Student Chapters

International Game Developers Association

Table of contents 1 Introduction 2 How To Set Up An IGDA Chapter in 7 Days 3 Official Recognition 4 Student Game Development Groups 5 Sample Constitutions

[edit] Introduction

This page should give advice and show case studies of how to implement an IGDA student chapter and to show places where IGDA student chapters (or at the time - gamedev chapters) already exist.

[edit] How To Set Up An IGDA Chapter in 7 Days

Write your advise here. For now some extracts from the mailing list:

Advice on running a chapter (from Kristen Cippant):

The Texas Aggie Game Developers (TAGD) was formed in the summer of 2003. Most of the officers and "founding fathers" were graduate students who only had a year or so left of school. I, a freshman at the time, joined TAGD in the fall of 2003. I think the reason our club succeeded after the first 2 months is almost entirely because of one person, our president, Jacob Foshee. Jacob just had this way of instilling leadership in people. He made sure in that year he was our President to create new leaders to follow him. Whenever we had something that needed to be done (ie. A party, tournament, t-shirts) Jacob always made sure that someone volunteered to do it. If no one volunteered to do it, it never got done. It made people realize that they needed to step up and be an important part of the club. Those people who took the initiative and did something for the organization are the ones who turned out to be officers the next year. I planned the Christmas party that year and now I’ve been the Event Chair for the past year and a half. Jacob was pretty sneaky in his making leaders out of regular people, but when I asked him about it, he just said TAGD, like any organization, is never going to make it if the current leaders don’t think about who is going to lead it when they are gone.

I was elected as Event Chair in the spring of 2004 when the current one graduated. At that point I was the only officer who was not graduating at the end of the semester. When we had elections for the next year we filled all the positions except President. What we basically did was decide who would be good for the job and then told him he’d be good until he agreed and we elected him. Luke was a good choice for a number of reasons. He is smart, plays games, can lead a group, and is not afraid to give his opinion. Also, he is doing research with Bjarne Stroustrup (the guy who invented c++) so that also helps our cause when it comes to relations with the computer science department.

I think this year we have had more members that regularly come to meetings than last year. At A&M we have MSC Open House where all the student organizations set up a table and people walk around looking for something they are interested. That is our main way of finding new people at the beginning of the semester. In the beginning of the semester we usually get many more people at our meetings than will actually stay and be an active member. The first couple meetings we had free pizza to get people to come until we could see who was really into making games and who was just really there for the pizza and smash brothers after the meeting. The people who were just there for the games stop coming usually after the first 4 weeks and when the free pizza stops. Our meetings are probably boring to them anyway. Sometimes we get the occasional guy who just shows up for games at the end, but that doesn’t really bother anyone.

So right now we have about 25 people who really want to make games. In the fall we tried to make some small groups of people who were less experienced to develop a game. For one reason or another those never really work out. I think mainly because most of them are freshman, and they realize about 6 weeks into school that college is hard. The rest of our members mainly work on "Big Game", and there are occasionally other smaller projects. Our "Big Game" usually has about 20 people working on it and submit it to the IGF student showcase. Our game did not make it into the showcase this year, mostly because we did not get an early enough start on it. Another smaller group entered a game and it got in the student showcase. The main developer on that got a job at EA while he was at GDC and we haven’t seen him since.

I think what keeps people coming back is having something that the organization is actively doing. For example, in the fall we were working on "Big Game", in the beginning of the spring semester we had groups of people who were researching tools we could use for our next game, and now we are starting development on our next IGF submission. We also have a club at A&M called AGCG and there is a group from there that is interested in art for games. They are working on the art for a 2D fighting game and they came to us to turn the art into a game.

As for events we usually have a party at the end of every semester where we play games, hang out, and do whatever. We go on trips to the Dallas, Austin, and Houston IGDA chapter meetings when they have them. Last semester we had 2 speakers come talk to us. We haven’t had any this semester, partly because our Industry Liaison is the one who is now working at EA. Sometimes we have coding parties. A&M has an organization called the Big Event which sends out student organizations once a year to help people around the community, usually with yard work or painting, and TAGD participates in that.

