NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS BAKERSFIELD CHAPTER CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE
The National Society of Black Engineers, as a national student governed organization, does hereby dedicate itself to the development of intensive programs for increasing minority participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. These programs will be initiated both within and outside the academic community and will serve to strengthen relations between the institution of academia, the professional industry and the black community. All members of this organization are encouraged to join and participate in their individual professional societies. This organization will endeavor to provide general counseling to all members.
ARTICLE I - Name and Type
The National Society of Black Engineers Bakersfield Chapter shall operate under the alias The Black Excellence in Engineering Science and Technology (B.E2.S.T) until further amendment process is verified. The B.E2.S.T organization is a chapter constituent of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). This organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit student run organization; hereafter referred to as the chapter.
ARTICLE II – Objectives and Mission Statement
The objectives of this organization shall be derived from those of the National Society of
Black Engineers, thus B.E2.S.T shall serve to increase the number of culturally responsible minority engineers and scientists who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.
The B.E2.S.T chapter shall endeavor to develop and sustain student interest in engineering and technically related fields; strive to increase the number of students studying engineering at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; promote the advancement of the ethnic minority engineers in professional industry.
ARTICLE III – Membership
Section 1.
Membership and participation shall be free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, ethnic group, age or national origin.
Section 2.
Membership in the chapter shall be designated as General member, Affiliate member, or Appointed officer.
Section 3.
Members shall be defined as:
General member
(a)Defined as any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in an accredited program that offers a degree in the field of engineering and is a candidate for a degree in engineering, or applied/physical science, and has received a registered membership card through the payment of annual membership fees.
Affiliate member
(b)Defined as a person who is not a candidate for a degree in one of the areas defined in Article III, Section 3 (a), and is exempt from positions including, but not limited to a National or Regional office, and a position of President or Vice President of the chapter.
Appointed Officer
(c)Defined as a General member or Affiliate member appointed by the elected Executive Board to carry out specific duties and holds a position on the chapter executive board.
Section 4.
The “good standing” of a NSBE member shall be defined as the definition of good standing dictated by the respective institution or chapter of that member.
ARTICLE IV - Voting
Section 1.
Each Member and Affiliate Member and Appointed Officer in good standing is entitled one vote at all proposals stated during general body meetings.
Section 2.
The Chapter in good standing shall select two senators to cast votes in regional and national business. *(Currently Amending to allow at National level)*
Section 4.
The president, when presiding over meetings, shall only vote in the case of a tie.
ARTICLE V – Dues
Section 1.
All members of this organization shall pay proper dues to the National Society and this Chapter.
Section 2.
Annual membership fees shall be reviewed annually by the Chapter Executive Board and changed only by a two-thirds vote of the membership upon recommendation by the Chapter Executive Board.
ARTICLE VI – Meetings
Section 1.
The first chapter meeting will be held within the first two weeks of the beginning of the Fall semester. At the first chapter meeting, a time and location will be determined for weekly meetings by a majority vote from the Chapter Executive Board.
ARTICLE VII – Committees
Section 1.
There shall be four standing committees of the chapter, which are:
Communications
Finance
Pre-Collegiate
Nominations
Section 2.
Standing Committees shall have the following duties:
Communications
(a)The Communications Committee shall be responsible for submitting all articles for publication in any printed news source that may from time to time occur.
Finance
(a)The Finance Committee shall make recommendations to the Chapter with respect to which activities to plan for fundraising.
(b)Identify mechanisms for fund-raising.
Pre-Collegiate Initiative
(a)The Pre-Collegiate Initiative Committee shall create programs that develop student interest in engineering and technically related.
Nominations
(a)The Nominations Committee shall be responsible for making nominations for all elected positions.
(b)The Nominations Committee shall set the criteria for which a person must meet to run for any elected position. The criteria shall be required to be passed by the Executive Committee.
Section 3.
In addition to the above duties, the committees will carry out assignments deemed necessary by the Chapter Executive Board.
Section 4.
The Chapter Executive Board will create and appoint chairs for any special committee(s), as necessary.
ARTICLE VIII – Offices
Section 1.
All elected offices will be held by Members in good standing.
Section 2.
The elected offices of the Chapter Executive Board consists of:
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Programs Chair
Parliamentarian/ICC representative
Telecommunications
Section 3.
The Chapter Executive officers are the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Programs Chair.
Section 4.
Any Member of the chapter is eligible for a chapter elected office who:
(a)Has a minimum classification of freshmen undergraduate status or the equivalent for the elected term.
(b)Has been registered as a full-time student the academic semester prior to the beginning of the elected term and must maintain student status the academic term prior to and throughout the elected term. Co-op students on a work tour shall be considered to have full-time student status for purposes of this section. Graduate students who have fulfilled Member status must maintain full-time student status throughout the elected term.
Section 5.
(a)The Chapter Executive Board-Elect shall take office May 1 following the election and shall serve a one year term.
Section 6.
Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the unexpired term shall be filled by the Vice-President. Should a vacancy occur in any Chapter Executive Board office other than President, the unexpired term shall be filled by appointment by the President and approved by the Chapter Executive Board.
