BYLAWS

TheRiceUniversity
SocietyofHispanicProfessionalEngineers

Article

I. NAME
II. HISTORY
III. PURPOSE
IV. ASSOCIATION
V. MEMBERSHIP
VI. DUES
VII. OFFICERS
VIII. ELECTIONS
IX. RESIGNATIONSANDIMPEACHMENTS
X. MEETINGS
XI. COMMITTEES
XII. NONDISCRIMINATIONPOLICY
XIII. ANTIHAZINGPOLICY
XIV. PRIMACYOFTHESTUDENTASSOCIATION
XV. AMENDMENTS

ArticleIName
ThenameofthisorganizationshallbetheSocietyofHispanicProfessionalEngineers(SHPE)Rice
UniversityStudentChapter.
Mantra:TheSourceforQualityHispanicEngineersandTechnicalTalent

ArticleIIHistory
TheSocietyofMexicanAmericanEngineersandScientistsMAESorganizationwasfoundedatRice
Universityin1989,andwasachapteroftheMAESNationalorganization,foundedin1974inCalifornia.
TheadditionofSHPEdidnotoccuruntil1997.Thenameoftheorganizationwaslaterchangedtothe
AssociationofLatinAmericanEngineersandScientists(ALAES),toreflectthecombinationofboth
organizations.

ArticleIIIPurpose
Thepurposeofthisstudentchapteristo:

1. IncreasethenumberofHispanicscienceandengineeringstudentsatRiceUniversity.
2. Promotea warenessoftheneedforHispanicscientistsandengineersinthescientificand
professionalcommunity.
3. Developandparticipateinprogramswithindustryandtheuniversitywhichbenefitstudents
seekingtechnicaldegrees.
4. ImprovetheretentionrateofHispanicstudentsenrolledinengineeringorscience.
5. ProvideaforumfortheexchangeofinformationpertinenttoHispanicengineeringorscience
studentsenrolledatRiceUniversity.
6. Promoteacademicachievementbyprovidingyearroundmentoringandadvice.
7. Provideeducationalaswellassocialactivitiesforthemembersandthecommunity.
8. Providealineofcommunicationbetweenstudentmembersandtheprofessionalcommunity.
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 9. NetworkwithotherstudentChapters.

ArticleIVAssociation
Section

1. Affiliation
TheRiceUniversitySHPEstudentchapterwillbeanaffiliatedchapteroftheSocietyof
HispanicProfessionalEngineersInc.(SHPEInc.)Theorganizationpossessestherighttoadopt
itsownrulesandprocedureswithintheframeworkofSHPE,andRiceUniversitysrulesand
regulations.
2. NonDiscrimination
Nopersonshallbedeniedmembershipinthisorganizationbecauseofrace,religion,color,sex,
handicap,nationality,etceventhoughthenameoftheorganizationistheSocietyofHispanic
ProfessionalEngineers.

ArticleVMembership
Section

1. RegularMembers
RegularmembershipisopentoanyinterestedfulltimeorparttimestudentenrolledatRice
University.
2. ActiveMembers
Activemembersshallbethoseregularmemberswhohavepaidtheirduesasstatedunder
ArticleVIaswellashaveattendedatleastonehalfoftheSHPEactivities.
3. AssociateMembers
AssociatemembershipshallbeopentoRiceUniversityfaculty,staff,alumni,andanyothers
whosupportthepurposeandobjectivesofthisorganization.Associatemembersshallnotbe
eligibletovoteorholdoffice.

ArticleVIDues
Section

1. Membershipdueswillbedeterminedbythenewlyelectedofficers.
2. AllmembershipduescollectedshallgotowardstheoperatingcostsoftheSHPERice
Universitystudentchapter.
3. AllmembershipduesshallbepaiddirectlytothechapterTreasurer.

