The Code of Operations
of the
MSU-Student Housing Cooperative

Updated October 24, 2005

Table of Contents

TITLE 1 Membership
1.00 General
1.01 A Co-oper’s Rights and Responsibilities
1.02 Motions to the Board
1.03 Process for Membership
1.04 Release of Contract
1.05 Minors
1.06 Time Between Contracts
1.07 Reservations, Contracts, and Room Picks
1.08 Member Orientation Program
1.09 Guest Policy
1.10 Outstanding Balance
1.11 Pet Policy
1.12 Party Tax
1.13 SHC Party Policy
1.14 Alumni Membership
1.15 Member Referral Process
1.16 Anti-Discrimination Policy
1.17 Policy on Dispute and Conflict Resolution
1.18 Expulsions
1.19 Recolonization

TITLE 2 Board of Directors
2.00 Philosophy of the Board of Directors
2.01 Responsibilities
2.02 Powers and Limitations
2.03 Board Procedure
2.04 Board Retreats
2.05 Board Manuals
2.06 At-Large Board Members

TITLE 3 Committees
3.01 General
3.02 Executive Committee
3.03 Physical Development Committee
3.04 Membership Committee
3.05 Education Committee
3.06 Finance Committee
3.07 Visionary Committee
3.08 Grievance Committees
3.09 Ad Hoc Committees

TITLE 4 Executive Officers
4.00 Philosophy of the SHC Executive Officers
4.01 General Responsibilities
4.02 President
4.03 Executive Vice-President
4.04 Vice-President of Membership
4.05 Vice-President of Education
4.06 Corporate Treasurer
4.07 Corporate Secretary
4.08 Officer Compensation
4.09 Officer Elections
4.10 Officer Replacement

TITLE 5 Staff
5.01 Personnel Policy
5.02 Executive Director
5.03 Member Services Coordinator
5.04 Maintenance Coordinator

TITLE 6 Assessments and Finance
6.01 Member Accounts
6.02 Delinquent Individual Member Accounts (AKA Bad Debt Policy)
6.03 House Treasurer Responsibilities To MSU-SHC
6.04 Requests For Assessment Reduction
6.05 Request For Assessment Reduction-Expulsion
6.06 SHC Assessment Policies
6.07 House Revenues
6.08 House Checking Accounts
6.09 House Surpluses And Deficits
6.10 Use Of MSU-SHC Net Savings
6.11 Quarterly Reports To The Board
6.12 Financial Probation

TITLE 7 SHC Maintenance
7.01 House Maintenance Officers
7.02 House Grant Program
7.03 Emergency Maintenance Procedure
7.04 Inspections
7.05 Maintenance Work Crews
7.06 Physical Development Funding Guidelines
7.07 House Maintenance Funding Guidelines
7.08 The Selection and Opening of a New Property
7.09 SHC Maintenance Budgeting Policy
7.10 SHC Maintenance Tools Policy
7.11 SHC Loft Policy
7.12 SHC Paint Policy
7.13 P.A.C.E. Violations Policy
7.14 House Projects Policy

TITLE 8 Impairment to Capital Fiscal Crisis
8.00 Definition of Capital Fiscal Crisis / Article X
8.01 Article X- Maintenance
8.02 Article X- Membership
8.03 Article X - Education
8.04 Article X- Finance

TITLE 9 Amendments
9.01 Amendments to the Code of Operations
9.02 Review of the Code of Operations

Definitions of Voting Styles

General When a vote is not taken by ballot, members may change their votes but only before the decision of the question has been finally and conclusively pronounced by the chair.
Members can’t vote on a question that affects them personally. But if more than one name is included in a resolution, all are entitled to vote.
A motion fails if there’s a tie vote, unless the presiding officer, exercising the right of the chair to cast a deciding vote, votes yes.
Blanks (AKA Abstentions) are not counted toward or against a vote.
Simple Majority, or Majority A vote where, of the votes cast, 50% plus one is sufficient to carry the motion.
Two-Thirds A vote where two-thirds of the votes cast are necessary to carry the motion.
Members, Membership Those entitled to vote on a particular question. The membership of the MSU-SHC Board comprises only the Directors of the Board, except in the case of a tie in which the chair is allowed to vote to break the tie.
Plurality When someone has more votes for a certain office or position than any of the rivals. In civil government, as a rule all officers elected by popular vote are elected by a plurality. But in a deliberative assembly, where voting may be repeated until someone is elected, a plurality never elects unless there is a special rule allowing it. (The New Robert’s Rules of Order, De Vries, 1990, pg. 166.)
Role-Call Vote A vote where each member’s name and vote are recorded explicitly, and not simply the number of yea’s and nay’s.
Secret Ballot A vote taken where the source of votes is kept confidential, only the number of yea’s and nay’s are recorded.
Straw Poll A method used by the chair to obtain a sense of the group opinion so that debate and discussion can continue in a more fruitful direction. A straw poll is not a binding vote.

Example: Suppose that twelve members vote on a question in a meeting where twenty are present and the total membership is thirty. Of the twelve voters: A majority vote would be seven. A two-thirds vote would be eight; a two-thirds vote of those present would be fourteen; and a two-thirds vote of the membership would be twenty.