| BYLAWS The Rice University Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and The Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists Article Article I - Name The
name of this organization shall be the Society of Mexican American
Engineers and Scientists/Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
(MAES/SHPE) - Rice University Student Chapter. Article II - History The
MAES organization was founded at Rice University in 1989, and is a
chapter of the MAES National organization, founded in 1974 in California.
The addition of SHPE did not occur until 1997. Article III - Purpose The purpose of this student chapter is to: Increase the number of Hispanic science and engineering students at Rice University. Promote awareness of the need for Hispanic scientists and engineers in the scientific community. Develop and participate in programs with industry and the university which benefit students seeking technical degrees. Improve the retention rate of Hispanic students enrolled in engineering or science. Provide a forum for the exchange of information pertinent to Hispanic engineering or science students enrolled at Rice University. Promote academic achievement by providing year-round mentoring and advice. Provide educational as well as social activities for the members and the community. Provide a line of communication between student members and the professional community. Article IV - Association Section Affiliation Non-Discrimination Article V - Membership Section Regular
Members Active
Members Associate
Members Article VI - Dues Section Membership dues will be determined by the newly elected officers. All membership dues collected shall go towards the operating costs of the MAES/SHPE Rice University student chapter. All membership dues shall be paid directly to the chapter Treasurer. Article VII - Officers Section The officers of MAES/SHPE shall consist of: A President, Internal Vice-President, External Vice-President, PACES Coordinator, Treasurer, and Secretary. Qualifications of Officers A student on academic probation is not permitted to be a candidate for or to hold any office as is embodied in the constitution of the Student Association. A student shall have been enrolled at Rice at least the semester immediately preceding the elections in order to be eligible to run for office. Duties of the elected officials shall be: President: Represent the chapter and be responsible for all business concerning the chapter. Preside at all regular and called meetings or assemblies. Head the committee for explaining and supervising the constitution. Be the official representative at all public functions. Manage the other operating officers and manage the day-to-day affairs of the chapter. External Vice-President: Assist the President in all business concerning the chapter. Preside in the absence of the President and assume the duties of the President in the president's temporary absence or incapacity. Be in charge of all external affairs related to the chapter (industrial relations, company tours, etc.). Handle official correspondence with other universities and with the national chapter. Internal Vice-President: Assist the president in all business concerning the chapter. Preside in the absence of both the President and External Vice-President and assume the duties of the President in the latter's temporary absence or incapacity. Be in charge of all internal affairs of the chapter (campus relations, social activities, etc.). Be responsible for setting up all permanent and temporary committees and shall preside as Head Chairman of all the committees. Committees may include socials, fund-raising, and publicity. PACES Coordinator: Be in charge of all activities related to the PACES program. Be responsible for the PACES proposal and budget for each operating semester. Treasurer: Have absolute supervision over the annual budgeting of funds. Keep books and records on money received or disbursed. Make quarterly financial reports listing all liabilities and assets of the organization. Serve as chair of the fund-raising committee. Render a final account of the finances of the club at the final meeting during the term of office. Secretary: Keep accurate minutes for all meetings and shall keep all necessary records, post them, and maintain them. Keep a list of all members. Handle all club correspondence. Serve as club historian or appoint one if needed. Article VIII - Elections Section Time of elections and term of office: Each officer shall be elected in the 4th quarter of the spring semester of each year. New officers shall begin their term with the meeting following the elections. Each officer shall serve for one year unless re-elected or removed from office. Method of election: Those running for office must submit a statement to the President at least a week before the elections in order to have names on the ballot. This statement shall include the office the candidate is running for, a statement that he has read the constitution and agrees to abide by it, and the signature of the candidate. The secretary shall be in charge of writing and distributing of the official voting ballots and no active member can be refused the right to vote. Candidates must attend a meeting which will be held for the presentation of each candidates speech a week before the elections. During this meeting each candidate must give a one to five minute speech. No proxies shall be permitted to speak on behalf of a candidate and there will be no defaming discussions. Candidates not attending this meeting may have their names removed from the ballot at the officers' discretion. All officer elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. During the meeting set aside for election, the ballots will be counted by at least two officers in private. All members will be allowed to know the number of votes the candidate received upon approval by the candidates running for that office. Absentee voters shall vote preferentially and their vote shall be valid on all election counts only when signed. Absentee ballots should be sealed in an envelope and submitted to an officer before the election date in order to be officially counted and opened at the elections. All others shall turn their ballots in at the scheduled meeting, but shall not sign their name on the ballot. They should sign only a list consisting of the voters present. PLEASE NOTE: Absentee voters may also vote through e-mail, and not need a signature. Any run-offs shall be held during the election meeting. A three-fourths majority of the votes is necessary for a first round win. A simple majority of two votes is necessary on any second or third round win on run-offs. The President shall vote preferentially and his vote shall be set aside in case of third round off ties. However, if the President himself is running for office, the President's vote (non-preferential) shall be included among the other ballots and the faculty sponsors vote shall be set aside in cases of third run-off ties. Vacancies: Vacancies in any office will be filled by election except for the Presidential office to which the External Vice-President will succeed. Any officer may run for any vacant office only after having resigned his present office, thus leaving is office open to election. Faculty Sponsors: The Faculty Sponsors must be approved by a simple majority of the officers. Article IX - Resignations and Impeachments 1. Resignation from an office shall be handled in the following manner. A signed and written statement shall be submitted to the highest remaining officer. It should state the date, the office held, and the reason for resignation. 2. Any officer may be removed by a two thirds vote of the active members (Article V Section 2) and with the concurrence of the faculty sponsor for just cause. Removal may be for: a. Neglect of duty b. Failure to maintain required academic standing Display of conduct unbecoming a leader at any activity sponsored by MAES. Article X - Meetings Regular
meetings of MAES shall be held twice a month during the academic year.
Officer or committee meetings shall be held as needed or at the President's
request. Other meetings may be called in addition to regular meetings.
An official meeting can only be conducted under the supervision of
either the President or External Vice-President and one other officer.
Article XI - Committees Temporary
committees shall be formed at the request of an officer of the request
of three members. They will be dissolved once their function has been
completed. The chairmen of these committees shall be chosen under
the attention of the Internal Vice President. All committees must
give a progress report at every regular meeting or at the President's
request. Article XII - Amendments Section All members reserve the right of proposing amendments. Proposals for new amendments shall be forwarded to any officer. New amendments shall be revised by the officers, and approved by three-fourths of the MAES members at a regular meeting. The MAES/SHPE Bylaws will be read at the second meeting of every year. |
| Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers “The Source for Quality Hispanic Engineers and Technical Talent” |
| Rice University Chapter |
