OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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Constitution and Bylaws
of the
Oregon State University Chapter
MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Adopted October 23, 2013
Amended August 1, 2015
The name of this organization shall be the Materials Research Society, Oregon State University Chapter.
The goal of the chapter is to introduce students to the discipline of materials science as well as foster connections between materials science students, faculty, and industry. Interdisciplinary collaboration between varied colleges and departments is highly encouraged.
Goals for the club include participation in lab tours, materials science seminars, and industry field trips as well as social outings for students interested in materials science.
The Materials Research Society will build a dynamic, interactive, global community of materials researchers to advance technical excellence by providing a framework in which the materials disciplines can convene, collaborate, integrate and advocate.
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Founded in 1973, MRS now consists of over 16,000 members from the United States -- as well as nearly 70 other countries. The society is different from that of single discipline professional societies because it encourages communication and technical information exchange across the various fields of science affecting materials.
MRS sponsors two major annual meetings offering approximately 100 topical symposia. The society recognizes professional and technical excellence, conducts symposium tutorials, and encourages technical interaction among college students through University Chapters, and among materials professionals through regional Sections.
MRS also promotes communication exchange through publication of symposium proceedings, MRS Communications, MRS Bulletin, Journal of Materials Research, and other publications related to current research activities.
The Materials Research Society (MRS) is an organization of materials researchers from academia, industry and government that promotes communication for the advancement of interdisciplinary materials research to improve the quality of life.
The Materials Research Society will build a dynamic, interactive, global community of materials researchers to advance technical excellence by providing a framework in which the materials disciplines can convene, collaborate, integrate and advocate.
MRS CORE VALUES
MRS DERIVED VALUES
Membership
Meetings
Dissemination of Information
Infrastructure
A key function of the Materials Research Society (MRS) is to provide and enable forums for the global exchange of technical information related to leading edge, interdisciplinary materials research. Through its publications, website, and meetings, MRS seeks to serve the broadest possible community.
Summary statement:Communication of technical results and ideas is critical to healthy and productive research. An MRS objective is to provide and further develop these communications.
Materials research provides real tangible benefits to society. However, like all of science, materials research thrives only with the support and participation of a society that provides a supportive environment and facilitates opportunities for talented people inspired by a career in materials research. The Materials Research Society (MRS) will effectively communicate the importance of science in society to the general public and promote science and technology to the next generation.
Summary statement:Science requires support from society. An MRS objective is to ensure that the broad public and their governments understand the benefits of materials research.
The scientific community must be engaged in solving the critical problems facing society. Materials research will provide the key elements for new technologies to address global needs. As such, the Materials Research Society (MRS) remains committed to its mission for the advancement of interdisciplinary materials research and education to improve the quality of life. MRS will strive to promote public awareness, increase the engagement of the scientific community and catalyze technological advancements.
Summary statement:There is a need for technical solutions to global societal challenges. An MRS objective is to promote materials research and education to improve the quality of life.
The Materials Research Society (MRS) has become the world’s premier society for the promotion of leading edge, high impact and interdisciplinary materials research. MRS could provide services to a much larger fraction of the worldwide materials research community by identifying and reaching out to groups that are not well represented within the MRS. Thus, MRS could find ways to bring benefits and services to materials researchers, regardless of discipline, throughout the world.
Summary statement:There remain many and diverse researchers who could enrich the current MRS community. An MRS objective is to tailor its products to serve the broader future membership.
The scientific and engineering communities must strive to become more inclusive, engaging all demographic groups in advancing science and technology. MRS recognizes that Diversity drives Innovation, Excellence and New Discoveries. Although progress has been made, underrepresentation of various segments of society in research and innovation remains a persistent challenge.
We affirm the critical role that professional societies must play at all levels of education and professional pursuits. Recent programs by many professional societies have provided benchmarking data collection, forums to discuss diversity issues in science and opportunities for professional development training. More needs to be done. The Materials Research Society therefore charges our membership and our leaders to continually engage the science and engineering enterprise, promoting greater participation from all demographic groups, proactively addressing barriers and fostering greater diversity wherever scientists and engineers are educated and employed.
Membership shall not be denied to any student on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran status.
The Materials Research Society recognizes that diversity drives innovation, excellence and new discoveries. We charge our membership and leadership to engage all demographic groups worldwide in advancing science and technology to improve the quality of life.
