Alpha Epsilon Phi

Constitution and By-Laws

CONSTITUTION of ALPHA EPSILON PHI CHAPTER PHI THETA KAPPA BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY

ARTICLE I. NAME & PURPOSE

Section 1. - The name of this society shall be Alpha Epsilon Phi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.

Section 2. - The purpose of this society shall be the recognition of academic excellence and the promotion of scholarship, leadership, and service in the two-year college.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership Types. - This society shall consist of active, provisional, alumni, and honorary members:

  1. Active Members. - An active member shall be a student who has met the requirements for membership as established by the National Constitution and by the Constitution and By-Laws of this Chapter, and who has been duly initiated into the Chapter; and who maintains the requirements for good standing as set forth by the Chapter Constitution and By-Laws. Only an active member shall have the right to vote, to hold office, and to represent the Chapter in any official capacity.
  2. Provisional Members. - A provisional member shall be a student who has been duly initiated into the Chapter but who no longer meets the requirements for good standing as set forth by the Chapter Constitution and By-Laws.
  3. Alumni Members. - An alumnus member shall be a duly initiated former member of the Chapter who has graduated from Bergen Community College or who has transferred to another institution of higher education that is recognized by a regional accrediting agency such as the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. - NOTE: - In this Constitution the word "Alumni" is interpreted as meaning both Alumni and Alumnae; "Alumnus" designates both male and female members.
  4. Honorary Members. - Honorary members shall be all past and present Chapter Sponsors and Cosponsors and all other persons who have been elected as Honorary Members by the Chapter Membership.

Section 2. Membership Eligibility. - To be eligible for membership in this Chapter a student must:

  1. be enrolled in Bergen Community College as a fully matriculated student in a two-year degree program;
  2. have completed a minimum of 16 credit hours of course work at Bergen Community College and demonstrated academic excellence as required by the Chapter By-Laws;
  3. meet the eligibility requirements as set forth in Article IV of the National Constitution of Phi Theta Kappa.

ARTICLE III. OFFICERS; EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; SPONSORS ADVISORY COUNCIL.

Section 1. - Chapter officers shall be the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary.

Section 2. - Chapter officers shall be full-time day students and shall be elected by a majority vote of the active members present at the election process and shall serve for the period of one academic year. A three-fourths vote, as determined by written ballot, of the entire active membership shall be necessary to remove any officer from office at any time. Officers removed from office or unable to continue in office for any reason shall be replaced in a manner to be determined by the active membership.

Section 3. - The Chapter Executive Committee shall be composed of the Chapter officers and shall be the main administrative body of the Chapter.

Section 4. - The Sponsors Advisory Council shall be composed of all past and present Chapter Sponsors and Cosponsors who are currently employed by Bergen Community College. It shall arbitrate any and all disputes referred to it by the Chapter Executive Committee or Chapter membership and shall concern itself with any business referred to it by the Chapter.

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES.

Section 1. - the procedural rules governing meetings of this Chapter shall be Roberts Rules of Order except as agreed upon by the Chapter membership.

Section 2. - Chapter meetings should be held regularly during each month of the academic year in which classes are scheduled for majority of the time. Additional meetings may be convened at the discretion of the Chapter Executive Committee.

Section 3. - The initiation into the Chapter of newly eligible students should take place in each of the two regular semesters of the academic year at as early a time as is practicable.

Section 4. - Election of Chapter officers should be held during the last full month of the academic year, if possible, and the newly-elected officers shall serve in office for the ensuing academic year.

ARTICLE V. AMENDMENTS.

Section 1. - Any proposed Amendment to this Constitution shall be presented at a regular business meeting of the Chapter and shall be voted upon at the next succeeding meeting of the Chapter. Such proposed Amendment shall be circulated in writing to the entire active membership for consideration within ten school days of its presentation.

Section 2. - A three-fourths vote of the entire active membership, as determined by written ballot, cast on the proposed Amendment shall be necessary for its adoption.

RATIFIED THIS 3rd DAY OF MARCH, 1980: (Original Signatures on File)

WITNESSED: (Original Signatures on File)

BY-LAWS of ALPHA EPSILON PHI CHAPTER PHI THETA KAPPA BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARAMUS, N.J.

ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP.

Section 1. Eligibility. - In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements set forth in Article II, Section 2 of the Chapter Constitution a student must:

  1. have completed a minimum of 16 credit hours of course work at Bergen Community College and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 4.0; OR,
  2. have completed a minimum of 32 credit hours of course work and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.9; OR,
  3. have completed a minimum of 48 credit hours of course work and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.8.

Section 2. Initiation. - Eligible students shall be initiated into the Chapter upon their acceptance of membership invitation and their remittance of the National Lifetime Membership fee and current semester Chapter dues, if any.

Section 3. Term. - Active membership is terminated whenever a member is no longer enrolled as a matriculated student at Bergen Community College.

Section 4. Good Standing. - To maintain active membership in good standing a student shall:

  1. maintain full matriculation status with a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.5;
  2. not be delinquent in the payment of assessed Chapter dues;
  3. not have been absent for two consecutive Chapter meetings without valid excuse as accepted by the Chapter Executive Committee. Students in violation of this section shall return to good standing after having attended two subsequent consecutive Chapter meetings.

