Officer Election Nominations Notice

Dear UFCT 1460 Member,

This is to inform you that the official nominations period for UFCT 1460 President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary will open on Monday, September 1, 2025, in accordance with our Bylaws (see Article IV, Section 1, Sub-Section a). Fill out the Nominations Form here until Sept. 28th 2025.

These four officers comprise the organization’s Executive Committee, as specified in the Constitution and the Bylaws. Officer terms are for three years, starting on January 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2028. See Appendix A: Open Positions for more information.

Nominations

Eligibility to Nominate and Be Nominated

All members in good standing are invited to submit nominations for any or all of the four offices. Members may submit more than one nomination for each open office.

According to UFCT 1460 Bylaws Article IV, Section 1, Sub-Section b, “A nominee must have been a member in good standing for at least one year prior to his or her nomination and have received at least four (4) supporting nominations, including self-nominations.”

See Appendix B: Good Standing and Voter Eligibility for more details.

Nominations Deadline

The Elections Committee will accept nominations until 11:59pm on September 28, 2025. This allows a full 28 days (the maximum allowed under our Bylaws; see Article IV, Section 1, Sub-Section c) in order to provide as much opportunity as possible for potential candidates to consider whether or not to put their name forward and to secure the four nominations needed to become an official candidate.

See Appendix C: Timeline for a list of deadlines and other important dates.

Nominations Process

For each nomination, the Elections Committee will confirm the good standing of both the nominator and the nominee(s) with the Executive Committee. The result of this determination will then be communicated to the nominator and the nominee(s). This process must be completed within ten calendar days of the initial nomination (see Bylaws Article IV, Section 1, Sub-Section c). In the event of a negative determination, a rationale for the decision will be provided and the nominator or nominee(s) will have an opportunity to challenge the determination (see Bylaws Article IV, Section 1, Sub-Section c).

Once a first nomination has been determined to be valid, the Elections Committee will ask the nominee to confirm, via email, that they affirmatively accept the nomination (see Bylaws Article IV, Section 1, Sub-Section c). 

Once a nominee has 1) been confirmed as a member in good standing, 2) received four nominations (including self-nomination) from confirmed members in good standing, and 3) confirmed affirmative acceptance of the nomination, the member will be considered a candidate for office.

Informational Meeting for Potential Nominees

During the week of September 15, 2025, the Elections Committee will host an informational session for members interested in becoming a nominee. This session will review the open positions and their responsibilities as well as the nomination and election processes.

Challenging Determinations of Ineligibility

Challenges to determinations of ineligibility must be filed by 11:59pm on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Challenges to determinations of ineligibility must be resolved by noon on Saturday, October 18, 2025, in accordance with our Bylaws (see Article IV, Section 1, Sub-Section c). After this, the nominations process is final.

Campaigning

Candidates will have ample time to campaign during September and October. Rules around campaigning—including those related to candidate statements, candidate portraits, campaign literature, and candidate forum(s)—will be released in the full election plan along with the official nominations form on September 1, 2025.

Voting

The election will take place between November 1, 2025, and December 1, 2025, using a fair and confidential third-party balloting platform. Certification and dissemination of the results will happen no later than December 7, 2025.

Commitment to Fair, Free, and Transparent Elections

The Elections Committee is responsible for conducting fair and free elections. We are also committed to making these processes and procedures as clear and transparent as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns about the process, as explained above, we urge you to contact us at: election@ufct1460.org. 

In Solidarity,

The 2025–2028 UFCT 1460 Elections Committee

Tom La Padula (Chair)

Romel Espinel

Mike Friedman

Harriet Harriss

Zach Slanger

Appendix A: Open Positions

The following offices are to be filled in the 2025 UFCT 1460 General Election: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Each of these offices are ex officio members of the UFCT 1460 Executive Committee.

Elected officers will serve a 3-year term (see Bylaws Article IV, Section 1, Sub-Section i). The term will start on January 1, 2026, and end on December 31, 2028.

