Bylaws

Preamble

From its very conception, CSUCI has committed to providing global education and understanding of international cultures. Hence, the CSUCI community has always included international faculty, staff, and students from far corners of the world. As the campus grows, their numbers are growing, and various constituents on campus and in local communities express increasing interests in global affairs.

International faculty and staff face unique challenges adjusting to American society and their work environment. The issues such as navigating immigration processes, adapting to California school systems, and supporting their family's integration to local communities and schools are left to international faculty and staff with no adequate support system and resources.

Hence, international faculty and staff propose to form a formal organization to advocate for CSUCI international faculty, staff, and their families and support CSUCI's commitment to global education.

IFSA defines international faculty and staff as persons who are non-U.S.-born, have become naturalized citizens in the U.S., or hold dual (or more) citizenship, a green card, or a visa.

At present, we represent the regions/continents of North America, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, with over 30 countries, and have a lot in common as relative newcomers to American society.

Article I - Name and Location

The name of this association shall be the International Faculty & Staff Association, hereafter referred to as IFSA.

Location: The location of IFSA shall be the campus of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) at Camarillo, CA 93012.

Article II – Mission

The mission of the IFSA at CSUCI is to provide a welcoming, nurturing, and supportive environment and community for international faculty and staff, promote their welfare and advance CSUCI’s commitment to fostering global education and international cultures.

Article III - Goals

The goals of IFSA shall be to:

  1. Increase the advocacy for international faculty and staff in all levels of University operations;
  2. Provide support, professional training, and resources for international faculty and staff;
  3. Provide orientation, onboarding, and mentorship to international staff, faculty, and students on campus;
  4. Increase the awareness of the diverse cultures of international faculty and staff;
  5. Provide a support network for families of members to adjust to the American cultures; share experiences of the immigration process; and integrate to campus and local communities;
  6. In collaboration with other campus entities, organize and support activities and events to promote international awareness on campus and local community; and
  7. In collaboration with the Center for International Affairs and other campus entities, provide support for international students and CSUCI students participating in international events and study abroad programs.

Article IV – Membership

Composition

  1. IFSA membership shall be open to all CSUCI faculty and staff who have an interest in international affairs or issues in education and who are committed to promoting the mission and goals of IFSA. CSUCI administrators, enrolled students, alumni, and community members may also participate in the organization as non-voting, non-office holding members.
  2. IFSA retains the right to set annual dues upon approval by the University. Only those who have paid annual dues to IFSA shall be considered "members in good standing" and have specific membership privileges.

Membership Privileges

All members in good standing (see IV.2) have the right to vote, hold office, or serve as committee chairpersons in IFSA.

Membership Dues

  1. Membership dues shall be $30.00 per year. The IFSA Executive Committee reserves the right to propose to change this amount for approval by the membership.
  2. The membership year shall be from July 1 through June 30 in parallel with the University’s fiscal year.
  3. Dues paid prior to April 1 of each year shall count for the current membership year unless stipulated otherwise by the member.
  4. Dues paid on or after April 1 shall count for the following membership year (next fiscal year) unless stipulated otherwise by the member.
  5. The final meeting of the spring term shall be dedicated to the determination and approval of budget priorities for the allocation of dues and other money-related affairs during the next fiscal year.

Standards of Conduct

  1. It is the intent of IFSA to uphold and abide by pertinent State and University laws and regulations.
  2. IFSA or any of its members ‘in-good standing’ shall not intentionally conspire to commit any act which causes or is likely to cause physical or emotional harm to anyone.
  3. IFSA reserves the right to deny membership to anyone who does not maintain professionalism or who does not abide by the mission and goals of the association.

Article V – Meetings

General Membership Meetings:

  1. General membership meetings shall be held at least twice per semester.
  2. The meetings shall be at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee with written, electronic notice provided to each member at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
  3. Meetings will be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.

Special Meetings:

  1. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee as the need arises.
  2. Special meetings may be called by the membership upon a petition of a minimum of 5 members in good standing.
  3. Written, electronic notice of special meetings must be provided to all members at least seven (7) days prior to such a meeting, except in a severe crisis when the majority of the Executive Committee may order a special meeting with shorter notice.

Article VI – Officers and Duties

Officers:

  1. Only members who are in good standing at the time of elections shall be permitted to stand for election to officer positions. Officers shall maintain their good standing during the term of service as officers.
  2. The elected officers of IFSA shall be a Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and two At-Large officers.
  3. The elected officers should include at least one faculty and one staff member.
  4. At least one officer shall be an international faculty or staff member. For the purposes of IFSA, international faculty and staff are defined as persons who were not born in the U.S, have become naturalized citizens in the U.S., or hold dual (or more) citizenship, a green card, or a visa.
  5. The officers shall be elected by IFSA members who are in good standing (see IV.2 ).

Executive Committee:

  1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, the two At-Large officers, and the Immediate Past Chair.
  2. At the conclusion of a Chair’s tenure, the person will then serve a 2-year term on the Executive Committee as Past Chair.

The Executive Committee shall:

  1. Meet at least monthly during the academic year;
  2. Have authority to transact the affairs of IFSA between regular membership meetings;
  3. Encourage and assist program development with consultation from the general membership;
  4. Appoint standing and special committees;
  5. Accept such other authority as may be delegated to it by the membership at large.
  6. Prepare an annual report on activities at the end of each academic year. Annual reports will be made publicly available and submitted to the University as requested.
  7. In special situations (e.g., resignations, sabbatical, or other types of leave), may bring in ex officio via a unanimous vote, members in good standing to serve on the Executive Committee on a temporary basis until the full membership can vote at the next full election.
  8. An officer may be recalled from their position through a special meeting and majority vote of members in good standing.

