To ensure NACUFS is positioned to proceed on a path to continued relevancy and provide exceptional member value, the NACUFS Board of Trustees is recommending key bylaw changes. In 2023, NACUFS members will be asked to vote on bylaw amendments in three key areas along with several administrative changes:  

Titles 

These amendments change the “President” of the NACUFS Board of Trustees to the “Chairperson” and the “Chief Executive Officer (CEO)” to “President/CEO.”

These changes:

• More accurately reflect the respective positions’ roles and align with what is standard in comparable organizations;
• Are consistent with good governance and leading practices and will help attract the best possible candidates in future searches for potential executives; and
• Correspond to the typical titles that many other university-related associations use, including the National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO), College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

Board Authority   

These changes allow the NACUFS Board of Trustees to amend the bylaws in a timely manner, as needed to ensure relevancy and value delivery.

These changes:   

• Allow the board to adapt the bylaws when needed, to ensure the organization is always positioned for relevancy and to deliver maximum member value.
• Are a more modern and standard approach to governance among similar leading campus trade associations like NACUFS; and
• Ensure the board members, who have a fiduciary duty to NACUFS as an organization and must act in its best interest, are appropriately empowered to fulfill that duty and are best positioned to make sound decisions that affect the organization's future.

On-Campus Contract Employees on the Board   

These changes allow a limited number of individuals who are employed by a foodservice contract company and work full-time on member campuses to serve on the NACUFS Board of Trustees.

These changes:

• Align with NACUFS’ core value of inclusivity.
• Promote diversity and inclusion on the NACUFS board, which are principles that add value and are consistent with beliefs broadly upheld on college and university campuses.
• Will enhance NACUFS' ability to deliver better value and more comprehensive programming to all NACUFS members.

Administrative changes

In addition to these three key areas of change, there are several proposed administrative changes to clarify language, remove unnecessary (often outdated) language from previous bylaws changes and correct grammar.

Additionally, members will have the opportunity to vote on two changes to the NACUFS Articles of Incorporation, separate from the Bylaws. One change would correct a misalignment between the Bylaws and the Articles of Incorporation to continue the longstanding practice of allowing an industry member to serve on the Board. A second change to the Articles of Incorporation would allow NACUFS to advocate for the collegiate dining industry, permitting NACUFS to support or oppose legislation that impacts collegiate dining. 

Supporting Documents

Full, clean version of the current bylaws

Current bylaws with proposed changes redlined 
Note: the highlighted yellow portion is for member vote, the additional redline changes will be approved by the Board should the vote pass to ensure that the membership's wishes are fully enacted. 

Complete explanation in an easy-to-read table format

One-page summary of the changes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Articles of Incorporation with redlined changes

Key dates:

2023 Bylaws Changes Town Halls:

• Wednesday, March 8, 2023: Spring Conference Series Grand Rapids
• Friday, March 17, 2023: Spring Conference Series Amherst
• Wednesday, March 22, 2023: Spring Conference Series Colorado Springs
• Friday March 31, 2023: Spring Conference Series Mobile
• 3 PM Eastern, May 24, 2023: Virtual Town Hall: Register Here

NACUFS 2023 National Conference: General Membership Assembly, voting occurs

Do you have further questions? Please visit the FAQs or contact Jenna Goins, director of membership & marketing, at JGoins@NACUFS.org.