CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI STUDENT SECTION OF THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS (SWE)

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization is the UNIVERISTY OF CINCINNATI STUDENT SECTION OF THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The purposes of this Student Section are:

  1. To promote, support and encourage fellow members through sharing of common technical interests, aspirations, and problems.
  2. To provide information to interested persons on the opportunities for women in engineering and engineering related fields.
  3. To encourage young women to pursue engineering as a possible career option.
  4. To further the purposes of SWE as stated in its National Bylaws.
  5. To provide a support system for women in science and engineering.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

The requirements for membership shall follow National Guidelines. There shall be two classes of members: voting and non-voting.

ARTICLE IV – EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The officers of this Student Section shall be (1) President, (1) Vice President, (1) Secretary, and (1) Treasurer. If the membership deems necessary and opts the following, the student section officers may allow for (2) Vice Presidents, (2) Secretaries, and (2) Treasurers – one from each co-op section.

The Term of Office for all officers shall be one school year as designated by the program of studies. Terms for the same elected and appointed offices may be repeated simultaneously.

Officers should be a student in good standing of the College of Engineering and a member of the National Society of Women Engineers.

ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The affairs of this Student Section shall be managed by the Executive Council consisting of the President, Vice-President(s), Secretary(s), and Treasurer(s). The SWE Counselor and Faculty Advisor shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Council.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS

This Student Section shall hold a minimum of one meeting per quarter. Executive board must meet at least once a month.

ARTICLE VII – ADVISORS

This Student Section shall have a SWE Counselor and a Faculty Advisor. Advisors are selected by majority vote of student section officers based on qualifications in the bylaws on a yearly basis.

If the Student Section deems it necessary, a Graduate Advisor may be selected by majority vote of the student section officers based on the qualifications in the by laws on a yearly basis.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the total voting membership. An amendment must be submitted to the Student Activities Committee Chairman c/o SWE Headquarters for review and consequent submittal to the SWE Executive Committee. An amendment will become effective only after the Executive Committee’s acceptance and Student Activities Board’s approval.

ARTICLE IX – RATIFICATION

Ratification requires a two-thirds majority vote of the total voting membership, approval by the SWE Executive Committee, and approval by the Student Activities Board.

BYLAWS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI STUDENT SECTION OF THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS (G053)

ARTICLE I - ORGANIZATION

SECTION 1 - NAME

The name of this organization if the UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI STUDENT SECTION of the SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS, operating under a charter granted by the Board of Directors of the Society of Women Engineers (herein, referred to as SWE) on June 12, 1976.

SECTION 2 - PURPOSE

The purposes of this Student Section are:

  1. To promote, support and encourage fellow members through sharing of common technical interests, aspirations, and problems.
  2. To provide information to interested persons on the opportunities for women in engineering and engineering related fields.
  3. To encourage young women to pursue engineering as a possible career option.
  4. To further the purposes of SWE as stated in its National Bylaws.
  5. To provide a support system to women in science and engineering.

SECTION 3 - GOVERNMENT

This Student Section shall be governed by these bylaws, the National Bylaws, SWE policies and procedures, and the rules and regulations of the University of Cincinnati. In all situations not otherwise covered, Roberts Rules of Order Revised is the parliamentary authority.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1 - QUALIFICATIONS

Subject to the Society's policies and purposes, this Student Section shall not discriminate in connection with its membership and its service to the public at large. Membership in this Student Section is limited to:

  1. Voting members, who are Student Members in good standing of SWE. Any person who meets one of the following requirements is eligible for the grade of Student member if such a person is not employed full time in an engineering position or a field related to engineering and:
    1. Is pursuing an undergraduate course of study towards an associate or a baccalaureate degree in engineering, engineering technology, or a field related to engineering in a recognized college or university.
    2. Is pursuing a full-time graduate course of study in engineering or a field related to engineering in a recognized college or university.
  2. One voting member who is the SWE Counselor.
  3. One non-voting member, who is the Faculty Advisor, when this is required by the college or university or when desired by the Student Section.

SECTION 2 - APPLICANTS

Applicants for membership in this Student Section shall submit a completed, school-certified SWE Student Membership Application, together with the current dues and fees, to the Membership Committee, c/o SWE National Headquarters (230 East Ohio Street Suite 400 - Chicago, IL 60611-3265). Applicants may also apply for membership and pay dues online at www.swe.org

SECTION 3 - UPGRADING OF MEMBERSHIP IN SWE

In order to upgrade to “Professional/National Member,” it is necessary to submit a properly executed Membership Upgrade Application to the Admissions Committee, c/o SWE Headquarters, not later that June 1 of the year following termination of “Student Member” status. Failure to upgrade when required or failure to notify SWE headquarters of continued student status when requested to do so, will cause the SWE Board of Directors to drop these members from the Society as ineligible for the grade of Student Member.

