tau sigma delta
alpha theta chapter
constitution

Article 1: Name

Section 1. The corporate name of the society shall be “TAU SIGMA DELTA HONOR SOCIETY” (herein referred to as the “Society”). 

Section 2. The Society shall be known in the institutions where chapters are domiciled as TAU SIGMA DELTA HONOR SOCIETY IN ARCHITECTURE AND ALLIED ARTS. 

Section 3. The Society derives its Greek letter name from the first letter of each of the words of its motto, “Technitai Sophoikai Dexioti”: Tau, Sigma and Delta. The motto means “Craftsmen, skilled and trained.” 

Article 2: Purpose

The organization was established to provide a national collegiate honor society open to students of all American colleges and universities wherein an accredited program of Architecture, Landscape Architecture or Allied Arts is established. Its prime objective is to celebrate excellence in scholarship, to stimulate mental achievement, and to award those students who attain high scholastic standing in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Allied Arts of Design by the rewards of membership in an honor society.

Article 3: Membership

Section 1. The membership of each Chapter shall be divided into three classes: Active, Honorary, and alumni. 

The definitions of membership are: 

a. Active membership shall consist of undergraduate students and graduate students currently at the institution where a chapter is located. 

b. Honorary membership shall consist of members of the faculty or persons of high reputation or making contributions to the advancement of the education and or professions of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or the Allied Arts of Design. 

c. Alumni members shall consist of all members who are no longer active. 

Section 2. No university may be denied membership on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, color, age, disability, or veteran status. Members will be furthered decided upon by the following guidelines:

Section 3. The qualifications for membership are as follows:

1. Undergraduate Active Members. To be eligible for undergraduate membership, a candidate must be a bona fide student enrolled in a course of study leading to an accredited degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or the Allied Arts of Design. The candidate must have completed a minimum of two and one-half academic years (five semesters or eight quarters) of the initial degree program and shall have completed the major prerequisites of the degree program established by the faculty of the institution in which the Chapter is domiciled. Any eligible transfer student shall have been enrolled in residence a minimum of one academic year in the institution where his selection for membership is considered. The candidate must have maintained a B average or a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and be in the upper 20% of their class. 

2. Graduate Active Members. A student shall become eligible for graduate active membership when he/she shall have completed at least one-half of the technical or professional requirements for the graduate degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or the Allied Arts of Design, provided he/she shall have attained an average grade not lower than the minimum grade required for undergraduate members. An undergraduate member who continues their studies at the graduate level automatically becomes an active graduate member. 

3. Alumni-Faculty Members. An alumni-faculty member is automatically a chapter member unless he/she shall successfully petitions for withdrawal from membership. 

4. Honorary Members. A candidate for honorary membership shall be elected at a regular meeting of the institutional Chapter by a majority vote. Selection shall presume a quality of performance and excellence comparable to the standards expected of students initiated in the society. Nominations proposed and seconded by active student members must be received by the Chapter Secretary two weeks prior to the Chapter meeting. 

Article 4: Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Chapter shall consist of a Chapter President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Faculty Advisor. 

Section 2. Officers shall be elected at a regular meeting scheduled approximately one month prior to the end of the school year, and their term of office shall be for the succeeding school year. Special elections shall be held to fill any vacancies of office at the next regular meeting of the Chapter after such vacancies occur. 

Section 3. Two weeks published notice must be given prior to any meeting in which elections are scheduled to be held. 

Section 4. The following oath of office shall be administered to each officer-elect by the retiring Chapter President or, in the case of the President's inability to serve, by the Secretary, or, in the case of inability of both, by the Treasurer. 

Oath of Office: 

I, ______________________, affirm that I will support the Bylaws of Tau Sigma Delta and the laws and regulations made in conformity thereto, and that I will discharge the duties required of me as an officer of the ________________ Chapter of Tau Sigma Delta to the best of my ability. 

Section 5. The duties and powers of the Chapter President shall be: 

1. To preside at all Chapter meetings. 

2. To appoint all committees. 

3. To sign all documents requiring the president's signature. 

4. To make a yearly report of the Chapter to the Grand Chapter. 

5. To serve as custodian of the charter and Bylaws during the term of office except when these are turned over to the custody of the Faculty Advisor. 

Section 6. The duties and powers of the Chapter Secretary shall be: 

1. To record and read all minutes at the meetings of the Chapter. 

2. To keep the roll of the Chapter. 

3. To forward selection information the Grand Chapter. 

4. To compile records of students being considered for membership. 

5. To receive all nominations for officers and honorary membership. 

Section 7. The duties and powers of the Chapter Treasurer shall be: 

1. To record all financial transactions of the Chapter. 

2. To collect all dues and initiation fees. 

3. To order all standard paraphernalia and accessories from the Grand Chapter and to make payment for same in advance. 

4. To make yearly reports to the Grand Chapter. 

Article 5: Advisors

Section 1. Each institutional Chapter shall have one Faculty Advisor. This Faculty Advisor shall be on the faculty of the College of Architecture, Design, and Construction or a major within the Department of Art at Auburn University. 

Section 2. The Faculty Advisor shall be selected by the institutional Chapter to serve for an indefinite term as desired and agreed by the Chapter. 

Section 3. The duties of the Faculty Advisor shall be: 

1. To represent the local Chapter interests in the affairs of the Grand Chapter. 

2. To ensure the continuity of the Chapter standards in harmony with these Bylaws. 

3. To form a liaison between the Grand Chapter and the local Chapter. 

4. To be the interim custodian of the Chapter records and files. 

5. To be the Chapter delegate to the national convention or meeting or appoint a designated representative of the Chapter if unable to attend personally. 

Article 6: Meetings

At least one meeting of the Chapter should be held in each principal school term or semester. Other meetings may be called by the Chapter President at any time provided due notice be given each active member of the Chapter. Two weeks notice should normally be given for all meetings. At meetings of the Chapter a quorum must be present to conduct business of the Chapter. Only active members in good standing shall be allowed to vote on Chapter business. The following order of business shall be observed at meetings of the Chapter. 

1. Chapter roll call 

2. Minutes of previous meeting 

3. Reports of committees 

4. Old business 

5. New business 

6. Elections, if any 

7. Adjournment. 

All meetings shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order. 

Article 7: Relationships

The Society shall serve as an organization that serves on the College of Architecture, Design, and Construction Student Council and hold voting rights based on their position as a representative organization for the Council.

Article 8: Parliamentary Authority

Robert's Rule of Order is the parliamentary authority, which will be used, in council meetings.

Article 9: Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by two or more Chapters, by the Grand Chapter, or by a Chapter and one Grand Chapter officer. Such proposed amendments shall be forwarded to the Grand Chapter Secretary who will then send copies to each Chapter for the balloting by mail. A two-thirds majority of the active Chapters shall be required for adoption of any amendment. 

Section 2. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed from the floor of a national convention or meeting. A two-thirds majority of the voting delegates at the convention or meeting shall be required for the adoption of any amendment so proposed. 

Section 3. Adopted amendments shall be come a part of these Bylaws.

Article 10: Ratification

The constitution may be ratified by a three-fourths vote by the total number of voting members of the Society.