BYLAWS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI CHAPTER OF THE GAMMA BETA PHI SOCIETY
ARTICLE I Name and Affiliation
The name of this organization shall be the University of Mississippi chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi Society.
This chapter is an integral part of the national organization of The Gamma Beta Phi Society and shall adhere to the policies laid down in the National Constitution. Its Coat of Arms, Motto, Watchwords, Colors, and Emblem shall be those of the national organization.
ARTICLE-II Nature and Purposes
The chapter shall be a non-secret, non-profit, scholastic honor, educational-service organization for students at the University of Mississippi.
Membership therein shall not be excluded by, nor shall it exclude from, membership in any other social, academic, or fraternal organization. Membership therein shall not be restricted by race, sex, or creed.
The purpose of The Gamma Beta Phi Society is exclusively educational within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. It shall not engage in activities not permitted a 501 (c) (3) organization or an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of that Code (or the correspondence provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law). No part of its net earnings shall inure to the benefit of its-members, officers, or other private persons, except that it may pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and make distributions in furtherance of its purpose. No substantial part of the organization's activities shall involve political propaganda or campaigns, or the attempt to influence legislation.
The objectives of the organization are to recognize and encourage excellence in education; to promote the development of leadership ability and character in its members; and to foster, disseminate, and improve education through appropriate service projects. Each chapter of the Society shall implement these purposes by procedures consonant with the local situation and in cooperation with the faculty and administration of the institution.
ARTICLE III Qualifications for Membership
Students invited into membership in this chapter shall be presently enrolled at the University of Mississippi and must be committed to excellence in education, to good character, and to service. Any student, full or part-time, who has completed at least 12 hours of college work, excluding any pass-fail work or hours earned due to placement tests such as CLEP or CEEB, is eligible for membership provided he or she is enrolled in a program leading to the associate, bachelors, or graduate degree and also meets the other requirements for membership.
Any student whose cumulative grade point average ranks within the top 20 percent of his or her class meets the scholastic requirement for membership.
Graduate students are eligible for membership provided they have completed at least 12 hours of graduate work and rank among the top 20 percent of graduate students and meet any other criteria required of undergraduate members. An undergraduate member who graduates in good standing may continue his or her active membership throughout graduate school.
Students who were members in good standing of Gamma Beta Phi chapters at other institutions and who transfer to this institution are automatically members of this chapter upon their request. Such transfer members will be subject to the retention standards of this chapter just as any other member.
Each inductee must pay the one-time membership fee set by the National Senate. He or she must also pay the local dues of $15.00 per year (or $7.50 per semester). (Other local assessments may not be made upon the membership, but voluntary contributions can be requested.)
Each inductee must take the membership pledge.
Any student who rejects membership when first invited will not be invited again, except upon appeal to and approval of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IV Retention Standards
Sec. 1: To remain a member of this chapter, local dues must be paid each year by the deadline set by the Executive Committee.
A member should retain a ranking within his or her class of no less than the top 30 percent. If a member should drop below that, he or she will be allowed one semester of probation. If after that term the member still does not meet the scholastic retention standard, he or she is dropped from membership until the standard is met.
In accord with the nature and purpose of The Gamma Beta Phi Society, members are expected to participate in the projects, meetings and other activities of the chapter. A member may be dropped from membership for failure to meet the activity standards which follow.
The point system is attached.
Sec. 2: A member dropped from membership may appeal the decision to the State Advisor, and then, if desired, to the Executive Director, whose decision is final. The name of any member dropped from membership shall be sent to the Executive Secretary immediately, along with the reason for the action. A student dropped from membership may later be reinstated by action of the chapter Executive Committee if the committee is satisfied' that the student now meets the standards of membership. A member so reinstated will not again pay the national membership fee, but notification of the reinstatement shall be sent at once to the Executive Secretary.
ARTICLE V Induction of Members
Induction of new members shall take place during the spring semester.
The induction ceremony shall be a dignified occasion. There shall be no hazing of an inductee—either that which would result in a physical discomfort or that which would cause mental embarrassment.
ARTICLE VI Officers
The elected officers of this chapter of The Gamma Beta Phi Society shall be: a president, a vice-president, a secretary, a treasurer, a publicity chairperson, an induction chairperson, a social chairperson, a scrapbook chairperson, and a projects chairperson.
The duties of the president shall be: to preside at the meetings; to appoint committees; to guide the activities and administer the policies laid down in the national constitution and in the chapter bylaws; to be the official representative of this chapter when necessary or desirable; to file with Headquarters the year-end Chapter Report.
The duties of the vice-president shall be: to preside at meetings when the president is absent; to assume the duties of the presidency should the president be unable to serve; to assist in administering the affairs of the chapter.
