CONSTITUTION OF THE
YALE UNIVERSITY CHAPTER OF THE
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS
Revised January
PREAMBLE
The National Society of Black Engineers, as a national student and professional based
organization, does hereby dedicate itself to the development of intensive programs for
increasing African-American and other ethnic minority participation in the field of
engineering and engineering technology. These programs will be initiated both within
and outside the campus community and will serve to strengthen relations between
professional industry and the African-American community.
Members of the
organization are encouraged to join and participate in their individual professional
societies. This organization will endeavor to provide general counseling to all members.
The Yale University Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers declares its
intention to fulfill the mission of the national organization on Yale’s campus and in the
New Haven community.
ARTICLE I – Name and Type
The name and type of this organization shall be the Yale University Chapter of the
National Society of Black Engineers, a non-profit organization managed by students,
hereafter referred to as the Chapter.
ARTICLE II – Objectives
The objectives of the Chapter are to recruit and retain African-American and ethnic
minority students in the disciplines of engineering and the natural and physical sciences;
to encourage pre-college students to pursue engineering and the sciences; and to create an
environment that promotes professionalism and culturally responsible leadership.
ARTICLE III – Membership
Section 1.
Membership in the Chapter shall be designated as Member, Affiliate Member, or Alumni
Member.
Section 2.
(a) Members shall be defined as:
(i)
an undergraduate in Yale College who is a “Group IV” major, or
(ii)
(iii)
a graduate student at Yale University who has received an undergraduate
degree in engineering, engineering technology, or applied/natural/physical
science, and
a person who has received an official membership card from NSBE
headquarters and has paid the annual dues designated by the Chapter.
(b)
An Affiliate Member shall be defined as a person who is not a candidate for a
degree in a “Group IV” major and, therefore, does not meet the criteria for
Member status, but who have attained affiliate member status with NSBE and has
paid the annual dues designated by the Chapter.
(c)
An Alumni Member shall be defined as a person who
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(d)
has received a Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree in one of the
aforementioned disciplines, or
is a candidate for an advanced degree in one of those areas, and
has met the criteria to receive a registered membership card from NSBE
headquarters and has paid the annual dues designated by the Chapter.
A graduate student who qualifies for membership may participate as either a
Member or Alumni Member, but not both.
Section 3.
Membership and participation in the Chapter shall not be restricted on the basis of
gender, race, religion, ethnicity or nationality.
Section 4.
The “good standing” of a member in the Chapter shall be determined by the Chapter
Executive Board according to the NSBE Member Code of Conduct.
ARTICLE IV – Voting and Elections
Section 1.
Each member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote at general body meetings.
Section 2.
Affiliate and Alumni members shall not be entitled to vote.
Section 3.
Elections to Chapter Offices shall be held prior to reading week during the spring
semester.
Section 4.
Any eligible member of the Chapter can nominate another eligible member for an officer
position in the Chapter. After all nominations have been submitted, the officers are voted
by secret ballot. The candidate with the majority of the votes for each office becomes the
officer-elect and assumes responsibility no later than the beginning of shopping period in
the spring.
ARTICLE V – Dues
Annual membership fees for the Chapter shall be determined by the Chapter Executive
Board (CEB) and can be changed only by a two-thirds vote of the membership.
ARTICLE VI – Administration
Section 1.
There shall be an Executive Board of the Chapter which shall consist of the:
(a)
President
(b)
Vice-President
(c)
Secretary
(d)
Treasurer
(e)
Standing Committee Chairs
Section 2.
The Executive Board shall:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Abide by the Constitution and Bylaws
Serve the membership and respect the decisions made by the majority vote
of the general body
Communicate with its zone and regional counterparts frequently
Determine the time, location and agenda of general body meetings
Select two members to represent the Chapter at regional and national
conferences.
Section 3.
The Chapter Executive Board shall select an advisor for the Chapter and consult the
advisor about matters concerning the Chapter.
ARTICLE VII – Committees
Section 1.
There shall be three standing committees of the Chapter – Programs, Academic
Excellence and Pre-College Initiative. The Chapter Executive Board shall appoint the
chairs of the standing committees. In the event that there are no members to hold the
appointed positions, the Executive Board members must perform the duties of the
standing committees.
Section 2.
