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.

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.

Article 3: Candidate Status

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:



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:


Bonus Points
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.

Article 4: Member Status

Section 1.  Candidates shall be eligible for election to membership after they, at a minimum:


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:


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:



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.

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.

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.

Article 7: Executive Council

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.

Article 8: Committees

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. 

Article 9: Faculty Advisor

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.

Article 10: Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the chapter will end on April 30.

Article 11: Authority

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.

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.

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. 

Article 14: Minor Adjustments to Bylaws

The executive council has the power to modify the Bylaws when making minor adjustments and grammatical corrections. 





   

 

Last Updated March 6, 2008