COESC Constitution

1. Constitution
College of Engineering Student Council

2. Table of Contents
Article I. Name ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Article II. Affiliations ................................................................................................................................. 4
Article III. Purpose ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Article IV. Membership .............................................................................................................................. 4
Section 4.01............................................................................................................................................... 4
Section 4.02............................................................................................................................................... 4
Section 4.03............................................................................................................................................... 5
Article V. Structure of the Council ............................................................................................................ 5
Section 5.01 Executive Board ................................................................................................................ 5
(a) President ................................................................................................................................... 5
(b) Vice-President of Business Affairs............................................................................................. 5
(c) Vice-President of Student Affairs .............................................................................................. 5
Section 5.02 Voting Members ............................................................................................................... 5
Section 5.03 Advisor .............................................................................................................................. 5
Article VI. Elections .................................................................................................................................... 6
Section 6.01............................................................................................................................................... 6
Section 6.02............................................................................................................................................... 6
Section 6.03............................................................................................................................................... 6
Section 6.04............................................................................................................................................... 6
Article VII. Removal of Officers ............................................................................................................... 6
Section 7.01............................................................................................................................................... 6
Section 7.02............................................................................................................................................... 6
Section 7.03............................................................................................................................................... 6
Section 7.04............................................................................................................................................... 6
Article VIII. Procedures for Decision-Making ........................................................................................... 7
Section 8.01............................................................................................................................................... 7
Section 8.02............................................................................................................................................... 7
Section 8.03............................................................................................................................................... 7
2

3. Section 8.04............................................................................................................................................... 7
Article IX. Committees ............................................................................................................................... 7
Section 9.01............................................................................................................................................... 7
Section 9.02............................................................................................................................................... 7
Article X. Meetings ................................................................................................................................... 7
Section 10.01............................................................................................................................................. 7
Section 10.02............................................................................................................................................. 7
Section 10.03............................................................................................................................................. 7
Section 10.04............................................................................................................................................. 8
Article XI. Disbursement of Organization Assets ....................................................................................... 8
Section 11.01............................................................................................................................................. 8
Section 11.02............................................................................................................................................. 8
Article XII. Finances ................................................................................................................................ 8
Section 12.01............................................................................................................................................. 8
Section 12.02............................................................................................................................................. 8
Section 12.03............................................................................................................................................. 8
Article XIII. Amendments ......................................................................................................................... 8
Section 13.01............................................................................................................................................. 8
Section 13.02............................................................................................................................................. 8
Section 13.03............................................................................................................................................. 8
Section 13.04............................................................................................................................................. 9
Article XIV. Legal……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
Section 14.01 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
3

4. Constitution
College of Engineering Student Council
Article I. Name
The Name of the organization shall be College of Engineering Student Council, herein referred to as the
Council.
Article II. Affiliations
The Council shall adhere to the policies and regulations set forth by the University of Texas at San
Antonio, herein referred to as UTSA. Student chapters represented by the Council shall also remain
affiliated with national and international organizations of which they are subsets and shall adhere to
their bylaws.
Article III. Purpose
Through meetings and activities, the council aims to:
a) To unite and allow collaboration between the various engineering societies and students
b) Help strengthen each society, promote student benefits, and encourage membership
c) Further student participation in student activities, competitions, and conferences
d) Serve as a means of communication between engineering students, faculty, and
administrators to provide an opportunity for the student body to voice concerns and
present ideas for COE improvement
e) Provide an opportunity for societies to voice concerns, present ideas for COE improvement,
and in so doing, help voice the concerns and ideas of the general engineering student body
f) Guide the COE students into greater participation in the UTSA life, including campus events
and activities
Article IV. Membership
Section 4.01
Membership in the Council shall be composed of, but not limited to, the student body of the COE.
Section 4.02
All members must be in good academic standing within UTSA.
4

