ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1.  The name of this chapter shall be the High School of Arts and Technology Chapter of the National Honors Society.

Section 2.  The purpose of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in students at the High School of Arts and Technology.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Membership in this chapter shall be known as active and graduate.  Active members become graduate members at graduation.  Graduate members have no vote in chapter affairs. 

Section 2.  Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty, and shall be based on the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

Section 3.  Eligibility:

a.     Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be members of the junior or senior class.  Sophomores demonstrating outstanding scholarship, service, leadership, and character may qualify for early eligibility with election to the chapter in the first semester of their junior year.  All other eligible juniors will be elected at the beginning of the second semester of their junior year.    

b.     To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for a period of one semester at the High School of Arts and Technology.

c.     Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0, or 85 by the second semester of their junior year.  This scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed from that point on, and shall be the required minimum scholastic level of achievement for admission to candidacy.  All students who can meet or rise above this standard may be admitted to candidacy for selection to membership.

d.     Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall meet or exceed an 80% annual attendance record beginning in their junior year.  Candidates with medically excused absences that exceed the minimum annual attendance standard may be admitted to candidacy for selection to membership provided that all other eligibility criteria are met.  

e.     Upon meeting the grade level, attendance, and GPA standard requirements, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.

ARTICLE III: SELECTION OF MEMBERS

Section 1. The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council consisting of five faculty members appointed by the Principal.  The chapter adviser shall be the sixth, non-voting, ex-officio member of the Faculty Council.

Section 2. Prior to selection, the following shall occur:

a.     Students’ academic and attendance records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.

b.     Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified and asked to complete the Student Activity Information Form for further consideration for selection.

c.     The faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official evaluation form provided by the chapter adviser.  Faculty may also request this form from the chapter adviser in order to recommend eligible students. 

d.     The Faculty Council shall review the Student Activity Information Form and faculty evaluations in order to determine membership.

Section 3.  The selection of new, active members shall be held once a year during the second semester of the year.

Section 4.  Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony that takes place in March.

Section 5.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given a letter indicating the status of his/her membership and signed by the Principal and chapter adviser.

Section 6.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter.  The Faculty Council shall grant to the transferring member one semester to attain the membership requirements, and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership.

ARTICLE IV: DISCIPLINE and DISMISSAL

Section 1.  Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the High School of Arts and Technology Chapter of the National Honor Society.  A member of the National Honor Society is expected to maintain his/her academic standing and take an active role in service and leadership to his/her school and community.

Section 2.  If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below the standard in effect when he/she was selected (3.0, or 85), he/she will be given a written warning and a time period for improvement.  If the cumulative grade point average remains below the standard at the end of the warning period the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the Faculty Council that may include dismissal from the chapter.

Section 3.  Violation of the law or school regulations can result in dismissal of a member.  These violations include, but are not limited to, DWI, stealing, destruction of property, cheating, truancy, or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities.

Section 4.  Offenders of the school conduct code will receive written warning notification.  The chapter adviser, student advisor, the student or the student’s parent or guardian may request a conference. If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be dismissed.

Section 5.  In all cases of pending dismissal:

a.     The member and his/her parent or guardian will receive written notification from the chapter adviser/Faculty Council indicating the reason for possible dismissal.  The member and chapter adviser will discuss the written notification in a conference.  Additional parties such as the member’s parent or guardian, student advisor, or guidance counselor may be asked to attend this conference.  Situations that involve flagrant violations of school rules or the law can warrant disciplinary action without a written warning, although a hearing must still be held (see below).

b.     The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him/her at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to the vote on dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in Article X of the National Constitution).  The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or in writing.  The Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss.  A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member.

c.     The results of the Faculty Council vote will be reviewed by the Principal, and then, if confirmed, expressed in a letter sent to the student, parents or guardians, and Principal.  The chapter adviser shall keep a copy of this letter.

d.     The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the Principal and afterwards through the school district discipline policy.

e.     When a student is dismissed or resigns, he/she is no longer a member and may never again be considered for membership in the National Honor Society.

