<p> BY-LAWS INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL The University of Texas at Tyler</p><p>Article I: Conducting Business 1. All member fraternities must be represented at each IFC meeting through the attendance of their elected delegate(s) and/or other representatives appointed to attend each meeting. 2. All member fraternities must be represented at each IFC meeting in order to conduct regular IFC business.</p><p>Article II: Meeting</p><p>Section A. Meeting Schedule 1. The IFC shall meet on a regular basis throughout the course of a school year, with the exception of university holidays. </p><p>Section B. Voting 1. Each member fraternity is entitled to one vote through their chosen delegate. 2. Each executive officer of the IFC in addition to the IFC Advisor has a voice but no vote.</p><p>Section C. Meeting Time & Location 1. The council president will designate the meeting location.</p><p>Article III: Duties of the Member Fraternities</p><p>Section A. Requirements for Eligibility</p><p>1. The membership of the IFC shall include all undergraduate social fraternities with mutually exclusive membership recognized by the NIC. 2. Excluded shall be all honorary, professional, service, and women's fraternities. 3. Fraternities wishing to become members of the IFC must be undergraduate social fraternities as defined above, and 4. Be officially registered as a student organization at The University of Texas at Tyler.</p><p>Section B. Privileges of a member</p><p>A member of IFC shall: 1. Have all privileges and rights under this Constitution and Bylaws, except as limited by the actions The University of Texas at Tyler; 2. and may; a. Participate in all IFC sponsored programs; b. Have its members, as they are eligible, hold executive and appointed offices of the IFC; c. Receive IFC sponsored awards and recognitions. 3. Each member fraternity shall be represented by two voting members, chosen by the member fraternity as its delegates. These individuals cannot be an officer of the IFC or the president of his fraternity. 4. Each member fraternity shall be entitled to one vote through their chosen delegates a. Although each member fraternity shall have two delegates, these delegates shall vote as one on behalf of their member fraternity, b. Thus, each member fraternity shall have one vote</p><p>Section C. Duties of a member</p><p>A member must: 1. Pay all dues and fees owed to the IFC in a timely manner; 2. Abide by this Constitution and Bylaw; 3. Cooperate with all administrative actions of the Executive Board of IFC and that of the IFC Advisor; 5. Maintain an updated list of its current members, officers, advisors, and corporation board members in the Office of Student Life & Leadership; 6. File in the Office of Student Life & Leadership the name of each new member, and update the new member's status when there is a change in that status; 7. Maintain an updated file of grade release cards in the Office of Student Life & Leadership; 8. Abide by all University and IFC regulations and policies; 10. Encourage scholarship, service, and leadership among its members. 11. Must be in good standing with the university.</p><p>It shall be the duty of the member fraternities to uphold and abide by the Constitution, By-Laws, and the rules and regulations of the council. The member fraternities will support and uphold all University of Texas at Tyler policies and procedures and UT System policies. It shall be the duty of the member fraternities to have a representative present at every regular meeting and special meeting of the Council.</p><p>Article IV: Rules of Order</p><p>1. Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used to run all business meetings.</p><p>Article V: Member Fraternity Policies & Requirements</p><p>1. Each associate/pledge/new member will be enrolled in at least 12 hours (3 at UT Tyler) if registered for Fall formal recruitment, and have a minimum high school GPA of 2.3 for the first semester freshman year and one of the following: a. minimum college GPA of 2.25 thereafter; or b. has a GPA at or above the campus all-men’s average thereafter 2. Each member fraternity will maintain an annual cumulative GPA of either: a. a minimum of 2.5, or b. at or above each campus all-men’s average 3. Each member fraternity’s associate/pledge/new member program shall last no longer than 12 weeks. 4. Each member fraternity will not have a women’s auxiliary group, such as “little sisters.” 5. Each member fraternity will have risk management policies that address alcohol use, fire safety, hazing, and sexual assault/abuse. 6. Each member fraternity will be alcohol-free at all rush/recruitment activities, including formal, informal and summer break recruitment activities. 7. Each member fraternity will have alcohol-free pledge/associate/new member programs.</p><p>Article VI: Absences</p><p>1. Delegate Absences a. The absence of any member fraternity from any regular or special meeting of the Council shall result in the levying of a fine in the amount of $10 for the first offense, $25 for the second offense, and $35 for the third offense in addition to a review of the delegate’s attendance. b. Delegate fines are to be paid by the member fraternity and shall be collected by the VP Finance. c. It is the responsibility of the member fraternity to assign two delegates to attend each meeting, thus sending an alternate in the event of a potential delegate absence. d. All fines are appealable to the IFC President. 2. Executive Board Absences a. The absence of any executive officer from any regular or special meeting of the Council shall result in the levying of a fine in the amount of $10 for the first offense, $25 for the second offense, and $35 for the third offense in addition to a review of the officer’s attendance and potential forfeit of position as stated in the IFC Constitution in Article VI, Section G. b. Executive fines are to be paid out-of-pocket and shall be collected by the VP Finance. In the event that the VP Finance is the officer in question, the President shall collect fines. c. It is the responsibility of each executive officer to attend all regular and special meetings as outlined in Article VI, Section G of the Constitution. In the event of an excused absence of an executive officer (due to illness or emergency), the IFC President and IFC Advisor must be notified in a timely manner prior to the meeting, and all duties must be handled as applicable by another officer. d. All fines are appealable to the IFC President.