UMD Retired Faculty Association

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND RETIRED FACULTY ASSOCIATION (UMDRFA) PLAN OF ORGANIZATION – Approved by Membership August 14, 2025

About

The University of Maryland Retired Faculty Association (UMDRFA) seeks to enhance the relationship between the University of Maryland, College Park and its retired faculty to: (a) enrich faculty retirement experiences; (b) maintain their connections to the university and their former colleagues; and (c) draw upon their experience and activities to support the teaching,research,andoutreachmissionsoftheuniversity.

Article I – NAME

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be: University of Maryland Retired Faculty Association (UMDRFA).

Section 2. UMDRFA shall function in partnership with and administratively under the purview of the Office of the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs of the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD).

Article II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. All retired faculty members of UMD are eligible to join the UMDRFA. At the time of adoption of this Plan of Organization, the UMDRFA assesses no dues. If and when the UMDRFA Executive Committee determines that assessment of dues would be in the best interest of UMDRFA, payment of dues would be a condition of membership. Members have voting privileges on business matters brought to the membership by the Executive Committee, can run for a seat on the UMDRFA Executive Committee, and serve on committees of UMDRFA.

Article III –VISION & PURPOSE

Section 1. The UMDRFA seeks to: (a) enrich faculty members’ retirement experiences, (b) enhance and maintain retired faculty members’ connections to the university and their former colleagues, and (c) draw upon retired faculty members’ experience and activities to support the teaching, research, and outreach mission of the University.

Section 2. To that end, the purposes of UMDRFA will include:

1. Identifying and advancing the continuing intellectual interests and scholarly activities of UMDRFA members;
2. Assisting in providing a seamless transition for faculty into retirement;
3. Serving as a focal point for social interaction, intellectual exchange, cultural enrichment, and health and wellness for UMDRFA members;
4. Encouraging and facilitating involvement of the retired faculty with UMD undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, alumni/ae, faculty governance, university administration, and the greater UMD community by drawing upon the accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and expertise of UMDRFA members;
5. Serving as an incentive for retiring faculty to remain affiliated with the university;
6. Facilitating the service of members to the university and surrounding community.

Article IV – ORGANIZATION

Section 1. Meetings. There shall be at least one annual meeting of the membership, normally in May or early June each year. Other meetings may be called by the Executive Committee. The scheduling of meetings ordinarily should be announced at least 30 days in advance. The agenda for these meetings will be set by the Executive Committee with input from the membership. Requests for items to be placed on the agenda should be sent to the Executive Committee at least 10 days in advance of a scheduled meeting. Unless waived by a majority vote of members present at a formal meeting of the membership of UMDRFA or the Executive Committee, business meetings shall be conducted under the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.

Section 2. Structure. UMDRFA will be administered by its Executive Committee in partnership with and administratively under the purview of the Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA).

Section 3. Standing Committees. The Executive Committee will establish, as needed, standing committees to cover functions of the organization. Examples of potential standing committees include the editorial committee for The Silver Terp newsletter, programs, membership, oral history, and elections. Chairs of standing committees are appointed by the Executive Committee and must be members of UMDRFA. Committees report via their chairs to the Executive Committee.

Section 4. Special Interest Groups. The Executive Committee will foster the creation of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), including but not limited to book clubs and travel, music appreciation, and community service groups. SIGs may be created by the Executive Committee or proposed by UMDRFA members. All SIGs require the approval of the Executive Committee and normally must be chaired by a member of UMDRFA. SIGs facilitate the involvement and interaction among retired faculty interested in the focus of the particular SIG. Each SIG reports to the Executive Committee via its chair and provides a report of its activities to the Executive Committee at least annually and upon request. The Executive Committee reserves the right to withdraw its approval of any SIG at any time.

ARTICLE V –  Role of the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs

The Associate Provost or his/her designated representative from the Office of Faculty Affairs will serve on the UMDRFA Executive Committee, ex officio, without voting privileges, and will also serve as the Faculty Affairs liaison to UMDRFA.

The Associate Provost or his/her representative will:

1. Serve with the UMDRFA Chair as the official representative of UMDRFA to the university
2. Provide leadership and administrative support for UMDRFA activities and communicate UMDRFA activities to the membership through the OFA website and newsletter.
3. Maintain an up-to-date membership roster including contact
4. Monitor the UMDRFA’s finances, providing final approval for all expenditures.

ARTICLE VI – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Membership and Organization. The Executive Committee shall be composed of nine elected members of UMDRFA as well as the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs or his/her designee (ex officio). The University Senate representative for emeritus/emerita faculty will serve ex officio, as will the editor of The Silver Terp, the UMDRFA newsletter. The past Chair of the Executive Committee will also serve as an ex officio member if he/she does not have another year of his/her term on the Executive Committee remaining. Ex officio members shall not have voting privileges. As far as possible, the Executive Committee will endeavor to mirror the diverse population and range of academic disciplines of the University.

