Psi Chi Bylaws

As amended by the Chapter on February 12, 2002

Psi Chi was founded on September 4, 1929, at the Ninth International Congress of Psychology at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Member of the Association of College Honor Societies

National Chapter: Psi Chi, Honor Society in Psychology

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the Psi Chi Chapter, a local unit of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, hereinafter referred to as the Chapter and the National Society.

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of Psi Chi shall be to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology.

Article III - Members

Section 1. Active Members. Active members are men and women who make the study of psychology one of their major interests and who are faculty members or students of Stetson University or are members who have been readmitted to active status by this Chapter. All shall possess high standards of personal behavior. Active members shall be entitled to participate in all chapter meetings and shall have the right to vote.

  • Student Members shall be students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs during induction. Only student members shall be entitled to hold chapter office.
    1. Undergraduate Students shall be enrolled in Stetson University, have registered as a major or minor in psychology, have completed at least three semesters of the college program, have completed at least nine semester hours of psychology at Stetson, and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in their psychology courses here. Sophomores must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.3 during their induction. Juniors and Seniors must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.4. (These GPA requirements assure that new members will rank in the top 35% of their class, as required by the National Society.)
    2. Graduate Students shall be enrolled in Stetson University and shall have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate courses, including psychology.
  • Faculty Members of Stetson University and other psychologists who met the current criteria when they were students may become active members of the chapter upon election to membership and induction into Psi Chi. Faculty Members shall not be eligible to hold chapter office.

Section 2. Membership in Psi Chi is open to qualified candidates of any age, sex, sexual orientation, race, handicap or disability, color, religion, and national and ethnic origin.

Section 3. Election to membership shall be by a two-thirds vote at a regular Chapter meeting.

Section 4. Before induction, each prospective member shall pay an induction fee as determined by the National Society, which shall entitle the inductee to life membership without payment of further dues or assessments to the National Society. All active members shall pay chapter dues as established by the Chapter.

Article IV - Officers

Section 1. The officers of this chapter shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws, the constitution and bylaws of the National Society, and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the chapter and shall fulfill such other duties and requirements as may be determined by the National Society.

Section 2. In consultation with the Chapter Advisor(s), it shall be the Executive Committee's duty to nominate candidates for Chapter offices. The election shall be held by April 1st of the spring semester. Before the election, additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted. A runoff vote will be held if no candidate receives a majority.

Section 3. The officers shall be elected by ballot to serve for one year, and the term of office shall begin the day after graduation in the spring semester. If there is only one candidate for an office, the election may be by voice vote.

Section 4. No member shall hold more than one office at a time, and no member shall serve more than two years in the same office.

Section 5. Should the office of President become vacant, it shall be filled by the Vice President. The Executive Committee shall fill a vacancy in any other office with the approval of the Chapter Advisor(s).

Article V - Meetings

Section 1. Regular Meetings. The Executive Committee and the Chapter Advisor(s) shall determine the number of regular meetings during the year and distribute a schedule to each active member.

Section 2. Special Meetings. The President or the Executive Committee can call Special Meetings and shall be called upon the written request of three active Chapter members. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call, and business shall be limited to what is stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least three days notice shall be given.

Section 3. Quorum. Those active members present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article VI - Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the chapter and the Chapter Advisor(s).

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the Chapter between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Chapter, cause all reports required by the National Society to be submitted in a timely manner, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws and the constitution, bylaws, and rulings of the National Society.

Section 3. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the President or by any two members of the committee.

Article VII - Chapter Advisor

Section 1. The Chapter shall have one or more Chapter Advisors. The Chapter Advisor(s) must belong to Psi Chi and be part of the Stetson University Department of Psychology faculty.

Section 2. The Chapter Advisor(s) shall assist the Chapter in fulfilling its purpose and the requirements of the National Society.

Article VIII - Committees

Chapter committees shall include the chair and at least two additional active members. The Chapter shall establish any standing committees. The President, the Executive Committee, or the Chapter may establish special committees.

Article IX - Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Society, and any special rules of order the Chapter may adopt.

Article X Amendment of Bylaws

These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Chapter by a two-thirds vote, provided the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting or has been submitted in writing to all active members of the Chapter at least two weeks before the meeting at which it is to be considered. These bylaws shall not conflict with the constitution and bylaws or rulings of the National Society. Any amendment of the constitution and bylaws or rulings of the National Society affecting these bylaws shall cause this document to be amended automatically to concur with such amendment.