About us

History

A dangerous trend has been progressing towards fewer women entering into computer science.  While women earned 56.1% of bachelor degrees in 1998, the percentage of computer science degrees earned by women is only 26.7%. This percentage has been declining every year since 1984 with a maximum of 37.1% of CS degrees earned by women. WITS has been organized to help reverse this trend. We know the intimidating feeling of looking around your classroom and seeing only 5 or 6 other women in a sea of 70 students and thinking you are never going to make it through.

By talking to other women who have been through it you know you will be fine.

By meeting the other women in your class you will enjoy computer science with the knowledge that you are not alone. By working together in a larger organization and helping others you will feel empowered. We have all been through it and we are all here to help you.

Mission Statement

The Women in Information Technology Systems (WITS) organization has been established to support and promote women in information technologies and encourage women to study computer science and/or other information systems. WITS is dedicated to helping women gain self-confidence and "computer confidence" by becoming involved in activities and projects that enable women to skillfully and comfortably use information technologies. This includes activities such as mentoring or role modeling, monitoring the status of women in industrial and academic computing through guest speakers and company tours, and promoting communication among women in information technologies.

Goals

1. A more equal representation of women in information technologies.
2. Promote communication among women in information technologies.
3. Advance the education and professional training of women in information technologies.

WITS ACM-W Chapter Bylaws

ACM-W Bylaws

Bylaws of the Women in Information Technology Systems (WITS) Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery's Committee on Women in Computing

Article I - NAME

1. This organization shall be called the Women in Information Technology Systems (WITS) Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery's Committee on Women in Computing. In these Bylaws it is referred to as the "Chapter"; the Association for Computing Machinery is referred to as the "ACM";; and the Association for Computing Machinery's Committee on Women in Computing is referred to as the "ACM-W".

Article II - PURPOSE

1. The Chapter is organized and will be operated exclusively for educational and scientific purposes to promote the following:
1. An increased knowledge of and greater interest in the contributions of women in the science, design, development, construction, languages, management, and applications of modern computing.
2. Improvement of the learning and working environments of women in computing.
3. Increased recruitment and retention of women in computing throughout the pipeline including activities for girls in K-12, undergraduate and graduate students, and professionals.
4. A means of communication between persons having an interest in computing and women in computing.
2. The Chapter will serve all interested persons in WITS.
3. The Chapter is chartered by ACM-W.

Article III - MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership is open to all ACM members and nonmembers.
2. Membership shall not be restricted according to race, creed, color, age or gender.
3. To become a member of this organization, a student at UWEC must be in good standing with WITS and must provide payment of dues.
4. The primary control of Women in Information Technology Systems rests with the voting student members.

Article IV - OFFICERS

1. The officers of this Chapter shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer: These officers constitute the Council. A minimum of two officers are required to establish a Chapter: President and Secretary/Treasurer; or President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
2. All officers of the Chapter must be members of ACM.
3. The officers shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual election meeting on or before May 20th.
4. They shall take office immediately and serve for one year.
5. Each officer must be a member in good standing with WITS, a voting member of this organization and a student at UWEC.

Article V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. The President is the principal officer and is responsible for leading the Chapter and managing its activities in accordance with the mission of ACM-W, the policies and procedures of the ACM, and these bylaws. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter.
2. The Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President, assist the President in the management of the Chapter, and perform other duties that may be assigned by the President.
3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all Chapter meetings. The Secretary shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President when the Chapter has fewer than four officers. Other duties of the Secretary include:
   1. Maintaining the records of the Chapter.
   2. Preparation of the end of year activity report for the Chapter including officer contact information and the annual financial information provided by the Treasurer. The activity report will be submitted to ACM and ACM-W through the ACM-W website.
   3. Submission of any proposed amendment to these bylaws to ACM-W through the ACM-W website. Proposed amendments must be approved by ACM-W and the ACM Constitution and Bylaws Committee before they can be submitted to the Chapter's membership for a vote.
   4. Perform other duties as assigned by the President.
4. The Treasurer shall collect dues, pay all bills, and maintain the Chapter's financial records. Other duties of the Treasurer include:
   1. Preparation of the Chapter's Annual Financial Report for presentation to the Chapter at the annual election meeting.
   2. Preparation of the annual financial information to be included on the end of year activity report submitted by the Secretary to ACM and ACM-W.
   3. Performance of other duties as assigned by the President.

Article VI - CHAPTER SPONSOR

In the case where all officers are students at the organization, the Chapter must have a Chapter Sponsor. The Chapter Sponsor is optional for all other Chapters.

1. The Chapter Sponsor shall be a voting member of ACM and a member of the faculty or full-time staff of the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.
2. The Chapter Sponsor shall be selected by the Council immediately following the annual election meeting. The selection shall be confirmed by the sponsoring organization and reviewed by ACM-W on the end of year activity report.
3. The Chapter Sponsor shall be responsible for overseeing the activities of the Chapter. Specifically, the Sponsor:
   1. helps promote continuity from year to year as student leadership and personnel change;
   2. promotes good relationships between students and women staff at the sponsoring organization;
   3. helps maintain high standards in all activities of the Chapter;
   4. exercises financial supervision, if necessary, by promoting prompt payment of all bills and collection of dues or by disbursing funds from the Treasury;
   5. represents the Chapter interests to the sponsoring organization and to the students' institution(s) when possible.
   6. for high school chapters and underage students, the chapter sponsor must be in attendance at every meeting that is held in the evening. In the event that the appointed sponsor is not available, another faculty member may chaperone the meeting. If both are not available, a local area professional, previously investigated and approved by the school, can be assigned to chaperone evening meetings.

Article VII - EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

1. The Executive Council shall consist of the Chapter Officers and the Chapter Sponsor if the Chapter has a Chapter Sponsor.
2. The President of the Executive Council is the Chapter President.
3. The term of the members of the Executive Council shall be coincident with the terms of the officers.

Article VIII - DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

1. The Executive Council shall plan meetings at least 6 times a year in accordance with the needs of the Chapter. The Chapter shall hold meetings only in places that are open, safe, and accessible. There may be additional local government requirements about openness to the public and accessibility for the handicapped.
2. The Executive Council shall create working committees in accordance with the needs of the Chapter. These committees may be used to organize events and projects for the Chapter.
3. The Executive Council shall determine the annual dues for the members of the Chapter.

Article IX - DISBURSEMENTS AND DUES

1. Disbursements from the Treasury for Chapter expenditures shall be made by the Treasurer or Chapter Sponsor with authorization of the Executive Council and shall be included in the minutes of its meetings.
2. Dues shall be fixed and paid annually by the Executive Council.

Article X - AMENDMENT AND VOTING PROCEDURES

1. All proposed changes to these Chapter Bylaws shall be approved by ACM-W and the ACM Constitution and Bylaws Committee before being presented to the Chapter membership for a vote.
2. No official business of the Chapter shall be conducted unless a quorum is present. A quorum of the Chapter shall be defined as 50 percent of the membership of the Chapter or at least 3 members whichever is greater.
3. A simple majority of the members present shall be required to carry a motion.
4. Officers will be elected by a plurality of votes cast.

Article XI - DISSOLUTION OF THE CHAPTER

1. Dissolution of this Chapter by consent of the members shall consist of unanimous agreement of all its officers together with a majority vote at a meeting which has been publicized in advance to all members of the Chapter for the purpose of taking this vote.
2. Should this Chapter be dissolved, its assets and liabilities shall be transferred to ACM and shall be supervised by the ACM-W.