1. Nominations for the Executive Committee will be solicited before the general membership meeting and may be made from the floor at the time of the Ballots will be sent out electronically approximately two weeks after the meeting. They should include brief statements from each candidate about their qualifications and interests.
2. The Executive Committee members shall serve for three-year staggered terms and may be re-elected for one consecutive Members may serve additional terms after a lapse of a year. Executive Committee members’ terms begin July 1.
3. A two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee is required for removal of any of its members.
4. ​If a member of the Executive Committee resigns during his/her term, is removed from office, or is otherwise unable to fulfill the duties of a member of the Executive Committee, the Chair, with the consent of the majority of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a new member from the UMDRFA membership to complete the If the individual appointed to fill the term will serve for one year or less than one year, he/she is eligible for election to two full terms. If the appointed individual will serve for more than one year, he/she is eligible for election to only one consecutive term.

Section 2. Officers

1. Officers of UMDRFA will be elected by the Executive Committee from its membership after the election of new members.
2. Officers of the UMDRFA will include a Chair, Vice Chair, and a Treasurer.
3. ​All officers will normally serve for one year but may be re-elected by the Executive Committee for an additional year if they are eligible to remain on the Executive Committee for the additional year or if they are re-elected to the Executive Committee.
4. The officers normally will be selected from individuals who have served at least one full semester on the Executive Committee.
5. The Chair will preside over UMDRFA membership and Executive

Committee meetings. If the Chair is not able to fulfill her/his duties, they will be assumed by the Vice Chair.

1. The Chair will serve with the Faculty Affairs liaison as the official representative of UMDRFA to the university administration and, where appropriate, as spokesperson for UMDRFA.
2. The Treasurer shall report on the income to and disbursements from the UMDRFA account with the University of Maryland College Park Foundation at each monthly meeting.

Section 3. Duties of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall:

1. Organize UMDRFA’s programs, offerings, activities, membership, standing committees, and associated operations.
2. Form committees to implement various programs, including appointing of committee chairs. Committees should primarily include members not serving on the Executive Committee, but to the extent possible, one member of the Executive Committee shall serve on each committee as a liaison.
3. Call meetings of the Executive Committee and UMDRFA
4. Contribute to the success of the organization through active participation, recruitment, and stewardship of the organization and contribute assistance where needed to implement UMDRFA’s programs and activities.
5. Prepare appropriate items of business such as policy statements to be brought before the membership for its approval.
6. Contribute to the preparation of the agenda for membership
7. Oversee all finances of UMDRFA.
8. Prepare an annual report of the activities and finances for the membership and the Office of Faculty Affairs.

Section 4. Operations of the Executive Committee

1. The Executive Committee will meet monthly, September through June. It may meet in July and/or August as needed
2. Attendance may be in-person or electronically by any method that allows remote participants to fully engage in the meeting.

ARTICLE VII – QUORUM AND VOTING

Section 1. Meetings of the entire membership will ordinarily occur electronically. At least 30% of the membership at the time of the vote will constitute a quorum. Membership voting will take place electronically from documents prepared by the Executive Committee. For logistical reasons, votes may be conducted electronically within two weeks of the membership meeting rather than at the meeting itself. The will of the majority will prevail.

Section 2. Executive Committee. A quorum for the adoption of business and policy items at Executive Committee meetings shall consist of six members present (in person or electronically). Ex officio members do not count toward the quorum. (See voting rules for changes to Plan of Organization below). The Executive Committee may vote by secret ballot on a particular issue if requested by a single voting member. The will of the majority of those present in-person or electronically will prevail.

ARTICLE VIII – CHANGES TO THE PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

Section 1. Amendments or changes to the plan of organization shall require approval of all the following:

1. A two-thirds vote of all voting members of the Executive Committee, followed by:
2. 51% of the membership at the time of this vote; and
3. The Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs.

Section 2. The same approval process applies to dissolution of UMDRFA.

ARTICLE IX – FINANCES

Section 1. UMDRFA is not required to levy dues for membership but may do so when the Executive Committee determines that it is in the best interest of the Association and its members (see Article II, Section I above), Donations are welcome and strongly encouraged, and will be formally requested at least once a year, as well as at the annual meeting.

Section 2. The University of Maryland College Park Foundation (UMCPF), will maintain an account for UMDRFA, and accept all gifts and donations to UMDRFA.

1. All expenditures from UMDRFA’s account above $100 must be approved by the Executive Committee. Expenditures under $100 may be approved by the Chair.
2. Approved requests for expenditures from the UMDRFA account shall be submitted to the Treasurer. After verifying that sufficient funds are available, the Treasurer will transmit such requests to the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs (or his/her designee) who will prepare requests for expenditures to be submitted to UMCPF and will approve those requests. Expenditure requests above $100 must be co-signed by the Chair of UMDRFA.
3. If, at any time, UMDRFA votes to disband, the Executive Committee will designate the dispersal of any remaining funds to some other entity associated with UMD, preferably for the support of faculty groups.
4. UMDRFA will comply with the regulations of UMCPF with regard to financial issues as long as UMCPF maintains an account for the association.

Finalized February 1, 2020. Revised by the Executive Committee, June 20, 2025. Approved by Membership August 14, 2025