The name of this organization shall be the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at the University of Florida.

This organization shall be not-for-profit and/or non-commercial in nature.

The objectives of this organization are:

Section 1. To promote the professional development of members of the Organization by providing opportunities for contact with organizations and individuals of the different branches of engineering science and technology.

Section 2.  To encourage the integration of Hispanic minorities in the different disciplines of the engineering sciences.

Section 3.  To promote the academic development of members of the Organization through leadership and scholastic events and activities.

The procedures of the Organization shall abide to the Bylaws and rules as provided by its Constitution, the Student Guide and other laws and rules governing the University of Florida and its students.

Section 1.  Membership shall be open to any registered University of Florida student, be it of Hispanic or other origin, interested in promoting the objective of the Organization and in good standing at the University of Florida.

Section 2. All members of the Organization shall be entitled to the same right and privileges, with the following restrictions on holding office.  All members shall be entitled to hold an officer position in the Officer Cabinet and/or be a committee chairperson for any of the Organization’s committees.  In order to hold an Executive Board position, the member must have held a cabinet position or been a committee chair the previous school year.  In order to become President of the Organization, the member must have held an Executive Board position the previous school year.

Section 3.  Faculty, staff engineers and student spouses may be associate members.  Associate members do not vote or hold office.

Section 4.  This organization will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, disability, or any other classification as provided by law.

Section 5.  There will be no activities conducted by this organization that could be considered hazing of members.

Section 1.  The Executive Board of this organization shall be comprised of a President, Vice-President of Corporate Affairs, Vice-President of External Affairs, Vice-President of Internal Affairs, and Treasurer.

Section 2.  The Officer Cabinet of this organization shall be comprised of several positions reporting to the different branches of the Executive Board.  Officer positions shall be added or removed as necessary by a 2/3 majority of the members.

Section 3.  Elected officers shall take office at the end of the semester in which elections are held.  The term of office for all positions shall not exceed one (1) academic year (summer to spring).  Re-election is possible, with no limit on the number of terms an officer can be re-elected, provided the officer is in compliance with Article IV, Sections 1 and 2, and has been nominated for the position.

Section 4.  The impeachment of an officer can only occur when a 2/3 majority of the members of the Organization vote in approval.

Section 5.  The officers have the duty to attend all meetings unless previously excused.

Section 1.  It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Organization, to appoint committees to undertake such activities as he shall consider advisable, to supervise the other officers in the performance of their duties, and to appoint, subject to the approval of a simple majority of the members present, persons to serve as officers due to temporary or permanent vacancies.  Final responsibility for all of the Organization’s affairs lies with the President.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Vice-President of Corporate Affairs to oversee all corporate sponsorship and other industry-related issues, as well as to maintain, attract and grow prosperous relationships with companies.

Section 3.  It shall be the duty of the Vice-President of External Affairs to oversee all events, activities and other issues pertaining to the National and Regional SHPE offices outside of the University of Florida, and to maintain communication with regional SHPE representatives.

Section 4.  It shall be the duty of the Vice-President of Internal Affairs to oversee all events, activities and other issues held at or pertaining to the University of Florida.

Section 5.  It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to manage annual budgets and control strict records of all financial aspects of the Organization, keep funds received by the Organization and notify all members of their dues.

Section 6.  Both the President and Treasurer shall submit a complete annual financial report at the end of the fiscal year.

Section 7.  The Organization shall elect a faculty member who is engaged in the engineering sciences to serve in an advisory manner to the organization.  Nominees for Faculty Advisor shall be chosen by the members of the Organization.  The Faculty Advisor shall be elected by a 2/3 majority of the members, and shall remain as the advisor for the remainder of his/her tenure at the University of Florida.

Section 1.  Elections of new officers shall take place one (1) month prior to the end of the spring semester.

Section 2.  Nominations for officer positions may be made by members during the meeting before the elections.  Officers shall be elected from the nominees chosen at the nomination meeting.

Section 3.  Officers shall be elected by secret written ballots, the ballots to be distributed to and collected from the active members.  For each office the candidate receiving a simple majority of the votes shall be declared elected.

Section 4.  If an officer decides to step down from office, another officer will fill the position, as decided by the officers.  The newly appointed officer must be approved by a 2/3 majority of the members of the Organization.

Section 5.  If the President is unable to discharge the duties of the office, the Executive Board shall appoint one of the Vice-Presidents to assume the duties of the President.  The newly appointed President must be approved by a 2/3 majority of the members in the Organization.

Section 1.  An annual membership fee will be assessed at time of registration.  Membership fee shall not exceed a maximum of $10 per academic term (fall and/or spring).

Section 2.  Additional assessments may be authorized by majority vote of members at an official business meeting.

Section 3.  Proceeds from annual membership and additional assessments are for the sole purpose of the Organization.

A. All prospective members to the Organization in compliance with Article IV, Section 1, shall become members upon proper registration and payment of dues as stipulated in Article VII.

B. Any member may withdraw from membership at any time by giving proper notification.

C. Members are free to leave and disassociate without fear of retribution or harassment.

D. All registered (paid or non-paid) members of the Organization are eligible to vote.  Members must be present at the election meeting and must have attended at least one (1) other Organization event in order to vote.

E. Violation of any law of the constitution by a member may be sufficient reason for automatic withdrawal from the Organization.

F. Any student member upon graduation from the University of Florida shall become an associate member.

G. The Organization shall meet at least four (4) times a year, once of which will be the spring semester meeting for the consideration of the election of officers for the following year.  Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the President.

H. All records of the Organization are open to any officer or member.

The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended upon 2/3 vote of present active members at a meeting, provided that the membership of the Organization is notified of the proposed amendment at least two weeks in advance of the meeting.