Ratified April 7, 1997
Amended September 20, 1999
Amended January 22, 2001
Amended April 23, 2004
Amended November 6, 2006
Amended April 16, 2007
Amended December 6, 2007

 
p r e f a c e
In the winter of 1997, the Brothers of Phi Beta Chi decided that the original Fraternity Constitution needed to be revised in order to accommodate the growing and expanding organization. A committee was assembled for the purpose of writing a new Constitution that would provide the general and current guidelines, norms and policies of Phi Beta Chi.

This Constitution is the result of that committee. It should be continually examined, referred to and amended as deemed necessary by the Fraternity.
a r t i c l e  o n e  -  n a m e
a r t i c l e  t w o  -  m i s s i o n  s t a t e m e n t
Section I. Goals

  1. By reaching, beyond the classroom, Phi Beta Chi exists to:

    1. Expose Brothers to several career paths in the communication field so that they may weigh their options and focus on an exact career direction

    2. Gear each Phi Beta Chi member with adequate knowledge of the communication world and the business world so that s/he will be able to make a smooth transition from university life to the professional workplace

    3. Provide programs that will enable each Phi Beta Chi Brother to network with communication professionals

    4. Act as a social refiner to teach Brothers to work with others while sharing experiences and ideas

    5. Provide a group setting that allows Brothers to develop and implement new programs that expand the scope of Phi Beta Chi for the future

Section II. Objectives

  1. Sponsor speakers, field trips, and social events so that Brothers may develop contacts and relationships with communication professionals and faculty

    1. Contact is maintained with speakers and alumni through Phi Beta Chilights, the Fraternity newsletter.

    2. An annual major field trip is highly encouraged.

  2. Promote and encourage internships in the communication field by seeking out internship opportunities and presenting these opportunities to the Brothers.

  3. Encourage Brothers to live a life of service toward others.


a r t i c l e  t h r e e  -  m e e t i n g s
a r t i c l e  f o u r  -  m e m b e r s h i p
Section I. Individuals shall not be restricted from membership or from any Fraternity privilege due to sex, race, creed, or any other discriminating ethic, preference, or background. Brothers shall be of high moral principles and refined natures.
Section II. The Fraternity shall be composed of individuals who are in communication major programs and display a strong interest in the communication field.
Section III. Brother Classification
Brothers shall be classified as follows:

  1. Collegiate

    1. Undergraduate Brothers

      1. Active

      2. Inactive

      3. Senior Standing

    2. Graduate Brothers

  2. Alumni

    1. Collegiate Brothers who have received their undergraduate or graduate degrees

    2. Collegiate Brothers who have left school without a degree

    3. Undergraduate Brothers who change majors and no longer display a strong interest in the communication field

  3. Affiliate

    1. Students, faculty or professionals elected as Honorary Brothers by the Collegiate Brothers of the Fraternity.


a r t i c l e  f i v e  -  e x e c u t i v e
Section I. Executive Power
Executive power shall be vested in the Executive Board, which is comprised of sixteen Officers: President, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Pledge Educator, Assistant Pledge Educator, Programming Chair, Promotions Chair, Service Chair, Social Chair, Historian, Annual Events Chair, Fundraising Chair, Rush Chair, Alumni Chair, Recruitment Chair, Fraternity Liaison and (2) Trip Coordinators.
Section II. Executive Board Elections
Executive Board Officers shall be elected by a secret majority vote of the Active Undergraduate Brothers late in the Fall Semester. Executive Board terms shall run from the beginning of the Winter Semester through the duration of the Fall Semester.

  1. Elections for the offices of Annual Events Chair, Fundraising Chair, Rush Chair, and Trip Coordinators shall be held at the end of the Winter Semester. Those offices will be held during Fall and Winter of the following year.

  2. The position of Assistant Pledge Educator will be up for election at the end of each semester. The position of Assistant Pledge Educator will be held during the semester following the election. After serving a semester as the Assistant Pledge Educator, that person will become the Pledge Educator for the next semester.

