Charter of the SIGMAA on Mathematics Instruction Using the Web
From WebSIGMAA
Contents |
Article I. Identification
Section 1. The name of this SIGMAA is SIGMAA on Mathematics Instruction Using the Web.
Section 2. This SIGMAA is formed for the purposes of
(a) educating its members about the use of the World-Wide Web for instruction in mathematics at the undergraduate level, whether for on-line courses or as an adjunct to the in-person classroom and laboratory;
(b) encouraging and facilitating projects of members who use the World-Wide Web for mathematics instruction;
(c) creating an interactive community of members of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) who are interested in use of the World-Wide Web in mathematics instruction; and
(d) providing outreach by serving as a resource for all members of the MAA who wish to use the World-Wide Web in undergraduate instruction.
Article II. Activities
Section 1. This SIGMAA will engage in activities such as, but not limited to, the following:
(a) sponsoring talks, panel discussions, presentations of papers, and receptions at national or sectional MAA meetings;
(b) maintaining a web site that includes links to projects of members, a geographical list of members available to present workshops at local and regional meetings, and notices of upcoming events;
(c) publishing an on-line newsletter containing technical articles valuable for the members of the SIGMAA and articles publicizing projects of members;
(d) maintaining a list server and on-line discussion groups for members of the SIGMAA;
(e) facilitating projects of members of the SIGMAA by bringing together members who are undertaking similar efforts or whose needs for information and whose expertise mesh;
(f) holding an annual meeting in connection with a national meeting of the MAA.
Section 2. Relationships with MAA Activities.
(a) This SIGMAA will coordinate its undertakings with other units and activities of the MAA, especially those involved with electronic publication and with the use of computers in the teaching of mathematics. Coordination will include sharing of meeting agendas and minutes with the MAA Committee on Computers in Mathematics Education (CCIME) and regular consultation with editors of the Mathematical Digital Sciences Library (MathDL) project and the Journal of Online Mathematics and its Applications (JOMA).
(b) No activity of this SIGMAA, including publications, shall be represented as coming from the MAA at large, rather than from this SIGMAA, unless such activity and representation have been approved by the Executive Committee of the MAA.
(c) Reports of the activities of this SIGMAA shall be submitted regularly by this SIGMAA to the MAA Committee on SIGMAAs with copies to the chair of the Coordinating Council to which this SIGMAA is assigned.
Article III. Meetings
Section 1. Frequency and place of meetings. A general membership meeting of the SIGMAA shall be held once each calendar year, in conjunction with a national meeting of the MAA. Other activities may be scheduled at sectional meetings of the MAA. SIGMAA business may also be conducted by e-mail provided that a quorum is attained, as defined in Section 5.
Section 2. Conduct of meetings. The SIGMAA Chair presides over the annual general membership meeting. The Chair circulates an agenda via e-mail one month in advance and asks for additional agenda items at that time. The Chair shall allow ample time for discussion and seek to achieve consensus. When a consensus is not reached, decisions shall be made by a vote using Robert's (simplified) Rules of Order.
Section 3. When the Executive Committee of this SIGMAA determines that an issue requires the attention of the entire SIGMAA membership before the next general meeting, the committee can decide to conduct a general meeting by e-mail, with ample time for discussion allowed. Members shall be given at least two weeks to vote on any issue put to a vote by e-mail.
Section 4. For votes by e-mail, the e-mail address of record for each member of the SIGMAA shall be deemed to be the address currently on file with the MAA, unless a different address has been communicated directly to the Vice Chair for Membership before the distribution of e-mail ballots.
Section 5. A quorum at membership meetings, including e-mail meetings, shall consist of at least twenty members of this SIGMAA, including at least two members of the Executive Committee. For meetings by e-mail, those counted in the quorum shall be those voting, including any self-identified as abstaining.
Article IV. Membership.
Section 1. Membership in this SIGMAA shall be open to any MAA member.
Article V. Administration of the SIGMAA.
Section 1. Officers and the Executive Committee
(a) The Executive Committee of this SIGMAA consists of five officers: the Chair, Vice Chair for Programs, Vice Chair for Membership, Vice Chair for Web Communications, and Secretary/Treasurer. The Executive Committee acts on behalf of the membership in carrying out day-to-day business.