See excerpts from our Constitution and Bylaws below, laying out the duties and responsibilities of each office and of the Executive Committee as a whole.

Constitution

Article V: Officers of the Union 

5.1 The Union’s four (4) officers shall be: President, Vice President,  Treasurer, and Secretary. These four officers shall comprise of the  organization’s Executive Committee. 

5.2 All officers shall perform the customary duties and exercise the  usual powers of such offices as specified in the Constitution or the  Bylaws.  

Bylaws

Article I: Duties of the Officers 

1.1 President: The President shall be the chief executive officer of the UFCT Local 1460 and shall preside at meetings of the Executive  Committee and membership meetings. The President shall make decisions between meetings on the basis of organizational policy,  making every effort to consult with Executive Committee, and shall have such powers as may be required for the exercise of those duties.

1.2 Vice President: The Vice President shall assist the President and assume the duties of that office in the absence of the President, and shall become President if that office is vacated. 

1.3 Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, the payment of all bills, the annual audit of the union’s financial status which shall be disseminated to membership, for maintaining a budget, and for reporting the dues paying status of membership. 

1.4 Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for the preparation of the minutes of the Executive Committee and of the membership meetings, and for their prompt dissemination to the membership, and shall maintain the non-financial records of the union.

Article II: Executive Committee 

2.1 The Executive Committee shall meet monthly, or at the call of the President, or at the call of two (2) or more of its members, or at the call of the Delegates Assembly, for the purpose of initiating,  overseeing or revising the program of the organization and to conduct other business of the organization that is within its authority. A  quorum for the Executive Committee shall be a majority of its members. 

2.2 The Executive Committee with the assistance of the Treasurer shall prepare, establish, and present to the Delegates Assembly and the membership an annual budget in the month prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. 

2.3 The Executive Committee shall employ all professional,  technical, clerical, and support staff of the organization. 

2.4 The Executive Committee shall establish the salary, benefits, and expense guidelines of any general officer who is employed by the organization. 

2.5 The Executive Committee shall be empowered to make contracts and incur liabilities including the purchase of services,  equipment, and real property, to borrow money, to secure such obligations by mortgage or other instrument, and to otherwise engage in financial transactions to the extent permitted by applicable law or statute. The Executive Committee shall have the power to sue,  complain, and defend on behalf of the membership. 

2.6 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for adherence to and enforcement of the Constitution and Bylaws of the organization. 

2.7 The Executive Committee shall issue regular reports, including an annual report, to the Delegates Assembly and the membership. 

Appendix B: Good Standing and Voter Eligibility

A member in good standing is someone who is currently a member of the Local 1460 Pratt Institute bargaining unit, as per the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), has submitted union paperwork, and has paid union dues at any point during the current academic year.

All members in good standing are eligible to vote in a union election, provided they submit their union paperwork at least 30 days before the distribution of ballots.

Part-time faculty who teach only in the Spring semester are eligible to vote, provided they have paid union dues at any point in the prior Spring semester, except for those ineligible because they currently hold a managerial role excluded from the bargaining unit.

Appendix C: Timeline

Monday, September 1, 2025	Nomination form and election plan distributed; nominations period officially opens
Week of September 15, 2025	Nomination meeting: informational session for members regarding open positions and election process
11:59pm on Sunday, September 28, 2025	Deadline for receipt of nominations; nominations period officially closes
11:59pm on Wednesday, October 15, 2025	Deadline to file a challenge to a determination of ineligibility
Noon on Saturday, October 18, 2025	Deadline to resolve a challenge to a determination of ineligibility; nominations final after this point.
Saturday, November 1, 2025	Distribution of ballots to full membership; election officially opens
11:59pm on Monday, December 1, 2025	Deadline to vote/submit ballot; election officially closes
11:59pm on Sunday, December 7, 2025	Deadline for certification of ballots and election results; elections results announced immediately after certification