a r t i c l e  s i x  -  b y l a w s
Section I. The Fraternity shall enact suitable bylaws to provide for the election of Officers, for the election and initiation of Brothers, for the deaffiliation of Brothers, and for such other matters as it may deem necessary.
Section II. The Fraternity shall use Suggestion Forms and Brother Meetings to address issues within the Fraternity. Suggestion Forms are forms in the Communication Department’s office that may be found in the Phi Beta Chi mailbox. Suggestion Forms may be used for positive or negative comments regarding the Fraternity and must be signed and dated by the writer(s) of the forms. All Suggestion Forms will be addressed at the following Brother Meeting by the Executive Board.
Section III. The Fraternity shall use Grievance Sheets to report any negative experiences Brothers encounter with pledges during the pledge process. In order for a negative issue about a pledge to be discussed at the final voting procedure for the pledge process, Brothers must have previously filed a complaint. Brothers who have done so are allowed to speak against a pledge at the final voting procedure. Brothers who have not done so may not. Brothers who have not filed a Grievance Sheet against a pledge may, however, vote against the pledge after hearing arguments pertaining to that pledge. Brothers must turn in Grievance Sheets to the Pledge Educator within one week of their interview with the pledge in order for the complaint to be considered valid. It must be signed and dated by the Brother.
a r t i c l e  s e v e n  -  a m e n d m e n t s
Section I. The Constitution and its bylaws can be amended by the Fraternity as it deems necessary.

  1. The method of amending the Constitution and its bylaws:

    1. Collegiate Brothers are notified of the proposed amendment at a formal Brother Meeting

    2. The proposed amendment is discussed by the Collegiate Brothers

    3. A vote is conducted at the next formal Brother Meeting, if possible

      1. A one-half majority vote is needed to pass an amendment.



a r t i c l e  o n e  -  f u l l  m e m b e r s h i p
Section I. All members of Phi Beta Chi, both males and females, are "Brothers" in the Fraternity.
Section II. Eligibility

  1. To become a Brother in the Fraternity, a person shall fulfill all the following criteria:

    1. Be a student in good standing at the University of Dayton

    2. Be a communication major and display a strong interest in the communication field

    3. Have completed his or her first semester as a first-year student

    4. Possess an overall G.P.A. of 2.5 or better

    5. Possess a G.P.A. within communication courses of 3.0 or better

    6. Complete all stipulations of the pledge period

    7. Receive approval into the Fraternity without the reservations of any preexisting Brothers

  2. Members of other professional, social or honorary fraternities or sororities are eligible for membership in Phi Beta Chi.

  3. Any Undergraduate Brother who chooses to enroll in a graduate school program at the University of Dayton may opt to remain a Brother of Phi Beta Chi, with the classification of Graduate Brother.

    1. Graduate Brothers share all the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as Undergraduate Brothers, with the following exceptions:

      1. Graduate Brothers are exempt from paying Brother dues.

      2. Graduate Brothers are not permitted to hold Officer positions on the Executive Board.

      3. Graduate Brothers are not permitted to vote during Officer elections.

      4. Graduate Brothers are exempt from fulfilling the Fraternity's service requirement.

      5. Graduate Brothers are exempt from completing pledge interviews.

      6. Graduate Brothers are permitted to participate in Fraternity trips, but preference is given to Undergraduate Brothers.

      7. Graduate Brothers are permitted to attend major social events but must pay the required costs of said events.

  4. Brothers of Phi Beta Chi become classified as "Alumni" when they fulfill any of the following criteria:

    1. Receive their undergraduate degree and either:

      1. Do not enroll in a graduate school program at the University of Dayton, or

      2. Enroll in a graduate school program at the University of Dayton but opt not to incur Graduate Brother classification

    2. As a Graduate Brother, receive their graduate degree

    3. Leave school permanently

    4. Change majors and no longer display a strong interest in the communication field

Section III. Duties

  1. Collegiate Brothers of Phi Beta Chi shall:

    1. Be held responsible for knowledge of this Constitution of the Fraternity

    2. Respect the Fraternity and its rituals, principles, ideals and teachings

    3. Stress professional ability, interest and academic excellence both in themselves and in the selection of new Brothers

    4. Maintain a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better for communication courses and a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or better, beginning with the 1999 Fall Pledge Class

      1. All Brothers, beginning with the 1999 Fall Pledge Class, must sign a waiver that will allow the Executive Board to access their grades.

      2. If this is not followed, the proper disciplinary action will be taken. (See Article VIII, Section III - Grade Requirements)

    5. Adhere to the Fraternity pledge procedure by:

      1. Promoting membership by encouraging pledges

      2. Keeping abreast of the progress of the pledge class

      3. Making themselves as accessible as possible for pledge interviews

      4. Filing Grievance Sheets against pledges if need be

    6. Pay semester dues by deadlines

    7. Perform a minimum of three service hours per semester

      1. Brothers must provide written documentation from the sponsor of the event at which service took place.

    8. Attend all scheduled meetings and activities, or if unable to attend, contact the Executive Vice President prior to the event.

    9. Participate in the fullest extent possible in the Fraternity. Every brother should make an effort to serve on a committee.

