PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY Office of Student Engagement Prairie View, Texas

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1 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY Office of Student Engagement Prairie View, Texas CONSTITUTION OF ALPHA KAPPA DELTA: INTERNATIONAL SOCIOLOGY HONOR SOCIETY TEXAS ALPHA LAMBDA CHAPTER PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ARTICLE I Name of Organization This student organization shall be known as the Alpha Kappa Delta: International Sociology Honor Society, Texas Alpha Lambda Chapter, Prairie View A&M University, hereafter referred to as the Chapter. ARTICLE II Purpose The purpose and objectives of this organization shall be to serve as a non-secret, democratic society of scholars dedicated to the ideal of Anthropon Katamanthanein Diakonesein or to investigate humanity for the purpose of service. It shall be the purpose of this Chapter to promote excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology at Prairie View A&M University; encourage sociological research in local, national, and international milieu; critically examine social problems on campus and in the community; and further members personal development through active participation in social, intellectual, and service activities. ARTICLE III Membership Section 1. Eligibility. Membership in this organization is open to Prairie View A&M University students who meet these qualifications: eligibility for membership in the Chapter shall be limited to all currently enrolled students of Prairie View A&M University who pay University Program and Facilities Fees at Prairie View A&M University. Eligibility shall also consist of meeting the following minimum requirements of their equivalent: a. For students classified as undergraduate students: 1) Shall be an officially declared sociology major, or sociology minor, or demonstrate a serious interest in sociology within an official program of study at Prairie View A&M University. 2) Shall be at least a junior by standards of Prairie View A&M University -i.e. shall have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours. 3) Shall have accumulated the equivalent of an overall grade point average of 3.0 by the Prairie View A&M University s four point scale, and shall rank in the top 35% of their class in general scholarship or have an overall GPA of ) Shall have maintained the equivalent of a 3.0 grade point average in sociology courses taken at Prairie View A&M University prior to initiation. 5) Shall have completed at least 12 credit hours in sociology prior to initiation, exclusive of courses graded as pass/fail. 1

2 b. For students classified as graduate students (those officially admitted to graduate study in sociology at Prairie View A&M University) the following requirements shall have been prior to the time of initiation: completion of nine credit hours toward a graduate degree in sociology at Prairie View A&M University with a grade point average of B or better, and continued matriculation in the program of study leading toward a graduate degree in sociology at Prairie View A&M University. Section 2. Method of Selecting Members. The Executive Committee, in conjunction with the faculty advisors shall approve applications. Section 3. Types of Membership. Membership in the Chapter shall consist of two types: a. Life Members of the Chapter shall be those persons who have been initiated into membership by a chartered chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta: International Sociology Honor Society and who have paid the initiation fee for membership. b. Voting Members of the Chapter shall be those Life Members of the Chapter who have paid chapter dues, who are currently enrolled students in good standing at Prairie View A&M University, and who are in compliance with the Chapter s attendance policy. Section 4. Membership Revocation. a. The Executive Committee may change a member s status from Voting Member to Life member for: 1. failure to pay chapter dues in a timely manner, or 2. failure to attend Chapter meetings as per the attendance policy. b. A Voting Member of the Chapter shall become a Life Member of the Chapter upon cessation of status as a currently enrolled student in good standing at Prairie View A&M University. c. The Executive Committee may reinstate a member s status from Life Member to Voting Member of the Chapter upon the member s meeting all requirements for Voting Member status. d. A member desiring to resign from the Chapter shall submit such resignation in writing to an officer of the Chapter. A member having resigned shall be reinstated upon application in writing to an officer of the Chapter and upon attending the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Chapter. Section 5. Nondiscrimination. The Chapter may not impose any other than purely academic performance criteria for selection of new members. All who meet approved academic and exhibit high personal and professional standards are cordially and enthusiastically encouraged to join this academic honor society without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, national origin, citizenship status, sex, gender, age, or disabilities, or theoretical orientation. Section 6. Dues. Each member shall pay dues and fees as established by this organization. ARTICLE IV Officers Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Chapter shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer. The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer active officers of the Chapter comprise the Executive Committee. Section 2. Elections. The officers of this organization shall be elected from the active membership. The election of officers shall occur each semester at the first meeting of the semester. Installation of officers shall occur at the next regular meeting. a. All officer nominations shall occur at a regularly scheduled meeting. Any Voting Member of the Chapter may nominate a candidate for an office. A candidate may stand for only one office. 2

