¶ Purpose
At the simplest level, the MSA Board exists to ensure that the community’s basic needs are being met. This includes the need for a clean and quiet place to perform daily prayers, a convenient on-campus Friday Prayer service, regular spiritual classes and programming, access to halal meals and ingredients, and social events that develop new Muslim friendships.
Beyond the fulfilment of our community’s basic needs, the Board seeks to make strategic advancements towards the association’s long term vision. Our community looks forward to a time when the MSA will have a strong internal and external foundation: providing valuable resources to our members and maintaining persistent relationships with university administration and other on- and off-campus institutions. We look forward to a time when our community members’ voices are expressed and heard campus-wide and our association is viewed as a respected component of Berkeley’s campus climate. This is a long-term process that requires the coordination of MSA Boards across decades. It is the role of the MSA Board to advance previous years’ efforts and carry the torch forward.
Thirdly, the MSA Board recognizes that our community is most successful when all members feel empowered and contribute to the MSA’s overarching vision. This means that the Board encourages ideas from community members and seeks to provide them with the opportunity to take on central initiatives. In order to prevent burnout and ensure that the Board can continue to be receptive to community members, initiatives that are suggested are not automatically reserved as a responsibility upon the Board. The Board instead seeks to delegate initiatives to the respective committees and community members to engage them according to their capacity.
Finally, service on MSA Board is an opportunity for driven community members to get involved and develop as leaders. Board Members will learn how to be effective community organizers, respect professional bylaws and procedures, communicate clearly, and realistically bring about the change they are passionate to see. Through involvements on the MSA Board, excelling community members will gain the first-hand experience necessary to serve as effective leaders of our Ummah.
¶ Values
The Board will uphold the following values and interpret them as metrics of success.
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| Islamic Connection | Board seeks to always tie back their efforts to Islamic teachings and draw from them for motivation. Members are reminded to renew intentions and uphold Islamic character while working on projects. |
| Putting Community First | Board recognizes that the primary focus is community growth. Helping members develop personal skills and maintaining respectful interactions are valued over the material success of specific initiatives. |
| Inclusivity | Board understands that our community is diverse and that making everyone feel included requires that MSA leadership reach out to individuals and actively involve them with the community. |
| Visionary Goals | Board explores ways in which projects can be spun to fulfill higher-value goals like developing relationships with school officials, strengthening partnerships, and improving the image of Islam on campus in addition to the more obvious, project-specific goals. |
| Institutional Thinking | Board recognizes that their efforts are part of a larger narrative, one that extends beyond their year, and always has this understanding in mind. Board respects outlined procedures and policies that protect previous initiatives and ensure the longevity of their own. Board identifies the momentum gained in previous terms and seeks to propel it forward. |
| Quality over Quantity | Board realizes that it is better to do less and do so excellently than to take on too many projects and fail to accomplish anything of significance. Board values allocating time to go the extra mile and take their focused effort to the next level. |
| Reflective Iteration | Board values taking time after each milestone to reflect on their successes and challenges, documenting their findings for the benefit of others and improving upon their next course of action. |
| Transparency | Board understands that it is the right of the community members to be informed of the specific initiatives and goals of the MSA and that they be provided with productive avenues to voice concerns and get involved. |
¶ Positions
¶ Qualities
Board Members, as individuals, will embody the following qualities.
| Quality | Description |
|---|---|
| Islamic Values & High Moral Standards | Seeking Allah’s pleasure first and foremostly and upholding the core Islamic teachings For example: Acting with humility, willing to reflect on own role, reminding members of the right intentions |
| Leadership By Example | Serving as a role model to all Board members For example: Attending functions on time, fulfilling action items by the deadline, being responsive to communication |
| Communication | Knowing when, where, and how to share information For example: Delivering feedback respectfully, disclosing information that is appropriate for the audience, being responsive |
| Self-Initiative | Coming to the table with specific organizational goals and having the motivation to put them into action For example: Pulling from unfavorable experiences to draft steps towards improvement in the future |
| Dedication | Committing to and prioritizing one’s role For example: Being present at all meetings and attending community events, completing role-specific responsibilities on time |
| Resilience | Willing to approach challenges and not be easily discouraged by setbacks For example: Working through community conflicts, showing optimism in the search for solutions |
| Impartiality | Supporting the collective resolve even when it differs from personal views For example: Upholding Board decisions, representing the viewpoints of members fairly, recognizing one’s own bias |
| Professional Conduct | Being respectful, courteous, and organized I.e. Behaving professionally during meetings, upholding bylaws and professional procedures |
| Political Awareness | Understanding the general history and political state of the association and Muslim community For example: Preventing engagements with controversial groups |
¶ Job Descriptions
Each Board Member will be expected to adhere to the respective job descriptions for their roles.
