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13SEAS  >  about us  >  constitution and bylaws

constitution and bylaws

MIT Course 13 Student Engineering Association

A collaboration of ocean science and engineering professional societies dedicated to enhancing the experience of ocean engineering, naval architecture, and marine technology students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Article I. Name
The Association is known as the MIT Course 13 Student Engineering Association (13SEAs).

Article II. Purpose
The purposes of 13SEAs are to:
  • Facilitate interaction between the students, faculty, and alumni of MIT Ocean Engineering, as well as the larger ocean engineering and marine science community
  • Enhance the professional status and integrity of student members
  • Advance the art, science, and practice of ocean engineering, naval architecture, and marine technology

Article III. Functions
To achieve its purpose, the functions of 13SEAs include, but are not limited to:
  • Holding seminars by local and national authorities in the marine engineering and sciences
  • Holding an annual Ocean Technology Job Fair
  • Publishing a quarterly newsletter, Making Waves
  • Hosting the annual New England SNAME Student Paper Competition
  • Providing a forum for the exchange of scientific, technical and operational knowledge between academia, industry, and government
  • Honoring outstanding contributors and making awards for significant achievements
  • Hosting social activities
  • Promoting membership growth for the society

Article IV. Sponsoring Societies
13SEAs is sponsored by, or is a member of: the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the American Society of Naval Engineers, the Marine and Oceanographic Technology Network, the Marine Technology Society, and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society.

Article V. Relationship with MIT Association of Student Activities
13SEAs agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Association of Student Activities (ASA), and its executive board. This constitution, its bylaws, and amendments to it, shall be subject to review by the ASA Executive Board to insure that they are in accordance with the aforementioned rules and regulations.

Article VI. Membership
All members of SNAME, ASNE, MOTN, MTS, or OES who are attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as students shall be welcomed as members of 13SEAs. The organization will consist of at least 5 MIT students will consist of at least 50% MIT students, faculty and alumni at all times.

Section 1. Discrimination
This organization will not discriminate based on any characteristic listed in MIT's Non-Discrimination Statement.

Section 2. Dues
13SEAs does not require monetary dues from its members.

Article VII. Officers
The officers shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and a Faculty Advisor. The President and Vice-President shall be elected positions; the Secretary and Treasurer shall be appointed positions by the President, Vice-President and Faculty Advisors.

Article VIII. Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee
The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Faculty Advisors and committee Chairmen shall constitute the Executive Committee and shall have general responsibility, under the Faculty Advisors, for the affairs and activities of 13SEAs. Of the Executive Committee, at least one member shall be a Course XIII undergraduate, and at least one member shall be a Course XIII graduate student. Involvement of Course XIII-A, Course XIII-B, and Course XIII-W students is highly encouraged.

Section 2. Committees
Committees shall be created as required by 13SEAs. The Committee Chairmen shall be appointed by the 13SEAs President.

Section 3. Vacancies
The Executive Committee shall appoint members to fill any vacancies occurring in the positions of the officers of 13SEAs until the next annual election of officers.

Article IX. Duties of Officers
Section 1. President
The President shall be the principal executive officer of 13SEAs. He shall preside over all meetings of the Association. He shall be a member ex officio of all committees. He shall exercise the usual duties of the Office. The President shall be the official representative of 13SEAs to any other organization and to MIT.

Section 2. Vice-President
In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President. If the office of the President becomes vacant, the Vice-President shall succeed as President. The President may assign specific duties to the Vice-President.

Section 3. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall have charge of the records, and accounts of 13SEAs and the collection and disbursement of funds. The disbursement of funds shall be as approved by the President. The Treasurer shall prepare a budget covering all expenses for each fiscal year (September 1 - August 31). If the offices of President and Vice-President become vacant concurrently, the Treasurer shall succeed as President.

Section 4. Secretary
The Secretary shall have general responsibility for the correspondence of 13SEAs and shall take the minutes of all meetings of 13SEAs and of the Executive Committee. If the offices of President, Vice-President, and Treasurer become vacant concurrently, the Secretary shall succeed as President.

Section 5. Faculty Advisors
The Faculty Advisors are appointed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and by each participating society. The Faculty Advisors shall be responsible for the proper operation of 13SEAs under the Bylaws, policy and guidance of the Association. The Faculty Advisors shall be responsible for the continuity of 13SEAs between school years and for maintaining the technical and professional excellence of the 13SEAs program and activities.

Article X. Election of Officers
Section 1. Term of Office
An annual meeting shall be held each year at which time names will be put in nomination and elections conducted for the officers of 13SEAs (except Faculty Advisor). Terms of offices shall begin on 1 September for a period of one year.

Section 2. Requirements for Officers
At least one elected officer of the 13SEAs must have at least two school years remaining at MIT in order that this individual's experience will be available to the Association for the year following the term of office. All officers of this organization must be distinct persons and MIT students. Any member of this organization is eligible to run for office.

Section 3. Quorum
Quorum for elections is the same as that required for a 13SEAs meeting, at least ten members. Any member is elected if he or she wins a majority of the voting members. If more than two people are running and no one wins a majority, then the person with the fewest votes is dropped from the ballot and votes are recast.

Section 4. Removal from Office
Officers may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the members.


Section 5. Expiring Term of Office
In the event that an election is not able to be held to appoint new officers for the following official term, the current presiding administration shall have the authority to appoint and elect to term a new set of officers, with the willing consent of those individuals chosen for duty. If a new set of officers is not chosen on or before the date of Commencement of the year in question, the current administration shall oversee the appointment of an interim committee that will convene during the following Fall semester to elect a new administration under the supervision of the acting Faculty Advisors.

Article XI. Meetings
The provisions of the Bylaws and the rules and practices of 13SEAs with respect to professional sessions for discussions of papers shall govern the procedures of 13SEAs. The quorum for meetings shall be ten (10) members present. All decisions shall be made by a majority vote of all members present. The annual meeting shall be held at the beginning of each school year in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or at a facility owned and operated by MIT in the metropolitan Boston area.

Article XII. Finances
The fiscal year for the MIT Course 13 Student Engineering Association shall commence on September 1 and terminate on August 31 next following.

Article XIII. Amendments
The Executive Committee shall present amendments to these Bylaws at a regular meeting of 13SEAs. The amendments shall be brought to the attention of the membership by the Secretary in the notice for the next regular meeting, at which time the amendment will come before 13SEAs for discussion and action. A three-fourths vote of the members in good standing present at that meeting in favor of the amendment shall be necessary for its adoption. A member in good standing is defined by the Association's Bylaws. Any member may suggest proposed amendments to the 13SEAs Bylaws by submitting such amendments in writing to the Secretary of 13SEAs for consideration by the Executive Committee. Amendments proposed by ten (10) or more members of 13SEAs may be voted on at the annual meeting of the Association, provided notice in writing of such a proposed amendment has been made to the membership not less than thirty (30) days prior to such meeting.
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