Standing Committees shall have the following duties:
(a)
Programs
(i)
Implement and maintain the programs of the National Society and
organize activities that promote the NSBE mission on campus and in New
Haven
(ii)
Communicate with his/her zone and regional counterpart frequently
(iii) Submit a transition report at the end of the term of office
(b)
Academic Excellence
(i)
Manage the Achievers’ Plus Program
(ii)
Create and maintain programs that promote the academic success of the
members in their classes
(iii) Communicate with his/her zone and regional counterpart frequently
(iv)
Provide a transition report at the end of the term of office
(c)
Pre-College Initiative
(i)
Coordinate activities that expose pre-college students to engineering and
the sciences
(ii)
Plan at least one major PCI event sponsored by the Chapter each academic
year
(iii) Communicate with his/her zone and regional counterpart frequently.
(iv)
Submit a transition report at the close of the term of office
Section 3.
In addition to the aforementioned responsibilities, the committees will perform duties
deemed necessary by the Chapter Executive Board.
Section 4.
The Chapter Executive Board will create and appoint additional chairs when necessary.
ARTICLE VIII – Offices
Section 1.
All elected offices shall be held by members in good standing.
Section 2.
The elected offices of the Chapter Executive Board are:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Section 3.
Any Student Member of the Chapter who held Member status the previous year is
eligible for an elected office in the Chapter.
Section 4.
Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the Vice-President shall assume the
responsibilities of the President.
Section 5.
Officers must be in good academic standing as defined by Yale University and must be
able to attend at least 75% of all general body meetings and 80% of all Executive Board
meetings.
Section 6.
Should an elected or appointed officer be deemed unproductive in his or her duties, the
officer may be impeached according to the following procedure:
(a) A written request by any member of the Chapter must be presented to the
Chapter at least one week prior to the general body meeting.
(b) A three-fourths vote of the membership is required to initiate impeachment
proceedings.
(c) The officer in question must suspend all duties until a decision has been made.
(d) A three-fourths vote of the eligible membership is required to remove the
officer from office.
Section 7.
All Executive Board members shall have a vote at Executive Board meetings.
ARTICLE IX – Duties of Elected Officers
Section 1.
The duties of elected officers are:
(a) President
(i) Shall preside over all official meetings of the Chapter
(ii) Shall represent the Chapter and express the ideas of the majority of
the membership
(iii) Shall appoint members of all standing, and special committees, with
the advice and consent of the Chapter Executive Board.
(iv) Shall ensure that the Chapter acts in accordance with the
Constitution, Bylaws and Long Range Plan of the National Society
and Chapter.
(v) Shall serve as secondary executor of financial transactions.
(vi) Shall organize workshops to advance the Professional and Academic
development of the members.
(b) Vice-President:
(i) Shall preside in the absence of the President
(ii) Shall perform any activities, duties and responsibilities as designated
by the President
(iii) Shall oversee the activities of the standing committees
(iv) Shall act as the PCI Chair in relation to Career High School and aid
in the organization of other community service activities.
(c) Secretary
(i) Shall accurately record the minutes of the Chapter Executive Board
meetings and general body meetings
(ii) Shall make available the minutes to all members when requested
(iii) Shall maintain all active files
(iv) Shall keep an updated membership database
(v) Shall maintain an updated Alumni List and inform them each
semester on the goals and accomplishments of the chapter.
(d) Treasurer
(i) Shall serve as primary executor of financial transactions of the
Chapter
(ii) Shall prepare a budget for the academic year
(iii) Shall collect Chapter dues
(v)
Shall maintain a list of all financial sponsors and donations
(vi)
Shall act as the Dwight Hall and UOFC liaison.
Section 2.
All elected officers shall submit a transition report at the end of their term.
ARTICLE X – Meetings
Section 1.
General body meetings shall be held biweekly at a minimum during the academic year.
Section 2.
Each member is entitled to one vote at general body meetings. The President may only
vote in the event of a tie.
ARTICLE XI – Long Range Plan
Section 1.
The Chapter shall maintain and follow a 5-year long-range plan for which the National
Society’s Long Range Plan shall be a model. This plan shall be reviewed every year by
the membership and updated as necessary by the Chapter Executive Board.
Section 2.
The Chapter Long Range Plan may be amended with a majority vote of the Chapter
Executive Board and membership.
Section 3.
The Chapter Long Range Plan shall be made available to members when requested.
ARTICLE XII – Amendments
Section 1.
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by:
(a) a two-thirds vote of the Chapter Executive Board, or
(b) one-third of the eligible members of the Chapter.
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.
Section 3.
Ratification of any amendments to this Constitution shall be subject to a three-fourths
affirmative vote of the eligible members at a meeting of the Chapter.