¶ President
The President is the facilitator-in-chief. His or her primary role includes leading and facilitating a visioning and strategic planning process that includes all board members in order to arrive at a common vision, strategy and set of priorities that everyone can feel excited about and motivated to support. Strategic planning is identifying how we go from where we are to where we need to be. Strategic planning should take the skills and interests of the board members as well as the overall state of the community into consideration. See Strategic Planning Guidelines (to be drafted).
The President’s secondary role is to socialize the board’s vision and accomplishments to the broader community while relaying feedback from the membership. The President should be willing to make his or herself available to develop relationships with general members and direct them to appropriate avenues of participation according to their interests.
The President must also be aware of the individual efforts and wellbeing of every board member. His or her understanding of the overall state of the association and role as facilitator in chief should allow him or her to serve as a trusted source of motivation, advice, and secondary perspective among board members.
As the face of the organization, the President must also conduct his or herself in the best of manners and uphold the professional brand of the association. He or she will be expected to represent the MSA at large events and participate at engagements with other organizations when his or her appearance is beneficial. The President will be responsible for maintaining a positive atmosphere within the board and across the community. As is true for other board members, the President should serve as a source of motivation to the membership and spark interest about service on future boards and committees.
President's Resource Hub Centralized resources and instructions¶ Assigned Tasks
- Lead strategic planning process throughout term
- Facilitate Board Meetings
- Book rooms for Board Meetings
- Send out agenda 24 hours in advance
- Run meeting according to Meeting Bylaws
- Follow up weekly with board members regarding assigned action items
- Organize leadership training for the Board
- Organize Advisory Council meetings every semester
¶ Internal Vice President
The Internal Vice President’s primary role is to facilitate and foster the growth of MSA Committees. Committees are a major source of consistent community involvement and empowerment. They decentralize leadership from the Board, allow community members to develop as leaders, foster more close-knit sub-communities within the larger community, and provide multiple avenues through which members can fulfill their duty as active Muslims. The successful and smooth operation of MSA committees is therefore central to the health of our community and a noble responsibility upon the Internal Vice President. He or she will be expected to uphold and improve upon the outlined MSA Committees operating procedures (link).
The Internal Vice President will serve as a close, trusted mentor and friend for each Committee Head. He or she will seek to identify each Committee Head’s aspirations, strengths and weaknesses and make it a priority to provide resources and opportunities that individually develop MSA’s leaders and enhance their quality of service.
The Internal Vice President also serves as second in command after the President. He or she will be responsible for maintaining a positive relationship with the President, checking in on his or her well being and providing support when appropriate.
¶ Assigned Tasks
- Serve as President when the President is absent.
- Conduct Committee Head Training at the beginning of each semester
- Facilitate Leadership Meetings
- Book rooms for Leadership Meetings
- Send out agenda 24 hours in advance
- Run meeting according to meeting bylaws
- Book rooms for Committee Meetings
- Manage MSA Committee Google Drive folders
- Organize leadership training for MSA Leadership
¶ External Vice President
The External Vice President’s primary role is to maintain and develop the MSA’s relationship and standing with other on- and off-campus organizations as well as the university. It is critical to our community's success that the MSA make use of the rich culture and expertise offered by the surrounding organizations and institutions. It is also important that the MSA serves as a respected key player within the broader Berkeley community. This is only possible with a serious commitment to relationship-building facilitated by the External Vice President.
The External Vice President will also seek to make the MSA's services more inclusive by planning collaborations with other cultural groups and establishing coalitions that build bridges of support between communities. The External Vice President will pursue university administrators to communicate our needs, secure additional resources, and expand the MSA's impact and outreach.
¶ Assigned Tasks
- Serve as President when President and Internal Vice President are both absent
- Plan collaboration events and initiatives with other organizations to develop and institutionalize the MSA’s organizational relationships
¶ Treasurer
The Treasurer’s primary role is to organize and grow the MSA’s financial standing by leading creative fundraising initiatives, recruiting sponsors, and applying for grants. As is true with any organization, funding is often the primary factor that dictates whether the MSA achieves its potential. Representing Islam at the University of California, Berkeley requires quality programming, high-caliber guest speakers, and reliable equipment. This is only possible with a firm financial foundation strengthened by the initiatives of the Treasurer.
