Constitution

 

Article I. Name

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Chapter of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)

Article II. Purpose 

The objectives of SIAM, as established in the Certificate of Incorporation, are: 

  • To further the application of mathematics to industry and science. 
  • To promote basic research in mathematics leading to new methods and techniques useful to industry and science. 
  • To provide media for the exchange of information and ideas between mathematicians and other technical and scientific personnel. 

The purposes of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Student Chapter shall be consistent with the objectives of SIAM.

Furthermore, the WPI Student Chapter of SIAM is a professional organization whose purposes are: 

  • To expose students to applications of mathematics and computational science in engineering, industry, science, and society.
  • To provide a forum for students to discuss and collaborate on problems in mathematics and computational science.
  • To provide a means for students to network with prospective employers and learn of potential careers in mathematics and computational science.
  • To provide opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to interact and share insights and experiences.

Article III. Membership 

Section 1 – Membership Eligibility

Any WPI-affiliated student or faculty member engaged or interested in mathematics or computing and their applications shall be eligible for membership in this Chapter. Chapter membership may be interdisciplinary and students and faculty members from all departments at WPI are encouraged to participate. More specifically, chapter membership is open to:

  • Undergraduate students at WPI, whether majoring in Mathematical Sciences or otherwise, who are in good academic standing and are interested in mathematics or computational science
  • Graduate students at WPI, whether affiliated with the Department of Mathematical Sciences or otherwise, who are in good academic standing, are interested in mathematics or computational science, and whose research or project work utilizes mathematics or computational science
  • Faculty members at WPI who are regular members of SIAM

Student members of the WPI Chapter of SIAM are highly encouraged, though not required, to be either a student member or regular member of SIAM. 

Membership in the WPI Chapter of SIAM will not be discriminated on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, or national origin. The WPI Chapter of SIAM also ensures that members will not undergo any physically or psychologically abusive behaviors (commonly known as ‘hazing’) in order to become a member or remain a member in the chapter. Any person, member or otherwise, who practices these behaviors, either intentionally or unintentionally, will be barred from being a member of the WPI Chapter of SIAM and will be appropriately reported. 

Section 2 – Types of Members

Members of the WPI Chapter of SIAM are encouraged to become either a student member or regular member of SIAM in order to gain the full benefits and opportunities given by the national organization. However, members of the WPI Chapter of SIAM will not be divided based on membership in SIAM. 

The WPI Chapter of SIAM will not collect dues from any student chapter members, regardless of membership in SIAM. 

Section 3 – Privileges of SIAM Membership 

While the WPI Chapter of SIAM does not divide members based on membership in SIAM, chapter members shall have the privileges of SIAM membership only if they are regular or student members of SIAM. Members of the WPI Chapter of SIAM are encouraged to become regular or student members of SIAM in order to obtain the full benefits. 

Section 4 – Student Membership in SIAM 

All members of the WPI Chapter of SIAM who are currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students at WPI are eligible for free student membership in SIAM. Eligible members can join SIAM online or request more information about membership in SIAM from the Executive Committee. A member’s free student membership in SIAM may be renewed every year that the student is a member of the WPI Chapter of SIAM and is enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at WPI. 

Section 5 – Membership Termination 

Membership in the WPI Chapter of SIAM will be terminated under the following circumstances: 

  • An undergraduate student graduates from WPI and does not enroll as a graduate student at WPI 
  • A graduate student graduates from WPI 
  • An undergraduate or graduate student withdraws from WPI 
  • A faculty member resigns from WPI 
  • Any member submits a request to terminate membership to the Executive Committee

Article IV. Executive Committee 

Section 1 – Executive Committee 

The WPI Chapter of SIAM shall have the following officers: a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Public Relations Manager. Officers shall be chosen from the student members of the WPI Chapter of SIAM and must be regular or student members in good standing with SIAM. An officer term is one (1) year and starts and ends in March. The election of officers is outlined in Article V. The election of a Faculty Advisor is outlined in Article VI. 

