²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Board member job description

 

Mission

The University of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Fairbanks Alumni Association (²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA) connects and supports the University of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Fairbanks (²ÝÁñÉçÇø) and alumni. ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA encourages excellence in all aspects of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø and provides opportunities for alumni to engage in lifelong involvement with their university community.

Purpose

To provide strategic governance, fiscal and policy leadership to the ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA.

Roles and responsibilities

• Support ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA’s mission;
• Implement ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA’s programs and services and monitor their effectiveness;
• Provide strategic guidance to ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA;
• Ensure ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA’s financial health;
• Support ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA’s executive director;
• Improve ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA’s board effectiveness.
• Model ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA's Code of Conduct

Expectations

• Understand, articulate and support the mission, goals and priorities of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø and the ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA;
• Understand and uphold the board’s fiduciary responsibilities;
• Prepare for and participate in board and committee meetings. Ask questions, be deliberative and express your point of view.
• Share your professional time and expertise, especially as it relates to assisting students with internships, job mentoring, career connections, networking with graduates, etc.;
• Actively participate in, and be an ambassador for, fundraising at ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA (i.e., Benefactor Fund, scholarship support, etc.);
• Set an example with personal giving. Contribute annually to both ²ÝÁñÉçÇø and ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA in a manner and amount significant and meaningful to you. In-kind donations (such as airfare to attend a meeting or event) are welcome and will be counted toward your personal giving. The ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA Board of Directors strives to be a 100 percent giving board. ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA board members embrace a culture of philanthropy in support of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø;
• Participate and encourage participation of others in ²ÝÁñÉçÇø and alumni events and initiatives (i.e., chapter activities, athletic events, signature events such as the annual gala, Nanook Rendezvous reunion, major lectures and speeches, etc.);
• Identify and cultivate alumni advocates, volunteers, prospective board members and potential alumni award winners;
• Encourage alumni to be active members of the ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA; directors must not allow membership to lapse; consider becoming a lifetime member;
• Avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest with ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA while on the board;
• Maintain confidentiality of donor and alumni information, internal board business and personnel matters.
• Be respectful, engaged and professional to all as a representative of the ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA board.
• Be a leader in upholding and modeling the ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA's Code of Conduct.

Term of office and time commitment

Board directors serve three-year terms beginning at the spring board meeting. Board members may serve two consecutive terms.

Board members are expected to attend three board meetings per year. Typically, two meetings are held in person and are two-day meetings, and one is a one-day teleconference.

Board members residing outside of Fairbanks are expected to travel to Fairbanks prior to the start of the in-person meetings. Board members should take the necessary time off work to accommodate travel and attendance at board meetings. If attendance at board meetings is not possible due to a life event (funeral, wedding, birth of grandchild, etc.) or unavoidable work conflict, board members are expected to immediately inform the president and executive director.

Board members are expected to serve on at least two committees of the association and if possible chair or co-chair a committee. Time commitments vary by committee:

• Finance Committee: Meets four or five times/year
• Executive Committee: Three-five times/year
• Board Governance Committee: Approximately twice/year
• Legislative Committee: Three or four times/year
• Scholarship Committee: Approximately twice/year
• Awards Committee: Approximately three times/year
• Ad-hoc committees: As needed.

Committee meetings are held via teleconference and usually last one hour; some committee work is handled via email. 

Adopted by unanimous vote of the ²ÝÁñÉçÇøAA Board of Directors, Sept. 23, 2016.