National Constitution Article IV

Article Summary: Article IV of the National Constitution defines Membership, classes of Membership, requirements for becoming a Member, Activity and Inactivity, good standing, transferring, disciplinary actions, and resignations. This Article also includes a non-discrimination statement and sets out definitions and requirements for Membership Drives and rush and Initiation events.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

Members are those that have been inducted into any chapter of Phi Sigma Pi using The Ritual; this membership may only be terminated by expulsion or resignation from the national fraternity. Membership in Phi Sigma Pi may be further defined based on the following classifications:

1. Initiates shall be undergraduate students participating in the Collegiate Chapter's Initiation Program. Upon entering the Collegiate Chapter's Initiation Program, the student must have completed a minimum of one (1) semester or one (1) quarter of college work, must have two (2) semesters or four (4) quarters left as an undergraduate following the initiate semester, and must have at least a 3.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average on a 4.00 scale (where an A= 4.00). Active Members may be further designated based upon entrance into the Chapter, as follows:
2. Active Members in Collegiate Chapters shall be undergraduate students who have completed a Collegiate Chapter's Initiation Program and fulfilled National Requirements. Active Members shall pay to the National Headquarters, via the Collegiate Chapter, the National Dues by the appropriate due dates.
3. There shall be two types of Inactivity: Local and National Inactivity.
   1. Nationally Inactive Members shall be Members who have been Active Members but who are not taking any classes that meet at the sheltering institution. A Member who is currently on an accredited or academically recognized co-op, internship, or study abroad program shall be eligible for National Inactivity. Nationally Inactive Members are exempt from paying National dues.
   2. Locally Inactive Members are Active Members, with permission from their collegiate chapter, who do not wish to be active in Phi Sigma Pi's affairs. Further status of Inactive Members shall be left to the discretion of the Collegiate Chapter. Locally Inactive Members pay to the National Headquarters, via the Collegiate Chapter, the National Dues by the appropriate due dates.
4. Alumni Members shall be any former Active or Inactive Members who have left or who have graduated in good standing from the sheltering institution of a Collegiate Chapter. Current National Council Members shall only be considered as Alumni Members of Phi Sigma Pi. An Alumni Member shall be designated as an Active Alumni if the Member is a member of an Alumni Chapter or the National Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Pi.
5. Honorary Members shall be individuals who are ineligible to become Active Members of Phi Sigma Pi but who have demonstrated the highest qualities exemplified by Phi Sigma Pi through outstanding service to the fraternity or for their community. Honorary Members may be elected into Phi Sigma Pi by a Collegiate Chapter, an Alumni Chapter, or the National Council, are not required to participate in an Initiation Program, and shall not obtain the status of Active Membership.
6. Founding Members shall be Members who have been recognized by the National Council as the individual(s) responsible for a particular Chapter's founding. A Chapter may have one, more than one, or no Founding Members. Founding Members do not have any additional rights above those Members who are not Founding Members.
7. Charter Members shall be Members inducted in the interval between the signing of the Chapter petition and the induction of the first initiate class. Charter Members do not have any additional rights above those Members who are not Charter Members.

Section 2

Phi Sigma Pi shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disabled status in admission to, access to, treatment of, or employment in Phi Sigma Pi's programs and activities.

Section 3

A Member of a Collegiate Chapter or Alumni Chapter shall be considered in good standing if they meet all of the following requirements:

1. The Member is not currently delinquent in the remittance of Chapter or National dues or fees;
2. The Member is not currently the subject of disciplinary action by the National Council or the respective Collegiate or Alumni Chapter;
3. The Member has met the requirements for attendance and participation set forth by the respective Collegiate or Alumni Chapter. An Alumni Member who is not associated with an Alumni Chapter shall be considered a “Member in good standing” if the Member is not currently the subject of disciplinary action by the National Council.

Section 4

Only Active Members shall vote or hold office in Collegiate Chapters. Only Active Alumni or Honorary Members shall vote or hold office in Alumni Chapters. Any Member of Phi Sigma Pi in good standing may be a Grand Chapter delegate or be elected to the National Council.

Section 5

Phi Sigma Pi Members in good standing may nominate qualified individuals to become Active or Honorary Members. Voting shall be by secret ballot and shall be completed at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the scheduled Formal Induction at a prior called meeting with voting on the Initiates on the agenda. No less than forty-eight (48) hours notice shall be given for this meeting. At least a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Active Members present and eligible to vote at the meeting with quorum shall be required for confirmation.

