Constitution and By-laws

Article I: Mission and Vision

Section 1. This organization shall be called the Rho Chi Society, Gamma Mu Chapter.

Section 2. The Mission of the Society is to encourage and recognize excellence in intellectual achievement and foster fellowship among its members. Further, the Society encourages high standards of conduct and character, and advocates critical inquiry in all aspects of pharmacy.

Section 3. The Society’s Vision is to achieve universal recognition of its members as lifelong intellectual leaders in pharmacy. As a community of scholars, the Society will instill the desire to pursue intellectual excellence and critical inquiry to advance the profession.

Article II: Membership

The Rho Chi Society Gamma Mu Chapter shall consist of collegiate, associate, and honorary members. The election of members may take place at any time as outlined in the Chapter bylaws.

Article III: District Designation

The Rho Chi Society Gamma Mu Chapter shall represent and serve as an active Chapter in District VI – Gulf Coast Section of the National Rho Chi Society.

Article IV: Chapter Officers, Executive Committee, and Advisors

The Rho Chi Society Gamma Mu Chapter shall have the following elected officers: president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer, historian, and regional senate representative. The Chapter Executive Committee shall consist of these Chapter officers. The Chapter shall have a faculty advisor(s). Duties, duration of office, and manner of election are outlined in the Chapter bylaws.

Article V: Amendments

All amendments presented shall require an affirmative vote (email or paper ballot) by a majority of the Executive Committee and an affirmative vote (email or paper ballot) by two-thirds of the total number of active Chapter members.

BY-LAWS

Article I: Membership

Section 1. The full collegiate membership of the Society shall consist of professional students (entry-level PharmD candidates, post-baccalaureate, and non-traditional), graduate students, and members of the teaching staff who have been duly elected in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws.

Section 2. In regular meetings of the active Chapter, associate members shall have all privileges of full collegiate members except the right to vote and to hold office.

Section 3. The Charter members of a Chapter shall consist of professional and graduate students enrolled in the school of pharmacy at the time the charter is granted and of members of the institution’s teaching staff who are eligible for induction as full collegiate members. No student, graduate or professional, or faculty member is eligible as a charter member if already elected to full collegiate membership in another Chapter of the society. Alumni of the school or college are not eligible for charter membership, but may be elected as associate members.

Section 4. Honorary membership in the Society shall be restricted to those who have given evidence of distinguished scholarship, rendered distinguished service to pharmacy, and who have been elected to such membership in accordance with the provisions stated in these Bylaws. Honorary members shall not have the right to vote or hold office.

Section 5. Any member of the Society who may change residence shall be entitled to affiliation with the local Chapter upon presentation and acceptance of satisfactory credentials from the National Office. Such members shall have the same active, alumni, or honorary status in the new Chapter as was held in the one from which membership was transferred. Such status may be altered by vote of the new Chapter in accordance with the provisions as outlined in the Bylaws.

Article II: Eligibility for Membership

Section 1. The qualifications as outlined are considered to be minimal standards, and academic qualifications are the essential criteria. Discrimination in membership selection that is based on race, color, creed, religion, gender, national origin or ancestry, age, or disability is prohibited. An application process to educate candidates about mission, vision, and objectives of Society is highly encouraged, and the Executive Committee shall determine the actual procedures. The application shall include, but should not be limited to, a summary of the applicant’s involvement in student organizations, professional pharmacy organizations, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Information provided via the application process shall be considered when determining candidate eligibility as a component of the minimal membership requirements.

Section 2. Eligible for election as full collegiate members are:

a) Professional entry-level PharmD candidates who:

1. are enrolled in, or accepted into, a professional pharmacy program that is accredited by or has been granted candidate status by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE), and

2. have completed no less than 78 credit hours, and

3. rank in the highest 20 percent of their class as determined by the school or college in which they are enrolled.

i) The Chapter shall base the determination of the highest 20 percent upon class size at the time those students become eligible for membership in the Rho Chi Society. If the 20 percent calculation results in a fraction, the number should be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number. Once the class size is determined, the number may not be increased or decreased due to addition, attrition, or early graduation.

ii) In calculating class standing, Chapters are to use the same criteria for transfer students, including those who may hold a prior degree as for students who have been enrolled in the parent institution for their entire academic career, and

4. maintained an average overall cumulative grade of ³ 88% at the completion of 78 credit hours, and

5. does not possess course grades < 70% at the completion of 78 credit hours, and

6. has not utilized the second-chance policy, and

7. is certified eligible for membership by the dean of the pharmacy school or the dean’s designee. The dean or the dean’s designee shall certify that the candidate have no known disciplinary action for academic reasons or for unprofessional conduct.

b) All Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy students who:

1. have completed no less than one-half of the required professional didactic course work as defined for their degree

2. have maintained a professional cumulative grade average of 88% or higher is post-baccalaureate course work, and