5. Section 4.03
The Council shall not discriminate against or deny membership on any basis prohibited by applicable
law, including yet not limited to, race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, disability,
veteran’s status, or sexual orientation.
Article V. Structure of the Council
Section 5.01 Executive Board
Any executive board officer has to have an existing 2.25 UTSA cumulative GPA for undergraduates
and 3.0 for graduate students.
(a) President
The president shall be the main representative of the Council, shall call the meetings, preside
over the meetings, and may assign committees as needed.
(b) Vice-President of Business Affairs
The Vice-President of Business Affairs shall be responsible for:
 All financial transactions within the Student Council
 Requesting financial support
 Solicitation of business quotes and estimates
 Maintaining a contact list of company and academic representatives
 Marketing The Council and any associated events
(c) Vice-President of Student Affairs
The Vice-President of Student Affairs shall be responsible for:
 Developing meeting agendas with assistance of the President
 Recording meeting minutes
 Publishing meeting agendas and minutes
 Maintaining a contact list of student society representatives
 Registering The Council with UTSA
Section 5.02 Voting Members
The voting members of the council shall consist of two representatives from each RSO registered
with the Vice President of Student Affairs. The President cannot vote unless to break a tie.
Section 5.03 Advisor
The Dean, Associate Dean, or a faculty member of the College of Engineering shall serve as the
council advisor. Duties of the advisor include:
a) The advisor shall consult with the Executive Board about the Council activities in compliance
with UTSA.
5

6. b) The advisor shall help with the transition between officers.
c) The advisor shall guide the Council in achieving the purpose of the organization.
In the event that the advisor position becomes vacant, the Council membership shall request that
another faculty member of the COE assume the role.
Article VI. Elections
Section 6.01
Elections shall be held at the end of the spring semester.
Section 6.02
Nominations for officers can be made by the membership, faculty, or general public. A ballot will be
organized with the nominations made for each office.
Section 6.03
Officers shall be elected by a majority rule at a scheduled general meeting.
Section 6.04
Term of office shall be one academic year (Summer, Fall, and Spring).
Article VII. Removal of Officers
Section 7.01
Any officer not fulfilling his/her duties, as outlined in Article V, Section 1 of this constitution, to the
satisfaction of the voting membership may be removed from office through the methods described
in subsequent sections. Two-thirds vote of the membership is required to remove an officer.
Section 7.02
The request for removal of an officer should be provided in writing to the Council advisor. A special
meeting shall be called approximately two weeks after the motion has been presented. Voting for
removal of officers shall be carried out by secret ballot.
Section 7.03
The officer in question maintains the right to a fair hearing at the meeting for officer removal.
Section 7.04
The voting membership shall appoint a replacement officer until the following elections.
6

7. Article VIII. Procedures for Decision-Making
Section 8.01
The quorum for decision-making shall be 5 members/officers.
Section 8.02
Motions not suggested by the voting membership are to be suggested to the president and
presented at the following meeting where a vote can take place.
Section 8.03
A motion can be passed with a majority rule.
Section 8.04
The president holds the right to veto any decision made by the voting membership. This veto may
be overturned by 2/3 votes of the voting membership.
Article IX. Committees
Section 9.01
The president of the Council reserves the right to establish additional committees as deemed
necessary by the voting membership or the Council advisor.
a) In creating a committee the president shall appoint a committee leader to oversee that the
committee is abiding to its purpose.
Section 9.02
Committee leaders may recruit other Council members to assist in the committee.
Article X. Meetings
Section 10.01
Meetings shall be held biweekly during the fall and spring semesters. Meetings during the summer
semester shall be held to get affairs in order for the fall semester.
Section 10.02
It is the responsibility of the Executive Board to schedule meetings and the responsibility of the Vice
President of Student Affairs to send out notifications of meetings.
Section 10.03
Special meetings can be summoned through the president or the advisor.
7

8. Section 10.04
Council meetings may be attended by the interested general public.
Article XI. Disbursement of Organization Assets
If the Council should be dissolved:
Section 11.01
Funds that were provided by UTSA shall be disbursed to the College of Engineering.
Section 11.02
Funds raised by the organization shall be evenly distributed among the student engineering societies
that comprise the Council.
Article XII. Finances
Section 12.01
No membership dues shall be requested.
Section 12.02
Any member can request allocation of funds; however, the request must be made through the Vice-
President of Business Affairs.
Section 12.03
Funds shall be allocated to the specific purpose with a majority rule, with the voting quorum of 5
members/officers.
Article XIII. Amendments
Section 13.01
Written amendments can be proposed by any member at any general or special meeting of the
Council.
Section 13.02
Amendments will be implemented with a majority rule at the meeting following that at which they
are proposed.
Section 13.03
The quorum for adding an amendment is 5 members/officers.
8

9. Section 13.04
Amendments passed with a majority rule shall be incorporated in the Council constitution to be
submitted for the following semester.
Article XIV. Legal
Section 14.01
The Council agrees to abide all UTSA policies and local, state, and federal laws.
Approved: 01/22/09
Amended: 01/22/09
Revised: 01/29/09
Created: 12/05/08
9