The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Student Chapter
Preamble:
We, the Hispanic students of Arizona State University enrolled in the curricula of Engineering and Applied Sciences, in order to increase the number of Hispanics entering these disciplines, improve the retention of these students, and achieve a higher unity among ourselves, do ordain and establish this constitution for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, student chapter, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Student Chapter
Constitution
Article I
This organization shall be known as the SOCEITY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, Student Chapter, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (SHPE/ASU).
Article II
Purpose and Goals
To achieve a sense of community among Hispanic engineering and applied science students at ASU and other SHPE student chapters.
To seek out and recruit potential Hispanic engineering and applied science students.
To improve the retention of Hispanic engineering and applied science students at ASU.
Article III
Membership
Membership shall be open to all persons without regard to race, religion, national origin, sex, age, or physical handicap.
Section 1
There shall be three classifications of membership in the SHPE/ASU chapter:
1. Regular Member: Regular members shall consist of ASU students enrolled in engineering or applied sciences curricula.
2. Associate Member: Associate members shall consist of all those persons who do not fall under the category of regular members. Associate membership shall be granted by the general body.
3. Honorary Member: Honorary members will be those persons who are not regular members of SHPE/ASU that have excelled in helping SHPE/ASU meet its goals. Honorary members shall be chosen by the general body. Honorary members shall not be regular members.
Section 2
Privileges of Members
1. Regular members shall be entitled to: attend and speak at meetings; to present motions, resolutions and other business; nominate candidates for office; to be a candidate for office; to hold office; to inspect the official records of the organization and to participate in any SHPE activity.
2. Associate members shall be entitled to attend and speak at general meetings and to participate in any SHPE activity. Associate members shall not have the privilege to vote in SHPE/ASU elections and/or business concerning SHPE/ASU or hold office.
3. Honorary members shall have the privilege to attend and speak at SHPE/ASU general meetings and to participate in any SHPE/ASU activities. Honorary members shall not have the privilege to vote or hold office.
Article IV
Section 1
Officers
1. The titles of the officers shall be: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer.
2. The officers shall be known as SHPE/ASU Executive Board. The Executive Board shall be elected as stipulated in Article V of the SHPE/ASU Constitution.
Section 2
Duties of Officers
President: The President shall be responsible for the actions of SHPE/ASU; shall preside at general meetings of SHPE/ASU; shall be responsible for the structure of the organization; shall have the authority to form committees and nominate chairpersons to those committees; shall be a liaison to the national chapter.
First Vice President: The First Vice President shall assist the President in his/her duties; shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.
Second Vice President: The Second Vice President shall assist the President and First Vice President in their duties.
Secretary: Shall take accurate minutes at all the meetings; shall read the minutes of the previous meeting at the SHPE/ASU general meetings; shall be responsible for interchapter correspondence.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall report the financial status of SHPE/ASU at all SHPE/ASU general meetings; shall record the financial flow of SHPE/ASU; shall be responsible for the financial records of SHPE/ASU; shall be a member of the fundraising committee.
Article V
Elections
Section 1
Date of elections
Elections of officers will be held in May of every year before the last day of formal instruction, but not after the last SHPE/ASU meeting. The Election date will be posted two weeks before the election.
Section 2
Duration of Term
The duration of term of an officer shall be one year extending from June 1st, of the year of winning the election to May 31st of the following year.
Section 3
Eligibility
Persons eligible to run for office will have been a regular member of SHPE/ASU for at least one semester by the beginning of his/her term. No office may be held by the same person for three consecutive terms.
Section 4
Notification of Intent to Seek Office
Candidates for office shall submit written notification to the President. Notification of intent to seek office shall be submitted prior to or at the nomination meeting.
