Bylaws
Article 1: Name of the Organization
The name of this organization shall be the Lambda Psi Chapter of Beta
Alpha Psi at Emporia State University, Emporia, KS. Back to Top
Article 2: The Objectives and Purposes of the Chapter
Beta Alpha Psi is an International Honorary and Service Organization
for accounting, finance and information systems majors. Its stated
purpose includes recognizing scholastic and professional excellence in
the fields of accounting, finance or information systems with the
provision of opportunities for self-development and association among
members and practicing business professionals; and encouragement of a
sense of ethical, social and public responsibility.
These national objectives are consistent with the mission of Emporia
State University as an institution that is committed to providing
leadership in quality instruction, related scholarship and service,
developing lifelong learning skills, imparting society's cultural
heritage, and educating and preparing for both the professions and
advanced study. In addition, the Emporia State University chapter of
Beta Alpha Psi is dedicated to the concept that a student’s education
should include experiences outside of the classroom. Back to Top
Section 1. Degree seeking
undergraduate students, degree seeking graduate students, and
non-degree post-baccalaureate students at Emporia State University,
shall be eligible for election to candidate status if they are
majoring, concentrating, or have stated an interest in accounting,
information systems or finance. Graduate students that are
pursuing a general business degree (MBA, etc.) are eligible if they
possess a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in accounting,
information systems, or finance. Students working towards a
bachelor’s degree shall be eligible for election to candidate status
after they, at a minimum:
b. have achieved sophomore standing (at least 30 hours)
c. have attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
d. have provided an unofficial transcript (undergraduates only)
e. have signed the Candidate Agreement Form
f. have paid fees due to the International Office plus local chapter fee determined reasonable by the executive council
Section 2. Once a Candidate has been associated with Beta Alpha Psi for one semester, has participated in at least 50% of activities (professional activities, service activities, and business meetings) for that semester, and meets all the membership requirements, then the Candidate is eligible to become a member and will be initiated.
Candidates will be tracked according to point system. Each candidate must earn at least 50% of the overall points possible in a semester. Points will be given as follows:
10 points – professional meeting/activities
25 points – active participation in designated committee
10 points – community service activities
Bonus Points
50 points – active participation in best practices project
If the candidate does not meet the 50% participation requirement after
his/her first semester, then the candidate will have one more semester
to achieve the 50% requirement. The candidate will pay a local
chapter fee determined reasonable by the executive council at the
beginning of the second semester. If the candidate still does not
meet the 50% requirement after two semesters, then the candidate will
be dropped from candidate status, and will not be eligible to candidate
in the future. No refunds will be given.
If the Candidate does meet the 50% requirement, but does not meet other
membership requirements yet, then the Candidate can continue as a
candidate so long as the Candidate continues to meet the 50%
participation requirement. The Candidate will then pay the local
chapter fee determined reasonable by the executive council at the
beginning of each semester. No refunds will be given.
Section 3. Candidates will
cease to be candidates when they no longer have a declared area of
concentration in accounting, information systems or finance
Section 4. Candidates who
relocate to another institution to complete their undergraduate program
may become candidates of the local chapter provided they apply to the
local chapter and meet the requirements of the local chapter. Back to Top
Section 1. Candidates
shall be eligible for election to membership after they, at a minimum:
b. have completed, in addition to two years of collegiate courses, at least one upper level course beyond the business core (for transfer students, the
most recent qualifying course must be at the initiating institution or another AACSB accredited institution);
(on a scale); AND
b. achieved a rank within the top 35% of their university class, OR
c. have attained at least a 3.25 cumulative grade average (on a 4.0 scale) on the most recently completed 30 hours.
d. Have provided an unofficial transcript (undergraduates only)
Section 2. Candidates that meet all the membership requirements will be initiated by the current executive council. Candidates for membership must be present for the initiation ceremony. Initiation in absentia will be granted only under extreme circumstances and initiation in absentia must be approved by the International President.
Section 3. Once individuals are initiated as members, they must pay semester dues at the beginning of each semester. There are three membership categories based on participation. At the end of the semester, attendance information will be compiled and reviewed to establish which category a member falls under. Refunds will be determined by the member’s category. The three categories are: Platinum, Gold and Silver. The following presents the guidelines for each:
o Attend at least 90% of functions
o Pay local chapter fee determined reasonable by the executive council. Refund of 2/3.
