Constitution
CONSTITUTION
GRADUATE ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING STUDENT ASSOCIATION (GECESA)
ARTICLE I
NAME OF ORGANIZATION
The name of this organization shall be GRADUATE ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING STUDENT ASSOCIATION (GECESA).
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE OF ORGANIZATION
The purposes of this student Association are to:
1. Encourage and facilitate student participation in department activities, providing students the opportunity to pursue their community interests;
2. Foster positive student advisor relations.
3. To promote and encourage scientific research in different areas of electrical and computer engineering.
4. To be an example of ethics and excellence in research within the graduate student community at TTU.
5. To provide support and guidance to new graduate students in electrical and computer engineering at TTU.
6. To organize field specific workshops for graduate students in electrical and computer engineering at TTU.
7. Develop and participate in programs with industry and the university, which benefit students seeking technical degrees.
8. Provide a forum for the exchange of information pertinent to Graduate students of ECE department at TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY.
ARTICLE III
ASSOCIATION
SECTION 1. AFFILIATION
This student association will be a part of the ECE department at TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY.
SECTION 2. NON-DISCRIMINATION No person shall be denied membership in this organization because of race, color, sex, handicap, nationality, sexual orientation, religious affiliation or belief.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP
REGULAR MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to:
Any Graduate Student in good standing with the ECE department at TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY. A nominal membership fee of $5.00 per year would be collected from every member for the activities of the association. In the event of disbandment, the money collected would be handed over to the ECE department.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS/EXECUTIVE BOARD
SECTION 1.
Officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations & Membership Representative, and Webmaster. The term of office is one year beginning July 1.
SECTION 2. President
1. The President shall represent the association and be responsible for all business concerning the association. The President shall have full power in the management and business of the Association and shall set and establish all policy of the association and/or other functions or activities under the direction of this association. The President shall also be the official spokesperson for the association, manage the duties of other officers and manage the day-to-day affairs of the association.
2. The President will be responsible for correspondence with other bodies, representing the association at meetings and functions, and the coordination of communication with other graduate student associations.
SECTION 3. Vice President
The Vice President shall assist the President in all business concerning the association and shall act as a President Pro Tem in the latter’s absence. The Vice President will also be in charge of the external affairs of the association (industrial relations, company tours, etc.).
SECTION 4. Secretary
The Secretary will take the minutes of the meeting and post them. The Secretary will also be in charge of the bulletin board. He/she will be responsible for registering the organization with the university each academic year and for tallying the election votes. The Secretary will be responsible for all external and internal correspondence. The Secretary will make agendas for all meetings and maintain membership information on all association members.
SECTION 6. Treasurer
The Treasurer will keep books and records on money received and disbursed. The Treasurer will make quarterly financial reports listing all liabilities and assets of the organization to the Executive Board and the general membership. It will be the Treasurer’s responsibility to recommend and present the annual budget and complete financial reports to the Executive Board.
SECTION 7. Public Relations & Membership Representative
The Public Relations Representative shall assist the President and Vice President in all business concerning the Association. The Public Relations Representative will also be in charge of the internal/marketing affairs of the Association (campus relations, social activities, promotions, flyers, press releases, etc.). He shall also recruit members at student functions and disseminate information to prospective members. He would also submit all applications for membership to the Treasurer along with all dues collected.
SECTION 9. Webmaster
The Webmaster will be responsible for creating and updating the Association website.
SECTION 10. Faculty Advisor
The Faculty Advisor will assist the Executive Board of Directors with all aspects of managing the association. The advisor will monitor the students’ academic status and ensure that members are in compliance with all university regulations. The advisor will also ensure the students submit reports that are due, and that the association meets periodically.
ARTICLE VI
ELECTIONS/VOTING
SECTION 1. NOMINATIONS
1.1. Nominations are to be held at the last general meeting in March each year. Nominations of the officers shall be submitted to the membership at least two weeks prior to the election.
1.2. Those eligible for office must be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and have all membership fees paid.
1.3. Each candidate must be nominated and seconded by a second member in good standing.
1.4. Candidates may run for more than one office, but may obtain only one position (unless there are no members available to hold the office). In the event of a tie, the student with the higher GPA will have been designated as the winner.
SECTION 2. VOTING
2.1 All persons who have become active regular members of the organization at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual election shall be eligible to vote.
2.2 Elections are to be held at the last general meeting in April each year.
2.3 If there is a majority of members present at the general meeting, then a secret ballot will be taken of those in attendance. A simple majority will constitute a victory. If a candidate is running unopposed, he/she may be confirmed by default.
2.4 Absentee voting may take place up to one week prior to the general meeting. Anyone wishing to cast an absentee ballot must do so up to one week prior to the meeting where the elections will be held. They can send in their absentee ballot electronically.
2.5 The secretary is responsible for conducting the election, counting all votes, and providing a report to the membership of the election results not later than one week after the election is held.
2.6 The newly elected officers will take office in July and will remain in office for the following academic year.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS
The Fiscal Year of the Association shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th of each year.
SECTION 1. DEFINITION OF QUORUM
A quorum shall consist of at least 51% of active members or 4 out of seven officers.
SECTION 2. GENERAL MEETINGS
General membership meetings shall be held a minimum of once per month during the academic year.
SECTION 3. ELECTION MEETINGS
Officer elections will be held at a special meeting in April each year.
SECTION 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS
The Board has the privilege of calling special membership meetings as needed. At least three day’s notice must be given to the membership.
ARTICLE VIII
RESIGNATIONS AND IMPEACHMENTS
Meetings shall be held and defined as stated and confirmed in the bylaws. All the meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
SECTION 1. RESIGNATIONS
1.1. Any person willing to resign from office at least a week before the next Association meeting shall submit a letter of resignation to the President or vice President.
1.2. During a meeting when a resignation is presented, nominations will be taken to fill the office. The group shall elect a person during the following week by secret ballot.
SECTION 2. IMPEACHMENTS
2.1 When any member feels that an officer is not fulfilling his/her duties, he/she may call upon the rest of the officers to meet within the next week to discuss/resolve the matter.
2.2 During the impeachment proceedings, the case will be presented. A letter will be sent to the officer under investigation to serve as notification. He / She will have 15 business days to respond. During this time he/she will be given the opportunity to present his/her defense before the officers’ vote.
2.3 A majority of the officers (51% or more) will decide whether the impeachment will be carried out. If impeached, a new officer will be nominated and elected as described under article VI.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
1. The Association by-laws may be amended by the Association at any time. Any proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the membership at any general meeting.
2. A favorable vote of 2/3 of the members on the issue is required for amendment passage. If 2/3 of the members is not present at the meeting the voting will be postponed to the following general meeting. If the attendance is still lower than 2/3 of the members a favorable vote of 2/3 of the quorum on the issue is sufficient.
3. The amendment shall be submitted to the GECESA Membership Coordinator for approval.
ARTICLE X
RATIFICATION
The undersigned students of the Tennessee Technological University, after a majority affirmative vote of the active members (51% or greater), do hereby agree to follow the guidelines outlined in this Constitution.