[edit] Official Recognition

• Have the chapter fill out a form on the IGDA site. This will require the following fields:

1. Name of the Chapter
2. Location of the Chapter (geographically)
3. Name of the school
4. Name of a faculty advisor (if one is required) and contact information
5. Name of the Student Coordinator and contact information
6. Names of officers, titles, and contact information
7. Small general purpose statement
8. Website

• Have this forum emailed to both the student coordinator and to someone at the IGDA.
• Have the Student Coordinator fax that form as well as the schools official recognition of club / organization status to the IGDA for approval. (These can be letters signed by the Dean of Students or the Dean of the University or College, or a small notice from the school)
• IGDA accepts or rejects the chapter (for whatever reasons) and sends notification
• Someone adds the club’s name, location, and website to the student chapter page.

Get a professor or someone like that to be the Official Student Chapter Sponsor and act as an academic advisor

[edit] Student Game Development Groups

add student chapters and groups here... New Zealand IGDA Chapters: [Student Chapters Auckland and Otago]

[edit] Sample Constitutions

The Electronic Game Developers Society

(University of Texas at Austin)

Constitution [Revision 1.0, Spring 2001] [Drafted in the spring of 2000]

Preamble Founded in the spring of 1999, the Electronic Game Developers Society was created with the intent of establishing a community for students and developers at the University of Texas at Austin. The concept and design of this Society is the result of the effort of those students who were highly motivated with the desire to learn about the industry and to network with local developers and contacts within the industry. In accordance with these desires we do hereby ordain and enact the following.

Article I

Name and Mission

• Section 1

The Name of this nonprofit organization shall be the Electronic Game Developers Society, hereafter referred to as the "Society."

• Section 2

Our Mission is to offer opportunities where students may gain hands-on experience through initiated projects, network with the local industry, and advance in the art and science of game development. We hope to serve both professional and public interests by fostering an open forum, providing a free resource of information, promoting technical excellence, and inspiring the imagination and dreams of our members.

Article II

Membership

• Section 1

Membership in the Society shall be open to all eligible persons regardless of race, national origin, creed or political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or veteran's status. Only students and/or faculty and staff of the University of Texas at Austin can be considered eligible as members of the Society.

• Section 2

Any person eligible for membership in accordance with this Constitution will become a member upon the payment of dues, service in a senior office, or as an advisor to the Society. Membership dues shall be decided preceding each fall semester by the Executive Board with consultation from the Advisor.

Article III

Officers

• Section 1

Titles of Senior Officers will be the President, VP Finance, VP Information, VP Industry, VP Academics, and VP Events. The Executive Board shall include all Senior Officers listed above, hereafter referred to as the "Board." Decisions of the Board will be based on votes per member of the Board, not per office held each member.

• Section 2

All Senior Officers are held to the following requirements:

• Each officer is responsible and accountable for his or her responsibilities defined within their duties and must remain active in participating in all organizational activities.
• Each term of office lasts for one year from the summer after elections to the end of the next spring semester. An individual shall hold no office for more than two terms.
• Officers must attend at least one Orientation Session held by the Campus Community and Involvement, and must be aware of the rules and guidelines of the organization and the university.
• Officers must not be on scholastic probation from the university.
• Every officer must also create and develop their own agendas for themselves and the committees in which they preside over in order to fulfill their duties to the Society.