Section 6

A Member in good standing may transfer from one Chapter to another Chapter. Transferring Members shall be inducted into the Chapter using The Ritual. Active Membership shall be conferred upon the signing of the Chapter Roll Book.

Section 7

An Active or Inactive Member in good standing may resign from Phi Sigma Pi. To resign, a Member must submit a hard copy of a letter stating their intent to resign to any Chapter Officer and the letter must be presented to the Chapter during the next business meeting by any Chapter Officer or the resigning member. Upon acceptance of the letter by the Chapter, the membership of the Brother seeking to resign shall be terminated. Former Members who have resigned are not eligible for re-instatement into Phi Sigma Pi without at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of approval from the Active Members of the Collegiate Chapter and a unanimous vote of the National Council.

Section 8

An Active or Inactive Member of a Collegiate Chapter may be disciplined by that Chapter. Discipline shall include, but not be limited to, probation, suspension, or expulsion for non-payment of financial obligations, or for conduct unbecoming of a Member of Phi Sigma Pi. Suspension and expulsion shall require at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Active Members of the Chapter. Terms and length of probation shall be left to the discretion of the Chapter. A suspended member may be reinstated at any subsequent meeting by at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Active Members of the Chapter, after the terms of any disciplinary action have been completed.

Section 9

An Active, Inactive, Alumni or Honorary Member of Phi Sigma Pi may be disciplined by the National Council. Discipline shall include, but not be limited to, being placed on probation, suspended, or expelled for conduct unbecoming of a Member of Phi Sigma Pi by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the National Council. The Member may be reinstated at any subsequent meeting by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the National Council, after the terms of the disciplinary action have been completed.

Section 10

1. Each Collegiate Chapter shall hold a minimum of two (2) membership drives per academic year, with no more than one (1) membership drive held each quarter or semester. A membership drive consists of a rush period and an initiation period.
2. The rush period begins on the date of the first advertised rush event and ends with the pinning of the Initiates.
3. The initiation period begins with the pinning of the Initiates and ends with the Formal Induction of the new Members.
   1. All events planned for or by the Initiates and approved by the Chapter during the membership drive shall be referred to as initiation events.
   2. At these initiation events, the expressed purpose shall be education of initiates in accordance with the chapter and national guidelines.
4. The National Council shall have the authority to exempt a Collegiate Chapter from the provisions of this requirement, provided exemption from this requirement shall be in the best interest of the Collegiate Chapter and Phi Sigma Pi.

Section 11

Each Collegiate Chapter is required to meet the following minimum rush and Initiation requirements:

1. Rush. Each Collegiate Chapter shall, at least,
   1. Hold two separate Information Sessions at the beginning of the rush period with the purpose of demonstrating to prospective Initiates both the ideals of Phi Sigma Pi and the requirements of the rush and Initiation processes;
   2. Hold two rush events for the purpose of allowing prospective Initiates to become better acquainted with the Active Members.
2. Initiation. Each Collegiate Chapter shall, at least,
   1. Hold a minimum five-week Initiation Program with a minimum of five Initiate Meetings;
   2. Require the Initiate class to complete one scholarship event, one social event, one service event, and one fundraising event. The purpose of each event should be to demonstrate one or more of the ideals of Phi Sigma Pi;
   3. Assign each Initiate to one or more Active Members or active alumni of a Collegiate Chapter. The Active Members or active alumni will serve as examples and sources of guidance to their assigned Initiate throughout the Initiation Program;
   4. Introduce the Initiate to the Scholar's Province, and the governing documents of the National Fraternity and the local collegiate chapter;
   5. Require all Initiates to learn the Fraternity Songs;
   6. Require all Initiates to learn the Fraternity and Collegiate Chapter's History;
   7. Require all Initiates to achieve an individual score of at least 80% correct in order to pass the Phi Sigma Pi National Membership Exam

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP Section 1: Definition of Membership Members are those individuals who have been inducted into Phi Sigma Pi by use of the Ritual Induction Ceremony. Membership may only be terminated by expulsion or resignation from the national fraternity.

Section 2: Membership Eligibility Requirement Initiates shall be undergraduate students currently enrolled in a program of study at the sheltering institution who have been asked to enter a Collegiate Chapter’s Initiation Program via the Ritual Pinning Ceremony. Upon entering the Chapter’s Initiation Program the prospective member shall: A. have completed a minimum of one (1) semester or one (1) quarter of college work; B. have two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters of prescribed undergraduate study remaining following the Initiation semester; and C. have earned at least a 3.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale (where an A=4.00)

Section 3. Non-Discrimination Policy Phi Sigma Pi shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disabled status in admission to, access to, treatment of, or employment in Phi Sigma Pi's programs and activities.

