(Please, be patient with our progress. We are in the process of re-organization.)

BYLAWS OF THE

University of Tennessee at Martin Chapter
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

For the purpose of promoting high scholastic standards at the University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tennessee; maintaining a chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi chartered and installed at the University of Tennessee at Martin on May 21, 1971; and furthering the ideals and objectives of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi; the members of the University of Tennessee at Martin chapter do hereby adopt the following Bylaws for our government.

 

ARTICLE I
Name and Objectives

            Section 1.  Name.  The name of this organization is the University of Tennessee at Martin chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

            Section 2.  Purposes.  The primary purposes of this organization are to promote the pursuit of excellence in all fields of higher education; to recognize outstanding achievement by students, faculty, and others through election to membership and through various awards for distinguished achievement; and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.

            Section 3.  Governing Regulations.  This organization shall be governed in accordance with the Bylaws of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Inc., as adopted by the XL Triennial Convention on August 11, 2007, with amendments, if any, that may be made from time to time, and by the provisions of these Bylaws with amendments, if any, that may be made from time to time.

 

ARTICLE II 
Membership

            Section 1.  Membership in this chapter is open to qualified scholars of sound character, as defined by this institution, from all academic disciplines.

              Section 2.  Persons initiated into membership remain members of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi even though they do not maintain active membership in either this chapter or in the national Society.

            Section 3.  The following membership categories are authorized.
 
    

3.1  Active Members: Regular

3.11 Affiliated. They have been elected and initiated, and have paid both        national Society dues and this chapter’s dues for the current year.

3.12 Unaffiliated.  They have been elected and initiated, and have paid             national dues, but not chapter dues, for the current year.  Such members        shall be returned to affiliated status when chapter dues are paid for the        current year.

3.2  Active Members: Life

3.21 Active-for-Life. They have been elected and initiated, and have paid the        Active-for-Life membership fee or have been accorded this status by the        action of the national Board.  To maintain affiliated status in this        chapter, they must pay chapter dues, otherwise they will be classified as        unaffiliated.

3.22 Emeritus.  They have been elected and initiated, have retired from        professional duties, have been recommended for this status by this        chapter, and approved by the Executive Director.  Upon payment of a        one-time fee, paid either by this chapter or by the individual, these        members are granted Active-for-Life status in the national Society as well        as in this chapter.

3.23 Distinguished. They are members of Phi Kappa Phi who have served the        Society in an outstanding manner.  Distinguished members have been        nominated and have had this membership category funded by the        chapter, and have had this status approved by a Board subcommittee        appointed by the Society President. These individuals receive an        Active-for-Life membership in the national Society as well as in this        chapter.

3.24 Honorary.  Nonmembers who have achieved eminence in some academic,        creative, intellectual or other career endeavor.  Honorary members must        have been nominated and have had this membership category funded by        this chapter, and have had this status approved by a Board        subcommittee appointed by the Society President.  These individuals        receive five (5) years of membership in the national Society as well as in        this chapter. The chapter may choose to honor a member by purchasing        an Active-for-Life membership in the national society as well as the        chapter.

3.3  Inactive Members

3.31 They have not paid national dues for the current year.

     3.32 Such members shall be returned to active status when national dues are             for the current year. 

3.4  Charter Members

3.41 They have participated in the organization of this chapter and have        been accorded the privilege of signing the charter through the acceptance        of their petition by the Society Board of Directors.

3.42 They shall be either active members of the Society by previous initiation        in another chapter who are willing to transfer their affiliation, or members        of the faculty or professional staff of the institution and about to be        initiated.

3.43 For those petitioners who are not members of Phi Kappa Phi, approval of        the petition constitutes authorization by the national Board of Directors        for their initiation into the Society immediately subsequent to the        installation of the chapter.

 

       Section 4   Eligibility for membership in this chapter of the Society shall be confined to the following groups.  Eligibility of students may be determined separately for each academic unit within this institution.

