Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Minutes document the decisions made during a governance body’s meeting. They capture information such as the meeting’s date, time, location, and attendees, motions presented, discussed, and decided upon, including their respective results.
Minutes serve as a reference document for organizational decision-making, providing a historical record of discussions, actions taken, and resolutions reached during meetings. This record is valuable for organizational memory, continuity, transparency, and informs stakeholders who were not present at the meeting
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Best Practices
Informed by Robert's Rules of Order of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition)
The minutes should:
Include the exact wording of the motion that is adopted or discarded; avoid paraphrasing or rewording the motion.
Note whether motions were amended or debated.
Recording meetings can assist in accurate minute-taking. If you decide to record meetings to assist with minute-taking, we recommend obtaining consent from the attendees and informing them of the recording’s purpose.
Utilize clear, objective, and neutral language in the minutes. The minutes should not reflect the secretary’s personal opinion.
The guidance provided on this page is intended as an introduction to minute-taking. We strongly encourage you to review §48 in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition) for a comprehensive instruction.