In order to continue academic excellence, leadership training, and an intellectual climate to promote an interchange of ideas and ideals a a four-year University, we dedicate ourselves as members of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Membership is a privilege earned through scholastic aptitude, honor, and service. In the conduct of our activities, truth will be our quest, diligence our staff, and achievement our purpose.
The name of this chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society (hereinafter referred to as "Society") is the Iota of Texas Alumni Chapter (hereinafter referred to as "Chapter") of the Society. Further, the Iota of Texas Alumni Chapter of the Society is a registered student organization at the University of Texas at Dallas (hereinafter referred to as "University").
We, the members, hereby associate ourselves to (1) continue to uphold the standards of Phi Theta Kappa; (2) provide continuing fellowship of former Phi Theta Kappa members who will help transfer students become accustomed to the University and the life it affords; (3) recognize and encourage scholorship and leadership among University/Community alumni.
This Chapter shall be comprised of Active, Associate, and Honorary Alumni members as defined herein.
A. Active Member
An active member of the Chapter shall:
1. Be a registered student at the University.
2. Have been a member in good standing with the Society prior to transferring to the University.
3. Maintain current dues as stated in Article VIII, Section 1.
4. Maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of not less than 3.0.B. Associate Member
An associate member shall be a person who does not meet the requirements for active membership, but who, in the opinion of the Chapter, has shown an active interest in the Chapter. Associate members shall not have the right to vote or hold office.
C. Honorary Member
An honorary member shall be a person who does not meet the requirements for active membership, but who, in the opinion of the Chapter, has served in a special capacity or has rendered distinguished service to the Chapter. Honorary members shall not have the right to vote or hold office.
Active members may submit the name and reason for submission of any person to the Executive Council. After approval by the Executive Council, associate or honorary membership shall become effective upon a simple majority vote as stated in Article VII, Section 4 of active members present at the next General Assembly meeting.
The elected officers of this Chapter shall be President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Public Relations Secretary, and Historian.
A. President
The duties of the President shall be to preside over all Executive Council meetings and General Assembly meetings, to provide leadership, to approve committees, to delegate authority, to appoint committee heads, to enforce the By-Laws, to call Special meetings as defined in Article VII, Section 3, to act as spokesperson for the Chapter, and to ensure that proper procedures are followed with regard to University policy.
B. Vice-President
The duties of the Vice-President shall be to fulfill the duties of the President in his or her absence, and to coordinate committee activities.
C. Treasurer
The duties of the Treasurer shall be to collect dues as specified in Article VIII, Sections 1 and 2, to maintain accurate accounting records (including a journal-ledger in which all deposits and expenditures are recorded, a file of deposit receipts, and a file of requisition receipts), to deposit promptly in the Office of Student Development all money received, to process applicable payments, and to render financial reports on request.
D. Recording Secretary
The duties of the Recording Secretary shall be to keep the minutes of the Executive Council meeting and General Assembly meetings, to maintain a membership roster, to provide members notification of all meetings, to take roll call, and to act as corresponding agent at Chapter, District, Regional, and International levels.
E. Public Relations Secretary
The duties of the Public Relations Secretary shall be to aid the President in ensuring that proper procedures are followed with regard to University policy, work with the Office of Student Development in coordinating all projects, and to promote publicity for the Chapter.
F. Historian
The duties of the Historian shall be to maintain a scrapbook containing the history of Chapter activities and take pictures at each event.
The Executive Council shall be comprised of all Officers and Advisors.
An election committee consisting of at least three (3) active members and advisors appointed by the President will present a list of candidates for office for consideration at the last Executive Council meeting preceding the Election Day.
Election day will be held at a General Assembly meeting during the month of April. Notification of election day will be posted two (2) weeks prior to that General Assembly meeting.
Voting will be done by secret ballot. A simple majority vote as stated in Article VII, Section 4 of all active members voting on election day and by absentee ballot shall constitute a decision. Votes will be counted by the Chapter Advisors.