4.1 Undergraduate students who have completed at least 24 semester hours,      or the equivalent, at the University of Tennessee at Martin, and

    4.11 who, in their junior year after completing at least seventy-two (72)               semester hours or the equivalent, rank scholastically in the upper               seven and one-half (7.5)percent of the junior class at the time of               election, or

4.12 who, in their senior year, rank scholastically in the upper ten (10)        percent of the senior class at the time of election.

4.2 Graduate and professional students who are candidates for an advanced            degree at theUniversity of Tennessee at Martin, have made an      outstanding record in graduate or professional study as evidenced by      ranking scholastically in the upper ten (10) percent of all graduate and      professional students in this institution, have an outstanding record as      evaluated by the chapter selection committee, and meet one (1) of the      following requirements:

       4.21 Have been registered as post-baccalaureate students in this               institution on a full-time basis for at least one (1) academic year or               on a part-time basis for the equivalent of at least one (1) academic               year.

       4.22 Are former post-baccalaureate students who have been awarded an               advanced degree by this institution subsequent to the last previous               election of members in the chapter.

4.3 Alumni or alumnae who are graduates from any class of five (5) years’      standing or more. These should be persons whose achievements since      graduation have been outstanding and whose scholastic records while in      college were high, with an increasing emphasis on the former as the      period since graduation becomes longer.

       4.31 If this chapter elects fewer than two hundred (200) students per               year, it may elect a maximum of four (4) persons per year from the               eligible alumni or alumnae of this institution.    

       4.32 The number of members elected in any year by this chapter from the               alumni or alumnae of  this institution, with the exception of the first               five (5) years after the installation of the chapter, shall not exceed               two (2) percent of the number of undergraduates and graduate               students elected by the chapter that year.

4.4 Members of this institution’s faculty and professional staff (including the      administration,research, library, and extension staffs) whose scholastic      records and/or outstanding achievements have rendered them worthy of      membership.

              4.41 Members of the faculty and professional staff who do not hold a                      collegiate degree, but who have distinguished themselves                      professionally, may be elected provided prior approval for their                      initiation is obtained from the national Board of Directors.

         4.42 If this chapter elects fewer than two hundred (200) students per                 year, it may elect a maximum of six (6) persons per year from the                 faculty and staff of this institution.

         4.43 The number of members elected in any year by this chapter from                 the faculty and  professional staff of this institution, with the                 exception of the first five (5) years after the installation of the                 chapter, shall not exceed three (3) percent of the number of                 students elected by the chapter that year. 

4.5 Members of New Chapters 

Members of (a predecessor honor society), functioning in the manner of Phi Kappa Phi, who would have qualified for membership in Phi Kappa Phi under requirements specified in subsections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 above, may be elected to membership provided they are elected by the institutional chapter within five (5) years after this chapter’s installation.

Graduates of this institution, where no predecessor honor society similar to Phi Kappa Phi existed, and who would have qualified for memebership in Phi Kappa Phi under requirements specified under subsections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 above, may be elected to membership provided they are elected by their institutional chapter within five (5) years after this chapter's instillation.

        4.6 A member who has contributed in an outstanding manner to Phi Kappa              Phi, to society in general, or to both, may be nominated to the statud of              Distinguished Member, with election to this status requiring approval from              the Society Board of Directors.

              4.61Normally only one (1) person each year may be nominated by this                     chapter for Distinguished Membership; however, the Society Board of                     Directors may, upon justification, permit more than one nomination                     from the chapter.

         4.7 A person who has no connection with this institution as described in the               previous sections of this Article but who has achieved eminence in some               academic, creative, intellectual, or other carrer endeavor may be               nominated to the status of Honorary Member, with election to this status               requiring approval from the Society Board of Directors.

     Section 5   Invitation to Membership

5.1 All invitations to membership shall be by ballot either at a regularly called      meeting of the chapter at which a quorum is present or by mail or      electronic mail to all affiliated members or by the chapter’s executive      committee.

