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Chapters FAQ
ACM Chapters Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the ACM Chapters FAQ. We hope you find answers to your questions
below. If you would like to suggest a new entry for the FAQ, please email us at
local_activities
acm.org.
What is a chapter web account?
Why does a chapter need a web account?
How does my chapter get a web account?
Why doesn't my chapter login work?
How can I change my chapter web account username, password, or security question?
Topic: Chapter Administrative Interface
Where do I log in to the Chapter Administrative Interface?
What can I do by logging in to my chapter's administrative interface?
Topic: Chapter Annual Report
What is an annual report?
How does my chapter complete an annual report?
Why can't my chapter access an annual report?
How can I add my current chapter officers?
Why are some parts of the annual report greyed out?
What sections of the annual report are mandatory?
Topic: Chapter Basics
What are the requirements for forming an ACM chapter?
What is chapter status?
What is an EIN number?
What is an IRS 990 form?
Which chapters must submit an IRS 990 form?
What is a chapter web account?
A chapter web account stores your chapter's login information: it consists of a username and password, and uniquely identifies your chapter when you try to access protected parts of the ACM web site. One such part is the Chapter Administrative Interface.
The Chapter web account is intended for the use of your Chapter officers only -- please do not share your chapter account information with anyone outside of the Chapter officers.
Why does a chapter need a web account?
Your Chapter web account allows you to access the Chapter Administrative Interface, where you can update your chapter's profile, add new officers, manage your membership list, complete annual reports, and submit events to the ACM Local Activities Calendar.
How does my chapter get a web account?
Newly chartered chapters will be invited to create a chapter web account via email once their charter is official. If your chapter is already chartered, but has not been invited to create a chapter web account, please contact local_activities
acm.org.Why doesn't my chapter login work?
If you have trouble logging into your chapter's web account, please check the following:
- Please ensure you are using the username and password for the chapter web account.
- Please try clearing your browser cache, quitting your browser, then launching the login page again.
- Please ensure the URL you are using has not been accidentally truncated.
To manage your chapter web account, visit http://www.acm.org/chapters/webaccount.
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Where do I log in to the Chapter Administrative Interface?
Bookmark this page and log in to the Chapter Administrative Interface from here, or bookmark the Chapters home page and follow the "Chapter Administative Interface" link from there.
What can I do by logging in to my chapter's administrative interface?
- Update the chapter's profile: Your profile contains
information about your chapter, including the type, location, points of contact,
and election date for officers. The changes you make to this profile will appear
immediately on our online listing of
chapters.
Please use your chapter account information responsibly: do not share your account username and password with anyone outside of your Chapter officers.
- Add new officers after an election: Officers are your
chapter's main point of contact with ACM headquarters, so it is important to
maintain an accurate listing of your current chair, vice chair, secretary,
treasurer and, where applicable, faculty sponsor. All new chapter officers added
through the web account will automatically become part of the officers' mailing
list for that chapter.
- Publicize your chapter events: Add chapter events to the
Local
Activities Calendar.
- Maintain a list of chapter members: You can store the first and last names and email addresses of your chapter's members by uploading their names on the chapter administrative interface. All members added through this utility will receive the ACM news digests and will automatically become part of their chapter’s member list.
- Submit Annual Reports: ACM requires all chapters to
complete a financial and activity report at the end of every fiscal year (July
1-June 30). Please read on to the next topic for more
information on the annual reports.
Entering Chapter Members one by one:
Entering Chapter Members using a csv file:
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What is an annual report?
ACM's fiscal year begins on July 1st and closes on June 30th. Every chapter is required to file an annual report each fiscal year without exception. The annual report covers chapter financial information, chapter activities, and the IRS 990 Form.
How does my chapter complete an annual report?
To complete an annual report, log in with your chapter web account username and password and select "Annual Reports".
Why can't my chapter access an annual report?
A chapter must have at least one current officer listed in their Chapter Officers section before an annual report can be completed.
How can I add my current chapter officers?
To add your chapter's current officers, log in with your chapter web account and select Chapter Officers-Add.
Why are some parts of the annual report greyed out?
The annual report is composed of separate sections so that you may complete it in any order you like, with two exceptions. The first section, "Basic Finances & Census", must be completed before any other section. The last section, "Finalize Report", will only become available once all mandatory sections of the report are completed.
What sections of the annual report are mandatory?
The following sections of the annual report must be completed by all chapters: Basic Finances & Census, Cash & Disbursements, Meetings & Recent Activities, Upcoming Activities, Authorization & Signatures, Finalize Report.
What are the requirements for forming an ACM chapter?
For information on starting an ACM chapter, please select one of the following links:
- ACM Student Chapter
- ACM Professional Chapter
- ACM Student SIG Chapter
- ACM Professional SIG Chapter
- ACM Student ACM-W Chapter
All chapters are assigned a status, based upon the fulfillment of the requirements outlined in ACM's Policies & Procedures for Chapters. The five types of status are as follows:
| Prospect: | Any group
or person requesting information on starting an ACM
Chapter. |
| In Formation: | Any group
or person currently in the process of seeking a charter to start an ACM Chapter,
including: selecting a leadership group of at least three ACM members (Student
Chapter sponsors must also be ACM members), and assembling a group of at least
10 members to sign the charter petition, write bylaws, and prepare a first-year
activity program. |
| Active: | A chapter
officially chartered by ACM which has: held at least four meetings per year;
published a quarterly printed or electronic newsletter (Professional Chapters
only); updated the ACM Chapters Local Activities Coordinator with chapter news,
issues and personnel changes; submitted annual program activity and financial
reports for the fiscal year (July 1-June 30); completed information requests on
ACM membership promotion activities; and maintained and updated a chapter web
site. |
| Probationary: | A chapter
that has not fulfilled the requirements for active chapters, including
submission of annual program and financial reports. Probationary chapters are
required to sumbit a Chapter Viability Report, which is due no later than
December 20, 2004. |
| De-chartered: | A chapter
that has failed to provide a Chapter Viability Plan is dissolved, and its
charter is revoked. All references to the chapter are removed from directories
and other ACM materials and sites. The chapter's Employee Identification Number
will be revoked by the IRS. All chapter assets chapter become the property of
ACM. (Exceptions are granted for student chapters whose educational institutions
require that such assets be transferred to them in compliance with Internal
Revenue Service requirements.) Chapter funds will remain in escrow for three
years, during which time the funds may be made available for rechartering the
chapter. |
An EIN number is assigned to a chapter by the U.S. government. This process is begun after the chapter is officially chartered and may take several weeks. The EIN number confirms a chapter's not-for-profit status.
What is an IRS 990 form?
The IRS 990 form authorizes ACM to include a chapter in its group filing of taxes for a fiscal year.
Which chapters must submit an IRS 990 form?
All ACM chapters must submit the IRS 990 form as part of the chapter's annual report each fiscal year.