</p><p>Article VII: Administration of Membership Recruitment</p><p>1. See Addendum, Recruitment Guidelines Article VIII: Pledging and Initiation</p><p>1. A man must be regularly matriculated student to be eligible for membership recruitment and pledging 2. An IFC member fraternity may not issue an invitation to membership or formally pledge a man during any school recess 3. A new member may be initiated whenever he has met the requirements of the fraternity to which he is pledged 4. Except during Formal Recruitment period, continuous open bidding shall be in effect during the college year for all eligible male students. 5. The preferential bidding system shall be used during formal recruitment. 6. Before any bids are distributed by a member fraternity, they must first consult the Greek Coordinator to verify that the potential new member meets the IFC requirements for membership 7. Every regularly-enrolled man pledged, initiated, or affiliated with a chapter shall be counted as a member of that chapter. a. An updated, current chapter roster should be filed through the Office of Student Life and Leadership no later than three weeks after Formal Recruitment is over. b. Any de-pledging, termination, or other changes in membership shall be reported to the President of the IFC and the IFC Advisor no later than 48 hours after the decision has occurred.</p><p>Article IX: Finances</p><p>1. The fiscal year of the Interfraternity Council shall be from February 1st to January 31st inclusive. 2. The signatures of the President, VP Finance/Recruitment, or the IFC Advisor shall be required to bind the budget as well as to secure contracts. 3. All checks issued on behalf of the IFC shall be signed by two of the following three individuals: President, VP Finance/Recruitment, and IFC Advisor 4. All payments due to the IFC shall be collected by the VP Finance/Recruitment. Checks for payment shall be made payable to Tyler Interfraternity Council. 5. Membership dues: a. The dues of each IFC member fraternity shall be $5 per member, and these dues will be collected in both the fall and spring semesters. b. The official chapter roster for each member fraternity shall be updated the second Monday of each semester and again the Monday after formal recruitment in the Fall semester to calculate an official head count. All members including active and associate members shall be updated on the roster. Inactive members/alumni/transfer members shall have their statuses updated as well, and will not count toward the member total for that semester. c. Invoices shall be placed in chapter mailboxes no later than the third Monday of the Spring semester and the second Monday after formal recruitment in the Fall semester. d. The dues of each member fraternity shall be payable within 14 days of receiving the invoice from the IFC VP Finance. e. 10% of the total invoice will be added to the total invoiced amount to any member fraternity for a delinquent payment of one week. 5% of the total invoice will be added to the total for each additional week of delinquent payment after the first week. f. If chapter dues are not paid within 5 weeks of the original due date, the IFC will review the member fraternity’s status as related to Article IV, Section C of the Constitution.</p><p>Article X: Hazing</p><p>All forms of hazing, bid day, and or pre-initiation activities that are defined as hazing shall be banned.</p><p>Hazing is defined as any action or situation with or without consent that recklessly, intentionally, or unintentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or creates risk of injury, or causes discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule or that willfully destroys or removes public or private property. Such activities and situations include, but ate not limited to, creation of excessive fatigue, physical and psychological shocks, wearing apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, engaging in public stunts and jokes, participating in treasure or scavenger hunts, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities, late night sessions that interfere with scholastic activities or normal sleep patterns, and any other activities that are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual, or the regulations and policies of the member fraternity or the educational institution.</p><p>Article XI: Distribution of Constitution and By-Laws</p><p>The IFC’s most current Constitution and By-Laws will be distributed to each member fraternities’ presidents via e-mail by November 1st of each year. The most current version of each document will then be posted on the Greek Life website and updated as amendments/changes are made. RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY</p><p>ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES</p><p>1. The Interfraternity Council supports all UT Tyler and UT System policies and procedures, and will do their best to uphold such policies. </p><p>2. Any members found in violation of any UT Tyler policies and procedures shall be reported to the IFC Advisor and Chief Judicial Officer at the university.</p><p>ALCOHOL AND DRUGS</p><p>1. The Interfraternity Council shall uphold the UT Tyler policies related to alcohol and drug usage at all times.</p><p>2. There shall be no tolerance in relation to the use, sale, or possession of drugs by any IFC members.</p><p>3. Alcohol consumption and/or being under the influence of alcohol at any IFC events or programs is strictly prohibited.</p><p>SEXUAL HARASSMENT</p><p>1. Harassment based upon gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin is inappropriate, insensitive, and sometimes violent. This type of human interaction is contrary to the principle of the Interfraternity Council. </p><p>2. In the event that any member feels that they have been a victim of sexual harassment, they shall contact the UT Tyler Police Department at (903) 566-7300 and the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Howard Patterson at (903) 566-7018. </p><p>Updated November 16, 2009</p>