    10. Be professionally dressed and wearing the Brother Pin, or "dress to the pin," on days of Brother Meetings

    11. Supply input to the Executive Board at meetings or by filling out Feedback Forms which they will sign and date

Section IV. Inactivity

  1. Brothers may choose to go “Inactive.”

    1. Inactivity is most highly discouraged by the Fraternity, as it is perceived as breaking a commitment made as a pledge of Phi Beta Chi.

    2. Collegiate Brothers may go Inactive for one semester only. If they wish to go Inactive for an additional semester, they must deaffiliate.

  2. To be granted Inactive status, a Collegiate Brother must:

    1. Write a formal, written request to the Executive Board that details the reasons for requesting Inactive status
    2. Submit this request to a member of the Executive Board no later than the second Brother Meeting of that semester
    3. The request will be reviewed and voted on by the Executive Board. The Executive Board has the option to call the Brother who is requesting Inactivity before it to present her or his case.

  3. Inactive Brothers:

    1. Forfeit all rights as a Collegiate Brother during their Inactive semester, including the right to participate in all professional and social events
    2. Are not permitted to vote in the next upcoming Executive Board elections, regardless of which semester they go Inactive
    3. Are not permitted to run in the next upcoming Executive Board elections, regardless of which semester they go Inactive
    4. Will receive written confirmation from the Executive Board of their Inactive status

  4. Brothers may be granted Inactive status for purposes such as study abroad, internship in another city, class conflict, work schedule conflict, or other extenuating circumstances that take a Brother off campus or interfere with Brother Meetings.

    1. Letters of Inactivity must still be submitted to the Executive Board if the reason for the Inactivity is one the reasons cited above.
    2. The Executive Board will still review the request and may still choose to call the Brother in front of it to discuss the matter.
Section V. Campus Absences

  1. Collegiate Brothers who must be away from the University of Dayton campus for an extended period of time for purposes such as extended illness, family obligations, or other extenuating circumstances, and who intend to return to the University of Dayton to complete their degree program, may be permitted a leave of absence from Phi Beta Chi without penalty or reprimand.

  2. In the event of a campus absence, the Collegiate Brother should make known to the Executive Board her or his intentions, in writing, including the anticipated time of return to the University of Dayton campus.

  3. Brothers on campus absences are not required to pay dues, therefore are not allowed to participate in that semester’s activities, unless dues were paid prior to the campus absence.

Section VI. Senior Standing

  1. Applies to Non-exec member second semester Seniors (or first semester seniors graduating in December)

    1. If a senior is to graduate in December (or in May), but then for some reason does not, s/he cannot use Senior Standing again; it is only to be used the semester of graduation and cannot be used twice.

  2. Senior Standing Brothers:

    1. Must attend 2 of the 3 rush parties

    2. Are exempt from rushee interview (if shortage occurs, may need volunteers)

    3. Are exempt from pledge interviews

    4. Are exempt from the meeting at which pledges are voted upon, unless other Fraternity business (i.e. voting on amendments, planning social events, etc.) apply and the President decides otherwise

    5. Have three excused, senior standing absences from meetings in addition to the three allowable absences from Brother Meetings. Brothers on Senior Standing need not inform the Executive Board of the reasons for their three Senior Standing absences. In total, they are allowed to miss six regular Brother meetings.

    6. Must pay dues and complete service hours

    7. All other absence rules apply

      1. Only three absences besides interviews, the rush party, and the three senior standing absences

      2. Initiation rules apply

      3. Upon a senior’s seventh absence (not including the one rush party and interviews), s/he will be called into a private meeting with the Executive Board (see Artice VIII – Discipline, Section II – Absences).

    8. Must submit this request for Senior Standing to a member of the Executive Board no later than the second Brother meeting of that semester.

a r t i c l e  t w o  -  s p e c i a l  m e m b e r s h i p
a r t i c l e  t h r e e  -  r u s h
Section I. The Rush Process

  1. To be considered for selection as a pledge of Phi Beta Chi, an individual must:

    1. Be a student in good standing at the University of Dayton

    2. Be a communication major.

    3. Have earned less than 75 undergraduate semester hours, or be in his or her second through fifth semester at the University of Dayton.

    4. Possess a 2.5 overall G.P.A.

    5. Possess a 3.0 G.P.A. within communication courses.

    6. Attend three rush partiesunless the absence is reviewed and approved by the Executive Board.

    7. Complete and submit a typed application with a photo. Rushees will also write a one-page essay about what they could get from and give to Phi Beta Chi if they were to become Brothers. All of these things must be submitted together by the second rush party.

    8. Have two faculty members from the University of Dayton complete and submit recommendation forms in a sealed envelope to the Communication Office.

