The Constitution of the

Pan American Chapter of

Delta Upsilon International Fraternity

 

ARTICLE I. THE FRATERNITY

 

            Section I. The Name

                       

This society, shall be called the Delta Upsilon International Fraternity, from here forward referred to as DU.

 

            Section II. The Founding Principles

                       

                        The principles of the Fraternity shall be:

                        The Promotion of Friendship

                        The Development of Character

                        The Diffusion of Liberal Culture

                        The Advancement of Justice

 

            Section III. A Non-Secret Fraternity

 

                        The Fraternity shall be non-secret.

 

            Section IV. The Purpose

 

                        The purpose of the Fraternity shall be to establish, promote, and enhance

                        The development and education of Undergraduate Members.

 

            Section V. The General Powers

                       

                        The fraternity shall give full power and authority to do all acts that are in

                        furtherance of its purpose. Specifically, but not by way of limitation, the

                        Fraternity shall have full power and authority to collect, receive, hold, and

                        disburse funds and property from gifts, devises, bequests, and otherwise

                        for the general purposes of the Fraternity and to collect, receive, hold and

                        disburse funds and property from gifts, devises, bequests and otherwise for

                        the benefit of the Local Chapter.

           

            Section VI. The Laws

                       

The Laws of the Fraternity shall consist of the Fraternity’s Constitution and By-Laws, and all amendments thereto, adopted into law by DU. To the extent that any provisions of the Fraternity’s By-Laws or the Fraternity’s Policies are inconsistent with any provisions of the Fraternity’s Constitution, the provisions of the Constitution shall control. To the extent that any provisions of the Fraternity’s Policies are inconsistent with any provisions of the Fraternity’s By-Laws, the provisions of the By-Laws shall control.

 

ARTICLE II. THE MEMBERS

 

Section 1. Membership by Initiation (Undergraduate Members)

 

The Fraternity shall consist of all Members duly initiated by taking the Oath of Initiation in accordance with the Fraternity’s Ritual.  All members so initiated shall share equally the rights and responsibilities of Membership in DU. Membership shall be open to all male students, faculty, and full-time employees of The University of Texas-Pan American regardless of race/color, national origin, creed, religion, age, handicap, veteran status, or political affiliation.  Only student members have voting privileges, and may hold office.

 

Section 2. The Alumni Members

 

Any Member who graduates or withdraws from the college or university at which he was initiated or with which he has affiliated as an Undergraduate Member, or who has been declared to be an Alumni Member by a reorganization committee in connection with a reorganization of the Local Undergraduate Chapter, shall be an Alumni Member of the Local Fraternity.

 

Any male person who has distinguished himself as a civic, cultural, educational, religious, business, or professional leader who has provided or may provide valuable contributions to the Alumni Chapter or the Local Fraternity, and who has been elected to Membership in the Fraternity by the Members of the Local or Alumni Chapter, may be initiated by taking the Oath of Initiation in accordance with the Fraternity’s Ritual.  Such Member shall be an Alumni Member of DU.

 

Section 3. The Associate Members

 

Any male undergraduate enrolled at the University of Texas-Pan American who is in good standing with the University may be invited by the Initiated Members of the Local Chapter to pledge Membership in DU. Such person shall be an Associated Member until initiated as per Article II, Section 1 of this Constitution.

 

Section 4. Not a member of any other Society or Fraternity

 

No Member of the Fraternity shall also belong to any Society or Organization, membership in which shall be inconsistent with the principles of the Fraternity, nor shall any Member also belong to any other Fraternity, except honorary or professional fraternities.

 

Section 5. Suspension From Membership

 

For cause, the Local or Alumni Chapter, by a vote of a majority of the Members of the Local Chapter or Alumni Chapter present at a meeting of the Local Chapter, may temporarily suspend a Member from Membership in the Fraternity for a period no to exceed one year.  A Member suspended from Membership in the Fraternity by the Local Chapter may appeal such suspension to the next Alumni Chapter meeting, whose decision shall be final.

 

Section 6. Expulsion From Membership

 

For cause (refer to by-laws), the Local or Alumni Chapter of DU, by a vote of three-fourths of the Members of the Local or Alumni Chapter present at a meeting of the Local Chapter, may permanently expel a Member from Membership in DU. The Local Chapter may expel only an Undergraduate Member of that Chapter.  The Alumni Chapter may expel only an Alumni Member of that Chapter.  A member expelled from membership in the Fraternity by his Chapter may appeal such expulsion to the Alumni Chapter if he is an undergraduate member, or to the Undergraduate Chapter if he is an Alumni Member.  The results of this appeal shall be final.

 

Section 7. Resignation From Membership

 

A member of DU may resign his membership in the Fraternity by sending a notice of his resignation to the Secretary of the Local Chapter and to his Alumni Chapter.

 

Section 8. Minimum Grade Point Average for Membership

 

A minimum G.P.A. of 2.25 on a 4.0 academic scale must be achieved to become an Associate Member, to become an Undergraduate Member by initiation, and to continue to be an active Undergraduate Member.

 

Article III. The Officers

 

Section 1. The Officer Positions

 

The officers of DU shall include, but not be limited to: President; Vice President of Member Education; Vice-President of Public Relations; Vice-President of Recruitment; Vice-President of Scholarship; Treasurer; Secretary, and Loss Prevention Chairman.  No person shall be elected as an officer of DU who is not an Undergraduate Member in good standing at The University of Texas-Pan American.  If an officer of the Local Chapter shall cease to be qualified, his term shall be terminated immediately and his office shall become vacant.

