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BYLAWS of the

ALPHA PSI CHAPTER

Of BETA BETA BETA

NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY

University of Delaware

(amended to March 22, 1989)

 

 

Article I. Name

The name of the chapter shall be the "Alpha Psi Chapter of Beta Beta Beta at the University of Delaware". The recognized date of installation of the Chapter into the National Society shall be February 4, 1955. 

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of this Chapter shall be in accordance with the National Constitution, to "form an honor society for students of the biological sciences and thereby to stimulate sound scholarship, to promote the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and to encourage investigation in the life sciences". 

Article III. Government

These Bylaws shall govern the Alpha Psi chapter within the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Society of Beta Beta Beta, and shall provide for the affairs and business of the Chapter for such matters not provided for in the National Constitution and Bylaws. These Bylaws shall supersede those Bylaws adopted by this Chapter on July 1, 1959, March 4, 1965, and March 15, 1972. 

Article IV. Quorum

The full members present at any meeting at which votes are cast shall constitute a quorum. 

Article V. Membership

Section 1. Student membership

  1. Full membership: shall consist of those students who have completed at least three semesters of college work and at least twelve credit hours in the biological sciences. The overall cum of the candidate shall be no lower than 3.0, and no lower than 3.0 in the biological sciences. In addition, nomination by a member of the faculty, an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the full members present at the meeting at which the vote is cast, and payment of the initiation fee is required.
  2. Associate membership: shall consist of those students who have indicated an interest in the life sciences and a desire to participate in the activities of Tri-Beta.
  3. Transfer students: shall have spent at least one semester at the University of Delaware before consideration for membership, and fulfill the scholastic requirements of Article V, sections 1A and 1B. If the transfer student is already an active member of the National Society, the one-semester requirement shall be waived.
  4. Graduate students: shall have been nominated by a faculty member or by a full member of the Chapter, have received an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the full members present at the meeting at which the vote is cast, have made payment of the initiation fee, and fulfill the scholastic requirements of Article V, sections 1A and 1B.

Section 2. Alumni membership: shall consist of all persons who were full members of Tri-Beta at the University of Delaware.

Section 3. Faculty membership: shall consist of members of the faculty who have been nominated by a full member, have received an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the full members present at the meeting at which the vote is cast, and have paid the initiation fee. Faculty members shall be classified as active or non-active, according to their preference.

Section 4. Honorary membership: shall consist of persons of outstanding achievement in some field of theoretical or applied biology. They shall be nominated by a full member of the Chapter, elected by a quorum of the full members present, and formally initiated into the Chapter. Honorary members shall be non-voting, shall be exempt from payment of dues, but shall receive notices of all general meetings of the Chapter.

Section 5. Election of new members shall take place in November and April of each year, the date to be determined by the executive committee of the Chapter. Voting shall be restricted to full members only.

Section 6. Initiation of new members shall take place after their certificates of membership are received by the Chapter from the National Secretary. The date of the initiation ceremony shall be determined by the executive committee of the Chapter. 

Article VI. Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Alpha Psi Chapter shall consist of a president, a vice-president, a secretary, a treasurer, and an historian.

Section 2. The officers of the Chapter shall be elected from the full members by a majority vote of the full members present.

Section 3. To qualify for election each candidate shall be present at the meeting in which votes are cast and shall intend to be a full-time student on the University of Delaware campus for the entire academic period in which the office is held.

Section 4. The officers shall be elected during April of each year, and the newly elected officers shall assume office at the first regular meeting in September.

Section 5. If an office is vacated during the year, the vacancy shall be filled by a special election, except in the case of the president, in which case the vice-president becomes the president and a new vice-president is elected.

Section 6. Duties of the officers:

  1. The President: shall lead the Chapter in all activities, and represent the Chapter in outside official functions. He/she shall preside over all meetings of the Executive Committee and over all Chapter meetings, call special meetings of the Executive Committee whenever necessary, and perform such other duties as are customarily assigned his/her office.
  2. The Vice-president: shall be responsible for assisting the President and for assuming the responsibilities of the President in his/her absence or at his/her request.
  3. The Secretary: shall note and record the transactions during Chapter meetings, care for all correspondence, keep a list of the Chapter members and their addresses, circulate notices for each meeting, and perform such other duties as are customarily assigned to his/her office.
  4. The Treasurer: shall have charge of Chapter funds, keep a detailed account of all Chapter receipts and expenditures, pay Chapter bills, and perform such other duties as are customarily assigned to his/her office.
  5. The Historian: Shall keep a record of all the activities of the Chapter, and shall perform such other duties as are customarily assigned to his/her office.

Article VII. Committees

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Chairpersons of the standing committees, and faculty advisor. The Executive Committee will meet at the request of any officer to the President at a time and place to be designated by the President.

Section 2. The following standing committees shall be maintained by the Chapter. The chairpersons of these committees shall be appointed by the President.

--Program/Publicity Committee

--Richard M. Johnson Award Committee

--Membership Committee

  1. Program/Publicity Committee: It shall be the duty of the program/publicity committee to arrange a date, place, and suitable program for each of the regular meetings of the Chapter, and to publicize all activities and special functions. Lectures and films should be authorized by the President and faculty advisor. The committee shall be composed of all full and associate members, and each committee member shall participate in the planning and execution of at least one program per year.
  2. Richard M. Johnson Award Committee: It shall be the duty of the Richard M. Johnson Award committee to supervise and administer the annual selection and presentation of the Richard M. Johnson Award. The award shall be given to a deserving junior biology major, whom the committee feels has most demonstrated the spirit of Article II of this Constitution, and awarded on Honors Day.
  3. Membership Committee: It shall be the duty of the membership committee to supervise the biannual induction of new members into the society.

Section 3. The President shall appoint such other committees as become necessary for the conduction of the activities of the Chapter.

Article VIII. Meetings

Section 1. General meetings of the Chapter shall be held at least once a month from September through November and February through April at a time and place to be decided upon by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President for the purpose of conducting urgent business or for conducting programs that cannot be feasibly scheduled for regular meeting times. 

Article IX. Amending By-Laws

These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the full members present at a general or special meeting. The amended version of the by-laws must be presented at a general or special meeting prior to the meeting in which votes are cast.