      5.2 An affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the affiliated members who are             present at the meeting shall be necessary for the election of any person to             membership, or, if balloting is done by mail or e-mail, an affirmative vote             of two-thirds (2/3) of the affiliated members who return ballots.                      
       5.3 Only affiliated members who are faculty, administrative or professional             staff members of University of Tennessee at Martin may vote in the             invitation of faculty and staff members. 5.4 All persons who have been             selected to membership in the Society shall be notified by the chapter             President and/or Secretary and upon acceptance shall be publicly honored             in an appropriate manner.

 5.5 Reports of those who accept election shall be made by the chapter       Secretary to the Executive Director of the Society within thirty (30) days of       the initiation.

 

      Section 6   Membership Privileges

       6.1 An active member shall have access to all available benefits offered by the             Society and is eligible to

          6.11  Vote in the chapter, if affiliated.

          6.12  Hold office in the chapter, if affiliated.

          6.13  Serve as a chapter delegate to any Society convention or other                   meeting, if affiliated.

          6.14  Serve on regional or national committees.

          6.15  Hold regional or national office.

      6.2 Charter members have the privilege of signing the charter for a new             chapter.  

     Section 7.  Membership Responsibilities

      7.1 Members should conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent            with integrity and high ethical standards

      7.2 If a member fails to conduct himself/herself in a manner consistent with            integrity and high ethical standards, his/her membership may be revoked by            his/her Chapter’s Executive Committee or by the Society’s national Board of            Directors in accordance with Society policy.

      7.3 If his/her membership is revoked, the former member has the right to            appeal this decision to the President.

 

ARTICLE III
The Executive Committee

     Section 1.  Officers. 
      1.1  The elected officers of this chapter shall be a President, President Elect, a             Faculty Vice President, two (2) student Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a             Treasurer, a Reporter, and a Public Relations Officer, all of whom shall be             affiliated members.  With the exception of the Vice President, they shall             not be students.  Additional offices to be held by faculty/staff, students,             or alumni may be established as the chapter may prescribe. These officers             together with the immediate Past President shall constitute the chapter             Executive Committee.

      1.2  The terms of chapter officers shall be as follows:
            The President-Elect shall be elected annually, to serve one year as             President-Elect and the following year as President.
            The Vice President shall be the on-campus junior students having the             highest grade average among the junior student members elected in the             Spring Semester.
            The Secretary shall be elected in each even-numbered year for a term of             two (2) years.
            The Treasurer shall be elected in each odd-numbered year for a term of             two (2) years.
            The Reporter shall be elected in each even-numbered year for a term of             two (2) years.
            The Public Relations Officer shall be elected in each odd-numbered year for             a term of two (2) years.

      Section 2.  Election of Officers.

       2.1 A slate of officers prepared by the nominating Committee shall be             presented each Spring to the membership.  Nominations will be accepted             also from the floor; a nominee for any elective office shall have given             his/her consent to the nomination.  For each office, that person shall be             declared elected who receives a majority of the votes cast for that office.

           2.11 The slate of elected officers shall be sent promptly, and in no case                   later than June 15, to the Executive Director of the Society.

       Section 3.  Duties of Officers.

         3.1 It shall be the duty of the President to call and preside at all meetings               of the chapterand of the Executive Committee, to appoint committees               deemed necessary or helpful in furthering the business of the Society, to               vote in behalf of the chapter on ballots and other materials sent to the               chapter by the National Headquarters, and to fulfill the other usual               responsibilities of the office of the President.  Additionally, the President               shall secure the speaker for the Spring Banquet and prepare the program,               as well as make reservations for all meetings, including reservations for               needed technology.

3.2 It shall be the duty of the President-Elect to preside at meetings in the absence of the President and to succeed to the presidency in the event of death, incapacity, or resignation of the President.

3.3 The Secretary is responsible for maintaining records and supplies for the chapter.  It shall be his/her duty to keep and publish minutes of the chapter and Executive Committee meetings, to maintain correspondence and other files related to the National Headquarters and affairs of the chapter, to prepare with the assistance of the Membership Committee lists of eligible candidates to be voted on by the chapter, and to prepare materials and documents required for the initiation of candidates.