3 b. Candidates for office shall be Voting Members during their candidacy. Officers of the Chapter are required to be Voting Members during their tenure in office. c. Elections shall occur each semester at the first regular meeting. The form of election shall be a secret ballot. Each Voting Member may cast a ballot that indicates one choice for each office. Victory shall be by majority of votes; if no candidate for an office wins a majority, another secret ballot shall be cast for that office between the two candidates with the most votes. d. The term of service for any officer shall be one semester. Section 3. Duties of Officers. The duties of the officers of this organization shall be those usually performed by such officers, together with the following duties: a. The duties of the President shall be: 1. To summon and conduct regular Chapter meetings during the academic calendar year and as required during the semester breaks. 2. To form, appoint, and dissolve special committees. 3. To introduce the Chapter at all meetings and special events within and outside of the University. 4. To rule on matters of the Parliamentary Procedures. 5. To aid advisors in recruitment activities upon request. b. The duties of the Vice-President shall be: 1. To conduct any or all duties of the President when the President is unavailable. 2. To oversee the coordination of Chapter s activities, events, and public announcements. 3. To introduce the Chapter at all meetings and special events within and outside of the University when President is unavailable. 4. To perform all duties assigned to office by the President c. The duties of the Secretary shall be: 1. To maintain a roster of all Life Members of the Chapter that includes current available contact information. 2. To record, archive, and distribute meeting minutes. 3. To send notice of meeting time, location, and agenda to all Members with a minimum of 7 days in advance. d. The duties of the Treasurer shall be: 1. To maintain Chapter funds, archives, and possessions. 2. To have available at all times a current statement of funds for the Chapter President. 3. To record, archive, and distribute meeting minutes when Secretary is unavailable. e. The duties of the Public Relations Officer shall be: 1. To publicize all events of the organization, especially the recruitment/induction of new members. 2. To coordinate Chapter s activities, events, and public announcements. 3. To perform all duties assigned by the President. 4. To speak for the organization as assigned by the President 5. To negotiate on behalf of the organization as assigned by the President Section 4. Procedure to Fill Vacancies. a. If the office of President becomes vacant the Vice- President shall become the President for the remainder of the current elected term. b. If the office of Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer becomes vacant, including by means of Article IV Section 4a, the President shall appoint a replacement 3

4 from among the Voting Members of the Chapter to serve for the remainder of the current elected term. c. An officer who has attained the office of Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer, of Public Relations Officer by means of Article IV Section 4b shall submit to ratification by secret ballot at the next regularly Chapter meeting. Retention of the attained office after the meeting shall occur only upon approval by a majority of votes from the Voting Members. Section 5. Impeachment Procedures. a. Any elected or appointed officer may be removed for just cause. Just cause for removal may be violation of this Constitution or of any rule, practice, or procedure adopted by the Chapter. b. Removal of an officer shall require passage of a motion to convene a formal hearing. If the officer is not present for the motion, issuance of written notice to the officer must occur at least two weeks prior to the hearing. At the formal hearing the officer shall have an opportunity to present any defense to charges before action is taken. The decision for removal shall be by a two-thirds majority of votes from Voting Members at the hearing. Section 6. Officer requirements. The officers of the Chapter must meet the following requirements: a. Have at least a 2.50 overall grade point average at the time of their election; b. Be in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours in a regular semester during the term of office; c. Be subject to removal from office by the organization and/or the organization s official University advisor should the student fail to maintain the requirements as prescribed in (a) and (b) of this section. ARTICLE V Meetings Section 1. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of this organization shall be held at least once per semester on the main campus of Prairie View A&M University. The Executive Committee shall provide adequate advance notice of regular meetings to all Voting Members. Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Chapter President. The Executive Committee shall provide adequate advance notice of special meetings to all Voting Members. Section 3. Quorum. A quorum of 50 percent of the Voting Membership is required to conduct official business. Section 4. Program. The program at regular meetings shall be as follows: a. Roll call b. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting c. Reports by committees d. Items on the agenda e. Adjournment Section 5. Absences. Any Voting Member of the Chapter who is absent for more than two regular meetings during the academic year may, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, be ineligible for Voting Member status. Section 6. Making and Voting on Motions. Only Voting Members of the Chapter may make, second, or vote on motions. 4

