2007-2008 SHPE Bylaws

Bylaws of the UT Austin SHPE Student Chapter

Article I
Dues

Each Member shall pay dues to begin and maintain membership. Dues will be fifteen dollars per year.

Article II
Elections/Appointments

Section 1

Elections will be held annually in the second half of the Spring semester at a regular general meeting. Nominations for each office shall be taken one general meeting prior to the elections. Write-ins will be allowed during elections. Prior to the nominations, the President and Executive Board shall appoint and approve (respectively) and ad-hoc Election Committee Chair to preside at the nominations and elections.

Section 2

Appointments of the officers listed in Article V, Section 2 of the Constitution shall take place at the first Executive Board meeting following the first general meeting of the school year.

Article III
Requirements of Office

Section 1

In order to run for, assume, and maintain office, the President and Vice-President will be required to have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5. All other officers will be required to have a minimum GPA of 2.25. All officers must have at least a 2.0 GPA for the long semester prior to taking office and for the first long semester in office.

Section 2

The President, vice-president, and the SHPE SEC Representatives must be enrolled in the College of Engineering. Any exceptions must be approved by two-thirds vote of the Executive Board.

Section 3

All officers must be in good academic and scholastic standing.

Section 4

An officer may serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 5

All officers must actively participate in as many chapter events as their schedule allows.

Section 6

All officers should also be active members of the Pi Sigma Pi Minority Engineering Society.

Section 7

All officers must submit event information to the Executive Board as soon as it is available.

Article IV
Duties and Powers of Elected Officers

Section 1
President Shall:

• Preside at the general meetings of this organization and meetings of the Executive Board/Officers.
• Make no motions nor vote unless the members present shall be divided. In this case, he/she shall cast the vote to break the tie. The single exception to this rule shall be that the President may vote in elections.
• Make appointments for all chair positions.
• Create or abolish such ad-hoc Chairs deemed necessary for the proper execution of UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter business.
• Oversee and manage all committees and supervise all affairs of this organization. The President may delegate authority within the bounds of his/her office, with the consent of the Executive Board, to any member of UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter in pursuit of this organization's objectives.
• Make disbursements as necessary.
• Write and send thank you letters to all company supporters throughout the year.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the Executive Board.

Section 2
Vice-President Shall:

• Act as an aid to the President.
• Oversee all National and Regional Affairs for the chapter.
• Oversee submission of articles expressing the ideas and views of the UT- Austin SHPE Student Chapter in Regional and National newsletters.
• Be an ex-officio member of the ACE Committee.
• Assist President in writing and sending thank you letters to all company supporters throughout the year.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 3
Secretary Shall:

• Record the minutes and attendance of any general and Executive Board/Officers meeting, or ensure that the minutes are taken in the case that he/she must be absent.
• Provide the Web Master with the minutes after every general meeting.
• Oversee the retention of minutes, agendas, and business records of the chapter.
• Assist the Treasurer in keeping an accurate and up-to-date account of corporate participation and contributions.
• Check actions of the Membership and Executive Board against the provisions of the UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter Constitution and these by-laws and present any discrepancies to the Executive Board.
• Create and maintain a yearly calendar that includes all chapter events.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 4
Treasurer Shall:

• Have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds of this organization. To this end, the Treasurer shall make disbursements and keep written accounts of all transactions.
• Be an ex-officio member of such committees formed for the purpose of fund-raising.
• Actively seek and implement, with the approval of the Executive Board, all fund raisers for the UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter.
• Present a monthly budget report to the Executive Board.
• Provide a budget and a summary of the budget for the previous year.
• Present the Recruitment/Retention Chair with an accurate and up-to-date account of paid membership.
• Provide the Secretary with an up-to-date account of all corporate contributions.
• Comply with the College of Engineering policies regarding corporate solicitation.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 5
SHPE Professional Representative Shall:

• Attend all meetings of the Austin Professional Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and report activities to the Executive Board.
• Coordinate all functions between the Austin SHPE Professionals and this organization.
• Attend Region V PSAC meetings.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 6
SHPE SEC Representative Shall:

• Be actively involved in the Student Engineering Council and report activities to the Executive Board.
• Coordinate all activities between UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter and the SEC.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Article V
Powers of Appointed Chairs

Section 1
Web Master Shall:

• Continuously update the chapter website with chapter and college events.
• Present any problems to the Executive Board.
• Keep chapter aware of any changes to the website.
• Keep an updated calendar of events and meeting minutes posted.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 2
ACE Director Shall:

• Oversee the publication and submission of the Advancing Careers in Engineering Proposal, Mid Year Report, and End of Year Report to the SHPE Foundation.
• Oversee the collection of Activity Reports and keep statistics on UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter events.
• Coordinate ACE Committee to complete said duties.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 3
Journalist Shall:

• Be the editor-in-chief of SHPE's Log, the UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter Newsletter.
• Oversee the submission of articles to the SHPE Magazine, Vector and the Daily Texan.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 4
Corporate Liaison Shall:

• Actively seek and implement, with the approval of the Executive Board, all plant trips for the UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter.
• Assist the Vice-President SHPE Affairs in regional and national events.
• Coordinate all "Company Nights".
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 5
Community Service Director Shall:

• Provide at least two Community Service events per semester.
• Actively seek and implement, with the approval of the Executive Board, all Community service events for the UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 6
Recruitment/Retention Director Shall:

• Recruit membership into the UT-Austin Student SHPE Chapter.
• Develop programs to recruit and retain members into the UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter and the College of Engineering.
• Maintain an up-to-date membership database in MySHPE of the UT- Austin SHPE Student Chapter from information provided by the Treasurer.
• Publicize general meetings; with flyers, etc.
• Be an ex-officio member of the ACE committee.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 7
Academics Director Shall:

• Assist ACE Director in compiling ACE proposal and reports.
• Report all Equal Opportunity in Engineering (EOE) academic initiatives to the Executive Board.
• Coordinate and facilitate weekly study groups in the EOE Enrichment Center (ECJ 1.216).
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 8
Social Director Shall:

• Provide at least two social events per semester.
• Actively seek and implement, with the approval of the Executive Board, all social events for the UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 9
Athletics Director Shall:

• Coordinate registration, practice, and games for all intramural teams (volleyball, flag football, soccer, basketball, and softball).
• Submit a request of funding for each intramural team to the Executive Board.
• Present a semester budget report to the Executive Board.
• Ordering and designing athletic team t-shirts (only one design of t-shirts may be ordered per year).
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 10
WOE Representative Shall:

• Assist the EOE office with World of Engineering events as needed.
• Recruit and coordinate volunteers from the chapter for WOE.
• Keep chapter aware of any changes to the event.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 11
HAA Representative Shall:

• Be actively involved in the Hispanic Affairs Agency and report activities to the Executive Board.
• Coordinate all activities between UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter and the HAA.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 12
OCHO Representative Shall:

• Be actively involved in the Hispanic Affairs Agency and report activities to the Executive Board.
• Coordinate all activities between UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter and the HAA.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 13
FEA Director Shall:

• Be actively involved in the Freshmen Engineering Association and report activities to the Executive Board.
• Coordinate all activities between UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter and the FEA.
• Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Section 14
Appointed Chairs Shall:

• Recruit members from the general membership for a committee to carry out any duties assigned to the Chair by the President or Executive Board.
• Propose committee goals to the Executive Board before the second Executive Board meeting.
• Submit a budget proposal to the Executive Board before the second Executive Board meeting.

Article VI
Duties of the Executive Board

Section 1
Executive Board is responsible for:

• Executive UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter business.
• Carrying out the objectives as outlined in Article II.
• Following the expressed policies and desires of the general membership of the chapter.
• Approving or denying all appointments made by the President.
• Hearing any questions or grievances by a member of UT- Austin SHPE Student Chapter. The Executive Board shall resolve such questions and grievances or shall provide a written justification for not taking action.
• Submit officer/committee reports to the journalist on a regular basis.
• Only the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and the Treasurer shall have account access.
• Approve committee budgets exceeding one hundred dollars; all amounts between fifty and one hundred may be approved by the President or Vice-President.

Article VII
General Meetings

The general membership of this organization shall meet at least once monthly and whenever special sessions are called by the President.

Article VIII
Executive Board Meetings

The Executive Board shall meet bi weekly and whenever special sessions are called by the President. Executive Board meetings shall be open to the general membership. Members of the Executive Board should attend all Executive Board meetings. If a member should miss more than two regular meetings of the Executive Board without making arrangements with the President, then that member shall be counseled by the President and the sponsor of this organization. A fourth such absence shall result in removal from office and replacement according to Art V, Sec 6 in constitution.