• Gold
o Attend at least 80% of functions
o Pay local chapter fee determined reasonable by the executive council. Refund of 1/3.
• Silver
o Attend below 80% of functions
o Pay local chapter fee determined reasonable by the executive council. No refund.
Members may elect to have a refund applied to the next semester's dues.
Section 4. Members will be tracked according to point system. Members will achieve a membership category based on the percentage of points earned during a semester. The three categories that a member can achieve are platinum, gold, and silver. Points will be given as follows:
10 points – professional meeting/activities
25 points – active participation in designated committee
10 points – community service activities
Bonus Points
10 points – completion of 5 hours of non Beta Alpha Psi community service activities
50 points – active participation in best practices project
Section 5. Full-time members of
the accounting, finance, or information systems faculty are eligible
for election as Faculty members.
Section 6. Persons exhibiting
those qualities that Beta Alpha Psi fosters and who have achieved
prominence in the fields of accounting, finance, or information systems
or have contributed significantly of their time and talent to the
International Honorary and Service Organization or its local chapters
are eligible for election as Honorary members.
Section 7. Member certificates
will be delivered to newly initiated members upon their completion of
the necessary requirements to become a full member of International
Honorary and Service Organization.
Section 8. Members will cease
to be classified as members when they no longer have a declared area of
concentration in accounting, information systems or finance.
Section 9. Members who relocate
to another institution, either to complete their undergraduate program
or to pursue a graduate degree, may become members of the local chapter
provided they: (1) apply for membership (2) meet all membership
requirements for the local chapter.
Section 10. A member or
candidate may resign from the International Honorary and Service
Organization by notifying the chapter advisor and chapter president in
writing and returning their membership certificate.
Section 11. A member may be
expelled for conduct detrimental to the purposes or interest of the
International Honorary and Service Organization. Procedures as
outlined in the National Bylaws must be followed. Back to Top
Article 5: Professional and Service Activities
Section 1. Beta Alpha Psi
distinguishes itself by being an active organization. This means
members and candidates actively participate in the chapter’s
activities. Candidates must attend at least 50% of stated
meetings. Members pay semester dues based on their participation
in stated meetings. Only valid excuses will be acceptable for
absences from stated meetings.
Section 2. A stated meeting is
defined as any meeting in which at least two weeks notice is given.
Section 3. An ad hoc meeting is
defined as any meeting in which less than two weeks notice is
given. Absence at an ad hoc meeting will not count against a
candidate or member.
Section 4. A valid excuse is
defined as: class, medical (with doctor’s note), and emergency.
All other reasons for absence from a stated meeting will be at the
judgment of the executive council. In the event of a tie, the
chapter advisor will serve as the deciding vote. Back to Top
Article 6: Meetings for the Conduct of Business
In addition to the stated professional and service activities, there
will be at least one business meeting each semester. These
business meetings will be stated meetings. The election of
officers and any changes in policy must be voted on at a business
meeting of the membership. A quorum shall consist of at least 75%
of the executive council and 66% of members per location.
Candidates are only allowed to vote for officers. Only members
may vote on other matters.
The executive council will make most decisions during its regularly
scheduled meetings. Members and candidates are encouraged to
bring matters to the attention of the executive council for timely
consideration. The executive council may schedule additional
business meetings of the membership as needed.
Absence from business meetings does not count against a candidate or
member’s participation; however, it is important for each candidate or
member to attend whenever possible. Back to Top
Section 1. The executive
council of the chapter shall consist of a minimum of four officers: a
President, Vice-President of Operations, Vice-President of Recording,
and Vice-President of Finance. In addition, there may be a coordinator
of professional activities, a coordinator of service/social activities,
and a Website Coordinator.
Section 2. The President calls
and presides at meetings of the chapter and of the executive council;
appoints committees as necessary; determines that all reporting
responsibilities and other duties of the other officers are performed
in accordance with the National Constitution and Bylaws; and seeks to
promote the welfare of the chapter and the International Honorary and
Service Organization.
Section 3. The Vice-President
of Operations assists the president in the performance of prescribed
duties and acts in the president’s place in the event of absence or
incapacity. In the event the office of the President is vacant, the
president-elect shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the
president. The Vice-President of Operations also oversees the
Activities Committee and is in charge of updating the RSO registration
sheet each year.
