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Rules of Procedure for the Rice University SIAM Chapter

[April 26 2004]

These Rules of Procedure have been reviewed and approved by SIAM. They are now official.

Text in bold is text that differs from the Rules of Procedure template available from SIAM.

This Rules of Procedure (hereinafter called "Rules") apply to the SIAM Student Chapter called “Rice University Chapter of SIAM".

The Chapter to which these Rules apply is formed by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and shall operate within the Bylaws of the parent organization. The SIAM bylaws specify how Chapters are formed; see the SIAM bylaws for details. The Chapter shall not affiliate with any other organization without first obtaining the written approval of SIAM. Provisions for SIAM Student (University) Chapters are contained in the SIAM Bylaws and are included in these Rules. No provisions of these rules shall be construed so as to contradict the Bylaws of SIAM.

ARTICLE I
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.

Purposes of the Chapter shall be consistent with the objectives of SIAM. Primary objectives are:

• To foster an environment of enthusiasm and growth for applied mathematics among the students of Rice University.
• To provide leadership for undergraduates in applied mathematics and engineering who wish to learn more about the discipline.
• To promote interaction among engineering and other departments at Rice Universtiy which rely upon applied mathematics.
• To encourage the interaction and collegiality of applied mathematics departments of nearby colleges and universities with Rice University.
• To provide a forum for industry outside of the university and students to interact, giving students the chance to find potential employers and businesses to find potential employees.
• To promote the opportunities presented by membership in SIAM.
• To award outstanding efforts in applied mathematics by Rice University students.

ARTICLE II
ACTIVITIES

The Chapter shall have twice-monthly meetings. Planned Chapter activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Allowing members to meet, interact, and relate their individual activities.
• Conducting contests and challenges in applied mathematics, with the reward of fun and prizes. Participation should be limited to Chapter members.
• Helping members with research, presentations, or other problems concerning applied mathematics.
• Presentations made by students or faculty at Rice University and other colleges and universities.
• Presentations made by outside industries, telling about their work.
• Informing members of careers in industry and academia and how to enter such careers.
• Awarding outstanding efforts in applied mathematics at Rice University. Recipients need not be Chapter members.

ARTICLE III
INSTITUTION SERVED

The Chapter will serve the undergraduate and graduate bodies of Rice University. Students in the mathematical sciences and engineering disciplines will be especially encouraged to join.

ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any person engaged or interested in mathematics or computing and their applications shall be eligible for membership in this Chapter. Chapter membership may be interdisciplinary, with members from multiple departments. Members must be currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students at Rice University.

Section 2. There shall be no fees or dues for membership in the Chapter.

Section 3. Chapter members shall have the privileges of SIAM membership only if they are regular or student members of SIAM.

Section 4. All members of the chapter who are students enrolled in Rice University are eligible for free student memberships in SIAM. The Chapter is responsible for providing list of its student members to SIAM so that complimentary student membership in SIAM can be processed.

Section 5. Termination of student membership in the Chapter will take place upon graduation or withdrawal from the university. Members can otherwise terminate membership at any time, by informing an officer of his/her will to do so.

ARTICLE V
SPONSORSHIP

Section 1. The Sponsor is Rice University. The Associate Sponsor is the Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics at Rice University.

Section 2. The Sponsor of the Chapter shall appoint a Faculty Advisor for the Chapter. In the event said Advisor relinquishes his/her position, the Sponsor shall appoint a new Advisor. The responsibilities, rights and duties of the Faculty Advisor shall be those normally assigned to the Faculty Advisor of student organizations of the Sponsor, but in addition, the Faculty Advisor is expected to take leading role in the development of the Chapter activities consistent with the objectives of SIAM.

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS

Section 1. The Chapter shall have a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Officers shall be Regular or Student Members in good standing with SIAM, and shall be chosen from Student Members of the Chapter. Officers must either be graduate students in the Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics or have been Student Members of the Chapter for no less than one academic year.

Section 2. The President shall preside at the meetings of the Chapter (and the Chapter Executive Committee (see Article VII below)). 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. 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 4. 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 by no later than 30 days following the end of the academic year.

Section 5. The terms of all offices shall be one year. Re-election of officers to the same post is permissible, but a limit of two years of service in one office is encouraged.

Section 6. Election for officers shall be held in April of each year. Nominations shall be made by the Nominating Committee, as per Article VIII. A nominee must receive more votes than each other nominee for a particular post to win the post. The terms of new officers shall begin the next academic year.

ARTICLE VII
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Chapter shall be managed by Executive Committee consisting of the incumbent officers, the most recent retired president, and the faculty advisor. The incumbent president shall chair the committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for the management and decision-making of the Chapter.

Section 2. A decision of the Executive Committee requires a two-thirds majority vote by the Committee.

ARTICLE VIII
OTHER COMMITTEES

Section 1. A Nominating Committee may be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee; nominees must be eligible as stated in Article VI.

ARTICLE X
MEETINGS

Section 1. Meetings shall be held twice monthly during the academic year. Meeting topics shall be decided by Chapter discussion and Executive Committee decision.

Section 2. The Chapter shall conduct a business meeting once per year during the month of April. Other business meetings may be called by the President, Vice-President, or the Treasurer on two weeks notice.

ARTICLE XI
CHAPTER FUNDS

Section 1. The Chapter may levy dues, voluntary or otherwise, collect registration fees for Chapter meetings, and otherwise raise funds in any lawful manner consistent with these Rules and the Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation of SIAM. The Chapter shall levy no fees or dues as a requirement for membership. The Chapter may accept fees or compensation from outside institutions wishing to present their work and/or meet students for the expressed intention of recruitment.

Section 2. OMIT.

Section 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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 XII
AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These Rules may be altered or amended with the approval of the SIAM Board of Trustees. Submission to the board of proposal alterations or amendments shall be made only after approval by majority vote of members of the Chapter present (or represented by proxy) at a scheduled meeting. The proposed alterations or amendments shall be announced to the members of the Chapter at least two weeks before the meeting is held.

ARTICLE XIII
TERMINATION OF THE CHAPTER

Section 1. A Chapter may terminate itself by the unanimous vote of the members of the Chapter present (or represented by proxy) at a scheduled meeting, provided that notice of the proposed termination and the meeting at which it is to be considered has been given to all Chapter members at least 30 days in advance.

Section 2. A Chapter may be terminated by the board if there has been no Chapter activity for one year.

Section 3. In the event a Chapter terminates, the funds to which it has legal title shall revert to the account of SIAM

Approved, SIAM Board of Trustees, December 3, 1977

Revised, SIAM Board of Trustees, June 21, 2003

Return completed ROP to Susan Whitehouse, Membership Manager