The Chair shall:

  1. Preside at all meetings of IFSA and its Executive Committee and shall assume the usual duties of a presiding officer per Robert’s Rules of Order;
  2. Oversee the work of the other officers and ensure that they function together as an effective team;
  3. Provide the overall vision and sense of direction for the organization;
  4. Delegate appropriate responsibilities to committee chairs and oversee chair people and the work of all committees;
  5. Be the primary spokesperson for IFSA as directed by the Executive Committee and /or the membership;
  6. Serve as a role model for other officers and members.
  7. Schedule IFSA officer and organizational meeting dates, times, and facilities and disseminate notices of such meetings regularly.
  8. The Chair has the signature authority for the IFSA account. All checks, drafts and orders for the payment of money, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness, issued in the name of IFSA in excess of $300, shall be signed by the Chair and the Treasurer.
  9. Perform such other duties as are assigned by the Executive Committee.

The Secretary shall:

  1. Record, produce, and distribute true and accurate summary notes of all pertinent IFSA business to members (including meeting notes, upcoming events, and opportunities);
  2. Record, produce, and distribute true and accurate summary notes of the Executive Committee meetings of IFSA;
  3. Keep accurate IFSA membership lists with names, titles, addresses, and phone numbers;
  4. Create and manage IFSA email distribution lists;
  5. Perform such other duties as are assigned by the Chair and Executive Committee.

The Treasurer shall:

  1. Receive and deposit all moneys or funds of IFSA in such depositories as may be selected by the membership, and shall disburse the funds of IFSA in the manner directed by the membership;
  2. Record and pay bills and manage day-to-day financial transactions of IFSA, including the maintenance of adequate and correct accounts of the assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, and losses. The books of account(s) shall be open to inspection by any member;
  3. Establish an annual IFSA budget in consultation with the membership and ensure it is followed;
  4. Report regularly IFSA’s financial status to executive officers and general members;
  5. Work closely with CSUCI or local bank to ensure accuracy of the IFSA account transactions and smooth financial services;
  6. Treasurer has the signature authority for the IFSA account. As stated above, all checks, drafts, and orders for the payment of money, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of IFSA in excess of $300 shall be signed by the Chair and the Treasurer.
  7. Perform such other duties as are assigned by the Chair and Executive Committee.

The 2 At-Large Officers:

  1. At the request of the Executive Committee, chair such committees as may be established.
  2. Assist the other executive officers as needed.
  3. Act as a representative for other executive officers.
  4. Perform such other duties as are assigned by the Chair and Executive Committee.

Terms of Office:

  1. The terms of the officers shall be staggered. The inaugural officers shall be divided into two approximately equal groups, and they shall serve staggered terms of one and two years. Thereafter, the terms of the officers are two years.
  2. Officers may be elected for additional terms, but no more than two (2) additional successive terms in the same office.
  3. Each term will always commence on May 30.

Election of Officers:

  1. The Executive Committee shall appoint an elections committee on March 1 of each year. The elections committee shall consist of no less than three (3) members in good standing (see IV.2 ). No candidate of the Executive Committee shall serve on the elections committee.
  2. When possible, the elections committee shall identify one or more candidates for each office and obtain their consent to run for office. Self-nominations will be accepted.
  3. The election committee shall conduct an electronic election by sending ballots to all members in good standing (see IV.2 ).
  4. Officers are elected by a majority vote of the members in good standing (see IV.2).
  5. The election committee shall announce election results by the end of the Spring semester.

Article VII - Committees

  1. The Executive Committee shall appoint ad hoc committees as needed to fulfill IFSA’s mission and goals.
  2. As each committee is appointed, the Executive Committee shall define its roles, responsibilities, scope, and timelines.
  3. The Executive Committee shall give careful consideration to the inclusion of the representation of continents and countries in the appointments.
  4. The chair of all appointed committees shall be a member in good standing of IFSA.

Article VIII – Duties of the Committee Chairs

The Committee Chair shall:

  1. Manage the work of the committee with appropriate direction and delegation.
  2. Report to the Executive Committee and IFSA at general meetings.

Article IX – Voting and Amendments

  1. Voting on all business items shall occur in the general membership meetings (in person or synchronous online). The quorum for in-person meetings consists of 50% + 1 of the members in good standing. The items shall be considered adopted by a simple majority vote.
  2. An amendment to these bylaws may be proposed and discussed at any general membership meeting of IFSA.
    1. A subsequent electronic vote will be sent following the election processes of these bylaws.
    2. The amendments shall be considered adopted by a simple majority vote (50% +1) of the membership in good standing. In the event that the voting turnout is less than 70% of the membership in good standing, the amendment does not pass.
    3. Formatting and adjustments may be made without formal amendment.
  3. Proposed amendments shall be posted on the IFSA site and emailed to all members in good standing at least fourteen (14) days prior to any vote on bylaws amendments.
  4. The Executive Committee and Secretary shall post the amended bylaws and inform the membership.

Article X - Ratification

The bylaws shall be ratified by a majority vote (50% +1 of those present) of international faculty and staff present at the inaugural meeting after the bylaws draft has been available for comments for at least a week. Upon ratification, the inaugural elections for officers can be held and organized by a group of volunteers, following the process described in these bylaws.

Prepared by:

  • Tiina Itkonen
  • Ivona Gzegorczyk
  • Diana Lenko
  • Sunghee Nam
  • Rudolf von May
  • Maria Ballesteros-Sola

Approved on February 25th, 2022

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