The officers, along with the Faculty Advisor, will collectively make up the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for chapter management, communication with SIAM, handling chapter funds, and organizing chapter meetings. 

Section 2 – President 

The President shall preside at the meetings of the Chapter and the Chapter Executive Committee. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President. In the absence of the latter, the Secretary shall assume said duties. 

Section 3 – Vice President 

The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall be in charge of ensuring members are able to take advantage of membership in SIAM. 

Section 4 – Secretary 

The Secretary shall keep a record of the affairs of the Chapter, handle correspondence, and submit an annual report of Chapter activities to the Secretary of SIAM, which report shall be suitable for publication in SIAM News or its equivalent. 

Section 5 – Treasurer 

The Treasurer shall receive and take custody of Chapter funds, and shall submit an annual Treasurer’s Report and other financial reports, as requested, to the Treasurer of SIAM. The annual Treasurer’s Report shall be prepared as of the end of the academic year and shall be transmitted to the Treasurer of SIAM no later than 30 days following the end of the academic year. 

Section 6 – Public Relations Manager 

The Public Relations Manager shall be in charge of creating advertisements for upcoming events, maintaining social media pages and keeping the website up to date.

Article V. Officer Elections

Section 1 – Nominations 

Nominations for officers shall be submitted to the Faculty Advisor or President of the Chapter via email during the first 2 weeks of February. Any member of the chapter may nominate themself or another member of the chapter. If the nominee is eligible for the nominated officer position, the Faculty Advisor or President shall contact the nominee to determine whether the nominee is willing to run for the position(s) they are nominated for.

Section 2 – Eligibility 

A member of the Chapter is eligible for an officer position if they fulfill the following requirements: 

  • Student member of the WPI Chapter of SIAM (graduate or undergraduate) in good standing with the chapter
  • Student or regular member of SIAM or willing to pursue membership 
  • Will be enrolled through the entirety of the following academic year, when they will hold the officer position 

Re-election of an officer for consecutive terms is permissible. 

Section 3 – Voting 

The Chapter will vote on nominees during the third week of February via a Google form or by emailing votes to the Faculty Advisor or President. All members of the chapter are eligible to vote for officers.

The officers will be voted in through a rolling majority vote process. If a nominee runs for multiple positions, they will hold the first position for which they have won the majority vote in the following order: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations. Once a nominee holds a position, the votes for that nominee for any other position will be voided and the nominee with the majority vote, without counting previously elected nominees, will win the position. 

Section 4 – Officer Removal 

If at any time, members of the Chapter feel that an officer is unfit for their position, they may call for the officer’s removal by notifying the Executive Committee. Removal from office may be justified by any of the following: 

  • Failure to accomplish one’s duties
  • Failure to remain a full-time student at WPI 
  • Failure to remain in good standing with SIAM
  • Failure to remain in good standing with the WPI Chapter of SIAM
  • Failure to remain motivated to act as an officer 

The Executive Committee shall call a general body meeting in order to vote on the removal of the officer. A two-thirds majority vote is required to remove an officer from the Executive Committee. 

If the officer is successfully removed, the election process for a replacement shall begin immediately. If the President was removed, the Vice President will replace the President and a new Vice President will be elected. The election process shall include a one (1) week period for the Faculty Advisor to collect nominations followed by voting in a separate general body meeting. During the week of absence of the position, the President shall assume the duties of the officer. 

Article VI. Faculty Advisor Election

A Faculty Advisor term is rolling until the Faculty Advisor is voted from office or resigns. 

Section 1 – Nominations 

Nominations for a Faculty Advisor shall be submitted to the President of the Chapter. Any member of the chapter may nominate a Faculty Advisor. If the nominee is eligible for the Faculty Advisor position, the President shall contact the nominee to determine whether the nominee is willing to serve as a Faculty Advisor. 