The Treasurer is also responsible for managing the day-to-day financial logistics of the organization. This includes closely monitoring financial accounts, drafting semesterly budgets, and processing reimbursements. The Treasurer will also work closely with the Fundraising Committee Head to facilitate the committee’s initiatives.
¶ Assigned Tasks
- Draft a master budget twice a semester
- Process budget requests for proposed activities
- Assign spending limits to MSA cardholders
- Balance funds between all financial accounts
- Keep a record of all purchases and expenses
- Process reimbursement requests
- Complete all financial paperwork with the ASUC
- Fundraise at least $10,000 each semester
- Apply for grants
- Initiate and assist regular fundraising efforts
¶ Educational Coordinator
The Educational Coordinator's primary role is to coordinate programming that nurtures the spiritual well being of the membership and inspires Muslims to become educated, action-oriented, and community-centered leaders of our Ummah. Change in a community starts with each individual seeking to better one's spiritual connection and character. Providing opportunities that allow our members to develop in such ways is therefore a noble responsibility upon the Educational Coordinator. He or she will be responsible for organizing weekly on campus Jummah prayers, booking khateebs, and planning regular spiritual classes and halaqahs among other initiatives.
¶ Assigned Tasks
- Handle Jummah service logistics
- Booking speakers for weekly Jummah service in advance
- Booking Hearst Gym and other locations
- Coordinating speaker system and prayer rug setup and clean up
- Get feedback from community in regards to what spiritual and educational programming the community needs
- Plan regular (weekly or biweekly) spiritual programming (ie. halaqahs, ilm classes, etc)
¶ Communications Director
The Communications Director’s primary role is to maintain clear avenues of communication between our membership, MSA leadership, and the broader community. Our success is dependent on the organized coordination between our members and maintaining a positive image in the public eye. The Communications Director will utilize modern methods of information sharing to inform our members of important announcements and decisions, and excite them for upcoming events. He or she will also curate videos and strategically format our website to share our association's narrative.
¶ Assigned Tasks
- Manage MSA Google Drive (excluding committee folders)
- Send out Week In Progress newsletter emails every weekend
- Maintain social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, etc)
- Creating Facebook events
- Respond to general FAQ from community members via email and social media
- Maintain website and update content (prayer times and locations, announcements, etc)
- Manage membership signup and listserv
- Maintain Google Calendar, up to date information
- Take pictures and record videos at key events
- Produce promotional videos for the website and social media campaigns (fundraising, awareness, etc.)
¶ Sister’s Director
The Sister’s Director’s primary role is to promote the unity and development of our Muslim sisters. It is important that every new addition to our community feels welcomed and is looked after. The Sister's Director will make it a priority to reach out to her fellow sisters, ease their start at UC Berkeley, and connect them with the people and resources (campus academic advising, safety resources, etc) that will ensure that they feel included and set up for success. The Sister's Director will also organize socials and activities for sisters on a regular basis to foster a sense of sisterhood and a supportive community that can be relied upon.
¶ Assigned Tasks
- Plan regular socials/dinner/activities for the sisters
- Facilitate Housing Search
- Athletics (i.e. IM teams)
- Plan Winter Retreat
¶ Brother’s Director
The Brother’s Director’s primary role is to promote the unity and development of our Muslim brothers. It is important that every new addition to our community feels welcomed and is looked after. The Brother's Director will make it a priority to reach out to his fellow brothers, ease their start at UC Berkeley, and connect them with the people and resources (campus academic advising, safety resources, etc) that will ensure that they feel included and set up for success. The Brother's Director will also organize socials and activities for brothers on a regular basis to foster a sense of brotherhood and a supportive community that can be relied upon.
¶ Assigned Tasks
- Plan regular socials/dinner/activities for the brothers
- Facilitate Housing Search
- Athletics (i.e. IM teams)
- Plan Winter Retreat
¶ Deliverables
The following meetings and events will be expected from the MSA Board.
¶ Board Meetings
The Board will be expected to hold a one hour Board meeting every week of the semester excluding RRR week, finals week, and academic holidays. These meetings are the lifeline of the Board’s activities, where action items are checked off and assigned. The President will be in charge of facilitating these meetings and sending out an agenda in accordance with the Meeting Bylaws. The agenda will generally take the form of checking in on everyone’s personal wellbeing, reviewing any new developments since the last meeting, and finalizing decisions among all the Board members present.
