West Campus High School
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Bylaws
ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1
The name of this chapter shall be the West Campus High School National Honor 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.
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 Council and shall be based on the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.
Section 3
Eligibility:
- Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be members of the sophomore, junior or senior class.
- To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for a period of one semester at West Campus High School.
- Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum academic grade point average of 3.5 out of 4.0 . This scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed and shall be the required minimum scholastic level of achievement for admission to candidacy. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard may be admitted to candidacy for selection to membership.
- 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 three faculty members appointed by the chapter adviser. The chapter adviser shall be the third voting member of the Faculty Council.
Section 2
Prior to selection, the following shall occur:
- Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall complete and submit the West Campus High School National Honor Society Application form to the adviser.
- Students’ academic records shall be reviewed by the adviser to determine scholastic eligibility.
Section 3
The selection of new, active members shall be held once a year during the first semester of the school year. Acceptance at the beginning of the second semester is by the adviser’s approval only.
Section 4
Candidates will be notified as soon as the Faculty Council completes the review of all candidates.
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.
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 once 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 West Campus High School National Honor Society. A member of the National Honor Society is expected to maintain his/her academic standing and complete the community service requirements and maintain leadership to his/her school and community.
Section 2
If a member’s academic grade point average falls below the standard of 3.5 and or if a member fails to complete their community service requirements, he/she will be given a written warning and a time period for improvement. If the academic grade point average remains below standard at the end of the warning period or the community service hours are not completed, 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, DUI, stealing, destruction of property, cheating, truancy, or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related functions.
Section 4
Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply with school rules, unexcused absences, excessive tardiness, etc.) will receive a written warning notification. A conference may be requested by either party (Faculty Council or student/parent). If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be dismissed.
Section 5
If members do not pay their membership dues or attend the mandatory group service project they may be subject to discipline or dismissal by the Faculty Council.
Section 6
There will be a warning to those who share service hours with other community service clubs/organizations. Hours that may be shared are at the discretion of the chapter adviser.
Section 7
In all cases of pending dismissal:
- The member will receive written notification indicating the reason for possible dismissal from the adviser/Faculty Council. The member and adviser will discuss the written notification in a conference. Situations that involve flagrant violations of school rules or the law can warrant disciplinary action without a written warning, although a hearing must be held (see below).
- The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him/her at the 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.
- 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, and principal.
- The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the principal. The principal’s decision is final.
- 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 8
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 and treasurer. They will meet at least once a month as a group with the NHS Adviser.
Section 2
Student officers shall be elected during the September NHS meeting. 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. The president shall also assist the adviser to assign tutors. The president shall plan and implement one service project for the chapter that meets the approval of the membership.
Section 5
The vice president shall preside in the absence of the president and shall also assist the adviser in keeping records of members’ leadership and community service and meeting attendance. The vice president is also responsible for tallying approved proposals and hours. The vice-president shall plan and implement one service project for the chapter that meets the approval of the membership.
Section 6
The secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings and be responsible for all official chapter correspondence.
Section 7
The treasurer shall keep the record of chapter expenses, dues, and all other financial transaction of the chapter.
Section 8
An officer may be removed from his/her office for failure to perform his/her duties as stated above. A majority vote of the adviser and Executive Committee is required to remove an officer. A special vote of the NHS chapter members shall be required to replace any officer except president. If the president is removed, the vice president will become the president. The NHS chapter members would then vote for a new vice president.
ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1
The Executive Committee shall consist of the 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.
Section 3
All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly-scheduled chapter meetings. All members are required to attend at least three meetings per semester. Failure to attend the required meetings will result in revoking the privilege of wearing the NHS stole at graduation.
ARTICLE VIII: ACTIVITIES
Section 1
All members are required to complete 18 hours of community service per school year. A completed Community Service Proposal must be approved prior to performing the service.
Section 2
Upon completion of the community service, members must submit the signed Community Service Hours form to the adviser.
Section 3
The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year. These projects can be fundraisers for NHS, tutoring or other service projects approved by the adviser. Members volunteering for these projects may use the hours towards their community service requirement.
Section 4
These projects shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community, have the support of the administration, faculty and adviser, be appropriate and educationally defensible, and be well planned, organized and executed.
ARTICLE IX: GRADUATION STOLES
Section 1
Each senior member of this chapter who is in good standing at the end of the second semester of their senior year shall have the privilege of wearing the National Honor Society stole at graduation.
Section2
Senior members must have at least five semesters of membership in good standing to be considered eligible to wear the National Honor Society stole.
ARTICLE X: DUES
Section 1
Annual dues for this chapter shall be $10.00 for returning members and $15.00 for new members.
Section 2
Dues will be payable to the West Campus National Honor Society within 60 days of the beginning of the first semester each year.
ARTICLE XI: POWERS
Section 1
The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of the chapter activities.
Section 2
These bylaws are designed to amplify provisions of the National Constitution in all activities it undertakes. The chapter is obligated to adhere to the provisions of the National Constitution in all activities it undertakes.
ARTICLE XIII: ADMENDMENTS
Section 1
These by-laws may be amended by 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 Articles II, III and IV (selection and discipline), which are developed by the Faculty Council.
Section 2
By-laws and amendments must be consistent with the Constitution of the National Honor Society.
Date: October 2017