3. are nominated for membership by a student of faculty member of Rho Chi or by a faculty member who is not a member of the Society themselves and

4. is certified eligible for membership by the dean of the pharmacy school or the dean’s designee. The dean or the dean’s designee shall certify that the candidate have no known disciplinary action for academic reasons or for unprofessional conduct.

c) All graduate students who:

1. are pursuing a Master of Science or a Doctor of Philosophy degree and are majoring in one or more areas of pharmaceutical study mentored or supervised by a member of the pharmacy faculty, and

2. have complete no less than one-half of the required course work as defined for their degree by the program, and

3. have maintained a cumulative grade average or 88% or higher in graduate course work, and

4. have not failed any courses, and

5. have not obtained an individual course grade between 80% and 90% more than once, and

6. are nominated for membership by a member of the faculty or self and

d) Faculty members who:

1. are licensed pharmacists and possess an bachelor or doctorate degree in pharmacy.

2. are appointed in a school or college of pharmacy, and

3. are eligible to vote on faculty matters of the school or college of pharmacy, and

4. have principle duty to instruct either professional or graduate students in one or more of the professional areas of the pharmacy curriculum, or

5. hold research or administrative appointments in the school or college of pharmacy.

Section 3. Eligible for election as associate members are graduates of an ACPE-accredited Baccalaureate or Doctor of Pharmacy degree program who:

1. earned a professional and cumulative GPA of 3.0 at graduation, and

2. have, since graduation, exhibited evidence of intellectual excellence and critical inquiry, and

3. are nominated by a full member of the Society, and

4. are invited to apply for associate membership by an established collegiate chapter and

5. have their application favorably reviewed by the sponsoring chapter, the school or college dean, and the appropriate Regional Councilor.

Section 4. Eligible for election as honorary members are persons who have given evidence of distinguished scholarship and have rendered distinguished service to pharmacy. Honorary members may be nominated by any Chapter or by any member of the National Rho Chi Executive Council. Criteria for honorary membership shall be established by the Executive Council and distributed to the Chapters by the National Office in a timely fashion. Nominations, including qualifications of the nominees, shall be submitted in writing to the National Secretary at least three months prior to the annual convention of the Society, and the National Office shall transmit any such nominations and credentials to the members of Executive Council at least one month prior to the annual convention. Election shall be by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council. An appropriate certificate and pin shall be issued to each honorary member with the fees paid by the Chapter making the nomination or by the National Office when a member of the Executive Council makes the nomination.

Article III: Election of Members

Section 1. Duly qualified candidates for collegiate or associate membership in the Society shall become members upon receiving the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the voting members present providing that a quorum as defined in the Chapter’s Bylaws is met.

a) Gamma Mu Chapter will elect members annually (or semi-annually, as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee).

b) A quorum of voting members (a simple majority of the active members) is required for the election of new members.

c) A majority vote of the membership present via paper ballot is required for election of new members.

d) Individuals shall become members of the Society upon complying with membership requirements, election to membership by the active members of local Chapters, payment of initiation fees, and after being duly initiated in the presence of the Chapter membership.

Section 2. Members of the National Executive Council shall elect nominees for honorary membership in the Society. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership of the Council is required for election to honorary membership.

Article IV: Initiation

Section 1. Notice of election to Chapter membership shall be made in writing by the secretary-treasurer.

Section 2. Successful candidates for full collegiate and associate membership shall be initiated according to the official ceremony.

Section 3. Successful candidates for honorary membership shall be inducted into membership at the annual convention if possible. Otherwise the Chapter concerned shall conduct the initiation.

Section 4. A membership certificate shall be presented to each elected member at the time of initiation. The certificate will be signed by the National President and the Chapter President and shall be stamped with the official seal of the Society.

Section 5. All certificates issued shall be ordered from the National Office and shall be paid for by the Chapter ordering them

Section 6. A key shall be presented to each elected member at the time of initiation. The key shall be ordered through the National Office and shall be paid for by the Chapter ordering it.

Article V: Chapter Officers, Nominations and Elections

Section 1. The president shall perform such duties as usually pertain to the office of president including, but not limited to, planning and presiding over the general meetings of the Gamma Mu Chapter and meetings of the Executive Committee, and appointing members to committees of the Chapter.

Section 2. The vice-president is the chief administrative officer of the Chapter. The vice-president shall conduct the business of the Chapter in accord with the Society’s Constitution and Bylaws and the policies established by the Executive Committee. The vice-president shall be a member of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. In absence of the president, the vice-president shall perform the duties of the office of the president.

