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WVU Center for Black Culture & Research
WVU Office of the Provost

Important Reading:

What is a Chief Diversity Officer
The Rise of the Chief Diversity Officer
FAQs about Diversity at the University of California
National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education

WVU Black Faculty Association
Mission, Goals, and Objectives

WVU Black Faculty Association
Bylaws
Drafted: 10/10/2008
Approved: 11/01/2008

ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the West Virginia University Black Faculty Association

ARTICLE II. MISSION AND GOALS
The mission of the WVU Black Faculty Association is to enhance the well-being and quality of work life of Black faculty, staff, and students by ensuring that the West Virginia University is aware of and responsive to the needs of Black faculty, staff, and students. In order to fulfill this mission, the WVU Black Faculty Association will:

1. Promote the professional development of Black faculty and serve as an advocate for academic excellence and educational equity;
2. Advance the recruitment and retention of Black faculty and graduate students;
3. Serve as a liaison between the Black faculty and University administration with a focus on the Office of the Provost and the Office of Graduate Education.
4. Partner with campus and community organizations that share similar mission statements and goals.
5. Hold the University accountable to its own stated mission and strategic plans regarding matters of diversity and keep the issues of diversity, inclusivity, and equity at the fore front of policy making at the University.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Voting membership in the Black Faculty Association is open to all part-time and full-time Faculty and Faculty Equivalent Personnel of the West Virginia University.
Non-voting or affiliate membership is also available. All West Virginia University staff are eligible to become staff affiliates, and all graduate students are eligible to become graduate affiliates.
Membership applications are available on the website.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the Black Faculty Association shall be President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and Immediate Past President.
Section 2. The President shall serve one (1) term of two (2) years and one (1) term as Immediate Past President for one (1) year.
Section 3. The President-Elect shall be elected by the general membership and serve (1) term of two (2) years. The President-Elect shall then serve as President according Article IV, Section 2 for a total of five (5) years.
Section 4. The Treasurer, Secretary, and Assistant Secretary shall be elected by the general membership. The terms of office shall be two (2) years. None shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. Eligible members who have served two consecutive terms may run for office again after they have not served for two (2) years.
Section 5. The election of officers shall take place at the first general meeting of the academic year when positions are vacant. A quorum (simple majority of members) must be present.
Section 6. Nominations for office must be submitted to the Nominating Committee one month prior to the general meeting. Any voting member may nominate or be nominated for office in adherence to the qualifications listed in Article V.
Section 7. Resignations prior to the end of the term shall trigger a special election within two (2) months. If the President resigns, the Vice President will immediately fill the vacancy. If the Secretary resigns the Assistant Secretary will immediately fill the vacancy. Nominations for the vacant office must be received by the Nominating Committee by the general session immediately following the announcement of the resignation. The Secretary will announce the slate to the voting membership via electronic mail within one month following the resignation. Voting will take place during a special session within one month of the announcement of the slate. The elected officer will only complete the term created by the resignation. The time spent in office will not count against maximum term of office should a candidate choose to run for office in the following election.
Section 8. The attendance of officers at general meetings and steering committee meetings will be recorded by the Secretary. Missing more than three meetings will trigger a discussion of officer commitment. The President shall require a meeting with the office in question to resolve the attendance issue.

ARTICLE V. QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The President shall call and preside at all meetings of the general membership and the steering committee. The President shall be primary representative of the Black Faculty Association to the administration of West Virginia University and any other university or external organizations. The President shall appoint three members from the general membership to the steering committee. Candidates for President must be a tenured faculty member or faculty equivalent personnel with more than 5 years tenure at WVU.
Section 2. The President-Elect shall fulfill the duties of the President when the President is unavailable. The Vice President shall be a member of the steering committee and serve as an Ex-Officio member of standing committees except the Steering Committee. Candidates for Presiden-Elect must have the same qualifications as President unless they are elected during a special session or are elevated to the position in special circumstances. In those instances, candidates for Vice President must be eligible for tenure or reach their five-year tenure as a WVU FEAP by the time s/he would ascend to the Presidency.
Section 3. The Treasurer shall manage the financial affairs of the Black Faculty Association. The Treasurer shall undergo training, which shall have been designated and approved by the Steering Committee. The Treasurer shall create and implement a plan for financial stability. The Treasurer shall collect and distribute Association funds. No funds shall be distributed without the additional approval and signature of the President or President-Elect.
Section 4. The Secretary shall attend the meetings of all general and Steering Committee meetings of the Black Faculty Association. The Secretary shall keep time during meetings and record all minutes. Minutes shall be distributed within one week of the meeting.
Section 5. The Assistant Secretary shall fulfill the duties of the Secretary when the Secretary is unavailable. The Assistant Secretary shall be the primary secretary at standing committee meetings except the Steering Committee.
Section 6. The Immediate Past President will serve for one year. The duties of the Immediate Past President shall be decided by the President and the Immediate Past President.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings of the entire membership shall be held quarterly and during the academic year on the first Fridays of November, February, and May.
Section 2. Steering Committee Meetings shall be held monthly beginning in September. Additional meetings may be scheduled by the President.

ARTICLE VII. STEERING COMMITTEE
Section 1. The Steering Committee includes all elected officers and three members of the voting membership appointed by the President.
Section 2. The Steering Committee member terms shall correspond with their terms in office. Appointed members shall serve for two (2) years. The President may reappoint members for one (1) additional term. Appointed members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms unless they are elected to office.
Section 3. The Steering Committee shall be responsible for recommending resolutions, motions, Bylaws amendments, and other recommendations to the voting membership.
Section 4. The Steering Committee transacts all routine and emergency business of the Black Faculty Association between quarterly meetings of the general membership. The meetings of the Steering Committee shall be monthly.
Section 5. The Steering Committee shall prepare and execute strategic plans. The Steering Committee will make an annual report in May to the general membership on the progress that has been made on the plan. The annual report will also include summary information of the year’s activities and accomplishments along with any adjustments that have been made to the strategic plan in response to changes in the university environment.
Section 6. At any meeting of the Steering Committee a simple majority of members shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES
Section 1. The standing committees of the Black Faculty Association shall be the Steering Committee, the Nominating Committee, and the Membership Committee.
Section 2. The composition and responsibilities of the Steering Committee are detailed in Article VII.
Section 3. The President-Elect shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees, except the Steering Committee. The Assistant Secretary shall be responsible for keeping time and recording minutes of all standing committee meetings, except the Steering Committee. Minutes shall be distributed within one week of meetings.
Section 4. The Nominating Committee shall collect and distribute nominations for open offices. The Nominating Committee shall also actively seek appropriate candidates for nomination.
Section 5. The Membership Committee shall develop a recruitment plan for the Black Faculty Association. The Membership Committee shall also receive and process membership applications and maintain an updated membership list for communication purposes.
Section 6. Ad hoc committees may be created by the Steering Committee when they are deemed necessary to accomplish specific time delimited tasks. Membership to ad hoc committees shall be determined by the Steering Committee and may include members from the general membership. The leadership of ad hoc committees shall be determined by committee members.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS
The Bylaws may be amended by a 3/5 majority of the voting membership when the proposed amendments have been given to the membership by written notice from the Steering Committee at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting. The notice shall contain the proposed amendment.