5 Section 7. Meeting Rules. The rules set forth in the current edition of The New Robert s Rules of Order shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are consistent with this Constitution and any special rules of order the Chapter my adopt. ARTICLE VI Finances Section 1. Chapter Dues. Dues not to exceed fifty dollars per academic year will be collected from all active members of the Chapter. The chapter dues that are required for status as a Voting Member of the Chapter shall be determined by the Executive Committee. Section 2. Initiation Fees. The initiation fee that is required for induction as a Life Member shall be determined by the United Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta: International Sociology Honor Society. Section 3. Depositing and Discharging monies. All monies belonging to this organization shall be deposited and discharged through a bank account established for the organization in the Fiscal Office or any commercial bank in the community. All funds must be deposited within 24 hours after collection. The advisor to this organization must approve and sign each expenditure before payment. Section 4. Management of Funds. Spending and accounting of Chapter funds shall occur in a manner consistent with the Chapter goals and the requirements of this Constitution. The Treasurer shall make regular reports of Chapter finances to the Executive Committee. ARTICLE VII Organizational Structure Section 1. Duties of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice- President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Executive Committee shall conduct Chapter business in accordance with all requirements set forth in the Chapter s Constitution. Section 2. Duties of Other Committees. Any special committee shall submit regular reports to the Executive Committee. ARTICLE VIII Advisors Section 1. Requirements. The Chapter shall have at least one advisor from among the faculty of the Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences. An advisor must meet all requirements to serve as a Chapter Representative of the United Chapters of Alpha Kappa Delta. The Executive Committee shall approve the selection of any advisor. Section 2. Duties. An advisor shall serve as a consultant at regular Chapter meetings. An advisor may address the Chapter but may not make, second, or vote on motions. An advisor may not vote in officer elections. At least one advisor shall serve as a Chapter Representative to the United Chapters of Alpha Kappa Delta: International Sociology Honor Society. ARTICLE IX Regulatory Powers The Chapter has no regulatory powers. 5

6 ARTICLE X Non-Campus Affiliation Section 1. Name of Parent Group. The Chapter s parent organization is the United Chapters of Alpha Kappa Delta: International Sociology Honor Society, hereafter referred to as the United Chapters. Section 2. Relationship Other Than Financial. The Chapter shall abide by all requirements for status of an Alpha Kappa Delta chapter as set forth in the United Chapters constitution and bylaws. Section 3. Financial Relationship with Affiliate. The Chapter shall forward all initiation fees to the United Chapters. The Chapter shall retain chapter dues for its own use. ARTICLE XI Amendment of Constitution Section 1. Proposal of Amendments. Any amendment to this Constitution shall be proposed by a Voting Member at a meeting. Section 2. Approval of Amendments. The vote to approve any amendment shall occur at the meeting following the amendment s proposal. A 2/3 majority Voting Members is necessary for approval, subject to the approval of the Director of Student Activities. Student Organizer: Date: Advisor : Date: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY APPROVED/DISAPPROVED : Date: Director of Student Activities 6