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Phone Number:

916-234-0490

As you follow the guidelines for forming a new senate, we encourage you to connect with your 4CS Area Representative for ideas and support. You can also reach out to nearby colleges that have recently formed senates or have long-standing, successful ones—their experience and encouragement can be incredibly helpful.

Every classified senate is unique, shaped by the needs of its classified professionals and local district governance. When your senate is established, 4CS invites you to become a certified member of the California Community Colleges Classified Senate.

Joining 4CS is a great way to collaborate with others who are dedicated to supporting high-quality education and creating positive learning environments for students and communities. It’s also a great opportunity to network with classified professionals across the state.

Once your senate is formed, please send 4CS your bylaws, supporting documents, and a letter requesting official recognition and membership.

Starting a New Classified Senate

To form a Classified Senate at your college:

  1. Contact Support: Reach out to your 4CS Region Representative and nearby colleges with established senates for guidance.
  2. Clarify Purpose: Ensure there is clear interest and purpose among classified professionals—primarily improving campus policies and strengthening classified voice in governance.
  3. Form a Core Team: Build a small, respected team (including a union ally) to guide the effort and evaluate support across campus groups.
  4. Create a Plan: Schedule meetings, build a realistic timeline, and assign tasks. Maintain open communication with stakeholders.
  5. Develop Governance Documents: Draft a Mission Statement, Constitution, and/or Bylaws that reflect your campus’s unique structure and needs.
  6. Define Union Relationship: Propose a “delineation of functions” agreement to clarify the separate roles of the union and the senate.
  7. Build Awareness: Share progress regularly with classified professionals to build interest and support.
  8. Seek Feedback: Circulate drafts of governance documents for input. Host info sessions before the vote.
  9. Hold a Vote: Create a process for classified professionals to vote on adopting the senate structure and governance documents.
  10. Request Recognition: Submit the results to college leadership and the Board of Trustees for formal recognition.
  11. Join 4CS: After forming, vote to join the California Community Colleges Classified Senate and submit required documents.

Note: Most of this work is done on personal time. Collaboration with unions is essential, as the senate cannot engage in collective bargaining matters.