Active members must be members of MRS, students enrolled at Oregon State University, and have paid chapter dues. Active members are eligible for officer positions and other MRS member benefits. Active members must attend at least 50% of all meetings per term unless excused. Officers must attend all meetings unless excused.
Any Society member employed by or attending the academic institution may become a University Chapter Member upon payment of University Chapter dues. Nonmembers of the Society may, upon approval of the University Chapter and payment of dues, become members or associate members of the University Chapter. Dues for the chapter are $5/year, and are due on the first meeting a new chapter member attends. Chapter members who are students enrolled at Oregon State University may vote in officer elections, but are not allowed to run for office, active members are.
Associate members shall be faculty or staff interested in materials science. Associate members are not required to pay dues unless they attend events funded by the chapter. If they would like to attend, they will pay $5 per year. They shall not be eligible to hold office or vote.
Annual dues of $5 shall be paid at the first meeting a new Active or Chapter member attends. Associate members are not required to pay annual dues unless attending a chapter-funded event. If attending such an event, dues of $5 per member are required.
All chapter members, officers, and active members of the Materials Research Society Student Chapter must be currently enrolled for at least 1 credit at Oregon State University.
Chapters are eligible for up to $500 per year in travel reimbursements to help student members attend the MRS Spring and Fall Meetings. Travel reimbursements for active members will be awarded by the executive committee based on need on a per case basis and approved by the President. Requests for reimbursement from MRS National need to be made in writing by the Chapter President.
The officers of the University Chapter shall include a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined and held by one person. Officer positions that form the Social Committee are Outreach Chair and Communications Chair. Professional Development Chair, Outreach Chair, and Communications Chair have been added on top of national MRS requirements, but these may or may not be filled depending on need or available officer recruits.
Active members and members have the opportunity work under the social committee, in order to encourage involvement. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by the constitution and bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the association. Officers are required to be members of MRS.
Officers shall have earned at least 1 credit hour in their most recently completed term. This requirement does not apply to first-term freshmen or first-term transfer students. Officers shall have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and not have been on probation for the most recently completed term prior to the term of election.
Annual Activity Report: April 1st of each year, the University Chapter shall submit to the Society a summary of University Chapter activities for the current academic year including the number of meetings held, a list of newly elected officers, the number of current Chapter Members, and a notice of significant meetings for the current academic year.
Chapter Rebate Application: April 1st of each year, the University Chapter shall submit to the Society with Annual Activity Report, because rebate corresponds to the amount of Chapter Members cited on the Annual Activity report (rebate is $10/person).
Annual Financial Report: By April 1st of each year, the University Chapter shall submit to the Society a brief financial statement including total revenues and expenditures for the prior calendar year, and the current balance.
Travel Reimbursement Form: Student members of your university chapter may apply for travel support to attend MRS Spring and Fall Meetings. Each chapter is entitled to $500 per calendar year for this purpose. Submit this form to chapters@mrs.org by May 15 (for the Spring Meeting) and by December 15 (for the Fall Meeting).
Special Projects Program: By December 15th of each yearthe University Chapter can submit a proposal to the society. This program is designed to broaden awareness of materials science education in both professional and nonprofessional communities by providing programs for distribution between university chapters outside of MRS. To obtain funding, a written proposal must be prepared and submitted to MRS by students of the chapter and should include:
President:
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the chapter, preside over all meetings, and be responsible for guiding the direction of the organization and encouraging the generation of ideas for meetings and activities. The President shall work with the faculty advisors and officers to plan all programs and activities, and be responsible for all club communication with the Materials Research Society and submit the yearly report to MRS by April 1st of each year.
Vice President:
The Vice President shall assist the president and the faculty advisors, and take the place of the President in his/her absence. They shall develop and promote the election of officers procedure, and make sure that the club maintains its status as a Registered Student Organization. The Vice President will coordinate and assist with planning any trip to a MRS conference.
Secretary:
The Secretary will keep written records of meetings and activities. Maintain the club email account, and keep a record of meeting minutes which shall have the minutes typed up and posted for all chapter members within 5 days of events.
Treasurer:
The Treasurer will collect membership dues and subsequently hand out membership cards, hold membership dues and other income, keep a record of current funds in excel sheet that will be updated at least 5 days within budget changes. Also submit the financial statement to President by March 25th of each year.
