Epsilon Eta Constitution and Bylaws Article I
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Epsilon Eta Constitution and Bylaws Article I – Name The official name shall be Epsilon Eta, Environmental Honors Fraternity, Delta Chapter at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh campus, hereafter referred to as Epsilon Eta. Article II - Purpose The purpose of Epsilon Eta is to foster awareness of the intrinsic relationship between people and their environment through academics, the community, and service. Epsilon Eta seeks to create a networking environment that enables members to utilize the fraternity’s resources to enhance their actions as stewards of the environment. Article III – Insignia Section 1. The official emblem of the fraternity shall be a light green shield with a dark green emblem of leaf veins on half with an overlaying tree. Section 2. The coat of arms shall be that officially adopted by the Charter and Alpha chapters of Epsilon Eta. Section 3. The pattern copies of the key and coat of arms kept by Epsilon Eta shall be the official design. Section 4. The colors of Epsilon Eta shall be kelly green, sky blue, and navy blue. Article IV – Membership Section 1. The following membership requirements are standardized by the University of Pittsburgh. 1. Membership is open to currently enrolled Pitt students as defined herein. 2. All members must accept and comply with all of the requirements and limitations of registration as a condition of membership. 3. Membership in the Epsilon Eta fraternity is voluntary and all risk of personal injury, property damage, or other losses that occur during any organization hosted event or affiliated activity are not the responsibility of the organization. Neither the University of Pittsburgh, or any affiliates shall be held responsible for any claims or causes of action for damage, loss, or destruction of personal property or injury as a result of an individual’s voluntary participation in an organization sponsored or related activity. It is further understood and agreed that it is the sole responsibility to the officers of the organization to ensure that all members and non-member participants in all activities sponsored by Epsilon Eta are fully informed of this Assumption of Risk. Furthermore, in the event any individual member or participant should express or indicate non-acceptance, or hazing, the organization’s officers shall forbid that individuals further participation/membership. In regard to the organization member or non-member participant Assumption of Risk, Epsilon Eta acknowledges that the University recommends that the organization members and non-member participants make every effort to arrange for the acquisition of liability insurance sufficient to protect all participants against those risks being assumed. 4. No hazing or illegal discriminatory criteria for membership, including those listed in the University of Pittsburgh’s non-discrimination policy, will be used as a condition for membership in the organization. These factors include race, color, religion (except for religious organizations which may restrict membership to those who share their faith-based beliefs), national origin, ancestry, sex (except same-sex organizations permitted under Title IX), age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability, or status as a veteran. This non-discriminatory policy will be applied in a manner consistent with the requirements of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and other laws applicable to student organizations. 5. All current members, including pledges, ally and brother members, shall sign a waiver that will be kept on file by the Chapter before participating in Chapter activities including but not limited to camping, hiking and service events. Section 2. The following membership requirements are standardized by the Alpha Chapter of Epsilon Eta. 1. The membership shall be divided into four classes: brother, ally, pledge, and alumni. Epsilon Eta is a non-discriminating organization that does not consider age, race, color, creed, sex, national origin, or sexual preference. 2. Brother members: a. Shall be enrolled as a full-time or part-time student at the University of Pittsburgh. b. Shall have and maintain a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA and be in good academic standing with the university. c. Brother members are required to attend 2 weekly organized study hours. d. Shall have completed at least 1 semester of a four-year curriculum or its equivalent. e. Only brother members may hold the constitutionally specified chapter offices and represent the chapter. f. Applications will be reviewed each semester by an admissions council consisting of Epsilon Eta brother members with recommendations taken into consideration by the faculty advisory board. g. Acceptance will be determined by academics, demonstration of dedication and leadership in the environmental community, provided references and consequential application strength, and observed potential in the Epsilon Eta community via rush events. h. Brother members are required to participate in one fraternity service project per semester, as well as log 8 hours of environmentally-related community service. i. If 8 hours of service are not completed during a semester, the member will still be a brother member the following semester. The service hours required from him/her will be the standard 8 hours plus double the hours he/she did not complete the previous semester. ii. If such a member is unable to complete these rollover service hours, he/she will become an ally member the following semester but will not be expected to make up the hours from the previous year’s requirements. j. Brother members are required to attend 80% of the chapter meetings held once weekly. If a member misses more than 20% of the chapter meetings per semester, they are subject to review for probation by the officers. k. Brother members are required to attend two professional development sessions provided or approved by Epsilon Eta. These can be organized by the Executive Board of Epsilon Eta, the University of Pittsburgh, or a local environmentally-oriented nonprofit organization or company. Attending one professional presentation can be replaced by giving a presentation to Epsilon Eta. This presentation would include research, internships, and/or future professional pursuits in an environmental career. l. Brother members are required to attend a minimum of one chapter-organized brotherhood event hosted by Epsilon Eta, Delta chapter. 3. Ally Members: Ally members shall be those undergraduates whose interests include environmental issues in some way but who are ineligible for brother membership due to a decline in their GPA or inability to meet service hour requirements. Ally members may participate in all Epsilon Eta activities except those specifically reserved to brother members by this constitution. Ally members are intended to uphold the same values and requirements as brother members. Additionally, ally members will be held accountable for the following requirements: a. In addition to 2 required study hours, ally members will be required to log 3 extra hours of study time organized weekly, for a total average of 5 weekly study hours per month. b. Ally members will be required to complete 6 hours of community service and participate in the semester service project. c. Should an Ally member be unable to complete their community service hours, the unfulfilled hours will carry over to the following semester. If these requirements are not fulfilled after the following semester, the Ally member will be considered by Epsilon Eta for expulsion the following semester. d. Should an Ally member be unable to complete their study hours, the unfulfilled hours will carry over to the following week. If these requirements are consistently unfulfilled on a monthly basis, the Ally member will be considered by Epsilon Eta for expulsion at the end of the current semester. e. Ally members are required to attend a minimum of one chapter-organized brotherhood event hosted by Epsilon Eta, Delta chapter. f. Ally members are able to hold committee chair positions, but not board positions. 5. Members that are studying abroad will not be held accountable for completing the requirements but are still associated with Epsilon Eta. Members studying abroad are not required to pay dues to the Delta chapter. They are expected to maintain values and accept their role as a member while abroad to uphold the standards of Epsilon Eta. 6. Graduating members will be held accountable for their requirements until graduation day. Graduating members who do not complete their requirements will not receive a chord or other form of graduation attire from Epsilon Eta. Section 3. Finances. Fees for the semester for pledge, brother, and ally members shall be forty dollars. Dues shall be paid to the Treasurer at a determined time or upon request by the Treasurer. Failure to pay dues in a timely manner shall result in a ten dollar penalty. Any member refusing to pay dues may be expelled from the fraternity upon a majority vote of the membership. a. Epsilon Eta shall fully comply with the University fundraising policies and procedures for registered student organizations. b. Epsilon Eta will not maintain an outside bank account if it receives funding from the University of Pittsburgh or the Student Government Board. c. Fees for Epsilon Eta will be used to pay for rush events, formal events, public outreach for professional development, and other activities sponsored by Epsilon Eta. Section 4. Alumni members may be associated with Epsilon Eta indefinitely and are required to give a non-collegiate email to be reached after graduating from the undergraduate program. Section 5. Brother and alumni members may wear the official insignia and shall remain members for life. Ally members are affiliated with the Delta chapter, however they may not wear the official insignia as they cannot represent Epsilon Eta via email, report, public assembly, etc. Unless they qualify for Brother membership, this affiliation shall terminate automatically when they cease to be undergraduate students. Section 6.