The national scholastic and professional society

for Financial Information professionals.

BETA ALPHA PSI
BYLAWS

Article I - Identification

The name of the organization shall be University of Southern Indiana Petitioning Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi.

Article II - Authority

Section 1: These bylaws are subordinate to and in all ways subject to the National Constitution and Bylaws of Beta Alpha Psi, and hereby reaffirm the purposes, policies, and principles contained therein. Any provision of this document that conflicts with the existing National Constitution and Bylaws shall be null and void.

Section 2: These bylaws shall be the principal governing document of the University of Southern Indiana Petitioning Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, and any Constitution or Bylaws previously existing are hereby considered null and void.

Section 3: The University of Southern Indiana Petitioning Chapter affirms knowledge of and adherence to all applicable University regulations.

Article III - Purpose

Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary and professional society for accounting, finance, and information systems majors. Its stated purpose includes recognizing scholastic and professional excellence in the fields of accounting, finance, and information systems with the provision of opportunities for the self-development and association among members and practicing business professionals: and encouragement of a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibility.

Article IV - Eligibility for Membership

Membership in Beta Alpha Psi recognizes academic excellence and complements members' formal education by providing interaction among students, faculty, and professionals. Since the value of membership in Beta Alpha Psi is based on a member's participation, candidates and members of Beta Alpha Psi should be active participants in the activities of the organization.

Section 1: Degree seeking undergraduate students and non-degree Post-Baccalaureate students at institutions in which a chapter is located shall be eligible for election to membership after they:

a. have declared a concentration in accounting, finance or information systems;

b. have completed, in addition to two years of collegiate courses, at least one upper level course beyond the business core (for transfer students, the most recent qualifying course must be at the initiating institution or another AACSB or EQUIS accredited institution);

c. have attained a cumulative grade average in upper level courses, in their declared area of concentration, beyond the business core of at least 3.0 (where A is equal to 4.0) or the equivalent; and

1. have attained at least a cumulative grade average of 3.0, or

2. have achieved a rank within the top 35% of their university class, or

3. have attained at least a 3.25 cumulative grade average on the most recently completed 30 semester hours;

Article V - Membership and candidate Program

Section 1: Membership

A. The membership of this Chapter shall consist of those individuals who are members as of the adoption of these bylaws, and who are periodically admitted to membership under the requirements set forth herein or by the National Constitution and Bylaws.

B. Membership in the Chapter shall be open to all persons, without discrimination, who are interested in the aims and Purposes of the Society, who are willing to subscribe to its National Constitution and Bylaws and to this Chapter’s Bylaws, and who are otherwise qualified under the provisions set forth in these documents.

C. Membership in the society shall be limited to those persons of good moral character who have achieved scholastic and/or professional excellence in the field of accounting, finance, or information systems; who have been initiated according to the official ritual: and are in good standing.

D. A student considered for membership must have maintained the following academic standards:

E. Membership requirements are completion of one semester of active candidate status, attainment of the academic requirement for full student membership, and completion of the required number of candidate program hours determined for the semester. Hours are earned by participation in Chapter activities. Five hours of participation are required each semester and for each candidate.

F. Honorary members may be initiated by a two-thirds majority vote of current active student members. They shall have been considered because of outstanding personal and professional attainments in the business community.

G. A mandatory initiation banquet shall be held twice in each academic year during the spring and fall semesters. It shall be conducted and reported according to the National Constitution, Bylaws, and Chapter Activity Program. The initiation should occur in the first 1/3 of the semester. Attendance is mandatory for all initiates and members, but is optional for candidates.

H. Members of the society, once classified as a student member, but no longer students or no longer associated with the University, shall be designated as alumnus members.

Section 2: candidate Program

A. candidates of Beta Alpha Psi are students who have declared a concentration in accounting, finance, or information systems (or who have indicated an intention to concentrate in accounting, finance, or information systems) but who have not yet met the requirements for initiation

B. Individuals may continue as candidates as long as they remain active in the Chapter. candidates may remain candidates until the first semester of association with Beta Alpha Psi after they have completed two years of collegiate courses and at least one upper level course in accounting, finance, or information systems beyond the business core. At that point, they must have satisfied all the requirements for membership and be initiated or be dropped as a candidate.

C. candidates will cease to be classified as candidates when they no longer have a declared area of concentration in accounting, finance, or information systems.

Section 3: Alumnus Members

Members of Beta Alpha Psi, once classified as Student or Faculty members, who are no longer concentrating in accounting, finance, or information systems or are no longer associated with a collegiate institution in which there is a chapter shall be designated as Alumnus members.

Section 4: Honorary Members

Members of Beta Alpha Psi who, at the time of their initiation, are neither students nor faculty at the institution in which the initiating chapter is located shall be designated as Honorary members.

Section 5: Charter Members

Members of the petitioning group who are no longer enrolled as students at the time a chapter is installed, but who satisfy other eligibility requirements, may be included in the charter group as student members and initiated at the time the chapter is installed or at any regularly scheduled initiation within two ear of the chapter’s installation.

