Constitution

ARTICLE I

Name

 This organization shall be called the Susquehanna University Chemical Society. This name shall not be used for non-society functions without the permission of the appropriate society officials. Chapter of Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society.

ARTICLE II

Mission Statement

 The mission of the Society shall be to promote fraternity among all students of chemistry, provide aid and service to students at all levels of chemical education, and to support the continued education and research of chemistry through the various contributions of our members.

 ARTICLE III

Membership

 SECTION ONE Classes of Membership

There shall be three class of membership. The first level of membership shall be all those persons who are members of the Susquehanna University Chemical Society. The second class of members shall be all those individuals who are American Chemical Society student affiliate members. The third class of membership will be all those persons who are Gamma Sigma Epsilon Honors society members. All individuals granted membership at any level shall be referred to as members.

SECTION TWO Procedures for Admission of Membership to SU Chemical Society

In order to be considered for membership, an individual must attend at least two previous meetings of the society. At the second meeting, the individual wishing membership may make a verbal petition of the society stating their wishes. Membership is then conferred upon the majority affirmative vote of all present Society members. This vote shall be a closed-eye vote.

SECTION THREE Procedures for Admission of Membership to the American Chemical Society

In order to obtain membership, an individual must be an active member of the SU Chemical Society. A member may then apply for admission into the American Chemical Society and will be admitted into the Susquehanna University chapter after they are approved by the ACS Student affiliates program.

 SECTION FOUR Procedure for Admission of Membership to Gamma Sigma Epsilon

TBA

 SECTION FIVE Responsibilities of Membership

It shall be the duty of each member of the Society to attend meetings, aid with any project the Society undertakes, and to pay promptly all financial obligations. Additionally, each member should acquaint themselves with the Constitution of the Susquehanna University Chemical Society. Upon acceptance into the Society, the new member shall receive a copy of the Constitution of the Society and shall be granted all rights and privileges reserved for members.

ARTICLE IV

Society Regulations

 SECTION ONE General Society Regulations

The Susquehanna University Chemical Society shall develop its organization and policies in accordance with the rules and regulations set down in the Student Handbook of Susquehanna University.

SECTION TWO Faculty Advisor

The Society shall elect a faculty advisor who shall act in an advisory capacity and be a liaison between the Society and university authorities.

SECTION THREE Meetings

At the minimum, the Society shall meet on a monthly basis, at a date and time to be set at the first meeting of each semester. Additional meetings may be called by the Society president on his own initiative or at the request of one-third of the membership. At least 24 hours notice must be given to each member in the Society.

SECTION FOUR Voting

Voting shall be by general consent, show of hands, voice vote, or secret ballot, as deemed desirable by the president, unless otherwise specified. No Absentee or proxy votes shall be accepted.

SECTION FIVE Committees

The Society shall have no standing committees. At the request of any member, and the affirmative majority vote of the membership, a committee can be created. A committee shall have powers only enabling it to accomplish those goals specified at the creation. Committees shall exist only long enough to accomplish those goals specified at its creation and shall be disbanded upon completion of those goals. All committees shall be overseen and report to the vice-president.

ARTICLE V

Society Officers

 SECTION ONE Officer Qualifications

From its current members, the Society shall elect a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. All members are qualified for any office, unless stated otherwise in the officer description. All officers shall have a term of one calendar year.

SECTION TWO Election and Instillation

Election of officers shall take place in December of each year. At the meeting prior to the election day, the Society shall hold nominations for candidates to each office. Each nomination must be seconded and each nomination must fulfill the requirements for office as stated in Article V, Section One and the individual officer description. Nominations shall remain open until the election occurs. When nominations are closed, voting shall occur via secret ballot. The new officer must receive a majority of votes of all members present.

Should a vacancy occur in any office, nominations for filling that office shall immediately be opened. At the next Society meeting, the office shall be filled according to the above procedures.

