Bylaws for the Kent State University ACS Student Chapter

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the “Kent State Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society” and for the purpose of this rule will be referred to as the SAACS or as the Chapter.

Article II. Objectives

The objectives of this Chapter shall be to afford an opportunity for students of a chemical science to become better acquainted, to secure the intellectual stimulation that arises from professional association, to obtain experience in preparing and presenting technical material before chemical audiences, to foster a professional spirit among the members, to instill a professional pride in the chemical sciences, to foster an awareness of the responsibilities and challenges of the modern chemist, and to interact with and educate the community about chemistry and science in general. The Kent State SAACS shall: operate in compliance with its charter and bylaws; allocate the funds it receives from the university, and/or the American Chemical Society, funding policies and the funding policies put forth in this document; provide a channel for communication among graduate and undergraduate students in chemistry and related fields, the university, local ACS communities, and the national ACS community; promote understanding and intellectual stimulation amongst student affiliates, Kent State University, and the community; serve student affiliates and represent their interests in the university and the local, state, and national communities; promote and facilitate collaboration with other ACS student affiliate groups, both local and national; and advocate for student affiliates in academic and extracurricular matters.

Article III. Membership

The membership of this organization shall be composed of student members of any major who are encouraged to join the American Chemical Society, and who have attended at least one meeting during an academic year. Students who are not ACS student members may be chapter members but may not hold an Executive Committee position.

Article IV. Membership Dues

SAACS participants will not have membership dues.  All members will be encouraged to help participate in fundraising events in place of dues.

Article V. Voting

Voting on Executive Committee members, financial distribution, events and activities, and all matters requiring voting shall be done by electronic voting available to all members of the chapter.  Members who do not have an ACS membership will not be able to vote on the allocation of SAACS funds for travel and any other fees associated with attending conferences.  Additionally, non ACS members shall not be eligible for receiving funding from the SAACS treasury for such travel.  On other matters such as activities, events, T-shirts, etc., all SAACS members are eligible for voting.  In the case of tie votes, the faculty advisor will hold the privilege of decision.

Article VI. Executive Committee

  1. Executive Committee Members
    Executive Committee Members shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Digital Media Director, two At-Large Members, two Graduate Liaisons, and up to two appointed members. Appointed members are chosen by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee.

  2. Duties of the Executive Committee
    Executive Committee Members are responsible for the organization and coordination of any events as designated by the Kent State SAACS. They are responsible for the organization of monthly meetings as well.

Article VII. Election of Officers

The elected officers of this Chapter shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Digital Media Director, two At-Large Members, and two Graduate Liaisons. All members of the Executive Committee must be official ACS members. At least three out of five must be undergraduate students. The officers shall be nominated at the late February/early March meeting from nominees chosen through both self-nominations, and nominations from student affiliates who are active ACS members. Board members in the positions of president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary cannot serve in the same position two years in a row, but they can serve the same position twice in non-consecutive years.

A SAACS member must have attended at least one SAACS event in order to be nominated for a position on the executive board. In addition, SAACS board members must have a 2.5 GPA before becoming an officer and maintain that GPA throughout their service to the club. During the March meeting each nominee will briefly discuss to the student affiliates their plans to strengthen and maintain the Kent State SAACS during their retention of service to the committee. Decisions will be made via anonymous ballots, counted by the faculty advisor at the April meeting and announced preceding adjournment.  In the time between the April meeting and the first fall semester meeting, the newly elected committee shall meet with the previous members at least once to hand over all material, and information. These officials shall hold their office for one year or until their successors are duly elected.

Article VIII. Duties of Officers

Common duties include: Attend all meetings, events, activities, community service projects, promotions, etc. in the name of the Kent State SAACS; whenever possible, Committee members shall assist the other members of the Executive Committee in fulfilling their responsibilities. All Committee members will be active in the compilation of the annual report for our Chapter to be submitted to the ACS (Article XIII).

President: The President is the official spokesperson and representative of the Kent State Student ACS Chapter. S/he will schedule and preside over all meetings of the Student ACS Chapter. Duties include:

  • Organization of preliminary meeting schedule to be approved by the Executive Committee prior to the end of the first week of the academic year.

  • Liaison between SAACS and faculty and administration at Kent State University, members of all regional ACS chapters, and the National ACS.

  • Serves as a public relations advocate for Kent State SAACS.

  • Represents the Kent State SAACS at any Kent State event promoting campus clubs, as well as in any event that affects the Kent State SAACS.

  • Coordinates at least one collaborative event with the local ACS section. This person should attend (and organize a group to attend) at least one local ACS section meeting per year; this can serve to fulfill the collaborative event. Ideally, the President (and group) will attend one meeting and be responsible for one event.

  • Attend the annual meeting with Treasurer and Chair of Department to establish the budget by September 1st.

