Asian Faculty & Staff Association

The Asian Arts and Culture Center at TU engages the university and surrounding communities in cross-cultural dialogue through a broad range of artistic and cultural experiences related to Asia.

The Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American Student Development program offers programming and activities that focus on creating dialogue and awareness around issues pertaining to the program and diaspora communities. We empower students to explore leadership roles through community service, student organization membership and co-curricular involvement. The primary goals of the program are to recruit students from Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American student backgrounds, to connect them to resources and community, and to ensure their academic success and retention.

The Distinguished International Speaker Series, sponsored by the Office of International Initiatives, the AFSA, and OIIE, offer the TU community the chance to hear from a distinguished international leader.

Past speakers include

• Yumi Hogan, Spring 2017, the first Korean-American First Lady of the State of Maryland.
• Robert Daly, Fall 2017, US-China Relations Specialist at the Woodrow Wilson Center DC.
• Jacob Schlesinger, Fall 2018, Senior Correspondent, Wall Street Journal- Specialist of Japanese History and Media.
• Laura Bustillos Jaques, Fall 2019, Mexican-born Documentary filmmaker and photographer of immigration and social reconstruction movements.

The Organization shall operate under the name of Towson University (“University”) Asian Faculty and Staff Association (“AFSA”).

The mission of the AFSA at the University is to celebrate, support and empower faculty and staff of Asian origin by fostering a community that provides networking, communication and personal and professional growth opportunities. AFSA also serves as the catalyst and voice to represent and advocate for its members, raise awareness about Asian issues and support curricular and extra-curricular initiatives focusing on Asian cultures and perspectives. AFSA aims to support the University’s vision of being a model for campus diversity.

The mission of the Association is guided by these objectives:

• to promote fellowship among TU faculty and staff of Asian origin
  
• to facilitate the personal and professional growth of Asian faculty and staff
  
• to support the University’s commitment to diversity to recruit and retain faculty and staff of Asian heritage
  
• to advocate the needs and concerns of Asian faculty and staff
  
• to collaborate with other cultural/civic/ethnic organizations within TU to promote common activities
  
• to serve as a liaison between TU administration and faculty and staff of Asian origin
  
• to educate TU and Towson-Baltimore communities as well as communities in the region about Asian issues
  
• to recruit and retain students of Asian origin and provide an environment and opportunities to integrate them into the broader TU community
  

Members and Allies: Current and/or retired faculty and staff members of the University identified by self-reporting as being of Asian origin are eligible to become members of the association. Allies are current or retired faculty and staff of the University who are supportive of the mission of AFSA, and do not self-identify as being of Asian origin.

The officers of the AFSA shall consist of:

• faculty Co-chair
  
• staff Co-chair
  

Officers must be full-time faculty or staff members of Towson University in accordance to Article IV.1

1. election Nominations for the officer positions can be made by any member including self-nominations
   1. election may take place at a meeting of the AFSA or be conducted electronically
   2. the Diversity and Inclusion Specialist will open the nomination process one month prior to the end of the term of office of the AFSA current officers
      1. a one week period will be allowed for the nomination process and another week for the acceptance of the nomination
      2. the election will be administered by the Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
2. officers shall serve a two-year term of office with a maximum of two consecutive terms
3. any conduct or action by an officer that is deemed unprofessional or damaging to this AFSA may also be considered for removal
   

• Faculty Co-Chair
  
• Staff Co Chair
  

The faculty and staff co-chairs will coordinate general meetings and formulate the agenda.

• co-chairs shall co-sign all official documents
  
• co-chairs will be responsible for the distribution of all official documents, including an annual progress report
  
• co-chairs will take the lead in planning programs and activities consistent with the mission of the AFSA
  

1. Co-chairs Meeting
   
   1. co-chairs of the AFSA shall meet on a monthly basis
      
   2. upon unanimous consent of the Co-Chairs, meetings can be canceled and rescheduled
      
2. general meetings are open meetings for all members and allies
   
   1. co-chairs of the AFSA will schedule regular general meetings and formulate meeting agenda with input from membership
      
3. special Meetings
   
   1. special meetings may be called by the co-chairs

1. co-chairs shall strive for consensus in their decision making process, failing which decisions will be made by a simple majority vote
   
2. co-chairs shall seek the votes of members on matters pertaining to: 
   
   1. funding request submitted by an external group
      
   2. funding proposal submitted by AFSA
      
3. election Process as prescribed in Article V.2 will be adopted for the ballot-voting process for officers. 
   

Any member can propose amendments to alter or repeal these bylaws. Adoption of proposed changes to the AFSA bylaws must be approved by a majority of the current AFSA membership. Votes may take place during AFSA meeting or may be conducted electronically.