National Society of Black Engineers

Eastern Michigan University Chapter Constitution

Preamble  

The National Society of Black Engineers as a national professional engineering-student organization, does herby dedicate itself to the development of intensive programs for increasing African-American and other ethnic minority participation in the fields of engineering, engineering technology, and the physical sciences.  These programs will be initiated by both within and outside the university community and will serve to strengthen relations between professional industry and the African-American community.  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

The name of the governing body shall be Eastern Michigan University Chapter Executive Board of the National Society of Black Engineers.

Article II – Objective

The Eastern Michigan University Executive Board, serving as a liaison between the Regional Executive Board of the National Society of Black Engineers and the chapter members, as well as improve later communication amongst the executive board.  Moreover, part of the responsibility of the board will be to set the direction of the chapter at the beginning of each term of office, within the first thirty (30) days of taking office.  Elections will be held at the beginning of the winter semester.  The elected positions will begin their term of office at the end of the winter semester.  Over the course of the winter semester the current executive board shall act as mentors and teach the new executive board about their positions.

Article III- Officers

The following officers shall be elected to the Eastern Michigan University Chapter Executive Board (CEB):

President

Vice-President

Secretary

Treasurer

Programs Chair

Professional Development/ Academic Excellence Chair

The newly elected President with approval of the elected officers shall appoint the following officers to the Chapter Executive Board (CEB):

Membership Coordinator

Conference Coordinator

Finance Coordinator

Fundraising Coordinator

Community Service & Social Events Coordinator

NSBE Pride Week Coordinator

Telecommunications Coordinator

Advertising Coordinator

Career & Scholarship Coordinator

Pre-College Initiative Coordinator

Article IV – Duties of Officers

Section I- Qualifications for candidacy

1. All candidates for elected (or appointed) positions shall submit a completed election packet.
2. All elected and appointed candidates must maintain full-time student status throughout their elected term as well as remain in good academic standings.

Section II- Duties of Elected Officers

The following officers shall be elected to the Eastern Michigan University Board and hold a vote in CEB meetings (excluding President):

President:

§         Serve as external representative for the organization

§         Shall serve as representative for NSBE chapter on all levels (i.e. campus, regional…)

§         Shall preside over the Administrative Zone

§         Compile regional monthly reports

§         Shall appoint members of all special committees, with advice and consent of the CEB.

§         Preside over executive board meetings

§         Shall notify newly appointed members of transition meeting and acceptance

§         Shall vote in CEB meetings only in case of a tie

§         Revise and make sure chapter is going along with the long range plan (LRP) and the National directives to successfully complete Chapter Development Packet (CDP)

§         Train a potential predecessor

§         Shall produce an official transition report at the close of the term of office.

Vice-President:

§         Serve as internal representative for the organization

§         Shall preside over all official meetings in the absence or the inability of the President

§         Plan/Organize each chapter meeting agenda

§         Conduct mid-year evaluation of executive board

§         Shall perform any other duties as designated by the President

§         Shall preside over and compile monthly reports for  the Membership Zone

§         Train a potential predecessor

§         Complete transition report at end of term of office

Secretary:

• Shall record and report the minutes of all chapter and executive board meetings and other chapter business
• Keep track of  all documentation such as pictures, program planning sheets and all other paperwork for chapter development packet (CDP), and be responsible for submitting old files to historical library
• Shall preside over the Communication Zone
• Compile monthly reports for communication zone
• Serve as connection to administrative zone
• Shall revise and maintain Chapter by-laws and submit changes as they are proposed inform chapter of any announcements, necessary information, etc.
• Train a potential predecessor
• Complete transition report at end of term of office

Treasurer:  

• Shall keep track of all chapter funds both income expenditures and shall oversee expenditures made for chapter business
• Shall keep account of all financial records and insure they are accurate with SOAS account
• Shall prepare financial reports to distribute to CEB after conference
• Shall prepare Executive Board operating budgets and obtain modifications as necessary
• Shall preside over and compile monthly reports for the Finance Zone
• Shall maintain communication with the regional Treasurer and report information to the chapter president
• Train a potential predecessor
• Complete transition report at the end of term of office

Programs Chair:

• Shall preside over and compile monthly reports for the Program Zone, ensure member participation in regional and national scholarships/contests, as well as chapter programs
• Responsible for creating new chapter programs that promote cultural awareness
• Shall maintain communication with Programs Chair and report information to chapter president
• Shall implement and modify all existing chapter programs
• Shall chair the Awards and Incentives Committee, create membership incentives  
• Create budget at beginning of term
• Train a potential predecessor
• Complete transition report at the end of term of office

Professional Development/Academic Excellence Chair:

• Shall preside over and compile monthly reports for the Leadership Zone, and ensure proper attire at general body meetings
• Create academic excellence programs that follow the national Achievers Plus (A+) Program
• Shall serve on Awards and Incentives Committee, create membership incentives to increase and/or maintain GPA
• Implement long range career planning program
•  Encourage chapter members to participate in regional/national academic excellence scholarships/contests
• Create budget at beginning of term
• Train a potential predecessor
• Complete transition report at end of term of office

Section III- Duties of Appointed Officers

The following officers shall be appointed to the Chapter Executive Board after recommendation from the President and approval of the CEB.  Appointed positions shall have no vote in CEB meetings.

