Constitution of Lambda Pi Eta

http://clubs-orgs.colstate.edu/lpe

ARTICLE I - NAME

The Columbus State University chapter of Lambda Pi Eta has been designated as the Mu Nu Chapter by charter letter of the national organization of Lambda Pi Eta, effective December 15, 2000.

Article II - Purpose and Activities

Section 1. The purposes of Lambda Pi Eta shall be: (a) to recognize, foster and reward outstanding scholastic achievement in communication studies; (b) to stimulate interest in the field of communication; (c) to promote and encourage professional development among communication majors: (d) to provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of communication; (e) to establish and maintain closer relationships and mutual understanding between speech communication studies faculty and students; and (f) to explore options for graduate education in communication studies.

Section 2. Lambda Pi Eta is the honor society of the National Communication Association (NCA). Lambda Pi Eta exists to further the mission of the Association and is subject to the Association's policies and procedures. The Columbus State University chapter exits to further the mission of the CSU Communication Department and the university and is subject also to departmental and university policies and procedures.

Section 3. This chapter may sanction undergraduate honors conferences; propose programs and workshops at national, regional, and state professional association conventions; recognize outstanding undergraduate scholarship with awards or prizes; recognize outstanding faculty contributions in undergraduate teaching, program advising, or chapter advising; establish programs of faculty-student mentorships; and conduct other activities consistent with the stated purposes of Lambda Pi Eta.

Article III - Chapter Administration

Section1. Lambda Pi Eta will be administered by student officers elected by the membership and under the auspices of the CSU Communication Department. Lambda Pi Eta's financial records will be subjected to yearly audit.

Section2. A chapter sponsor/advisor will be selected from the CSU full time communication faculty for the management of the local chapter of Lambda Pi Eta.

Section 3. The chapter sponsor/advisor can appoint any sdtaff support that is needed to carry out the programs and mission of the honor society.

Section 4. The local chapter sponsor/advisor of Lambda Pi Eta will consult with Lambda Pi Eta's National Officers and Faculty Advisory Board in administering the honor society.

Article IV - Chapter Membership

Section 1. Columbus State University is eligible for chapter membership in Lambda Pi Eta as outlined below.

Chapters may be established and apply for recognition at any college or university:

• which grants baccalaureates or higher degrees

• is accredited by the appropriate regional association

• has an academic school, division, or department in the field of communication studies

• which offers a minimum of thirty (30) academic hours in communication and communication related courses

• appoints/selects a faculty sponsor for the Lambda Pi Eta chapter

Section 2. The local chapter will pay yearly national membership chapter dues no later than December 1 of each year. This chapter will be rendered inactive when dues have not been paid for two years after which time a new chapter application must be submitted.
Section 3. Fees for initial charter application and for yearly chapter dues were approved by the Communication Department on September 26, 2000.

Article V - Individual Members

Section 1. Eligibility for Membership. To be eligible for consideration for admission applicants must have completed 60 semester credit-hours (90 quarter credit-hours); have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for all courses taken; be in the upper 35% of their institutional academic class; have at least a 3.25 GPA for all communication studies courses; completed the equivalent of 12 semester credit-hours(18 quarter credit-hours) in communication studies; and currently be enrolled as a student in good standing, as determined by the institution's policies. In addition, students should display commitment to the field of speech communication. In addition, all persons considered for membership shall exhibit high standards of personal and professional character and shall support the purposes of the honor society.

Section 2. Election to Membership. A joint faculty/student committee consisting of three faculty members and three students shall review and select communication majors for membership based on the national standards. This selection process shall occur and invitations be issued during October and February.

Section 3. No rushing and social pressure shall be used to ensure acceptance of invitation to membership or initiation into membership.

Section 4. The chapter shall collect and transmit to the National communication Association an initiation fee for each member eligible for membership in the local chapter and a list of new members by December 1 and/or April 1 of each year.

Section 5. The chapter shall collect dues as established by the national Lambda Pi Eta chapter and any local chapter dues that shall be determined by a majority vote of the local chapter membership.

Section 6. Each chapter shall transmit to the National Communication Association the names of any student who has previously paid an initiation fee and is still an active member of the chapter by December 1 and/or April 1 of each year.

Section 7. Students who are members of Lambda Pi Eta and transfer to another school which has a Lambda Pi Eta chapter will automatically be a member of that school's chapter.