ARTICLE III - DUES

SECTION 1 - ESTABLISHMENT AND REBATES OF DUES

Annual national dues, as established by the SWE Council of Section Representatives, are payable to the SWE when billed by the National Treasurer. In accordance with National Bylaws, a Section I member failing to pay dues by November 1 is delinquent and is ineligible to vote, and a Section II member failing to pays dues by February 1 is delinquent and is ineligible to vote, and a member failing to pay dues by February 1 of the fiscal year in which she/he is delinquent automatically forfeits membership. No Student Section is permitted to levy local dues. The Student Section receives a rebate (20% of current dues) toward the operating expenses of the local Student Section.

All other funds shall be raised as is deemed necessary by the Executive Council, approved by the Student Section, and the appropriate University office.

SECTION 2 - PAYMENT OF DUES

A student is a member in good standing for the fiscal year in which the SWE Headquarters receives the correct dues and updated membership information.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS AND DUTIES

SECTION 1 - OFFICERS

  1. The Executive officers of this Student Section shall be one President, one Vice President, one Secretary, and one Treasurer. If the membership deems it necessary and opts the following, the officers of this student section shall be one President, two Vice Presidents, two Secretaries, and two Treasurers – one from each co-op section.
  2. If only one person for each office is elected, executive offices shall be elected at the end of winter quarter. If two officers are elected for each different co-op section, executive officers for Section I co-op shall be elected at the end of Spring quarter and shall serve the following Autumn and Spring quarters. Officers for Section II co-op shall be elected at the end of Winter quarter and shall serve the following Summer and Winter quarters. Note: Only Vice-presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers have the opt of two officers – one from each co-op section. Officers shall assume duties upon completion of official elections. The date of elections shall be determined by the Executive Council.
  3. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice President. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by a special election of the Student Section's voting members or appointed by the President with approval from the Executive Board for the remainder of that term of office.
  4. The officers shall be elected no later than May for a one-year term beginning July 1 & ending June 30.
  5. The board of this Student Section shall also include any committee chairs deemed necessary and defined by the officers of the executive board.
  6. The Executive Officers and Board must be paid National Members.

SECTION 2 – EXECUTIVE OFFICER DUTIES

  1. The President shall:

    1. Preside at all meetings of this Student Section.
    2. Appoint all committee chairmen, subject to approval of the Executive Council.
    3. Assume all other executive duties not otherwise delegated.
    4. Prepare the annual report of this Student Section’s activities and obtain the SWE Counselor’s and Faculty Advisor’s counter-signatures. The Section President will submit this report to the SWE Region G Coordinator and to SWE Headquarters prior to the close of the school year.
    5. Receive all complaints, requests, and notification of matters to be brought before SWE.
    6. Coordinate Executive Meetings, Board Meetings, and General Meetings.
    7. Assume regular contact with the Dean of College of Engineering and President of Engineering Tribunal (ET).
    8. Review and update Constitution and By Laws for this Student Section on a yearly basis, subject to approval by the Executive Council, Board, and National SWE members.

  2. The Vice-President shall:

    1. Perform all duties of the President in the absence, or at the request of that officer.
    2. Inform any and all duties performed in absence of President, to the President.
    3. Perform any other duties assigned by the Executive Council.
    4. Chair the Outreach program with: (1) Engineering Outreach Program (EOP), (2) Big Brother / Big Sister Mentoring Program, and (3) Rowe Center for Women in Engineering through:
      1. Coordinating at least one activity with high school women each quarter.
      2. Maintaining regular contact with the SWE Counselor for Women in Engineering events.
      3. Providing regular feedback regarding events and activities occurring in the Outreach Program to the Executive Council.

  3. The Secretary shall:

    1. Keep minutes of all meetings of the Student Section.
    2. Count votes for the officer elections unless this officer is running for an elected position or unless the student section opts to use email, mail, or some other form of secret ballots approved by the Executive Council and the majority of student members.
    3. Notify student members being one co-op quarter in arrears in dues payment of their suspension.
    4. Update the SWE bulletin board quarterly.
    5. Keep track of all attendees at meetings including Executive Council meetings, Board meetings, and General Meetings.
    6. Track “SWE bucks” for each member of SWE.
    7. Maintain a record of all SWE meetings in the file cabinet and on the website.
    8. Assume responsibility for maintenance of the SWE website (www.swe.uc.edu) by:
      1. Manually updating the website or
      2. Maintaining regular contact with the Webmaster.