ArticleVIIOfficers
Section

1. TheofficersofSHPEshallconsistof:APresident,InternalVicePresident,External
VicePresident,CommunityOutreachCoordinator,Treasurer,MarketingDirector,Regional
Representative,andChiefofStaff
2. QualificationsofOfficers
a. Astudentonacademicprobationisnotpermittedtobeacandidateforortoholdany
officeasisembodiedintheconstitutionoftheStudentAssociation.
b. AstudentshallhavebeenenrolledatRiceatleastthesemesterimmediatelypreceding
theelectionsinordertobeeligibletorunforoffice.
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3. DutiesofAllOfficers
a. CarryingoutregularresponsibilitiesasperArticleVII,Section4
b. AttendingallSHPEmeetingsincluding:ExecutiveBoardMeetings,GeneralBody
Meetings,CommunityOutreachEvents,InformationSessions,SROs,andotherRiceclub
eventsjointlysponsoredwithSHPE(EveningwithIndustry,necessaryHACER
meetings,etc.)
i. Ifanofficercannotattend,itistheirresponsibilitytotellthePresident
beforehand.AbsencesareexcusedatthediscretionoftherestoftheExecutive
Board.
4. Dutiesoftheelectedofficialsshallbe:
a. President:
i. Representthechapterandberesponsibleforallbusinessconcerningthe
chapter.
ii. Presideatallregularandcalledmeetingsorassemblies.
iii. Explainandsuperviseconstitutionalamendments.
iv. Betheofficialrepresentativeatallpublicfunctions.
v. Managetheotheroperatingofficersandmanagethedaytodayaffairsofthe
chapter.
vi. CoordinateelectionprocessintheSpring.
b. InternalVicePresident:
i. AssistthePresidentinallbusinessconcerningthechapter.
ii. PresideintheabsenceofthePresidentandassumethedutiesofthePresidentin
thepresidentstemporaryabsenceorincapacity,inconjunctionwithExternal
VicePresident
iii. Beinchargeofallinternalaffairsrelatedtothechapter(committeechairs,
MentorSHPEprogram,etc.)
iv. Beresponsibleforsettingupallpermanentandtemporarycommitteesandshall
presideasHeadChairmanofallthecommittees.Committeesmayinclude
socials,fundraising,andpublicity.
c. ExternalVicePresident
i. AssistthePresidentinallbusinessconcerningthechapter.
ii. PresideintheabsenceofthePresidentandassumethedutiesofthePresidentin
thepresidentstemporaryabsenceorincapacity,inconjunctionwithInternalVice
President
iii. Beinchargeofallexternalaffairsrelatedtothechapterincludingbutnotlimited
to:
1. Industrialrelations(creatingandeditingthesponsorshippackage,
planningandrunningcompanyrelatedevents,etc.)
2. Companytours
3. WorkingdirectlywithTreasurertocoordinatesponsorshipfundsfrom
companies
4. CoordinatingchapterattendanceatSHPENationalConference
(registration,lodging,etc.)
d. CommunityOutreachCoordinator:
i. BeinchargeofallactivitiesrelatedtotheSHPEJr.program.
ii. BeresponsiblefortheCommunityOutreachproposalandbudgetforeach
operatingsemester.
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 iii. Coordinateallcommunityserviceprojectsonandoffcampus(highschool
tours,STEMShowdown,etc.)
iv. CoordinatewiththeGreaterHoustonCommunityOutreachCommittee
(GHCOC)oncommunityserviceprojects.
e. Treasurer:
i. Haveabsolutesupervisionovertheannualbudgetingoffunds(includingaccess
toclubfundsandpcards).
1. Whennotavailable,presidentmaysupervisefundutilization
ii. Keepbooksandrecordsonmoneyreceivedordisbursed.
iii. Makequarterlyfinancialreportslistingallliabilitiesandassetsofthe
organization.
iv. Renderafinalaccountofthefinancesoftheclubatthefinalmeetingduringthe
termofoffice.
f. ChiefofStaff:
i. Keepaccurateminutesforallmeetingsandshallkeepallnecessaryrecords,post
them,andmaintainthem.
ii. Keepalistofallmembers.
iii. Handleallannouncements.
iv. Keeptrackofallactionitemsandallofficersresponsibilities.
v. Inchargeofmakingroomreservations.
g. RegionalRepresentative:
i. Handleofficialcorrespondencewithotheruniversities,alumni,professional
chapters,RegionalVicePresident,andwithSHPENational.
ii. CoordinateSubRegionalOutings(SROs)withotherchapters.
iii. AttendsRegion5monthlyconferencecallsmeetings
h. MarketingDirector:
i. Createand/orupdatetheclubwebsiteasoftenasnecessary.
ii. Maintainchapterssocialmediaaccounts
iii. Advertiseclub,events,andmeetingswithdigitalandnondigitalmedia(shirts,
Facebookpage,fliers,posters,businesscards,etc)

