Approved June, 1977
Revised August, 1985
Revised May, 2003
Revised June, 2009
Revised June, 2012

CONSTITUTION

Article I - Name and Objectives

Section 1. The name of the Division shall be the Liberal Education/Engineering & Society Division (LEES Division) of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

Section 2. The objectives of the Division shall be consistent with those of the American Society for Engineering Education.

1. The Division promotes the concept that the humanities and social sciences are an integral and significant part of engineering education, as well as being inherently important in themselves as branches of learning.
2. The Division emphasizes connectedness between the technical and non-technical dimensions of engineering learning and work.
3. The Division addresses issues emanating from the education and practice of engineers across multiple complex contexts – issues ranging from engineering communication to the aesthetics and epistemology of engineering design, from engineering ethics and professional responsibility to engineers’ professional identities and roles, from the logic of engineering methodology to the mutual effects of engineering activities on politics, society, and culture.
4. The Division provides ways for people who teach the humanities and social sciences in engineering programs to share their ideas and concerns.
5. The Division provides ways for people in humanities, social sciences, and engineering to interact in the discovery and development of scholarly and curricular relationships.
6. The Division expresses its concern for and involvement in engineering education on an international scale.

Article II – Membership and Meetings

Section 1. Membership in the Division is open to all members of the American Society for Engineering Education.

Section 2. An annual business meeting of the unit shall be held during the annual conference of the Society. All meetings of the unit are open to all interested persons. However, only members of the division are eligible to vote on division matters, including the election of officers. Those members present at the meeting shall constitute a quorum.

The business meeting shall include at least:

a) Reports from the incumbent officers on the unit’s activities for the preceding year, membership, and finances.
b) Election of officers for the following year.
c) Presentation of the Olmsted Award.
d) Discussion of additional division business as needed.

Article III - Officers of the Division

Section 1. The officers of this Division shall be a Division Chair; Division Chair-Elect; Secretary-Treasurer; Program Chair; Program Chair-Elect; Newsletter Editor; Webmaster; and Immediate Past Division Chair.

Section 2. The Division Chair and Division Chair-Elect shall be elected to office by the Division members in attendance at the LEES Division Business Meeting at the ASEE Annual Conference. The term of these offices is one year and shall begin at the close of the Annual Conference.

Section 3. The Program Chair and Program Chair-Elect shall be appointed by the Division Chair for a term of one year. The term of these appointed offices shall begin at the close of the Annual Conference. The Division Chair shall consult with the outgoing and incoming Program Chairs prior to appointing the Program Chair-Elect.

Section 4. The Newsletter Editor and Webmaster shall be appointed by the Division Chair for a term of two years. The term of these appointed offices shall begin at the close of the Annual Conference. The Newsletter Editor and Webmaster may be the same person, and these positions are eligible for reappointment.

Section 5. The Immediate Past Division Chair shall obtain office by succession and shall serve for a term of one year. The term of this office shall begin at the close of the Annual Conference.

Section 6. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected to office by the Division members in attendance at the LEES Division Business Meeting at the ASEE Annual Conference. The term of this office is two years and shall begin at the close of the Annual Conference held during the election year.

Section 7. In the absence of the Division Chair, the Division Chair-Elect shall assume the Chair's responsibilities for as long as is necessary during the remainder of the elected term. In any extended absence of the Secretary-Treasurer, or an appointed officer, the Division Chair shall appoint a replacement.

Section 8. Any elected or appointed officer of the Division shall be eligible to hold elected or appointed office during succeeding terms.

Section 9. There is an expected succession from Program Chair-Elect to Division Chair, so that a person who is appointed as Program Chair-Elect will successively serve as Program Chair-Elect, Program Chair, Division Chair-Elect, and Division Chair. This expectation, however, does not abrogate the Nominating Committee’s responsibility, nor does it preclude a person from opting out of the succession.

Section 10. The duties of the officers shall be those set forth in the Bylaws. The duties of the Division Chair as the LEES Division representative to the Council Board of Professional Interest Council III shall be those described by the By-Laws of the Council.

Article IV - Committees

Section 1. There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the eight Division officers listed in Article III, Section 1. This committee shall be responsible for formulating the policies of the Division. The Division Chair shall serve as chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of the Immediate Past Division Chair, the Division Chair, and one Division Member at Large who is not currently serving in any elected or appointed office in the Liberal Education/Engineering & Society Division. The Immediate Past Division Chair shall appoint the Member at Large and shall also serve as chair of the Nominating Committee.

Section 3. A Program Advisory Committee shall be appointed annually by the Program Chair. This advisory committee shall include the Program Chair-Elect and shall consist of at least one person from the humanities, one person from the social sciences, and one person from engineering.

Section 4. An Olmsted Award Committee shall be responsible for selecting the annual Olmsted Award recipient. The Division Chair-Elect will chair the committee. The Award Committee consists of three Division members who are past recipients of the Olmsted Award. Committee members are appointed by the Division Chair-Elect and serve staggered three-year terms. In the event that fewer than three prior Award recipients are available to serve, the Division Chair-Elect will select substitute(s) for the year from the Division at large.

Section 5. Any officer of the Division may appoint special committees to assist in conducting the affairs of the Division.

