International Honor Society of the Two Year College
By-Laws
Alpha Chi Sigma Chapter
Amended September, 2006
ARTICLE 1. Name of Chapter
The name of this chapter of Phi Theta Kappa shall be Alpha Chi Sigma (assigned by Headquarters upon approval of chartering application).
ARTICLE 2. Purpose
The purpose of Alpha Chi Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Cape Fear Community College shall be the promotion of scholarship, the development of leadership and service, and the cultivation of fellowship among qualified students of this college.
ARTICLE 3. Membership
Section 1. Membership in Alpha Chi Sigma Chapter shall consist of member (hallmark or associate), provisional member, alumnus member, and honorary member.
A. Member. Each candidate for membership must have completed 12 semester hours of associate degree course work with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher, adhere to the school conduct code, and possess recognized qualities of citizenship. Once inducted into the Society, a GPA of 3.0 must be maintained. When a member's cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, he or she has one semester in which to bring the average to 3.0. If he or she fails to raise the cumulative GPA to 3.0 after one semester, the member shall have his or her name stricken from the local chapter roll and the Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters shall be notified to strike the name from the International roll as well. Once a student's name is stricken from the roll, all privileges of membership are revoked.
1. Hallmark Member shall be a member who actively participates in chapter functions and is eligible for the benefits of the Enhanced Membership Program (EMP). EMP is the opportunity for hallmark members to earn credits for attendance at chapter functions. If the EMP requirements are met, the honors stole and tassel will be purchased for the member prior to graduation with no expense to the member.
Enhanced Membership Program Requirements:
1. Be an active member of a team.
2. Attend monthly member meeting.
3. Participate in at least one chapter event per month (fundraiser, hallmark (leadership, scholarship, service, or fellowship) project, President’s project, or Honor’s study topic project
2. Associate Member shall be a member in name only and does not actively participate in chapter activities.
3. Dues. Membership dues must be paid before members can be inducted. The amount of dues payable is $75 ($45 for International, $5 for Regional, and $25 for local dues). Dues are paid only once during membership.
B. Provisional Member. A provisional member of Phi Theta Kappa is a student who, in the opinion of the local chapter, has shown an active interest in the affairs of the Society and who serves the Society in some special capacity, but who does not meet the full requirements for membership in the Society. In order to qualify for provisional membership status, a student must: be currently enrolled in associate degree course work at Cape Fear Community College, have 12 semester hours of associate degree course work completed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, adhere to the school conduct code, possess recognized qualities of citizenship, and be recommended by a faculty member. Provisional members will not be officially affiliated with the Phi Kappa Society, cannot hold office, and cannot vote on chapter, Regional, or International matters. Provisional members will pay local chapter dues of $30 yearly, but are not required to pay the International and Regional induction fees until they have qualified for full membership.
C. Alumnus Member. Alumni members shall be members of the Society who are no longer enrolled in the two-year college and who have terminated their active membership in good standing, with a minimum of one year's enrollment at the two-year college. Alumni members shall be entitled to all the privileges of full members except the right to vote or to hold office.
D. Honorary Member. Honorary membership may be granted in this chapter to men and women who have rendered distinguished service to the Society. Honorary members may not vote or hold office, nor must they be officially inducted or pay membership fees. Honorary members may be selected by a vote of the Executive Council.
ARTICLE 4. Chapter Advisor(s)
Section 1. The chapter advisor(s) shall be appointed by the administration of Cape
Fear Community College.
Section 2. The chapter advisor(s) shall be responsible for the guidance of chapter activities and shall act on behalf of the International Society and Cape Fear Community College.
Section 3. The chapter advisor(s) is responsible for the completion and submission of the Annual Report, Membership Report Forms, and Membership Profile Forms required by the Phi Theta Kappa Society Headquarters.
Section 4. The advisor(s) shall not be a voting member of the chapter.
ARTICLE 5. Officers
Section 1. All officers must be members in good standing of Phi Theta Kappa, have a grade point average of 3.00, and must be currently enrolled in classes at Cape Fear Community College.
Section 2. The Alpha Chi Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa shall have the following elected officers: President, Vice President of Scholarship, Vice President of Leadership, Vice President of Service, Vice President of Fellowship, Public Relations Officer, and Secretary. The President, with the approval of the Chapter Advisor(s), shall appoint the following officer: Executive Assistant to the President. All of the officers, both elected and appointed, together with the chapter advisor(s), will constitute the Executive Council. All officers shall maintain appropriate behavior and represent the chapter and Cape Fear Community College at any function or event that is attended on their behalf.
Section 3. The duties of the President shall be as follows:
A. Consult with chapter advisor(s) on all chapter activities.
B. Prepare agenda for and preside over all business meetings.
C. Serve as an ex-officio member on all committees.
D. Oversee the activities of the members of the Executive Council.
E. Vote only in case of a tie.
F. Enforce all provisions of these by-laws.
G. Assist advisor(s) in preparing the Annual Report to be sent to Headquarters each Spring.
H. Submit reports of chapter activities and Five-Star Development Update Forms to Regional Coordinator and Headquarters.
I. Maintain records of Hallmark members' work toward fulfillment of their membership requirements and enhanced membership incentives.
J. Organize and supervise all chapter activities relating to the recruitment of new members to include orientation and induction ceremonies.