      1. One recommendation must be completed by a faculty member of the Communication Department.

      2. Rushees may not see their recommendation forms.

    9. Sit for a formal interview

  2. Bids are extended, either in person or by telephone, on the evening following interviews.

Section II. Rush Standard Procedures

  1. There will be three events in the course of two (2) weeks:

    1. The first rush event will be an Information Session with a panel of the Executive board members. There will be a presentation about Phi Beta Chi, and then the floor will be open for questions. The first rush event will be professional dress.

    2. The second rush event will be a Meet and Greet with the Brothers. The second rush event will be professional dress.

    3. The third (3rd) rush event will be a non-alcoholic social event.

    4. After interviews and voting, there will be the traditional bid party.

  2. B. If brothers do not attend a Rush Event, they will have to do an additional 3 service hours.

  3. C. Any rushee that does not meet the grade requirements, has not completed his or her application, or does not have two teacher recommendation forms submitted, will be dismissed from rush for that semester but encouraged to rush again in the future.

Section III. Interviews

  1. Each rushee will have a twenty minute time slot for his or her interview.

  2. Each rushee will be voted on by the Brothers who sat in on that interview immediately following his or her interview.

  3. Every Brother must attend at least four interviews—a minimum of eighty minutes. Time slots for interviews are first come, first serve. If a Brother does not sit in for four interviews, it will count as one absence.

  4. Interviews will be split into two or more days.

  5. A total of twelve questions will be asked to each rushee.

    1. Interview questions will be weighted according to their difficulty level.

      1. Each interview will be weighted the same.

      2. Each Brother at the interview will have a choice between two questions of equal weight.

    2. Two questions will be written on each card and these cards will be placed at each seat for the brothers. The Rush Chair is responsible for the coordination of the questions to be asked.

      1. Brothers can pick which question on the card they want to ask.

      2. Brothers may switch cards with each other in between interviews for variety.

  6. The only Brothers who must be present at each interview are: the President, the Executive Vice President, the Pledge Educator(s), the Rush Chair, and two designated Brothers that the Fraternity elects to sit in on all interviews.

    1. The minimum number of Brothers in the room will be twelve and the maximum will be fifteen.

    2. Brothers may stay for more than four interviews if they wish, but if the number of Brothers in the room will exceed fifteen, the Brothers who have not completed their four interviews have priority over those that have.

Section IV. Voting Procedures

  1. Rushees will be voted on by the Brothers who attended their interviews.

  2. Brothers will consider the criteria distributed by the Rush Chair when voting on rushees.

  3. Two-thirds of the Brothers present during the interview must vote in favor of a rushee in order for him or her to be extended a bid.

  4. If less than two-thirds of the Brothers vote in favor of the rushee, the rushee will not be extended a bid.

    1. A "yes vote will count as one for the rushee

    2. A "no" vote will count as one vote against the rushee

    3. Five "abstain" votes will count as one vote against the rushee

a r t i c l e  f o u r  -  p l e d g i n g
Section I. Pledge Class Duties

  1. To become a Brother of Phi Beta Chi, the following criteria must be fulfilled by the full pledge class:

    1. Elect a pledge class president and vice president.

    2. Organize and execute a fundraiser during the semester of their pledging, with all proceeds benefiting a pledge class social with the Brothers or a charity organization of the pledge class’ choosing.

    3. Perform one hour of service as a group at the Fraternity’s philanthropy.

Section II. Individual Pledge Duties

  1. To become a Brother of Phi Beta Chi, the following criteria must be fulfilled by the individual pledge:

    1. Attend all pledge meetings

    2. Maintain a Phi Beta Chi Notebook

    3. Pass all quizzes with a grade of 75 percent or better

    4. Schedule and document interviews with all members of the Executive Board and three-fourths of Active Undergraduate Brothers

    5. Schedule and document interviews with all other pledges

    6. Write and present a fundraising plan (with another member of the pledge class)

    7. Participate in the Pledge Pin Ceremony

    8. Participate in the Initiation Ceremony. If a pledge misses Initiation, Brothers will review the circumstances of the pledge's absence.

    9. Pass a final examination during the last week of the pledge process.

Section III. Strike Policy

  1. Attendance at every pledge meeting is mandatory. If a pledge meeting is missed, two strikes will be assessed.

  2. If the pledge's Phi Beta Chi Notebook is not decorated by the assigned date or if interviews aren't organized properly, one strike will be assessed.

  3. If a test is failed (a grade below 75 percent), one strike will be assessed.

  4. If a pledge is short on interviews for the week or a pledge stands up a Brother for a scheduled interview, one strike will be assessed.

  5. If the pledge class president and vice president do not organize a pledge interview session, they will each be assessed one strike. This session is an official pledge class meeting. If a pledge does not show up for it, he or she will be assessed one strike.

