Psi Chi and Psychology Club Constitution Article I. Name The name of this organization shall be Psi Chi and Psychology Club. Article II. Purpose Psi Chi is an international honor society whose purpose shall be to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. The purpose of Psychology Club is to promote unity among psychology majors and minors on the campus of Louisiana State University, combined with a mission to encourage scholastic achievement in the field of psychology, offer help and assistance to various institutions via community service, and build networks that will aid professional growth and establish enduring relationships. Article III. Members 1. Psi Chi Members. Active members are those who complete and turn in the application form, including a copy of their transcript. Active members shall pay a one-time $70 fee. Those members who turn in their completed application, including dues, must be accepted by the national governing body of Psi Chi before they are inducted by the LSU Chapter of Psi Chi. 1.1. Student Members. Student members shall be students enrolled in undergraduate programs in the institution represented by the chapter at the time of induction. 1.1.1. Undergraduate students shall have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of the college course, have completed nine semester hours or fourteen quarter hours of psychology courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in those courses, have registered for major or minor standing in psychology or for a program psychological in nature which is equivalent to such standings, rank in the top 35% of their class in general scholarship*, and have a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 3.177* on a 4.0 scale. 1.1.2. Each person inducted as a member of Psi Chi shall pay an induction fee to the Central Office of Psi Chi. This fee entitles the member to life membership without payment of further Central Office dues or assessments. By accepting membership in Psi Chi, members accept the Constitution, Bylaws, and policies of Psi Chi. 1.1.3. All members of Psi Chi may wear the key of Psi Chi. 1.1.4. Membership in Psi Chi is open to qualified candidates of any age, sex, sexual orientation, race, handicap or disability, color, religion, and national and ethnic origin. 2. Psychology Club Active Members. Active members are those who complete and turn in the application form. Active members shall pay chapter dues, $20 annually. Those
members who turn in their completed application, including dues, must earn 5 points per semester to retain their active status. 2.1. Points must be earned each semester. 2.1.1. 1 point is awarded per attended meeting. 2.1.2. Up to 2 points are earned by purchasing apparel. 2.1.2.1. 1 point per apparel item purchased and up to 2 points can be earned maximum. 2.1.3. Points can be earned by participating in volunteer activities through Psychology Club. 2.1.3.1. Point values vary based on activity and are decided by the Volunteer Coordinator(s) with approval by the President. 2.2. Active members may run for office and vote in elections. 2.3. Membership in Psychology Club is open to qualified candidates of any age, sex, sexual orientation, race, handicap or disability, color, religion, and national and ethnic origin. 3. Resignation. A member desiring to resign from Psychology Club shall submit such resignation in writing to the Executive Officer. 3.1. Any member having resigned from membership may be reinstated upon application to the President on a case by case basis. 4. Probation. A member who has not paid dues or earned at least 2 points per semester will be placed on probation as decided by the Executive Board. Those members on probation will not be eligible to run for an executive officer position nor vote in elections until they have fulfilled the requirements placed by the Executive Board. Those members who have not completed the requirements placed by the Executive Board within one semester s time will be brought up for termination. 5. Termination. Membership in Psychology Club may be suspended or terminated by the Executive Board for just cause. Sufficient cause for such suspension or termination of membership may be the violation of this Constitution or any lawful rule or practice adopted by the Psychology Club or other conduct deemed by the Executive Board to be prejudicial to the best interests of the Psychology Club. 5.1. Those members who have acted in a way unbecoming of a member of the Psychology Club may be excused from the club after a simple majority vote by the Executive Board. A list of charges will be emailed by the Secretary. At least thirty days notice shall be given, and the member shall have the opportunity to appear in person to present any defense to such charges before action is taken by the Executive Board. The decision for suspension or termination shall be by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board. A member suspended or terminated for just cause shall not be entitled to remittance of dues or fees. 6. Dues. The amount of any Central Office fees or dues for any class of membership in the Psychology Club shall be established by the Executive Board.
