting the underfunding of their institution compared to the rest of the R1 average institutions. They also discussed the potential shift in the institution's 60-40 setup for tenured faculty, which Chair Marie expressed concern about. Chair Marie also shared her personal experience of navigating the institution's issues, including a problematic professor and the need to fix their bylaws.
Chair Marie and Devin discussed the language of their prospectus defense and the possibility of amending it. They also discussed the designation of an acting President in the case of absence or inability to act of both President and Vice President. Kevin raised a question about the potential violation of forum in such a situation. Devin suggested revisiting the original constitution for guidance. They decided to send the draft for review next week and to cancel the meeting on October 7th due to Devin's conflict. Devin also proposed the creation of an operating policy for the budget process, which GPSA agreed to review. The next meeting was scheduled for September 30th.
7fb) Call for New Business Items
Items for consideration at future meetings may be suggested. Discussion is limited to description and clarification of the subject matter of the item, including the reasons for the request; emergency items added at the discretion of the President (GPSA Bylaws Article IV, Sec.3).
- ANNOUNCEMENTS INFORMATION ONLY
- Next Meeting will be September 30, 2024 @ 9:00am - PUBLIC COMMENT INFORMATION ONLY
(See foregoing notation regarding public comment)
No public comment.
- ADJOURNMENT FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
Adjourned at 10:00am.