Black Faculty & Staff Association

Section 1. PURPOSE. The formation of the BFSA is the result of the collective efforts of concerned Black faculty and staff of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The purpose of this association is to promote a sense of community and professional welfare amongst Black faculty and staff at SIUE. The association has the following objectives:

1. Support black faculty and staff in all areas related to professional advancement and development;
2. Foster opportunities for mentorship for new staff and junior faculty, as they acclimate to the SIUE environment;
3. Facilitate collaborations in teaching, scholarship, service, and university programs
4. Maintain and ensure positive regard and relationships between the University and its Black constituency both on and off all SIUE campuses;
5. Ensure inclusivity of the unique perspectives, ideas, experiences, and voices of Black faculty and staff within and across the University;
6. Identify and assiduously respond to issues which affect the welfare of Black faculty, staff, or students at SIUE, especially at it relates to the mission of the University;
7. Provide a social network among Black faculty and staff across all SIUE campuses.

Section 1. MEMBERSHIP. BFSA membership is open to all SIUE employees, regardless of race, gender, creed, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation, who support the mission and goals of BFSA as outlined in the Bylaws. All SIUE Faculty and Staff that identify as African or African American are regarded as members of the BFSA by default and shall seek to become active members by following the necessary membership protocol outlined in Article IV, section 3 of this constitution. 

Section 2. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES. The BFSA membership roster will identify the active (dues-paid) body of the organization. A membership roster will be compiled annually to document members. Below are the three membership status categories:

a)  Active - Faculty & Staff currently employed with the University that are current in their annual dues.

b) Emeritus - Faculty & Staff who have retired from SIUE.

c) Affiliate - Faculty and Staff who are no longer employed by SIUE and have left prior to retirement.

d) Inactive – All SIUE Faculty and Staff currently employed with the University that are not current in their annual dues.

Section 3. MEMBERSHIP DUES. All prospective members must complete a BFSA membership application, which includes name, home/work address, telephone number, email address (if available), employment classification, department or academic unit, and BFSA committee interest. July 1st through June 30th is the membership year. Paid membership dues are not required to be a member of BFSA, however, only paid members can vote.

a) Annual BFSA membership dues are $15 and are non-refundable. Dues should be paid by October 1st in the Fall and February 1st in the Spring. New members who join at other points during the calendar year should pay their dues at the time of the application submission.

b) After the BFSA raises $500, fifty percent of all dues collected will be transferred to a BFSA scholarship fund. All remaining will be utilized for general BFSA expenses that have been approved by the executive board.

c) Dues paid by check should be payable to the Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA). Applications and checks should be mailed to the address of the BFSA treasurer, which will be provided to the general body. Members who pay their dues in cash will receive an official receipt from the BFSA treasurer, or their designate.

d) Executive Committee shall review the dues structure of the organization on an annual basis and make any appropriate recommendations for increases to the general membership for approval. The approved increases will be effective the new fiscal year.

Section 4. MEMBERSHIP TERMINATION. A BFSA member may terminate their membership at any time by tendering their resignation to the BFSA president in writing. At the point, they will be removed from the active membership roster. 

Section 1. OFFICERS. The elected officers of the BFSA shall be a President, Vice-President for faculty, Vice-President for staff, Secretary, Treasurer and a Parliamentarian. Officers will be elected directly from the general membership.

Section 2. BOARD MEMBERS. The BFSA Board shall consist of thirteen (13) members including the elected offices of President, Vice-President for Faculty, Vice-President for Staff, Secretary, Treasurer and Parliamentarian leaving seven (7) at- large board members to be elected from the BFSA general membership. The board must establish a quorum, which is define as fifty percent plus one, in order to hold a vote.

Section 3. TERMS. Board members shall be elected by the general membership to serve two-year terms, which will begin on the 15th day after the election of the election year.

a) Board Members may be re-elected to serve up to three terms consecutively.

b) Officers may be re-elected to the same office, for a maximum of three terms in any particular officer capacity.

Section 1. MEETING OF THE BOARD. The BFSA Board shall meet no less than three (3) times each semester (i.e., fall and spring terms only) and as needed during summer break. Meetings will take place the first Tuesday of the month or as needed.

Section 2. GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS OF THIS ASSOCIATION will occur, quarterly, at least 4 times during the academic calendar year. Meetings will occur at both the Edwardsville Campus and the East St. Louis Campus as outlined below. Unless deemed necessary for special events or time-sensitive urgent matters, there would be an annual business and planning meeting during the summer term. Notices of all meetings will be emailed to members at least two weeks prior to date of meeting. All meeting protocols will be handled with appropriate Parliamentary procedure as outlined in Roberts Rules of Order.

a) East St. Louis Campus – First Thursday of the month

b) SIUE Main Campus – Last Thursday of the month

Section 3. COMMITTEE MEETINGS. Standing meetings and ad-hoc committee meeting schedules will be determined by the committee chair.

Section 4. QUORUM. A quorum shall consist of 50% + 1 of active members present. A proxy vote or votes may be used to constitute a quorum. A proxy vote must be in written form and must be submitted and approved by the president at least 48 hours prior to the general assembly meeting. There is no quorum required to conduct regular business of the membership.