Article VI - Resignation

Section 1: A member or candidate may resign from Beta Alpha Psi by notifying in writing the Faculty Advisors and local chapter president.

Section 2: The resigning member shall surrender the membership certificate and other Beta Alpha Psi insignia to the local chapter. The local chapter must forward the membership certificate to the Executive Office. Initiation fees and candidate fees are nonrefundable.

Article VII - Probation

Section 1: Any member whose dues have not been paid within three weeks of the required time shall be placed on probation, unless extenuating circumstances are evident and presented to the officer team and faculty advisor in a timely manner.

Section 2: A member who has been placed on probation shall be reinstated upon full payment of the past due plus a twenty dollar administration fee.

Section 3: If a student member is on probation (academic or University of Southern Indiana Petitioning Chapter requirements) he or she is required to comply with all chapter requirements. However, such student member is prohibited from participating in chapter events involving firms while in such probationary status.

Article VIII - Expulsion

Section 1: A member may be expelled for conduct detrimental to the purposes or interests of Beta Alpha Psi. Charges of such conduct must be made in writing to the faculty advisor and signed by a member of Beta Alpha Psi.

Section 2: When such charges have been made against a member, the faculty advisor must make certain that the accused member is given notice and an opportunity to be heard concerning the charges. Notice must be given to the accused member by certified mail at least thirty days before the hearing, and such notice shall include: (1) a copy of the charges made against the member; (2) the time, date, and place of the hearing; (3) an explanation of the expulsion procedures which include automatic review by the Board.

Section 3: A two-thirds majority vote of the active student members present at the expulsion meeting shall be necessary to accept the expulsion of a member from the Chapter. The President shall have the responsibility for proposing the expulsion of a member, specifying in writing to each Chapter member the reasons for the proposed action.

Section 4: A committee of chapter members, including at least two faculty members (exclusive of the faculty advisor) of Beta Alpha Psi, is to be selected by the Faculty Advisor and ranking chapter officer to investigate the charges, review the decision made by the chapter, and make a determination as to whether or not the accused member should be expelled. The findings should be based on a presentation of the charges by the accusing member and the accused member has the opportunity to appear and explain the actions in question.

Section 5: If expelled, the member may request a hearing before the entire local chapter in a special meeting called for that specific purpose. A majority vote of the chapter may reverse the committee's findings.

Article IX - Voting, Nominations, and Elections

Voting

Section 1: Only student members in good standing shall be entitled to vote and to hold office. Members in good standing are those who maintain their membership by payment of dues and otherwise comply with these bylaws and regulations of the Chapter as recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committees and/or membership.

Section 2: All active student members present at a Chapter meeting shall have complete voting power at such a meeting.

Section 3: Bylaws may be amended only by an affirmative vote of at least ¾ of current active members attending the meeting.

Section 4: Voting for officers shall be by secret ballot. Ballots are to be collected and votes counted by a designated vote committee comprised of at least three members who are not officers and who are not running for any office. Votes must be given in person and a sign-off sheet must be signed by the voting committee’s receipt of the vote.

Nominations and Elections

Section 1: Elections for officers are to be held annually in the spring semester of each academic year. Officer position terms will be for one full academic year, unless officer resigns or graduates in December of said academic year.

Section 2: A special election must occur in the fall semester for officer term to begin January 1^st in the event that a current officer graduates in December or resigns his or her position before completing their term and to elect the President-Elect position.

Section 3: One Chapter meeting before each election is to be designated for the nomination of new Chapter officers. Another Chapter meeting before each election is to be designated for the nomination for the purpose of voting for new officers. The nomination meeting must precede the voting meeting.

Section 4: Nomination for officers may be accepted by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is to be comprised of two faculty advisors and the current Chapter president. Nominations shall close 48 hours before the scheduled voting meeting.

Section 5: All candidates will have the opportunity to address the voting members at either the nomination meeting or the voting meeting if they so desire.

Section 6: The Nominating Committee is to present the full slate of all nominees to the membership at the voting meeting for consideration. Voting will then take place.

Section 7: Absentee ballots shall be accepted by the Voting Committee in person only, before the voting meeting. The vote must be immediately documented by signature of the voter.

Section 8: In the event of a tie, a subsequent vote is to be conducted at a subsequent meeting. Only active members in attendance may vote.

Section 9: All active members are eligible for any office except that of president, in which case, a candidate must have been an active member in the Chapter for a minimum of one full semester.

Section 10: Installation of officers shall be held at a Chapter meeting.

Article X - Officers and Committees

Section 1:

The President shall:

• Delegate jobs and duties to other officers.

• Maintain authority and supervise other officers.

• Conduct chapter meetings.

• Initiate new members.

• Coordinate semester initiation banquets.

• Attend the national conference.

• Approve check requests.

• Co-sign checks.

• Establish annual objectives.

• Communicate to members/candidates if their status in the society changes.

The Faculty Vice-President shall:

• Act as the official faculty advisor for the Chapter.

• Counsel and assist the officers and various committees.

• Assure the continuity of the Chapter.

