Sample Chapter Bylaws

Beta Alpha Psi recognizes academic excellence and complements members' formal education by providing interaction among students, faculty, and professionals, and fosters lifelong growth, service and ethical conduct.

Article 1: Name of the organization
The name of this organization shall be the XXX (subject to BAP Executive Board approval) Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi at XXX University.

Article 2: The objectives and purposes of the chapter
Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary and professional organization for students of accountancy, finance and information systems.  Its stated purpose includes recognition of outstanding academic achievements in the field of accounting, finance and information systems; promotion of the study and practice of accounting, finance and information systems; provision of opportunities for self-development and association among members and financial information professionals; and encouragement of a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibility. The organization seeks to develop its members’ professionalism through career-oriented, social, and community activities.

Article 3: Membership
To be admitted to membership in the organization, a student must successfully complete a semester as a candidate and attain minimum academic performance.

Petitioning Chapter Candidate Requirements:

1. Be a matriculated undergraduate or postgraduate student with a concentration in accounting, finance, or information systems.
2. Completed (in addition to two years of collegiate courses), at least one upper-level course beyond the business core in the appropriate major with a 3.0 average or better in all upper-level courses taken the appropriate major.
3. Attain an overall minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
4. Payment of candidate fee as determined by the executive committee of the petitioning chapter.  The fee includes national dues and may include an organization pin, Induction Banquet, and social recruiting functions.
5. Complete professional, service or other requirements as dictated by the chapter .
6. Participate in a Mock Interview and Resume Critique Session.
7. Participate and attend the respective Induction Banquet pending faculty advisor's review and approval of academic standing.
8. Be a person of good moral character.

Petitioning Chapter Member Requirements:
Members are expected to:

1. Attain an overall minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
2. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the appropriate major. The grade point average from your accounting, finance, or information systems major includes only upper level major courses.
3. Participate in petitioning chapter professional, service and other activities as organized by the executive committee.
4. Payment of annual fee as determined by the petitioning chapter executive committee.  The fee covers the member attendance at social and recruiting functions.

Article 4: Meetings for the conduct of business
Actions requiring a vote of the entire membership will require a one week notice of meeting and agenda.  Persons may not vote by proxy.  Both petitioning members and petitioning candidates in good standing are eligible to vote.  The lesser of 20% of the membership or a quorum of X petitioning chapter representatives are required to conduct a vote.  The final decision will be determined by a majority of the vote.
Actions requiring the vote of the executive committee, consisting of the elected petitioning chapter officers and faculty advisor, will require a 48 hour notice of meeting and agenda.  Persons may not vote by proxy.  An executive committee vote requires the attendance of at least 25% of the executive committee.  The final decision will be determined by a majority of the votes.

Article 5: Student officers
Petitioning Chapter Officer Elections:
The term of office will begin when the officers are sworn in at the Spring Banquet and end the following Spring when the next class of officers is sworn in.

Elections are to be held in the Spring Semester prior to the upcoming academic year. One meeting is to be set aside for nominating the candidates. At this meeting, each candidate must be nominated by one member of the chapter. At the following meeting, each candidate will give a brief speech stating their goals, objectives, and reason for running for office. Then the petitioning chapter membership will be given an election ballot. Each petitioning chapter member will cast one vote which will be collected by the outgoing president. The president and faculty advisor will count the votes; the candidate with a majority of the votes wins. The non-elected candidate(s) will be given the option to drop down in the election sequence. The election sequence is as follows:

President
Vice-President
National Reporting Officer
Treasurer
Candidate and Member Coordinator
Vice-President of Special Affairs/Activities
Vice-President of Management Information Systems

Duties and Responsibilities:

       President:

1. Update the bylaws.
2. Establish the goals and activities budget for the upcoming academic year.
3. Plan and implement both the Fall and Spring Semester schedules
4. Reserve meeting room.
5. Determine desirable meeting topics.
6. Contact and correspond with speakers and presenters.
7. Maintain and update the contact list periodically.
8. Supervise and ascertain that all officers are performing their respective duties.
9. Begin, conduct, and end all meetings.

