BYLAWS OF
THE SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
LOS INGENIEROS STUDENT CHAPTER
ROSE-HULMAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
ARTICLE I
NAME OF ORGANIZATION
The name of this organization shall beLos Ingenieros Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Student Chapter.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this student chapter shall be to serve as a representative body of Hispanic organizations within Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and/or any organization that will benefit and strive for the success of the Hispanic community at large. The main objectives of this organization are to:
1. Increase the number of Hispanic engineering students at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
2. Promote the growth of its members as effective professionals and strong leaders in the technological world.
3. Develop and participate in programs with industry and the university, which benefit students seeking technical degrees.
4. Improve the retention of Hispanic students enrolled in engineering and science.
5. Provide a forum for the exchange of information pertinent for Hispanic engineering/science students enrolled at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
ARTICLE III
ASSOCIATION
SECTION 1. AFFILIATION
SHPE student chapter will be an affiliated chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Inc. (SHPE Inc.). The organization possesses the right to adopt its own rules and procedures within the framework of SHPE's rules and regulations and the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's rules and regulations. This student chapter will be part of the "local" as defined by the Regional Vice-President and the local professional chapter presidents.
SECTION 2. NON-DISCRIMINATION
No person shall be denied membership in this organization because of race, color, sex, handicap, nationality, religious affiliation or belief, or inability to pay dues.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. REGULAR MEMBERSHIP
a) Members of this organization must be full-time students at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
b) All Candidates should fill out a membership form and pay the $5.00 processing fee to the National Organization with the national submission of the form and $5.00 in chapter fees.
c) Members must abide by rules and regulations set forth by these bylaws.
d) Members must pay membership fees by the second week of every quarter. These fees will have the value of $10.
SECTION 2. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
a) Associate Membership applies to those who do not meet the requirements in Article IV Section 1, but still support the purposes and objectives of this chapter, and are affiliated with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (i.e. part and full time students, faculty, and staff).
b) All Candidates should fill out a membership form and pay the $5.00 processing fee to the National Organization with the national submission of the form and $5.00 in chapter fees.
SECTION 3, GOOD STANDING
To maintain good standing with the organization you must fulfill the following requirements:
a) You must attend at least 50% of the meetings during every quarter.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS/EXECUTIVE BOARD
SECTION 1.
The Executive Board shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Committee officers consist of the Membership Chair,Programs Chair,Regional Committee Representative, Outreach Chair, Academic Chair and IT Chair. No member may hold office until he/she has held membership status for at least one quarter and is in good club standing. The term of office for all positions is one academic year. All officers are allowed to form committees if the chapter deems it necessary (i.e. Programs Chair can form committee for planning the philanthropy event).
SECTION 2. President
The President shall:
Represent the chapter and be responsible for all business concerning the chapter.
Have full power in the management and business of the chapter and shall set and establish all policy of the chapter and/or other functions or activities under the direction of this chapter.
Be the official spokesperson for the chapter.
Manage the other operation officers and the day-today affairs of the chapter.
Be responsible for meeting chapter objectives and maintaining chapter professionalism.
SECTION 3. Vice President
The Vice President shall:
Assist the President in all business concerning the chapter and shall act as a President Pro Tem in the latter's absence.
Be in charge of the external affairs of the chapter (industrial relations, company tours, etc.).
Be in charge of the internal affairs of the chapter (campus relations, social activities, etc.)
SECTION 4. Secretary
The Secretary shall:
Take the minutes of the meeting and send them to the President to be posted on the website.
Be in charge of the bulletin board.
Be responsible for registering the organization with the university each academic year.
Be responsible for holding officer elections.
Be responsible for all external and internal correspondence.
Maintain and organize all chapter documentation.
Organize the national report for the chapter.
SECTION 5. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall:
Keep books and records on money received and disbursed.
Make quarterly financial reports listing all liabilities and assets of the organization to the Executive Board and the general membership.
Be responsible for presenting annual budget and complete financial reports to the Executive Board.
SECTION 6. Programs Chair
The Programs Chair shall:
Be responsible for the implementation of regional and Chapter projects and programs.
Design and implement methods by which the Chapter may learn how to create and maintain programs.
Be responsible for informing the chapter of upcoming events on campus in which it can participate.
Be responsible for planning and organizing fundraising events through the year. He/she must organize at least 1 event per quarter in accordance to the chapter’s budget.
Be in charge of planning and organizing the chapter’s annual philanthropy event.
SECTION 7. Membership Chair
The Membership Chair shall:
Be responsible for planning and arranging all social events of the chapter. He/she must organize at least 1 event per quarter in accordance with the chapter budget.
Plan and organize recruitment events to increase the membership of our chapter. Must plan at least 3 events for the beginning of the year when recruiting is heaviest. These events must be in accordance with the chapter’s budget.
Be in charge of updating the mailing list of members.
SECTION 8.Regional Committee Representative
The Regional committee Representative shall:
Be responsible for correspondence with regional bodies.
Represent the chapter at regional meetings and functions.
