Graduate & Professional Student Association
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
GPSA CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE MEETING 44-04
MINUTES
Monday, November 4, 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 John Colombo – Faculty Advisor
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AGENDA
- PUBLIC COMMENT INFORMATION ONLY
(See foregoing notation regarding public comment)
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
4a) Minutes from the 44-01 and 44-02 and 44-03 meetings should be available and ready to be voted on.
Motioned by Devin, seconded by Kevin. Passed unanimously.
- REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS INFORMATION ONLY
5a) Chair Report
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.
6a) 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. 2.75 hours
President Marie discussed the need for better sponsorship funding management, suggesting that the chair of sponsorship should regularly report spending to the treasurer. Failure to do so should allow the treasurer to freeze funding until a meeting is held. President Marie also mentioned the need for language in the bylaws to ensure this. Kevin shared his experience of having a sponsorship application rejected due to lack of funding, and President Marie mentioned that they had to spend down their Covid rollover funding in an unsustainable manner. Devin agreed that these issues should be addressed both the bylaws and the sponsorship operating policy.
In the meeting, Devin, President Marie, and Kevin discussed the need to rework the operating policy, specifically section 6.2, to ensure that all money drawn from the treasury requires legislative approval. They considered the potential implications of the dissolution of the Ways and Means committee and the need for alternative approval mechanisms. They also discussed the language and structure of the policy, with President Marie suggesting changes to improve clarity and accuracy. The committee agreed to continue refining the policy and to consult the bylaws for further guidance.
There was also a discussion about the composition of faculty advisors, with a proposal to have a minimum of two advisors, one of whom should be the Dean of the Graduate College or their appointee. The committee also discussed the need for a clear definition of 'emergency' in the context of open meeting law.
The committee discussed the creation of an ad hoc grievance review committee and the process for removing council members. They agreed on the need for clear guidelines and procedures for the committee's formation and operation. The committee also discussed the potential for a formal grievance process for council members who are not fulfilling their duties. They decided to include language in the constitution to outline the process for removing council members and the formation of the ad hoc committee. The committee also discussed the need for a protocols and guidelines manual for GPSA.
The committee discussed the language and implications of various actions related to committee roles and responsibilities. They also discussed the possibility of withholding stipends as a disciplinary measure for non-performance of duties. The committee decided to include a range of potential outcomes in their document, from dismissal of charges to mandatory training, with the understanding that these could be tailored to specific situations. They also considered the concept of a probationary period for those who fail to meet their duties. The committee agreed to use formal language to avoid immediate removal and to ensure that the language used is clear and understandable to all parties involved.
The committee discussed the possibility of expanding the definition of censure to include removal from committee positions. They also considered the removal of an elected official from office, but decided against it to avoid conflating the issue. Instead, they agreed to include the removal from a GPSA position in the process. The committee also discussed the possibility of anyone being a member of GPSA requesting an agenda item for a formal review, but decided that it would need to be submitted to the GPSA President. The committee agreed to make the process more explicit and not implicit.
The committee discussed the potential for graduate and professional students to be involved in the decision-making process of the GPSA. They considered the possibility of limiting the involvement to members at large or higher, and the implications of this. They also discussed the potential for a student conduct investigation to impact a student's ability to hold office, and the need for a clear process for addressing such situations. The committee agreed on the importance of ensuring that the process for addressing grievances is clear and explicit, and that it allows for the protection of officers from unfair removal. They also discussed the potential for a student to be banned from campus and the implications for their involvement in GPSA activities. The committee concluded that the new process would provide a clearer framework for addressing grievances and ensuring the rights of officers.
In the meeting, the committee discussed the grievance review committee and the process of electing representatives. They also discussed the need for more members at large to be involved in the committee. The committee also discussed the need for a more detailed definition of "member" in the context of the grievance review committee. They also discussed the possibility of lobbying for government organizations.
New business is any motion that is new to this meeting. All items will be for possible action unless otherwise stated.
7a) Discussion of Next Meeting FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
Chair Marie requests time to discuss and possible action for the next Constitution and Bylaws meeting
7b) Call for New Business Items INFORMATION ONLY
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).
(See foregoing notation regarding public comment)
- ADJOURNMENT FOR POSSIBLE ACTION