¶ Purpose
MSA committees hold a number of critical roles. They primarily serve to decentralize leadership and decision-making from the board towards the general membership. Committees lighten the heavy responsibility board members bare, ensuring that programs represent the interests of the community, by allowing community members to take the initiative themselves. Members are allowed the space to discuss and plan specific programs of their liking while advancing the vision of the MSA.
Secondly, committees allow members to develop as leaders. Committees will be expected to adhere to clearly defined bylaws and procedures outlined by previous committee members, the board, and the university. Through involvements with a committee, community members will gain a better understanding of the association’s history and current state while developing the professional skills required to serve as effective future board members and in other positions of leadership.
Thirdly, committees serve to provide a more close-knit community within the larger community. They allow members to better understand their fellows by working together around a common interest. They facilitate friendship and network development.
Finally, committees allow members to fulfill their duty as active Muslims, balancing their studies with service. We understand the critical importance of matching belief with righteous actions and positive contribution towards one’s community. Committees serve as a convenient avenue through which Muslim students may implement this understanding. 
¶ Mission Statements
¶ Community Service
The Community Service Committee originated primarily to realize the MSA’s overarching mission through the service of marginalized communities. The committee provides a space for Muslim students to learn about and act upon local issues including homelessness, food insecurity, mass incarceration, and environmental injustice. The committee also values the development of strong community partnerships with local shelters, clinics, and nonprofits. The ultimate goal of the committee is to manifest the Islamic drive for doing good into the development of socially-aware, reflective, collaborative, and compassionate Muslim community-activists.
Community Service's Resource Hub Centralized resources and instructions¶ Da’wah
The Dawah Committee originated primarily to realize the MSA’s overarching mission through productive dialogue centered around Islamic belief and other beliefs. The committee trains and engages Muslim students to represent their faith proudly while being respectful and tolerant of other ways of life.
¶ Fundraising
Under construction
¶ Political Action
Under construction
¶ Tech & Design
Under construction
¶ Youth Outreach
Under construction
¶ Values
Committees will uphold the following values and interpret them as metrics of success.
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| Islamic Connection | Committees seek 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 People First | Committees recognize the diversity of the Muslim community and seek to include everyone. Helping members develop individually and and maintaining respectful interactions are valued over the material success of specific initiatives. |
| Visionary Goals | Committees explore 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 | Committees recognize that their efforts are part of a larger narrative, one that extends beyond their semester, and always have this understanding in mind. Committees respect outlined procedures and policies that protect previous initiatives and ensure the longevity of their own. Committees identify the momentum gained in previous terms and seek to continue to propel it forward. |
| Quality over Quantity | Committees realize 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. Committees value allocating time to go the extra mile and take their focused effort to the next level. |
| Reflective Iteration | Committees value 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. |
| Part of a Whole | Committees understand that although they are reserved a level of autonomy, they each serve to provide a part of a complete experience for our membership. Committees want to succeed while allowing other committees and MSA initiatives to succeed. |
¶ Deliverables
Each committee is expected to provide the following deliverables to the community. Committees should not plan on exceeding these expectations unless time and resources allow for excellent performance in additional involvements.
¶ Weekly Meetings
Each committee will be expected to hold ten weekly meetings every semester. Weekly meetings are the lifeline of a committee. These meetings should not exceed an hour (unless with exception) and can be shorter if sixty minutes are not necessary. Discussion generally takes the form of reflecting on and improving the committee’s recurring event, planning the committee’s keynote event, and educational seminars about the committee’s focus area.
¶ Recurring Event
Each committee will be expected to lead one recurring event every other week or every three weeks that engages the general MSA community and advances the committee’s mission. These recurring events should be lightweight and designed to be replicable. Examples include feeding the unhoused population after Jummah prayer, interfaith dialogues on sproul, Muslim youth game night, or tech and design podcast-recording sessions.
¶ Keynote Event, Project, or Initiative
Each committee will be expected to host one keynote event, project, or initiative every semester. This will be considered the committee’s main contribution to the community and a highlight of the semester. For example, this can take the form of a large conference, a guest speaker series, or developing a web application.
¶ Partnerships
Each committee will be expected to develop at least one strong partnership during their service every semester. We recognize the value of bringing in those who hold greater experience in a committee’s focus area and seek to enrich our community by establishing partnerships. Examples include partnering with a clinic to better understand the needs of the underserved, a design club for lessons on graphic design, or a religious organization through productive interfaith activities.
¶ Resources
The following resources exist to facilitate each committee’s efforts.
¶ Committee Mentors
Committee mentors are experienced individuals that serve to enrich discussions, validate ideas, and encourage creativity. They may be alumni, graduate students, or working professionals with expertise applicable to the committee’s focus area. Mentors will not be expected to take on logistical tasks or attend every meeting, but should be invited to provide input during weekly meetings and regular modes of communication. Committees should engage existing mentors and recruit additional mentors.
