Tau Sigma National Honor Society The University of Texas at Arlington ARTICLE I: NAME AND INSIGNIA SECTION 1: The name of the Organization shall be Tau Sigma Epsilon Rho Chapter. SECTION 2: The emblem of the Organization shall be three strands of gold wheat with the Greek letters, Tau Sigma, superimposed thereon. SECTION 3: The shield, which shall appear on the charter and the certificate, shall be burgundy with a gold border, with the emblem within. Below the shield is a banner with the words Tau Sigma inscribed within. SECTION 4: The colors shall be burgundy and gold. SECTION 5: The insignia cloth of the Organization shall be burgundy with gold fringe and shall bear the Greek letters, Tau Sigma. ARTICLE II: PURPOSE The purpose of the Organization shall be to recognize the academic achievement of students transferring to an institution of higher learning from another academic institution and to encourage scholarship and promote students' involvement in community service at the University of Texas at Arlington. ARTICLE Ill: ORGANIZATION The members of Tau Sigma shall be those persons who have met eligibility requirements and have accepted membership into the Organization. Member must be students, faculty, and/or staff at the University of Texas at Arlington. The organization will not deny membership on any basis prohibited by applicable law, including but not limited to, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. ARTICLE IV: ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE ORGANIZATION SECTION 1: The student must transfer to an institution of higher learning from another academic institution with at least one full years' academic credits satisfied at the prior institution(s). SECTION 2: The student must be registered in a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree for an amount of work equal to an average full load (usually 12 to 15 hours). Questions
regarding eligibility arising from exceptional circumstances affecting an individual student must be referred to the National Headquarters for a decision. SECTION 3: Membership in the Organization shall be based upon superior academic achievement by students during their first term in the institution to which they transfer (only credit hours that count toward a bachelor's degree can be used to determine Tau Sigma eligibility). SECTION 4: The minimum academic average required for membership is either a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent thereof) or an academic average that places the prospective candidate in the top 20% of all incoming transfer students during the term in question. These requirements are not subject to reduction by an individual chapter (qualifications using unconventional grading systems shall be approved by the National Council.) A chapter may petition to the National Council to raise the minimum academic average required for membership in their chapter. SECTION 5: Academic eligibility shall be obtained on the grades of one full curricular period, i.e., semester, trimester, quarter, or term. Eligibility is limited to the first term of enrollment at the institution to which the student transfers. Summer school session equivalent to a full curricular period may be used to meet the academic requirement. SECTION 6: Once you are in the chapter you must maintain a GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale. In the event that you are unable to meet the requirements you will have to explain your reasons to the executive committee. Continued membership will be decided on a case by case bases. ARTICLE V: CONSULTANTS SECTION 1: Faculty members or administrative staff may be elected to honorary membership by a local chapter with the approval of the Chapter's Advisors. Any exception must be approved by the Executive Director in consultation with the National President. SECTION 2: The National Council may elect to honorary membership individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of education. SECTION 3: Consultants can neither vote nor hold office in the organization. ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SECTION 1: Responsibility- Management of this club shall be vested in an Executive Committee responsible to the entire membership to uphold these bylaws. SECTION 2: Duties - The duties of the Executive Committee:
Filter membership of the General Body Market the organization Organize Events Organize Tau Sigma table at the Transfer Orientation Resource Fairs Maintain a 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 Scale SECTION 3: Membership - This committee shall consist of at least five members (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Communications Manager) voted on by the general body. The members will be subjected to serve in their role for the full academic school year. In the event they cannot full fill their duties or graduate during their time period a person voted in by the general body will serve in an interim role. SECTION 4: Removal Process- Removing a member from the executive committee will take a majority vote of 4/3. SECTION 5: Meetings - This committee shall meet at least once between regular meetings of the club to organize and plan future activities. ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS SECTION 1: Regular meetings shall be held monthly during the regular school year. SECTION 2: Executive Committee will meet twice a month SECTION 3: Quorum -A quorum shall consist of [example: two-thirds (2/3)] of the membership. [The number required should be small enough to ensure that a quorum will usually be present but large enough to protect the club against decisions being made by a small minority.] SECTION 4: Parliamentary Authority- Robert's Rules of Orders, shall govern this club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws. SECTION 5: Advisor must approve all called meetings. ARTICLE VIII: COST OF MEMBERSHIP Before induction into the organization, a lifetime membership fee is due to the chapter's advisor, who then forwards it to the Executive Director of the National Council of Tau Sigma National Honor Society.
ARTICLE IX: AFFLIATIONS Tau Sigma Epsilon Rho Chapter at the University of Texas at Arlington is affiliated with Tau Sigma National Honor Society. ARTICLE X: ADVISOR SECTION 1: Selection - there shall be a faculty/staff advisor who shall be selected each year by the membership. SECTION 2: Duties - The responsibilities of the faculty advisor shall be to: Maintain an awareness of the activities and programs sponsored by the student club. Meet on a regular basis with the leader of the student club to discuss upcoming meetings, long range plans, goals, and problems of the club. Attend regular meetings, executive board meetings as often as schedule allows. Assist in the orientation of new officers. Explain and clarify campus policy and procedures that apply to the club. Maintain contact with the Student Activities and Organizations Office. Provide direction in the area of parliamentary procedure, meeting facilitation, groupbuilding, goal setting, and program planning. Assist the club t reasurer in monitoring expenditures, fundraising activities, and corporate sponsorship to maintain an accurate and up-to-date account ledger. Inform club members of those factors that constitute unacceptable behavior on the part of the club members, and the possible consequence of said behaviors. ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by active members of the Chapter, and upon approval by a two-thirds vote of the Council, shall be submitted to the chapters. Amendments will be effective upon approval by UT Arlington. ARTICLE XII: RULES AND REGULATIONS The organization will function in accordance with all university rules. ARTICLE XIII: INDUCTION SECTION 1: The chapter may hold an induction for students, currently enrolled on the main campus or in its centers or branches, who have met the membership requirements, provided the chapter:
a. has submitted a list of names to the Executive Director for inclusion on the National Roll. b. has forwarded national membership fees to the Executive Director. c. has received from the Executive Director the official Authorization to Induct, which means that the names have been entered on the National Roll and membership fees received. SECTION 2: Honorary members may be inducted by the chapter in accordance with the procedures prescribed in Section 1 of this Article. No national membership fee shall be charged for an honorary member. Name of Organization President Name of Organization Advisor E\\'Z:>e_ 1<Q~ ~J-r~7- l SM;~ Signature of Organization Advisor ~ z= Date