Article IV. Officers 1. Officer Positions. The officers of Psi Chi and Psychology Club shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Public Relations, Communications Coordinator, and Volunteer Coordinator(s). Positions subject to change. 2. Election. All officers will be elected by ballot. Each active member shall be eligible to cast one vote. 3. Term. Officers shall hold office for the following terms or until their successors are elected. Each elected officer will hold the position for one year unless re-elected. 4. Eligibility. To be eligible for nomination as President-Elect, Vice President-Elect, Secretary-Elect, and Treasurer-Elect the candidate must be an active member of Psychology Club and a member of Psi Chi. To be eligible for nomination as Director of Public Relations-Elect, Communications Coordinator-Elect, and Volunteer Coordinator(s)-Elect the candidate must be an active member of Psychology Club. No member shall hold more than one office at a time. 5. Nominations/Voting. Applications for officer positions are due at the second meeting of the spring semester. All qualified candidates must prepare and give speeches at the last meeting of the spring semester. Voting will be held immediately after all speeches are given. Those newly elected will be notified after the current Executive Board tallies the votes at the third meeting of the spring semester. New officers will be inducted at the Psi Chi Induction Ceremony. 6. Resignation. Any elected officer may resign by submitting that resignation in writing to the Executive Board. If any officer is unable or unwilling to perform the duties of the office, he or she shall be deemed to have resigned, and the vacancy shall be filled as specified above through election. 7. Termination. Any elected officer may be removed for just cause. Sufficient cause for such removal may be the violation of this Constitution or any lawful rule, practice, or procedure adopted by the Psychology Club or other conduct deemed by the Executive Board to be prejudicial to the best interests of Psychology Club. For removal of an elected officer for cause, it shall be necessary for the Executive Board to hold a formal hearing. A statement of the charges shall be sent via email, accompanied by a notice of the time and place of the meeting at which the charges are to be considered. At least thirty days notice shall be given, and the officer shall have the opportunity to appear in person to present any defense to such charges before action is taken. The Executive Board shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to assure due process to the officer. The decision for removal shall be by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board. Article V. Duties of Officers 1. The officers shall perform the duties prescribed by this Constitution and by the parliamentary authority adopted by Psi Chi and Psychology Club.
2. President. The President shall serve as official spokesperson for Psi Chi and Psychology Club, make arrangements for and preside at the Psi Chi and Psychology Club annual convention, call and preside at meetings of the Executive Board, and provide leadership and general supervision of the Psychology Club. Other duties include delegating responsibilities to other officers, planning meetings and make PowerPoints, ensuring the club has fulfilled all requirements through the Office of Student Organizations and Campus Life, collecting mail and organization materials from Audubon office, creating and printing all membership forms, creating agenda and meetings for officers and club, representing Psychology Club whenever the occasion arises, and assisting the Faculty Supervisor with Psi Chi applications. 3. Vice President. The Vice President assists the President whenever necessary; in absence of the President, or at President s request, performs President s duties, assists with Psi Chi applications and duties, and orders and distributes club apparel. 4. Secretary. The Secretary handles all club emails, keeps roll of member attendance at each meeting, records member points, handles room reservations, distributes information to the club, and keeps record of guest speakers and their contact information. 5. Treasurer. The Treasurer keeps a record of financial transactions (income and expenditures), maintains the club s account, deposits and withdraws money as necessary, and handles all food and drink for meetings. 6. Director of Public Relations and Communications Coordinator. The Director of Public Relations and Communications Coordinator use and maintain the club s social media, the psychology board in Audubon, and the website and serve as liaison between Psychology Club and the student body and/or other student organizations. 7. Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer Coordinator(s) gathers all information about volunteer opportunities in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas, finds long-term, volunteer opportunities in the community that enable members to gain experience in the field, designates point amount for each volunteer activity, and helps plan and run fundraising activities. Article VI. Meetings 1. Meetings will be held once a month in which case the club will host three meetings per semester. Article VII. Executive Board 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Public Relations, Communications Coordinator, and Volunteer Coordinator(s). 2. The Executive Board shall have full authority to conduct all business of Psi Chi and Psychology Club.
3. The duties of the Executive Board shall include: to provide for and maintain office facilities for the Psychology Club; to be responsible for all property, real and personal, owned or held by the Psychology Club; to adopt an annual budget for the Psychology Club; to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of the affairs of the Psychology Club. 4. Regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be called by the President. 5. A quorum shall consist of those members who are present. 6. The Executive Board shall be responsible for providing, on an annual basis, activities and opportunities that advance the leadership skills and abilities of Psi Chi and Psychology Club members. Such activities and opportunities may include but are not limited to: special leadership training programs/speakers at the regional conventions, grants and awards, a leadership conference at the national or regional level, and assistance to members. Article VIII. Publications All publications of the Psychology Club and the editors of those publications shall be determined by the Executive Board. Article IX. Dissolution The Psychology Club shall use its funds only to accomplish the Purposes stated in this Constitution, and no part of its funds shall inure or be distributed to the members of the Psychology Club. Upon dissolution of the Psychology Club, the residual assets shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized and qualified organizations to be selected by the Executive Board. Article X. Parliamentary Authority The rules contained in the current edition of Robert s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Psychology Club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution and any special rules of order the Psychology Club may adopt. Article XI. Amendment of Constitution 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the Executive Board or by any active member in writing to the President. Revisions will be presented to the members of the Psychology Club as soon as they are approved. 2. Any amendment of this Constitution shall become the law of the chapters without further notice.