Section 2 – Eligibility 

A nominee is eligible to be a Faculty Advisor if they fulfill the following requirements: 

  • Full-time faculty or professional staff member at WPI
  • Faculty member of the WPI Chapter of SIAM in good standing with the chapter
  • Regular member of SIAM or willing to pursue membership 
  • Has not been previously removed as the Faculty Advisor of the Chapter under negative terms 

Section 3 – Voting 

The Chapter will vote on nominees after all nominations have been collected and checked for eligibility and motivation. Votes will be collected via a Google form or by emailing the President. All members of the chapter are eligible to vote for a Faculty Advisor. 

The Faculty Advisor will be voted in through a simple majority vote process. 

Section 4 – Faculty Advisor Removal 

If at any time, members of the Chapter feel that the Faculty Advisor is unfit for their position, they may call for the Advisor’s removal by notifying the Executive Committee. Removal from office may be justified by any of the following: 

  • Failure to accomplish one’s duties
  • Failure to remain a full-time faculty or professional staff member at WPI 
  • Failure to remain in good standing with SIAM
  • Failure to remain in good standing with the WPI Chapter of SIAM
  • Failure to remain motivated to act as a Faculty Advisor

The Executive Committee shall call a general body meeting in order to vote on the removal of the Faculty Advisor. A two-thirds majority vote is required to remove the Advisor from the Executive Committee. 

If the Faculty Advisor is successfully removed, the election process for a replacement shall begin immediately. The previous Faculty Advisor will remain in the position until a replacement has been elected. 

Article VII. Meetings 

Section 1 – Chapter Meetings 

There shall be at least 6 meetings per academic year. Any of the following events will be classified as a meeting of the chapter: 

  • General body meeting 
  • Seminar speaker
  • Professional development event 
  • Professional skills workshop 

The type and subject of an event, as well as the date and time of the event, will be scheduled by the Executive Committee. 

Section 2 – Business Meeting 

The Chapter shall conduct a business meeting once per year during the month of September. Other business meetings may be called by the President or the Treasurer on two weeks notice. 

Article VIII. Judicial Action 

The WPI Chapter of SIAM will abide by decisions of the Campus Hearing Board in dealing with charges brought about the organization. 

Article IX. Finances 

Section 1 – Dues 

The WPI Chapter of SIAM shall not collect dues from any members or charge any registration fees for meetings of the Chapter. 

Section 2 – Chapter Funds 

The Chapter shall deposit all funds into an account at a financial institution under the Chapter’s name or place them into an account at their university. All unused funds remain the property of SIAM under Article XIII, Section 3 of the SIAM Bylaws. The Chapter shall deposit all unused funds to which it has legal title in excess of $200 in an insured savings account, unless current operating commitments are in excess of that amount or unless the Chapter Treasurer obtains a written authorization from the SIAM Treasurer. 

Section 3 – Books 

The Treasurer shall maintain books of account that show income and expense items for all activities and balances for all accounts of the Chapter. 

Section 4 – Grant or Loan from SIAM  

The Chapter may request a grant or loan from the Treasurer of SIAM under the provision of Article XIi, Chapter 8 of the Bylaws of SIAM. Such requests shall be made by submission of “Request for Funding” form to SIAM and include a current financial statement for the Chapter and a proposed budget for the requested funds. 

Section 5 – Restrictions

Other than seeking funds from the sponsoring institutions of the chapter, no officers or member of the Chapter may apply for a grant to support the Chapter activities or enter into any contract to support such activities or provide services, without approval of the President and the Treasurer of SIAM or the Executive Director acting on behalf of the Treasurer.

Article X. Amendments/Revisions 

The Rules may be altered or amended by approval of the Chapter through a majority vote. Chapter members must be given two weeks notice of the proposed change. No amendment or revision may violate the Rules and Bylaws of SIAM. Any member of the Chapter may propose an amendment. 

The Worcester Polytechnic Institute Chapter of SIAM agrees to abide by the policies of Worcester Polytechnic Institute as well as all federal, state, and local laws. Any changes to this constitution and/or bylaws will follow, in word and spirit, all WPI policies and all federal, state, and local laws.