BYLAWS
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be the University of Houston Student Chapter, hereinafter the Chapter, of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS).
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
1. Encourage interest in the field of operations research (O.R.), management sciences (MS), and analytics (optional).
2. Provide a means of communication among people having interest in OR/MS.
3. Provide an informal means of exchange about OR/MS educational programs and opportunities.
4. Provide an informal means of sharing information about the methods and techniques of OR/MS.
5. Present a forum of speakers who address OR/MS topics.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
1. Graduate and undergraduate students attending University of Houston interested in
operations research, the management sciences, and analytics may become
a Chapter member. Membership in the national INFORMS organization (the Institute)
is not required.
2. All members have equal rights, duties, and privileges.
3. Membership and participation shall be free from discrimination on any basis.
4. At all times, the membership of the Chapter must include at least 5 members.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
1. The following Chapter officers comprise the Board of the Chapter. All elected officers
must be members of both the Chapter and INFORMS. The elected officers collectively
decide appointments to special positions, e.g., Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, Business
Outreach Coordinator, Historian, and Program Committee. Their duties are:
• President: presides at meetings, represents Chapter in external affairs, can
authorize expenditures if the Treasurer is unavailable, and provides direction
to the activities of the Chapter and its officers.
• Vice President: assumes duties of the absent president; administers cultural and
social activities.
• Secretary: administers correspondence and amendments to bylaws (Section VIII),
announces meetings, and maintains contact with the Institute. Files annual report
to the Institute that describes Chapter activities.
• Treasurer: responsible for financial matters, to include receipt of all financial
reports from the Institute and conveyance of financial information to the Chapter
membership. Approves all expenditures and monitors receipts or conveys
receipts to the Institute in a fiscally sound manner. (The Secretary and Treasurer
may be combined into one officer position.)
2. Terms of Office: All officers serve a one-year term, renewable for up to three years, with
the exception of the President.
3. Nominations: Nominations occur during the general meeting or electronically in
the same month. Only members of the Institute in “good standing” can be nominated.
In the event of a vacant position prior to the officer’s term, a special election will be held.
Such elections will be conducted as normal.
4. Elections and Voting: Elections shall be held by paper or electronic ballot and are
determined by majority vote. Elections shall be held within one month of receiving
nominations. Ties shall be resolved by a fair process determined by the other elected
officers. Only Chapter members who are enrolled at the University of Houston and in good
standing are eligible to vote.
5. Removal from Office: Any Student Chapter member accepting nomination for
elective office in the Student Chapter is understood to have agreed to perform the
duties of that office if elected, and in particular to have agreed to attend Student
Chapter meetings during his/her tenure, except as his/her attendance is prevented by
unusual circumstances. If a Student Chapter elected official must miss a meeting or be
temporarily unable to carry out his/her responsibilities, he/she shall advise the Board and
shall make other arrangements for the discharge of his/her responsibilities. If a Student
Chapter elected official should fail during his/her tenure to attend Student Chapter
meetings and carry out the responsibilities of the office, he/she can be removed from
office upon the initiative of a unanimous vote of the Student Chapter Board.
6. Vacancies: In the event of a vacant position prior to the officer’s term, a special election
will be held. Such elections will be conducted as stated in Article IV, item 4.
ARTICLE V - REMOVAL
1. Any officer may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the membership.
2. In case of a tie, the Faculty/Staff Advisor shall cast the deciding vote.
3. A vacancy of any office shall be filled by Presidential appointment, subject to the approval of the membership.
4. Any member may be removed by a three-fourths vote from the full officer board.
5. In case of a tie, the Faculty/Staff Advisor shall cast the deciding vote.
6. Any appeals must be submitted to the officer board and Faculty/Staff Advisor. Appeals will be considered, presented to the organization, and voted on by the whole organization. Appeals must receive a three-fourths vote of the membership.
ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS
1. General meetings are meetings where all Chapter members are invited. General meetings
shall be held as planned by the Officers. Meeting time, place, and agenda shall be set by
the officers and are announced at least 2 weeks in advance.
2. Officer meetings are meetings where only the Officers are invited. Officer meetings shall
be held as planned by the President, but only upon notice to all officers.
3. A minimum of 2 general meetings of the Chapter shall be held in each calendar
or academic year.