Section 6.  In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

Section 1.  The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary & treasurer, project chairperson, historian, webmaster, and community outreach chairperson.

Section 2.  Student officers shall be elected at the second meeting of each school year.  All returning active members are eligible to run for a position as an officer.  All active members of the chapter are eligible to vote. 

Section 3.  A majority vote shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter.  If the first vote does not yield a majority, a second vote shall be taken of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.

Section 4:  It shall be the duty of the president to preside at meetings for this chapter.  It shall be the duty of the president to ensure that all officers of this chapter attend to their duties and responsibilities, and work harmoniously with one another and with all the members of this chapter.  It shall be the duty of the president to work with the chapter adviser to develop and foster growth within this chapter.          

Section 5.  The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president and shall also keep a record of members’ contributions to leadership and service.  Additionally, the vice-president shall serve as the point person for members active in service projects as well as parties receiving the service.  

Section 6.  The secretary and treasurer (single position) shall keep the minutes of meetings and be responsible for all official chapter correspondence.  The secretary and treasurer shall also keep the record of chapter expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the chapter including donations and monies raised.  In addition, the treasurer shall collect dues and set fundraising goals proportional to the financial needs of the chapter.

Section 7.  The project chairperson shall supervise the daily activity of all chapter service projects and assist the vice-president in his/her duties relating to service.

Section 8. The webmaster shall maintain all aspects of the chapter website.

Section 9.  The historian shall document all chapter service projects in a variety of ways including writing and photography and shall, in collaboration with the webmaster, develop a multimedia record to both archive and publish.

Section 10.  The community outreach chairperson shall ensure that all service projects, activities, and significant developments of the High School of Arts and Technology chapter of the National Honor Society are shared with the school and community.  The community outreach chairperson shall also help cultivate a positive relationship between this chapter and the school and community.     

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.  The executive committee shall consist of the faculty adviser and the chapter officers.

Section 2.  The executive committee shall have general charge of the meetings and the business of the chapter, but any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

Section 1.  Meetings of this chapter shall be bi-monthly.

Section 2.  This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 3.  All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly scheduled chapter meetings.  Failure to attend at minimum 80% of chapter meetings will result in disciplinary sanctions.  Students with medically excused absences will not be subject to disciplinary action but will be required to make up meeting hours through service hours to the chapter. 

ARTICLE VIII: ACTIVITIES

Section 1.  The chapter shall determine one or more group service projects for each year excluding the induction ceremony.

Section 2.  All members shall regularly participate in these projects.

Section 3.  These projects shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community; have the support of the administration and faculty; be appropriate and educationally defensible; and be well planned, organized, and executed.

Section 4.  Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in an individual service project that reflects his or her particular talents and interests and is approved by the chapter adviser.  This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.

Section 5.  All members shall dedicate 20 hours per year to service.

Section 6.  The chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.

ARTICLE IX: EMBLEM

Section 1.  Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to membership standards and member obligations shall have the privilege of wearing the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society.

Section 2. Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is dismissed from the chapter shall return the emblem.  [Note to adviser: If the members purchased such emblems, the chapter is obligated to reimburse the student for said expense.]

Section 3.  Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing honor cords and induction pins/pendants at graduation.

ARTICLE X: DUES

Section 1.  Annual dues for this chapter shall not exceed $20.

Section 2.  Dues will be payable to the chapter treasurer within 30 days of induction.

ARTICLE XI: POWERS

Section 1.  The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal.

Section 2.  The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter.

Section 3.  These by-laws are designated to amplify provisions of the National Constitution of the National Honor Society and cannot contradict any components thereof.  The chapter is obligated to adhere to the provisions of the National Constitution in all activities it undertakes.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  These by-laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the chapter, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given to members at least one month prior to the vote.  The exceptions are Article III and Article IV (selection and discipline), which are developed by the Faculty Council with approval of the principal.

Section 2.  By-laws and amendments must be consistent with the National Constitution of the National Honor Society.    

Reviewed: August 11, 2008