3.31 The Treasurer is to receive and deposit and account for all monies received by the chapter from dues and other sources, to pay all bills approved by the Executive
Committee, to arrange for the investment of all funds not required for current
operation, to prepare an annual budget and arrange for an annual audit of the record books, to prepare an annual report of the financial condition of the chapter, to submit Form 990 or Form 990-N to the IRS, and to prepare and submit reports required by the National Headquarters.

1.  It shall be the duty of the Public Relations Officer to disseminate news of chapter activities to the various media, and to submit news items for the national newsletter, Phi Kappa Phi Focus, to the National Headquarters, and to take whatever other steps he/she deems advisable to promote the purposes of the chapter and the Society.

3.6  It shall be the duty of the Reporter to inform chapter members of chapter activities, to send notices of newsworthy matters to all faculty and staff, and to prepare and post on-campus notices.  The Reporter, in conjunction with the Public Relations Officer, shall serve as Marshal at initiation ceremonies.

1.   It shall be the duty of the Vice Presidents to perform such duties as are assigned to them by the President.

1.  It shall be the duty of the immediate Past President to serve as a member of the Executive Committee.

Section 4.  Duties of the Executive Committee.  It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to supervise annual and long-range planning of chapter activities, to advise and assist chapter officers and committees, to have jurisdiction over matters pertaining to the chapter but not provided for in these Bylaws or in the National Bylaws, to elect delegates to conventions and other meetings of the Society, and, in the event of the loss of any chapter officer by reason of death, incapacity, or resignation, to appoint a temporary officer to serve until the election of new officers.

Section 5.  The President shall appoint all committees, except the Executive Committee.

5.1  Standing committees are those that have continuous existence.  All standing  committees shall serve for one (1) year, or until the appointment of their successors.  The President shall ensure an appropriate degree of continuity in committee appointments.
There shall be the following standing committees, whose duties are listed below. 
  
5.2  Banquet Committee shall be in charge of arrangements for the Spring initiation
       banquet:
     a. Menu.
     b. Flowers and decorations (including Phi Kappa Phi hangings, etcetera).
c. Seating arrangements, including head table (retiring and incoming Presidents, 
    student Vice Presidents, guest speaker, Chancellor, regional and national
    presidents, and special guests).
     d. Ticket printing and sales.
     e. Entertainment (music, et cetera).

5.3 Membership Committee:

1. Work with the office of the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs to determine  eligible faculty members.
2. Select faculty members per year for membership.

      c. Determine eligible students based upon completion of  at least seventy-two          (72) semester hours or the equivalent, rank scholastically in the upper seven          and one-half (7.5)percent of the junior class at the time of election, or  who,          in their senior year, rank scholastically in the upper ten (10) percent of the          senior class at the time of election. 
      d. Make selections as soon as possible in Spring semester. 
      e. After Spring semester obtain a list of the top three (3) percent of the           Freshman and Sophomore classes.
      f. Give said list to the chapter President by early summer so those students           may be recognized at the Fall meeting.

5.4  Honors and Awards:
     a. Select a student nominee for national Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship and submit to
         National office by March 1 or designated time.
             1.  Notify all eligible student members that they may apply by a certain                   date.
             2.  Determine strongest candidate; prepare and process application                   according to instructions from National office.
             3.  Make final decision for selection.
             4.  Announce locally and make arrangements for recognition.
     b. Determine the graduating senior with the highest grade-point average and          report to the chapter President and the Honors Day Committee.  The          Treasurer will prepare a check and send to the President who will submit it,          with the proper letter, to the Honors Day Committee. 
     c. Select the recipient of the chapter Meritorious Service award, to be presented          at the Spring banquet.   
     d. Select the recipient of the Past President’s award, to be presented at the          Spring banquet.
     e. In the year of the Triennial Convention, nominate a faculty member of the          chapter for the national Scholar’s Award.
     f. In the year of the Triennial Convention, nominate a faculty member of the         chapter for the national Artist’s Award.    

