Bylaws of the Youngstown State University's Student Chapter of the ACM

Adopted June 2006

Article I: Name
  1. This organization shall be called the Youngstown State University's 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.
Article II: Purpose
  1. The Chapter is organized and will be operated exclusively for the educational and scientific purposes of promoting the following:

    • to increase knowledge and stimulate a greater interest in the science, design, development, construction, languages, management and applications of modern computing.
    • to promote a greater understanding of the various fields in relation to computer science.
    • to communicate between persons having an interest in computing.

  2. The Chapter will serve students at Youngstown State University by helping to enhance the computer science curriculum.

  3. The Chapter will serve persons in the Youngstown / Mahoning community by becoming visionaries of how computer technology can improve our lives.

  4. The Chapter is chartered by the ACM.

Article III: Membership

The provisions of this section must conform to the membership provisions specified in ACM's Bylaws (Bylaw 6, Section 5; ACM Constitution Article 3).

  1. Membership in the Student Chapter shall be open to all ACM members and nonmembers.

  2. Voting membership in the Student Chapter shall be granted to chapter members who are also ACM members.

Article IV: Officers
  1. The officers of this Chapter shall be:

    • Chair
    • Vice Chair
    • Information Officer (Secretary)
    • Treasurer
    • Web Administrator

    These officers constitute the Council. A minimum of three officers to establish a Chapter.

  2. At least three officers of the Chapter must be members of ACM.

  3. The officers shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual election meeting. They shall take office on September 30th and serve for one year.

  4. No member may serve in any office for more than two consecutive years.

  5. If there is a vacancy left by the resignation of an officer, a special election will take place within a month of the resignation. A special election will be called by the Council in order to fill the vacancies.

Article V: Duties of Officers
  1. The Chair 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 and these bylaws.
    • shall preside at all meetings of the chapter and of its Executive Council. The Executive Council shall consist of the Chapter officers, the Student Chapter Sponsor, and chairs of the Chapter's standing committees.

  2. The Vice Chair shall:

    • preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair,
    • assist the Chair in the management of the Chapter,
    • perform other duties that may be assigned by the Chair.

  3. The Information Officer shall:

    • keep the minutes of all Chapter and Executive Council meetings,
    • maintain the records of the Chapter,
    • prepare the Chapter's activity report and officer contact information
    • submit reports to ACM Headquarters,
    • submit any proposed amendment to these bylaws to the ACM Chief Operating Officer. Proposed amendments must be approved by Council before they can be submitted to the Chapter's membership for a vote,
    • perform other duties as assigned by the Chair.

  4. The Treasurer shall:

    • collect dues, pay all bills, and maintain the Chapter's financial records
    • prepare the Chapter's Annual Financial Report for presentation to the Chapter at the Annual Election meeting.
    • complete and submit the Annual Financial Report to ACM Headquarters.
    • perform other duties as assigned by the Chair.

  5. The Web Administrator shall:

    • create a team of Chapter members to help maintain the Chapter's website. The team must include the Information Officer who will provide member and chapter information that is appropriate for posting to the website. They shall also create and maintain a "member only" section of the site that will provide a service for "chapter members only". The website will serve as a source of information to the university and community.
    • work with the Executive Council to determine what should be posted on the Chapter's website.

Article VI: Chapter Sponsor

The Sponsor shall be a faculty member or full-time staff member of Youngstown State University. Each Student Chapter has one Sponsor.

  1. The Student Chapter Sponsor shall:

    • be voting member of ACM and either a member of the faculty or full-time staff of Youngstown State University,
    • be selected by the Executive Council immediately following the Election Meeting. The selection shall be confirmed by the school,
    • generally be responsible for the activities of the Chapter,
    • help provide continuity from year to year as student leadership and personnel change,
    • promote good student-faculty relationships,
    • help maintain university standards in all activities of the Chapter,
    • represent the Chapter interests to the faculty and administration.

The Sponsor shall exercise financial supervision, if necessary, by:

  • promoting prompt payment of bills and collection of dues,
  • overseeing the settlement of all accounts in the event of dissolution of the Chapter.

Article VII: Executive Council

The Chair is the presiding officer of the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall consist of:

  • Chapter officers,
  • Student Chapter Sponsor,
  • Chairs of the Chapter's standing committees.

The Term of the members of the Executive Council shall be coincident with the terms of the officers. They shall take office on September 30th and serve for one year.

Article VIII: Standing Committees

The standing committees of the Chapter shall be:

  • Program and Publicity,
  • Research and Information,
  • Education.

Standing committees will be created based on a membership of at least 16 members. If the chapter has less than 12 members, then responsibilities will be distributed to volunteered individuals and the Executive Council.

The purpose of the standing committees are as follows:

  • Program / Publicity Committee shall plan and make arrangements for the 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. This committee shall also be in charge of the promotions of the technical programs. They shall also work with the Web Administrator and Information Officer in the promotions of programs.

  • Research / Information Committee is responsible for the gathering of research materials required to fulfill projects determined by the Chapter. This committee is also responsible for the gathering of information required by any of the elected officers and standing committees.

  • Education Committee will work with the Program committee to create educational workshops for the Chapter members. This committee will be responsible for the planning, arrangements, and content materials for these workshops. It will work with the Research committee in gathering the appropriate materials.

Article IX: Temporary Committees

With the advice of the Chapter's Executive Council, the Chair may appoint such temporary committees as appropriate.
  1. A Nominating Committee, consisting of at least three voting members of the Chapter, at least two of whom shall not be members of the Executive Council, shall be appointed by the Chapter Chair at least two months prior to the Election Meeting.

  2. An Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Chapter Chair at the close of the fiscal year to assure the accuracy of the accounting of the Chapters funds for the year. This Committee should also verify the accuracy of the Financial Report prepared by the Treasurer for submission to ACM headquarters.

Article X: Meetings

  1. Meetings shall be held as planned by the Executive Council. The Chapter shall hold meetings only in places that are open and accessible to all members of the Association.

  2. The Annual Election meeting should be held mid September. At this meeting, the Information Officer and Treasurer each shall present the required reports. Also, the election of officers shall be held. 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. 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 ACM Chief Operating Officer.

  2. No official business of the Chapter shall be conducted unless a quorum is present. A quorum of the Chapter shall be defined as 30% percent of the voting membership of the Chapter or at least 3 members, whichever is greater. The quorum must include at least one elected officer or the Chapter Sponsor.

  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 transferred to ACM and shall be supervised by the ACM Finance Director.