Article V - Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Elections for the offices of Division Chair, Division Chair-Elect, and Secretary- Treasurer shall be conducted during the LEES Division Business Meeting at the ASEE Annual Conference. Those members of the Division in attendance shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee, as constituted in Article IV, Section 2, shall nominate candidates for the elected offices of the Division (Division Chair and Division Chair-Elect annually and Secretary-Treasurer biannually.) The slate of candidates shall be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer no later than April 15 of each year, and the slate shall be communicated to Division members no later than one month prior to the ASEE Annual Conference.

Section 3. All members of the Division, as so listed on the official mailing list of ASEE, shall be eligible to vote for officers and in all special elections.

Section 4. A simple majority of votes cast shall be required for the election of officers.

Section 5. Action on Division issues shall be determined by a simple majority vote of those members present at the Division Business Meeting conducted during the Annual Conference of the Society.

Article VI - Publications

Section 1. As stipulated in Article VIII of the Constitution of ASEE, papers and discussions presented at meetings of ASEE shall become the property of the Society. “The Board of Directors, through its delegated representative, may grant permission to publish such papers and discussions elsewhere on condition that ASEE receive proper credit or may waive any property right ASEE may have in the paper or discussion.”

Article VII - Amendment of Constitution and Bylaws

Section 1. This Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the Division members responding to a referendum conducted by e-mail or other electronic means.

Section 2. The following steps shall be completed prior to such a referendum: First, proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws shall be distributed to Division members at least one month prior to the ASEE Annual Conference. Second, the members shall have the opportunity to comment on the proposals, and these comments will be made available at the LEES Division Business Meeting at the Conference. Third, the proposals shall be discussed at the Business Meeting. Fourth, the majority of the Division members at the Business Meeting agree that the proposals are ready to present to the Division for a vote.

Section 3. Mailed ballots may substitute for the electronic referendum if necessary.

Section 4. Amendments approved by the division membership shall be submitted through the PIC III Chair for approval by majority vote of the ASEE Board of Directors and shall take effect only upon such approval.

Article VIII - Electronic Communication

Section 1. Electronic communication, e.g., e-mail or listserv, will be sufficient to meet the requirements of Article V, Section 2 (communication about the slate of candidates) and Article VII, Section 2 (communication about proposed revisions of Constitution and By- Laws).

Article IX – Other Provisions

Section 1. Any provision of these by-laws shall be deemed invalid if it contravenes the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society or of the Professional Interest Council (PIC) to which the unit belongs.

Section 2. The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern this unit in all matters of parliamentary authority to which they are applicable and in which they are consistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society and the By-Laws of this unit. In all other matters, the Constitution of the Society shall govern.

BYLAWS

A. Division Chair

1. Assume responsibility for the functioning of the Division.
2. Appoint officers of the Division as stipulated in the Constitution.
3. Preside at all business meetings of the Division and Executive Committee.
4. Appoint any special committee or task force essential to the functioning of the Division.
5. Serve as a member of the Nominating Committee.
6. Serve as the LEES Division representative to the Council Board for Professional Interest Council III.

B. Division Chair-Elect

1. Assist the Division Chair with his or her duties as requested.
2. In the absence of the Division Chair, assume full responsibility for functions of the Division Chair, whether on a temporary basis or for the remainder of an unexpired term of office.
3. Appoint and Chair the Awards Committee in accordance with Article IV, Section 4.

C. Secretary-Treasurer

1. Record and maintain minutes for all business meetings of the Division.
2. Receive and disburse all monies, and maintain complete financial records.
3. Prepare and distribute an annual report, and any necessary special reports, of the business proceedings and financial status of the Division. (The Newsletter may be used for communicating these reports.)
4. Certify the results of electronic balloting on proposed revisions to the Constitution and By-Laws.
5. Develop and maintain an historical record of the Division.

D. Program Chair

1. Arrange the program of the Division for the Annual Conference.
2. Appoint a Program Advisory Committee – consisting of at least one person from the humanities, one person from the social sciences, and one person from engineering – to assist in program planning.
3. Prior to the Annual Conference inform members of the Executive Committee of the specific program sessions and dates, as well as communicate these to the Division members.

E. Program Chair-Elect

1. Serve as a member of the Program Advisory Committee.
2. Assist the Program Chair with his or her duties as requested.
3. In the absence of the Program Chair, assume full responsibility for functions of the Program Chair, whether on a temporary basis or for the remainder of an unexpired term of office.

F. Newsletter Editor

1. Edit and distribute the Division Newsletter at least two times each year.
2. Promote the exchange of pertinent written information among the members of the Division.
3. Promote increased membership in the Division through written communications.
4. Serve as a member of appropriate ASEE publications committees.

G. Webmaster

1. Maintain the LEES Division’s web site (this will usually include hosting the Web site on the computing facilities of the Webmaster’s home institution).
2. Maintain and operate the LEES Division’s listserv (this will usually include hosting the listserv on the computing facilities of the Webmaster’s home institution).
3. Conduct the electronic balloting required by Article VII of the Constitution for revisions to the Constitution and By-Laws.

H. Immediate Past Chair

1. Serve as chair of the Nominating Committee, and ensure that the slate of candidates is submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer by no later than April 15 of each year.
2. Advise the Executive Committee and Division membership in formulating policies and activities consistent with the policies and procedures of ASEE

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