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Preamble

The Northern Illinois University (NIU) Student Chapter of the American Society for Engineering Education is a student-based organization committed to furthering education in engineering and engineering technology. The mission shall be accomplished by providing services to prepare members for a career in academia, by educating undergraduate students about graduate education, and by encouraging involvement of underrepresented groups in academia and graduate school

Article I 

Name

The name of this organization shall be the Northern Illinois University (NIU) Student Chapter of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).

Article II

Purpose

The Northern Illinois University Student Chapter of ASEE shall focus its efforts toward two main groups: graduate and undergraduate engineering students. 

For graduate students, the purposes are: 
1. to encourage students to consider academic careers
2. to assist students in their search for academic positions
3. to enhance the teaching and presentation skills of prospective educators
4. to develop the skills needed to establish and lead a research program 

For undergraduate students, the purposes are: 
1. to dispel common misperceptions and to inform students about the options and potential benefits of attending graduate school
2. to assist students in their preparation for graduate school entrance requirements
3. to educate students on the availability of financial assistance

Additionally, for both groups considered, the purpose of the Northern Illinois University Student Chapter of ASEE will be to encourage participation in underrepresented groups through focused recruitment efforts and by addressing concerns unique to those groups. 

Article III

Membership

Section 1: Membership and participation shall be free from discrimination based on race, religion, ethnic group, national origin, handicap, or sex. 
Section 2: Student membership shall be open to all graduate and undergraduate students of Northern Illinois University, with primary emphasis on graduate students in engineering and engineering technology. 
Section 3: Associate membership shall be open to all staff and faculty at the Northern Illinois University with primary emphasis on engineering and engineering technology. Associate members may not vote or hold office, but may have all other privileges of a student member. 
Section 4: All members must have record of their student chapter membership on file and must be members of ASEE. Student chapter members are required to pay annual dues to the Northern Illinois University Student Chapter of ASEE as stated in the bylaws. 
Section 5: Any member may terminate their membership at any time with a written notification to the Secretary.

Article IV

Officers and Advisor(s)

Section 1: The offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Public Relations, Recruiting Officer, Treasurer, and Newsletter Editor shall be members of the Executive Board. Any school not represented on the Executive Board had the option of electing a student representative. The representative will have full voting rights of an Executive Board member. 
Section 2: The term of office includes one semester.
Section 3: The Executive Board members shall be elected in a majority vote by the members attending the election meeting in November and April of each year. 
Section 4: The Advisor(s) shall be an associate member. New advisors shall be selected by majority vote by the Executive Board. 
Section 5: The Advisor(s) shall have an indefinite term in office. 
Section 6: The Advisor(s) and officer(s) shall resign on written notification to the Secretary and/or President. 

Article V

Officers and Duties

Section 1: The President's duties shall include:
Formulating a yearly agenda for the organization; such as a list of planned activities and events. Goals and priorities shall be determined.
Insuring that all activities fall within the organizational goals as stated in the Constitution.
Presiding over all regular and special meetings for the organization.
Insuring that all activities and other organizational functions are properly managed under the guidelines of the constitution and bylaws, and the policies for student organizations of Northern Illinois University.
Creating permanent or temporary positions to assist in performing the duties of the office.
Creating committees as needed.
Section 2: The Vice-president's duties shall include:
Assisting the President in insuring that the objectives are met.
Assuming the duties of president in his/her absence.
Presiding over at least one general meeting each semester.
Acting as a liaison between the Executive Committee and all regular, special, and temporary committees.
Creating permanent or temporary positions, with approval from the President, to assist in performing the duties of the office.
Section 3: The Secretary's duties shall include:
Maintaining written correspondence with on-campus and off-campus organizations affiliated with the Northern Illinois University Student Chapter of the American Society of Engineering Education. The Secretary will maintain close relations with the Public Relations Officer.
Recording events and activities performed by the organization. A historian's file shall be maintained to record speakers, topics, and presentation slides when possible.
Preparing an annual report to inform the parent organization and the student members on the accomplishments and future planned activities.
Keeping minutes during executive, general, and committee meetings, and to document a record of the minutes for the student chapter.
Maintaining record of the books posted in the library by the organization.
Creating permanent or temporary positions, with the approval from the President, to assist in performing the duties of the office.
Keeping record of all student chapter members, updated monthly.
Section 4: The Public Relations officer duties shall include:
Maintaining contact with undergraduate, graduate and minority organizations, and to inform them of seminars and activities that may be beneficial to them.
Distribution of fliers, newspaper ads, or other advertising needed for seminars or activities.
Maintain contact with associate members or any professor or staff interested in the organization.
Distributing the annual report or newsletter to members.
Creating permanent or temporary positions, with approval from the President, to assist in performing the duties of the office.
Section 5: The Recruiting Officer's duties shall include:
Assisting in promoting the recruitment of underrepresented minority groups in the graduate engineering programs.
Distributing information about the organization to any potential staff or professor interested in becoming an associate member.
Presiding over recruitment of new members.
Creating permanent or temporary positions, with approval from the President, to assist in performing the duties of the office.
Section 6: The Treasurer's duties shall include:
Compiling and presenting a financial report of the previous year.
Setting up a budget for the upcoming year.
Overseeing fund-raising activities.
Keeping record of the student chapter funds and making expenditures in a legal manner and in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the Northern Illinois University for the operation of student organizations. 
Maintain record of membership and collecting dues.
Creating permanent or temporary positions, with approval from the President, to assist in performing the duties of the office.

Article VI

Amendments

Section 1: All amendments are to be submitted in writing to the President and Secretary, then read at a meeting. The amendment can be voted on in the same meeting. 
Section 2: Amendments shall be made by a two-thirds majority vote by the members present. 

Article VII

Bylaws

Section 1: Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. Absentee ballots shall be allowed if submitted in a signed sealed envelope with at least two executive board witnesses. 
Section 2: A fee of up to $10.00 may be charged as dues for a one year membership beginning in August, as deemed necessary by the Executive Board.   Any additional fees must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote by the members present.
Section 3: The Vice-President shall fill A vacancy of the Presidency. The Vice-Presidency shall then be filled by a majority election by the Executive Board.
 

This Constitution and Bylaws was completed on the 16th day of November of 2000 by the founding members of the first Northern Illinois University Student Chapter of the American Society for Engineering Education.