Sigma Tau Delta Nu Theta, International English Honor Society at UMKC Constitution Fall/Spring 2016 2017 ARTICLE I. Name, Mission Membership Section I. Name and Terms The name of the organization shall be Sigma Tau Delta (ΣΤΔ) Nu Theta Chapter of the International English Honor Society at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Historian. Section II. Mission The purposes of the organization shall be to celebrate literature, provide and participate in literary based cultural stimulation, and promote thoughtful discourse on our campus and in our city. The organization shall confer distinction for achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. A. Section III. Membership Sigma Tau Delta does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, color, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, and/or veteran status. Students must be registered Sigma Tau Delta members at UMKC. All UMKC chapter members are lifetime members of Sigma Tau Delta Nu Theta. B. There are two levels of membership. Membership in the campus chapter group is open to any UMKC student in good standing. Membership in the International English Honor Society requires the following: Candidates for undergraduate membership must have completed a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English, must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, must pay a one time dues fee of $40, and must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college course work. Local chapters may raise, but not lower, these criteria. *Candidates for undergraduate membership need not be majoring or minoring in the discipline of English. C. There are two levels of membership. Membership in the campus chapter group is open to any UMKC student in good standing. Membership in the International English Honor Society requires the following: Candidates for graduate membership who did not hold undergraduate membership must be enrolled in a graduate program in English or one of its specializations, must have completed six semester hours of graduate work or the equivalent, must pay a one time dues fee of $40, and must have a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. ARTICLE II. Meetings
Meetings shall be determined by Executive Board, with a minimum meeting of five meetings per semester. All members are welcomed to meetings, with the exception of designated officer meetings which only officers are requested to attend. ARTICLE III. Executive Board A. Officers of this organization must be chosen in an election format open to all current members. B. Regular elections will be held at the end of each spring semester. However, as UMKC students regularly graduate in winter and summer semesters (i.e. not only in Spring), whenever an office is expected to be vacant, a special election may be called for by a two thirds vote of the officers. (See also Article VI). C. All members will be given advanced notice regarding elections and any vote to prompt a special election will be announced in advance. D. Officers must be UMKC students in good standing (i.e. must not be on student conduct, disciplinary, or honor code probation). An officer placed on any of these forms of probation will be subject to a removal vote and shall be entitled to request or decline a hearing before such a vote, as specified in Article V, Section I. E. Any flagrant violation of a rule adopted by the Chapter, any conduct deemed prejudicial to the best interests of the Chapter, any flagrant violation of school rules and/or civic laws will be subject to procedures as stated in Section XI, Bylaw VI of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society constitution. Section I. Officer Duties President ARTICLE IV. Duties of Officers & Committee Chairs Serve as representative of UMKC Sigma Tau Delta Nu Theta Chapter Set agenda for meetings and ensure orderly meeting procedure President shall reserve rooms for meetings and events Work with other officers and members to develop organization goals for each year Strategize and coordinate with faculty, administration and other student groups to achieve organizational objectives and promote Sigma Tau Delta Nu Theta's platform Vice President Maintain a calendar for the academic year with deadlines and individual officer responsibilities In the absence of President, Vice President shall preside chapter meetings Secretary
Take accurate minutes of all Sigma Tau Delta meetings and make publicly available Keep an accurate email, mailing list, and phone directory for all active members Treasurer Keep accounts up to date and open to the inspection of the University auditor Will be responsible to request P Card from OSI and make event purchases Must keep dated, itemized and timed receipts Historian Take publicity quality pictures at all events Provide Media Chair with quality pictures for event promotion With Secretary, keep accurate records of procedures and event statistics Section II. Committee Chair Duties Media Chair Maintain the Sigma Tau Delta Facebook, updating it regularly and posting all events. Compose and submit press releases to RooNews regarding upcoming Sigma Tau Delta events. When needed, take promotional materials to OSI for stamped approval. Service Chair Identify service opportunities in the local area and coordinate Sigma Tau Delta's involvement. Maintain record of service hours and update regularly on RooGroups. Coordinate pickup and redistribution of book drive Tutoring Chair Plan tutoring sessions, working with faculty to determine study objectives and problem areas Schedule and oversee tutoring sessions Identify and recruit peer tutors for sessions
ARTICLE V. Officer Removal Procedures Section I. Hearing Any officer in violation of any university code of conduct, or charged with deliberate negligence of the duties required of their position, or otherwise subject to a removal vote as described in Article III is entitled to a hearing. Such officer may also decline a hearing. If a hearing is requested, a removal vote may not be called before the hearing is concluded. The hearing may not begin unless/until the entire Executive Board is present. Any member may attend any officer hearing. Section II. Vote A removal vote may not be called until the officer subject to removal has either declined a hearing, or the hearing has been requested and is concluded. An officer may be removed for cause by a majority vote of all members present. Non members may not participate in a removal vote. ARTICLE VI. Officer Elections and Appointments A. The Executive Board President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Historian shall be chosen by election. Service Chair, Media Chair, and any other committee chairs shall be appointed by the Executive Board. ARTICLE VII. Advisors Advisors The Executive Board is responsible for identifying persons qualified to serve as Advisors to the chapter and for formally requesting such persons to serve. The chapter may have a maximum of three advisors and all advisors must be a UMKC faculty or staff member. Committees. ARTICLE VIII. Committees A. Committees shall be formed in order to facilitate and arrange events for the organization. B. Committee chairpersons shall be appointed by the Executive Board. Those assigned to specific committees will be informed of their responsibilities and obligations. C. Members assigned for particular obligations or events must communicate and keep other members informed. If for any reason they are not able to fulfill an obligation then they must email the President and/or Vice President, and copy the Faculty Advisor.
ARTICLE IX. Hazing Hazing is strictly prohibited in the State of Missouri and by UMKC. Hazing is defined as any willful act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, directed against a student or a prospective member of an organization operating under the sanction of an educational institution, that recklessly endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or prospective member for the purpose of initiation or admission into or continued membership in any such organization. Acts of hazing include, but are not limited to: Any activity that recklessly endangers the physical health or safety of the student or prospective member, including but not limited to physical brutality, whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance. Any activity that endangers the mental health of the student or prospective member, including but not limited to sleep deprivation, physical confinement, or other extreme stress inducing activity. Any activity that requires the student or prospective member to perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the criminal laws of this state or any political subdivision of this state. Hazing is a class C Felony. ARTICLE VIII. Amendments Amendments It is further understood that if this organization desires at any time in the future to change in any way the provisions of this constitution, that before such action is taken, the organization will submit the new version for approval to the Student Government Association and the Student Life Office. Constitution changes will require a two thirds majority vote of the entire membership.