The duties of the secretary shall be: to keep the records of membership; to prepare and keep an on-going record of minutes of the meetings; to carry on the general correspondence of the chapter; to keep National Headquarters informed about all changes in membership and reasons therefore; to order and properly disburse material from Headquarters; to insure that the membership is aware of the time and place of each meeting.
The duties of the treasurer shall be: to collect, safeguard and disburse the funds of the chapter; to keep a complete and accurate record of all financial transactions; to complete the year-end Financial Report; to order and disburse items for members such as t-shirts, jewelry, etc.; to pass on to the treasurer succeeding him or her all funds remaining in the treasury and to give to the Advisor all financial records.
The officers of this chapter shall be elected at a regular meeting during the spring term of the school year. The Executive Committee will determine the date of the election and announce it to the membership at least one regular meeting in advance of the meeting at which the election will occur. The Executive Committee will determine the method of nomination and ballot-casting. The new officers shall assume their positions at the end of the last meeting of the year.
This chapter shall elect during the spring semester each year an Advisor and an Associate Advisor who must be full-time faculty members or administrators at the University of Mississippi. The Executive committee shall be responsible for determining candidates for these positions who are willing to be nominated and willing to serve the chapter in such positions if elected. Persons serving in such positions are eligible for re-nomination and re-election. The date of the election shall be set by the Executive Committee. Any person serving as Advisor or Associate Advisor may be removed from such office upon recommendation by the Executive Committee and voting action by the membership.
ARTICLE VII Committees
The standing committees of this chapter shall be: Executive Committee, Publicity Committee, Program Committee, Social Committee.
The Executive Committee shall be composed of all officers and the chairman of all other standing committees. The chairman of the Executive Committee shall be the chapter president. The Advisor will be invited to all meetings of the committee and his or her counsel sought. The duties of this committee .are: to see that the standards of membership are maintained; to handle all disciplinary matters; to plan general policies, projects and activities for presentation to the membership; to insure that all qualified students are identified and invited into membership.
The Publicity Committee shall be appointed by the president. The chairman of the committee shall be elected by the membership. The duties of the Publicity Committee shall be: to make sure that the name, nature, purposes, and contributions of Gamma Beta Phi are recognized throughout the campus and the community by full and proper use of all available media; to provide for the publicizing of the names and pictures of all new members; to provide Headquarters with pictures and accounts of the chapter's activities for publication in The Gambet; to prepare a chapter scrapbook each year.
The Program Committee shall be appointed by the president. The chairman of the committee shall be elected by the membership. The duties of the Program Committee shall be: to assist the Executive Committee in planning the nature of the chapter meetings; to secure meeting facilities and outside speakers; to greet, introduce, and send thanks to all outside persons who take part in a meeting of the chapter; to have programs printed for ceremonies.
The Social Committee shall be appointed by the resident. The chairman shall be elected by the membership. Its duty shall be to take charge of all social activities of the chapter, especially in regard to food and decorations.
In addition to these standing committees, the president may appoint special committees to attend to and/or report upon any specific matter involving the chapter.
ARTICLE VIII Meetings
Regular meetings of this chapter of The Gamma Beta Phi Society shall be held every month during the regular school year. The time and place of meeting will be decided upon by the Executive Committee. Every effort shall be taken to keep the time and place of meeting consistent and to give adequate notice to the members. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee. All members are to be sent notification of the special meeting and its purpose for being called. Only the business for which the meeting is called will be transacted.
ARTICLE IX Quorum and Parliamentary Authority
A quorum of this chapter shall be constituted by 25 percent of membership. No action may be taken which is binding upon the membership unless a quorum is present. The parliamentary authority for this Chapter shall be most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE X Attendance at State and National Meetings
This chapter of The Gamma Beta Phi Society will make every effort to send the appropriate student and Advisor delegates to all State and National meetings and will endeavor to send other members as well.
ARTICLE XI Amending and Transmitting the Bylaws
The Bylaws of this chapter may be amended by a majority vote of the members at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided such proposed amendment in written form has been placed before the membership at a previous' regular meeting. Such amendments may not be in conflict with national standards or policies.
Both the Executive Director of The Gamma Beta Phi Society and the appropriate institutional administrator or committee shall be sent immediately a copy of the bylaws and of any subsequent amendments or alterations. Each new member shall receive a copy of these bylaws.
ARTICLE XII Dissolution
In the event of dissolution the residual assets of this chapter will be turned over to another organization which is in itself exempt form Federal Income Tax as an organization described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provisions of any prior or future Internal Revenue Code, or to the Federal, State, or local government for exclusively public purposes.
These bylaws, and the amendments thereto, were approved by the membership at its meeting March 5, 1985.