Absentee ballots will be given by appointment with the advisor only and will be made available for one (1) week prior to the election day.
In the event of a tie, a run-off election shall be held for that office. The run-off election will be held at the next General Assembly meeting and no absentee ballots will be accepted.
Only active members as stated in Article III, Section 1A are eligible to vote.
Only active members as stated in Article III, Section 1A are eligible to run for office.
Installation of new officers shall occur at the last General Assembly meeting of the Spring semester.
The term of office is for one (1) year, beginning and ending with the last General Assembly meeting of the Spring semester.
Any elected officer who fails to maintain active membership, fails to perform his or her duties of office, or fails to uphold the standards of the Chapter and Society is subject to removal.
The procedure for submitting charges against any elected officer shall be as follows:
A. Said officer must be notified in writing of the specific problem(s), which is sent Certified Mail -- Return Receipt. He or she will be given seven (7) consecutive days to respond to the letter, in writing. The seven (7) days are determined by the returned receipt postmark. After the seven (7) days, an additional fourteen (14) consecutive days will be given to rectify the situation.
B. If the situation cannot be rectified within fourteen (14) days, an Impeachment Hearing will be announced. However, said officer must be notified in writing of three (3) possible Hearings (date/time/location). This notification will be sent Certified Mail -- Return Receipt. Said officer must select one (1) of the Hearings specified above and respond to the Executive Council in writing within seven (7) days. The seven (7) days are determined by the returned receipt postmark.
C. If said officer does not respond or indicates that none of the three (3) selections are acceptable, then the Executive Council will select the Impeachment Hearing date/time/location as so mentioned in Article VI, Section 2B above.
D. At the Impeachment Hearing, a discussion of allegations and consideration of impeachment of the officer will be held. The Executive Council and all Active Members shall be notified of said Hearing. At the time, said officer shall have the opportunity to address those present.
E. At the conclusion of the Impeachment Hearing, a three-fourths vote will be taken as stated in Article VI, Section 3.
A three-fourths vote of the General Assembly shall be necessary to remove any officer. This vote shall be made by secret ballot and will be counted by the Chapter Advisors.
In the event a vacancy occurs in an elective office, a special election as stated in Article VI, Section 5 will be held to fill the vacancy.
A special election will be called by the Executive Council and Chapter Advisors to fill the vacancy made by a removal from office.
Meetings of the Executive Council will be held prior to the General Assembly meetings.
Meetings of the General Assembly will be held at least once per month and will be posted for notification.
Special meetings are unscheduled meetings for the Executive Council and the General Assembly which may be called if the need arises. The President and/or the Chapter Advisors can call a special meeting.
A vote taken at an Executive Council Meeting or a General Assembly Meeting in which 51% of the active members present approve/disapprove will constitute a simple majority vote.
Dues in the amount of $10.00 shall be collected from each Active and Associate member each semester for membership to the Chapter.
Dues in the amount of $20.00 shall be collected annually from each active member for subscribing membership to the Phi Theta Kappa International Alumni Association. Thereafter, $15.00 per year shall be collected from each active member for annual renewal of membership to the Phi Theta Kappa International Alumni Association.
Amendments to the By-Laws of the Chapter shall be submitted to any officer in writing for submission to the Executive Council.
Upon approval of the Executive Council, the proposed amendment will be presented to the General Assembly for consideration. Notice of a vote on the proposed amendment will be posted two (2) weeks prior to the actual vote during a General Assembly meeting.
This By-Law may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the active membership at the General Assembly meeting designated for voting on the amendment.
All former By-Laws, or parts of By-Laws, are hereby repealed.
This By-Law is subject to the laws of the United States of America, the state of Texas, the Phi Theta Kappa International Constitution and By-Laws, the Regional By-Laws of Phi Theta Kappa, and the SOF policies.
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