These meetings will also be open to the general membership, meaning that their time and location will be publicized every week. Open meetings increase transparency between the community and MSA leadership and allow community members productive methods of voicing their ideas. Community members will be allotted time at the beginning of these meetings to address the board after which they will be expected to remain silent for the remainder of the Board meeting. Community concerns need not be added to the current meeting’s agenda but should be addressed in the near future. For more detailed rules, reference the Open Board Meeting Guidelines.
¶ Officer Meetings
The Board will be expected to attend a one hour Officer meeting every week of the semester excluding RRR week, finals week, and academic holidays. These meetings are at the center of the entire association’s efforts, with all MSA leadership present. Committee heads will provide updates on each of their committee initiatives and look for feedback and guidance. All Board members will be expected to attend these meetings to emphasize the value of committees for our association, to provide Committee Heads with all the support they may need, and to establish a strong united cohort of all the MSA leaders. The Internal Vice President will be in charge of facilitating these meetings and sending out an agenda in accordance with the Meeting Bylaws.
These meetings will also be open to the general membership, meaning that their time and location will be publicized every week. Guest members however will not be reserved the right to speak unless called upon by a member of the MSA leadership and then approved by the President to attend. Open meetings increase transparency between the community and MSA leadership and allow community members productive methods of voicing their ideas.
¶ Advisor Meetings
The Board will be expected to hold Advisor Meetings once a semester (ideally in the middle of each semester). These meetings allow Board members to update and ask for advice from the association’s designated Advisors. This serves as a proactive measure to help resolve any conflicts or stressful situations before they happen. The President will be responsible for scheduling and facilitating these meetings allowing each board member to bring up any updates and concerns they may have to the respective Advisors.
¶ Community Nights
The Board will be expected to hold a Community Night 3 times every semester during the first week of every month. Community Nights are meetings with the general membership of the MSA where the Board is expected to give the community organizational updates and discuss events and initiatives the Board and committees have planned. This is also an opportunity for the community to ask MSA leadership questions and give constructive feedback. Each Community Night should choose a relevant topic of focus that would be beneficial to learn about or engage with. It is the responsibility of the Board to decide the topic of focus for each Community Night, such as the MEMSSA coalition's role in ASUC elections or organized workshops/trainings, whatever topic the Board feels the community can best benefit from in that month. The general purpose of Community Night is to provide community members with a direct platform to openly address the Board and one another and to allow for a space of serious conversation that is distinct from the other social community-bonding activities. However, Community Night should also incorporate a spotlight on a community member's talent and begin with an activity to ensure that the community is engaged and lessen the hierarchy between the Board and the community.
¶ Friday Prayer
The Board will be expected to organize an on-campus Friday prayer every week of the semester excluding RRR week, finals week, and academic holidays. The Educational Coordinator will be expected to reserve space, book khateebs, and lead setup and cleanup with the help of other MSA leadership and community members.
¶ Tabling
Each Board member will be expected to sign up for at least one hour for every week of tabling. Tabling is facilitated by the Dawah Committee and is an opportunity to illustrate the goals of the MSA to the wider campus community and achieve higher inclusivity. Board participation is required to ensure presence in the community.
¶ Welcome Week
The Board will be expected to organize two weeks of welcoming events and programming at the beginning of each semester to introduce new students to the association and welcome back returning students. This typically consists of tabling everyday, adding new members to our mailing list, a brothers and sisters welcome dinner, a weekend community social, and the first Community Night. It will be crucial that the sign up form for MSA Committees is heavily publicized during this time to increase community participation throughout the semester.
¶ RRR Week
The Board will be expected to facilitate study spaces during RRR and finals weeks of each semester. Traditionally, the Berkeley Masjid serves as a location for students to study during RRR week wherein the Board also provides dinner.
¶ Recurring Socials
¶ Brothers/Sisters Socials
The Board will be expected to organize a brothers’ social and a sisters’ social every two to three weeks of the semester.
¶ Leadership Socials
The Board will be expected to organize a leadership social for every month of the semester. These are meant to allow MSA Board members and Committee Heads to get to know one another in a less formal setting and strengthen the unity among our leadership cohort.