Vice President: The Vice President has the primary role of assuming all the duties of the President in his/her absence. Should the President chair become permanently vacant for any reason, the Vice President shall be come President, and a new Vice President shall be elected from the ACS members among the Student Affiliates. Duties include:

  • Plans and executes the annual SAACS poster session during the Spring semester.

  • Moderates executive board meetings in the absence of the President.

  • Organizes the annual Blast-Off event, held prior to the start of the school year.

  • Serves as a public relations advocate for Kent State SAACS.

Meeting Secretary: The Meeting Secretary shall be responsible for recording and distributing minutes and all other records of the Kent State SAACS to all members.  Duties include:

  • Preparation of meeting minutes from each meeting, to be distributed at least one week after the meeting.

    • Each meeting, approval of meeting minutes from the previous meeting will be confirmed. If meeting minutes are not approved by all members of the SAACS, including those not official SAACS members, Secretary will make appropriate changes, followed by re-distribution three days after meeting.

  • Member correspondence and current member email list.

  • Maintenance of membership lists (both ACS and non-ACS), and attendance at all meetings and other events, as well as all other general record keeping.

  • Delegates event write-ups for the annual chapter report, and sends template to members doing the write-ups.

  • Enters the event write-ups into the annual chapter report online.

  • Plans and executes the annual National Chemistry Week event.

Digital Media Director: The Digital Media Director shall be responsible for the Kent State SAACS website.

  • Keep the Kent State SAACS website and social media accounts updated, and post all pertinent information as designated by the Executive Committee and all members of the SAACS.

  • Craft all flyers and handouts for SAACS sponsored events.

  • Responsible for aiding in photographic documentation of all SAACS sponsored events, posting them on the website, and for keeping these photographs for the annual report.

  • Obtains class schedule from Undergraduate Secretary and delegates board member visits to class lectures for advertising larger events/recruitment.

Treasurer: The Treasurer is authorized, and shall be responsible for the execution of the financial obligations of the Kent State SAACS, in accordance with Kent State University and ACS policies and procedures. Duties include:

  • Submit financial reports at every general meeting.

  • Keep up-to-date on funding opportunities for the SAACS, and be active for all fund-raising events.

  • All requests for funds from the treasury shall be submitted, in writing, to the Treasurer for discussion, and voting at the general meeting. Treasurer shall be responsible for processing all claims against Treasury.

  • Apply for at least one ACS grant per year.

  • Attend annual meeting with President and Chair of Department to establish budget by September 1st.

  • Coordinates toward efforts to become a green chapter (if this is a current goal of the group).

    • Organizes and executes Earth Day events.

Executive Board At-Large Member(s): The Executive Board At-Large Member(s) shall be up to two elected officers nominated at the March meeting. They shall attend all board meetings and serve as voting members on the executive board. They shall assist with club activities and events as necessary.

Graduate Liaison(s): The Graduate Liaison(s) shall be up to two voting members of the executive board. Duties include:

  • Attending and serving at club events and encouraging graduate student involvement in the club through advertising.

  • Plans at least one professional development event per semester. Ensures that this is beneficial for both undergraduate and graduate students.

  • Applies to Graduate Student Senate (GSS) for funding for professional development events. Liaison can work with GSS representative in our department for information regarding this.

Article IX. Removal of Officers

If half of the executive board agrees that an officer has not been fulfilling their duties, the officer in question will be warned by the President or a member delegated by the President. If the issue continues, all executive board members will be informed of an upcoming meeting regarding the issue. An officer may be removed from the executive board by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the executive board, and the approval of the faculty advisor.

If the officer in question no longer wishes to hold their position, they are permitted to tender a formal resignation. With the approval of the majority of the executive board, the officer can be replaced without a general election.

Article X. Faculty Advisor

The Chapter at its annual election shall elect as its Faculty Advisor a faculty member who is a member of the American Chemical Society, whose duties shall be to advise the Chapter both in its local activities and in its relations with the Society. The Advisor shall be kept informed of all Chapter activities and shall advise the Chapter on any policy matters.

Article XI. Professional Advisor

The Chapter at its annual election may select as its Professional Advisor a non-faculty member of the American Chemical Society. This person shall assist the Chapter in its relations with the Local Section of the Society and with the industrial community.

Article XII. Meetings

Meeting times are to be determined by the executive board and advisors during the first week of each semester.  There shall be roughly one general meeting/event and two executive board meetings per month.

Article XIII. Chapter Reports

The Chapter shall send to the Department of Higher Education/Undergraduate Programs a chapter report of its activities. This report shall be submitted on the student chapter report form sent to the chapter in the spring.  The Society shall be informed promptly of the results of all elections of officers and Faculty Advisors.

Article XIV. Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds agreement of the executive board. Such amendments shall conform to the ACS regulations established for ACS student chapters.