ACRED Charter
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s
Alumni Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity Charter
The Alumni Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (“UNC”) by action at a meeting held on October 6, 2023 approved this Charter for the Alumni Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
Article I – Organization
There is hereby created an unincorporated association to be known as the Alumni Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (“ACRED”). This group works in conjunction with and under the direction of UNC’s University Development Office.
Article II – Mission
ACRED is to engage, develop, and empower diverse alumni, faculty, and staff in the Carolina community to forge and amplify relationships between the university and its diverse stakeholders through philanthropy and service of its members.
Article III- Purpose and Function
ACRED was formed in 1999 during the Carolina First Capital Campaign as the Minority Alumni Committee. ACRED is designed to create stronger partnerships between the University and its diverse alumni population, such as its African/African American, Asian/Asian American, Latina/o, and American Indian alumni. By engaging these important alumni constituencies, ACRED is generating new leadership roles and funding opportunities critical to UNC’s mission to serve as a leader in higher education.
Article IV – Membership
1. Members: ACRED shall consist of no more than 80 members.
2. Qualifications: There shall be but one primary qualification for membership in ACRED – a willingness to help ACRED fulfill its mission of partnering with UNC and its diverse alumni population. In addition, members will be expected to attend one (1) of the two (2) full membership meetings per year, associate with one Affinity Subcommittee, associate with one Special Subcommittee, attend special fundraising events, serve as ambassadors of ACRED and UNC, make UNC a priority for personal philanthropy and provide annual financial support.
3. Nomination: Nominations may be made by current and former ACRED members, University development staff, UNC administrators and current and former members of the Board of Trustees. New members may be recommended through the nomination form on the ACRED website or through any other method accepted by the University Development Office. Nominations will generally be accepted January through March of each year.
4. Selection: Members shall be appointed at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor of University Development or the senior advancement staff in the University Development Office.
5. Terms: Newly selected members may take office any time after they have been duly appointed. Members shall be selected to serve for one terms of three (3) years. All members shall be divided into three (3) classes, as nearly equal in numbers as may be, to serve in the first instance until the end of the third year after the year they are selected. Years shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30. Each member is eligible to serve two (2) three (3)-year terms. Any member who has served two (2) three (3)-year terms shall be ineligible for re-appointment for a period of one (1) year.
a. Special Circumstances: The University Development Office has the discretion to extend a member’s term beyond the term limit in this Article IV, section 5 under special circumstances when an Affinity Subcommittee’s membership is at risk at failing below a minimum of three (3) total members.
b. Stub Terms: The classes shall be re-established in fall 2023, with one (1) class having a stub term of one (1) year, a second class having a stub term of two (2) years, and the third class having a full three (3) year term. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing stub terms shall not count towards the maximum two (2) term limit.
6. Resignations: Members may resign at any time by giving written notice of such resignation to the University Development Office.
7. Removal: Any member proposed to be removed shall be entitled to at least two (2) weeks written notice and afforded the opportunity for a meeting with Vice-Chancellor for University Development and/or the Executive Committee. The member shall be entitled to appear before and be heard by ACRED if desired.
8. Advisory Members: After completing two (2) terms of service, former members may be invited to remain engaged with ACRED by assuming advisory status. Advisory members may attend ACRED meetings and offer guidance, but do not have voting privileges.
Article V – Officers
1. Officers and Executive Committee: There shall be a Chair and a Vice-Chair of ACRED. Each subcommittee will have a Chair and a vice-chair or two (2) Co-Chairs. The Chairs shall serve a two (2) year term. The Chair and Vice-Chair along with the chair, vice-chair and/or co-chairs of the subcommittees shall together constitute the Executive Committee.
- Chair: The Chair of ACRED shall preside at all meetings of ACRED and shall perform all other such duties as are incident to his or her office or may properly be required of him or her by ACRED. He or she shall also serve, ex-officio, as a member of all committees.
- Vice-Chair: The Vice-Chair of ACRED shall have such responsibilities as determined by the Chair and shall serve in the absence of the Chair of ACRED.
- Affinity Subcommittee Chairs and Vice Chairs: The Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Affinity Subcommittees shall be responsible for leading and motivating their subcommittees members and serving as active members of the Executive Committee.
2. Selection: Prior to the first meeting of every other calendar year, the Executive Committee shall present to the University Development Office a slate of candidates for each office to be filled. Other candidates may be nominated from the active membership rolls, and active members have the opportunity to provide feedback to the University Development Office about any candidates. The officers of ACRED shall be selected by the University Development Office.
3. Term: Officers shall serve for one (1) two (2) year terms beginning on the first of the calendar year post-election. If an officer is in the final year of a three (3) year term, the term shall be extended by one (1) year to allow the officer to serve in the leadership position for a total of two (2) years.
4. Removal and Vacancies: Article IV, section 6 and section 7 above shall also apply to officers. In the event of the death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification of an officer during his or her elected term of office, a temporary successor may be appointed by the Executive Committee and/or the University Development Office to serve until the next regular meeting or any special meeting called for that purpose. The successor officer may then be nominated for his or her own term of service in accordance with Article V, section 3 or another active member may be nominated to serve. In the event of the Chair’s resignation or removal, the ACRED Vice-Chair shall serve as temporary Chair until the University Development Office selects a replacement.
Article VI- Subcommittees
- Affinity Subcommittees: ACRED shall consist of the following Affinity Subcommittees:
a. African American Subcommittee
b. American Indian Subcommittee
c. Asian American Subcommittee
d. Latino Subcommittee
e. Future Affinity Subcommittees: Additional Affinity Subcommittees may be proposed in the future once a group has a minimum of three (3) total potential members.
2. Special Subcommittees: ACRED shall consist of the following Special Subcommittees, which shall also name chairs and vice-chairs, that will present recommendations to the Executive Committee:
a. Communications Subcommittee: The Communications Subcommittee shall focus on ACRED messaging, translating the value of ACRED through stories and experiences that ignite giving and engage those unfamiliar with ACRED’s mission to both internal and external stakeholders, and increasing ACRED’s social media presence.
b. Nominating, Outreach, and Engagement Subcommittee: The Nominating, Outreach, Engagement Subcommittee shall seek opportunities for ACRED to expand its role within UNC (such as ACRED members’ service on search committees, recruitment, etc.), expand ACRED’s membership, nominate new ACRED members, and engage with students, faculty, and staff.
c. Giving Subcommittee: The Giving Subcommittee shall focus on setting ACRED fundraising goals , reporting on fundraising and giving, enabling growth, and knowledge sharing for stakeholders.
e. Future Special Subcommittees: Additional Special Subcommittees may be proposed in the future by the Executive Committee and/or the University Development Office.