Mission & Bylaws
Boston Article 1 – Name and mission
1.1 Name
The name of the organization shall be the Boston University Postdoctoral Association, abbreviated BUPDA.
1.2 Mission
The mission of the Boston University Postdoctoral Association (BUPDA) is to improve the postdoctoral experience by serving as a representative body that (i) furthers the common interests of, (ii) addresses the shared concerns of, (iii) enhances the experience of, and (iv) provides a social and networking space for all postdocs working at Boston University (MED/CRC). The BUPDA will support and advocate for postdocs, organize events for postdocs, and serve as a communication platform for the postdoctoral associations. The BUPDA shall be an agency of advocacy and aid to its members. It shall have no coercive powers over its members, nor shall membership be in any way mandatory of anyone associated with Boston University. All actions of the BUPDA shall be undertaken without discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
1.3 Outline of specific goals
1.3a Interface with Professional Development and Postdoctoral Affairs (PDPA) Office and Boston University Administration. Establish regular discussions between BUPDA and the director of PDPA.
1.3b Establish a postdoc forum for postdocs to bring forward positive aspects and concerns about their training environment/plan.
- Set up monthly meetings to discuss campus updates with postdocs
- Establish committees within this format to work on individual issues- set deadlines.
- Create a newsletter to be emailed to postdocs OR supply news and announcements to director of PDPA who will add a rubric in her newsletter.
1.3c Social-Networking fostering a sense of community by hosting a variety of events each year, to accommodate the variety of postdocs.
1.3d Embed BUPDA in National and Boston area Postdoc Associations, distribute important news about events and programs.
Article 2 – Membership
2.1 Membership eligibility
A postdoc (postdoctoral fellow or associates) is defined here as an individual holding a doctoral (PhD or MD/PhD) degree who is engaged in BU in a temporary period of full-time mentored research and/or scholarly training for the purpose of acquiring scholarly, scientific and/or professional skills needed to pursue a career path of his or her choosing. Neither full nor affiliated members shall be required to pay dues to the BUPDA. However, fees may be collected for participation in events to defray the cost of materials and sponsoring of the events.
Article 3 – Governance
3.1 The BUPDA shall be governed by an elected Governing Board. The Governing Board shall consist of officers: 1 Chair/ president, 1 Vice-Chair of Web Communication, 1 Secretary, 1 Treasurer, and 2 Outreach Chairs (to attend Boston PDA meetings and other outside meetings), 5 members that sit on the PDPA Network), 6 Committee Chairs and members at large numbering for a maximum total of 20 Governing Board members. A majority of Governing Board members shall constitute a quorum, and all action other than changes to the by-laws should be taken by a majority vote of those present and voting, unless otherwise specified herein.
3.2 All Governing Board members shall serve a term of one academic year with elections to the Governing Board to be held annually. Terms of office shall begin one month after the election, and newly elected Board members shall attend all Board functions during the month between elections and the beginning of their terms of office. In the case of a Board member’s prolonged absence, incapacity, resignation, removal, or death, the duties or office of the departed Board member shall be reassigned within the Board by decision of the Board, and the vacancy filled at the time of the next election. Board members who have missed three consecutive Board meetings without prior notice to the Board can be replaced at the discretion of the Chair.
3.3 To promote continuity of the Board and its activities, it is desirable that Board members be willing and able to serve on the Board for at least two consecutive terms.
3.4 The Governing Board serves as the executive body. It is empowered to make decisions on the strategy and budget of the BUPDA, and to form new committees as necessary.
Article 4 – Elections and Impeachment
4.1 Elections shall be held annually within one month of the first general meeting of the BUPDA that year.
4.2 Elections shall be organized by a special election committee appointed by the Governing Board. This committee shall be formed and its members made public to the BUPDA no less than one week prior to the associated general meeting to provide the BUPDA time and opportunity to comment on and change its composition. This election committee shall consist of no fewer than three full members of the BUPDA. It shall be dissolved one week after elections.
4.3 The election committee shall be responsible for:
4.3a soliciting nominations for Board membership from the BUPDA at large;
4.3b confirming that the nominees are able and willing to perform the duties of the elected position as specified in these Bylaws;
4.3c reporting the slate of candidates to the Governing Board and the BUPDA at large;
4.3d collecting and publishing candidate statements;
4.3e organizing the election process, including polling the members of the BUPDA, tallying votes, and reporting the results to the Governing Board and the BUPDA at large.
4.4 Candidates for election to the Governing Board shall be nominated from BUPDA members. Self nominations shall be permitted.
4.5 Members of the BUPDA shall be free to observe any and all activities of the election committee. Committee meetings shall be held in public places and announced in advance to facilitate this goal.
4.6 A member of the Governing Board may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Board. The member to be impeached shall be given two weeks notice prior to the impeachment vote.
Article 5 – PDA Meetings
5.1 Governing Board Meetings will be held every two months alternating the location from MED to CRC with email voting and discussions in the off month. Possible additional sub-committee meetings where necessary. A general assembly meeting will be held twice a year to update the other general members.
5.2 Meeting Minutes will be taken and distributed 1 week following each meeting and will be posted on the website.
Article 6 – Committees
6.1 Committees may be established, and, when appropriate, terminated, by a majority vote of postdocs at Boston University and Boston University Medical Center. Committees shall promote the mission of the BUPDA and are open to all members. Committees may be established either as permanent (long-term) component of the BUPDA or as an ad-hoc (short-term) panel.
Article 7 – Ratification and amendments
7.1 Ratification
The Bylaws of the BUPDA shall take effect immediately pursuant to ratification by a majority of the postdocs present at the meeting.
7.2 Amendments
Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed at any time by one third of the BUPDA members. Proposed amendments may be made to these Bylaws by ratification by a simple two-thirds majority of the BUPDA members ?present at the meeting on?.
7.3 Review
The BUPDA council shall conduct a review of the Bylaws of the BUPDA every two years so as to evaluate and amend them if necessary to ensure that current procedures and policies of the BUPDA comport with these Bylaws.
7.4 Voting
Changes to bylaws and funding-related decisions need majority votes of the postdocs present at the meeting. On 1/9/17 approved amendment: need 7 people present at members makes quorum for in person and online voting as that is 2/3 of the current regular membership.
Article 8 – Faculty Advisement
8.1 The BUPDA may invite faculty and PDPA members, administrators and alumni to advise and serve as our advocates.
Article 9 – Dissolution
9.1 In the event of the dissolution or termination of the BUPDA, all of the assets and title to and possessions of the property of the BUPDA shall pass to the Office of Professional Development and Postdoctoral Affairs (PDPA).
First ratified on August 16, 2016