[ Our Purpose ]

Article 1 - Name
The name of the organization shall be the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers San Diego State University student chapter. (Herein called SHPE).
Article 2 - Purpose
The purpose of SHPE shall be:
  • To promote and enhance educational and employment opportunities for Hispanics in the fields of engineering and science.
  • To place particular emphasis on increasing the number of Hispanic.
  • Engineering and science students enrolled in colleges and universities.
  • To develop and implement programs benefiting Hispanics seeking to become engineers and scientists.
  • To promote and organize social and cultural events relevant to the Hispanic community.
  • To develop a talent pool of Hispanic engineering and science students for referral to employers for summer, part-time and permanent employment.
Article 3 - Powers
Section 1.
The SHPE-SDSU student chapter is part of SHPE incorporation (SHPE, Inc.). The organization possesses the right to adopt its own rules and procedures within the framework of SHPE Inc. and the university rules and regulations.
Section 2.
The SHPE-SDSU shall be able to create committees. Committees shall report their recommendations to SHPE-SDSU.
Section 3.
The SHPE-SDSU shall be empowered to create codes governing special elections and financial procedures.
Section 4.
The SHPE-SDSU shall have the power to legislate bylaws by 2/3-majority vote. Before any change in the bylaws there must be an official notice of the proposal given to the SHPE-SDSU at the proceeding regular meeting of the organization
Section 5.
The SHPE-SDSU has the power to remove from any office any member or officer of the SHPE-SDSU upon 2/3 majority vote. No member shall be removed from office without the opportunity of a hearing.
Section 6.
The SHPE-SDSU president has the power to fill vacancies on the board by appointing an active member. The appointment must be ratified by a majority of the board and is subject to approval by a majority of active members.

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Article 4 - Membership
Section 1.
Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected officer positions may not be limited on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability and no rules or policies shall discriminate on any of these grounds.
Section 2.
The voting members of SHPE-SDSU shall be the following:
  • The officers of SHPE-SDSU.
  • The dues-paying members of SHPE-SDSU.
Section 3.
Active membership is open to all San Diego State University engineering and science majors who believe in and support the stated objectives of this organization. Other requirements are payment of dues each semester or academic year and official registration with the organization. The officers of the organization shall set dues.
Section 4.
Associate membership is open to all other San Diego State University students who believe in and support the stated objectives of the organization.

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Article 5 - General Meetings
Section 1.
General meetings shall be held at least twice a month during the semester.
Section 2.
Special general meetings may be called at the discretion of the board.
Section 3.
A quorum at a meeting shall consist of a majority of all active members.

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Article 6 - Officers
Section 1.
Officer meetings shall be held at least twice a month or at the discretion of the President.
Section 2.
The executive board shall have full power and authority over the affaires of the society.
Section 3.
A quorum at an officers meeting shall consist of 5 officers to include a chair and or a secretary.
Section 4.
Only officers may vote an officer meeting.
Section 5.
Removing an officer from office requires a 2/3 vote. The accused must first be formally cited to appear before a hearing conducted at an officer meeting.
Section 6.
All officers except the President can make a point of order to reprimand another officer for dereliction of duty in office.
Section 7.
The President may reprimand another officer for dereliction of duty.
Section 8.
It is the Presidents duty after 3 written reprimands that she or he must bring it to the attention of the board to discipline the officer for dereliction of duty.
Section 9.
Dereliction of duty requires the removal of the officer to be replaced by the guidelines set forth in Article 3 of this constitution.
Section 10.
The Executive board shall have full power and authority over the affairs except in those affairs dealing nominations and elections.

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Article 7 - Elections
Section 1.
Elections shall be held in the spring semester no later than the last day of April.
Section 2.
Officers shall serve for one academic year or until their successors are elected.
Section 3.
All officers of the organization must be in good standing with the university.
Section 4.
President-elects may not have been previously removed from office.

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Article 8 - Voting
Section 1.
Active members shall be eligible to be elected to the board.
Section 2.
Candidates shall be nominated and elected by active members.
Section 3.
Each member shall have one vote.
Section 4.
Proxy voting shall not be permitted.
Section 5.
A roll call vote shall be ordered at the request of three voting members.
Section 6.
All members shall be notified of impending board or bylaw changes.

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Article 9 - Duties of the Officers

The board shall consist of 12 active members. The positions shall be President, Internal Vice-President, External Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Director of Fund Raising, Director of Recruitment, Membership Coordinator, Tutoring Coordinator, Student Outreach Liaison, Social Liaison, Web Master, and Historian.

