By-Laws of Phi Theta Kappa

Beta Delta Theta Chapter

Article1. Name of Chapter

The name of this chapter of Phi Theta Kappa shall be Beta Delta Theta. 

Article 2. Purpose

The purpose of Beta Delta Theta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at DeVry College of Technology shall be the promotion of scholarships, development of leadership and service and the cultivation of fellowship among qualified students of this college. 

Article 3. Membership

Section 1. Membership in Beta Delta Theta chapter shall consist of active members, provisional members, alumni members, and honorary members. New members are required to attend mandatory orientation meeting.  

A. Members. 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 better, adhere to school conduct code and possess recognized qualities of citizenship. A cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5 must be maintained. When a member's cumulative GPA falls below 3.5 he or she has one semester in which to bring the average to 3.5. If she or he fails to raise the cumulative GPA to 3.5 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. 

B. Provisional Members. A provisional member shall be 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 active membership in the society. A provisional member shall not have the right to vote, hold office, nor to represent the chapter at meetings of the society nor must they be officially inducted or pay membership fees. 

C.. Alumni Members. 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 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 nor hold office nor may they be officially inducted or pay membership fees.

Article 4. Chapter Advisor

Section 1. The chapter advisor shall be appointed by the Administration of DeVry College of Technology.

 

Section 2. The chapter advisor shall be responsible for guidance of chapter activities and shall act on behalf of the International Society and official college administration.

 

Section 3. The chapter advisor 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 chapter advisor shall not be a voting member of the chapter.  

Article 5. Officers

Section 1. All officers must be members of Phi Theta Kappa in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5.

 

Section 2. The Beta Delta Theta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa shall consist of the following officers: President, Vice- President, Treasurer, and Recording Secretary.

 

Section 3. The duties of the President shall be as follows:

A. Preside over all business meetings.

B. Appoint and establish any necessary committees.

C. Vote only in case of tie.

D. Serve as an ex-officio member on all committees.

E. Present business to the organization.

F. Represent the organization at all times.

G. Appoint a committee to review and/or revise the Chapter By-Laws annually.

H. Appoint a committee to prepare the Annual Report to be sent to Headquarters each spring.

Section 4. The duties of the Vice-President shall be as follows:

A. Perform all duties of the President in the event of his/her absence.

B. Take roll at the meetings.

C. Coordinate all committees.

D. Head the committee reviewing the Chapter By-Laws and the annual report.

E. Act as program chairperson.

Section 5. The Treasurer shall:

A. Open and/or maintain a bank account for the Society (if allowed by college or institution).

B. Receive all monies.

C. Keep a set of books, which shall be audited by chapter advisor and notarized before the office is relinquished.

D. Make report of finances at each business meeting.

Section 6. The Recording Secretary shall:

A. Take and read minutes of meetings.

B. Notify members to be placed on academic probation.

C. Maintain records of the meetings.

D. Maintain a file of chapter correspondence.

E. Serve on the committee to prepare the Annual Report to be sent to Headquarters each spring.

F. Maintain a full record of chapter functions.

G. Submit reports of chapter activities and Five-Star Chapter, Update Forms to Regional Coordinator and Headquarters. 

Article 6. Additional Officers

Section 1. All additional officers must be members of Phi Theta Kappa in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5.

 

Section 2. All additional officers are elected in the same manner as the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary (Article 7, Section 1 through 6). 

Section 3. The Beta Delta Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa shall consist of the following additional Vice-Presidential officers: Honors Topic, Service, Membership/Enhancement, Fund Raising/Recreation, Public relations, and Newsletter. 

Section 4. The duties of the Honors topic shall be as follows:

A. Organize, supervise and be responsible for the Honors Topic Committee.

B. Report to the President and Vice-President on status of Honors Topic.

C. Hold meetings, in addition to general meetings, on Honors Topic.

D. Inform members at general meetings of progress and updates of Honors Topic.

E. In the event of absence of President and/or Vice-President, hold general meetings in accordance with the By-Laws of Beta Delta Theta Chapter and report to the Secretary, President and Vice-President of the events of the meeting. F. Be authorized to create and maintain a committee on the Honors Topic.  

Section 5. The duties of the Service officer shall be as follows:

A. Organize, supervise and be responsible for Service.

B. Report to the President and Vice-President on status of Service.

C. Hold meeting, in addition to general meetings, for service.

D. Inform members at general meetings of progress and updates of Service Committee.

E. In the event of absence pf President and/or Vice-President, hold general meetings in accordance with the By-Laws of Beta Delta Theta chapter and report to the Secretary, President and Vice-President of the events of the meeting.

