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Constitution

  1. Name
    1. The Institute has a responsibility for information provided to all biological researchers in South Africa and so has a ‘National’ attribution. The Institute will thus be called the ‘South African National Bioinformatics Institute’ (SANBI).
  2. Mission
    1. To bring about modern awareness of, and interaction with, bioinformatics and information biology sources.
    2. To develop and provide biological information analysis systems relevant to the National Community
    3. To provide human resource development in the area of Bioinformatics
    4. To perform cutting edge research in the area of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
  3. Objectives
    1. To satisfy the stated mission of the Institute.
    2. To establish sources of renewable funding
    3. To establish National and international recognition for the Institute
    4. To establish service provision for the scientific community
    5. To develop an academic strategy to provide education and training that reflects the need for development of people as well as information infrastructure. 3.f To establish a collaborative research programme.
    6. To participate in a formal academic programme.
  4. Finance
    1. All monies received by, on behalf of, or as a result of, the activities of the Institute shall be deposited in the University of Western Cape (hearafter known as ‘the University’) account designated for SANBI.
    2. The University will be the direct beneficiary of the funds.
    3. The University procedures for the processing of financial disclosure, auditing and accountability will be followed.
  5. Funding
    1. The Director of the Institute will be responsible for seeking funding for the facility from research funding agencies, commercial and other sources as the Director sees fit. All sources of funding will be disclosed via publication of the budget presented to the Management board.
    2. Utilisation
      Funds will be utilised by the SANBI grant holder(s) according to the procedures required by the funding body as outlined in any grant agreement made between SANBI, the University and the granting body. The grant holder(s) will be defined as the person(s) to whom responsibility is assigned for grants made to SANBI. Funds will be utilised using the entity number system provided by the University. No grant will be negotiated on behalf of SANBI without the full knowledge and/or participation of the Director of the SANBI.
    3. Budgeting
      Planning and justification of purchases and budget will be presented in writing to the management board as outlined below.
    4. Profit Status
      SANBI will be a ‘not-for-profit’ Institute.
  6. Institute Status
    1. The Institute will be developed in order to gain status as a National facility, by means of winning a contract with the major funding bodies to perform National level services. The Institute will be a University Institution as part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences. The Institute will report via the Faculty.
  7. Personnel
    1. All employees at the Institute will be funded at full cost by monies raised by the Director, will be employees of the University and will be entitled to employment contracts and benefits negotiated with the University.
  8. Management
    1. SANBI will be overseen by a Management board and managed by the Director and his/her Executive.
    2. The role of the Management Board will be to provide overall management and direction of the Institute acting on the brief that has been defined by the Executive.
    3. The Management board will constitute:
      • The Rector of the University or a Vice-Rector of the University.
      • The President of the Foundation for Research Development or his/her representative.
      • The Registrar of Finance or his/her representative.
      • The Dean of Science or his/her representative.
      • Two members from the Natural Science Faculty Board, one member being the Dean of Community and Health Sciences or his/her nominee.
      • Three members of the International and South African Biotechnology/Bioinformatics community. (for example: A Director of Bioinformatics or his/her representative at an international pharmaceuticals company, a director of a Bioinformatics Institute in another country, The President or his/her representative of the South African Health Informatics Association, The President of a South African biotechnology company or his/her representative.)
      • An invited representative of any major sponsoring organisation.
      • An invited external representative of the SANBI user community
      • The Director of SANBI. A legal decision making group will be made up of at least 50% of the members of the board and at least one additional member.
    4. SANBI Executive Structure The Executive will have a maximum of three persons and will constitute: The Director of SANBI as Chief Executive. The Dean of Science or his/her representative A representative or an alternative elected from the Management board
    5. The Management Board Representative will be elected annually.
    6. Chairpersonship
      At its first Management board meeting, the Management board will elect a Chairperson. The term of office for the chairperson should be 2 years. The Chairperson will be eligible for re-election.
    7. Voting
      All members of the Management board shall have equal voting rights, however ties will be decided by the Chairperson.
    8. Authority
      Authority for approval of policy, and acceptance of reports will be vested in the Management board.
    9. Duration
      Term of office for members of the board will be for not more than two years and is subject to ratification by the Senate of the University. All members of the board will be eligible for re-appointment.
    10. Frequency
      The board will meet at least once per year. The Executive will meet as it sees fit. Members of the Executive and Management board will be deemed to be present and able to vote if they are present via electronic means and are able to make real time responses and input into the meeting.
  9. Staff and Academic Appointments
    1. Non-academic appointments will be made by selection and approval of the SANBI Executive and the Senate Appointments Committee.
    2. Staff Academic appointment candidates will be chosen by a candidate approval committee made up by the Executive of SANBI, a selection of members of the board, a representative of staff at SANBI, and two external referees approved by the Executive. A recommendation by the candidate approval committee can then be made to the University via the Faculty appointments committee.
    3. Appointment of Director _Conditions and suitability of the Director’s appointment will be presented to and approved by the Management board. The Director’s position will then be submitted for approval through the University Appointment procedures. The appointment will be at the level of Professor.
  10. Responsibilities of Director
    1. The Director will be responsible for achieving the objectives as defined in the constitution.
    2. Reporting_Staff appointed in the Unit will report directly to the Director. The Director will report to the Management board. The Management board will submit it’s findings and proposals to the
    3. Faculty for approval for Senate consideration.
  11. Constitution Amendment
    1. The constitution may be changed or repealed by resolution passed at any meeting of the board, provided no such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless it
      • has been carried by a quorum of the members of the board present and voting at the meeting.
      • is subsequently approved by the University Senate.