K. Prepare letters of invitation of prospective new members.
L. Notify members to be placed on academic probation.
M. Maintain a file of chapter correspondence.
Section 4. The duties of the Executive Assistant to the President shall be as follows:
A. Perform all duties of the President in the event of his or her absence.
B. Take roll at meetings.
C. Coordinate all committees.
D. Prepare and maintain the chapter yearbook for Regional and International Conventions.
E. Label and catalog all photos taken at chapter events
F. Assist the chapter president with the organization and implementation of the President's Project.
Section 5. The Public Relations Officer shall:
A. Promote the chapter at all levels of the organization.
B. Write and submit articles to campus and community newspapers.
C. Produce issues of the chapter.
D. Oversee the development and updates to the chapter website.
E. Take photographs at all chapter events.
F. Regularly forward chapter newsletters to the Chapter Programs Coordinator at
Phi Theta Kappa headquarters.
G. Draft and submit press releases to all area newspapers with the assistance of
the Director of College Public Relations.
H. Serve as primary point of contact for media interactions in conjunction with the
Public Relations Official of Cape Fear Community College.
Section 6. The Secretary shall:
A. Serve as the primary point of contact for chapter members and make revisions to a functional telephone roster when necessary.
B. Serve as point of contact and prepare correspondence relating to activities involving other chapters of Phi Theta Kappa.
C. Maintain chapter chronological list of events and projects.
D. Take and read minutes of all meetings both members and officers.
E. Submit copies of chapter minutes, newsletters, and correspondence to do with chapter activities to the Regional Coordinator.
Section 7. The Vice President of Scholarship shall:
A. Establish and chair the Scholarship Team.
B. Attend the Regional and/or International Honors Institute held each summer.
C. Organize and implement all activities relating to the International Honors Study Topic.
D. Oversee the preparation of the essays to be submitted for the Scholarship Hallmark Award and Best Use of the Honors Study Topic for Regional and International Headquarters.
E. Oversee the preparation of and act as editor for the chapter newsletter.
Section 8. The Vice President of Leadership shall:
A. Establish and chair the Leadership Team.
B. Organize and implement all activities relating to the development of leadership.
C. Oversee the preparation of the essays to be submitted for the Leadership Hallmark Award for Regional and International
Headquarters.
Section 9. The Vice President of Service shall:
A. Establish and chair the Service Team.
B. Organize and implement all activities relating to the International Service Project.
C. Organize and implement all activities within the hallmark of service.
D. Oversee the preparation of the essays to be submitted for the Service Hallmark Award for Regional and International Headquarters.
Section 10. The Vice President of Fellowship shall:
A. Establish and chair the Fellowship Team.
B. Organize and implement all activities, which are designed to promote fellowship among members of the chapter and on a Regional and/or International level.
C. Coordinate fellowship activities with sister chapters.
D. Oversee the essays to be submitted for the Fellowship Hallmark Award for Regional and International Headquarters.
E. Coordinate campus fellowship activities to include, but not limited to, Founder's Day, College Day, and Staff Appreciation Day.
ARTICLE 6. Election of Officers
Section 1. Elections will be held in the Spring Semester of each year and officers installed at the induction ceremony in the Spring. If officer vacancies occur prior to elections, the President shall appoint someone to fill the vacancy until the next scheduled election. Should the president position be vacant, the Executive Council shall appoint a replacement with the approval of the advisor(s) until the next scheduled election. Appointed officer may be inducted during the Fall induction ceremony.
Section 2. Officers shall hold office for one year. A year shall mean the period of time from the first meeting following the Spring induction until the first meeting following the Spring induction of the next year or until the officer graduates and is no longer a registered student, whichever comes first. In the event the officer graduates and the office is vacant, section one applies.
Section 3. For the Spring elections, the Executive Committee and advisor(s) must approve all nominated candidates.
Section 4. Plurality of the vote's cast will determine the new officer for each of the elected positions.
Section 5. Should an officer resign, they forfeit their rights and privileges as an officer and may not hold any future officer positions. However, they do not forfeit any privileges as a regular member as long as they meet general membership requirements.
ARTICLE 7. Impeachment of officers
Section 1. If any officer fails to fulfill the duties of his or her office, he or she may be removed as follows:
A. A special meeting of the Executive Committee must be held to discuss the problem.
B. A vote of 4/5 of the total Executive Committee at the special meeting is sufficient to remove an officer.
C. Should an officer be impeached, they shall forfeit their rights and privileges as an officer, but retain all rights of membership as long as they meet general membership requirements except to hold office.
ARTICLE 8. Meetings
Section 1. All business meetings will follow the general agenda:
Order of Business
a. Call to order
b. Reading of the minutes
c. Vice President reports
d. Team reports
e. Old business
f. New business
g. Adjournment
Section 2. All meetings may follow an informal adaptation of Robert's Rules of Order except when an item is on the agenda, which must be voted upon.
Section 3. All members will be notified of all meetings so that each member will have an opportunity to be present to vote on any pertinent issues. To be eligible to vote, a member must be present at the meeting in which the item is presented.
Section 4. Special team meetings shall be called by the chairperson of said team. Procedures at such team meetings are left to the discretion of the chairperson. Reports of each meeting shall be given to the members at the following chapter meeting.
ARTICLE 9. Finances
Section 1. Finances for this chapter will be raised by projects voted on by a majority vote of the Executive Committee in attendance at the meeting in which the project is presented.
Section 2. Payment of the International Membership fee of $45.00 must be received by the Treasurer before members can be inducted.
Section 3. All associate and hallmark members must pay local dues of $30.00 prior to induction unless special arrangements have been made and approved by the advisor.
Section 4. All members must pay regional dues of $5.00 prior to induction.
Section 5. Financial records of the chapter shall be annually audited by the advisor.
ARTICLE 10. Amendments and revision
Section 1. The by-laws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting. Amendments shall cover any pertinent topics, including interpretation of the by-laws. Any changes to the by- laws must be sent to Headquarters for final approval.
Section 2. A permanent record of all by-laws shall be kept on file by the President.