• Section 3

Each Senior Officer shall be responsible for their respective duties as follows:

President

• Sets the organizational agenda and approves the budget for each year
• Responsible for enforcing the laws and guidelines set by this Constitution
• Coordinates and maintains communication between the senior officers
• Acts as representative for the organization in intramural activities
• Presides over any internal conflicts that may occur within the Society

VP Finance

• Handles the collection and allocation of funds, reimbursements, fundraising, and other standard treasury functions
• Keeps track of the general membership, including dues and contact information
• Assists the Board in establishing and maintaining a budget
• Responsible for the acquisition and holding of items both purchased or donated

VP Information

• Manages and keeps record of all literature and history for the Society and chronicles organizational activities
• Edits and distributes the newsletter and coordinates the development of the organization’s web site
• Responsible for the promotion and the awareness of the Society to the local community and recruiting efforts for the organization
• Handles the design and distribution of all advertisements of organizational activities, as well as, the exploration of other channels of advertisement

VP Industry

• Establishes and maintains strong corporate relations
• Invites guest speakers and requests for contributions for the organization
• Maintains an industry contact list for future reference for the organization
• Handles the planning for industry speaker events and the requisition of any presentational tools each speaker may need

VP Academics

• Coordinates workshops to develop member skills and knowledge
• May invite academic speakers to participate in panels or give lectures
• Organizes certain projects that allowing members to advance academically
• Helps to promote and develop special interest groups within the Society
• Should work to build and maintain a strong relationship with the academic community and to help facilitate the communication between members of the Society and the faculty and staff

VP Events

• Coordinates intramural or inter-organizational activities
• Plans and organizes social activities and events for the members of the organization throughout the year at help to develop their skills or their appreciation of game development
• Works with the Treasurer to raise funds from the industry or the university for these activities

• Section 4

Elections for senior offices should be held after the spring break and before the end of March. All Candidates must have at least one previous semester of active membership with the Society and must be able to complete the term as students of the University. Only students continuing into the next long semester following the term of office may run for the office of Treasurer.

The organizational Advisor or the Treasurer of the Society should supervise the election process. The result of an election must be decided by a popular vote by a ballot system. Only members may nominate and vote for officers of the Society. All Candidates must be present at the time ballots are held.

• Section 5

All Senior Officers have the power to create Committees and may appoint Junior Officers to assist in their duties and for which they are responsible. The Senior Officer creating a Committee may preside as Head or appoint a Junior Officer to be the Committee Head. The Senior Officer organizing the Committee may also design roles and appoint Junior Officers to those roles, or he or she may delegate that task to the Committee Head. All appointed Junior Officers must be members of the organization. The Committee Head must also set the agenda the delegate tasks to fulfill the intended mission of the Committee.

• Section 6

Senior Officers may be removed if the requirements listed in this Constitution are not met or if their duties are unfulfilled. They must be removed from office by a majority vote from the Board. Senior Officers may resign at any time during his or her term upon written notice of his or her resignation to the Board. In case of removal or resignation of any elected Officer, the Board must elect a replacement by majority vote of the Officers at an officers meeting within three weeks following the creation of such a vacancy.

Article IV

Advisors

• Section 1

The President may appoint an organizational Advisor. This decision may be overridden by a 2/3rds vote from the Board upon dissension. This Advisor must be a part of the faculty or staff of the University. This person shall be considered an Associate Member of the Society.

• Section 2

This Advisor may declare and even prevent inappropriate actions of the Board and the organization based on rules and regulations set by the University and on the terms set within this Constitution. The organizational Advisor may also give a tiebreaker vote in all majority-based decisions of the Board listed within this Constitution.

• Section 3

Officers may also appoint one or more Student Advisors, who must be former officers of the Society. This act may also be overridden by a 2/3rds vote from the Board. These Advisors may be considered Associate Members of the organization, but they are not involved in the decision-making process of the Board.

• Section 4

Advisors may resign at any time during his or her term upon written notice of his or her resignation to the Board. An Advisor may also be removed by 2/3rds vote from the Board.

Article V

Social Activities and Groups

• Section 1 All meeting dates and respective times as part of the organizational Agenda shall be decided by the President with majority approval by the Board. This includes dates and times for regular meetings, regular officers meeting, and all special events. Any Senior Officer may call a general meeting or an emergency officers meeting as needed. All Senior Officers must be able to attend all officers meetings and should be accounted for at those times. All decisions of the Society shall be made at officers meetings where all Senior Officers are present.