    Vice-President:

1. Assist the president in his/her duties.
2. Coordinate the Annual Beta Alpha Psi Mock Interviews:
   Schedule the time and place of the event.
   Contact and correspond with the professionals who will be conducting the interviews.
   Schedule members in their respective interviewing slots.

    National Reporting Officer:

1. Prepare and submit all reports as required by the BAP Executive Office including reports of petitioning chapter activities, reports of initiations, and reports of any change in faculty advisor or student officers.
2. Maintain an updated list of graduated members.

    Treasurer:

1. Account for, and control, all organization financial activity.
2. Maintain all Cash Receipts:
   Collect and deposit all cash receipts.  Maintain appropriate supporting documents and Cash Receipts Journal.
3. Maintain Cash Disbursements:
   Prepare cash disbursement and supply proper documentation.
   Maintain Cash Disbursement Journal.
   Prepare financial statements.

    Candidate and Member Coordinator:

1. Monitor the progress of candidates and members.
2. Account for candidate and member attendance at all meetings   and functions.
3. Establish, with executive committee, a point system for both candidates and members service.
4. Maintain distribution on points for participation in the different organization events and activities.
5. Schedule athletic activities such as bowling game other student organizations.

    Vice-President of Special Affairs/Activities:

1. Assist the President and Vice-President to arrange and coordinate functions.
2. Prepare and post a flyer at least four days before each meeting.
3. Arrange and coordinate the Fall Induction Banquet. 

    Vice-President of MIS:

1. Prepare and implement the development of the chapter website.
2. Continuously update the chapter website with current information.

Article 6: Committees other than the executive committee
Each committee will be headed by a chairperson that is appointed by the president.  Participation is open to all members and candidates.

Article 7: Expulsion of Petitioning Chapter Members

Section 1. A petitioning chapter 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 committee of 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 petitioning chapter officer to investigate the charges 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 4. If expelled, the member may request a hearing before the entire local petitioning chapter in a special meeting called for that specific purpose. A majority vote of the petitioning chapter may reverse the committee's findings.

Section 5. If the local petitioning chapter's decision is to expel the member, details of the procedures followed, the evidence submitted, and the action taken shall be forwarded immediately to the Executive Office.

Section 6. The local petitioning chapter's decision will be reviewed at the next regular meeting of the Board. Both the local petitioning chapter and the accused member shall be notified in writing by the Director of Administration and Development of the approval or disapproval of the expulsion.

Section 7. If expelled by the local petitioning chapter, the member must surrender the membership certificate and other Beta Alpha Psi insignia to the local petitioning chapter. The local petitioning chapter shall forward the membership certificate to the Executive Office.

Article 8: Removal of Officers

An officer may be discharged if he/she:

• Is not carrying out the duties of the office; or
• Is not participating as a member of the Executive Committee; or
• Does not meet the requirements for membership as outlined in Article 3.

An officer shall be discharged by a majority vote (excluding the faculty advisor’s and co-faculty advisor’s vote) of all other Executive Committee members in the case of suspensions or other disqualifying events. An officer may appeal the decision to the Executive Committee at which time the committee would take a second and final vote.

Article 9: Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the petitioning chapter will end on April 30th.

Article 10: Authority
These bylaws shall be the principle governing document of the XX Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi.  These bylaws are subordinate to the National Constitution and Bylaws of the Beta Alpha Psi Organization.  Any provision of this document that conflicts with the National Constitution and Bylaws of the Beta Alpha Psi Organization that is currently in effect will be null and void.

Article 11: Requirements for Amendment to the Bylaws
An amendment to the bylaws requires a majority of the membership to cast an affirmative vote in order for an amendment to be passed.  Amendments may be proposed by the executive committee or membership.