Nominations & Elections

Nominations

AFA’s Call for Nominations closed on Monday, May 22. Those nominated for Board of Directors and/or Nominations and Elections Committee, in addition to those interested but who were not nominated, are eligible to complete candidate submissions as outlined below.

Per the AFA Bylaws, professional, graduate, affiliate, or emeritus members that have been a member of AFA for a minimum of three (3) years prior to nomination are eligible to run for the board of directors.

If you have any questions about the nomination and elections process or the ballot, please contact the AFA Central Office. Please contact Shelly Brown Dobek, NEC chair and AFA past president, with any questions regarding the slating process.

Candidate Submission

Candidates interested in being formally considered by the Nominations and Elections Committee for consideration must complete a Candidate Submission Form for formal review by the NEC. Candidate submission forms must be submitted by Friday, June 16 at 5:00 PM PT. Candidate submission forms include:

Candidate Demographic and Contact Information
Description of Salient Volunteer Experiences
Candidate Self-Assessment
Candidate Responses to Short-Answer Questions

Board of Directors: Potential candidates interested in being considered for roles on the Board of Directors may submit their Board of Directors Candidate Submission Form here: 2024 AFA Board of Directors Candidate Submission Form. Candidates may use the following preview to assist in preparing and crafting their responses in advance – Preview. Preview responses will not be captured as official submissions.

Nominations and Elections Committee: Potential candidates interested in being considered for roles on the Nominations and Elections Committee may submit their NEC Candidate Submission Form here: 2024 AFA Nominations and Elections Candidate Submission Form. Candidates may use the following preview to assist in preparing and crafting their responses in advance – Preview. Preview responses will not be captured as official submissions.

Qualifications, Essential Characteristics & Duties of Executive Board Officers for the Nominations & Elections Process

Qualifications/Eligibility

Board of Directors:

Board members must hold affiliate, emeritus, graduate or professional membership in AFA at the time of nomination/election and maintain throughout their term of office.
Only members who have been active for three (3) or more years may serve on the board.
The demand may average 10-15 hours per month.
It is imperative for board members to have the support of their employer in relation to time that AFA responsibilities may take away from their regular responsibilities.

NEC:

Five members of the NEC are elected through the association’s leadership election process and five (5) members are appointed by the sitting board of directors. The chair is a past president of AFA.
Only members who have been active for three (3) or more years may serve on the NEC.
NEC members must hold affiliate, emeritus, graduate or professional membership in AFA at the time of nomination/election and maintain throughout their term of office.
The NEC determines the slate of candidates that will be voted on by the membership to serve on the AFA board of directors.

The work of the NEC is highly concentrated, with the majority of time spent between April and August.

There are committee phone calls, individual interviews, and independent review of candidate credentials.

General Duties/Expectations

The Board of Directors shall perform the following duties:

Be conversant in the organization’s mission and purpose.
Support the executive team and provide performance feedback.
Articulate organizational ends through policy and clear objectives.
Ensure adequate resources for AFA’s operations.
Serve as a steward for AFA financial resources.
Participate in fundraising activities of the AFA Foundation.
Complete other duties as designated by the AFA president.

Board members are expected to:

Attend all in-person board of directors meetings annually (3).

Participate in monthly conference calls.

Attend the AFA Annual Meeting each year of service.

Be available and responsive to AFA staff and board members.

Conduct themselves in a professional manner consistent with AFA’s Code of Ethics.

Represent AFA at events as requested.

Identify potential conflicts and exercise discretion in decision making.

Donate a minimum of $300 per year to the AFA Foundation.

Members of the NEC are expected to:

Review the application materials of nominees.

Determine the candidates that receive an interview.

Determine the final slate for election by the membership.

Provide guidance to the AFA board of directors on the nomination and election process.

Preferred Skills & Experience

Board members must be forward thinking, continually assessing the AFA’s strengths and limitations so that their term focuses on bolstering areas that need attention, allowing for continued progress.

Ideal Board of Director candidates should have the following skills or experience:

Be flexible working with volunteers and staff to achieve strategic goals.
Have excellent management and communications skills.
Articulate the value and importance of our organization as it aligns with the principles of higher education.
Understand the partnerships of AFA within the higher education sphere and the interfraternal industry.
Focus on the Strategic Framework and organize work around fulfilling the vision and mission of AFA.
Have a broad understanding of association management, fiduciary responsibilities, and the fundamentals of non-profit organizations.
Assess information to make data-driven decisions.
Understand some information may be confidential, and therefore should not be discussed with others outside of the board.

Ideal candidates for the NEC should have the following skills or experience:

Possess the ability to be objective and unbiased.
Have the ability to ask thoughtful questions and process the responses.
Have a basic understanding of board governance to best determine the candidates suited to serve.
Have the ability and willingness to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

For further information, please review the AFA Bylaws.

NEC Frequently Asked Questions

How does the elections process work?

The process begins with the solicitation of nominations. Affiliate, emeritus, graduate, and professional members may nominate others for the positions being elected this year. Affiliate, emeritus, graduate, and professional members may also nominate themselves.

Anyone nominated will be contacted and asked to either accept or decline their nomination. Candidates who accepted a nomination will receive a nomination acceptance statement. The AFA Nominations & Elections Committee carefully considers all of the acceptance statements and determines the final slate of nominees. Affiliate, graduate, professional, and retired members and past presidents will then vote on the slate.

What is the Nominations & Elections Committee and what do they do?

The purpose of the NEC is to create a slate of the best possible candidates to advance the association and its strategic plan.

This committee also has the responsibility for administering the election process for AFA. The committee is chaired by a past president and is comprised of five elected members and five members appointed by the sitting Board of Directors.

What if I don’t know who the candidates are?

The NEC compiles candidate information and provides a recorded interview with each individual candidate. These materials will be available on our website to help you make an informed choice.

I think I’d like to run for an office. Can I nominate myself?

Yes. The NEC slates candidates based on the skill sets they can bring to a specific office, so nominate yourself if you are interested in this leadership challenge.

How do I vote?

Ballots are sent from the Central Office via email to all eligible voting members.

What if my favorite candidate isn’t on the ballot? Can I “write in” my candidate?

Yes! “Write in” votes are a legitimate way for you to let your voice be heard.

Where can I learn more about the positions?

All members interested in running for office are encouraged to speak to the present board members. Current board members can provide a wealth of information about their responsibilities, the time commitment, and their overall satisfaction with their involvement in the association’s leadership.