Communications Chair:
As part of the Social Committee, The Communications Chair will help to maintain online social media presence, maintain an up-to-date collection of photos taken during activities, coordinate t-shirt design. Help to plan and prepare agendas for activities with the social committee. The Communications Chair shall be responsible for publicity of all chapter events, which involves communicating with departments bulletins and other sources that help MRS to be publicized on campus.
Outreach Chair:
As part of the social committee, The Outreach Chair will help to maintain online social media presence, maintain an up-to-date collection of photos taken during activities, coordinate t-shirt design. Help to plan and prepare agendas for activities with the social committee. The Outreach Chair will shall work to plan and coordinate outreach events for K-12 and the general public. This is mostly participating in existing outreach opportunities at OSU as well as creating new events, and includes working with the Faculty Advisor in planning and scheduling outreach activities and encouraging participation in these activities by chapter members.
Professional Development Chair:
The Professional Development chair will help to plan and coordinate seminars, workshops and other professional development opportunities. Keep the chapter up to date on existing materials seminars at OSU, primarily in the materials science department. They shall network with speakers from industry when possible, and help the VP to organize trips to regional and national conferences.
Officers shall be nominated by the 3rd week of spring term of each year. Election shall be by secret ballot and the candidates receiving the most votes shall be named to their respective offices.
Officers shall be elected to serve for one year or until their successors are elected, and their terms of office shall begin at the close of the meeting at which they are elected. Therefore although new officer positions begin the day of election, at the discretion of the new president, old officers may remain on for up to 1 term in an advisory role. Officers are elected by majority vote of all University Chapter members. In the event of a tie, the President will rescind his or her vote.
Vacancies in offices shall be filled by nomination and voting of a quorum of University Chapter members.
In the event that an officer fails to perform prescribed duties based on the expectations of MRS, that officer may resign the post, be put on probationary status, or be asked to leave the club. Probationary status will last one month and the officer’s status will be voted on by University Chapter members at the end of that period.
A majority vote will decide whether the officer on probation will stay or leave the club. In the event of a tie, the President will rescind his or her vote. If the officer is asked to leave but refuses, a vote will be held among the University Chapter members to decide the officer’s status in the chapter, with a majority vote deciding whether or not the officer will stay. In the event of a tie, the President will rescind his or her vote. All decisions must comply with the MRS diversity statement and Oregon State University’s Non-Discrimination Policy.
In the event of a vacancy between elections the office of President, the chapter shall elect a qualified member of the chapter, to become President for the unexpired term.
In the event between elections of a vacancy in any officially elected office other than President, the President shall appoint a qualified member from within the chapter to fill the office for the unexpired term. The appointment must be ratified by the chapter at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Executive officers of this chapter shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, Communications Chair, Outreach Chair, Professional Development Chair.
The University Chapter executive committee shall manage the affairs of the University Chapter; pass upon and authorize the annual budget controlling expenditures; pass upon the eligibility of applicants for membership; fill all vacancies; approve all appointments; and consider and dispose of all matters referred to it by the University Chapter. Any duties not otherwise specifically mentioned which tend to better the welfare of the University Chapter may be assumed by the University Chapter executive committee, insofar as they are consistent with the objectives of the Society.
Social Committee officers of this chapter shall be the Communications Chair and Outreach Chair.
This committee will report to the president, and in the case of officer meetings will discuss with all officers.
Other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President as the association or the executive committee deems necessary to carry on the work of the association.
General membership meetings shall be called by the President or acting President at any time deemed necessary, provided a minimum of one week's notice is possible.
The Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President.
Plan ahead with events and activities.
Social Committee will discuss event agendas and activities with officers
Any funds needed for activities can be addressed in these meetings and use much be approved by the majority of officers present.
Advisors must be current regular members of MRS. One of the Faculty Advisors must have tenure at the institution and both Advisors must agree to advise the Chapter for a minimum of two years. Faculty advisors must participate in at least one event or meeting per term and advise chapter members about appropriate events and activities.
Proposed amendments must be in writing, and read in the general meeting in which they are proposed. They will be read again in two subsequent general meetings. Amendments are approved by a majority vote of University Chapter members. At least 2/3rd of active members must agree on the announced amendments. In the event of a tie, the President will rescind his or her vote.