CHAPTER 1. Name of Chapter

The name of this chapter of Phi Theta Kappa shall be Pi Omega.

CHAPTER 2. Purpose

The purpose of Pi Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Danville Area Community College (DACC) is:

• the promotion of scholarship,
• the development of leadership,
• the implementation of service,
• the cultivation of fellowship among qualified students of this college,
• the idealization of academic excellence, and
• the commitment to community outreach.

Section 1.  Types of membership in Pi Omega shall consist of member, provisional member, alumni member, and honorary member as defined in Article IV, Section 1, of the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws.*

A.  Member:  In addition to meeting membership eligibility requirements as stated in Article IV and Chapter 1 of the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws*, each candidate for membership must:

• have completed 12 semester hours of associate degree course work,
• have a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 4.50 on a 5.00 scale,
• adhere to DACC's student conduct code,
• possess recognized qualities of citizenship, and
• submit a completed membership application and full membership fees to the Director of Scholars Program


Grades for courses completed within five years at other institutions will be considered when determining membership eligibility. However, if no classes have been taken during the previous five consecutive years, courses taken more than five years ago need not be considered.

A minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.25 must be maintained to remain in good standing.  Failure to maintain this minimum GPA will result in the member being placed on Probationary Status.

B.  Probationary status:  Failure to maintain the required cumulative Grade Point Average will result in the member being removed from good standing as stated in the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws*, Chapter 1, Section 3, and placed on probationary status for one semester. At the end of the probationary period, if the member's cumulative Grade Point Average is at or above 4.25, the member shall again be considered in good standing. If the member fails to regain the minimum required GPA, the member’s name shall be removed from both the local and the international roll, and all privileges will be revoked.

  Failure to meet good standing requirements, as stated in the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws*, will cause membership and all membership privileges to be revoked. In addition, no member shall be officially inducted into Pi Omega or Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society without having membership fees paid in full.

C.  Provisional Member:  Provisional membership may be offered to students who have not yet completed the minimum required 12 hours for full membership, upon approval by the Director of Scholars Programs. These students must meet eligibility requirements as stated in Article IV, Section 1B of the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws:

• be currently enrolled in associate degree course work at DACC,
• adhere to the school conduct code, and
• possess recognized qualities of citizenship.


In addition, for provisional membership a candidate must:

• be reasonably expected to meet full membership requirements within one semester if enrolled full time, or within two semesters if enrolled part time, AND
• continuing DACC students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 4.50 on completed DACC coursework taken to date but have less than 12 credit hours of college level coursework completed OR
• first semester freshmen must have earned a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 4.50 (on a 5.0 scale) or the equivalent on all course work completed in high school.


Provisional members will pay local chapter dues of $10 but are not required to pay the full membership fee until they have qualified for full membership.  This $10 fee is nonrefundable and will be applied towards the full membership fee if the candidate gains eligibility and opts to join after the provisional semester is completed.  This $10 provisional membership local chapter dues may be waived for incoming Presidential Scholarship recipients.

For full-time students, provisional membership will not exceed one semester.  For part-time students, provisional membership will not exceed two semesters.  Students who do not meet full membership requirements at the end of their provisional period lose their membership status but may apply for full membership at any time in the future if they meet full membership eligibility requirements.

D.  Alumni Member: As stated in Article IV, Section 1C of the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws,* an alumnus member shall be any former member of the Society who terminated active membership in good standing and who was enrolled for at least one year in a two-year college. Alumni members are granted full privileges in Pi Omega Chapter except the right to vote or to hold office.  Alumni members resume active membership if they are enrolled at DACC at any time and maintain the minimum required GPA of at least 4.25.

E.  Honorary Member:  An honorary member shall be a person who has rendered distinguished service. An individual must meet eligibility requirements as stated in Article IV, Section 1D of the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws. *  Honorary membership must be approved by both the Chapter President and the Chapter Advisor.

F.  Transfer Member:  A member from another Phi Theta Kappa chapter may transfer membership to Pi Omega Chapter if he or she is currently enrolled at Danville Area Community College and meets the 4.25 maintenance GPA of the chapter.

In addition to carrying out the duties as stated in the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws, * Chapter IV, Section 5, the Chapter Advisor shall be responsible for overseeing the completion and submission of member names and fees as well as the Chapter Annual Report to Headquarters. The advisor shall be officially appointed by the college administration and shall be a non-voting member of the chapter. However, as the agent knowledgeable in college policy and directly responsible to the college, the Chapter Advisor has ultimate responsibility and authority over the chapter, and thus has final veto power in any decision.  If Chapter members ever feel that power is being exerted capriciously, they may take the matter to the Vice President of Instruction.

As Director Of Scholars Programs at DACC, the advisor shall have ultimate responsibility for the chapter and shall act as the primary liaison between Pi Omega and the College President, Executive Director of the DACC Foundation, Dean of Student Services, Vice President of Instruction, Vice President of Finance, Director Of Physical Plant. and Director of Marketing and College Relations.

CHAPTER 5.  Officers

Section 1.

All officers must be members of Phi Theta Kappa, in good standing, and have a Grade Point Average of at least 4.25.

Section 2.