ARTICLE II. AMENDMENTS.

Section 1. - Any proposed Amendment to these By-Laws shall be acted upon in the same manner as prescribed for proposed Amendments to the Chapter Constitution as set forth in Article V of the Chapter Constitution.

RATIFIED THIS 3rd DAY OF MARCH, 1980: (Original Signatures on File)

WITNESSED: (Original Signatures on File)

MEMBERSHIP SERVICE COMMITMENT AMENDMENT: Wednesday, September 9, 1987.

Article I. Section 4, Paragraph 3 previously read: To maintain active membership in good standing a student shall not have been absent for two consecutive Chapter meetings without valid excuse as accepted by the Chapter Executive Committee. Students in violation of this section shall return to good standing after having attended two subsequent consecutive Chapter meetings.

This paragraph reads: To maintain active membership in good standing a student should attend regularly scheduled meetings and events; OR if he/she wishes to be excused from an Alpha Epsilon Phi function must provide services to the Fraternity in the form of time not to exceed the length of the meeting or event missed. Services are defined for the purposes of this amendment to mean usefulness to Alpha Epsilon Phi, National Phi Theta Kappa, and/or the community it services. Failure to provided accrued services prior to date of graduation or transfer will result in the loss of good standing.

Each member is committed to two hours of service per semester. These two hours are the equivalent of the scheduled meetings of the Chapter. This two hour service minimum is in addition to the annual mandatory service project. Attendance at the scheduled meetings and participation in the annual service project fulfill the service commitment.

Any student who is unable to attend meetings and/or take part in the annual service project must make up the number of hours in approved service projects at Bergen Community College, or in community service projects. Such substitutions in meeting the service commitment must be approved by the Chapter President and Sponsor.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING AMENDMENT: Thursday, June 27, 1996.

Article III, Section 1 previously read: Chapter Officers Shall Be The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, And Corresponding Secretary.

The paragraph reads: Chapters Officers Shall Be The President, Vice President of Scholarship, Vice President of Leadership, Vice President of Service, And Vice President of Fellowship.

MEMBERSHIP ELIGABILITY RESTRUCTURING AMENDMENT: Thursday, June 27, 1996.

Section 1. Eligibility. Previously read: In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements set forth in Article II, Section 2 of the Chapter Constitution a student must:

  1. have completed a minimum of 16 credit hours of course work at Bergen Community College and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 4.0; OR,
  2. have completed a minimum of 32 credit hours of course work and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.9; OR,
  3. have completed a minimum of 48 credit hours of course work and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.8.

The paragraph reads: In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements set forth in Article II, Section 2 of the Chapter Constitution a student must:

  1. have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of course work at Bergen Community College and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 4.0; OR,
  2. have completed a minimum of 16 credit hours of course work and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.9; OR,
  3. have completed a minimum of 32 credit hours of course work and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.8; OR,
  4. have completed a minimum of 48 credit hours of course work and achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less then 3.65.

The qualifying grade point average includes grades in all degree as well as non-degree courses. Attempted and/or earned credits in non-degree credit courses are not used to determine minimum credits in these categories.

DEFINITION OF ALPHA EPSILON PHI ENHANCED MEMBER: Friday, June 25, 1999.

The Alpha Epsilon Phi constitution and its Bi-Laws suggest possible ambiguous references to “members in good standing” and “active membership.” The Chapter has established, in accordance with Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters, the Enhanced Member Program. Being an enhanced member requires participation in all four Phi Theta Kappa hallmark areas; i.e., Chapter service projects, attendance at Induction meetings, and participation within Chapter scholarship activities. In March, an annual report will be sent to each member for Officer Team evaluation. Members who have met the minimum participation requirements will be officially designated as enhanced members. Only enhanced members will be eligible for Chapter recognition scholarships, and services, as well as, Advisor letters of recommendations for four-year scholarships. Members, who lose their enhanced status, do not lose their Phi Theta Kappa membership. Phi Theta Kappa membership can only be lost if a member’s grade point average drops below 3.5 or there is disciplinary action brought about against a member via College process.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING AMENDMENT II: Thursday, February 9, 2006.

ARTICLE III, Section 2. Previously read, Chapter officers shall be full-time day students and shall be elected by a majority vote of the active members present at the election process and shall serve for the period of one academic year. A three-fourths vote, as determined by written ballot, of the entire active membership shall be necessary to remove any officer from office at any time. Officers removed from office or unable to continue in office for any reason shall be replaced in a manner to be determined by the active membership.

The paragraph reads, Chapter officers shall be enhanced members and shall be elected by a majority vote of enhanced members who participate in the electoral balloting process and shall serve the period of one academic year. An officer will retain elected office unless the officer is no longer enrolled at the College; has a grade point average that drops below Chapter requirements; receives a majority vote of no confidence by the sitting Chapter Executive Team; OR, engages in or demonstrates behavior that is violation of the practices and policies put forth by Phi Theta Kappa, Bergen Community College, the Chapter Executive Team or its advisors.

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