Bylaws

Revised September 2020

I. PURPOSE OF THE ACADEMY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

  1. Mission
    • To recognize outstanding alumni who bring honor to the department as engineering practitioners and leaders in community affairs.
  2. Goals
    • To provide organized assistance to the department.
    • To improve the educational experience of the students.
    • When called upon, to provide advisory guidance and counsel to the Department Chair, faculty or students.
    • To strengthen the dedication to and understanding of students to civil, architectural and environmental engineering through personal and professional example.
    • To advance the objectives of the development program by identifying, securing and providing financial support for the department.
    • To help the university achieve national prominence in civil, architectural and environmental engineering education.

 

II. MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ACADEMY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

  1. Active members shall be limited to living individuals duly elected and subject to the following conditions and considerations:
    1. Each active member shall hold a degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or architectural engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology granted at least 20 years prior to election and meet the requirements of one of the following categories:
      1. An outstanding engineer practitioner and/or possesses recognized expertise in one or more fields of civil, environmental, or architectural engineering.
      2. An outstanding and recognized leader who has achieved distinction in a chosen field other than civil, environmental, or architectural engineering.
      3. An outstanding and recognized academician, scientist, or researcher in civil, environmental, or architectural engineering or other chosen field.
    2. An active member shall be a person worthy of emulation and someone the community sees as a leader and a role model for young people with recognition based on the following attributes:
      1. A leader of people or a project of unusual scope or concept, or a business that has achieved outstanding success.
      2. Active in professional or career organizations.
      3. A recipient of honors in the nominee’s profession or career.
      4. Active in the community by involvement in public service, service organizations and/or charitable causes.
      5. Be an active lecturer or writer on subjects related to the nominee’s chosen field.
    3. Each active member shall have been elected by ballot (Section IV).
    4. An elected active member shall be present for induction as an active member at the first induction ceremony held after election. An elected member who accepts but who cannot be present at this induction ceremony may elect to be inducted at the next annual induction ceremony. An elected member who is unable to appear at either scheduled induction ceremony shall have the invitation to membership withdrawn.
  2. Honorary members shall be limited to living or deceased individuals duly elected and subject to conditions that:
    1. A person to be considered for honorary membership shall be a graduate in civil engineering from a university other than the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) and who possesses the qualities necessary for active membership in the Academy. The person for consideration can be a Missouri S&T graduate from a program other than civil engineering, but whose career is primarily involved in civil engineering related work.
    2. Each honorary member shall have the unanimous approval of the directors and have been elected by ballot (Section IV).
    3. At no time shall the number of living honorary members exceed ten percent of the active members.
    4. Honorary members shall have all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of active members except that they shall not be officers of the Board of Directors.
    5. An elected honorary member’s induction shall be held at the first induction ceremony following election. Honorary members may be inducted in absentia.
  3. Distinguished Past Members – Active members will automatically be reclassified as Distinguished Past Members upon their death.

  4. The Department Chair, unless an active member, shall be an ex-officio member of the Academy.

 

III. NOMINATIONS FOR THE ACADEMY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

  1. By July 1 of each year the Secretary shall solicit nominations from the active members. Active members may nominate any individual who meets qualifications for active member as stated in II.A.1 and II.A.2 or honorary member as stated in II.B.1. Nominations must be responsive to the Nomination Guidelines outlined in III.C (below) and must be submitted to the Secretary by Aug. 1 each year.
  2. A committee of senior faculty appointed by the Department Chair shall be empowered to nominate individuals who are qualified under II.A.1 and II.A.2. Nominations by this committee must be responsive to the Nomination Guidelines outlined in III.C (below) and submitted to the Secretary by Aug. 1 each year.
  3. Nominations shall conform to the following guidelines as a minimum:
    1. Specific data: Full name, address, business title (if any), name of spouse (if any), name(s) and date(s) of university degree(s), professional chronology, including name of organization, business title, dates for each significant engagement.
    2. Organizational memberships, including offices held and significant honorary titles.
    3. Civic activities.
    4. Awards and honors: List significant awards and honors conveyed on the nominee by his or her peers, professional organizations, civic groups, etc.
    5. Lectures and articles: List lectures given or articles written relating to the nominee’s chosen field.
    6. Statement of nomination: The nomination must contain a statement which summarizes the particular achievements, recognitions, and/or contributions which, in the opinion of the nominator, qualify the nominee for election to the Academy of Civil Engineers.
  4. The Secretary shall deliver the nominations to the Membership Committee by Aug. 15 of each year.
  5. The Membership Committee will meet; review, determine eligibility and forward the nominations which they recommend to the Board of Directors by Sept. 15 of each year. Nominations received but not recommended may be kept on file and considered the next year. All nominations of individuals reviewed for two years, but not selected, will be dropped unless renominated. The Membership Committee will notify nominators following the meeting of the status of their nominations.
  6. Not more than fifteen (15) nominees for active membership shall be selected for submittal to the membership for balloting.
  7. The Board of Directors shall review and certify the nominations by Oct. 15 of each year and return them to the Secretary.

