Graduate & Professional Student Association
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
GPSA CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE MEETING 44-05
MINUTES
Monday, November 18, 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
Called to order at 9:15 am
- PUBLIC COMMENT INFORMATION ONLY
(See foregoing notation regarding public comment)
Devin spoke about his concern with where committees should be housed within GPSA.
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
4a) Minutes from the 44-03 & 44-04 meetings should be available and ready to be voted on.
- 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
A motion was made to suspend Robert’s Rules of Order until 10:50 am. Motioned by Kevin, seconded by Devin. Passed unanimously.
The committee discussed the process of informing representatives or board members about charges and evidence before a council review. They agreed that the representative should be informed at least 10 business days prior to the review, and at least 5 business days prior to the review, they must be given some evidence. They decided to remove the redundant section 3.2 and make it a sub-bullet point off the main section. The committee also discussed the importance of keeping the timeline for the whole process fairly short to avoid it getting bogged down in months of delays.
The committee discussed and edited the language of their constitution, focusing on sections 3.2 and 3.3. They decided to change "administrative officer" to "chair of the committee" for clarity and consistency. They also discussed the role of the general counsel of the Nevada system of higher education, deciding that they should only act as an advisor for the committee when specifically invited. The committee agreed to update the language to reflect these changes and ensure the general counsel's role is clearly defined and limited.
The committee discussed the composition and voting requirements of a committee. They agreed that the committee should be of a size that allows for a two-thirds majority vote, with the exact number to be determined. They also decided that the committee chair could inform the general counsel of the Nevada system of higher education if a person indicated they would be advised by an attorney. The committee also discussed the dismissal of the general counsel by the committee, with the decision to be made by a two-thirds vote at any point during the formal review process. Lastly, they discussed the procedures of hearing, including the provision of written and oral reports, and the potential for a committee member to dissent from the rest of the committee.
The committee decided to change the voting requirement for decisions to a two-thirds vote and to include language that the chair's report should reflect the majority sentiment of the committee. They also discussed the need for a process to ensure the majority's decision is reflected in the committee's report to the Council.
Kevin, Devin, and President Marie discussed the language and procedures for a committee meeting. They debated whether the language should be included in the consultation or the bylaws, with Kevin suggesting it could be more deeply explored in the bylaws. They also discussed the need for explicit mention of subsequent review hearings and the importance of not assuming guilt. The committee decided to table the issue for further discussion in their next meeting. Kevin suggested a change to the section title and proposed a clause to handle situations where the defendant appoints a lawyer. President Marie agreed to consider this suggestion. The committee also discussed the possibility of self-representation in legal matters, with Kevin emphasizing the need to avoid asymmetry in legal training between the defendant and the committee.
In the meeting, President Marie, Kevin, and Devin discussed the need to clarify the authority and jurisdiction of their organization, particularly in relation to the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) and the Board of Regents. They agreed to seek guidance on this matter and plan to meet again on the 25th of November to continue their work on the bylaws. They also discussed the need to ensure compliance with both the NRS and the Board of Regents' bylaws. The committee decided to table the issue until they receive the necessary guidance.
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
Adjourned at 10:53am