• Serve as liaison with the faculty and administration.

• Serve as liaison with the National Society.

• The Faculty Vice-President shall not concurrently serve on the National Council.

• Verify the appropriateness of the content of reports submitted to the National Society.

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The President-Elect shall:

• Get a working knowledge of all officer positions.

• Shadow the current president to learn the activities required to run the chapter.

• Assist president as needed.

• Act in capacity of president when current president is unavailable.

The Vice-President of Activities shall:

• Contact firms and coordinate activities with the firms.

• Coordinate community service events.

• Communicate with Reporting Secretary.

• Coordinate and create annual schedule of events.

• Notify Recording Secretary on activities.

• Coordinate parking arrangements for guest speakers.

• Introduce speakers at meetings and make sure meeting location is equipped with necessary technology.

• Provide calendar of activities as soon as possible each semester and update a needed.

• Reserve meeting rooms for the semester.

• Distribute and collect sign up sheets at meetings for the activities.

• Perform other duties as needed by the executive committee or president of the chapter

The VP of Fundraising shall:

• Coordinate Fundraising activities.

• Communicate with Reporting Secretary.

• Notify Recording Secretary on activities.

• Distribute and collect sign up sheets at meetings for the fundraisers.

• Coordinate and create annual schedule of events.

• Perform other duties as needed by the executive committee or president of the chapter

The Treasurer shall:

• Bill and collect all dues, fees, and amounts due.

• Receive and reconcile the bank statement, maintain current and accurate records of the financial position of the Chapter and prepare all reports required by the National Office.

• Pay and sign all out going checks.

• Prepare the budget for the term.

• Prepare the Financial Statements, arrange for their audit, and send to the National Office the audited financial statements for the Chapter by the date designated by the National Constitution and Chapter Activity Program.

• Perform other duties as needed by the executive committee or president of the chapter.

The VP of Membership shall:

• Maintain compliance of Bylaws.

• Provide faculty advisor with names of members and candidates for grade checks.

• Maintain and distribute phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

• Distribute honor cords.

• Assemble candidate packets.

• Send Thank You notes to guest speakers.

• Communicate to members/candidates if their status in the society changes.

• Perform other duties as needed by the executive committee or president of the chapter

The Vice-President of Publicity shall:

• Coordinate BAP presentations in the classrooms.

• Arrange with faculty for BAP members to speak to accounting students during the first week of school.

• Hang signs for meetings five days before the meeting: remove signs day after meeting.

• Communicate with faculty and staff about upcoming meetings.

• Send regular e-mail reminders to faculty and BAP candidates, initiates, and members.

• Attend Registered Student Organization meetings.

• Advertise tutoring sessions.

• Send information to the Accounting and Finance departments for the newsletter.

• Maintain and update firm contact information.

• Perform other duties as needed by the executive committee or president of the chapter

The Reporting Secretary shall:

• Report monthly to BAP National Office.

• Maintain records of submitted and approved hours.

• Maintain records of initiations, candidates, and signups.

• Track attendance at events and contact “no-shows” at firm events.

• Prepare check request and send initiation and chapter maintenance fees to BAP National Office.

• Perform other duties as needed by the executive committee or president of the chapter

The Vice-President of Technology shall:

• Continually update and maintain the chapter web site.

• Create the appropriate databases for reporting activities.

• Keep up to date with new technologies that may assist the advancement of the chapter.

• Perform other duties as needed by the executive committee or president of the chapter

The Voting Affairs Chair shall:

• Prepare ballots.

• Collect and count ballots

• Accept absentee ballots

• Perform other duties as needed by the executive committee or president of the chapter

Section 2: Committees will be made underneath of these chairs as needed. These committee members will consist of chapter members or other chairs as needed.

Article X - Faculty Advisor Selection

Selection of the faculty advisor will be selected by a vote of the membership based on the recommendation from the outgoing faculty advisor and the accounting, finance, or information systems department char.

The Faculty Advisor position will be held to the same expulsionary rules as members. The two decision making faculty members will be chosen exclusive of the faculty advisor, and will be made by the chair of the accounting, finance, and information systems.

Article XI - Finances and Dues

Section 1: Junior/Senior national candidates and members chapter dues shall be as determined by the National organization or as the Chapter may determine. Sophomore national candidates and member chapter dues shall be as determined by the National organization or as the Chapter may determine. All national candidates shall pay all required national fees, if any, for pledging, initiation fee and membership. In addition, all other required fees, including but not limited to the banquet fee, must be paid.

Section 2: Dues may be increased or decreased without amendment hereto, provided such an increase or decrease is approved by a ¾ of the members in attendance at time of voting. Vote shall be conducted at a regular business meeting preceding the semester due date for fees and dues.

Article XII - Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the chapter will begin on May 1^st and end on April 30^th.

Article XIII - Amendments

Section 1: These bylaws may be amended, added to, or stricken by a ¾ vote of the active student members in attendance, providing that the proposed change in announced to the membership one meeting prior to its being voted upon.

Section 2: All official copies of these bylaws must be changed to reflect any legitimate amendments.