Beta Alpha Psi Bylaws

Bylaws of Gamma Zeta Chapter
of
Beta Alpha Psi

Article I
Candidacy and Membership

Section 1. Degree seeking undergraduate and graduate students shall be eligible for Candidate status after they:

• Have declared a concentration in accounting, finance or management information systems;
• Have declared a concentration in accounting, finance or management information systems or have stated an intention to declare a concentration in accounting, finance, or information systems;
• Have attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0;
• Have attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2.

Section 2.  In order to fully benefit from Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) activities, students seeking to be BAP candidates must declare their candidacy when they have at least the equivalent of one academic year remaining prior to graduation. A student may remain a candidate for no more than twelve months prior to induction as a full member; exceptions for special circumstances may be made only with approval of the faculty advisor.

Section 3. Degree seeking undergraduate students shall be eligible for election to membership after they:

• Have completed one (1) semester of candidacy,
• Have completed at least one upper level (300 or above) accounting course,
• Have completed two (2) semesters of candidacy,
• Have taken or are currently enrolled in at least one lower level (200 or above) accounting course
• Have completed one (1) semester of candidacy,
• Have completed at least one upper level (300 or above) accounting course,
• Have attained a cumulative GPA in upper level accounting courses of at least 3.0 by the end of the pledge semester and

• 1. • OR

1. Attained at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 OR
2. Attained at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA in the most recent 30 semester hours

• Have attained a cumulative GPA in lower level accounting courses (sophomore status) of at least 3.4 by the end of the pledge semester and

1. Attained at least a cumulative GPA of 3.4 OR
2. Attained at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA in the most recent 30 semester hours.

• 2. • OR

• Have attained a cumulative GPA in upper level accounting courses (junior status) of at least 3.2 by the end of the pledge semester and

1. Attained at least a cumulative GPA of 3.2 OR

Attained at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA in the most recent 30 semester hours

Section 4. Degree seeking graduate students shall be eligible for election to membership after they:

• Have completed one (1) semester of candidacy,
• Have completed 6 graduate level hours by the end of the pledge semester,
• Have attained a GPA of 3.25 by the end of the pledge semester, and
• Have actively participated by meeting the requirements in article V.

Section 5. Full time members of the accounting faculty are eligible to participate in all meetings of the chapter.

Section 6. Persons who have achieved prominence in the field of accounting may be nominated for outstanding alumnus.

Article II
Initiation

Section 1. An initiation will be held at a banquet each semester. All initiates who are present will make the Beta Alpha Psi pledge in front of faculty, professionals, and members at the banquet.

Article III
Standing Committees

Section 1. The fraternity shall establish an Executive Committee. The chairman shall be the president.

Section 2. The fraternity shall establish a Tutoring Committee. The president shall appoint the chairman.

Section 3. The fraternity shall establish an Alumni Update Committee. The president shall appoint the chairman.

Section 4. The fraternity shall establish other temporary committees as needed. The president shall appoint the chairman.

Article IV
Meetings

Section 1. This fraternity shall hold an average of two meetings a month throughout the academic year; one shall be a business meeting. The other meetings shall be called at the discretion of the president.

Section 2. The determination of a quorum shall be not less than one-half of the registered membership.

Section 3. An agenda shall be presented prior to the meetings.

Section 4. Attendance shall be governed as per Article V (active requirements)

Article V
Active Requirements

Section 1. Members are expected to attend 80% of meetings per semester.

Section 2. Members are expected to complete a total of ten hours of community service per semester.

Section 3. Members are expected to complete six hours of tutoring per semester.

Section 4. Members are expected to complete four hours of VITA in the spring semester.

Section 5. Members are expected to complete two Adopt-A-Highway sessions, which are each two hours, for a total of four hours, in the fall semester.

Section 6. Members will be allowed to “mix and match” community service options only after the proper percentage of members have participated in each.

Article VI
Duties of the Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall have the following duties:

1. The Executive Committee shall exercise all the powers of the fraternity during the intervals between regular fraternity meetings.
2. The Executive Committee is responsible for carrying out the resolutions, policies and activities voted by the fraternity through the regular channels, as indicated in the duties of the officers and the committees of the fraternity.
3. The Executive Committee shall advise with the president in the coordination of all fraternity functions.
4. The Executive Committee shall propose a yearly program at the beginning of the curricular year, which shall include an outline of the fraternity activities for one year in advance.
5. The Executive Committee shall analyze particular problems of the fraternity pertaining to program or administration and plan for their solution.
6. The Executive Committee shall serve as finance committee of the fraternity, setting up and operating the fraternity budget on an annual basis.

Article VII
Nominations, Elections, and Appointments

Section 1. Nominations for officers are taken two weeks before the election meeting.

Section 2. Only those members that are able to serve a full term, which includes both fall and spring semesters, may be eligible for appointment to an officer position.

Section 3. Nominations for any elected or appointed office may be made from the floor prior to the election for that office.

Section 4. Only those specifically nominated for an office will be considered in the election for that office.

Section 5. All elections shall be by secret ballot and voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

Section 6. The president shall appoint, as soon after his election as possible, the necessary committee chairmen as determined by the fraternity and these bylaws. These appointments shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

Article VIII
Dues

Section 1. Each person becoming a member of this fraternity shall be required to pay an initiation fee of $65.00. Members who have already been initiated shall be required to pay $50.00 each semester after initiation.

Section 2. Dues for members of this fraternity shall be payable during the first two weeks of the semester and shall be in an amount set at the first regularly scheduled meeting in which a quorum, as determined by the presiding officer, is present. 

Article IX
Discipline Action

Section 1. Expulsion of Members

• Expulsion of a member is a serious matter. Gamma Zeta Chapter has the right to expel a member provided the National Beta Alpha Psi policies and procedures manual for the expulsion of members is strictly followed.

Section 2. Changing Member Status to Inactive

• Members who do not meet the obligations required of an active member will then become classified as an inactive member.  Inactive members are not allowed to participate in Beta Alpha Psi specific activities, are not allowed to vote in any matters that require a vote to be taken, and are not allowed to hold officer positions.  Inactive members can be reinstated as active members by completing another semester of candidacy requirements.  Members who are considered to be inactive for two semester are longer will be expelled.