ArticleVIIIElections
Section

1. Timeofelectionsandtermofoffice:
a. Eachofficershallbeelectedinthe4thquarterofthespringsemesterofeachyear.
b. Newofficersshallbegintheirtermwiththemeetingfollowingtheelections.
c. Eachofficershallserveforoneyearunlessreelectedorremovedfromoffice.
2. Methodofelection:
a. ThoserunningforofficemustsubmitastatementtothePresidentatleastaweekbefore
theelectionsinordertohavenamesontheballot.Thisstatementshallincludethe
officethecandidateisrunningfor,astatementthattheyhavereadtheconstitutionand
agreestoabidebyit,andthesignatureofthecandidate.
b. Candidatesmustattendameetingwhichwillbeheldforthepresentationofeach
candidate'sspeechaweekbeforetheelections.Duringthismeetingeachcandidate
mustgiveaonetofiveminutespeech.Noproxiesshallbepermittedtospeakonbehalf
ofacandidateandtherewillbenodefamingdiscussions.Candidatesnotattendingthis
meetingmayhavetheirnamesremovedfromtheballotattheofficersdiscretion.
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 c. Allofficerelectionsshallbeconductedbysecretballot.
d. Electionswillbeheldintworounds:
i. ThefirstroundincludesPresident,InternalVicePresident,andExternal
VicePresident.
ii. Thesecondroundwillincludetherestoftheofficerpositions.
iii. Thefirstroundwilltakeplacebeforethesecondround.Memberswhodontget
electedinthefirstroundareallowedtorunforthesecondround.
e. VotingwilltakeplacethroughOwlection.
3. Vacancies:
a. VacanciesinanyofficewillbefilledbyelectionexceptforthePresidentialofficeto
whichtheVicePresidentswillsucceed.
b. Anyofficermayrunforanyvacantofficeonlyafterhavingresignedtheirpresent
office,thusleavingtheirofficeopentoelection.
4. FacultySponsors:
a. TheFacultySponsorsmustbeapprovedbyasimplemajorityoftheofficers.

ArticleIXResignationsandImpeachments
Section

1. Resignationfromanofficeshallbehandledinthefollowingmanner.Asignedandwritten
statementshallbesubmittedtothehighestremainingofficer.Itshouldstatethedate,theoffice
held,andthereasonforresignation.
2. Anyofficermayberemovedbyreceivingtwowarnings.Warningswillbedeterminedassuch
byatwothirdsvoteofofficers(ArticleVII)andwiththeconcurrenceofthefacultysponsorfor
justcause.Warningsincludebutarenotlimitedto:
a. Neglectofduty
b. Failuretomaintainrequiredacademicstanding
c. DisplayofconductunbecomingaleaderatanyactivitysponsoredbySHPEorRice
University(toincludeanyillicitorunethicalactivities)

ArticleXMeetings

RegularmeetingsofSHPEshallbeheldtwiceamonthduringtheacademicyear.Officerorcommittee
meetingsshallbeheldasneededoratthePresidentsrequest.Othermeetingsmaybecalledinadditionto
regularmeetings.AnofficialmeetingcanonlybeconductedunderthesupervisionofeitherthePresident
orExternalVicePresidentandoneotherofficer.

ArticleXICommittees

YearlycommitteesshallbeformedasanExecutiveBoardorattherequestofanofficerortherequestof
threeactivechaptermembers.Theywillbedissolvedoncetheirfunctionhasbeencompleted.The
chairmenofthesecommitteesshallbechosenundertheattentionoftheExecutiveBoard.Allcommittees
mustgiveaprogressreportateveryregularmeetingoratthePresidentsrequest.

ArticleXIINondiscriminatoryPolicy

Thisorganizationshallnotdiscriminateagainstindividualsonthebasisofrace,color,religion,sex,
sexualorientation,genderidentity,nationalorethnicorigin,ancestry,age,disability,orveteranstatus.
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ArticleXIIIAntiHazingPolicy

Thisorganizationshallnotengageinanyformofhazing,asdefinedbytheCodeofStudentConductand
anyotherapplicableRiceUniversityrulesandregulations.

ArticleXIVPrimacyoftheStudentAssociation
Section

1. ThisorganizationshallrecognizetheprimacyoftheStudentAssociationExecutiveBranch,the
StudentSenate,andultimately,theStudentAssociation.
2. ThisorganizationshallbeboundbytherequirementsoftheConstitutionoftheStudent
Associationandanyassociatedrulesandregulations.
3. Thisconstitutionandanybylawsorpoliciesadoptedbythisorganizationaresubordinatetothe
ConstitutionoftheStudentAssociation.

ArticleXVAmendments
Section

1. Allmembersreservetherightofproposingamendments.
2. Proposalsfornewamendmentsshallbeforwardedtoanyofficer.
3. Newamendmentsshallberevisedbytheofficers,andapprovedbyamajorityvoteoftheSHPE.
TheSHPEBylawswillbereadatthesecondmeetingofeveryyear.
4. AmendmentswillnottakeeffectuntilsubmittedtotheStudentAssociationParliamentarianand
approvedbytheCommitteeonClubApprovalsortheStudentAssociationSenate.

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