Section 4. The secretary-treasurer shall, in consultation with the president and executive committee members, develop the agenda for the general meetings of the Chapter and the executive committee meetings. The secretary-treasurer shall record and maintain the records of the proceedings of those meetings and distribute copies to the members. It shall be their duty to keep all money and securities of the Chapter, to render an account of the same at each meeting, to pay all bills and obligations subject to the order of the Chapter, and to deliver to his/her successor all documents and property belonging to his/her office. The Chapter secretary shall report the names and addresses of the Chapter officers to the National Office at the time of the election. The secretary shall promptly report any changes in this list that may occur during the year. Along with the president and vice-president, he/she is responsible for annually auditing the financial records of the Chapter. The secretary-treasurer shall be a member of the Executive Committee.

Section 5. The historian shall serve as the collector of the archival records of the society and shall forward these to the incoming historian or the executive committee, which shall serve as the repository for these records. The historian shall be a member of the Executive Committee.

Section 6. The student senate representative shall attend the student senate general meetings and serve as the Rho Chi Society Gamma Mu Chapter representative. He/she shall report the issues addressed during the student senate meetings pertaining to the Chapter to the Executive Committee. The student senate representative shall be a member of the Executive Committee.

Section 7. The campus liaisons shall serve as mediators between the satellite campuses and the main Amarillo campus. He/she shall be nominated by active members and shall be elected into office by a majority vote of the Chapter.

Section 8. The Chapter Executive Committee shall annually appoint active members to serve in a officer nominations committee. The duties of the officer nominations committee shall include, but shall not be limited to, holding a meeting to formulate the official email and paper ballots, call a general meeting to announce officer nominations, set voting deadlines, collect/tally votes, and announce the outcome of the election to the Gamma Mu Chapter.

Section 9. The Chapter advisor(s) shall oversee the activities of the officer nominations committee to ensure that appropriate procedures are used throughout the nomination and election process.

Section 10. Election of Chapter officers shall be conducted during an appointed general meeting. It will be by written/electronic ballots. A majority of the votes cast by the active members will be required to elect. In case of a tie vote, the secretary-treasurer shall break the tie by polling the executive committee.

Section 11. The officers thus elected shall take office upon installation at the close of the meeting. The term of office for all officers shall be 1 full year (initiating immediately following the completion of each spring semester) or until their successors are duly elected and installed; however, subsequent elections for the same individual to the same office can be made.

Section 12. The officers shall maintain the minimum membership requirements while in office. If minimum membership requirements are not met, membership in the Executive Committee and/or the term in office shall be dissolved.

Section 13. An officer may be removed from office by a three-fourths vote of the Chapter members.

Section 14. If for any reason a vacancy occurs in any Chapter office, the Executive Committee until the succeeding election shall fill it.

Section 15. The Gamma Mu Chapter shall send at least one delegate (a currently active member of the Chapter) to the National Rho Chi Society conferences.

Article VI: Insignia

Section 1. The insignia of the Society shall be in the form of an old-fashioned watch key, embodying the Greek letters Rho Chi in a definite configuration raised upon an oblong eight-sided base.

Section 2. The colors of the Society shall be purple and white.

Section 3. The official seal shall be the same general configuration as the insignia.

Section 4. The official banner should be purple and white with the official insignia of the Society in the center, the words “Rho Chi Society” appearing above the insignia and the words “Pharmacy Honor Society” appearing below the insignia.

Section 5. Official medallions/cords may be worn by members of the active Chapters during commencement exercises conducted by their respective school or college of pharmacy. These honorary medallions/cords shall be purple and/or white in color.

Article VII: National and Regional Conventions

Section 1. Delegates.

a) Each active Chapter shall be entitled to two delegates, one voting and one alternate. Alternate delegates shall be allowed all privileges except that of voting and shall be allowed to vote in the absence of the voting delegate.

b) Any Chapter failing for three successive years to have a delegate or an alternative in attendance at the annual convention shall be declared inactive by the Executive Council and may not elect members until reinstated.

Section 2. Chapters shall report their official delegates to the National Office no later than thirty days before the convention. The National Office will make the procedure for reporting delegates and any necessary delegate forms available to the Chapters.

Section 3. The Chapter sending the delegate may pay the travel expenses of the delegate.

Article VIII: Chapter Fees

Section 1. The initiation fee shall include the cost of the official key, the certificate of membership, and the national membership fee. The cost of a banquet or other special event associated with the initiation ceremony may be assessed in excess of the initiation fee.

Section 2. There shall be no initiation fee for honorary members.

Section 3. Chapters shall fix the amount of the annual dues to suit their respective needs.

Section 4. Each Chapter shall have power to assess its members as it sees fit.

Article IX: Dissolution of Local Chapters

In the event a collegiate Chapter becomes inactive or its charter is revoked, all funds on hand after liabilities have been paid, all equipment bearing the name of the Society, and all the books and records pertaining to the Chapter activities shall revert to the Society. The National Office shall make appropriate arrangements for storage or disposition of these materials.