Be responsible for the coordination and communication with other SHPE student chapters.
SECTION 9. Scholarship Chair
The Scholarship Chair shall:
Keep all members informed about upcoming scholarship opportunities, research opportunities, internships, co-ops, and technical talks on campus.
Classify the members of the chapter by major, year and courses they are currently taking.
Be responsible for handling the cloud software provided for academic files.
Be responsible for updating the academic files of the chapter.
SECTION 10. IT Chair
The IT Chair shall:
Be responsible for maintaining the chapter website up to date.
Improve the website as he/she sees fit to make it more accessible to members as long as the image of the chapter is not compromised.
SECTION 11. Community Service Chair (Outreach Chair)
The Community Service Chair shall:
Be responsible for planning community service projects. He/she must plan at least 2 community service projects per quarter.
Be responsible for setting an attainable goal with respect to number of service hours completed by each member of the chapter (i.e. 2 hours per quarter).
Be responsible for maintaining relations with the community service chairs of other organizations in order to collaborate in multi-organization community service projects.
ARTICLE VI
ELECTIONS/VOTING
SECTION 1. NOMINATIONS
1.1. Nominations will be held during the first two weeks of March, each academic year except in case of vacancy.
1.2. Candidates must be regular members qualified under Article IV Section 1. They must also be in good standingunder Article IV Section 3.
1.3. Candidates must be nominated by at least one other member of the organization.
1.4. Candidates may be nominated and may run for more than one office, but can only hold one office.
1.5. An executive board member may hold only one office and may not hold any chairs; however, chairpersons may hold up to two chairs.
SECTION 2. VOTING
2.1 Elections are to be held during the last two weeks of March, each academic year except in case of vacancy.
2.2 All members (regular and associate) qualified under Article IV are eligible to vote, as long as they are in good standing (see Article IV Section 3). Each member may only vote for one candidate for each office.
2.3 The voting procedure will consist of secret ballots. A simple majority establishes winners.
2.4 Any member (qualified under Article IV) must be present to vote and all ballots must be personally deposited into the election box.
2.5 The twohighest officers not currently running for office are responsible for counting and tallying the votes.
2.6 The winning candidates assume office the first week of fall quarter of the following academic school year.
2.7 In the event of a tie, the advisor will cast the deciding vote.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS
SECTION 1. DEFINITION OF QUORUM
In order for any transaction of business to be valid, the President or Vice President and at least 50% of the club members must be present.
SECTION 2. GENERAL MEETINGS
General membership meetings shall be held every week of each month during the academic year.
SECTION 3. ELECTION MEETINGS
Officer election meetings will be held in March, during the Spring Quarter of the academic school year.
SECTION 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS
The club President or Advisor may call a special meeting at any time, but must provide at least 3 days notice to the rest of the members. Any member requesting a special meeting should contact the President or Advisor.
ARTICLE VIII
RESIGNATIONS AND IMPEACHMENTS
SECTION 1. RESIGNATIONS
1.1. 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.
1.2. During a meeting when a resignation is presented, nominations will be taken to fill the office. A person shall be elected by the group during the following week by secret ballot.
SECTION 2. IMPEACHMENTS
2.1 When any member feels that an officer or advisor is not fulfilling his/her duties, he/she may call upon the rest of the officers to meet within the next week to discuss/resolve the matter.
2.2 During the impeachment proceedings, the case will be presented. The officer or advisor under investigation will be given the opportunity to present his/her defense before the officer's vote.
2.3 A majority of the officers (2/3) will decide whether the impeachment will be carried out. A new officer or advisor will be nominated and elected as described under article VI, Sections 1 and 2.
SECTION 3, VACANCIES
3.1 In the case of a vacancy in any office, a special meeting will be called where candidates will be nominated and the rules for the election will follow Article VI, Section 1 and 2.
ARTICLE IX
ADVISOR
SECTION 1, ROLE OF THE ADVISOR
1.1 The Advisors primary function is to actively advise and serve as a resource for SHPE student members. The advisors assist the students in achieving a degree of mature thinking and considered action that will strengthen the organization and help it to fulfill its objectives. The committee provides the resources and base for these objectives to be accomplished.
1.2 The Advisors provides the students with a way to find balance between their academics and co-curricular activities. They encourage individuals to excel academically. The advisor also helps SHPE to add to the continuity of the chapter as members graduate, provide consistency, communicate the goals, legacy and history to future generation of members, and most importantly help the growth and development of Hispanic students.
SECTION 2, CHOOSING AN ADVISOR
1.1 In the event of a vacancy, potential faculty and staff members will be notified of their nomination as an advisor to the Los Ingenieros Student Chapter of SHPE
1.2 A special meeting will be called and potential advisors will be voted upon. The rules for these elections will be the same as in Article VI Section 2.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
1. Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the members during a General meeting. Voting on these amendments shall occur on the following week.
2. A favorable vote of 2/3 of the members present at the meeting is required for amendment passage.
3. The amendment shall be submitted to the SHPE National Student Affairs Committee (NSAC) for approval.