Finance Coordinator:

• Solicit corporate sponsorship for chapter
• Organize corporate visitations to chapter
• Shall provide the CEB with the Black owned business resources for solicitation purposes
• Shall disseminate Career Planning Documentation to general body
• Shall maintain communication with regional Finance Chair and report information to the chapter president
• Shall compile and distribute chapter finance packet
• Shall complete transition report at the end of term of office

Fundraising Coordinator:

• Shall organize and coordinate ALL chapter fundraising activities
• Shall investigate and develop new fundraising ideas for the chapter
• Shall complete transition report at the end of term of office

Membership Coordinator:

• Shall disseminate membership application to the general body
• Shall maintain updated rosters of members and membership numbers
• Shall chair Mentor Committee (student to student & alumni to student)
• Shall organize and put on programs to promote  membership sign-up
• Shall maintain communication with regional Membership Chair an report information to chapter president
• Shall serve on the chapter Awards and Incentives Committee
• Shall complete transition report at the end of term
• Shall complete charter membership information and send to regional and national.

Conference Coordinator:

• Shall organize chapter’s attendance at Fall Regional Conference (FRC), Spring Zone Meeting (SZM), Regional Leadership Conference (RLC), and National Convention
• Shall organize travel, and housing for the conferences
• Shall complete transition

Community Service & Social Events Coordinator:

• Provide community service and social events for members
• Ensure that the chapter has at least one community service and social event a month
• Provide incentives for members performing service projects
• Complete Evaluation Form for every event and submit to Zone Leader
• Distribute Participant Evaluation Forms to participants at every event for feedback, this will be submitted to your Zone Leader
• Create budget for program at the beginning of term
• Complete transition report at the end of term of office

NSBE Pride Week Coordinator:

• Organize Pride Week Events
• Create events that in line with the 7 Key Business Areas
• Complete Evaluation Form for every event and submit to Zone Leader
• Distribute Participant Evaluation Forms to participants at every event for feedback, this will be submitted to your Zone Leader
• Create incentives for members participation
• Create budget for program at beginning of term
• Complete transition report at the completion of the event

Telecommunications Coordinator:

• Educate chapter and put on programs about computer applications, the Internet, and the telecommunications industry as a whole
• Maintain Chapter distribution list
• Design chapter web page
• Complete monthly report on progress
• Create budget for program at the beginning of term
• Shall maintain communication with regional Telecommunications Chair and report information to the chapter president
• Shall support and endorse any programs implemented to achieve and maintain computer literacy amongst the membership
• Shall effectively distribute information on NSBE’s programs, publications, campaigns, and causes via the World Wide Web, electronic mail
• Complete transition report at the end of term of office

Advertising Coordinator: 

• Coordinate all advertising for all events such as general body meetings, flyers, email, etc.
• Complete monthly report on progress
• Shall maintain communication with regional Publications Chair and report information to chapter president
• Create budget for program at the beginning of term
• Complete transition report at the end of term of office

Career & Scholarship Coordinator:

• Shall find and document all majors of chapter membership
• Shall research scholarships and inform chapter on what was found
• Shall research jobs and inform chapter membership on what was found
• Complete transition report at the end of term of office

Pre-College Initiative Coordinator:

• Establish a foster chapter relationship with NSBE Jr. Chapter Create PCI Outreach programs
• Shall maintain communication with regional PCI and report information to chapter president
• Shall participate in regional programs by bringing students to regional conferences
• Co-chair senior Weekend on Campus with College of Engineering Recruitment
• Co-chair Shadow Day with College of Engineering Recruitment
• Create budget for program at the beginning of term
• Complete transition report at the end of term of office

Section IV- Reports

Each board member shall have the responsibility of submitting a monthly report to their respective zone leaders, a copy to the Secretary and President at an agreed upon date.  The President shall compile these reports and submit chapter reports to the region.

Article V- Termination of Board Members

A.     Elected Officers

Any elected officer may be impeached for a lapse in duties by the affirmative vote of no less than three-fourths of the voting delegates.

            1.   In the event of an officer falls below good academic standing that is grounds for                         immediate termination from the executive board.

B.     Appointed Officers

Any appointed officer may be removed from their said position by the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the voting delegates.

In the event an officer resigns the President shall initiate the appointment Process to fill the vacancy.

Article VI- Zone Structure

The Executive board shall be divided into operating zones to facilitate discussion among the board as well as allow business to be handled more efficiently.  These zones will be the Administrative Zone, Vice Zone, Communications Zone, Finance Zone, Programs Zone, and Leadership Zone.  Each zone is zone is headed by a zone leader as follows: President- Administrative Zone, Vice-President- Vice Zone, Secretary- Communications Zone, Treasurer- Finance Zone, Program Chair- Programs Zone, and Professional Development/Academic Excellence Chair- Leadership Zone.  Each zone leader will be responsible for the following:

• Contacting each board member in their prospective zone at least twice a week for updates
• Reporting and relaying information to the President
• Ensuring that all zone members are performing their assign duties
• Act as mentors to zone members and help them develop professionally

National Society of Black Engineers Zones & Zone Leaders

Administrative Zone

Zone Leader: President

Vice-President

Treasurer

Secretary

Programs Chair

Professional Development Chair

Membership Zone

Zone Leader: Vice President

Membership Coordinator

 Conference Coordinator

Finance Zone

Zone Leader: Treasurer

Finance Coordinator

Fundraising Coordinator

Programs Zone

Zone Leader: Programs Chair

Community Service & Social Events Coordinator

NSBE Pride Week Coordinator

Communications Zone

Zone Leader: Secretary

Telecommunications Coordinator

Advertising Coordinator

Leadership Zone

Zone Leader: Professional Development Chair

Career & Scholarship Coordinator

Pre-College Initiative Coordinator

Article VII- Meetings & Meeting Attire

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is one of the largest student ran organizations in the country, producing great leaders as well as educated professionals.  National Society of Black Engineers Eastern Michigan University Chapter is no exception to that and will hold bi-weekly Chapter Executive Board and General Body meetings.  These meetings will be formal and business attire is appropriate.  The individual zone meeting will be held once a week and will be informal and casual.