Section 4: Collegiate Members Collegiate Members shall be undergraduate students currently enrolled in a program of study at the sheltering institution and who have successfully completed a Collegiate Chapter’s Initiation Program and been Inducted into Phi Sigma Pi by use of the Ritual Induction Ceremony.

Section 5: Alumni Members Alumni Members shall be any Collegiate Members who have left or who have graduated in good standing from the sheltering institution of a Collegiate Chapter.

Section 6: Honorary Members Honorary Members shall be individuals who are ineligible to become Collegiate Members of Phi Sigma Pi but who have demonstrated the highest qualities exemplified by Phi Sigma Pi through outstanding service to the fraternity or the local community. Honorary Members shall not be required to participate in any Chapter’s Initiation Program and shall not obtain the status of Collegiate Membership. Honorary Members may be elected into Phi Sigma Pi by a Collegiate Chapter, an Alumni Chapter, or the National Council.

Section 7. Nominating and Voting Phi Sigma Pi Members in good standing may nominate qualified individuals to become Collegiate or Honorary Members. Voting shall be by ballot and shall be completed at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the scheduled Ritual Induction Ceremony at a prior called meeting with quorum and with notice of voting on the meeting agenda. No less than forty-eight (48) hours notice shall be given for this meeting. At least a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Active Collegiate Members in good standing present and eligible to vote at the meeting with quorum shall be required for confirmation.

Section 8: Special Membership Designations The following designations may be used by Members meeting the criteria specified: A. Founding Members Founding Members shall be Members who have been recognized formally by the National Council as the individual(s) responsible for a particular Chapter's founding. A Chapter may have one, more than one, or no Founding Members. Founding Members shall not have any additional rights above those Members who are not Founding Members. B. Charter Members Charter Members shall be Members who have been inducted during the interval between the granting of the Chapter Charter and the induction of the first Initiate class. Charter Members shall not have any additional rights above those Members who are not Charter Members.

Section 9: Active and Inactive Collegiate Members All Collegiate Members shall be considered Active, and thus subject to the attendance requirements and financial obligations of the Collegiate Chapter unless the Member has applied for, and been granted, one of the following: A. National Inactivity Collegiate Members who are currently participating in an accredited or academically recognized cooperative education program, internship, or study abroad program which does not meet or hold classes at the sheltering institution shall be eligible for National Inactivity. Nationally Inactive Collegiate Members shall be exempt from paying national dues and shall not be subject to attendance requirements of the Collegiate Chapter. B. Local Inactivity Locally Inactive Members are Active Members, with permission from their collegiate chapter, who do not wish to be active in Phi Sigma Pi's affairs. Further status of Inactive Members shall be left to the discretion of the Collegiate Chapter. Locally Inactive Members pay to the National Headquarters, via the Collegiate Chapter, the National Dues by the appropriate due dates.

Section 10: Active and Inactive Alumni and Honorary Members Alumni or Honorary Members who have paid dues to an Alumni Chapter or the National Alumni Association shall be considered Active.

Section 11: Definition of Collegiate Members in Good Standing Collegiate Members shall be considered “in good standing” provided that the Member: A. is not currently delinquent in the remittance of any dues, fees, or fines; and, B. is not currently the subject of any disciplinary action by the National Council or the Collegiate Chapter; and, C. has met or exceeded the minimum requirements for attendance and participation in the Collegiate Chapter’s events and activities.

Section 12: Definition of Alumni and Honorary Members in Good Standing Alumni or Honorary Members shall be considered “in good standing” provided that they are not currently the subject of disciplinary action by the National Council or the Alumni Chapters.

Section 13: Transfer from one Collegiate Chapter to Another A Collegiate Member who has transferred from one sheltering institution to another may apply to transfer into the Chapter at the new sheltering institution, provided that the Member is in good standing at the time of the application. Transferring Members shall be inducted into the Collegiate Chapter by use of the Ritual Induction Ceremony and shall sign the Chapter Roll Book.

Section 14: Resignation A Collegiate Member in good standing may resign from Phi Sigma Pi. To resign, the Member must submit a hard copy of a letter stating their intent to resign to any Chapter Officer and the letter must be presented to the Chapter during the next business meeting by any Chapter Officer or the resigning Member. Upon acceptance of the letter by the Chapter, the Membership of the Brother seeking to resign shall be terminated. Former Members who have resigned are not eligible for re-instatement into Phi Sigma Pi without at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of approval from the Active Members of the Collegiate Chapter and a unanimous vote of the National Council.