The Audio Engineering Society, Penn State AESPS

Date of Origin: 15 October 1991

  1. Purpose

    1. The purpose of the AESPS shall be:

      1. To act as a student chapter of the Audio Engineering Society, Inc., hereafter referred to as the AES.
      2. To aid in the diffusion and increase of educational and scientific knowledge in audio engineering, the promotion and advancement of this science and its allied arts in both theoretical and practical application.
      3. To stimulate interest in audio engineering.
      4. To encourage the exchange of ideas and to promote and maintain high professional standards among its members.
      5. To hold meetings for the reading or discussion of professional papers, publications, communications, and for such other professional activities as shall properly fulfill the purposes of the AES.

  2. New Membership and Recruitment

    1. Any and all new members will be given full disclosure during recruitment, including but not limited to the disclosure of the following documents which will be available upon request by the USG Supreme Court:

      1. New Membership Manual
      2. Schedule of New Member Event and Activities
      3. A list of responsibilities
      4. A definition of personal rights, and a copy of the University Hazing policy, prescribed by Policies and Rules for Student Organizations.

    2. All members, including but not limited to new members and recruits, reserve the right to refrain from participating in any activities without consequence, based upon personal/religious beliefs, personal values, or moral reserve as defined by the member.
    3. Any and all interaction/activity between members and/or new members will be limited to guidelines stated by university policy, as well as local, state, and federal laws.

  3. Membership

    1. At all times, the majority (50%+1) of all active members shall be full-time, officially registered, graduate students at University Park.
    2. The membership shall be divided into active and associate members.

      1. Active members shall consist of currently employed faculty, staff, and currently registered students who hold membership in the AES.
      2. Associate members are those members who do not meet the requirements for active membership.
      3. Only active members may hold office, preside, vote, officiate, or solicit funds on behalf of the organization.

    3. At all times there shall be at least 12 active student members.
    4. The organization reserves the right to expel a member who is not following the policies of the organization with a super majority vote of attending members - quorum is 75% of active members.

  4. Officers

    1. Only full-time, officially registered active student members shall be eligible to serve as appointed or elected officers. Further limitations are subject to USG Supreme Court/GSA Judiciary Committee approval. Full-time, officially registered undergraduate student members shall be eligible to serve as appointed or elected officers with the approval of the current faculty advisor.
    2. The governing body of the AESPS shall consist of an Executive Committee, which shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and three elected members-at-large.

      1. The Chairperson, or a delegate appointed by the AESPS Executive Committee, shall be the AESPS's representative to the AES, shall report to the AES Vice President, Eastern Region, and shall preside at the regular meetings of the AESPS and the Executive Committee.
      2. The Vice Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in his/her absence or incapacity, and shall otherwise assist the Chairperson.
      3. The Secretary shall be required to attend all meetings of the AESPS and the Executive Committee, and have charge of the records and books of account of the AESPS. He/She shall also conduct the correspondence of the AESPS and the Executive Committee.
      4. The Treasurer, under direction of the Executive Committee, shall generally supervise the financial affairs of the AESPS. He/She shall cause all funds received by the AESOS to be deposited in an account or accounts designated by the Associated Student Activities, hereafter referred to as the ASA.

    3. In the event of an elected office vacancy, a replacement shall be nominated at the next regular meeting and voted upon at the following regular meeting. Nominations from the floor shall be accepted at the election meeting.

  5. Meetings

    1. The general meetings of the AESPS shall be held every other week during the academic semester or term. The time of the meetings shall be determined by a simple majority of the active members. Members will be notified of changes in the scheduled location.
    2. The Chairperson with the consent of the Vice Chairperson may change the frequency of the meetings.
    3. Special meetings can be called by the Chairperson or by a simple majority of the Executive Committee. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call.
    4. Executive Committee meetings shall be held as needed to organize AESPS business.
    5. Members shall be notified of all meetings by e-mail at least three days in advance except in cases of emergency.

  6. Voting

    1. One quarter of the active members of AESPS shall constitute a quorum at a general meeting.
    2. Four Executive Committee members of AESPS shall constitute a quorum at Executive Committee meetings.
    3. Provided a quorum is present, a simple majority shall be sufficient to decide an issue before the AESPS unless otherwise noted in this Constitution.

  7. Finances

    1. There shall be no AESPS dues.
    2. The ordinary expenses of the AESPS shall be defrayed by funds supplied by the AES as determined by the Board of Governors of the AES.
    3. Expenses of AESPS above and beyond budgeted allocations from the AES may be provided for by voluntary contributions from AESPS membership. A unanimous vote of the AESPS Executive Committee is required before such requests may be solicited.
    4. All funds of the AESPS shall be deposited and handled through the Associated Student Activities (ASA) office. Transactions shall be approved by two Executive Committee members. Monetary transactions in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be presented by the treasurer at the general meeting prior to expenditure, and shall be subject to membership approval.
    5. Rules and regulations for AESPS funding and reporting shall be set by the Board of Governors of the AES, on recommendations of the Finance Committee of the AES, except when these rules are in conflict with the ASA rules.
    6. At the start of each fiscal year a yearly budget shall be drafted to reflect the money requested from the AES, the University, and members, and to estimate expenditures. The budget shall be presented to and approved by a simple majority of members at the next regular meeting.

  8. Elections

    1. At the penultimate meeting of the fall semester, nominations for officers shall be accepted. Elections will be held at the final meeting of the semester, at which time nominations from the floor shall be accepted.
    2. These meetings shall be publicized by e-mail.
    3. At least one third of the active members must be present to conduct elections.
    4. No one involved in conducting elections may be a potential candidate.
    5. Election procedure:

      1. Any member may nominate an active member for any office prior to the election.
      2. A simple majority of votes from the active members present shall suffice to elect a candidate.
      3. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a runoff election between the top two candidates shall be held immediately.

    6. The regular term of office shall be one year beginning with the meeting following the election of officers.

  9. Amendments to the Constitution

    1. This Constitution can be amended at any general meeting by a two-thirds majority vote provided that:

      1. The proposed amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous general meeting by a current active member.
      2. At least one third of all active members are present at the meeting.

    2. All amendments to this Constitution are subject to approval by the Judiciary Committee of the Graduate Student Association.
    3. Amendments shall take effect upon approval by the GSA Judiciary Committee.

  10. Parliamentary Authority

    1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the AESPS in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution and any special rules of order the AESPS may adopt.

  11. Accessibility of this Constitution

    1. Copies of this Constitution will be available to anyone on request.

  12. Advisors

    1. The AESPS Executive Committee will select one or more advisors to serve for the term of the current officers. Each advisor shall be chosen from the University faculty or staff and is required to be a member of the AES.


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Brian C. Tuttle 2002-09-24