¶ Keynote Events
¶ Banquet
The Board will be expected to carry out a banquet (or equivalent end-of-the-semester event) every Spring semester. This event should serve to highlight the community’s key accomplishments during the semester and consist of some entertainment and celebration. The logistics and preparations of this event will have already been planned and decided upon by the previous Fall semester’s Banquet Committee.
¶ Retreat
The Board will be expected to carry out a community retreat every Fall semester. This event should serve to allow community members to destress, recharge, and reconnect with their faith and community. The logistics and preparations of this event will be planned beginning in the summer by the Brothers and Sisters Directors (with the help of a committee).
¶ Commitments
¶ Time Commitment
Every Board Member will be expected to commit to the following hours.
| Event | Time | Frequency Description |
|---|---|---|
| Board Meetings | 1 hour Weekly | To discuss board related matters |
| Leadership Meetings | 1 hour Weekly | To check in with committee heads |
| Advisor Meetings | 1 hour Every Semester | To take input from scholars & mentors |
| Committee Meetings | 1 hour Every Other Week | To be present as a resource for committee members |
| Tabling | 1 hour Weekly | To welcome new students and visitors |
| Role Assignments | 1-3 hours Weekly | To work on specific role-related tasks |
| Community Presence | 2 hours Weekly | Time spent being present at community events |
Time commitment totals to between 7 and 10 hours every week, depending on the week.
Most meetings and events occur during late evenings, making this time commitment demanding for commuters.
¶ Other Commitments
As is the case when working for any community, Board Members may be held to expectations that are less tangible than the hours and tasks clearly defined in this document. These include:
- Being present for community members, scheduling time with and being accessible to individuals so that they may voice their feedback and concerns.
- Exhibiting a willingness and strength to tolerate uncomfortable and emotionally-taxing discussions that may arise within the Board and community.
- Being on call during events to help with setup, clean up, and facilitating other logistics.
- Ability to sit in on last minute meetings when deemed necessary by the Board.
- Filling in for fellow Board members and assisting with action items when individuals are at capacity.
¶ Factors for Nominees to Consider
Nominees that are viewing this document with the intention of deciding whether to accept or decline must consider these factors in their decision.
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Academics | Although service on board should never get in the way of academics, a strong ability to manage deadlines and organize time is required to ensure that nominees are able to fulfill their responsibilities as students and community leaders. |
| Family | Although service on board should never get in the way of responsibilities towards one’s family, it is important that nominees consult with their parents and close relatives to verify that they support the nominee’s decision before accepting his or her nomination. |
| Mental & Physical Health | Although service on board should never come at the expense of one’s mental and physical health, it is important that nominees consider their current mental and physical health status before accepting their nominations. |
| Commute | Board meetings and community events often take place during weekday evenings and weekends. It is important that commuters consider this before accepting their nominations to ensure that they are consistently present. |
| Other Commitments | In a team of any size, even when one member falls short of expectations, the entire team dynamic is affected. Service as a board member requires a large commitment on its own. It is therefore incredibly important that members consider all other commitments they will have for the following academic year (other clubs, programs, and meetings) before accepting their nominations. |
¶ Internal Logistics
¶ Documentation
Each incoming board member will be granted access to the full UCBMSA Google Drive directory. This folder is not time specific and will therefore contain documentation from previous years. Board members will be expected to adhere to the Google Drive Usage Guidelines in order to protect the work of previous MSA leaders and help the board keep its files organized. Additionally, each board member will be expected to update event time capsules after every event. A time capsule is a log of reflections and advice from each iteration of an event.
¶ Communication
A unique Slack channel for each incoming board will be created to facilitate internal communication. Board members will be expected to use this platform to discuss action items and coordinate between weekly meetings. Board members should also use email for more official communication like weekly meeting agenda updates and community outreach.
¶ Removal
¶ Factors
Any of the following factors warrant a discussion regarding a member’s continuation on the Board.
- Missing more than 3 board meetings every semester**
- Missing more than 3 leadership meetings every semester**
- Failing to attend at least 5 committee meetings every semester**
- Failing to attend assigned tabling hours
- Habitually requiring more than 48 hours to respond to methods of communication
- Habitually missing MSA planned community events/socials
- Habitually failing to execute on assigned weekly action items
**Arriving more than 5 minutes past Berkeley Time constitutes half an absence
**If these and other regulations agreed upon by the board are violated at least three times, the board member in question will be asked to terminate their continuation on board
