• To serve as a forum for discussion and analysis of issues of race and ethnicity on campus and of national import.
• To develop and support programs and activities pertaining to issues of race and ethnicity that will strengthen the entire Emory University community.
• To gather data as well as conduct and publicize studies on the status of race and ethnicity at Emory University.
• To recommend to the University President actions that will improve the representation, development, and success of under represented race and ethnic groups in the Emory community.
• To support the principles of equal opportunity based on the University’s Affirmative Action Plan.

Section 1. Membership. Membership on the Commission is open to current faculty, staff, and students of the University and it affiliates. The Office of the President appoints members from a list of nominees submitted by the nominating committee of the Commission. Members of the Emory community may nominate themselves using the nomination form. The Commission shall consist of thirty-one (31) members. Of these, twenty-seven (27) are voting members and four are ex-officio members of the Commission. Voting members are comprised of nine (9) students, nine (9) staff/administrators and nine (9) faculty. The Vice President of the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (or his/her designee), the Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Director of Multicultural Programs, Chair Emeritus of the Commission, and the Sr. Vice Provost for Diversity shall serve as the four ex-officio members of the Commission. The Presidents of the Black Student Alliance (BSA), Latino Student Organization (LSO), and the Students in Alliance for Asian American Concerns (SAAAC) shall be automatic student members to the Commission.

Section 2. Term of Appointment. Student members (undergraduate, graduate and professional school) are appointed for a term of one academic year. Faculty and staff/administrator are appointed for a term of three academic years. One-third of faculty and staff members shall roll off each year leaving six vacancies on the Commission to be filled annually. Fifteen new members are to be appointed each year (9 students, 6 professionals). The terms of membership shall begin at the time of the September meeting of the Commission.

Section 3. Alternates. Each year the Commission shall also appoint alternate student, faculty, and staff/administrators to serve the Commission as non-voting members. Alternates shall have all the rights of regular members, but shall not have voting privileges. Alternates may temporarily obtain voting privileges in the case there is not a quorum to conduct business or take a vote. In the case a voting member must resign or is unable to complete their term, an alternative will be used to replace that member to complete the unexpired term and assume all rights and privileges of voting members. Alternates shall serve as non-voting members for a one year term.

Section 4. Reappointment. Voting members and alternates shall be eligible for reappointment to the Commission. Voting members shall serve no more than two consecutive three year terms. Alternates shall serve no more than six consecutive years. Voting members and alternates shall be eligible for reappointment after a one year’s absence, upon fulfilling the maximum consecutive term appointment.

Section 5. Vacancy. Any vacancy resulting from an official leave of absence shall be filled by a person appointed to serve on the Commission until the member on leave returns. Any vacancy resulting from the withdrawal of a member unable to serve his or her full appointment shall be filled by a person appointed to serve the remainder of such a term. In each case, nominations and appointments shall be made as follows. The Chairperson of the Commission shall present a slate of nominees to the Commission. A simple majority of the Commission shall be sufficient to decide the names of persons to be recommended to the President of the University for his/her review. The President shall then appoint persons to fill such vacancies for the appropriate time.

Section 6. Absence. Absence without notice from two regular meetings per Commission year shall result in loss of membership and privileges.

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Commission shall include a Chairperson, (or co-chairs) a Chairperson-elect and a Secretary. In the event Co-Chairs are elected, the term Chairperson shall refer to Co-Chairs. Officers shall be nominated at the April meeting of the Commission and shall serve a term of one year. The outgoing Cahirperson shall continue to serve as immediate Past Chair.

• The Chairperson shall, in his/her leadership role, perform the duties usually pertaining to that office. The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Commission, shall be responsible for preparing the agenda for meeting of Commission, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees of the Commission.
• The Chairperson-elect shall assume the responsibilities of the Chair at the end of the annual term of the Chairperson. The Chairperson-elect shall assist the Chairperson in the leadership of the Commission and in the absence of the Chairperson, shall preside at meetings of the Commission and perform such other functions as are assigned to the Chairperson. In the event a Commission member is elected chair-elect in his/her second year on the Commission, he/she will serve a term of four years with full voting rights in the fourth year. This will ensure that the Executive Committee of the Commission will always consist of the Chair, Chair-elect, Secretary and immediate past chair.
• The Secretary shall be responsible for all minutes of the meetings of the Commission, shall maintain a complete and accurate list of all members and their addresses, and shall perform such other duties usually pertaining to that office or as are properly required of her/him by the Commission.
• The immediate Past Chair shall be a member of the Executive Committee for one year.

Section 1. The Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairperson, Chair-Elect, immediate Past Chair, Secretary, the chair of each standing committee, and the four ex-officio members. The Chair of the commission shall chair the Executive Committee. Chairs of each of the standing committee shall be appointed at the last meeting of the academic year. The Executive Committee shall consider all matters presented to it by the commission, outside of the commission, or by the Chair and shall be charged with making recommendations to the Commission. This committee shall perform such functions as may be delegated to it by the commission, create the agenda for the next general body meeting, and may make executive decisions when necessary.

Section 2. Standing Committees. These committees shall be structured in such a way that they will address the concerns of Faculty, Staff, Students and Administrators. The Chair, Chair-Elect, and ex-officio members shall serve as ex-officio members of each committee. Committees should meet regularly outside of the general body meetings. Each committee shall have a chairperson and a secretary. The chairperson shall be responsible for chairing his/her Committee and acting as the liaison between that committee, the Executive Committee, and the Commission as a body. The standing committees are:

Section 4. Annual Review. The Commission shall annually review the purpose and membership of each committee appointed during the year to assure that committee functions are being realized in a manner that fulfills the objectives of the University and the purposes of the Commission.

Section 1. General Body Meetings. Normally general body meetings of the Commission shall be held monthly at times decided by the Commission, except during the summer when meetings will be scheduled only as necessary. The Board Room (Suite 400 Administration Building) will serve as the venue for general body meetings unless otherwise notified. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance to Robert’s Rules of Order, in the absence of any procedures addressed elsewhere in these by-laws. General meetings are typically open to the university community.

Section 2. Executive Committee Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly once a month. These meetings shall be held at a location identified and scheduled by the Chairperson. Attendance at these meetings is by invitation only. Executive Committee members are also required to attend an annual summer retreat.

Section 3. Special/Call Meetings. Special meetings of the Commission may be called at any time by the Chairperson. All Special/Call meetings are to be treated as closed meetings.

Section 4. Quorum. A majority of the membership of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 1. Procedures. All actions or business of the Commission shall be conducted in accordance with the Standing Robert Rules of Order. All items or issues not addressed by these by-laws shall be governed by the Standing Robert Rules of Order for clarity and direction.

Section 2. Annual Report. An annual report shall be prepared for submission to the President of the University at the end of the business year. This annual report shall provide an opportunity to review and summarize the organization’s efforts toward meeting its purposes during the past year. The Chairperson shall determine the format and content of this document.

Section 1. Amendments. Proposed amendments to these By-Laws must be presented at two consecutive meetings of the Commission. To take effect, they must be approved by two-thirds of the Commission. These results may be published in written form to the membership of the Commission in the event that such changes impact the membership.

Prepared 11.2005

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