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Bylaws of the Joint Student Chapter of UTEP MAES/SHPE

Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

   
Bylaws Outline    
  1. Article I
    1. Name of the Organization
  2. Article II
    1. Purpose/Objective
  3. Article III
    1. Association
      1. Section 1.  Affiliation
      2. Section 2.  Non-discrimination
  4. Article IV
    1. Membership
  5. Article V
    1. Officers/Executive Board
      1. Section 1.
      2. Section 2.  President
      3. Section 3.  Vice-Presidents
      4. Section 4.  Secretary
      5. Section 5.  Treasurer
      6. Section 6.  Historian
      7. Section 7.  Webmaster
  6. Article VI
    1. Advisor
      1. Section 1.
      2. Section 2.  Duties
  7. Article VII
    1. Section 1.  Nominations
    2. Section 2.  Elections
    3. Section 3.
    4. Section 4.
  8. Article VIII
    1. Distribution of Funds
  9. Article IX
    1. Meetings
      1. Section 1.  Definition of Quorum
      2. Section 2.  General Meetings
      3. Section 3.  Executive Board Meetings
  10. Article X
    1. Resignation and Impeachment
      1. Section 1.  Resignation
      2. Section 2.  Impeachments
  11. Article XI
    1. Amendments to Bylaws
   
Article I    
NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization shall be the Joint Student Chapter of MAES/SHPE.  MAES/SHPE is the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
   
Article II    

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this chapter is to:
    1.    Increase the number of minority engineering and science students at the University of Texas at El Paso.
    2.    Promote the advancement of minority engineering and scientist in employment and education.
    3.    Improve the retention of minority students enrolled in engineering and science.
    4.    Provide a forum for the exchange of information pertinent to minority engineering/science students 
            enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso.
    5.    Develop a working network with area schools to encourage minority students to enter the engineering 
            and science fields.
    6.    Promote professional advancement for minority engineers and scientists by fostering cooperation among industry, government, and the academic and professional commentates to improve educational and  employment opportunities.
    7.    Provide counseling and financial assistance to minority students in engineering and science.
   
Article III    
ASSOCIATION

 Section 1. Affiliation

The University of Texas at El Paso student chapter will be an affiliated chapter to the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).  This organization posses the right to adopt its own rules and regulations and the University of Texas at El Paso's rules and regulations.  This chapter is under the MAES Region II and SHPE Region V.  If a conflict or policies occurs, the University of Texas at El Paso's policies will supersede the policies of MAES and SHPE.

Section 2.  Nondiscrimination

No person shall be denied membership in this organization because of race,color, sex, handicap, nationality, religious affiliation or belief, etc. (even though the name Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists was chosen).
   
Article IV    

MEMBERSHIP

  • Members shall be students enrolled full time or part-time at the University of Texas at El Paso.
  • Members should have as their goal a career in or related to the science or engineering fields in order to be considered appropriate by the membership.  To be in good standing and retain all the rights and privileges of membership, such as eligibility to accept and office nomination, to vote, and or to attend regional/national conferences, a member must attend at least 50% of the organization's meetings and/or activities during the semester.
  • A point system will be used to accurately and fairly keep track of member participation.
  • To be considered an official member, the student must pay the chapter's local dues, which are set by the new officers after elections have been held for the following academic year.

 

   
Article V    

OFFICERS/EXECUTIVE BOARD

 Section 1.
Officers shall consist of a President, MAES Vice-President, SHPE Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Webmaster.  The term of office is one full year.  A majority of the officers must be University of Texas at El Paso undergraduate students and only University of Texas at El Paso students may serve as officers.

Section 2.  President

The President shall represent the chapter and be responsible for all business concerning the chapter.  The president shall have full power in management and business of the chapter and shall set and establish all policy of the chapter and/or other functions of activities under the direction of this chapter.  The President shall also be the official spokesperson for the chapter, manage the other operating officers and manage the day-to-day affairs of  the chapter.

Section 3.  Vice-Presidents

The Vice-Presidents shall assist the President in all business concerning the chapter and shall act as the President Pro Tem in the latter's absence.  The Vice-Presidents will also be responsible of such affairs as industrial relations, company tours, campus relations, social activities, etc.  Each Vice-President will be responsible for business related to its respective organization.

Section 4.  Secretary

The Secretary will take minutes of the meetings, type up the agenda for the meetings, and manage the member point system.  This includes updating member profiles online.  He/she will be responsible for registering the organization with the university each academic year, putting together an end of the year report, and for tallying election votes.  The Secretary will also be responsible for all external and internal correspondence.