4. A quorum for business meetings shall consist of the presence of five (5) Chapter
members, or 10% of the membership, whichever is larger, including at least two (2) of the
officers. A quorum is not needed for meetings where no Chapter business is conducted.
5. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings, in all cases to which they are applicable
and in which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws.
ARTICLE VII – FACULTY ADVISOR
The Chapter shall have a Faculty Advisor. The Faculty Advisor must be an INFORMS member
in good standing who is affiliated as a faculty member with [university]. Chapter officers are
responsible for appointing (or reappointing) a Faculty Advisor every two years.
1. Responsibilities of the Faculty Advisor:
• Review the Student Chapter bylaws and become familiar with the structure of the
local organization.
• Meet periodically with the officers to offer support and guidance.
• Search for opportunities to advance the interests of the Student Chapter.
ARTICLE VIII – RESPONSIBILITIES TO INFORMS
1. All Chapter activities must be consistent with the provisions of the Institute Constitution
and Bylaws and with the dignity of a professional association and the nonprofit status
of the Institute. A Chapter may be disbanded (a) on grounds of professional or financial
irresponsibility, (b) if it becomes inactive, or (c) if its membership falls below the minimum
number required, according to these Bylaws. A Chapter’s assets ultimately belong to the
Institute and shall revert to the Institute in the event that the Chapter is disbanded or
otherwise ceases to be a Chapter of the Institute.
2. The Chapter shall file an activity report annually with the Institute Business Office
describing Chapter activities during the current academic year. It shall be filed no later
than May 31 of the following year. The Chapter shall notify the INFORMS Communities
office the results of the Chapter’s elections immediately following the elections. The
Chapter shall also provide any additional information or reports throughout the year as
reasonably requested by the Board or officers of the Institute.
3. Neither the Institute nor the Institute Board of Directors, by granting a charter to the
Chapter, assumes any liability or responsibility for any obligations of any kind incurred
by the Chapter unless prior written approval is obtained. The Institute Board alone has
the authority to commit the Institute or any of its subdivisions to a contract. Review and
approval of contracts are delegated to the Executive Director of the Institute.
ARTICLE IX – DUES
Chapter dues may be assessed on all members at the time they join or renew. The Chapter
officers collectively set the dues schedule and amount.
ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS AND PROCEDURE
1. Proposed amendments to these bylaws that are consistent with those of the Institute,
may be initiated either by action of the Chapter Board or by a petition to the Chapter
President signed by 5% of the membership or five (5) members of the Chapter, whichever
is larger. The Secretary shall distribute copies of the proposed change to all members of
the Chapter by electronic mail or written form not less than three weeks before a general
meeting. An open discussion of the proposed amendment to the bylaws shall be carried
out at the following business meeting of the Chapter. The amendment will then be sent
to the INFORMS liaison who will present it to the INFORMS Subdivisions Council. The
amendment becomes effective when approved by this Council.
2. The Chapter President shall make rulings on any point of procedure not included in
these bylaws.
ARTICLE XI - ANTI-HAZING CLAUSE
Students and Student Organizations are prohibited from initiating, participating in, or being witness to hazing activity. Hazing is antithetical to the University’s commitment to a positive educational environment. Participation in hazing activities is against the law. Violation of the University’s hazing policy, whether on or off-campus, may subject participants, including students and organizations, to arrest, prosecution and/or disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, suspension or expulsion of students and the revocation of an organization’s registration and/or recognition at the University. Consent to or acquiescence in hazing activity is not a defense. The University strictly prohibits participation in hazing activities by any party, regardless of the existence of consent. Hazing activities do not contribute to the positive development or welfare of students. The University of Houston recognizes the act of hazing as illegal, irresponsible, intolerable and inconsistent with the principles of higher education and basic human development. For more information on the University’s Hazing Policy please visit the Student Life Policies section of the University of Houston Student Handbook.
ARTICLE XII - NON-DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE
The University of Houston provides equal treatment and opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, sex (including gender and pregnancy), genetic information, religion, age (over 40), national origin, ethnicity, disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or status, gender expression, or any other legally protected status except where such distinction is required by law. This statement reflects compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and all other federal and state regulations.