05/17/2021
Here are the AFAC by-laws: UMBC Adjunct Faculty Advisory Committee (AFAC)
BY-LAWS
I. Definition: The Adjunct Faculty Advisory Committee, hereinafter "AFAC," or "the Committee," is a university committee of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, hereinafter "UMBC," and is governed by UMBC and USM policy and by-laws. See UMBC Faculty Handbook, Section 5.5; USM Bylaws, Policies & Procedures, Section 2.
II. Purpose: The AFAC's objectives are stated in the AFAC mission statement: (A) to represent the interests of adjunct faculty; (B) to facilitate the inclusion of adjunct faculty in shared university governance; (C) to facilitate communication among adjunct faculty and between adjunct faculty and other constituencies in the university. The AFAC mission statement is posted on the UMBC web site at myUMBC, "Groups," Adjunct Faculty Advisory Committee (AFAC), at right under "About This Group."
III. Academic Limits: The AFAC represents adjunct faculty from all divisions of UMBC on all UMBC campuses who are currently teaching. An adjunct faculty member is a current UMBC employee who is employed to provide instructional services and appointed to teach specific courses who is compensated to teach on a course-by-course basis. Full-time faculty, staff, or administrators teaching one or more courses as an adjunct, including summer and winter courses, are not eligible for representation through AFAC.
IV. Ratification: Since AFAC is a structure within the university officially designated to represent the interest of its employees, these by-laws must be approved by the President. These by-laws governing the operation of the AFAC shall take effect upon ratification by a simple majority of ballots cast in a mail ballot by adjunct faculty.
V. AFAC Membership, Officers and Sub-Committees: Any adjunct faculty member who meets the eligibility criteria may run for election to AFAC. Becoming a member of AFAC means a commitment to attend and to participate in all or most AFAC meetings, held every other Friday during spring and fall semesters; campus-wide AFAC events; and AFAC activities and meetings with UMBC personnel including administrators, faculty and staff. Any adjunct faculty member in good standing may serve as AFAC chair or on AFAC sub-committees, once elected to AFAC. The chair is elected by Committee members in an annual election, held by secret ballot in writing, tallied by a university official independent of the Committee. Members including the chair may be elected by the membership to serve on sub-committees, and may volunteer. Vacancies that occur in the chair or sub-committee positions may be filled by the remaining members of the Committee. The AFAC may appoint standing and ad hoc committees. Sub-committee meetings and other activities are open to any AFAC member.
VII. Democracy: The AFAC's governing principle is representative democracy. AFAC members are responsible for representing the needs and concerns of adjunct faculty to the campus administration, making recommendations related to adjunct professional development and working conditions, and providing advice in the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to adjunct faculty. The AFAC sets policy within the limits of the by-laws, actively pursues the AFAC's objectives, and has discretion in the disbursement of its funds. The AFAC shall review and approve actions that affect adjunct faculty. AFAC decisions are by consensus or by a simple majority of a quorum. A majority of the AFAC members shall constitute a quorum. Decisions and actions by the AFAC affecting adjunct faculty will be accessible and made known to adjunct faculty.
VIII. Budget: The AFAC currently has an annual budget allowance of $5,000. The AFAC will elect a Financial Secretary/Treasurer to handle the Committee's finances. The Financial Secretary/Treasurer shall regularly report the AFAC's fiscal condition to the AFAC, and shall open the AFAC's records to any adjunct faculty member who wants to review them. The budget shall be presented for review by adjunct faculty membership. The use of these funds by AFAC must conform to USM and UMBC fiscal policies and procedures, including all required forms and protocols. The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs is required to keep an accounting of the AFAC budget and to provide reports to the AFAC.
IX. Elections: AFAC members are elected by vote of current adjunct faculty at UMBC, and by UMBC adjunct faculty only. Only adjunct faculty members who have taught twelve 3-credit courses over three previous years at UMBC are eligible to run for the AFAC. The AFAC has nine members. Four of the positions are for adjunct faculty in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; two in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences; two in the College of Engineering and Information Technology; and one is for non-College adjunct faculty. Each year, either four or five of the AFAC positions will open for election. AFAC terms are for two years; thus there will be some AFAC members with previous experience every year. Nominations will be open and the membership shall be notified of upcoming elections at least 30 days prior to the election, so that members who want to run may be placed on the ballot. Election of AFAC members shall be by secret ballot. Adjunct faculty shall be given the opportunity to vote for their representatives even if the representatives are unopposed.
X. Amendments: These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by ballot, after the amendment has been submitted in writing to a previous meeting of AFAC and has been mentioned in the minutes. Amendments will be put on the ballot by vote of a two-thirds majority of the AFAC. Amendments to the by-laws, like the by-laws, shall ultimately be approved by the President.