(b) Of the five members of the Executive Committee, the four other than the Chair are elected in the fall preceding their term of office, as specified in Section 3, while the Chair is elected a year earlier and serves as Chair-Elect during the extra year. A candidate for Chair-Elect may be simultaneously a candidate for an office on the Executive Committee and, if elected to both positions, serves on the Executive Committee while Chair-Elect.
(c) The immediate Past Chair serves as an advisor to the Executive Committee but in that capacity is not considered a member of the Executive Committee and does not vote. However, the immediate Past Chair is permitted to hold any position on the Executive Committee after having assumed office under the same nomination and election procedures required of any member under this Charter, thereby continuing as a voting member of the Executive Committee.
(d) Decisions of the Executive Committee are by a majority consisting of at least three votes. Voting may be conducted in person or by e-mail. A quorum consists of four members.
(e) From time to time the Executive Committee may establish additional committees having specific missions and constituted from the general SIGMAA membership. A majority of a committee determines its actions, unless the Executive Committee specifies otherwise. The Executive Committee may at any time dissolve such a committee or change its membership and powers.
Section 2. Duties of Officers.
(a) The Chair presides at SIGMAA general membership meetings, organizes and directs the activities of the SIGMAA, and acts as its chief spokesperson. The Chair provides liaison with the administration of the MAA and with other organizations. The Chair also regularly communicates with members of the SIGMAA about the activities of the Executive Committee and of this SIGMAA in general.
(b) The Vice Chair for Programs is responsible for all programs of the SIGMAA, solicits proposals for special sessions, workshops, conferences, and other events from the membership of the SIGMAA, presents proposals to the Executive Committee, and coordinates the implementation of those proposals approved by the Executive Committee, including providing liaison with the Associate Secretary of the MAA on matters related to national meetings of the Association. Criteria for accepting a proposal shall include having objectives concordant with the goals of this SIGMAA and of the MAA.
(c) The Vice Chair for Membership supervises the maintenance of the membership roll and has primary responsibility for membership development and retention. The Vice Chair for Membership assists the Secretary/Treasurer, as needed, with correspondence and finances.
(d) The Vice Chair for Web Communications is responsible for dissemination of information to the membership of the SIGMAA through electronic media and oversees the contents of the web site of this SIGMAA. The Vice Chair for Web Communications assists the Secretary/Treasurer, as needed, with correspondence and with recording and disseminating the activities of this SIGMAA.
(e) The Secretary/Treasurer records minutes of official meetings of this SIGMAA and its Executive Committee, keeps records of other affairs of the SIGMAA, handles correspondence, and prepares written reports for submission to the MAA as required. The Secretary/Treasurer also is responsible for all finances of this SIGMAA, drafts the budget in accord with the directives of the Executive Committee of the SIGMAA, works with the appropriate staff of the MAA in the disbursement of funds, and prepares financial reports as required by the Executive Committee of the SIGMAA and by the MAA.
(f) In the event that the Chair is absent or temporarily unable to act, another member of the Executive Committee fulfills the duties of the Chair, in the successive order of Vice Chair for Programs, Vice Chair for Membership, Vice Chair for Web Communications, and Secretary/Treasurer.
Section 3. Elections and terms of office.
(a) Election of officers takes place in the fall, as described in paragraph (d) of this section. Officers assume their duties at the conclusion of the Joint Winter Meetings following the fall in which they have been elected.
(b) The officers serve one-year terms, except for the special conditions associated with the inaugural period described in paragraph (f) of this section. An officer may be nominated for and may run for re-election under the same conditions that apply to an initial election to the position. An individual may be nominated for Chair-Elect and another position simultaneously.
(c) The Executive Committee appoints a Nominating Committee of three members.
- (i) The Nominating Committee confers with the Vice Chair for Membership, other members of the Executive Committee, the immediate Past Chair, and with other members of the SIGMAA concerning the qualifications of potential candidates for offices. It is the responsibility of the Nominating Committee to maintain a balance between the need for experience on the Executive Committee and the need for renewal and leadership development. The Nominating Committee also conducts elections and oversees the tabulation of votes.
- (ii) The term of service of each member of the Nominating Committee is three calendar years. Terms overlap so that each year the term of one member expires. The member whose term is next to expire serves as Chair of the Nominating Committee for the year. No member of the Nominating Committee shall serve concurrently on the Executive Committee. If a member of the Nominating Committee leaves the position early, the Executive Committee may appoint a new committee chair and/or a new member with whatever term is needed to re-establish the rotation with a committee chair of sufficient experience.