• Section 2 Projects and events may proposed by anyone from Board or the General Membership and must be approved by the President as part as the Agenda. The President may assign these activities to be organized by the most appropriate Senior Officer.

• Section 3 Special Interest Groups may also be proposed by anyone from Board or the General Membership and must be approved by a majority vote of the Board. In turn, the General Membership may nominate a candidate and elect a President of the Special Interest Group. The President of the group shall be given all ranks, privileges, and duties of a Senior Officer, and may be included on the Board of Officers of this organization. The office of this President also shares all requirements, limitations, and powers of a senior office, including the processes of election and removal.

Article VI

Amendment

An Amendment or Revision of the Constitution may be drafted by anyone from the Board or the General Membership. When a proposal is submitted, a Revision Committee must be formed and meet before the end of April and during the term of the Board receiving the submission. This Committee must consist of the Board and the Advisor and may include anyone from the General Membership. The ratification and adoption of an Amendment or Revision of the Constitution must be decided by a 2/3rds vote from the Board. Only the President of the Society or the organizational Advisor may make amendments or Revisions to the Constitution. Upon adoption by the Society, all Amendments and Revisions shall become effective immediately unless otherwise stated. This Constitution, including all Amendments and Revisions shall be the Supreme Law of the Society, and all actions shall be bound thereby.

Article VII

Dissolution

Should the Society dissolve, the Treasurer shall disburse funds in concordance with both the entire Board and the organizational Advisor.

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Madison Game Developers Association

(James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA)

Article I - Name of Organization The official name of this organization shall be the Madison Game Development Association (MGDA).

Article II - Purpose of Organization The purpose of this organization is to expose students to the various tools, resources, and conventions that are used in game development so that they might be better prepared to enter the industry after graduation. Second, the organization will serve as a meeting place for those interested in developing games independent of the organization. Third, it will attempt to keep abreast of any legislation that may affect the game industry (either positively or negatively) and take appropriate action. Lastly, the organization will give students a chance to network in the game development industry through its connections as an official chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). Furthermore, as an official chapter of the IGDA, we work to further the goal of the IGDA, which is to build a community of game developers which leverages the expertise of our members for the betterment of the industry and the development of the art form

Article III - Membership Membership in this organization is open to all JMU students and will not be restricted on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation. Students in good standing with the University (2.0 cumulative G.P.A.) are eligible for membership after attending or participating in an organization event/meeting. As a member, one is required to attend organization meetings regularly, pay dues if required, and actively support organization projects. All MGDA members must also be members of the IGDA by the end of their first full academic year in the MGDA. Membership in the MGDA allows students to attend official IGDA and member only events including, but not limited to, conferences and speakers. Membership in the MGDA will be revoked by ½ vote of officers plus ¾ vote from the general membership if actions are deemed inappropriate by the membership. Membership in the IGDA may be revoked at any time in accordance with IGDA rules and regulations. Membership in the MGDA will be revoked as a direct result of a student’s expulsion from the IGDA.

Article IV - Officers Elections for officers will occur at the last official IGDA meeting of the first semester of a given academic year. Nominated officers will present their qualifications to the gathered membership at the official IGDA meeting immediately prior to the election. Members interested in becoming officers will announce their nomination no later than the week before qualifications are announced. Election of officers will require a majority vote from the general membership. If a candidate fails to receive a majority of votes, a run off election will be held within the top two candidates that received the most votes. Members interested in becoming an officer must meet the following academic requirement: 2.2 cumulative G.P.A. A member interested in an officer position must also have one semester of experience in the club before being considered for an officer position. The term of office will be one full year. All officers shall comprise the Executive Committee of the organization. The Executive Committee shall meet in addition to regular organization meetings. The Executive Committee shall appoint such committees that are needed to carry out organization goals. The officers and individual duties shall be:

• President

1. Preside over all meetings
2. Represent organization on campus
3. Ensure that the organization is operating in conformity with the standards set forth by James Madison University and Student Organization Services
4. Cosign organization checks
5. Maintain communication with organization adviser
6. Maintain communication with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
7. Serve as Coordinator for the IGDA chapter.