¶ Budget
Each committee will be granted an allowance, the exact amount of which will be established before the start of each semester. This allowance is to be used for small, miscellaneous committee expenses like snacks during weekly meetings, simple gifts for guest speakers, or a token of gratitude for a partnering organization. These purchases do not require the approval of a board member as long as they comply with MSA and university-dictated rules and directly serve the community. These purchases must however be logged by each committee and will be tracked by the treasurer. In addition to this allowance, each committee will receive a budget for events and other projects on a case by case basis.
¶ Officer Meetings
Officer meetings are held every week and allow all board members, committee heads, and project leads to update one another on the progress of their work. This resource enables the integral parts of our association to move in the same direction. Those who are experiencing challenges can voice their difficulties and others will be able to offer additional support. Committee heads will be required to attend these meetings and summarize their committee’s progress. Committee members are also encouraged to join as well. These meetings will be open to the general membership although speaking privileges will be reserved for those leading projects.
¶ Leadership Workshops & Trainings
Leadership workshops will occur roughly every two months and serve to offer in-depth practical training with topics ranging from how to manage people effectively to how we can unleash the power of social media marketing. These workshops will be presented by credible professionals and will be made public for the benefit of the general membership. Additionally, committee heads will be required to attend the committee head training workshop held in the first two weeks of each semester.
¶ Internal Logistics
¶ Documentation
Each committee will be granted access to a folder specific to their committee within the broader UCBMSA Google Drive directory. This folder is not time specific and will therefore contain documentation from previous years. Committees will be expected to adhere to the Google Drive Usage Guidelines in order to protect the work of previous committees and help the committee keep its files organized.
Additionally, each committee will be expected to update event playbooks and time capsules after every event and the committee playbook and time capsule in the final weeks of the semester. A playbook is an official document outlining the necessary steps to replicate an event or initiative. A time capsule is a log of reflections and advice from each semester. See Google Drive Usage Guidelines for more information.
¶ Communication
A unique Slack channel for each committee will be created to facilitate internal communication. Committees will be expected to use this platform to discuss action items and coordinate between weekly meetings. For those who are new to Slack, see the Slack Usage Training. Committees should also use email for more official communication like weekly meeting agenda updates and community outreach.
¶ Holds
In the situation that a committee does not receive enough member interest through a low number of signups, the committee head and Internal Vice President may choose to place a hold on that specific committee for the semester. Placing a hold means that the committee will not operate for the semester. Holds are lifted at the end of each semester.
¶ Positions
Each committee is run by members serving in the following positions. Positions function to engage members, encourage a sense of ownership, and distribute the workload evenly. This list is sorted with highest priority positions near the top, but is merely a suggestion. Committees should assess their needs and redefine officer positions accordingly. Committee heads are encouraged to define new positions such that every active member may own a role.
| Position | Description |
|---|---|
| Committee Head | Serves as a facilitator among committee members, oversees weekly meetings, prepares the agenda, manages calendar and finances, communicates with board (similar to the board’s president and treasurer role) |
| Marketing Officer | In charge of social media and all other forms of marketing. Has an eye for design and is creative with words (similar to the board’s communication director role) |
| External Affairs Officer | In charge of overseeing committee partnerships, researching organizations and leading outreach (similar to the board’s external vice president role) |
| "Recurring Event" Officer | In charge of overseeing logistics of the committee’s recurring event, delegates tasks to members. Should use event’s name, ie: Project Downtown Officer |
| Social Officer | In charge of member satisfaction, forming a close connection with members, collecting feedback, and planning team bonding activities (similar to the board’s brothers/sisters director role) |
| Media Officer | In charge of taking photos and videos at events and creating a portfolio of the committee’s work |
| Quality Assurance Officer | In charge of reviewing committee plans for loose ends that need to be addressed in order to ensure quality |
¶ Committee Heads
¶ Job Description
The primary role of a committee head is to serve as a facilitator among committee members. A committee head is not expected to be the source of all ideas nor the sole force of labor. Quite the contrary, an excellent head establishes an environment where general members develop a sense of comfort and ownership. He or she motivates members to share their own ideas, facilitates discussion, and delegates tasks evenly based on individual skill sets, availability, and interests.
The secondary role of a committee head is to serve as a source of motivation. Committee heads should excite members to think bigger, to develop individually, and to push through tasks they may find challenging. Heads should also spark interest about service on future committees and through other avenues of community activism.
A committee head is also expected to handle the logistical details required for a productive committee. This includes scheduling weekly meetings, sending out an agenda, following up on action items, logging financial transactions, communicating with other branches within the MSA, and attending officer meetings. These expectations are detailed in the following sections.