  6. If a pledge is seen not wearing his or her button by three Brothers at any time during pledging at assigned times (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday), one strike will be assessed.

  7. If three Grievance Sheets are turned in against a pledge, the pledge must meet with the Pledge Educator, whereupon a strike may be assessed. Brothers must turn in Grievance Sheets within one week of their interview with the pledge.

  8. If two strikes are accumulated before pledging is over, the pledge must meet with the Fraternity's President, Executive Vice President, and the Pledge Educator(s).

  9. All pledges must understand the strike policy and their responsibilities as a pledge and sign a document that states this at the beginning of pledging.

Section IV. Big Brothers and Little Brothers

  1. Each pledge, or "Little Brother," shall be assigned a "Big Brother," a preexisting Brother who will serve as a sponsor and mentor to the pledge.

  2. Big Brothers will be assigned by the Pledge Educator, after reviewing the pledges' and Brothers' preferences. Potential Big Brothers are not permitted to participate in the pairing process.

    1. In assigning Big Brothers, preference shall be given to Brothers who do not already have a Little Brother.

    2. The assignment of second-semester seniors and Graduate Brothers as Big Brothers is not allowed.

Section V. Becoming a Brother

  1. At the end of pledging, pledges will be voted on individually by the Fraternity as a whole during a Brother Meeting. All pledge interviews must be completed prior to voting.

  2. The Pledge Educator(s) will inform Brothers of the number of strikes and reasons for the strikes that the pledges have against them.

  3. The Pledge Educator(s) will read aloud any Grievance Sheets the pledges accumulated. Brothers that filed Grievance Sheets against pledges will be allowed to discuss any negative aspects of the pledge that they previously addressed in the Grievance Sheets. Brothers who previously did not file Grievance Sheets against pledges will not be allowed to speak against them. Brothers who did not file Grievance Sheets against pledges may, however, vote against them after hearing arguments.

  4. The pledges will be voted on by all Brothers.

    1. All voting for pledges to brothers will be on a paper ballot.

      1. A "yes" vote will count as one vote for the rushee.

      2. A "no" vote will count as one vote against the rushee.

      3. Three "abstain" votes will count as one vote against the rushee.

    2. Pledge Educator and Assistant Pledge Educators will moderate voting process.

      1. Brothers can turn in anonymouse grievance/praising forms prior to voting.

      2. These forms will be read during discussion of pledge.

    3. Pledges will be voted into the Fraternity if they receive a three-fourths approval from the Brothers present during the voting procedure.

    4. Pledges will not be voted into the Fraternity if they receive a one-fourth disapproval from the Brothers present during the voting procedure.

    5. In the event that the pledge receives a three-fourths approval and a one-fourth disapproval from the Brothers, the Fraternity President's vote will count twice.

  5. Pledges that have acquired three strikes will be dismissed from pledging and ineligible for consideration into the Brotherhood of Phi Beta Chi for that semester.

a r t i c l e  f i v e  -  f i n a n c e s
Section I. Fiscal Year

  1. The fiscal year of Phi Beta Chi shall be from January 1 until December 31.

  2. All checks shall be addressed to the order of Phi Beta Chi.

Section II. Pledge Dues

  1. An Initiation fee shall be paid by each pledge prior to initiation.

    1. This fee shall be returned to the pledge if he/she is not initiated.

Section III. Undergraduate Brother Dues

  1. Dues shall be paid each semester by all Active Undergraduate Brothers.

  2. Dues may fluctuate.

  3. Extenuating circumstances regarding payment of dues must be addressed to the Treasurer by the second Brother Meeting.

  4. All dues must be paid by the Brother Meeting prior to the semester's prime social event in order for the Brother to be eligible to attend the event.

Section IV. Unusual and Costly Expenditures

  1. All expenditures that are divergent from the usual purchases and are of an especially costly nature must be pre-approved by the Executive Board before they are executed.

  2. Receipts for all expenditures must be submitted to the Treasurer within two weeks of the date on the receipt for payment.

Section V. Budgets and Reimbursements

  1. A budget will be established for each chair at the start of each semester. The Treasurer will decide in conjunction with the chairperson how much money will be allotted for that semester.

  2. A chairperson planning an event must first produce an estimated budget for that event and submit it to the Treasurer for review.

  3. Receipts must be submitted to the Treasurer within two weeks for every purchase made, or no reimbursement will be granted.

