UD ACM

Bylaws of the University of Delaware
Student Chapter of the ACM

APPROVED BY MEMBERSHIP, MAY 12 2004

  • Article I - Name
    1. This organization shall be called the University of Delaware Student Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery. In these Bylaws it is referred to as the Chapter; the Association for Computing Machinery is referred to as the ACM; The University of Delaware is referred to as the University.
  • Article II - Purpose
    1. The Chapter is organized and will be operated exclusively for educational and scientific purposes to promote the following:
      • An increased knowledge of and greater interest in the science, design, development, construction, languages, management and applications of modern computing.
      • Greater interest in computing and its applications.
      • A means of communication between persons having an interest in computing.
      • A social atmosphere for students and professors to interact in.
    2. The Chapter will serve students at the University of Delaware and other interested persons in the Newark community.
    3. The Chapter is chartered by the ACM.
  • Article III - Membership
    1. Membership in the Student Chapter shall be open to all University of Delaware Students, whether they be ACM members or nonmembers.
    2. Voting membership in the Student Chapter shall be granted to all members in good standing. A member is in good standing if that member has:
      • Registered with the chapter secretary as an active member.
      • Satisfied any and all dues obligation imposed by the Chapter as verified by the treasurer
      • Satisfied any requirements for minimum attendance as set forth by the executive council The Executive Councill (by means of a majority vote) may grant Associate membership in the chapter to anyone that would not otherwise meet the criteria for membership. Associate members do not vote and may not hold any office.
  • Article IV - Officers
    1. The officers of this Chapter shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
    2. The Executive Council may create additional officer positions as needed to conduct the business of the chapter.
    3. All officers of the Chapter must be members of ACM.
    4. The officers shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Elections shall be held within four weeks of the beginning of the Spring Semester. New officers shall take office immediately after spring break and shall serve until the completion of spring break of the following academic year.
    5. No member may serve in the office of President or Vice President for more than two consecutive years. In the event that an officer shall leave office before the end of the current term, a new officer may be voted in by a majority vote of the Executive Council.
    6. The secretary shall promptly notify the University of any and all officer changes.
  • Article V - Duties of Officers
    1. The President is the principal officer and is responsible for leading the Chapter and managing its activities in accordance with the policies and procedures of the ACM, the University, and these Bylaws. The President shall preside at all meetings of the chapter and of its Executive Council.
    2. The Vice President shall assist the President in the management of the Chapter. Other duties of the Vice President shall include:
      • Presiding at meetings in the absence of the President.
      • Chairing the program comitee
      • Performing other duties as assigned by the President.
      • Performing other duties as assigned by the President.
    3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all Chapter and Executive Council meetings. Other duties of the Secretary shall include:
      • Maintaining the records of the Chapter.
      • Preparation of the Chapter's activity report and officer contact information, and submission of these to ACM Headquarters and, if applicable, The University.
      • Chairing the publicity committee
      • Performing other duties as assigned by the President.
    4. The Treasurer shall collect dues, pay all bills, and maintain the Chapter's financial records. Other duties of the Treasurer shall include:
      • Preparation of the Chapter's Annual Financial Report for presentation to the Chapter at the Annual Election meeting.
      • Completion and submission of the Annual Financial Report to ACM Headquarters.
      • Upholding all financial, training, auditing, or other requirements as set forth by the University.
      • Performing other duties as assigned by the President.
  • Article VI - Faculty Advisor
    1. The Faculty Advisor shall be a voting member of ACM and a member of the faculty of the University.
    2. The Faculty Advisor shall be selected by the Executive Council immediately following the Election. The selection shall be confirmed by the University.
    3. The Faculty Advisor shall be generally responsible for the activities of the Chapter. Specifically, the Faculty Advisor:
      • helps provide continuity from year to year as student leadership and personnel change
      • promotes good student-faculty relationships
      • helps maintain university standards in all activities of the Chapter
      • exercises financial supervision, if necessary, by
        • promoting prompt payment of bills and collection of dues, and
        • overseeing the settlement of all accounts in the event of dissolution of the Chapter; and
      • represents the Chapter interests to the faculty and administration.
  • Article VII - Executive Council
    1. The Executive Council shall consist of the Chapter officers, the Faculty Advisor, and chairs of the Chapter's standing committees.
    2. The Term of the members of the Executive Council shall be coincident with the terms of the officers.
  • Article VIII - Standing Committees
    1. The standing committees of the Chapter shall be Program and Communications.
    2. The Program Committee shall plan and make arrangements for both the technical and non-technical programs of the Chapter's meetings in accordance with the membership's interests and the aims of the Chapter as set forth in Article II.
    3. The Communications Committee shall interact with all members and serve as a contact point between the membership and the Executive Council. Duties shall be dictated by the secretary as chair of the commitee, but at a minimum they shall include announcements of any chapter activities, as well as the maintenance and administration of any information source that the chapter controls (such as listservs, mailing lists, or websites).
    4. Any additional committee's duties shall be defined by The Executive Council as that committee is introduced to the chapter.
  • Article IX - Temporary Committees
    1. The Executive Council shall have the authority to appoint temporary commitees (such as for the purporse of conducting Elections or Auding) at any time.
    2. A temporary commitee is defined as a commitee whose intended length of existance is less than one academic year.
    3. The duties of these commitees and the length of time that they will be in place shall be defined by The Executive Council as that committee is introduced to the chapter.
  • Article X - Meetings
    1. Meetings shall be held as planned by the Program Committee. The Chapter shall hold meetings only in places that are open and accessible to all members of the Chapter..
    2. Written notices of all meetings shall be distributed to all members at least one week prior to any meeting.
  • Article XI - Disbursements and Dues
    1. Disbursements from the Treasury for Chapter expenditures shall be made by the Treasurer with authorization of the Executive Council, and shall be included in the minutes of its meetings.
    2. Any dues shall be fixed annually by the Executive Council.
  • Article XII - Amendment and Voting Procedures
    1. All proposed changes to these Chapter Bylaws shall be approved by the Executive Council and any of its designees before being presented to the Chapter membership for a vote.
    2. No official business of the Chapter shall be conducted unless a quorum is present. A quorum of the Chapter shall be defined as 40 percent of the voting membership of the Chapter or at least 10 members, whichever is greater.
    3. A simple majority of the voting members present shall be required to carry a motion.
    4. Officers will be elected by a plurality of votes cast.
  • Article XIII - Dissolution of the Chapter
    1. Dissolution of this Chapter by consent of the members shall consist of unanimous agreement of all its officers together with a majority vote at a meeting which has been publicized in advance to all members of the Chapter for the purpose of taking this vote.
    2. Should this Chapter be dissolved, its assets and liabilities shall be disposed of in compliance with University and ACM policies.
  • Article XIV - Compliance with University Policy
    1. The chapter agrees to adhere to all policies and procedures of the University and all local, state, and federal laws. Members will become acquainted with policies and procedures in the Official student handbook and other policies and procedures provided by the University. This organization is a viable, functioning organization, composed of at least six full time undergraduate students and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, veteran, handicap status, or sexual orientation.