 

IV. BALLOTING FOR THE ACADEMY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

  1. The Secretary shall prepare a ballot carrying the names of all those certified as nominees by the Board and shall send it with nomination information to the members by Nov. 1 of each year. The ballot, after marking, shall be returned to the Secretary. The Secretary shall transmit copies of all ballots to the Membership Committee as soon as practical after Dec. 1.
  2. Electronic methods of balloting may be used as approved by the Board of Directors.
  3. The Membership Committee shall canvas all ballots so certified that are received by Dec. 1 of each year. Election requires at least a five-eighths affirmative vote of ballots cast. A minimum of 25 percent of the active members of the Academy must cast ballots. Preferably by Dec. 15, but by no later than Dec. 31 of each year, the committee shall declare as elected and eligible for invitation to membership those who have qualified under II.A.3 or II.B.2, and shall so notify the Board of Directors and the Secretary.
  4. The elected candidates will be contacted by the Nominations Committee at least 90 days prior to the induction ceremony.

 

V. ORGANIZATION OF AND FOR THE ACADEMY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

  1. Meetings of the Membership:
    1. There shall be an annual meeting of the membership held at such time and at such place as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
    2. Electronic via the internet or teleconference meetings may be held to discuss and work on Academy business. The annual meeting will not be subject to this option.
    3. Upon determination by the Board of Directors or a petition signed by one-third of the active membership, the Board of Directors shall call any additional membership meetings.
    4. All meetings shall be announced by email or mail at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting.
    5. Quorum at the membership meetings:
      1. Shall consist of thirty (30) percent or 18 of the active members, whichever is less.
      2. Every act of or decision made by a majority of those present when a quorum exists shall be an act of the membership.
  2. Induction Ceremony: There shall be an induction ceremony for the purpose of inducting newly elected members and it shall usually be held in conjunction with the annual meeting at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors.
  3. Directors:
    1. The Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of seven (7) Directors and maximum of nine with an odd number required which is inclusive of the immediate Past-President, President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and a Vice President. A quorum will be a majority of the Directors.
    2. Vacancies on the Board of Directors occurring from death or resignation shall be filled at the next annual meeting of the Academy. Members will elect a Director to complete the unexpired term for each vacancy.
  4. Officers:
    1. The officers of the Board of Directors and of the Academy of Civil Engineers shall be a President, President-elect, Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer and they shall be elected by and from the Board of Directors promptly after the election of the Board by the membership, and the officers shall serve one (1) year terms. The President-elect shall automatically become President the following year.
    2. The officers shall have such duties as are necessary to the purposes and functions of the organization and such duties as are assigned by the Board of Directors.
    3. The Secretary shall keep and distribute to the Academy (members only) contact information on all Academy Members.
    4. Officers shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred if authorized and approved by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.
  5. Committees:
    1. The Board of Directors shall authorize and the President shall appoint such committees as are necessary to advance the purposes and business of the Academy.
    2. There shall be a Membership Committee of at least five (5) members, one of which shall serve as a Chair and said committee shall take such action as is necessary to comply with III.E and IV.C. A member of the committee of senior faculty defined in III.B shall serve as a non voting liaison participant on the Membership Committee.
    3. There shall be a Nominations Committee of three members which shall be chaired by a Past-President. The Chair shall select the other two members. This Committee shall present a slate of candidates for election as Directors at the Annual Meeting of the Academy. Additional nominations may be made by any member present. There will be no vote by proxy and a simple majority of those present shall elect.

 

VI. LIMITATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE ACADEMY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

  1. The membership of the Academy at an annual meeting or special meeting may remove a member upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors Committee on Conduct, but not until such time as the board or the membership has heard the appeal of the member so recommended if such appeal is requested.
  2. The bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting where such intention has been a part of the notice of the meeting and the amendment carries the favorable recommendation of two-thirds of the Directors and a majority of the active members present.
  3. The members of the Academy of Civil Engineers are not responsible for any indebtness or liability incurred by, or for any acts performed by any member or individual, at any regular or special meeting, outing or other social activity of the Academy.

 

VII. FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

  1. The Academy of Civil Engineers will be self-supporting using exclusively reserved monies deposited in the university account R-4-25034, Academy of Civil Engineers-Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department, said monies the result of contributions made or solicited by the members for this and additional purposes.
  2. The Board of Directors shall adopt an annual budget which shall be reported to the membership and said budget will provide the Department Chair with direction and the only authority as to the expenditure of monies from account R-4-25034, Academy of Civil Engineers-Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department.
  3. The officers and directors will instruct the Treasurer in such efforts as shall be made annually to maintain funds in the R-4-25034, Academy of Civil Engineers-Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department account pursuant to V.D. of the “STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING THE ACADEMY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.”

 

VIII. RECOGNITION OF MEMBERSHIP

  1. A plaque or certificate of recognition and membership in the Academy will be awarded to each active or honorary member at the induction ceremony.
  2. A framed photograph, eight by ten inches, with a name plate, shall be prominently displayed of all members of the Academy in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology.
  3. An up-to-date biographical sketch limited to one-hundred and fifty words will be maintained for each Honorary, Active and Distinguished Past Member of the Academy in the library or lounge of the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology easily accessible to the students. The biographical sketch shall be updated every 5-10 years by each member. The member shall be responsible to send the Secretary, in care of Department Secretary, Civil Engineering Room 211, Butler-Carlton Hall, their updated biographical sketch (electronically preferred).