  4. The budget prepared at the start of each semester must be made available for the entire chapter to view.

a r t i c l e  s i x  -  p u b l i c a t i o n
Section I. The official publication of the Fraternity shall be known as Phi Beta Chilights, which:

  1. Shall be published once a semester

  2. Shall contain general Fraternity information

  3. May be sent to all Collegiate Brothers, Inactive Brothers, Alumni Brothers, Affiliate Brothers and speakers

a r t i c l e  s e v e n  -  g o v e r n m e n t
Section I. Legistlative Power

  1. Phi Beta Chi shall be governed by an Executive Board comprised of nineteen Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Pledge Educator, Assistant Pledge Educator, Programming Chair, Promotions Chair, Service Chair, Social Chair, Fraternity Liason, Historian, Annual Events Chair, Fundraising Chair, Rush Chair, and two (2) Trip Coordinators.

  2. All Executive Board Officers will chair a committee as needed.

  3. Phi Beta Chi shall be represented in the Professional Fraternity Association by two (2) Delegates.

  4. All Brothers present at Brother Meetings shall have the privilege of having the floor during open discussions.

  5. All matters and issues shall be decided by a one-half majority vote of those voting on the matter.

Section II. Elections

  1. Officers shall be elected by a secret majority vote of the Undergraduate Brothers late in the Fall Semester.

    1. Elections for the offices of Annual Events Chair, Fundraising Chair, Rush Chair, and Trip Coordinators shall be held at the end of the Winter Semester.

    2. The position of Assistant Pledge Educator will be up for election at the end of each semester. The position of Assistant Pledge Educator will be held during the semester following the election. After serving a semester as the Assistant Pledge Educator, that person will become the Pledge Educator for the next semester.

  2. Active Undergraduate Brothers in good standing are eligible to vote and to be elected.

  3. The election process:

    1. Late fall elections are held for the following offices in the following order: President, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Pledge Educator, Programming Chair, Promotions Chair, Service Chair, Social Chair, Historian, and Fraternity Liaison.

      1. Elections for Fundraising Chair, Trip Coordinators, Recruitment Chair, Alumni Chair, Rush Chair, and Assistant Pledge Educator will be held at the last Brother Meeting of the Winter Semester

    2. A description of the office being voted on is read.

    3. The floor is opened for nominations.

      1. Any Active Undergraduate Brother may nominate any Active Undergraduate Brother, including him/herself

      2. A nominated Brother may choose to accept or decline the nomination.

      3. Brothers who have not been Brothers of Phi Beta Chi for at least one semester may not run for President.

    4. Brothers who accept the nomination address the Fraternity while all other accepting nominees are outside the room.

    5. Voting Brothers write the name of their selection on a piece of paper and submit this secret ballot.

      1. Nominees wait outside the room while the actual vote is conducted.

      2. When all the ballots have been collected, the nominees are invited inside the room.

    6. Votes are counted outside the room by the Graduating seniors on the Executive Board or other Graduating seniors.

      1. In the event of a tie, a re-vote between only those nominees who tied shall be held with seniors graduating that year (in both December and May) not permitted to vote.

    7. The President announces who had been elected into that office before proceeding to elections for the next office.

Section III. Duties of Officers of Executive Board

  1. The President shall:

    1. Preside at all Executive Board Meetings and at all Brother Meetings

    2. Appoint all committees and advise the committee chairpersons

    3. Delegate responsibilities of Officers and committees

    4. Coordinate the functions of all Officers and committees

    5. Recommend and establish goals and objectives for the Fraternity with the approval of the Brothers

    6. Be active in the pledge process by attending pledge functions and maintaining constant contact with the Pledge Educator

    7. Keep in contact with the Faculty Advisor

    8. Check the OAC and Phi Beta Chi mailboxes regularly.

    9. Turn in the recognition packet and the end-of-the-year evaluation sheet to Student Involvement and Leadership.

    10. Meet with the Treasurer every week to evaluate and analyze budget.

  2. The Executive Vice President shall:

    1. Perform all duties of the President if the President is absent or unable to perform his/her duties

    2. Assist the President in coordinating and directing committees, activities and Fraternity operations and perform such duties as may be delegated by the President