5.5  Host and Hostess.
     a. Order and set up for meetings refreshments from Food Services.   
     b. Welcome new initiates and their families at the Spring initiation
         ceremonies.

5.6  Nominating Committee. 
     a. Select a slate of officers in Spring semester.
     b. Explain the duties of offices and secure agreement to serve from the          nominees.
     c. Present the slate at the Spring business meeting or by e-mail for vote. 

5.7  Program Committee.
      a. Select the Phi Kappa Phi Fall Lecturer and schedule the lecture   for the           following Fall.  This lecturer shall be a member of Phi Kappa Phi and may be           invited during the year to address other chapters.
      b. Select the Muriel Tomlinson Memorial Lecturer for the following Spring.           (Although not required, the lecturer has traditionally been from the           Humanities.)
      c. Coordinate with chapter Public Relations Officer, Reporter, Society Host and
          Hostess, and President.  Give ample prior notice (up to 3 weeks) as           arrangements are made. 

5.8 Visibility Committee.
      a. Reporter and Public Relations Officer shall be members of this Committee.
      b. Publicize Phi Kappa Phi and the local chapter’s activities in exhibits/displays,           especially on campus.

ARTICLE IV
Meetings

            Section 1.  Calling of Meetings.  Chapter meetings will be held upon call of the President or the Executive Committee.  All active and affiliated members shall be duly notified of chapter meetings by the Secretary.

            Section 2.  Quorum.  Ten (10) affiliated members, including at least a majority of the Executive Committee, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting.

            Section 3.  Procedure.  In all matters not specified by these Bylaws or the Society Bylaws, the procedures set forth in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used.

 

ARTICLE V
Fees, Dues and Assessments

            Section 1.  Initiation Fees.  Each newly elected member before initiation shall pay to the Society, through the Chapter Treasurer, an initiation fee established by the Society entitling him/her to a membership certificate and an emblem.  Also included in this fee are the first year’s national dues, which entitle the member to a one-year subscription to the Phi Kappa Phi Forum (the Phi Kappa Phi journal) and numerous other benefits.  In addition, he/she shall at the same time pay an initiation fee established by the Chapter, which shall be equivalent to the current year’s Chapter dues, such monies to be used to pay expenses incurred by the Chapter for initiation ceremonies and other activities.  No membership shall be valid unless these fees have been paid.

            Section 2.  Active Membership Dues.  All active members other than those newly initiated shall pay to the National Headquarters local annual dues in an amount determined by vote of the Chapter together with national annual dues in an amount determined by the national Board of Directors.  All dues payments shall be made to Society Headquarters in response to the annual dues statement sent to each member.

 

ARTICLE VI
Obligations to the Society

            Section 1.  Reports.  Chapters shall submit by the specified date certain reports to Headquarters.  These include, but are not limited to, the Chapter Officer List, the Chapter Annual Report and the Chapter Financial Report.

            Section 2.  Initiation Materials.  Chapters shall submit all initiation materials including the Transmittal Checklist, Permanent Record of Election Forms and initiation fees to the National Headquarters within 30 days of the initiation.  All initiation material is due at Headquarters by June 30.

            Section 3.  Society Meeting Participation. Chapters shall send appropriate delegates to Society conventions and other Society meetings.

 

ARTICLE VII
Amendments

              Section 1.  Amendments.  These Bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the affiliated members present and voting at a regular chapter meeting, or, if balloting is done by mail or e-mail, an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the affiliated          members who return ballots, provided the proposed amendment or amendments have been given to the affiliated members in writing fifteen days prior to the meeting.

            Section 2.  Limitations.  All amendments to these Bylaws shall be in harmony with the Bylaws of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Inc.

            Section 3.  When Bylaws are updated solely to reflect changes in Society Bylaws as approved by convention, the chapter bylaws may be amended without vote of the general membership.