1998-1999 SHPE Constitution

Constitution of The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter

Ratified April 23, 1994

Preamble

In order to encourage the professional career development of Hispanic students in the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, we, the members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter do hereby ordain and establish this constitution and its by-laws.

Article I Name/Affiliation

The name of this organization shall be the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter, hereinafter referred to as UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter. The UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter will be an affiliated chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Inc. (SHPE Inc.). The UT- Austin SHPE Student Chapter possesses the right to adopt its own rules and procedures within the framework of SHPE Inc. and the University of Texas at Austin.

Article II Objectives

UT Austin SHPE Student Chapter is an educational, non-profit organization with the following objectives:

  • 1. To assist presently enrolled Hispanics in their endeavors to obtain an education in engineering and to encourage the enrollment of prospective students.
  • 2. To facilitate professional career awareness among the members of UT-Austin SHPE student Chapter by:
    • A. Assisting in the development of career/corporate contacts
    • B. Promoting interaction with students and professional chapters of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
    • C. Providing members with information which will prepare them for the transition to the work force or further education
  • 3. To assist the Austin Professional Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers in their activities

Article III Membership

Section 1. (Scope of Membership) Membership into UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter shall be open to students of the University of Texas at Austin regardless of race, national origin, creed or political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, handicap, or veteran's status. Membership is limited to students and faculty/staff of the University of Texas at Austin, with the exception of a person granted honorary membership (see Art III, Sec 4).

Section 2. (Membership Status) Membership shall be granted upon completion of a membership application and initial payment of dues in the amount specified in the by-laws. A member will retain membership status and the privileges associated with it unless:

  • A. Such status is resigned at the request of the said member
  • B. The member fails to pay dues as outlined in the by-laws
  • C. The member fails to show interest in the activities of the organization

Section 3. (Privileges of Membership) Members shall have at least the privilege of voting in general meetings and shall be eligible for seeking office.

Section 4. (Honorary Membership) The status of Honorary Member may be bestowed upon any person by the general membership of UT Austin SHPE student Chapter for demonstration of outstanding goodwill towards this organization.

Article IV Meetings

The general membership shall meet regularly as outlined in the by-laws.

Article V Officers

Section 1. (Elected Officers) UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter shall maintain the following positions of office by an election process as outlined in the by-laws:

  • A. President
  • B. Vice-President SHPE Affairs
  • C. Secretary
  • D. Treasurer
  • E. Journalist
  • F. SHPE Professional Representative
  • G. SHPE SEC Representatives

Section 2. (Appointed Officers) UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter shall maintain the following positions of office by appointment as outlined in the by-laws:

  • A. Advancing Careers in Engineering (ACE) Director
  • B. Programs Director
  • C. Recruitment/Retention Director
  • D. Social Director
  • E. Special Projects Director
  • F. Community Service Director

Section 3. (Additional Appointees) Ad-hoc Chair and CO-Chair offices may be appointed by the President as appropriate. Such appointees are not members of the executive board (Art VI).

Section 4. (Duties of Officers) Duties of elected officers shall be as outlined in the by-laws.

Section 5. (Hierarchy to the Presidency) Should the President be unable to fulfill the duties of office, those duties shall fall first to the Vice President SHPE Affairs, then to the Secretary, and next to the Treasurer.

Section 6. (Replacement of Other Officers) Should any officer (besides the president) be unable to fulfill the duties his/her office, the Executive Board (Art VI) shall select another member to assume those duties. Should an officer choose to resign from office, notice of resignation shall be delivered to the Executive Board. The resigning officer shall continue to fulfill the duties of office or arrange for them to be fulfilled until the next meeting of the Executive Board when a replacement can be selected.

Section 7. (Recall) The general membership may call for the resignation of any officer by three-fourths vote of the present members at a general meeting. Upon such a vote, the officer in question shall deliver resignation at the next Executive Board meeting.

Article VI Executive Board

Section 1. (Executive Board Members) The Executive Board shall consist of the officers listed in Article V, Sections 1 and 2.

Section 2. (Executive Board Meetings) The Executive Board shall meet regularly as outlined in the by-laws. Such meetings shall be open to the general membership of the UT-Austin SHPE Student Chapter.

Section 3. (Executive Board Duties) The duties of the Executive Board shall be as outlined in the by-laws.

Section 4. (Executive Board Voting) At such times when the Executive Board votes on an issue or policy, each member of the Executive board shall have one equal vote, except the President. The President must abstain from voting unless there is a tie.

Article VII Revisions to the Constitution

Section 1. (Amendments) Amendments to this constitution may be made through the following procedure. A member of the Executive Board, of his own will, or at the request of a general member, must make a motion for the consideration of an amendment. The amendment must subsequently be approved or denied by a two/thirds vote of the Executive Board. The amendment may then be proposed to the general membership and can be ratified by a two/thirds vote of the present members at a regular general meeting.

Section 2. (By-laws) The by-laws to this constitution must be reviewed on an annual basis by the Executive Board. This review shall take place after new officers are elected for the next year and shall be attended by the current executive board and the new officers. Revisions to the by-laws must pass with a two/thirds vote of the Executive Board but need not be ratified.

Section 3. (Other Revisions) No method other than those listed in Article VII, Sections 1 and 2 may be used to alter this constitution unless such a method is unanimously approved by the Executive Board.