Lambda Pi Eta
Beta Epsilon Constitution
(Approved
Spring 2007)
Preamble
Lambda Pi Eta is
the official honor society of the National Communication
Association. Lambda Pi Eta represents the first letters of what
Aristotle described in The Rhetoric as the three modes of
persuasion -- Logos, Pathos, and Ethos. We are an important part of
the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication and the
Department of Communication Studies, with the common goal of
producing some of the finest graduates in the field of
Communication Studies. While primarily an academic honor society,
Lambda Pi Eta is also a service organization. With Marquette
University's focus on cura personalis – care for the person
– membership offers students an opportunity to improve the
community around them.
Article I: Name
The name of this
organization shall be “Lambda Pi Eta, Beta Epsilon
Chapter,” hereafter referred to as the
Organization.
Article II: Purpose
Section 1: The purposes of
the Organization 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 communication
studies faculty and students; and (f) to explore options for
graduate education in communication studies.
Article III: Membership
Section 1: Regular
membership shall be open to any Marquette University undergraduate
student who meets the following requirements:
(a)
Completed 60 semester credit-hours, have a minimum cumulative GPA
of at least 3.0 for all courses taken, and have at least a 3.25 GPA
for all communication and communication studies courses;
(b) Completed the equivalent of 12 semester credit-hours in
communication and communication studies as either a major or minor,
and currently be enrolled as a student in good standing, as
determined by the institution's policies.
(c) Undergraduates who are elected shall rank not lower than the
highest thirty-five percent of their class in general scholarship.
The cumulative scholastic record of the student as interpreted by
the institution where membership is to be conferred shall be the
basis for computing scholastic eligibility for the purpose of
classification in ranks. In addition, students should display
commitment to the discipline of communication.
(d) 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: Transfer
Students. Students who are members of Lambda Pi Eta and transfer to
another school, which has a Lambda Pi Eta chapter, will
automatically become a member of that school's chapter.
Section 3: 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.
Section 4: Privileges of
Membership. A member shall be eligible to vote at all chapter
meetings of the Organization, 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.
Section
5: Honorary
Members.
(a) 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 Organization
or make outstanding contributions to the academic goals of the
chapter. Chapters are not required to notify the national office of
honorary members of the particular chapter. However, to be
considered an official honorary member of Lambda Pi Eta, the
member’s name, along with the membership fee, must be
submitted to the national office. Only official honorary members
are entitled to a membership certificate and pin from the national
office.
(b)
Honorary members may not vote or hold office in the Society or the
chapter, or represent the chapter at the national
meeting.
Section 6: Non-discrimination
Clause. Consistent with all applicable federal and state laws and
University policies, this organization and its subordinate bodies
and officers shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
age, sexual orientation, religion, veteran’s status, sex,
national origin, or disability in its selection of members,
educational programs, or activities.
Section 7: Dues. Fees for
yearly member dues will be established in accordance with the
National Communication Association Constitution and Bylaws. Upon
proposing a change in fees, a notice will be submitted to the
Lambda Pi Eta National Student Officers and the Faculty Advisory
Board for review and comment.
(a) The
Organization is responsible to pay Chapter Dues to the national
office each November (Currently $30) in order to maintain an active
chapter status.
(b)
Organizational member dues are $50 for new members. An annual
renewal fee of $10 is assessed for continuing members
(undergraduate or graduate).
(c) Membership dues are collected to cover the costs of membership
certificate, organizational pins, honor cords for graduation, and
general operating expenses of the Organization.
Section
8: Member
Responsibilities. Members may be required to attend, and/or
participate in certain Organization-sponsored events in order to
retain membership.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1: Officers of the
organization shall be as follows: President, Vice President, and
Secretary/Treasurer.
Section
2: Election of
officers. Officers will be elected for one-year terms. Elections
will be held in the month of April, at which time a meeting will be
called to allow candidates a chance to address the membership.
Votes will turned be turned in to the faculty advisor, at the
meeting or by e-mail. All current members may participate in the
election of officers.
Section 3: Term of Office.
Officers shall take office on May 1, and shall serve for a period
of one year.
Section 4: Probation.
Officers shall not be on academic or university probation at the
time of their elections and throughout their terms of
office.
Section 5: Duties of
Officers.
(a)
The President shall announce and conduct all meetings, preside in
the conducting of business, and actively promote the purposes of
Lambda Pi Eta in the university community;
(b) The Vice President 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, and serve in the absence of the
President
(c) The Secretary 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 and finances.
(d)
Checks must be signed by the Faculty Advisor or one of the
Organization officers.
Article V: Removal of Officers
Section 1: Officers failing
to fulfill the given responsibilities and duties may be removed by
the regular members of the organization.
Section
2: The removal of
an officer requires a 2/3 vote of a quorum following the
notification of the officer in question. Such notification shall be
provided in writing no less than seven working days prior to the
vote.
Article VI: Replacement of Officers
Section 1: In the case
where the presidential office is vacant, the vice-president will
immediately fill the position.
Section 2: All other
executive board positions found to be vacant shall be filled by
election immediately.
Section 3: All other
offices should be filled through appointment or
election.
Article VII: Meetings
Section 1: A regularly
scheduled general meeting shall be held at least three times each
long semester. The officers may call additional meetings when the
need arises.
Section
2: A quorum shall
consist of 50% the current members.
Section 3: A quorum shall
be present in order for any official business to be conducted.
Official business shall include elections of officers, setting of
dues and any other major decisions affecting the
organization.
Section
4: Parliamentary
Authority. The Organization will follow parliamentary procedures as
outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly
Revised.
Article VIII: Committees
Section 1: The officers of
the organization shall have the authority to create any committees,
standing or special, that will further the purpose of the
organization.
Article IX: Affiliation
This
organization shall be affiliated with the National Communication
Association, and shall abide by its constitution and by-laws in all
cases where there is not conflict between their constitution and
by-laws and this constitution and/or the rules, regulations, or
policies of Marquette University. In instances of conflict, this
constitution and/or rules, regulations or policies of Marquette
University shall take precedence over the constitution or by-laws
of the National Communication Association.
Article X: Amendments
Section 1: All amendments
to this constitution require notice of one week prior to being
discussed and voted upon.
Section 2: All amendments
require a 2/3 vote of a quorum for adoption.
Section 3: Amendments
become effective only after approval by both the Office of Student
Development and the Student Senate of the Marquette University
Student Government (MUSG).