Section 1.
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the chapter and shall, subject to the bylaws, rules, and regulations adopted by the SDSU student chapter of SHPE, have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and officers of the chapter. Specific duties include.
  • Preside in all general and officer meetings.
  • Prepare agendas for all official meetings.
  • Attend SHPE professional chapter monthly meetings.
  • Attend all MEP presidents meetings.
  • MEP liaison to all joint activities.
Section 2.
The Internal Vice-President, in the absence of, disability or at the request of the President, and when so acting, shall have the powers of and all the restrictions upon the office of the President. Specific duties include the following.
  • SHPEs National Technical Career Conference (February)
    • Collecting the money for Registration and lodging.
    • Room reservations.
    • Design Contest.
    • Technical Paper Contest.
    • Provide the Secretary with a detailed report of NTCC within two weeks.
Section 3.
The External Vice-President, in the absence of, disability or at the request of the President and Internal Vice-President, and when so acting, shall have the powers of and all the restrictions upon the office of the President. Specific duties include the following.
  • Engineering and Science Day Conference (March)
    • Invitations of schools.
    • Renting buses.
    • Providing lunches for students.
    • Reserve rooms for workshops.
    • Provide the Secretary with a detailed report of NTCC within two weeks.
    • Booking a keynote speaker.
    • Security.
    • Speakers for workshops.
    • Provide the Secretary with a detailed report of Engineering and Science day conference within two weeks.
  • Attend SRRB meetings.
Section 4.
The Treasurer shall formulate the budget for the academic year,Recommend financial policies, and sign checks at the approval of the board. Specific duties include the following.
  • Prepare ACE proposal.
  • Prepare AESC proposal.
  • Prepare SHPE professional proposal.
  • Make monthly reports of the financial statements.
  • Be AESC chapter representative.
  • Catering for meetings.
Section 5.
The Secretary shall be responsible for the documentation of all organizational activities. Keep and maintain accurate records of the chapter. Specific duties include the following.
  • Take minutes of all official SDSU-SHPE meetings and provide them to the Webmaster.
  • End of the year report.
  • Thank you letters.
  • Certificate awards.
  • Office supplies.
Section 6.
The Director of Fundraising shall be the head coordinator for all fundraising events, donations and shall preside over means of obtaining funds for SDSU student chapter of SHPE. Specific events that need to be funded include the following.
  • Engineering in the barrio day.
  • Junior high and high school conference.
  • Monster mash.
  • Catering for member meetings.
Section 7.
The Director of Recruitment shall be responsible for recruiting activities, nominations and elections. Specific duties include the following.
  • EOP orientation day.
  • MEP orientation day.
  • MESA orientation day.
  • MEP career fair.
  • Junior shadow day.
  • Identifying and great potential new members at SHPE-SDSU general meetings.
  • Provide the Secretary with a detailed report of junior shadow day within two weeks.
Section 8.
The Membership coordinator shall be responsible of the following.
  • Maintain an up to date Membership roster at all times.
  • Pass out membership certificates.
  • Maintain an up to date Resume disk.
Section 9.
The Student Outreach Liaison shall be responsible for the following activities.
  • SDSU-SHPE Mentor program.
  • Elementary, Junior High school, and High school presentations.
Section 10.
The Social Liaison shall be responsible of the following activities.
  • Sports tournaments and get-togethers.
  • Coordinate Activities with other Latinos clubs.
Section 11.
The Historian shall be responsible for the following activities.
  • Maintaining visual documents of the activities of the chapter including the membership album.
  • Providing articles for the SHPE National newsletter, SHPE Region II newsletter, SHPE-SDSU newsletter, and SHPE San Diego newsletter.
Section 12.
The Web Master shall be responsible for the following.
  • Maintain SHPE SDSU websites.
  • Maintain a working office for officers.
Section 13.
The following officers can have an assistant: External Vice-President Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Fundraising, Director of Recruitment, Membership Coordinator, Student Outreach Liaison.
Section 14.
Any officer can recommend assistants to the President who has the authority to appoint.

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Article 10 - Amendments
Amendments to these bylaws may be made providing the amendment is submitted to the offices in writing, the officers approve the amendment by a majority vote and 2/3 of the active membership ratifies the amendment.
Article 11 - Parliamentary Authority
Authority shall be at the discretion of the presiding officer or the current edition of the Roberts Rules of Order.

Constitution and Bylaws

Table of Contents

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Article 4

Article 5

Article 6

Article 7

Article 8

Article 9

Article 10

Article 11

Name

Purpose

Powers

Membership

General Meetings

Officers

Elections

Voting

Duties of the Officers

Amendments

Parliamentary Authority

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Inc., (SHPE) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the participation of Hispanic professionals and college students in the fields of engineering, science, and other technical and non-technical professions. SHPE is dedicated, at the national level, to the promotion of Hispanics to achieve educational excellence, economic opportunity and social equity. SHPE is dedicated, at the local level, to the same goals.


SHPE provides active academic support to its members, offers professional, career, and technical development opportunities, is involved with the Hispanic community in the San Diego area, and supports recruitment of top-tier Hispanic students. The chapter also provides leadership and networking opportunities to its members, and engages in outreach programs to increase interest and participation of Hispanics in the engineering and scientific fields. As a result SHPE members are well-rounded individuals, who learn to balance academia and extra curricular activities, while continuously striving for excellence. Upon graduation SHPE members have joined the ranks of many of the leading corporations in the U.S., and have also continued to find time to be involved with their community.