    3. Advise the President on all matters of policy and procedure

    4. Serve as a liaison between the Career Placement Center and the Fraternity

    5. Coordinate Fraternity activities within the campus community

    6. Control discipline and inactivity of Brothers

    7. Notify brothers of attendance fines.

    8. Keep a record of Active Brothers' G.P.A.s

    9. Keep a list of items that need to be amended to the Bylaws at the end of each semester.

  3. The Secretary shall:

    1. Keep current Fraternity records

    2. Update the brother directory at the beginning of each semester and send it to the chapter.

    3. Send out mass e-mails to inform brothers of Fraternity evenets.

    4. Record and post minutes of all Brother Meetings on the bulletin board in St. Joseph's Hall

    5. Assist the Promotions Chair in coordinating the production of the Fraternity newsletter, Phi Beta Chilights

    6. Keep track of OAC leadership requirements (three events per semester)

    7. Keep a personal log of meeting minutes.

    8. Keep track of Brother Feedback Forms.

  4. The Treasurer shall:

    1. Oversee all transactions made in the Phi Beta Chi account.

    2. Allocate Fraternity funds with proper approval.

    3. Advise the Fraternity on all fiscal matters.

    4. Collect dues from Active Undergraduate Brothers.

    5. Collect fees for all special Fraternity events.

    6. Make a Treasurer's report at every meeting.

    7. Provide the entire chapter with a copy of the budget at the beginning of each semester.

  5. The Pledge Educator shall:

    1. Work with the Promotions Chair to coordinate publicity for increased membership

    2. Coordinate and structure the designated pledge period including all activities within this period

    3. Coordinate at least one Big/Little activity during the pledge process

    4. Coordinate at least one pledge class bonding event during pledging

    5. Keep track of pledge strikes

    6. Keep track of grievance sheets against pledges

    7. Keep the pledge binder current

    8. Make and distribute a pledge class roster to Brothers at the beginning of pledging

    9. Preside at all organizational and pledge meetings

    10. Design and administer weekly pledge quizzes

    11. Supervise pledges during the designated pledge period

    12. Assign Big Brothers to pledges, in consultation with the pledges and Brothers interested in becoming Big Brothers.

    13. Coordinate the Pledge Pin Ceremony with the Rush Chair

    14. Coordinate an all Fraternity/pledge class event with the Social Chair during pledging

    15. Coordinate the Initiation Ceremony

    16. Prepare the Assistant Pledge Educator for the position of Pledge Educator

  6. The Programming Chair shall:

    1. Schedule speakers for Brother Meetings

    2. Coordinate with the President the scheduling of any professional activities

    3. Ensure that thank-you letters are sent to all speakers

    4. Distribute speaker idea/contact sheets to Brothers at the beginning of the semester

    5. Coordinate a faculty/Brother event

    6. Plan and arrange non-alcoholic Brother bonding activities and special programming with the Social Chair

  7. The Promotions Chair shall:

    1. Design, produce and distribute publicity for Brother Meetings, speakers and events, and fundraisers related to Phi Beta Chi.

    2. Work closely with the Rush Chair and Pledge Educator to coordinate publicity for increased membership.

    3. Inform communication major/minor students about Phi Beta Chi by attending communication classes or by other means.

    4. Coordinate the production and distribution of the Fraternity newsletter, Phi Beta Chilights.

    5. Preside at campus events that promote Phi Beta Chi.

    6. Present goals and ideas for future publicity.

    7. Keep the Web page current.

    8. Annually create new Phi Beta Chi brochures for the Communication Department's office.

  8. The Service Chair shall:

    1. Ensure that all Active Undergraduate Brothers perform their required three hours of service per semester

    2. Provide Brothers with information regarding service opportunities

    3. Coordinate group service opportunities and activities

    4. Report any recurrent problems of Active Undergraduate Brothers not fulfilling their service requirements to the Executive Board

    5. Post service hours on the bulletin board in St. Joseph's Hall as part of the minutes

    6. Make progress reports for Brothers who have accumulated more than three service hours per semester

    7. Maintain communication with a chosen philanthropy

  9. The Social Chair shall:

    1. Coordinate, with consultation with the Executive Board and the Collegiate Brothers, and with the assistance of any necessary committees, all social events

    2. Plan at least one social event per month

  10. The Historian shall:

    1. Perform all duties of the Secretary if the Secretary is absent or unable to perform his/her duties.

    2. Coordinate photography at Fraternity events.

    3. Coordinate the creation of and the distribution of the Fraternity Composite.

    4. Maintain the Phi Beta Chi bulletin board in St. Joseph's Hall.

    5. Keep a current alumni mailing list.

    6. Update Fraternity photo album/scrapbook.

    7. Keep track of genealogies.

  11. The Fundraising Chair shall:

    1. Coordinate all fundraising events and ventures for the purpose of increasing the financial stability of the Fraternity.

    2. Keep the Fraternity abreast of fundraising events and ventures.

    3. Conduct at least one fundraiser per semester.

    4. Coordinate with the Promotions Chair to publicize fundraising events.

    5. Keep track of brothe rparticipation in fundraising events and ventures, and assign the appropriate fines for not participating.

