CLASSIFIED SENATE REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

November 2002

Prepared by Lee Peterson

Elections were completed on October 18 for the twenty-five additional voting members of the Classified Senate. They join the previously elected four senator/officers, for a total Senate membership of twenty-nine.

Senate elections are conducted via an envelope-return system. Voters sign their name on a marked envelope with a pre-printed name label, and return the sealed envelope to a ballot box in the mailroom. The ballots are separated from the envelopes before the votes are tallied. In this manner, a secret ballot is maintained.

With twenty-five senator positions to be filled, each voter could vote for up to twenty-five candidates. Election tellers tallied the votes, and anyone could observe the vote count. Candidates were listed in order of votes received. The top twenty-five vote-getters were declared elected. All senators are now elected at-large rather than by job classification groupings.

One-hundred thirty-nine (139) ballots were returned, with four-hundred fifty-two (452) classified non-management employees employed at election time. This is roughly the normal participation rate in senate elections. No ballots were disqualified this time for any reason (overvotes, ineligible voter, etc.). The number of votes required for election turned out to be forty-four (44).

Forty (40) employees accepted nomination for senator. (One additional candidate withdrew after the ballot was printed.) All of the nominees who were not elected have been thanked for their willingness to have their name on the ballot, and they have been invited to attend Senate meetings at any time, since all employees are welcome.

The new Classified Senate met for an orientation meeting on October 24, 2002. No formal action was taken on any governance item. SMC Board of Trustees Policy 1620 “Classified Senate” was distributed. The group contributed written suggestions on college policies and procedures that might fall within our jurisdiction under AB1725, state regulations, and the board policy. These suggestions will be a discussion starter at our next meeting.

Senators also suggested polling the group via e-mail for alternative meeting days or times because many of our members are involved in direct student support activities during the Thursday activity hour.

The Classified Senate will meet again in November.

ATTACHMENTS:

Classified Senator List, October 31, 2002

Classified Senate agenda, October 24, 2002

CLASSIFIED SENATOR LIST
October 31, 2002

The senators for a two-year term through June 30, 2004 are (listed alphabetically):

The senator/officers for a one-year term through June 30, 2003 are: