SREB Doctoral Scholars Association 
Operating Guidelines

The name of the organization is the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Association (DSA) of the Doctoral Scholars Program, in association with The Board of Control for Southern Regional Education, d/b/a the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). The SREB Doctoral Scholars Association will exist and operate throughout the life of the SREB Doctoral Scholars Program.

The SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program is part of a national alliance that shares resources and creates additional opportunities for minority graduate students to become tenured faculty members at colleges and universities. The alliance is entitled the Compact for Faculty Diversity. The Compact focuses attention on the shortage of minority faculty members.

The SREB Doctoral Scholars Association (DSA) exists to provide a forum for its members to address the important issues of the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program as it, in turn, operates within the SREB. The DSA provides a framework for its members to enhance the quality of the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program by:

1. Creating an official channel through which scholars and program alumni may express opinions and concerns;
2. Promoting the professional development of scholars and program alumni through the generation of additional funds for these activities; and
3. Promoting networking and support activities among scholars and program alumni.

Six advisors will represent the DSA from two divisions, Pre-Alumni and Alumni. Three pre-alumni advisors will represent program participants who have not received the doctoral degree. Three alumni advisors will represent program graduates.

Pre-Alumni and Alumni advisors will serve as the DSA Advisory Board.

1. Work as a team to advise the director of the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program on concerns of association members;
2. Make recommendations for the allocation of SREB Doctoral Scholars Association member contributions;
3. Appoint officers and their respective positions:

1. The advisory board will determine the officers who will serve as Alumni Co-chair, Pre-Alumni Co-chair, Secretary, and Member-at-large.
2. The director of the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program serves on the board ex officio.

2. Duties of Officers

1. The Co-chairs will assume responsibility for determining the agenda and will preside at the meeting to promote fair discussions and debates on issues presented by members as outlined in Charge II.
2. The Secretary will record the proceedings of the meetings and forward them in the form of minutes to the DSA Advisory Board members and the ex officio of the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program.
3. The Member-at-large will promote effective communications among all members before and after the DSA meetings. Moreover, the Member-at-large will be responsible for soliciting nominations and disseminating the election results to members.
4. The director of the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program, ex officio, will:

1. Account for contributions received and revenues expended;
2. Determine the time and place for DSA meetings.

5. A quorum of two-thirds of the DSA Advisory Board members must be present in a meeting to conduct official business.

1. All Advisory Board members will be elected to serve a two-year term by a simple majority vote.
2. Should an Advisory Board member be unable to complete a term of service, the Co-chair of the respective division (Pre-Alumni or Alumni) will appoint a replacement.
3. Individual terms for both divisions (Pre-Alumni and Alumni) will be limited to two consecutive terms.
4. Individuals are eligible to serve again once there has been a break in service of at least one year.
5. Pre-Alumni board members who complete their degrees during their term of service will remain as Pre-Alumni board members until completion of their term.

The nomination process will be accomplished through a call for self-nominations by division (Pre-Alumni or Alumni), depending upon which division is up for election.

1. Dissertation year fellows are eligible to self-nominate as Alumni candidates upon completion of ALL degree requirements. Dissertation year fellows are not eligible for self-nomination as Pre-Alumni candidates.
2. Program graduates may self-nominate as Alumni candidates.
3. Pre-Doctoral scholars may self-nominate as Pre-Alumni candidates.
4. The slate of candidates will not exceed nine (9) nominees. The first nine (9) self-nominations received will constitute the slate.

5. Elections

Elections for the DSA Advisory Board will be held annually. The board will determine the date of the election and the date of the announcement of the results. The election is to be held prior to the annual membership meeting.

1. Scholars and alumni of the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program are entitled to membership and privileges in the DSA.

2. Alumni, family, friends, faculty and others are encouraged to contribute to the DSA to support SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program activities. As specified by IRS tax regulations, contributions to the DSA are authorized as tax deductible items.

For more information, please contact doctoral.scholars@sreb.org.