Plenary Resolution Preparation Workshop

What is Plenary?

Plenary is the opportunity for all members of the Bryn Mawr Self-Government Association to gather together to:

- Make recommendations to faculty, staff and administrators

- Make a recommendation to other Association members

- Re-affirm the Constitution (Spring Plenary Only)- Participate in the only meeting of all members of

Self-Government Association

Plenary Workshop Schedule

• Overview of the Process

• Schedule and Deadlines

• Examples of Good and Bad Resolutions

• Q & A

• Discussion of Resolutions

How to Create a Resolution

• Start with an Idea!

• Attend a Plenary Workshop

• Get signatures!

• Present Resolution at an SGA Meeting

• Present Resolution at Fall or Spring Plenary

How to Create a Resolution

• Plenary Workshops will help you write your resolution.

• Plenary SGA Meeting is where you will present your final rough draft of your resolution to the assembly. The Representative Council will help you refine your resolution before you present it to the whole Association.

• Plenary is the place where you will present your resolution.

Schedule and DeadlinesIn order to write a resolution you must attend the

following meetings: • Plenary Workshops: (one of the following)

Monday, September 9th at 8PM in Taylor Seminar Room Wednesday, September 11th at 7PM in Taylor Seminar Room Thursday, September 12th at 8PM in Taylor Seminar Room Saturday, September 14th at 2PM in Taylor Seminar Room Monday, September 16th at 8PM in Taylor Seminar Room

• Meet with Executive Board to review Resolution: TBD (we will meet the week of September 16th)

• SGA Meeting: Sunday, September 22 at 7 pm in the Campus Center

• Plenary: Sunday, September 29th at 12 pm (Presenters-11:30 pm) You must also email your resolutions to the Executive Board (

sga@brynmawr.ed) for review by Friday, September 20th and send your revisions in by Tuesday, September 24th at midnight.

Example Resolution: Beginning

• Beginning: The beginning of the Plenary resolution should always start a general statement and/or larger problem.

• Examples: Whereas, Article I, Section II, Subsection C reads that

“Plenary shall be held once during each academic year in accordance with Article VI, Section X. Plenary quorum shall be one-third of the undergraduate student body. At Plenary, a simple majority of those present is required to pass all proposals, amendments to the Constitution and resolutions” 

Whereas, it is important to maintain the integrity and continuity of Traditions in a manner that preserves the goals of Traditions and the Articles of Self-Governance.  

Example Resolution: Body

• Body :The middle of the resolution should have all the reasons why this resolution is necessary and should be implemented into the Bryn Mawr community. As a rule, you should be as detailed as possible. You will have unlimited time to read to read this part of the resolution.

• Examples: Whereas, student representation is of great concern to the Bryn Mawr Community and a

vital aspect of Self-Governance,Whereas, the divide between the SGA Assembly and Residence Council hinders effective

representation and communication between residential representatives and constituents,

Whereas, the constituencies for SGA Dorm Representatives and Residence Council Dorm Presidents are one in the same,

Whereas, Article  II, Section 1 Subsection C lists “one residential representative from each residence hall” as a component of the Assembly,

Whereas, Article IV Section 1 Subsection B lists the responsibilities of the Residential Representatives,Resolved, Article II Section 1 Subsection C shall be changed from “one residential representative” to “up to two Dorm Presidents”.

Example Resolution: Ending

• Ending: Every plenary resolution should end with actual resolution. Common Endings include, but are not limited to, “It is hereby resolved that” and “Resolved”. Note: For a particularly complicated resolution, which needs definitions, charts, etc, Appendices may be added onto the Resolution. Please note that the “resolved” part of the resolution can have several parts.

• Examples:Resolved, the positions of Dorm Representative shall be eliminated and Dorm

Presidents shall assume the responsibilities of that position while retaining their position on Residence Council and the responsibilities therein. 

The BMC Greens hereby resolves that the students of Bryn Mawr College vote to implement a more socially and environmentally responsible take-out option.

With this support from the student body, the Greens and Dining Services will move forth in selecting and implementing a better take-out option.

If the cost of the implementing the new option exceeds the current budget, Dining Services has agreed to find a reasonable way to pay for it via reallocating money within the budget as opposed to charging students directly.

Good Resolution

A good resolution regarding a recommendation to the faculty regarding no homework on the Monday after Plenary (2007-2008 school year):

• Whereas, we the students take pride in our community, the Self Governance Association, and the ability to make changes and recommendations on campus,

• Whereas, attending Plenary is strongly encouraged to make our voices heard and hear other voices,

• Whereas, many students do not attend Plenary because they claim that they have too much work to do that cannot be done at Plenary

• Whereas, a survey was taken regarding the attendance at Plenary if there were no long term assignments due the Monday after Plenary, revealing that 86% of the student body would be more inclined to attend Plenary (survey and results in Appendix A),

• Whereas, the majority of the faculty has expressed support, through a survey (results available in Appendix B), of students attendance at Plenary and are willing to adjust due dates of long term assignments,

• Be it resolved, the student body recommends to the faculty that no long term assignments be due on the Monday after Plenary in both the fall and the spring. 

Bad Resolution

A bad example of the same resolution:

Whereas, we the students take pride in our community, the Self Governance Association, and the ability to make changes and recommendations on campus,

Whereas, many students do not attend Plenary because they claim that they have too much work to do that cannot be done at Plenary

Be it resolved, the student body recommends to the faculty that no long term assignments be due on the Monday after Plenary in both the fall and the spring.

Common Q & A

• What if I’m not available to present my resolution at the SGA meeting and/or at Plenary?

• [You can always get a substitute presenter]• When are signatures due?[signatures are due at the SGA meeting you

present at]

Common Q & A

• Who do I send my resolution to?• [Please send to sga@brynmawr.edu]• What happens if my resolution gets

passed at Plenary?• [You get to follow up with all the

necessary procedures; for instance, if you have a resolution to change dorm procedure you need to make sure those changes are implemented]

Contacts• SGA

Exec Board: sga President/Natalie: nkato@brynmawr.edu Vice President/ Rebecca: rmcook@brynmawr.edu Secretary/Syona: sarora@brynmawr.edu Treasurer/Amy: ychen01@brynmawr.edu Honor Board Head/Amani: achowdhury@brynmawr.edu

• Plenary. Committee Natalie Zamora: nzamora@brynmawr.edu Jessica Villalta-Santana: jvillaltas@brynmawr.edu Nora Scheland: nscheland@brynmawr.edu

• The Student Body Activities@brynmawr.edu