CONSTITUTION
AND BY- LAWS
ARTICLE 1. Name and Purpose
Section 1
- The name of this organization shall be the Black Faculty And Staff
Organization.
Section 2.
- The purpose of the Black Faculty and Staff Organization (BFSO) is (1) to
promote activities, issues and programs that support recruitment, retention
and success of Black faculty, staff, and students at the University of
Mississippi; (2) to further the missions and goals of the University and
enhance the Black experience on the Oxford campus and within the Oxford
community at large.
ARTICLE 2. Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of the BFSO shall be to:
- Section 1. Provide a collective voice on matters relating to all Black affairs.
- Section 2. Increase the involvement of Blacks at all levels of the University
in general and, specifically, as it relates to the formation of policies that
have an impact upon Blacks in the university community.
- Section 3. Develop effective channels of communication between Black faculty,
staff, students, the University, and the community-at-large.
- Section 4. Undertake a continuing plan to identify areas of need and means
of addressing same as they concern Blacks at the University of Mississippi.
- Section 5. Encourage the development of excellence and effectiveness as it
concerns the functioning of Blacks at the University.
- Section 6. Assist in the development of a support system for Blacks at the
University that will include social, cultural and educational interactions.
ARTICLE 3. Membership and Structure
Section 1
- Membership in BFSO shall be open to all Black employees
at the University of Mississippi and to other University employees who are interested
in furthering the stated purpose of the organization.
Section 2
- The dues for membership in BFSO shall be $10.00 annually. Additionally,
each member is encouraged to pay a $15.00 annual activity fee.
- The BFSO treasurer shall deposit all collected funds in a local band and
withdrawals can only be effected with the signatures of two of the following
three officers--the President, Secretary, or Treasurer.
Section 3
- Officers: The structure of the organization shall consist of the following
Officers: (1) President; (2) Vice-President; (3) Secretary; (4) Assistant-Secretary;
(5) Treasurer; (6) Assistant-Treasurer.
- Standing Committees: The organization shall consist of the following standing
committees: The Executive and Advisory Committee; The Audit Committee; The Scholarship
Committee; The Activities and Program Committee; and The Intra University Relations
Committee.
- Ad Hoc Committees: Special ad hoc committees shall be appointed by the
President as needed in carrying out the stated purpose and goals of BFSO.
ARTICLE 4. Officers
Section 1
Election of officers: The election of BFSO officers shall proceed as follows:
- The President shall appoint a nominating committee.
- There shall be an annual meeting in April of each year at which time Officers
will be elected for the coming year and installed two weeks after the election.
- At the annual meeting, the nominating committee shall place in nomination
a slate of candidates for election to office to fill expiring terms.
- Nominations may be made from the floor provided the nominee has given prior
consent to serve.
- Vacant offices shall be filled by nomination from the floor and an election
held at the regular or at a special call meeting.
- Election shall be by a majority vote of a quorum present and voting.
- A quorum shall consist of two-thirds of the members in good standing.
- To be eligible to vote in an election, a member must be in good standing
(i.e., dues must be current).
Section 2
Duties of duly elected BFSO officers shall be as follows:
- The President shall preside at all meetings and shall assume the usual
duties of a presiding officer.
- The President shall appoint all committees and committee chairpersons and
shall assign their duties and responsibilities.
- The President shall be responsible for providing representation for the
organization in all of its business situations as may be necessary.
- The Vice-President shall exercise all powers and duties of the President
in the latter's absence.
- The Vice-President shall serve as chair of the Audit Committee. This
officer shall also perform such other duties as the President may assign.
- Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice-President shall
automatically succeed to the President and a new Vice-President shall be
elected.
- The Secretary shall cause true and accurate minutes of all Black Faculty
and Staff Organization meetings to be kept.
- The Secretary shall regularly and routinely disseminate notices of meetings
and perform such other duties as are assigned by the President.
- The Assistant-Secretary shall perform all of the duties of the Secretary in
her/his absence.
- The Treasurer shall receive and deposit all monies or funds of the
organization in such depositories as may be selected by the membership, and
shall disburse the funds of the organization in the manner directed by the
membership.
- The Treasurer shall render to the President and to the membership,
monthly accounts of all financial transactions.
- The Assistant-Treasurer shall perform all of the duties of the Treasurer in
her/his absence.
Section 3
Removal of officers: The process for removal of officers shall be
as follows:
- A minimum of twenty-five (25) percent of the members in good standing,
pursuant to action taken in a regular meeting, may initiate a petition to remove
any officer. The petition shall state reasons for removal and should be signed
by a minimum of twenty-five (25) percent of the membership. Said petition is
to be accompanied by a copy of the notice calling the meeting at which the removal
petition is to be considered. A quorum must be present in order for action to
be taken on the petition.
- If a majority of the membership agrees with the removal petition, the position
shall be declared vacant and a new officer elected to fill the position.
ARTICLE 5. Duties of Standing Committees
Section 1.
- Executive and Advisory Committee: The Executive and Advisory Committee
shall consist of the officers of the organization. A member of this committee
shall serve as a liaison with Black students.
Section 2
- Audit Committee: The Audit Committee shall consist of the Vice-President
and two general members selected by the President. The Audit Committee shall,
prior to the annual meeting, review the the financial records and issue a report
at the annual meeting. The committee shall then turn over the books to the duly
elected Treasurer.
Section 3
- Scholarship Committee: The Scholarship Committee will identify and
develop financial resources for Black faculty, staff, and students at the University
of Mississippi.
Section 4
- Activities and Program Committee: The Activities and Program committee
will plan and implement activities and programs for social interaction, educational
development and cultural enrichment of the Black faculty and staff at the University
of Mississippi. It will implement gestures of courtesy and hospitality in areas
pertaining to welcoming new Black faculty and staff, promotion, resignation,
sickness and death, with respect to existing Black faculty and staff.
Section 5
- Intra-University Relations Committee: The Intra-University Relations
Committee will identify and promote activities to enhance relations between
Black faculty and staff and students, and between Black faculty and staff and
the University community.
ARTICLE 6. Meetings
Section 1
- Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the organization shall be
held once a month at a time and place decided upon by the Executive Committee.
Notice of regular meetings shall be issued no later than one week in advance
of the scheduled meeting.
Section 2
- Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by consent of the
Executive Committee as the need arises.