Section 7.
All chapter offices and their duties shall be defined by chapter Constitution in accordance with all regulations of the National Society.
Section 8.
The previous president shall serve as Chair-Emeritus, with the approval of the Chapter Executive Board.
(a)The Chair-Emeritus shall serve as an honored past member to the Chapter and shall not have a vote in proceedings. The term shall coincide with the term of the Chapter Executive Board.
Section 9.
There shall be a Chapter Parliamentarian appointed by the chapter president and approved by the Chapter Executive Board. The parliamentarian shall:
(a)Serve as an advisory member of the board and shall not vote.
(b)Serve as a resource on parliamentary procedure.
Section 10.
Elections to Chapter Offices:
(a)Elections of Chapter Offices will take place April 1st of each year.
ARTICLE IX - Duties of Elected Offices
SECTION 1 – Duties of President
(a)Shall preside over all meetings of this chapter and provide an agenda for members at each regular meeting.
(b)Shall serve as representative of this chapter.
(c)Shall appoint and remove all chairpersons and members of all committees, except where otherwise provided for in this document, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.
(d)Shall be responsible or designate someone to be responsible for reserving a place for each regular meeting during the academic year.
SECTION 2 – Duties of Vice-President
(a)Shall preside in the absence or the inability of the President.
(b)Shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to her by the President.
(c)If the office of the President becomes vacant for any reason during his elected term, the Vice President shall become the President until the President is able to return to his position or the term expires; thereby, creating a vacancy of Vice President.
SECTION 2 – Duties of Secretary
(a)Shall keep accurate minutes of each meeting.
(b)Shall keep an accurate record of membership and attendance at Chapter meetings.
(c)Shall forward an annual report to the Executive Board of the National Society before February 1st, of each year, summarizing the activities of the Chapter during the year and listing the elected officers.
(d)Shall submit a semester report to the Chapter, at the last regularly scheduled meeting that contains all the activities of the Chapter during the present quarter
(e)Shall keep all official records of this chapter except for those herein that the custody and control of shall be that of another office.
(f)Shall serve as the Chapter Telecommunications in the event of position vacancy.
SECTION 3 – Duties of Treasurer
(a)Shall keep an accurate account of the Chapter's funds.
(b)Shall maintain a membership roll and collect all dues of the Chapter members.
(c)Shall forward all National Society dues of the Chapter members.
(d)Shall submit a report to the Chapter members at least once a month concerning the financial status of the Chapter, in writing.
(e)Shall submit an annual report to the Executive Board of the National Society before February 1st of each year, giving a complete accounting of the Chapter's finances and reporting on such other matters as the Executive Board may require.
(f)Shall be responsible for obtaining and/or maintaining a bank account in the name of this Chapter.
(g)All monies received by the Treasurer shall be deposited in the Chapter's bank account, within five business days after such receipt, by the Treasurer.
(h)All monies shall be disbursed by the President or the Treasurer only with the consent of the chapter.
SECTION 3 – Duties of Parliamentarian/ICC representative
(a)Shall ensure that Parliamentary Procedure is observed and executed properly.
(b)Shall uphold proper communication channels with SGA on campus.
SECTION 3 – Telecommunications
(a)Shall manage, monitor and approve status of web based communication platforms
(b)Shall coincide with Regional counterpart to ensure Regional and National compliance.
SECTION 4 - Nominations and Elections
(a)No later than March 30th of each school year, a Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Chapter President. This committee shall consist of a chairperson and at least two other members.
(b)The nomination committee shall nominate at least one candidate for each elected position of the Chapter. The nominating committee shall report these nominees to the Chapter before the first regular meeting in April, but only after it is determined that each nominee meets the following requirements
1)Is a member of the Chapter
2)Is eligible to serve
3)Is willing to serve if elected
4)Is aware of the responsibilities of the office for which he is nominated.
(c)A simple majority vote of the voting members present on Election Day shall be necessary for a person to be elected to an elected position.
(d)If any elected office becomes vacant, the office shall be filled by a simple majority vote at a meeting designated by the President.
ARTICLE X – IMPEACHMENT
Section 1 - Impeachment of Officers
(a)All elected officers are subject to impeachment procedures.
(b)If a member feels that an officer is not fulfilling her duties, he shall, in writing, submit a request for impeachment to the President; however, if the officer in question is the President, the request shall be submitted to the Chapter Advisor.
(c)A two-thirds vote of the Chapter's membership, not including the officer upon whom the charges have been brought, shall be required to remove an officer.
(d)Impeachment proceedings shall be called by the President, unless the office in question is the President, in which case the Chapter Advisor shall call the impeachment proceedings.
(e)An officer shall be required to be in good academic standing with Bakersfield College.
ARTICLE XI – Amendments
Section 1.
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by:
(a)A two-thirds vote of the Chapter Executive Board.
Section 2.
Proposed Amendments must be submitted in written form to the Chapter Executive Board to be reviewed. The proposal must be clearly stated and justified.