Engineering Club Constitution

Article I: Name and Purpose 

Section 1: Name

Engineering Club 

Section 2: Mission

  1. To provide the students of CSB/SJU an opportunity to further explore future schooling and/or career opportunities in any area of engineering (Specifically in the areas of chemistry, physics, biology, and computer science.).
  2. To provide useful information to students who are looking for internships and jobs in the field of engineering.
  3. To encourage students of CSB/SJU to be innovative
  4. To host a variety of engineering-based events and competitions
  5. To work toward solutions that solve the problems that our campus, community, and nation face today. 

Section 3: Affiliation

The Engineering Club would not immediately be affiliated with any national or regional clubs and/or organizations. It will however seek to associate with various other clubs and organizations of CSB/SJU.  

Article II: Membership 

Section 1: Eligibility for Membership


All current students of CSB/SJU are eligible to become members of the Engineering Club. Because the club officers will do the bulk of the work there is no required work from members except being put on an email list (for their benefit). Everyone is welcome to come to the meetings to get more information and help generate ideas. Faculty and staff are welcome to be non-voting, affiliate members.   

Section 2: Voting Member Criteria


To be considered a voting member, you must be present at a minimum of 50% of meetings. If you are considered a voting member, you will be allowed to vote in elections. 

Section 3: Removal of Members


Once a member of the Engineering Club, always a member of The Engineering Club. Because there is no work required from members, there is no reason to take that title away. Members can come to as much or as little as they want. However, a voting member may have that title removed if he/she does not attend 50% of meetings/events. Officer removal is explained in more detail below.  

Article III: Officers 

Section 1: Officer Qualifications


In order for a student to qualify to be an officer, they must:

  1. Must be a current CSB/SJU student
  2. Be interested in the Engineering Club mission
  3. Have been a member of the Engineering Club for a minimum of one year, in which they attended a minimum of 50% of meetings/events 

If a student meets these qualifications, they are eligible to become an officer. See Article IV for Election procedures. 

Section 2: Elected Officers

  1. President
  2. Vice President
  3. Secretary
  4. Treasurer
  5. Public Relations  

Simply list the main contact person first. Also clearly identify the Co-Funding Board (CFB) and Joint Club Board (JCB) contacts. 

Section 3: Duties of Officers


Duties of Officers are listed below: 

  1. 1.   President: Preside at meetings, run all meetings, call any needed special meetings, accept the role of primary contact with the institutions, run a fair and democratic election process
    1. a.   Term: Academic Year
    2. 2.   Vice President: assume President’s duties in his/her absence, schedule rooms for the meetings and elections, accept the role of primary contact with the JCB, and plan officer training program
      1. a.   Term: Academic Year
      2. 3.   Secretary: takes and distributes minutes and agenda of all club meetings, recorder keeper (current and past members, files attendance), club historian, notify members of meetings
        1. a.   Term: Academic Year
        2. 4.   Treasurer: keeps all financial records, submits monthly audit statements to CFB contact, notifies organization of financial issues, prepares budget/allocation requests
          1. a.   Term: Academic Year
          2. 5.   Public Relations: Publicize the activities and events of the club, basically the club’s advertiser
            1. a.   Term: Academic Year 

We will only have a President, vice-President, and treasurer to begin, but as the club grows, we plan to have public relations, secretary, and potentially a web master.  

Section 4: Vacancy in Office


In the event a vacancy should occur (resignation or removal) there would be a special election called to replace vacancy. In the case that the President is removed or resigns, the vice President will assume the duties of the President until the special election is held. Special elections are described in detail in Article IV. 

Section 5: Removal of Officers


In the case that an officer is not fulfilling their expected duties or for other reasons stated below, they may be removed of their duties by the following process: 

A petition to remove the officer in question must be submitted to the President (or Vice-President in the case that the President is the officer in question). This petition must contain the signatures of 2/3 of voting members. When such petition is received, the President or vice-President shall call a meeting of the club to determine whether or not the officer should be removed. The President or Vice-President, at a special club meeting, then presents the grounds for the removal of an officer. The officer in question shall then be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing. A quorum must be present, and an anonymous vote will take place. If there is a 2/3 vote, the officer will be removed.  

Grounds for removal:

  1. 1.   Inability to fulfill the duties he/she accepted
  2. 2.   Repeated and/or unannounced absence from meetings
  3. 3.   Any serious offense to CSB/SJU
  4. 4.   Inability to remain eligible (qualifications are described in Article III, Section 1). 