Section 5. Treasurer

The Treasurer will keep books and records on money recieved, disbursed, and promised.  The Treasurer shall make monthly, quarterly, and yearly, along with any other time one is needed, financial reports listing all liabilities and assets of the organization to the Executive Board and the general membership.  It will be the Treasurer's responsibility to present an annual budget and complete financial reports to the Executive Board and the national board of MAES organization.

Section 6.  Historian

The Historian will be responsible in attaining all chapter memorabilia.  This includes photographs of all events and any items that are deemed important to the chapter as a keepsake.  The Historian will also be responsible in the advertising of chapter events which includes meetings.

Section 7.  Webmaster

The Webmaster will be responsible for all electronic media.  This includes, first and foremost, the chapter website, recruitment material, graphics, and any other media that the chapter needs and acquires.  It is the Webmasters duty to make sure all required information is on the website.  However, he/se will not be held accountable if the responsible person fails to give them the needed information.

   
Article VI    

ADVISOR

 Section 1.

The club will have an advisor who must be full-time faculty member at University of Texas at El Paso.  The advisor's field of study should be in the engineering or science fields but is not mandatory.  The club officials shall choose and vote on an appropriate person for this position following club elections.  The advisor acts as an ex-officio member and cannot vote.

Section 2.  Duties

The advisor's duties are:
    1.    The advisor should assist the officers in club decisions and offer counsel.
    2.    He/she should attend the club meetings and sponsored trips.
    3.    The advisor should assume an active role in the club and provide whatever necessary and proper support available.
    

   
Article VII    

ELECTIONS/VOTING

Section 1.  Nominations

  • Nominations are to be made in a general meeting held at least two weeks prior to the university's club coordination council's deadline for submitting annual reports.
  • Only members as defined in Article IV may accept nominations.
  • Candidates may be nominated for more than one office but can only hold on position.

    • Section 2.  Elections

  • Elections shall occurs in subsequent steps with nominations in the following order: President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Historian, and Webmaster.
  • Only members in good standing, as defined previsouly in Article IV, and who are present at the time elections are being held, unless it is online voting, are eligible to vote.
  • Voting shall be secret ballot, either online or paper vote, whose tallying is conducted in the absence of the said candidates.
  • In the event that there is not a majority vote, the top two vote recievers will hold a runoff election.
  • Members of the executive board may vote for all elections but on the occasion of a tie, only the executive board will break the tie.
  • Officers may be re-elected.
  • In the event that an officer is re-nominated, the said officer may not vote in breaking a tie for the position he/she is vying for.
  • Tie breaking vote order: President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and then Webmaster.

    • Section 3.

  • The newly elected officers shall undergo a transitional period in which the old officers shall introduce the new officers to the responsibilities and duties of the respective officers.

    • Section 4.

  • The newly elected officers shall begin their term on the last day of the academic year.
    •    
    Article VIII    
    DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS

    All disbursement of funds must be approved by the President and Treasurer, and signed by the Advisor.  Only the President and Treasurer will have access to financial accounts.
       
    Article IX    
    MEETINGS

     Section 1.  Definition of Quorum

    A quorum shall consist of fifty percent of all members and a majority of the executive officers.

    Section 2.  General Meetings

    The executive board shall call general meetings, whereas a minimum of one meeting per major academic semester month shall be held.

    Section 3.  Executive Board Meetings

    Executive board members shall hold meetings twice a month with three or more of the officers present.
       
    Article X    

    RESIGNATION AND IMPEACHMENT

    Section 1.  Resignations
    • A letter of resignation shall be submitted to the President or Vice-President by any person willing to resign from office at least a week before the next chapter meeting.
    • During a meeting when a resignation is presented, nominations will be taken to fill the office and voting procedures will be conducted as stated in Article VII.
    Section 2.  Impeachments
    • When any officer feels that an officer is not fulfilling his/her duties, he/she may call upon the rest of the officers to call a special meeting within the next week to discuss/resolve the matter.
    • During the impeachment proceedings the case will be presented.  The officer under investigation will be given the opportunity to present his/her defense before the final vote.
    • A two-thirds vote, excluding the investigated officer, is needed for the impeachment to be carried out.
    • In the event the impeachment is carried out, a new candidate will be nominated and elected as described under Article VI.
       
    Article XI    

    AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

    • Proposed amendmanet shall be submitted in writing to the membership at a general meeting.
    • A favorable vote of two thirds of the members on the issue is required for amendment passage.
    • The amendment shall be submitted to the MAES National Board, the SHPE National Board, and the University of Texas at El Paso Student Activities Office for approval.
       
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