By-Laws

• Article I. Name

  The full name of the commission is the Clemson University Commission on the Black Experience, hereinafter referred to as the “C.B.E.”

• Article II. Purpose

  The purpose of the Commission is to advise the Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access and the University about the Black experience at Clemson University and advocate for specific actions to enhance its quality and the environment.

  In order to recruit and retain Black faculty, staff, and students and foster good relations with Black alumni and the local Black community, the C.B.E. will:

  • Monitor the status of Black faculty, staff, and students at Clemson University and document and share findings with the University;
  • Collect information and/or conduct research regarding issues which affect Black faculty, staff, and students;
  • Identify any institutional barriers or problem areas which may limit opportunities for equal access and advancement among Black faculty, staff, and students and make recommendations to enhance inclusion;
  • Collaborate with other entities to provide professional, educational and social opportunities for Black faculty, staff and students;
  • Collaborate with the Clemson Black Alumni Council to plan activities that are beneficial to Black alumni and encourage their engagement with the University, students, faculty, and staff.
  • Collaborate with community partners to ensure they have access to Clemson resources and to foster strong town-gown relations.
  • Partner with the Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access to ensure accountability for implementation and execution of the University’s and the C.B.E.’s strategic diversity plans.
• Article III. Membership

  Composition
  The voting members of the C.B.E. are:

  • Six (6) members of the faculty (including lecturers);
  • Six (6) members of the staff;
  • Immediate past chairperson;
  • One (1) undergraduate student;
  • One (1) graduate student;
  • One (1) alumni;
  • One (1) community member.

  Retired commissioners and other relevant resource persons may serve as ex-officio, nonvoting members.

  
  

  Membership

  1. All members of the C.B.E. are appointed by the chairperson after recommendation by the C.B.E. Appointments will be made in order to maintain a balanced composition of the C.B.E. Nominations from the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, current Commission members, and the University community should be made directly to the C.B.E.
  2. Faculty and staff members are appointed to a staggered three (3) year term that begins in August of the first year of membership and ends on May of the last year of membership. At the completion of a three (3) year term, a faculty or staff Commissioner may be reappointed to a second three (3) year term based on recommendations from the chairperson. If it benefits the C.B.E., terms may be extended further.
  3. Student, alumni, and community members will be appointed to a one (1) year term, renewable for up to three (3) years.
  4. The immediate past chairperson will serve for one (1) year in this role.
  5. Vacancies created on the C.B.E. for any cause shall be filled for the remaining terms by appointment by the chairperson after consultation with the C.B.E.
  6. The chairperson will have the responsibility to review the membership of any individual who fails to abide by attendance requirements. Members who miss two (2) or more meetings during a semester will be contacted by the chair and may be asked to resign pending the attendance record review.
• Article IV. Executive Committee of the C.B.E.

  A. Executive Committee
  The members of the Executive Committee are the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and chairs of any committees formed among the members of the C.B.E.

  B. Duties
  The Chairperson will be responsible for developing the overall agenda for the B.E.C. Committee chairpersons serve on the Executive Committee, and they will be responsible for individual committee agendas being approved by the B.C.E. Chairperson.

  The Executive Committee will also serve in place of the C.B.E. in emergency situations or where time constraints do not permit the C.B.E. to be assembled.

  Minutes for Commission and committee meetings will be distributed the day before the next meeting of the C.B.E. and reviewed and approved at the meeting.

• Article V. Officers

  Officers are nominated and elected by C.B.E. members and serve for a period of two (2) years. The retiring officers shall serve through the end of the April, and the new officers shall begin to serve in May. The Program Manager for all Commissions shall serve as the Secretary/Treasurer for the C.B.E. for the duration of their appointment by the Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access. The elected officers of the C.B.E. are the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Immediate Past President.

  The Program Manager is hired by the Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer in consultation with all of the commission chairs to work with the commissions and the Council on Diversity and Inclusion.

  A. Chairperson
  The Chairperson shall:

  • Preside over all general and executive meetings of the C.B.E;
  • Serve on the Council on Inclusion;
  • Develop the meeting agenda, with input from members;
  • Be an official voice of the Commission;
  • Maintain an informational exchange with the Chief Diversity Officer;
  • Appoint commission members to chair committees;
  • Develop an annual calendar that will be shared with all B.E. Commissioners and committee chairs.
  • Preside over Commission elections and voting procedures.

  
  
  

  B. Deputy Chairperson
  The Deputy Chairperson shall be the Chairperson Elect for the next two years. If the Chairperson is a faculty member, the next Deputy Chairperson will be a staff member, and vice versa. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson will act as Chairperson of the C.B.E. At the October meeting biennially, an announcement will be made by the Chairperson that nominations will be accepted at the November and December meetings for Deputy Chairperson. C.B.E. Commissioners will finalize the recommendation and a candidate or candidates will be submitted to the Division of the Inclusion and Equity for consideration no later than December 31. The Deputy Chairperson shall:

  • Work closely with the Chair to assure a smooth transfer to the Chair position;
  • Develop plans and projects for the term of office that provide continuity with current Commission goals;
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Chair or the Executive Board.