  4. The Treasurer shall:

    1. Receive all funds and pay all bills for this Student Section authorized by the Executive Council.
    2. Keep an exact account of all receipts, expenditures, and fundraising.
    3. The Treasurer of Section I co-op shall report both sections accounts to the SWE Region G Coordinator at the end of Spring Quarter on the Student Section Financial Report due no later than 30 days following the close of the Fiscal Year (July 30).
    4. Provide Undergraduate Funding Board (UFB) requests and attend appropriate meetings needed to receive funding.
    5. Attend the mandatory Student Activities Board Treasurer’s Workshop (beginning of Fall Quarter).
    6. Report all transactions to the executive board at each of the executive board meetings.
    7. Treasurer will present transactions throughout the quarter to the President and Vice President quarterly.

ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The affairs of this Student Section shall be managed by the Executive Council consisting of the President, Vice-President(s), Secretary(s), and Treasurer(s). The SWE Counselor and the Faculty Advisor shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Council.

ARTICLE VI - SWE COUNSELOR

SECTION 1 - QUALIFICATIONS

The SWE Counselor should be a voting member of SWE whenever possible, but the Board of Directors can be petitioned to approve an Associate Member in the event that a voting member is not available and if the qualifications of the Associate Member are acceptable. Any SWE Counselor approved by the Board of Directors must be a member in good standing of the Society.

SECTION 2 - ELECTION PRIOR TO PETITION FOR CHARTER

The SWE Counselor shall be elected by majority vote of the proposed membership of this Student Section prior to submission of a petition for charter. The election is subject to approval by the SWE Executive Committee and will be considered with the petition.

SECTION 3 - REPLACEMENT

The Student Section may at any time by a majority vote of its membership replace the SWE Counselor subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, via the Student Activities Committee, must be notified, in writing, of the proposed new Counselor's name and address. The incumbent SWE Counselor shall be informed of this action and the SWE Counselor-elect shall understand and be willing to accept the responsibilities of the office if approved by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4 - RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. The SWE Counselor is responsible to the Board of Directors through the Student Activities Committee, for this Student Section’s compliance with the Bylaws, policies, and procedures of the Society.
  2. The SWE Counselor shall countersign the annual report indicating this Student Section’s compliance with the minimum membership requirements for Student Section as specified in the National Bylaws. If this Student Section is not in compliance or is not expected to be in compliance the following school year, the SWE Counselor shall attach an explanation letter and forecast of expected date of compliance.

ARTICLE VII - FACULTY ADVISOR

The Faculty Advisor shall:

  1. Be a faculty member of the University of Cincinnati.
  2. Keep this Student Section informed about University policies and procedures.
  3. Countersign the annual report.
  4. Ensure that the organization is consistent with its stated purpose.
  5. Grant approval for off-campus SWE activities.
  6. Be present when off-campus speakers are present.
  7. Be a voting member in case of a tie in elections.

ARTICLE VIII – GRADUATE ADVISOR

The Graduate Advisor shall:

  1. Be a Graduate Student of the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering.
  2. Advise the Student Section when needed.
  3. Be a current SWE member.
  4. Help with recruitment of graduate student members.

ARTICLE IX - MEETINGS

This Student Section shall hold a minimum of one meeting per quarter, the time and place to be designated by the Executive Council.

At all meetings, a quorum shall be one-third (1/3) of the voting members of the Student Section. All matters coming before the Student Section, which require the approval of the membership and the election of officers, shall be carried by the majority vote of the voting members providing that a quorum is present.

ARTICLE X - OFFICER ELECTIONS

  1. The Secretary shall count the votes for the officer elections unless this officer is running for an elected position or unless the Student Section opts to use email, mail, or some other form of secret ballots approved by the Executive Council and the majority of the membership. The format for conducting another form of secret ballot must be written and approved by the Executive Council and the majority of the membership prior to implementation.
  2. The SWE Counselor, Faculty Advisor, or Graduate Advisor shall confirm the counted votes made by the Secretary.
  3. Only paid members in good standing are permitted to vote in officer elections and any other decisions which require a vote.
  4. Absentee ballots are permitted, provided that the absent member has paid and is in good standing. This ballot may be mailed or emailed to the SWE Counselor or Faculty Advisor.

ARTICLE XI - COMMITTEES

Committees shall be established by the Executive Council as required to carry out / further the work of this Student Section. Committee chairmen shall be appointed as in Article IV, Section 2A (1.b) of these Bylaws. These elected chairmen will serve of the board.

ARTICLE XII - RETENTION OF CHARTER

In order to retain an active charter and participate in campus activities as a Student Section of the SWE, the following minimum requirements must be met:

  1. At least ten (10) student members;
  2. At least fifty (50) percent of the Section membership shall be women majoring in engineering;
  3. Operation under the guidance of a SWE Counselor.

ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of this Student Section membership provided the amendment shall have been proposed at least one meeting prior to the time of voting. After acceptance by the membership, an amendment must be submitted to the Student Activities Committee Chairman, c/o SWE Headquarters, for National Bylaws Committee review and submittal to the SWE Board of Directors. An amendment will become effective only after acceptance and approval by the Board of Directors.