H  U  P  A  T

Howard University Project for Appropriate Technology

 

 

 

Constitution

 

 

 

TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MASSES: Implementing affordable technology that increases the productivity of the masses in a sustainable manner in harmony with nature and culture, while raising the level of humanity.

 

 

Article I Name: HUPAT

 

Section 1. Howard University Project for Appropriate Technology (HUPAT)

 

Section 2. HUPAT commits to follow University policies and procedures, rules and regulations.

 

 

Article II Objective

Section 1. Main Objective: The purpose of HUPAT is to promote and develop the use of science and engineering to better serve society by preparing well grounded students in critical thinking, engineering design practices, and ethical principles by attaining a solid understanding of appropriate technology in theory and practice.  It is important for Howard students to have an interdisciplinary mechanism to approach the decision making process that, as future leaders, they will go through after graduating.  The main focus is to reach, directly or indirectly, people of African descent, African people, Latin American people and Native American people both within and outside the United States.  Through our main objective we seek to promote Howard University’s goal of producing compassionate graduates committed in the quest for solutions to human and social problems by means of leadership and service to our nation and the global community.

 

Section 2. Short Term Goals: Organize lectures, discussions, symposia and trips to promote HUPAT’s main objective.  Develop courses, between students and faculty members, related to Appropriate Technology, to be offered to undergraduate and graduate students from technology and science related majors as well as humanities and social science majors.  To expand the international collaborations already established with some African countries (Guinea Bissau, Mali, South Africa, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, etc.) and extend the collaborations to Latin American countries.

 

Section 3. Long Term Goals: Develop the Appropriate Technology field at Howard University into a degree granting major in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Science (CEACS).  Also to establish international conferences in Appropriate Technology and related areas.

 

 

Article III Membership

 

Section 1. HUPAT welcomes every person within the Howard community that has an interest in the use of technology for the empowerment of the masses; all such individuals are welcome to join and cooperate with HUPAT's objectives.

 

Section 2. The membership is open to everybody with an interest on developing technology that promotes social justice.  All officers must be currently enrolled students at Howard University.

 

Section 3. The Faculty Advisor (FA) is a member of the organization and who offers support to HUPAT through resources accessible to faculty members; FA acts as a liaison between HUPAT and Howard University Faculty and staff when needed; FA reviews applications; FA also provides advice about Howard University standard regulations and procedures.

 

Section 4. Committees will be created as needed in order to focus the organizing work for a specific activity among members that volunteer to do so.  The committee can be either lead by an individual or worked out in the same level of responsibility, as decided by the group.

 

 

Article IV Officers

 

Section 1. Qualifications: Must be an enrolled Howard student in good academic standing.

 

Section 2.  Elections:

a)     The elections will take place once a year during the month of April.

b)    The results will be based on a majority vote.

 

Section 3.  Officer’s Duties

 

a)     Coordinator duties - Lead meetings and discussions; organize and plan the events establishing the contacts necessary to have successful activities; and authorize spending money along with the co-coordinator.

b)    Co-coordinator duties - Assist coordinator with all her/his duties; represent the main contact between officers and the committees; authorize spending money along with the coordinator.

c)     Treasurer duties – Maintain a book with all the money transactions and receipts related to HUPAT activities and HUPAT accounts; provide a financial report at the end of each semester.

d)    Secretary duties - Make notes of main points discussed, and decisions made at the meetings; types these in the forms of minutes and have them available for the record and to distribute to all members.

 

 

Article V Meetings

 

Section 1. Regulars meeting are going to take place once a month

 

Section 2. Special meetings can be called by the agreement of the officers.

 

Section 3. Number constituting quorum is more than half of active members

 

 

Article VII Parliamentary Authority

 

Section 1. The meetings will be lead by the coordinators according to Robert’s Rules of Order.

 

 

Article VIII Amendments to Constitution

 

Section 1. Amendments to the constitution require a two-thirds majority vote.

 

Section 2. All revisions will be forward to the Office of Student Activities for final approval.