Charter Constitution

Article I: Purpose and Policy

The purpose of Psi Chi shall be to encourage1 stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. This organization shall coexist with the Psychology Club to further our understanding of psychology and related subjects in correlation to our society.  Psi Chi shall function under current Culver-Stockton College policies and the policies and provisions contained in this constitution.

Article II: Objectives

• To provide academic recognition to its inductees by the mere fact of membership.

• To nurture the spark of that accomplishment by offering a climate congenial to its creative development.

• To fulfill the purposes of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology.

Article III: Membership

Membership is open to undergraduate men and women who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests and who meet the minimum qualifications.  These qualifications for active student membership are as follows:

• Completion of at least 3+ semesters of college course work.  (Transfer students must have completed one semester and at least 12 credit hours of course work at Culver-Stockton College.)

• Completion of 12 semester hours in psychology and forty-five credit hours overall to be considered as a possible inductee.

• Registration for major or minor standing in psychology.

• Undergraduates who are elected to Psi Chi must rank in the upper 33 percent of their class in general scholarship. They must have an overall cumulative G.P.A. of 3.50, and they must also demonstrate superior scholarship in psychology, earning a minimum G.P.A. in psychology courses taken at C-SC of 3.40.

• High standards of personal behavior.

• Fifteen or more hours of community service volunteer work -- this does not include internships.

• Two-thirds affirmative vote of those present at a regular meeting of the chapter.

Article IV: Officers

Qualifications & Eligibility

• The positions of officers of the Psi Chi Chapter shall be that of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian/Public Relations.

Duties of the Officers

• The officers of the Psi Chi Chapter shall follow the duties listed in the official Psi Chi Chapter Officer Guidelines handbook.

Election of Officers

• Election of Psi Chi Chapter officers for the following academic year shall take place prior to or on April 1st. If the membership pool is not large enough to fill all the positions because of graduation, the election of officers is to take place prior to the next induction ceremony. A chapter President (or other officers) may be selected on a pro tem basis until the next election of officers in the fall.

Article V: Meetings

Meetings of Psi Chi shall be held a minimum of once per month throughout the academic year.

Article VI: Suspension

Psi Chi has the authority to suspend members who do not abide by the defined characteristics of an active member.  Officers may be removed from office with a notification of other officers, a three/fourths vote of all active members, and the approval of the advisor. Suspended members and officers can retain active membership once qualifications are met.  They may then be eligible for office after one year of reinstatement.

Article VII: Parliamentary Authority

Rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

Article VIII: Chapter Dues and Active Membership

This organization may establish reasonable dues as deemed necessary by active members and with the approval of the advisor. To remain an active member, dues are currently $10.00 per year and payable by September 15th unless other arrangements have been made with the Psi Chi faculty advisor.

Payment of annual dues is required in order to maintain active membership status at C-SC, which is necessary for participation in chapter activities, events, and trips.

Only active members are eligibile for awards; e.g., The Chapter's Psi Chi Service Award.

Only active members have voting rights.

Only active members can apply "service hours" earned in Psi Chi to help meet the community service requirement of Culver-Stockton College and the psychology department.

Also, only active members are eligible to make presentations at MPA, which is held in Chicago every spring. (Psi Chi member's who are presenting at MPA may have the cost of the round trip train ticket paid for by C-SC. Moreover, all active members, regardless if they are presenting or not, will have their MPA conference fee paid by the C-SC Psi Chi chapter.)

Article IX: Amendments

1. These Bylaws may be amended only after properly being presented for reconsideration at a monthly meeting to be  voted on at the following meeting.

2. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting membership present at the meeting shall be necessary to amend any section of these Bylaws.

3. Voting shall be by roll call.  The Secretary shall call the roll.  The members shall declare their vote(s) by aye (yes) or no.  The Secretary shall record the vote(s) and then repeat them to be sure of their accurate recordation.

-- Updated December 24, 2005.