(d) By the end of October the Nominating Committee nominates one or more candidates for each open position. A nomination for any open position can also be made by petition of at least ten members of this SIGMAA, communicated to the Nominating Committee by the end of October. Before December 1, the Nominating Committee electronically distributes a ballot to members with instructions for voting. Voting must be completed by December 15. The electronic mail ballot shall indicate that write-in votes are permitted. A quorum for voting for each position consists of twenty members. The winner is the candidate receiving a plurality. Ties are to be broken by an unbiased random method determined and supervised by the Nominating Committee. If the minimum number of twenty members voting is not achieved for an office, the incumbent remains in office until a new election can be held.
(e) If an elected officer resigns or is unable to serve, the Executive Committee shall in its discretion order a special election, appoint a successor, or leave the position vacant temporarily, taking into account the length of service remaining. However, if a period of eight months or more remains in the term of the office vacated, a special election is required, except that if the position of Chair-Elect becomes vacant before the regular fall elections, the position can be left vacant and a nomination and election for Chair for the following year can be held as part of the fall cycle.
(f) The inaugural period of this SIGMAA is the period of approximately two years from the establishment of this SIGMAA by the MAA to the Joint Mathematics Meetings of January, 2005. Paragraph (b) notwithstanding, the slate of officers approved by the MAA in conjunction with the establishment serves during the full inaugural period. Initially there is no Chair-Elect; an election for that position is to be held in Fall, 2003, with the individual elected to assume the office of Chair-Elect in January, 2004. The position of Past Chair is necessarily vacant until the completion of service by the inaugural Chair. Paragraph (c)-(ii) notwithstanding, the initial Nominating Committee is to be appointed at the start of the second of the two inaugural years (or earlier if its services are needed sooner), with terms of varied lengths so that the three-year rotation is established.
Article VI. Finances.
Section 1. An annual MAA dues supplement shall be assessed each member of this SIGMAA, paid in advance of each membership year. This fee shall be used to support in part the activities of this SIGMAA. The amount shall be determined by the membership, with the initial amount being \$10 per year. The manner of collection and disbursement of these funds shall be determined by the MAA Executive Committee. An exception to the dues requirement is that no dues are to be assessed for the membership year 2003, although any voluntary dues will be accepted.
Section 2. The SIGMAA shall submit a budget for each calendar year to the Chair of the MAA Budget Committee by April 1 of the preceding year. The budget shall include the projected cost for all planned SIGMAA activities, including receptions at meetings and room charges. The budget is subject to the approval of the MAA Executive Committee.
Section 3. This SIGMAA may apply to the MAA for specific funding beyond what is provided from dues. All requests for funds shall be substantiated by a budget for the proposed expenditures.
Article VII. External Funding
Section 1. No officer or member of this SIGMAA may apply for a grant to support an activity of this SIGMAA or enter into any contract to support such activity or to provide services without specific approval in writing by the President of the MAA or designee thereof. If this SIGMAA wishes to apply for external funds, it shall coordinate this activity with the MAA Subcommittee on Externally Funded Projects and go through the standard procedures for applying for external funding under the auspices of the MAA.
Section 2. Neither this SIGMAA nor any of its representatives shall have any authority to contract debts for, pledge the credit of, or in any way bind the MAA.
Article VIII. Changes to this Charter
Section 1. Changes to this Charter may be proposed by vote of the Executive Committee of the SIGMAA or by petition of at least twenty members of the SIGMAA. Notice of the proposed changes shall be sent to the membership via e-mail, allowing at least one month for discussion. Then the proposed changes must be endorsed by a two-thirds vote either of the members present at a general meeting or of the members voting if the vote is taken by e-mail. In either case a quorum must exist, as specified in Article III, Section 5.
Section 2. Changes to this Charter initiated pursuant to Section 1 must be submitted to the MAA Executive Committee for approval.
Section 3. Changes to this Charter may also be initiated by the MAA Executive Committee. In that event, such changes must be approved by the Board of Governors.
Article IX. Dissolution.
Section 1. This SIGMAA shall be dissolved if either of the following circumstances pertains:
(a) The SIGMAA has failed to maintain at least 30 members for two consecutive years; or
(b) a resolution of dissolution has been passed by majority vote of the MAA Board of Governors.
Section 2. If this SIGMAA is dissolved, any unspent funds of the SIGMAA shall be returned to the general fund of the MAA.