F. Be authorized to create and maintain a committee on Service.  

Section 6. The duties of the Membership/Enhancement officer shall be as follows:

A. Promote the enhancement of Phi Theta Kappa, Beta Delta Theta Chapter.

B. Create and maintain a phone tree to be used to inform members of meetings and Phi Theta Kappa functions.

C. Promote enhanced participation of members in Phi Theta Kappa functions and meetings.

D. Hold meetings on membership.

E. Promote recognition of active members.

F. Report to the president and Vice-President.

G. Generate new motivated members.

H. Notify members if they fall below qualifying status, (this task shall be coordinated with Secretary).

I. In the event of absence of President and/or Vice-President, hold general meetings in accordance with the By-Laws of Beta Delta Theta chapter and report to the Secretary, President and Vice-President of the events of the meeting.  

Section 7. The duties of the Fund Raising/Recreation officer shall be as follows:

A. Organize, supervise and be responsible for Fund Raising/ Recreation.

B. Report to the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer on status of Fund Raising.

C. Hold meetings, in addition to the general meetings, on Fund Raising.

D. In the event of absence of President and/or Vice-President, hold general meetings in accordance with the By-Laws of Beta Delta Theta chapter and report to the Secretary, President and Vice-President of the events of the meeting.

E. Be authorized to create and maintain a committee on Fund Raising/Recreation.

F. Promote Fund Raising/ Recreation activities.

G. Coordinate efforts of position with school officials.  

Section 8. The duties of the Public Relations officer shall be as follows:

A. Organize, supervise and be responsible for Public Relations.

B. Report to the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer on status of Public Relations.

C.. Hold meetings, in addition to the general meetings, on Public Relations.

D. Inform members at general meetings of progress and updates of Public Relations.

E. In the event of absence of President and/or Vice-President, hold general meetings in accordance with the By-Laws of Beta Delta Theta chapter and report to the Secretary, President and Vice-President of the events of the meeting.

F. Be authorized to create and maintain a committee on Public Relations.  

Section 9. The duties of the Newsletter officer shall be as follows:

A. Organize, supervise and be responsible for the Newsletter.

B. Report to the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer on status of the Newsletter..

C. Hold meetings, in addition to the general meetings, on the Newsletter.

D. Inform members at general meetings of progress and updates of the Newsletter.

E. In the event of absence of President and/or Vice-President, hold general meetings in accordance with the By-Laws of Beta Delta Theta chapter and report to the Secretary, President and Vice-President of the events of the meeting.

F. Be authorized to create and maintain a committee on the Newsletter.

G. Create an informative Newsletter to include Phi Theta Kappa event interviews, scholarship deadlines, Hallmark Award literary criteria and deadlines.  

Article 7. Election of Officers

Section 1. All candidates for office must be members of Phi Theta Kappa in good standing.

Section 2. Elections must be held at the meeting preceding the last meeting of each trimester.

Section 3. Officers shall hold office from the time of their inauguration, which shall be at the first meeting following the election, to the time of the next inauguration.

Section 4. Nominations from the floor can be made at the same meeting as the election.

Section 5. Plurality of the votes cast will determine the new officer.

Section 6. In the event an officer resigns his/her office, an election shall take place to elect a new officer. Nominations shall be made from the floor and will be made at the first meeting following the resignation of the officer. The election will be held at the first meeting following nominations. Plurality of the votes cast will determine the new officer. The President shall have the power to make a temporary appointment at his/her discretion until a meeting is held. 

Article 8. Impeachment of Officers

Section 1. If any officer fails to fulfill the duties of his/her office, he/she may be removed as follows:

A. A special meeting of the chapter must be held to discuss the problem.

B. A vote of four-fifths of the membership attending said meeting is sufficient to remove an officer from office. 

Article 9. Meetings

Section 1. All business meetings will follow the general agenda.

Order of Business

A. Call order.

B. Roll call.

C. Reading of the minutes.

D. Treasurer's report.

E. Committee reports.

F. Old business.

G. New business.

H. Announcements.

I. Adjournment. 

Section 2. All meetings shall be governed by an adaptation of Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 3. Special committee meetings shall be called by the Chairperson of said committee. Procedures at such meetings are left to discretion of the Chairperson. Reports of each meeting shall be given to the members at the following meeting.

Article 10. Finances

Section 1. Finances for this chapter will be raised by projects voted on by a majority vote of the members.  

Section 2. Payment of the International Membership fee (see current International guidelines) received by the Chapter Treasurer before members can be inducted. 

Section 3. All members must pay local dues of (refer to local guidelines). 

Section 4. All members must pay regional dues of (refer to regional guidelines) prior to induction. Regional dues shall be remitted directly to the regional coordinator. 

Section 5. Disbursement vouchers must be submitted with supporting invoices and/or statements attached to the original invoice. 

Section 6. Financial records of the chapter shall be annually audited by the chapter advisor.  

Article 11. By-Laws

Section 1. By-Laws shall be passed by a simple majority vote of the membership and shall cover pertinent topics including interpretation of the By-Laws.  

Section 2. A permanent record of all By-Laws shall be kept on file by the Secretary.  

Article 12. Amendments and Revisions

Section 1. The By-Laws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting, provided that the proposed amendment has been presented at the previous meeting. Any changes to the By-Laws must be sent to Headquarters for final approval.