Navigating the Transition Meeting

As a newly elected Staff Senator, the first full Staff Senate meeting you will attend in April is referred to as a "transition meeting". Different from the rest of the full Senate meetings you will attend throughout the year, the transition meeting has a dual purpose.

Back to meeting overview

First half of transition meeting: Out with the old

The agenda for the first half of the transition meeting will include:

  • Call for approval of minutes from previous Senate meeting in February
  • Final standing reports from Executive Committee (President and Treasurer) and Standing Committee chairs wrapping up previous year's activities
  • Conclusion of any outstanding unfinished business
  • Dismissal of Staff Senators who are completing the end of their elected terms

PLEASE NOTE: As a new Staff Senator just about to start your term, you are asked to sit in on this first half of the meeting primarily as an interested observer. You may ask questions when appropriate, but since you have not officially yet been installed into your Senator role, you may not participate in any voting that may occur during this first half of the transition meeting.

Transition between meeting halves

Leadership changes

The first half of the meeting will be chaired by the outgoing Staff Senate President who has been serving throughout the preceding academic year, and final Executive Committee and Standing Committee reports will be given by those who have been serving as President, Treasurer and Standing Committee Chairs. They will all officially transition out of those positions after this first half of the meeting is over, and the people who have been serving in -Elect positions will take over in the meeting's second half.

How will I know when the first half is over?

At the conclusion of the meeting's first half, the outgoing President will thank outgoing Senators for their service and invite them to leave the meeting at that point if they so choose. The outgoing President will then officially hand the reins over to the President-Elect, who will immediately assume the office of President and meeting chair.

There will be no break between meeting halves. Without further ado, the new President will immediately begin the business of the second half of the transition meeting.

Second half of transition meeting: In with the new

The agenda for the second half of the transition meeting will include:

  • Welcome and introduction of new Staff Senators
  • Call for nominations for any open leadership positions
  • Call for any other new business

How are the introductions handled?

The introduction of new Staff Senators is brief: the President will warmly invite you to unmute and introduce yourself in turn (remember to turn your camera on if it is not already!). Unfortunately, there likely will not be time for continuing Staff Senators to do the same, although it is up to the President to determine if time permits mutual introductions.

What leadership positions may be open?

There are a number of ways to get more involved early on in your Staff Senate tenure, and this is an opportunity to nominate yourself for one of several leadership positions if you're ready to jump right in. These may include:

The body will be asked to vote on any nominations that are made, and you are now able to participate in voting during this second half of the meeting since your term of office has now officially begun.   Check out this Robert's Rules webpage for more information about the voting process.

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