• Vice-president

1. Preside over meetings in the absence of the President
2. Schedule meetings/events with appropriate University offices
3. Coordinate organization promotion and publicity of events
4. Keep the IGDA informed of officially sanctioned chapter meetings and locations.

• Secretary

1. Maintain an accurate record of all organization meetings and post for members
2. Maintain membership directory
3. Correspond when necessary with University administration and other recognized organizations

• Treasurer

1. Maintain accurate record of organization transactions
2. Collect dues if required
3. Develop organization budget and present to membership for ¾ vote
4. Cosign organization checks
5. Arrange fundraising opportunities for the organization
6. Solicits additional funding if needed from the Student Government Association in conjunction with the President
7. Inform the IGDA if reimbursement is required for any MGDA purchases.

Officers may be removed from office by ½ vote of the other officers and ¾ of the general membership if actions are deemed inappropriate by the membership. The officer is permitted to speak before the Executive Committee and the general membership about the charges made concerning his/her performance. The officer is not permitted to participate in the deliberation of the Executive Committee regarding the charges.

Article V - Advisor The advisor shall be a full time faculty or staff member at James Madison University. The advisor will assume those responsibilities as outlined in this constitution and/or found in University Policy No. 3101 entitled “Faculty Advisors to Student Organizations.” The advisor will be selected by a ½ vote of the Executive Committee and then presented to the general membership for a ¾ vote. Advisors not fulfilling responsibilities or abiding by the organization’s purpose may be removed from the position by a ½ vote of the Executive Committee.

Article VI - Meetings The organization shall hold regular (monthly) meetings that will be officially sanctioned and advertised by the IGDA during the academic term except when holidays, examination periods or other events make meeting impractical. Other regular (weekly) meetings will take place on an “as needed” basis. Smaller groups or special interest groups in the organization will meet regularly when the officers decide a meeting of the full organization is not necessary. Organization meeting day/time will be determined in the beginning of each semester by a ¾ vote of the general membership. Attendance at full organization meetings is expected, as well as participation in some smaller meetings throughout the year. If a member must miss a meeting, correspondence with the secretary is appreciated. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the membership plus one officer. Robert’s Rules of Order (newly revised) shall govern all meetings.

Article VII - Finance The organization may establish reasonable dues that must be paid by all members. Dues will include the student’s membership to the IGDA. Any extra dues will be determined in the beginning of the academic year by the Executive Committee and presented to the general membership for a ¾ vote. Dues must be paid each academic year to both the IGDA and the MGDA before a student’s membership expires. Students new to the MGDA may wait one (1) academic year before committing to MGDA/IGDA membership. Those who do not pay their dues to the MGDA/IGDA after one year will not be able to attend official meetings and will not receive any benefits associated with IGDA membership. The MGDA funds will be used to game related events, including, but not limited to, trips to conferences, and acquisition of speakers. The organization may also be petitioned for funds to help students of the university fund various game projects including start up funds for independent projects. Funds will be distributed by a majority vote of the officers. The treasurer shall maintain all financial records and shall countersign with the president for all organization transactions.

Article VIII- Amendments Amendments to this constitution must be submitted in writing at a regular meeting of the organization. Said amendment(s) will be voted on at a subsequent meeting. In order to adopt the amendment, a vote of 2/3 of the general membership is necessary. The Committee on Club Recognition must approve all amendments to this constitution.

Article IX - Ratification This constitution shall become effective upon approval by a 3/4 vote of the membership, The Commission on Student Services and the President of James Madison University.