Section 1. All meeting protocols will be handled with appropriate parliamentary procedure in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order. All active members should be made aware of the following protocols as it pertains to…

a) All active members have equal voting rights and privilege within BFSA.

b) A quorum must be present to establish a vote during any board meeting or general assembly meeting.

c) All agenda and voting items must be submitted to the general membership at least 1 week prior to the general meeting for review and adequate preparation for the meeting.

d) Voting on the BFSA constitution, by-law changes, elections, and/or the termination of a membership is restricted to active members only. Non-dues paying members can vote on all other items brought before the association.

Section 1. ELECTIONS & NOMINATIONS. At the beginning of each Spring Semester, the General body will ask for nominations to the elected office.

a) This list of nominees will be presented to the membership at a designated subsequent meeting where election will occur. Nominations from the floor will also be considered, until each office is properly filled. In order to be elected to office, each candidate must receive a simple majority of all votes cast.

b) A separate meeting shall be held for the purposes of electing all offices by the last business day in May. Candidates shall be nominated (1) from the floor, one regular meeting prior to the election date, or, (2) by write-in to the secretary of the BFSA, at least five (5) business days prior to floor nominations. A nomination shall be placed on the ballot, only when the secretary has received verification by the nominee and the nominated person accepts the nomination.

Section 2. VACANCIES. In the event of a vacancy in the President’s office, the Vice-President for faculty shall succeed to that office. The Executive committee shall appoint an interim Vice-President for faculty. All other unexpected vacancies shall be filled by the President with the majority approval of the Executive committee, until the original term has ended and time arises for new elections. All vacant officer positions must be filled within 60 days of the official notice of vacancy.

Section 3. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election procedures for all Officers shall be as follows:

a) Confirmation of all officers shall be held by a majority of the voting membership.

b) The election of all officers shall be held during the spring term of the academic calendar year.

c) Serve two-year terms, which will begin on the 15th day after the election of the election year.

Section 4. TRANSITION OF OFFICERS. The transition of officers shall be made at the last regular meeting of the spring semester.

Section 5. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS. Elected officers can be removed for cause by a 2/3 majority vote of the voting membership.

Section 6. FILLING OF VACANCIES. If any office becomes vacant during the fiscal year, the position shall be filled by appointment of the President with a majority vote of the board.

Section 1. APPROVAL OF CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS. Two-thirds of the active members present when voting, providing at least fifteen (15) members are present, shall be necessary to approve amendments to the current constitution and bylaws.

Section 2. REVIEWING CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS. The Constitution and Bylaws shall be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall make suggestions for changes in the Constitution and Bylaws at any time. Any BFSA member may suggest changes to the Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 3. AMENDMENTS. Changes in the Bylaws may be approved by a simple majority provided that quorum is met. Proposed amendments to these Constitution and Bylaws shall be formally presented to the BFSA by active members only. The voting membership will vote on changes in the Constitution and Bylaws during the first regular meeting of the fall semester following the proposal and discussion of the amendments.

Section 1. Recognizing that the BFSA will be faced with a multitude of different issues year round, an issue assessment protocol has been established by the BFSA for use by its members.

Section 2. Use of the issue assessment protocol will promote order within the BFSA, maintain integrity and professionalism within the BFSA, and advance respect for the BFSA at all levels throughout the Edwardsville and East St. Louis campuses and external community. The issue assessment protocol will also provide methodical approach for assessing the credibility and facts of issues and taking steps toward their resolution, while concurrently addressing other BFSA matters.

Section 3. The individual desiring an issue to be addressed by the BFSA shall complete an appropriate BFSA form with identifying and contact information. The following steps will be taken:

1. Issue or concern must be reduced to writing and submitted to the BFSA Executive Board.
2. Issue is placed on BFSA Executive Board monthly meeting agenda and discussed.
3. Determine whether data exists to validate issue or concern.
4. Schedule and conduct interview with BFSA Executive Board to clarify all pertinent details and ascertain the status of issue or concern.
5. Summarize the situation in a written action document.
6. Determine if BFSA action is appropriate, pragmatic, or possible, and develop a list of recommended actions to be presented at appropriate full BFSA meeting.
7. If action is planned, ascertain logistics, including initial and follow-up contact plan, schedule, and assessment of outcomes of BFSA intervention.
8. Outcomes of BFSA intervention, if taken, will be reported to the individual who originally presented the issue, then to BFSA at next full membership meeting after the intervention, if any. 

Section 1. DISSOLUTION. The amendment procedure shall be followed for the abolition of these bylaws. The Association may be dissolved at any time, upon 2/3rd majority vote by its voting members. Upon dissolution of this Association, all remaining assets, after payment of all debts, obligations, or necessary final expenses, shall be designated to a Black Faculty and Staff Development Fund. This designated fund of the Association exists to provide monetary support to faculty and staff for professional development, research, and teaching activities. 

In the event that said Fund no longer exists, members shall vote on how to disperse the funds so that they contribute to the advancement and support of currently employed Black Faculty and Staff at the University.