Section 4. The Vice-President
of Recording records the minutes of the meetings of the chapter and the
executive council; transmits to the National Office the completed
member data request form for each initiate and/or candidate; transmits
to the National Office the list of chapter officers; prepares and
transmits the monthly activity reports; oversees the Membership
committee and fulfills all other duties ordinarily associated with the
office of the Vice-President of Recording. He or she is also in
charge of picking up mail for the International Honorary and Service
Organization in the CSI Office.
Section 5. The Vice-President
of Finance collects money owed to the chapter; disburses money for
authorized purposes; maintains appropriate financial records; oversees
the Finance committee, and arranges, if required, for the audit and
preparation of the local Chapter’s tax return.
Section 6. The coordinator of
professional activities will assist the president and the
Vice-President of Operations with planning and carrying out the
chapter’s professional events and will assist the Vice-President of
Recording with the record keeping for professional activities.
Section 7. The coordinator of
service activities will assist the president and the Vice-President of
Operations with planning and carrying out the chapter’s service events
and will assist the Vice-President of Recording with the record keeping
of members’ service participation.
Section 8. The Website
Coordinator will maintain and update the chapter’s website. Items
to be included on the website are meeting minutes, current candidate
and member roster, current officers, schedule of events and general
information about the chapter.
Section 9. Student officers for
the following academic year will be elected from the membership at a
business meeting during late March/early April. Nominations will be
from the floor, and the election will be conducted by written ballot at
the next business meeting. Nominations and elections cannot occur
at the same business meeting. The term of office will be from May
1st through the following April 30th. Generally, members must be
able to serve two semesters in office to be nominated, however, if this
is not possible, alternatives will be discussed by the membership body.
Section 10. All
leadership roles i.e. officers and coordinators will be eligible for
nomination for the office of President. If no one is eligible or
interested, then the office of President will be open to Platinum
members. Officers are eligible to be re-elected i.e. the
President can be re-elected for another term as President.
Section 11. An officer may
resign by submitting a written resignation to the executive council.
The vacancy will be filled with an election at the next business
meeting. Back to Top
Section 1. Committees are in
place to assist the officers with their tasks as needed. There
are three committees. They are: the Activities Committee,
Membership Committee and Finance Committee. Committees consist of
members and candidates.
Section 2. The Activities
Committee assists with planning the chapter’s professional, service and
social activities under the supervision of the Vice-President of
Operations. It consists of two subcommittees: Professional and
Service/Social. The Professional subcommittee is headed by the
Coordinator of Professional Activities. The Service/Social
subcommittee is headed by the Coordinator of the Service/Social
Activities.
Section 3. The Membership
Committee assists with recruiting, current membership, and recording of
events. Its main task is to keep the chapter’s scrapbook up to
date, which is a timeline of events. The Membership Committee is
overseen by the Vice-President of Recording.
Section 4. The Finance
Committee assists the Vice-President of Finance as needed. Its
main task is planning and coordinating fundraising events. It is
overseen by the Vice-President of Finance. Back to Top
The faculty advisor serves as the advisor to the chapter. The faculty
advisor is selected from amongst the fulltime accounting, information
systems, or finance faculty by the executive council in consultation
with the chair of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems
of Emporia State University. Back to Top
The fiscal year of the chapter will end on April 30. Back to Top
These bylaws shall be the principal governing document of the Emporia
State University Petitioning Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi. These bylaws
will be subordinate to the National Constitution and Bylaws of the Beta
Alpha Psi International Honorary and Service Organization. Any
provision of this document that conflicts with the National
Constitution and Bylaws of the Beta Alpha Psi International Honorary
and Service Organization that is currently in effect will be rendered
null and void. Back to Top
Article 12: Non-discriminatory Policy
No person shall, on the grounds of race, creed, color, national origin,
religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, Vietnam Era Veteran
status, or such other factors that cannot be considered lawfully, be
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity within this
organization. Back to Top
Article 13: Requirements for Amendments to the Bylaws
A proposed amendment to these bylaws must be submitted in writing to
the executive council. If it is consistent with the National
Constitution and Bylaws of the Beta Alpha Psi International Honorary
and Service Organization and the policies of Emporia State University,
it will be discussed and voted on at the next business meeting.
Proposed amendments may be amended prior to the vote. A two-thirds
majority is needed to pass an amendment. Back to Top
Article 14: Minor Adjustments to Bylaws
The executive council has the power to modify the Bylaws when making
minor adjustments and grammatical corrections. Back to Top
Last UpdatedSeptember 7, 2008