Election of a faculty advisor shall take place on the last meeting of the spring semester of each academic year. Nominations for a candidate will be taken the meeting prior to the day of election. Each nomination must be seconded and subsequently accepted by the faculty or staff member of the Chemistry Department before the day of election. Election shall take place via secret ballet. The new faculty advisor must receive a majority of the votes.

SECTION THREE Officer Description and Duties

 CLAUSE 1 The President

The president shall preside at all Society meetings, guide the conduct of the affairs of the Society, maintain the Student Room, and interpret and maintain the Society Constitution. They shall act, in conjunction with the faculty advisor, for the Society in all matters affecting the University. The president shall perform other duties as the Society sees fit.

The position of president must be held by an upperclassman who has been a member of the Society for at least two semesters.

CLAUSE 2 The Vice-President

The vice president shall in the absence or incapacity of the president perform the duties of the president. They shall also oversee and assist all committees and shall be in charge of organizing and assisting the Society’s tutoring efforts. The vice-president shall perform other such duties as the Society may specify.

The position of vice-president must be held by an upperclassman who has been a member of the Society for at least one semester.

CLAUSE 3 The Treasurer

The treasurer shall receive and disburse all money of the Society and shall personally be responsible for all Society money in his possession; they shall, upon request, submit information about Society finances to the Society president or any other member. The treasurer shall deposit with the appropriate school officer the funds of the Society, and shall pay, or cause to be paid, by check all claims against the Society upon the approval of the executive board. They shall submit complete financial statements to the Faculty Advisor. Additionally, they shall be responsible for all fund-raising for the Society and shall perform other such duties as the Society may specify.

CLAUSE 4 The Secretary

The secretary shall keep the minutes of Society meetings, an accurate list of both alumni and current members, and the most updated copy of the Society’s Constitution. In addition to the minutes, the secretary shall maintain a historical record of events sponsored by the Society. They shall perform other such duties as the chapter may specify.

 SECTION FOUR Officer Dismissal

Any member shall have the authority to recommend for dismissal any officer who is found to be not fulfilling the obligations of his office. The officer in question shall be entitled to a closed hearing with the executive board and an open hearing with the Society. The officer shall be dismissed following an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members. The vacant office shall be refilled according to the procedure noted in Article V, Section Two.

ARTICLE VI

Executive Board

The executive board shall consist of the all Society officers. The rest of the chapter officers shall serve in an advisory capacity. The faculty advisor shall be considered an ex officio member. The executive board should meet weekly and shall act to run the Society when the Society is not in session. It shall perform other duties as the Society sees fit.

ARTICLE VII

Student Room

The University has granted the Society a Student Room on the 3 rd floor of Fischer Science Hall. It shall function as a study area for students and shall contain furnishings to aid in such endeavors. It shall also contain a small library of chemical literature to supplement the University’s library. It may contain other items as the Society sees fit.

ARTICLE VIII

Parliamentary Authority

In all items regarding the operation of the Society that are not covered by this Constitution or the University’s Student Handbook, the Society shall defer to the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE IX

Constitutional Review

This Constitution shall be reviewed by the Society upon request of the president. Changes made to the Constitution must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the members.

ARTICLE X

Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members. Amendments shall be presented in writing at a Society meeting, and no less than one week after the amendment is proposed, a discussion followed by a vote shall be held. Amendments or appendices shall be submitted as supplements to the bylaws. Such amendments shall conform to the ACS regulations established for Student Affiliate Chapters.

ARTICLE XI

Dues

The annual national dues of the student affiliate members of the American Chemical Society shall be sent individually to the Society or may be transmitted by the Treasurer of the Chapter. Membership in the Chapter is limited to those who have paid national dues.

ARTICLE XI

Annual Reports

The Chapter of ACS Student Affiliates shall send to the Department of Higher Education/Student Affiliates Program an annual report of its activities. This report shall be submitted on the Student Affiliates Chapter annual report form sent to the Chapter in the spring. The Society shall be informed of the results of all elections of officers and Faculty Advisors.