Section 6: Appeal of Removal of Officers

If an officer feels as though he/she was unfairly removed of his/her position, they may make an appeal. In this case the student must contact the President (or Vice-President in the case that the President requests an appeal). The President must then call a special meeting in which the former officer is allowed to make his/her appeal. In this meeting all issues with the former officer must be brought up. After the student’s appeal the club will vote once again. If there is a 2/3 vote, the officer will remain removed.   

Article IV: Elections 

Section 1: Nomination Process


Any current officer or eligible member (see Article III, section 1) can self-nominate and run for any position. All members will be informed of elections at least one month in advance. 

Section 2: Election


Elections will be held in the spring each year. There is no limit on the number of terms a person can serve. The election process is explained in detail below: 

In order for the elections to take place, all current officers must be present as well as all members running for office. During elections each candidate will be allowed to give a five-minute (max) speech on why they should be the new (position they are running for). After each candidate has given their speech, all of the eligible voting members and officers will vote anonymously (they will be given a secret ballot). The votes will be collected and given to the advisor to tally. The advisor will then announce the new officers. (If the advisor is not present during elections (he/she is not required to be), the President will deliver them to the advisor to be tallied and the list of new officers will be emailed as soon as possible.)  

The Department of Student Activities will then be notified of the new officers. 

Section 3: Special Elections


In the case that an officer is removed or resigns, the President (or Vice President in the case that the presidency is vacant) must call a special election. This special election will follow the same procedure as stated in Article IV, Section 2. However, this special election must take place within 2 weeks of being called to fill the vacancy. 

Article V: Advisor 

Section 1: Selection


The Engineering Club will choose an advisor familiar with the pre-engineering system. We would also like to receive help and “advice” from all faculty members familiar with pre-engineering or any faculty willing to help.  

Section 2: Duties

  1. Promote group activities to other faculty/staff
  2. Challenge group members/officers to think creatively 

Article VI: Meetings 

Section 1: Regular Meeting/Club Activities


At minimum, a meeting will be held twice a month. The President can call a special meeting at any time. Reasons a special meeting will be called are listed in Article VI, Section 2. All officers and members will be notified via email a week in advance.  

Section 2: Special Meetings


Special meetings may be called in the following circumstances:

  1. For any special elections
  2. For any appeal of removal
  3. If there is an upcoming event that needs more work 

All officers and members will be notified via email. All special meetings will be run in the same order as regular meetings explained in Article VI, Section 3.  

Section 3: Parliamentary Authority


The President (Vice-President if President is absent) will head all meetings. He/She will announce the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. All members and officers will be given the chance to voice their opinion on any topic or idea brought up in the meeting. It is the responsibility of the President to ensure that the meeting flows in an orderly fashion. If there were ever to be a debate, the club will follow Robert’s Rules of Order.  

Section 4: Quorum*

There is no quorum for a regular business meeting to occur; with the exception that 3/5 of the officers must be in attendance. The quorum is different for elections as described in Article IV, Section 2.   

Article VII: Committees 

Section 1: Committee Structure

The Engineering Club will consist of a group of officers acting as one committee and therefore will not contain any separate committees. 

Section 2: Special/Ad-Hoc Committees


The President will form any special/ad-hoc committees as needed. 

Article VIII: Finances 

Section 1: Co-Funding Board


The Engineering Club would like to apply for CFB monies and in doing so, accepts to abide by all CFB and institutional regulations. 

Section 2: Honorariums

There will be no honorarium or stipend from the organization. 

Section 3: Dues

Neither members nor officers will be required to pay dues. We will encourage all members to buy a club T-shirt. 

Article IX: Amendments 

Section 1: Ratification


In the case that amendments wish to be made to this constitution, the President must be made aware of the amendment in question. The President must then call a special meeting, in which the amendment be brought to the attention of the officers. The officers will then vote on whether or not this constitution be amended. If there is a 2/3 vote, then the amendment will then be ratified and added to this constitution. 

Section 2: Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board


Any changes made to this constitution will be submitted to the Department of Student Activities and the JCB.

Article X

The Engineering Club admits students without regard to their race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and other activities, generally accorded or made available to members of the organization. 

Article XI

The Engineering Club considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity, which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. The Engineering Club recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes all forms of hazing.

Article XII

The Engineering  Club agrees that its activities, mission statement and goals are consistent with the Benedictine Values.