Pi Omega Chapter shall have the following officers:

• President,
• Vice President, and
• Secretary.

Section 3. The duties of the president shall be as follows:

• Preside over all business meetings.
• Attend all chapter activities as possible.
• Appoint and establish any necessary committees.
• Vote only in the case of a tie, during any chapter voting.
• Serve as an ex-officio member on all committees.
• Present business to the organization.
• Represent the organization and the college at all times.
• Appoint a committee to review and/or revise the chapter bylaws annually.
• Appoint a committee to assist the advisor with the Annual Report to be sent to Headquarters each Spring.
• Encourage a common bond of camaraderie amongst all members.

• Perform all duties of the president in the event of his or her absence.
• Take roll at the meetings.
• Attend most chapter activities.
• Coordinate all committees.
• Head the committee reviewing the chapter bylaws and the annual report.
• Act as program chairman.
• Represent the organization and the college at all times.

• Take and read the minutes of meetings.
• Maintain records of the meetings.
• Attend most chapter activities.
• Maintain a file of chapter correspondence.
• Serve on the committee to prepare the Annual Report to be sent to Headquarters each Spring.
• Keep a full record of chapter functions.
• Draft and submit press releases to the advisor whenever possible to send to the Danville Area Community College Marketing Director.
• Coordinate and oversee preparation and maintenance of the chapter scrapbook for regional, state, and international meetings and conventions (if one is done).
• Represent the organization and the college at all times.

Section 1.    In addition to meeting requirements as stated in Chapter 4, Section 3 of the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws*, all candidates for office must be members of Phi Theta Kappa, in good standing and must gain approval of their candidacy from the Chapter Advisor.  Officer candidates must be willing to commit to serving their chapter effectively for a full year and to fulfilling all  responsibilities of their office if they are elected.

Section 2.    Elections shall be held in the Spring semester of each year for officers who shall take office during the Fall semester of the next academic term.

Section 3.    There will be a new officer orientation in the week immediately following the elections. Each office will be jointly held by the current and newly elected officers through the summer while the new officers are being trained.

Section 4.    New officers shall be determined by simple majority vote.

Section 5. In any case when an officer must resign his/her office, an election shall be held to elect a new officer. The new officer shall be determined by simple majority vote. The president shall have the power to make a temporary appointment at his/her discretion until an election can be held. In the event that the person resigning is the president, the vice president shall act as president until a new one can be elected.

CHAPTER 7.  Removal from Office

Section 1.    Chapter officers may be removed from office for the following reasons:

• Failure to maintain a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 4.25.
• Failure to fulfill the duties of the specific office.
• Violation of any section of the DACC Student Conduct code.
• Violation of any section of the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws.
• Violation of any section of the Pi Omega Chapter Bylaws.

Section 3.    An Officer can be removed from office if the following requirements are met:

• Simple majority vote of the current officer team, including the Chapter President, and
• Approval of the Chapter Advisor.

CHAPTER 8.  Meetings

Section 1.    Pi Omega shall conduct meetings every two weeks during regular semesters. These meetings may be officer meetings, chapter meetings, or committee meetings. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed by the advisor, officers, or committees.

Section 2. All business meetings will follow the general agenda:

Order of Business
1.  Call to order
2.  Roll call
3.  Reading of the minutes
4.  Treasurer’s Report
5.  Committee reports
6.  Old business
7.  New business
8.  Announcements
9.  Adjournment

Section 3.    Special committee meetings shall be called by the chairman of said committee.  Procedures at such meetings are left to the discretion of the chairman.   If the Chapter President and/or Advisor cannot attend the committee meeting, they are to receive a report on the meeting's proceedings immediately afterwards.  Reports of each meeting shall be given to the members at the following chapter meeting or provided electronically.

CHAPTER 9.  Finances

Section 1.   Finances for this chapter will be raised by projects voted on by a majority vote of the members or approved by the officers. All fund raising projects must be approved by the advisor. Some fundraising projects may require approval from DACC administration.

Section 2.    All chapter expenses must be preapproved by the Chapter Advisor before money is spent.  Some items may require approval from DACC administration.  Only preapproved expenses may be reimbursed from chapter funds, at the Chapter Advisor's discretion, and only in the amount that was preapproved.  Except when college transportation is used, student transportation to events shall not be paid for nor reimbursed.

Section 3.  Due to college policy, no member shall solicit any donations of any type from businesses or citizens without explicit approval in advance from the Chapter Advisor.

Section 4.   Payment of the International Membership fee, the Regional fee, and the local fee must be received by the chapter advisor before a member can be inducted ($38 international fee, $5 regional fee, and $15 local chapter fee).

Section 5.   Financial records of the chapter shall be maintained by the Advisor.
 

CHAPTER 10.  Amendments and revision

Section 1.Chapter bylaws will be reviewed and updated annually by Chapter Officers and the Chapter Advisor, usually during the summer or early in Fall semester.  Pi Omega's bylaws may be amended at other times by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting, provided that the proposed amendment has been presented at a previous meeting.  Any changes to the bylaws must be sent to Headquarters for final approval.
 
 

Pi Omega is committed to the elimination of discrimination based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and cultural and religious backgrounds.

*Refers to the Phi Theta Kappa International Constitution and Bylaws.