  12. The Trip Coordinators shall:

    1. Coordinate, with consultation with the Executive Board and the Collegiate Brothers, and with the assistance of any necessary committees, all field trips

    2. Make sure every Brother going on the annual trip has participated in at least one fundraiser

  13. The Rush Chair shall:

    1. Plan and book rooms for two Informational meetings about rush with the Pledge Educator.

    2. Plan and book locations for all three rush parties for Fall and Winter rush.

    3. Help the Promotions Chair create and distribute literature about rush.

    4. Plan and book locations for rushee interviews.

    5. Help the Social Chair acquire all necessary materials for the rush parties.

    6. Assist the Pledge Educator with the Pledge Pin Ceremony

  14. The Assistant Pledge Educator shall:

    1. Assist the Pledge Educator in the coordination of all pledging activities.

    2. Attend all pledge meetings/functions.

    3. Assist in the coordination of Initiation.

    4. The Assistant Pledge Educator shall become Pledge Educator the following semester and fulfill all responsibilities listed under Pledge Educator (E).

    5. Assist Service Chair with the planning and completing of weekend trips to the Philanthropy.

  15. The Alumni Chair shall:

    1. Keep updated records of past brothers (phone numbers, addresses, place of business, etc).

    2. Assist Historian with Alumni events.

    3. Coordinate an alumni internship binder with the vice president.

  16. The Recruitment Chair shall:

    1. Create a presentation to show to Communication classes and the beginning of term.

    2. Inform Communication major/minor students about Phi Beta Chi.

    3. Work closely with the Rush Chair, Pledge Educator and the Assistant Pledge Educator for the list of dates and activities for new member sessions.

  17. The Fraternity Liaison shall:

    1. Attend weekly meetings discussing fraternity life on campus.

    2. Record minutes and share them with the executive board at the next meeting.

    3. AKeep chapter updated with new procedures and rules from these meetings.

a r t i c l e  e i g h t  -  d i s c i p l i n e
Section I. General Discipline Procedures

  1. Brothers are expected to abide by all the duties as outlined in this Constitution.

  2. In the event that a Brother is perceived to not be abiding by his/her duties, the situation shall be handled as deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

Section II. Absences

  1. Collegiate Brothers are allowed three absences from Phi Beta Chi calendar functions per semester.

    1. Calendar functions include Brother Meetings, rushes, rush interviews, the Pledge Pin Ceremony, the Initiation Ceremony, and any other event that is a planned and professional Fraternity function.

    2. An absence from the Initiation Ceremony:

      1. Shall be counted as two absences

      2. Shall forfeit the Brother's right to participate in the Fraternity's prime social event of the semester

      3. Right to participate in the Fraternity's prime social event can be reinstated through a written appeal to the Executive Board.

      4. The Executive Board shall vote on the reinstatement

    3. Upon a Collegiate Brother's fourth absence, he/she will be called to a private meeting with the Executive Board.

      1. The Executive Board may either pardon the fourth absence or decide to de-affiliate the Collegiate Brother from Phi Beta Chi.

      2. In the case of a pardon, a fifth absence will result in de-affiliation.

    4. Senior Standing Policy

      1. Applies to Non-exec member second semester Seniors (or first semester seniors graduating in December.

      2. If a senior is to graduate in December (or in May), but then for some reason does not, he/she canot use Senior Standing again; it is only to be used the semester of graduation and cannot be used twice.

      3. c. See Bylaws, Article 1 - Full Membership, Section VI - Senior Standing for policy details.

Section III. Grade Requirements
Any Brother that does not meet the Fraternity's grade requirements of a 3.0 G.P.A. or better for communication classes and a 2.5 G.P.A. or better overall will be put on academic probation with the Fraternity. The Brother will be on probation for one semester while he or she works to increase his or her G.P.A. Brothers on academic probation will not lose any privileges from the Fraternity while on probation, but will be de-affiliated if they cannot raise their G.P.A.s by the end of the following semester.
Section IV. Payment of Dues

  1. Active Undergraduate Brothers who do not pay their Fraternity dues by the third Brother Meeting of the semester shall have their dues increased by $5 for each ensuing Brother Meeting that dues are not paid.

    1. Active Undergraduate Brothers who have not paid dues by the end of the semester shall be de-affiliated from Phi Beta Chi

    2. Individual cases shall be considered

Section V. Service Requirement

  1. Unperformed service hours shall double and carry over to the following semester.

  2. Brothers who accumulate more than nine service hours shall be de-affiliated from Phi Beta Chi

Section VI. Fines

  1. A brother will be fined for the following:

    1. Improper dress on the day of Chapter ($5)

    2. Lack of participation in fundraising efforts ( $20)

    3. Unexcused absence ( $10)

    4. More than three excused absences ($10)

  2. If a brother acquires three strikes within a semester he will be asked to appear in front of Executive Board for discipline.

a r t i c l e  n i n e  -  i n s i g n i a