The Columbia University student chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers shall work to develop and implement programs benefiting Hispanic students seeking to become Engineers and Scientists.

1. Increase the number of Hispanic engineering/science students at Columbia University,
   
2. Promote the employment and education in engineering and scientists of the members,
   
3. Develop and participate in program with industry and the university which benefit members seeking technical degrees,
   
4. Improve the retention of Hispanic students enrolled in engineering and science,
   
5. Provide a forum for the exchange of information pertinent for member engineering/science students enrolled in Columbia University.
   

Affiliation

SHPE-COLUMBIA will be affiliated student chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Inc.(SHPE Inc.). The organization possesses the right to adopt its own rules and procedures within the framework of SHPE Inc. rules and regulations an d Columbia University's Rules and Regulations. This student chapter will be part of the "local" SHPE metropolitan NY & NJ student chapter council as defined by regional vice-president and the local professional chapter presidents.

Non-discrimination

No person shall be denied membership into SHPE-COLUMBIA because of race, color, sex, handicap, nationality, religious affiliation or belief even though the name Society of Hispanic Professional engineers was chosen.

Regular Members

Regular Members of SHPE-COLUMBIA shall be open to any student enrolled at Columbia University majoring in an Engineering or Science field.

Executive Board Members

Executive board members are those members who hold executive office. (President, Vice President Internal, Vice President External, Treasurer, Secretary)

Honorary Members

Honorary membership shall be given to those individuals who do not fulfill the requirements of being regular member but whose support of the objectives of SHPE-COLUMBIA merits them special recognition. The process of being inducted as an honorary re quires that a regular member nominates the individual and that the executive board approves the membership.

Executive Board

Executive Board shall consist of a president, a vice president internal, a vice president external, a treasurer and a secretary

Executive Responsibilities

President

The President shall represent the Society and be responsible for all business concerning SHPE-COLUMBIA. The president shall have full power in the management and business of SHPE-COLUMBIA and will work with the vice president and officers to set an d establish all policy of SHPE-COLUMBIA and shall be SHPE-COLUMBIA's liaison to all external entities.

Vice President Internal

The vice president internal shall assist the president in all internal business concerning the affairs of SHPE-COLUMBIA.

Vice President External

The vice president external shall assist the president in all external business concerning the affairs of SHPE-COLUMBIA.

Treasurer

The treasurer shall be the financial officer for the Society, assisting the vice president and president in all financial matters and responsibilities for managing SHPE-COLUMBIA's treasury and budget, and the identification and acquisition of funds and contributions of SHPE-COLUMBIA.

Secretary

The secretary of SHPE-COLUMBIA shall be the member responsible for all the chapter correspondence both external and internal.

Committees

The four committees' responsibilities are as follows:

Academic

Responsible for the academic files of the Society and the implementation of programs aimed at the academic performance of SHPE-COLUMBIA.

Alumni

Responsible for managing the alumni directory and keeping close contact with all Columbia SHPE alumni.

Recruitment

Responsible for creating and managing effective programs to increase the number of Hispanic students studying science and engineering.

Social and Planning

Responsible for the Society's extracurricular, social and community role. Also responsible for aiding all other committees at all functions when supplies and advertising are necessary.

New Technologies

Responsible for maintaining the SHPE-COLUMBIA WebPage and for keeping the membership of new advancements in computer technologies.

1. Nominations
   • Nominations will be held in the 11th week of class of the spring semester.
   • Nominations are made by members nominating other members.
   • Nominations should be seconded and candidates may be nominated for multiple positions. However a candidate can only run for one position.
   • Nominations will be accepted by the vice president up until three days before the election.
   • Executive Positions: President, Vice President Internal, Vice President External, Treasurer, Secretary.
2. Voting
   The executive board must make sure that those granted the right to vote is in accordance with the with the voting requirement: Attendance of at least half of the General Meetings. Voting will take place for the executive board on the 12th. Week of the academic semester. The current president will chair this meeting, his/her last official duty. The meeting agenda will be as follows :
   
   • Each candidate states his/her platform for the each available board position
     
   • Questions will be addressed to each candidate at the conclusion of his/her presentation
     
   • At the completion of questioning, general body votes, except for seniors, for the new board.
     

1. Quorum
   A quorum shall consist of « of the membership or more members and at least executive board member.
2. General Meeting
   General Meeting will be held every two weeks.
   They will be calendared along with their respective agendas by the executive board.
3. Special Meeting
   Special meetings will be called by a quorum or by an executive board member whenever a need arises (trip information, special function, last details, etc.)
4. Election Meeting
   The General Election Meeting shall be held on the 12th week of class in the Spring Semester
   A special election meeting shall replace a general meeting whenever a vacancy of position occurs.
5. Board Meeting
   An executive board member shall call board meetings when the need arises. They will always be open to all members.

1. Resignations
   A letter of resignation shall be submitted to the president by an officer resigning during a board meeting. During a general meeting when a resignation is announced , nominations will be taken by the vice president to fill the vacancy. An election meeting date will be announced and at that time a new officer shall be elected. Procedures for nominating and voting of the vacancy will follow the same outline as Article VI: Elections and Voting.
2. Impeachments
   When any member feels that a board member is not fulfilling his/ her duty, he/she may call a special meeting for the purpose of resolving the matter. During this special meeting the case will be presented. The officer under investigation will be given the opportunity to present his/her defense before the other officers and members. A majority of the members will decide whether the impeachment will be carried out by voting at the special meeting. If the impeachment is carried out then the impeached officer shall submit a letter of resignation to the president, and the process will proceed as in the case of a resignation.