Section 5
Voting for Officers
Voting will take place on election dates as follows:
1. Voting shall take place one week after the nomination meeting and will last two consecutive school days.
2. All ballots must be personally deposited into the election box.
3. Those members eligible to vote shall sign a check list at the voting box. Each member must cast only one ballot.
4. Absentee ballots must be sealed in an envelope which shall be signed and dated.
Section 6
Determination of Winners
The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for a particular office shall be declared the winner.
Section 7
Vacated Offices
If an office is vacated for any reason, the remaining officers shall nominate a candidate subject to the approval of the chapter’s regular members. In the event of non-approval, nominations will be taken from the floor and voted on at the same meeting. The newly elected officer shall serve the remainder of the term.
Section 8
Office of President Vacancy
In the event the office of President is vacated, the First Vice President shall assume the office of the President and the Second Vice President shall assume the office of the First Vice President and a new Second Vice President shall be elected as per Article V, Section 7.
Article VI
Meetings
Section 1
Quorum
A quorum shall consist of 2/5 of the total membership and the President or Vice President plus one other officer.
Section 2
Meetings will be held once each month and special meetings will be called when necessary.
Article VII
Finances
Section 1
Fiscal Year
The duration of one fiscal year shall be from June 1 to May 31.
Section 2
Dues
Each member will be required to pay $5.00 dues per year.
Article VIII
Committees
Section 1
Establishment of Committees
Committees shall be established by the President or may be voted into existence by the SHPE/ASU at a general meeting. If a committee is voted into existence, a chairperson for that committee will be chosen as per seen in Article VIII, Section 2.
Section 2
Committee Chairperson Selection
The President shall appoint the committee chairperson subject to the approval of the committee members.
Article IX
Amendments
Section 1
Publicity of Proposed Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution will be brought before the membership and posted on the SHPE bulletin board four school days before the meeting.
Section 2
Approval
The Constitution will be amended by a 2/3 vote of members present and will be effective as stipulated in the amendment. If there is no stipulation, the amendment will become effective at the following meeting.
Article X
Ratification
The Constitution will be ratified and enacted upon 2/3 of members, and upon approval of ASU, Associated Students, and National SHPE.
Amendments
Article IV
Section 2
Public Affairs: Shall be lead in notifying members about meetings and events through reminders and written notices (Posters), and maintenance of the SHPE/ASU board in ECG 2nd floor. The Public Affairs officer shall also be known as the Communications Officer and shall assist the President with tasks relating to SHPE/ASU such as, but not limited to: organization of the meetings, events, and proposal contacts. The Position of Public Affairs shall also be the sports lead and plan sports events through the SORC.
Webmaster: Shall gather information pertaining to SHPE and post important information for all members to easily access via the web. The Webmaster will work directly under the President in the planning and development of the site, the webmaster shall attend Executive board meetings and use the notes from the secretary to keep the site current. NO RECORDS OF FUNDS SHALL BE POSTED ON THE WEB.
Junior Chapter Liaison: The Junior Chapter Liaison will be in charge of assisting the junior chapters with development, academic and other organizational related endeavors. The Junior Chapter Liaison will visit the junior chapter schools at least once per month, and must update the General Body of the status and involvement of the General Body with the junior chapter at every meeting.
Committees: Committees shall consist of but not be limited to Retention, Recruitment, Community Service, Social and Fundraising.
Representatives: Representatives shall attend meetings, gather important information, and bring it back to the Executive Board at the next Board meeting. There shall be (2) CSEC Representatives, (2) Engineering College Council, and (2) El Concillio Representatives.
Article V
Section 1
Elections
Date of Elections: Elections of Officers will be held in April of each year before the last day of formal instruction, but not after the last SHPE/ASU meeting. The Election Date will be posted two weeks before the election.
Section 2
Duration of term
The duration of the term of an officer shall be one year extending from the date of the CEMSWE retreat in May of the year winning the election to the CEMSWE retreat in May of the following year.
Article VII
Section 2
Dues
Each member will be required to pay $10 in dues per year, this is to cover National and Local dues.