 

a.       The President

 

The President of the Local Chapter shall preside at all meetings of the Local Chapter, shall ensure that the Local Chapter and each of the Undergraduate and Associate Members observe and uphold the Fraternity’s purposes and the Founding Principles, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Local Fraternity’s Laws or by the Local Chapter.

 

b.      The Vice-President of Member Education

 

The Vice-President of Member Education shall coordinate the Chapter’s pledge education and Member education programs and such other activities that educate Members about and promote the Fraternity’s purposes and the Founding Principles, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Local Fraternity’s Laws or by the Local Chapter.

 

c.       The Vice-President of Public Relations

 

The Vice-President of Public Relations shall plan, direct and coordinate the Local Chapter’s public relations program, including, but not limited to, relations with The University of Texas-Pan American, the community, the community, the Local Chapter’s Alumni Members, other fraternities, Undergraduate Chapters of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity, and parents of DU members, shall plan, direct and coordinate the Local Chapter’s philanthropy programs and community service projects, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Local Fraternity’s Laws or by the Local Chapter.

 

d.      The Vice-President of Recruitment

 

The Vice-President of Recruitment shall plan, direct and coordinate the Local Chapter’s rushing, recruiting and pledging of new Associate Members and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Local Fraternity’s Laws or by the Local Chapter.

 

e.       The Vice-President of Scholarship

 

The Vice-President of Scholarship shall plan, direct and coordinate the Local Chapter’s scholarship programs and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Local Fraternity’s Laws or by the Local Chapter.

 

f.        The Vice-President of Finance

 

The Vice-President of Finance shall manage and maintain the Local Chapter’s financial affairs, subject to the supervision and under the direction of the Alumni Chapter, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Local Fraternity’s Laws or by the Local or Alumni Chapters. The Undergraduate Members of the Local Chapter shall elect the Vice-President of Finance for a term of not less than one year, subject to approval of a removal by the Alumni Chapter.

 

g.       The Vice-President of Administration

 

The Vice-President of Administration shall keep all Local Chapter records, shall keep written minutes of all Local Chapter meetings, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Local Fraternity’s Laws or by the Local Chapter. The Vice-President of Administration shall also submit all University-required student organizations updates to the Office of the Dean of Students by the deadlines set by the University each year/semester.

 

h.       The Vice-President of Loss Prevention

 

The Loss Prevention Chairman shall ensure that the Local Chapter and each of the Undergraduate and Associate Members comply with Delta Upsilon International’s Loss Prevention policies and programs, shall educate Members about such policies and programs, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Local Fraternity Laws or by the Local Chapter. The Vice President of Loss Prevention is responsible for protecting Delta Upsilon International Fraternity from loss of property, funds, life, and Membership.

 

            Section 2. Elections

                       

a.       Officers shall be elected for a period of one calendar year.

 

 

b.      Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of Undergraduate and Associate Members, but the candidates must be initiates of the Local Chapter (not Associate Members), and must have been initiated at least one semester prior to the elections.

c.       Balloting shall be by means of secret ballot.

 

Section 3. Recall/Removal of Officers

 

a.       An elected officer may be recalled/removed from office by a 2/3 vote of Undergraduate Members.

 

 

b.      In the event that an officer position is vacated, nominations for a replacement shall occur within one week of the vacancy being created, and an election shall occur within two weeks of the vacancy being created.

 

 

Section 4. The Executive and Judicial Board

 

a.       The Executive and Judicial Board shall consist of the elected officers of the Local Fraternity in addition to an appointed Greek Council Delegate (initiated Member appointed by the elected officers).

 

 

b.      Any action of the Executive and Judicial Board must be approved by a majority vote of its members.

 

 

Article IV. Meetings

 

Section 1.        Meetings of DU shall be twice per month during the fall and spring semesters as a minimum.

 

Section 2.        Special meetings may be called by any of the officers with a minimum of 24 hours notice.

 

Section 3.        Quorum shall consist of a majority of the total initiated membership.

Section 4.        The source of parliamentary procedure shall be Robert’s Rules of

Order.

           

Article V. Dues

           

Dues shall be collected by the 14th day of each month of the fall and spring semesters (September, October, November, December, February, March, April, and May).

           

Article VI. Committees

 

Section 1.        Standing Committees shall be determined by the Executive and Judicial Board (“E-J Board”), and shall have chairmen appointed by the E-J Board.  The duties of such committees shall be determined by the E-J Board.

 

Section 2.        Special Committees shall be created and operated in the same manner as Standing Committees.

ARTICLE VII.  METHOD TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION

 

The Constitution of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity may be

amended by a 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of initiated members. Amendments

must be proposed at least one meeting prior to the meeting in which the

vote will occur. Any amendment approved by the membership of DU must

also be approved by the Committee on Student Organizations, as per

University of Texas – Pan American policy.

 

ARTICLE VIII.  BY-LAWS

 

Section 1.        The DU International Fraternity shall be empowered to add, delete, and amend by-laws to this Constitution.

 

Section 2.        By-Laws and amendments to the by-laws shall be voted upon and approved by a 2/3 (two-thirds) majority vote of initiated members.