Article I Name
The official name for this club is SPARC Labs.
Constitution
The official name for this club is SPARC Labs.
The purpose of this organization is to be a student-led academic research group based at Caltech, dedicated to fostering interest in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Our members collaborate with both industry partners and academic laboratories across a broad range of subfields, providing a platform for students to pursue novel AI research and cultivating a strong AI research community on campus. The club is committed to producing meaningful research contributions, supporting student growth across all experience levels, and connecting members to the wider AI research ecosystem.
The organization shall operate in alignment with the Caltech Honor Code, Institute policies, and expectations for recognized student clubs and organizations.
Rights & benefits
Members may participate in club research projects, attend speaker events and general meetings, access the club Discord community, and take part in club-sponsored conference activities. Research Members may contribute directly to active research groups and projects, while General Members may attend events and participate in the broader club community. There is significant fluidity between these levels of involvement, and members may move between them as their participation changes. All members in good standing may nominate themselves or others for officer positions.
Expectations
Research Members are expected to participate consistently in their research group's work, attend relevant project meetings, and uphold standards of academic integrity. All members are expected to act in good faith and with transparency in research collaborations, including the disclosure of any conflicts of interest related to authorship, credit, or intellectual property.
Regular club meetings will be held on campus weekly during the academic year.
Clubs are responsible for registering applicable events through the required Caltech event registration process. Events requiring registration may include, but are not limited to:
If an event is being held in an academic building, the division's policy regarding room reservations and whether registration through this process is required should be checked. Clubs are responsible for reserving appropriate spaces, following venue-specific rules, and complying with all applicable safety, accessibility, alcohol, minors, travel, speaker, and risk-management requirements.
Officers shall be elected by eligible student members through a fair and transparent process. Only currently enrolled students may hold leadership positions and vote in officer elections. Elections shall take place once per academic year, unless otherwise approved by the Office of Student and Family Engagement.
Officers are elected through a process that combines member nominations with a confirmation vote. Nominations are open to all currently enrolled student members, who may nominate themselves or another member for any open position. The board reviews nominated candidates and presents a slate to the membership. Eligible student members then vote to confirm officers, with candidates receiving a majority of votes cast being elected. Elections are held once per academic year, typically near the end of the spring term, so that incoming officers can transition before the following year. Only currently enrolled students may be nominated, hold office, and vote.
Officer descriptions & duties
Vacancies
If an officer position becomes vacant, the board may appoint a replacement member to serve the remainder of the term.
Removal of officers
Officers may be removed by a majority vote of the board for failure to fulfill responsibilities, violation of club expectations, or violation of Institute policy. The board shall provide the officer notice and an opportunity to respond before a vote is held. Officer removal shall be done in consultation with the club advisor and the Office of Student and Family Engagement.
Club funds shall be used only for purposes consistent with the club's mission and Institute policies. All club banking must be done through the Bursar's office via a Club Bursar Account.
Clubs must consult with the Office of Student and Family Engagement (SFE) and/or Career Achievement, Leadership, and Exploration (CALE) before fundraising from a non-Caltech entity, whether alumni, other individuals, corporations, foundations, or others, and before engaging in any plans for sales or commercial sponsorships from non-Caltech entities.
The Treasurer is the primary officer authorized to request purchases and reimbursements. The Co-Directors may also request purchases with Treasurer and board awareness. Spending decisions are approved by the board; no single officer shall have unilateral authority over significant expenditures without board approval.
The Treasurer maintains transparent financial records of all expenditures and reimbursements through the Club Bursar Account, and makes these records available to the board upon request.
Recognized student clubs and organizations at the California Institute of Technology are required to have an advisor who is a full-time Caltech faculty member, staff member, or postdoc.
Student club leaders are responsible for managing the club. The advisor provides guidance and support but does not serve as the primary decision-maker for club operations. Meetings with the club advisor will be held once per term, or as needed.
The club and its members shall comply with the Caltech Honor Code, Institute policies, applicable laws, and expectations for recognized student clubs and organizations. The club shall not engage in hazing, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or conduct that endangers the health, safety, or well-being of others.
Members participating in club research groups and projects are expected to act in good faith, with transparency, and in accordance with the Caltech Honor Code and Institute academic integrity policies. Members who fail to meet these expectations place their research project at risk of removal from the club.
Conflicts of interest in research — including disputes over authorship, credit, intellectual property, project ownership, and the allocation of research contributions — shall be disclosed and addressed promptly. Members are encouraged to discuss authorship and credit expectations early in a project and to revisit them as contributions evolve. Authorship and credit shall be determined according to standard academic norms, based on the substance of each member's intellectual and practical contributions.
In the event of a research conflict that cannot be resolved among the members directly involved, the matter shall first be brought to the board. If the board is unable to reach a resolution, or if a member of the board is party to the conflict, the matter shall be escalated to the club advisor, who will help mediate and reach a resolution. Where necessary, the advisor may involve the Office of Student and Family Engagement. The resolution process is intended to ensure fairness, protect members' contributions and intellectual property, and keep the club's operations within Caltech rules and academic standards.
The club shall maintain accurate records of its constitution, membership, officers, financial activity, and major events. Outgoing officers are responsible for supporting a reasonable transition process for incoming officers.
If the club becomes inactive, loses recognition, or dissolves, remaining club funds and property shall be handled in accordance with Caltech policies and procedures. Club assets may not be distributed to individual members.