48th Annual DCFA Convention
Friday, November 14, 2025, 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Agenda
Call to order: ~ 2:00 – 2:10 pm- Jennifer Siemantel
Welcome: ~ 2:10 – 2:15 pm
Motion for adoption of the agenda: ~ 2:15 – 2:25 pm
As chair of the convention, I propose that we accept the agenda for this
meeting, including the rules for debate and voting, developed in consultation
with the parliamentarian, Nathaniel Means.
Rules of Debate
For agenda items requiring consideration for a vote, debate will be limited to
2 minutes per person per agenda item.
Debate for any one agenda item shall not exceed 10 minutes, after which the
president shall close the discussion on that item.
Resolutions from the Floor on items not specified on the agenda will be
entertained – in writing– following the conclusion of all regular business
listed on the agenda and time permitting, following the same limitation for
debate as agenda items.
Voting – how, when, and where
For all agenda items under consideration for a vote following adoption of this
agenda, the vote shall be postponed after close of discussion on that item and
resumed either after the adoption of the budget or no later than 3:50 pm on a
single ballot.
Final versions of all motions to amend the constitution and motions to amend
the by-laws posted by the 14-day advance posting deadline on October 31, 2025,
and all resolutions that were motioned and seconded with the agenda shall be
included in the final online ballot for voting when called to after the
adoption of the budget.
NOTE: You must be present, either in-person or virtually, to vote. In-person
voting will be done by a physical raise of hands and members voting virtually
will raise their virtual hand on Zoom.
A member who expects to be absent from a general or special convention may
authorize someone else to act in his or her place at the meeting through a
proxy executed in writing and supplied to the secretary no less that one hour
prior to the opening of a general or special convention. No individual may act
on behalf of more than five (5) members at a time, counting the individual
holding the proxies. If the member decides to attend the meeting, their proxy
becomes void upon casting the first vote for which the member is present.
Motion to Adjourn or Recess
If voting on the proposed amendment reaches a majority vote of members in
attendance (virtually and physically), the chair will recognize the
Parliamentarian to issue a motion to adjourn the meeting.
If the voting on the proposed amendment does not immediately reach a majority,
at 4:00 pm the chair will call a close of the ballot (face-to-face and
virtual) and will recognize the Parliamentarian to issue a motion to adjourn.
If for any reason the chair is unable to open the ballot by 3:30 pm, the chair
may recognize the Parliamentarian to issue a motion to adjourn or to recess
and return at a later date upon which the online ballot can be kept open for a
reasonable amount of time for members to vote.
Introduction of new faculty present at convention; recognition of dearly
departed
President’s Address- Jennifer Siemantel, including introductions and
recognitions: 2:25 – 2:40 pm
Standing committee reports 2:40 – 3:20 pm (5 minutes each)
Communications – Geoff Manzi
Instructional Goals and Academic Freedom – Jennifer Siemantel
Welfare and Benefits – Patrice Johnson
Political Information – Geoff Manzi
Convention Planning – Jennifer Holland
Membership – Tamar Slider
Budget and Finance – Adrien Cuellar McGuire
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Tracie Hernandez
Treasurer’s Report - Adrien Cuellar McGuire
Adoption of 2025-2026 DCFA Budget – 3:20 – 3:30 pm
Adoption of the budget
Motions to transfer funds
Proposed Amendments to the DCFA Constitution – 10 minutes per agenda item.
The Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the general
convention as follows:
Proposed amendments must be presented to the Council at least fourteen (14)
days before the official publication goes to press.
Amendments will be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the membership in
attendance provided the proposed amendment shall have been published in the
official publication at least fourteen (14) days before the voting.
There were no proposed amendments to the DCFA Constitution prior to the
deadline.
Proposed Amendments to the DCFA Bylaws – 10 minutes per agenda item
The Bylaws shall be amended by a majority vote of the members present at a
general convention. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws may be offered by the
Council or any standing committee at least one month before a general
convention and must be published for all members to review at least two weeks
before a general convention.
PROPOSAL ONE: TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
COMMITTEE
Purpose: To better align with institutions that have made changes to their
offices and titles resulting from the passage of SB 17, the Dallas College
Faculty Association's Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) standing committee
proposes a name change to the Representation & Belonging (R&B) Committee.
WHEREAS the current name of the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee no
longer meets state requirements;
BE IT RESOLVED that the name should be changed to the Representation &
Belonging (R & B) Committee.
Resolutions from the floor, time permitting 3:40 – 3:50 pm
Other proposed resolutions from the floor submitted in writing to the DCFA
Secretary and President no later than the start of the convention.
No later than 3:50 pm – Chair opens voting on all resolutions that received a
motion and second within this agenda. If a majority vote is achieved by all
present (virtually and in person) at the time of voting, the chair will close
the voting. If a majority vote is not achieved, voting will remain open for 60
minutes. If necessary, DCFA Council members and Convention Committee members
will remain available in the convention throughout to answer questions, assist
with technical difficulties, and for discussion, if desired.
Closing of the ballot and adjournment
Please note: Results may not be available until the auditing team completes
review of the ballot (if necessary) and confirmation of proxies, which will
take time. Please watch the DCFA Advance Blog at www.dccfa.blogspot.com for
posting of the results when they are ready. If a majority vote is reached,
results will be made available at the conclusion of the Convention.