¶ Qualities
A great committee head candidate will encompass the majority of the following:
| Quality | Description |
|---|---|
| Islamic Values | 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 |
| Impartiality | Supporting the collective resolve even when it differs from personal views For example: Upholding Committee decisions, representing the viewpoints of members fairly, recognizing one’s own bias |
| Dedication | CCommitting to and prioritizing your role, the committee, and community you are serving For example: Being present at all meetings and attending community events, completing role-specific responsibilities on time |
| Resilience | Willing to approach challenges and not easily discouraged by setbacks For example: Working through community conflicts, showing optimism in the search for solutions |
| Professional Conduct | Being respectful, courteous, and organized I.e. Behaving professionally during meetings, upholding bylaws and professional procedures |
| Communication Skills | Knowing when, where, and how to share and respond to information For example: Delivering feedback respectfully, disclosing information that is appropriate for the audience, being responsive |
| Professional Conduct | Being respectful, courteous, and organized, upholding by laws and professional procedures |
| Rooted Interest | Having a genuine connection with a committee’s focus area |
¶ Time Commitment
Here is a breakdown of the time commitment the committee head role requires:
| Breakdown | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting Time | 2 hours | Spent in weekly officer and committee meetings |
| Prep Time | 2 hours | Spent preparing for meetings, writing agenda, managing committee logistics |
| Participation Time | 1 hour | Spent at committee events |
Time commitment totals to an average of 5 hours every week. Due to irregularities in committee events, commitment may range from 4 to 6 hours depending on the week. It is also important to note that the first couple weeks tend to require above average commitment as training and preparation for the semester take place.
Most meetings and events occur during late evenings, making this time commitment demanding for commuters.
¶ Weekly Routine
Here is what a committee head’s weekly routine may look like. This is merely an example.
| Day | Description |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Write and send out agenda for weekly meeting and any announcements |
| Tuesday | Review requested additions to agenda, facilitate committee meeting, send out recap of discussion and action items |
| Wednesday | Attend officer meeting and present short update regarding the committee |
| Thursday | Attend committee event (if one exists that week) or continue to facilitate discussion on Slack |
| Saturday | Check in with committee members about state of individual action items |
These are not the actual days of meetings. Days will be decided upon at the start of each semester.
¶ Assigned Tasks
Listed are a number of tasks that will be expected from every committee head. Committee head applicants are not expected to understand the details of these tasks when applying. At the beginning of every semester however, committee heads will be trained to complete the following effectively.
| Task | Description |
|---|---|
| Weekly Meetings | Committee heads are expected to facilitate weekly meetings. Heads must send out an agenda at least 24 hours in advance of every meeting and allow members the opportunity to contribute to it. Requested additions to the agenda should be implemented based on time availability. During meetings, committee heads will proceed through the agenda items, allowing members to discuss and give input. Before the end of a meeting, the head will summarize the assigned action items. Within 48 hours after the meeting, the committee head must send out a discussion and action items recap to the committee through a common form of communication. |
| Officer Meetings & Trainings | Committee heads will be expected to attend one-hour weekly officer meetings where all MSA leadership will be present. They will be expected to report on their committee’s state and progress. Committee heads will also be expected to attend leadership trainings including the committee head orientation at the beginning of the semester. Absences must be excused in advance. |
| Committee Expectations | Heads will lead their committees in fulfilling the expectations outlined in this document. This includes planning a recurring event, the keynote project, and developing a strong partnership. As a reminder, the head primarily serves as a facilitator and is not expected to plan these events on his or her own. They are responsible for these expectations but should delegate tasks to and involve the general membership. |
| Documentation | Committee heads will be required to enforce the Google Drive Usage Guidelines within their respective committee folders. These guidelines help protect the work of previous committees and keep files organized. Additionally, heads will be expected to update committee and project Playbooks and add entries to the respective Time Capsules at the end of each semester. These are documents that contain instructions for replicating events, reflections on the committee’s performance, and points of advice for future committees. |
| Financial Records | Committee heads will be expected to log financial transactions to ensure that the committee operates within the provided budget. This log will be frequently reviewed by the treasurer to make sure records match. Failure to document transactions could suspend future funding for the committee. |
| Communication | Committee heads are expected to respond to communication directed to them within 48 hours, and on exception, within a week. Committee heads are also expected to attend weekly officer meetings and communicate the committee’s progress. |
¶ Selection & Term
In order to facilitate the committee head selection process, members who are interested in the position must submit an application which will be made available by the internal vice president before the beginning of every semester. Committee heads will be chosen based on their demonstrated understanding of the job description and manifestation of the qualities, comittee expectations and procedures listed in this document. To reiterate, although a demonstration of innovative ideas is beneficial, those who are most likely to effectively serve as facilitators within a committee and uphold professional practices are prioritized in the selection process.
The term for the committee head role is one semester. There are no term limits. Committee heads who served during the Fall semester and are interested in continuing their term into the Spring are not required to submit an additional application. They will be assessed based on their previous service. Heads must not assume, however, that an additional term is guaranteed. Other community members may still apply to the position at the end of each term.