  
  
  

  C. Immediate Past President

  • Serve as a resource to the new Chairperson and the B.E. Commission.

  
  
  

  D. Program Manager (serves Council of Diversity and Inclusion & all commissions)

  • Take, distribute, and review all minutes;
  • Prepare agenda for monthly meeting;
  • Take attendance at monthly B.E. Commission meetings;
  • Ensure B.E. Commissioners receive all necessary correspondence before regularly scheduled meetings.
  • Prepare monthly financial reports for the B.E. Commission and ensure financial affairs are in order.
• Article VI. Committees

  A. The C.B.E. may create standing or select committees made up of members of the C.B.E. Membership on select committees may include members of the general university and community populations. The C.B.E. chairperson will make committee appointments. The basic function of committees shall be to consider matters pertaining to concerns of the Black experience and make recommendations to the commission. Written committee reports are to be submitted to the chairperson for distribution to the members prior to C.B.E. meetings.

  B. Standing committees will be:

  1. Faculty
  Responsible for gathering and disseminating concerns and information from Clemson University Black staff on the following aspects:

  • Black faculty representation, increasing the number of Black faculty;
  • Black faculty satisfaction, retention, and promotion;
  • Faculty satisfaction and retention for other diverse populations, described by Clemson’s inclusion statement as “people of different races, cultures, ages, genders, sexual orientation, religions, socioeconomic levels, political perspectives, abilities, opinions, values and experiences.” (CU Office of Inclusion and Equity, 2018);
  • Collaboration with Clemson University Office of Human Resources to enhance the development and implementation of affirmative action and diversity plans and to develop strategies that affect underutilization and under-representation of Black faculty and administrators.

  
  
  

  2. Staff
  Responsible for gathering and disseminating concerns and information from Clemson University Black staff on the following aspects:

  • Black staff representation, increasing the number of Black staff;
  • Black staff satisfaction, retention, and promotion;
  • Staff satisfaction and retention for other diverse populations, described by Clemson’s inclusion statement as “people of different races, cultures, ages, genders, sexual orientation, religions, socioeconomic levels, political perspectives, abilities, opinions, values and experiences” (CU Office of Inclusion and Equity, 2018);
  • Collaboration with the Clemson University Office of Human Resources to enhance the development and implementation of affirmative action and diversity plans and to develop strategies that affect underutilization and under-representation of Black staff.

  
  
  

  3. Students
  Responsible for gathering and disseminating concerns and information from Clemson University Black students on the following aspects:

  • Diversity, inclusion, and climate issues that affect retention, graduation, academic and student life;
  • Collaboration with Clemson University Division of Student Affairs and academic units to enhance the development and implementation of affirmative action and/or inclusion plans which enhance student well-being; promote the development of multicultural fluency and leadership, work to develop strategies that affect underutilization and under-representation of Black students as developing role models for the Clemson student community;
  • Collaboration with Clemson University Division of Student Affairs and academic units to enhance student life for other diverse student populations, as defined in section 2;
  • Collaboration with students and student-related organizations to provide support for student initiatives that reflect an inclusive academic environment and strengthen the campus climate.

  
  
  

  4. Alumni

  • Partner with alumni to enhance and strengthen the relationship between the University and Black alumni;
  • Explore ways to engage Black alumni to enhance the quality of the Black experience for students, faculty, and staff.

  
  
  

  5. Community
  Responsible for building positive relationships with the surrounding community. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Partner with community members to enhance the relationship between the University and the community;
  • Explore ways to engage the community to enhance the quality of the Black experience for students, faculty, and staff.

  
  
  

  6. Marketing and Outreach
  Responsible for the dissemination and publication of Commission information to membership and the Clemson University community. Items the committee develops and maintains can include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Commission website, newsletter, and calendar;
  • Annual goals and report of accomplishments;
  • Nomination and membership information;
  • Orientation literature for new members;
  • and Commission sponsorships and events.
• Article VII. Procedures

  A. Changes in the Bylaws
  Proposed changes shall be submitted in writing and distributed to the voting membership at least one week prior to consideration. Changes in the Bylaws will be made only upon approval of at least two-thirds of the voting membership present at the meeting during which proposed changes are considered.

  B. Meetings

  1. The Commission will meet at least monthly during the academic year and at the discretion of the Chairperson.
  2. Quorum and Adjournments Meetings with 51% of the voting membership shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, the meeting will be held to provide informational updates only. Following the updates, the meeting will be adjourned.
  3. The Commission will preside over biannual open meetings to hear matters and opinions related to the Black experience in order to better gauge and assess areas of concern to be addressed by the C.B.E.

  C. Reports
  The Commission will submit periodic reports to the President, Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access, Council on Diversity and Inclusion, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and the Executive Leadership Team.

  D. Robert’s Rules
  The Commission shall conduct all proceedings in accordance with the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

  E. Confidentiality
  The Commission will serve as a vehicle of communication among the Black constituents of Clemson University and will respect matters of confidentiality to its utmost ability, in accordance with state law.

Minutes & Agendas