Dupree High School - National Honor Society By-Laws

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1.  The name of this chapter shall be the National Honor Society of Dupree High School.

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 the students of DHS.

Article II: Membership

Section 1.  Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate.  Active members become graduate members at graduation.  Graduate and honorary 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 criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

Section 3.  Eligibility:

a. Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be of the sophomore, junior, or senior class. 

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 DHS.

c. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (out of 4.0; unweighted grade point average.) 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 of selection to membership.

d.   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 majority vote of the Faculty Council consisting of five faculty members appointed by the principal.  The chapter advisor(s) shall be non-voting, ex-officio members of the Faculty Council.

Section 2.  Prior to selection the following should occur:

a. Students' academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.

b.   Students who are eligible scholastically shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the Student Activity Information Form for further consideration for selection.

c. The Faculty Council shall review the Student Activity Information Form 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 school year.

Section 4.  Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.

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 Advisor.

Section 6.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school will automatically be accepted for membership in this chapter.  The Faculty council shall grant 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.

NOTE: The selection process used at the local level may vary from the procedure outlined above; however, such variations must still conform to the National constitution.

Article IV: Discipline and Dismissal

Section 1.  Any member who falls below the standard of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the DHS 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.  Each member must maintain a 3.0 grade point average.  Members who have an insufficient grade point average will be placed on probation for the next semester.  Failure to raise the grade point average to the required 3.0 will result in loss of membership.  Dismissed members are not eligible for membership again. 

Section 3. Violation of the law or school regulations can result in dismissal of a member.  These violations include, but are not limited to, failed required drug test at DHS, alcohol or drug violations such as minor consumptions and/or DUIs; 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 (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, at least 32 unexcused class periods, excessive tardiness resulting in OSS or OSS for any reason, Etc) will receive written warning notification.  A conference may be requested by either party (Faculty Council member, student/parent.)  If the member is involved in another violation of the school code of conduct they may be dismissed.

Section 5.  In all cases pending dismissal:

a. 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 still be held.

b.   The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against them at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to the vote on dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in article 5).  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, parent, and principal.  Dismissed members must surrender any member emblems to the adviser.

d.   The Faculty Council's decision may be appealed to the building 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 be considered again for membership in the National Honor Society.

Article V: Officers

Section 1. The officers of this chapter shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer

Section 2.  Student officers shall be elected at the last meeting of each school year.  All active returning members are eligible to run 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 to 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 the meetings for this chapter.

Section 5. It shall be the duty of the vice-president to preside in the absence of the president and shall also keep record of members' contributions to leadership and service.

Section 6.  The secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings and be responsible for all official chapter correspondence.

Section 7.  The treasure shall keep the record of chapter expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the chapter.

Article VI: Executive Committee

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

Section 2.  The executive committee shall have general charge of 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 held as deemed necessary.

Section 2.  This chapter shall conduct its meeting according to Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 3.  All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly- scheduled chapter meetings. 

Article VIII: Activities

Section 1.  The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.

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 the 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 which reflects his or her particular talents and interests and as approved by the chapter adviser.  This is in addition to the chapter project to which all members contribute.  Members must document group and individual projects and submit a copy to the advisor(s) annually. 

Section 5. The chapter shall publicize projects in a positive manner.

Article IX: Emblem

Section 1.  Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regards to membership standards and member obligations shall have the privilege of wear 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 to the chapter.

Section 3.  Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor cords at graduation and be recognized at graduation as a NHS member.

Article XI: Powers

Section 1.  These by-laws may be amended be 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 Articles III and 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 Constitution of the National Honor Society.

Date: October 29, 2008