Section 8. Graduate Students. Graduate students may continue as members of Lambda Pi Eta if they were previously inducted by a chapter as an undergraduate, or they may be inducted as new members if they would have met the membership qualifications an an undergraduate at an institution which did not have an active chapter of Lambda Pi Eta.

Section 9. Privileges of Membership. A member shall be eligible to vote at all chapter meetings of the Society, be eligible for election to chapter offices, be eligible to attend scholarly presentations and colloquia of the sponsoring academic department, and be eligible to represent the local chapter at state, regional, and national conventions. Individuals shall not be considered members of the National Communication Association by virtue of their membership in Lambda Pi Eta.

Section 10. Honorary Members. Local Chapters of Lambda Pi Eta may, by majority vote, confer Honorary Member status upon communication faculty members or individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the goals of the Society or make outstanding contributions to the academic goals of the chapter. Honorary members may not vote or hold office in the Society or the chapter, or represent the chapter at the national meeting.

Section 11. Non-Discrimination. Selection for membership shall be made without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, physical disabilities, physical qualities, or age.

Article VI - Chapter Offices

Section 1. Offices. This chapter will elect the following officers: President, Vice-President, Scholarship Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary. The chapter may elect to install a differing leadership structure by majority decision of the chapter. In addition, a faculty advisor shall be elected or appointed annually from the faculty or staff of the sponsoring academic unit.

Section 2. Duties of Office. Each officer may have the following responsibilities:

1. The President, or alternative officer, shall announce all meetings, preside in the conducting of business, and actively promote the purposes of Lambda Pi Eta in the university community;

2. the Vice President, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for special programs and projects, and serve in the absence of the President;

3. the Scholarship Officer, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for encouraging academic excellence and stimulating intellectual inquiry among the members through activities such as inviting guest speakers, informing members of opportunities for research and involvement in professional associations, determining the eligibility of and recruiting new members, and presenting awards for outstanding contributions;

4. the Treasurer, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for collecting annual chapter dues, collecting and transmitting initiation fees and information, establishing a yealy budget, disbursing funds for appropriate organizational expenses, and accounting for all funds; and

5. the Secretary-Reporter, or alternative officer, shall keep a complete set of minutes of the business of the chapter, deposit the minutes with the faculty advisor at the expiration of the term in office, assure adequate media coverage of the activities of Lambda Pi Eta, and keep a record of chapter activities.

Section 3. Terms of Office. Officers shall be elected for terms of one academic year. All officers shall be elected from and by the members at the last regular meeting of the academic year and shall assume the duties of their respective offices at the first regular meeting of the next academic year or at the end of the current semester during which they were elected.

Section 4. If a person is elected to office but cannot complete the term she/he is to be replaced by an election of the current membership.

Section 5. Committees. The President, or alternative officer, may appoint such committees as shall be appropriate for furthering the purposes of Lambda Pi Eta.

Article VII - Chapter Meetings

Section 1. At least one chapter business meeting will be held each semester.

Section 2. It shall be the purpose of these business meetings to conduct whatever business is in the interest of the membership of the organization, including such matters as convention programs, annual awards, and member selection/initiation.

Section 3. This chartered chapter may send two voting Delegates to represent CSU at the annual national honor society business meeting.

Section 4. A quorum for conducting business at the chapter meeting shall consist of those in attendance at the meeting.

Article VIII - Chapter By-Laws

Section 1. A majority of a quorum of the members shall determine the election of officers. Voting may be conducted by ballot, by mail, by e-mail, by web ballot, or by voice, but there shall be no voting by proxy.

Section 2. Dues for local chapter membership will be $10.00.

Section 3. The chapter may by majority vote at regular business meeting establish additional By-Laws consistent with this document and the national honor society constitution.

Article IX - Amendments

Section 1. All changes to this constitution will be presented to the business meetings of this Lambda Pi Eta chapter for consideration and action by the membership.

Section 2. Amendments to the national honor society constitution may be considered as automatic amendments to this document when necessary to maintain the chapter's national affiliate status.

Article X - Disbandment

This chapter shall be disbanded upon withdrawal of recognition by the national organization of Lambda Pi Eta, the withdrawal of Communication Department sponsorship, or by the decision of other appropriate authority.