Black Faculty and Staff Association

ByLaws

Article I —Name

 The name of the organization is Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), hereinafter referred to as the Association.

 Article II—Purpose, Goals and Objectives

Purpose: The purpose of the Association is to “promote as sense of kinship” and better understanding among Black faculty and staff members at MTSU as well as to bring the perspectives of this Association to bear upon the operating procedures, activities, issues, participation in University affairs, educational and work experiences, and success of black faculty, staff, and students at MTSU. To this end we shall endeavor to do the following:

 Provide a collective voice and forum for addressing matters and affairs related to important issues which affect black faculty, staff and students at MTSU.

Promote, support, and influence a systematic approach to      the recruitment, interviewing, subsequent hiring, retention, professional development, academic excellence, and success of black faculty and staff at MTSU.

 Promote, support and influence a systematic approach to the recruitment, retention, educational development, relevant academic programs, academic excellence, and success of black students at MTSU.

 Develop, establish, maintain, and expand effective collaboration between BFSA, other ethnic minorities and the community at-large.

 Promote, support, influence, and facilitate the coordination and cooperative financing, when appropriate, of relevant sociocultural programs sponsored by various groups (students, nonacademic, academic, etc.)

 Assist in the development of a support system that will promote positive interactions and foster better relationships among all members of the University community and that will include social, cultural, and educational interactions.

 Monitor and encourage the inclusion of cultural diversity as an integral part of the mission of MTSU.

 Article III—Membership

Membership in the Association shall be open to all faculty and staff at MTSU who support the mission as defined in the constitution of the Association.

 Article IV—Officers

Section A         The Association shall elect from its membership persons to serve as the elected officers of the Association. The officers of the Association shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian.   To be a candidate for any office, a person must be a member of the MTSU faculty or staff holding paid membership in the Association.

Section B          The officers shall be elected at the May meeting of each year and shall serve a one-year term in office, beginning on the first day of June and continuing until the 31st day of May. Officers shall be elected by secret ballot of the voting members present. All elected officers must receive a majority of all votes cast.   The nomination committee shall be composed of the Executive Committee.

Section C         An officer can serve more than one term; however, officers shall be limited to three consecutive terms in the same capacity.

Section D         Upon expiration of their terms of office, officers shall forward official Association minutes, materials, correspondence, books, and related materials to the newly elected officers.

Section E          Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised shall be used to cover procedures not prescribed by this constitution.

 Article V—Duties of Officers

Section A         The President shall be the chief elected Executive Officer of the Association and shall preside at all meetings of the Association and shall assume the usual duties of the presiding officer. She/he shall be the chairperson of the Executive Committee and shall make assignments all appointments to both standing and special circumstances. She/he shall prepare and deliver a written annual report on the status of the Association to the membership before leaving office. The President shall be responsible for providing representation for the Association in all of its business situations as may be necessary. If the President should permanently vacate the position, the Vice