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CONSTITUTION OF THE EPSILON PHI
CHAPTER OF LAMBDA PI ETA

The name of the National Communication Association's National Honor Society is Lambda Pi Eta. The name of the California State University Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta shall be Epsilon Phi.The Epsilon Phi Chapter is referred to herein as the Chapter.1. Lambda Pi Eta represents the first letter of what Aristotle described in The Rhetoric as the three modes of persuasion -- Logos, Pathos, and Ethos.

Article II - Purpose and ActivitiesSection 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. Lambda Pi Eta exists to further the mission of the Association and is subject to the Association's policies and procedures.Section 3. The Epsilon Phi 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 AdministrationSection 1. Administrative and financial records of the Epsilon Phi Chapter will be housed in the Communication Studies Department office on the campus of California State University, Sacramento.Section 2. The Faculty Advisor of the Epsilon Phi Chapter can appoint any staff support that is needed to carry out the programs and mission of the honor society.

Article IV - Chapter MembershipSection 1 The Epsilon Phi Chapter is eligible for Institutional membership in the National Communication Association. As such, the Chapter shall receive the rights and privileges as defined in the Association's Constitution and Bylaws.Section 2. In order to remain eligible, the Chapter must be maintained at a 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; and
• appoints/selects a faculty sponsor for the Lambda Pi Eta chapter.

Section 3. The new Chapter shall submit a charter fee at the time of application for recognition and yearly chapter dues no later than December 1 of each year. Chapters will be rendered inactive when dues have not been paid for two years after which time a new chapter application must be submitted.Section 4. Fees for initial charter application and for yearly chapter dues will be established in accordance with the National Communication Association Constitution and Bylaws.

Article V - Individual Members of the Epsilon Phi ChapterSection 1. Eligibility for Membership. To be eligible for consideration for admission applicants must have

 

Section 2. Election to Membership. A method of election to membership shall be devised by each chapter, but must include:

 

Section 3. No rushing and social pressure shall be used to ensure acceptance of invitation to membership or for 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. Dues must be paid before membership certificates will be processed.Section 5. Fees for yearly member dues will be established in accordance with the National Communication Association Constitution and Bylaws.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 as an undergraduate at an institution which did not have an active chapter of Lambda Pi Eta. Members who would have been eligible to join the Epsilon Phi Chapter at California State University, Sacramento and who did not join the Chapter shall not be eligible for membership as graduate students.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.

2. The definition of "communication studies courses" shall be defined by Communication Studies Department of California State University, Sacramento.3. The criteria for displaying commitment to the field will be determined by the Epsilon Phi Chapter.

Article VI - Chapter OfficesSection 1. Offices. Chapters must elect officers. Recommended offices include the traditional leadership structure of President, Vice President, Scholarship Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary; however, each 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:

a. The President, or alternative officer, shall announce all meetings, preside in the conducting of business, assure adequate media coverage of the activities of Lambda Pi Eta, and actively promote the purposes of Lambda Pi Eta in the university community, determining the eligibility of and recruiting new members.

b. the Vice President, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for oversight of scholarship funds, inviting guest speakers, presenting awards for outstanding contributions; and serve in the absence of the President;

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

d. 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, keep a record of chapter activities, prepare meeting agendas,

e. the Activities Coordinator, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for special programs and projects, and shall coordinate chairpersons of project committees.

f. the Alumni Coordinator, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for encouraging academic excellence and stimulating intellectual inquiry among the members through activities such as informing members of opportunities for research and involvement in professional associations,

g. the Mentoring Coordinator, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for training mentors, maintaining records associated with mentoring activities, answering questions about the mentoring program, and matching mentors with mentees,

h. and the Fundraising Coordinator, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for coordinating fundraising volunteers, chairing the fundraising committee, and reviewing proposed activities to assure compliance with university fundraising policies.

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. By simple majority vote, the Chapter membership may appoint such committees as shall be appropriate for furthering the purposes of Lambda Pi Eta.

Article VII - Chapter MeetingsSection 1. Officer's Meetings. The officers of the Epsilon Phi Chapter shall meet as often as they deem necessary, but not less than twice per semester.Section 2. It Shall be the purpose of the Officer's Meeting to prepare for General Meetings and to inform the other officers of ongoing progress.Section 3. General Meetings. The Chapter shall hold General Meetings as often as deemed necessary by the Chapter officers, but not less than twice per semester. It is recommended that the Chapter hold a meeting at least once per month.Section 4. It shall be the purpose of the General Meeting to conduct whatever business is in the interest of the membership of the organization, including such matters as convention programs, fund raising events, and committee formation and/or dissolution.Section 5. Agenda. There shall be a set agenda for each General Meeting. Agenda items should be approved by a simple majority vote of the members. Additional agenda items must be submitted no less than one week prior to the next meeting date. Agenda items may be tabled until the next meeting if the tabling is approved by the majority of those present. If time allows, non-agenda items may be discussed after the agenda is cleared.Section 6. A quorum for conducting business at the General Meeting shall consist of those in attendance at the meeting.

Article VIII - Chapter By-LawsSection 1. A majority of a quorum of the members shall determine the election of officers. Voting may be conducted by ballot, by mail, or by voice, but there shall be no voting by proxy.Section 2. A quorum for the conducting of chapter business shall consist of the members present at any scheduled Chapter General Meeting.Section 3. Dues for local chapter membership may be determined, collected, and retained by each chapter.Section 4. Chapters may establish additional By-Laws consistent with the National Communication Association constitution and by-laws.

Article IX - Amendments*Section 1. All changes to this constitution will be presented at a General Meeting of the Epsilon Phi Chapter for consideration and action by the Officers. Amendments must be approved by a two thirds majority of the eligible members present at the General Meeting.DRAFTED AND ADOPTED BY THE CHAPTER AT California State University, Sacramento.

*Amendment 1- approved by unanimous vote of members, added the Mentoring Coordinator and Fundraising Coordinator positions to Section 2 of Article VI.