About > Constitution

Constitution of the MU Engineering Entrepreneurs
University of Missouri-Columbia

PDF Version

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the "MU Engineering Entrepreneurs" (hereafter referred to as "MU-E2").

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of MU-E2 shall be to:

  1. Encourage engineering-related and high-tech entrepreneurship among students, faculty, and the business community.
  2. Create and sustain a thriving entrepreneurial atmosphere within the College of Engineering, the University, and the surrounding community.
  3. Provide a stimulating environment and network that supports student and faculty efforts in collaborating and starting businesses that leverage campus research activities and the technical abilities of individuals on campus.
  4. Offer informational lectures from leading entrepreneurs and experts that have an engineering background.

MU-E2 will not align itself with a particular for-profit company, start a for-profit company, or act contrary to University Business Policies and Procedures.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

Membership to MU-E2 shall be open to all students, staff, and faculty of MU as well as any professional or other interested individual.

Section 2

Any individual that has signed in and attended at least one meeting during the current school year is an active member of the organization.

Section 3

Student members are exclusively eligible to run for office and vote in the election of executive officers to the Executive Board.

Section 4

Non-student members are eligible to serve on all committees except the Executive Board and are able to advise or carry out tasks for events that MU-E2 organizes, sponsors, or participates in.

Section 5

Members must refrain from any disruptive or harmful conduct that is against university, local, state, or federal laws/rules.

ARTICLE IV: EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Section 1

The executive officers of MU-E2 shall consist of the President, Lecture Series Chair, Membership Chair, Promotions Chair, Technology Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Section 2

Candidates for President and Lecture Series Chair must be current or former executive officers or serve on at least one executive officer's committee. Officers must maintain enrollment status satisfying University M-book requirements during their term of office. Officers must maintain at least a 2.2 GPA and be registered for at least 6.0 credit hours through the University of Missouri.

Section 3

Terms of office shall be for one year, starting the day after the end of the Winter Semester. If an officer is elected mid-year, his or her term of office shall expire the day after the end of the following Winter semester.

Section 4

Duties of the executive officers:

  1. President
    1. Presides over Executive officers and oversees all MU-E2 activities.
    2. Votes in the event of a tie.
    3. Insures that the Constitution is enforced.
    4. Acts as liaison with MU-E2's advisors.
  2. Lecture Series Chair
    1. Assumes the duties of the President in the absence or at the request of the President.
    2. Determines lecture topics.
    3. Recruits speakers.
    4. Oversees all Lecture Series activities.
    5. Chairs the Lecture Series Committee.
  3. Membership Chair
    1. Records attendance at each MU-E2 activity.
    2. Provides reports of member activity and attendance/membership trends.
    3. Recruits new members to MU-E2.
    4. Chairs the Membership Committee.
  4. Promotions Chair
    1. Coordinates the promotion of MU-E2 activities which include but are not limited to creating and distributing emails, flyers, and other promotional/marketing items.
    2. Chairs the Promotions Committee.
  5. Technology Chair
    1. Develops and maintains the MU-E2 website.
    2. Provides technology support for all MU-E2 activities.
    3. Chairs the Technology Committee.
  6. Treasurer
    1. Oversees all financial matters of MU-E2.
    2. Prepares an annual budget at the request of the executive officers or the faculty advisor.
    3. Oversees all fundraising activities including applications to SOAC.
    4. Chairs the Funding Collection and Allocation Committee.
  7. Secretary
    1. Records the activities of all Executive Board meetings.
    2. Manages queries from MU-E2 members and other prospective individuals.
    3. Maintains a copy of the Constitution and makes it available to all members.
    4. Chairs the Election Committee.

ARTICLE V: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1

The Executive Board shall consist of the Executive Officers listed in Article IV, Section 1.

Section 2

If the board loses a member for any reason, the President may fill the vacancy by appointment or leave the position unfilled.

Section 3

The Executive Board shall meet once a month or when called by the President. Any member may also petition the President to call a meeting of the Executive Board to present his or her ideas.

Section 4

All decisions of the Executive Board, including but not limited to creating, modifying, or removing committees, positions, and activities, shall be passed with a simple majority.

ARTICLE VI: ADVISEMENT

The Executive Board shall select an advisor in accordance to University rules. The advisor must have an engineering background and be a faculty or staff member with at least 75% FTE. The advisor shall be elected by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

A regular meeting consisting of all members shall be held at least once each semester. The President may call for a member meeting at any time. These general meetings can be one in the same as lectures or other MU-E2 activities.

ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES

Section 1

All Executive Officers chair a permanent committee of MU-E2. These committees shall be:

  1. Lecture Series Committee
  2. Membership Committee
  3. Promotions Committee
  4. Technology Committee
  5. Funding Collection and Allocation Committee
  6. Election Committee

Section 2

Additional temporary committees may be formed by the President or by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board. Temporary committees can be dissolved by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board or two-thirds vote of the student members.

Section 3

All temporary committees must have a clear purpose and have a predefined lifetime. At the end of a temporary committee's lifetime, the Executive Board must review the committee and choose to extend or dissolve the committee.

Section 4

All temporary committees must prepare and present periodic committee reports to the Executive Board as needed and at the time of dissolution of the committee. The Executive Board may require any temporary committee to present a report at a non-Executive Board meeting by a simple majority vote.

Section 5

Committee members are subject to the approval of the Executive Officers.

Section 6

Committee chairs are appointed a simple majority vote of the Executive Officers.

ARTICLE IX: ELECTION

An annual election shall be held in April of each academic year. The Election Committee shall present its list of nominations and nominations shall be taken from the floor and voted by secret ballot. Notification of an election shall be emailed to members seven days in advance. A quorum of fifty five percent of the student members is required to hold an election. If a quorum is not present, the President shall choose a date for the election. If the quorum is again not met, the election shall be conducted with the attendance present. The Election Committee has the power to modify all election rules. The Executive Board reserves the right to modify Election Committee decisions.

ARTICLE X: IMPEACHMENT AND LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

Justifications for removal of an Executive Officer are:

  1. Excessive negligence in the performance of the office.
  2. Unexcused absence at three non-Executive Board meetings in one year.
  3. Failure to observe University rules of conduct and ethics.

Section 2

Executive Officers can be removed by a two-thirds vote of the total student member body. The vote must be announced to all members and officers at least two weeks in advance. Charges of executive impeachment must be brought before the Faculty Advisor(s) before a vote can be taken.

Section 3

Committee members are subject to loss of membership in all committees for the unexcused absence at two committee meetings in one semester. A unanimous decision of the Executive Officers will be required. Failure to attend or send proxy to three meetings in any year is grounds for mandatory expulsion from MU-E2 for committee members.

Section 4

Committee members whose conduct s deemed inappropriate or unsatisfactory by the Executive Officers may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board or a two-thirds vote of the committee and a simple majority confirmation of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE XI: COMPLIANCE CLAUSE

MU-E2 agrees to abide by the regulations described in the M-Book, all University policies including the University Business Policies and Procedures, and all federal, state, and local laws.

ARTICLE XII: NON-DISCRIMINATION

MU-E2 shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

ARTICLE XIII: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

The constitution of MU-E2 may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the student members. Proposed amendments must be presented to all members one month in advance of a ratification vote. A ratification vote can only be held after the Executive Board approves the proposal by a two-thirds majority. Amendments to the Constitution must be submitted to and approved by the Coordinator for Student Organizations before they become effective.

© 2006 - 2007 Todd Sullivan
This website is part of Todd Sullivan's multimedia portfolio. It is a replica of the MU Engineering Entrepreneurs website as of May 2007.