University of South Carolina Aiken

Interfraternity Council Constitution

Preamble

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) of the University of South Carolina Aiken derives its authority from the University and the recognized fraternities on this campus.  The IFC promotes cooperation among all members of the Greek community at USCA and especially focuses on the needs and interests of the male fraternities.  IFC will use its powers to accomplish such ends. 

 

Article 1 – Name

The name of this organization shall be the Interfraternity Council of the University of South Carolina Aiken, hereinafter referred to as IFC.

 

Article 2 – Purpose

◘       Shall promote the interests of the Greek Community in social, academic, and civic matters;

◘       Shall serve as a liaison between male fraternities and other areas of the campus community, student groups, administration, and civic and local organizations;

◘       Shall coordinate and regulate all on-campus activities of the social fraternities, including, but not limited to, rush and community service activities.

◘       Shall serve as a fraternal forum for the exchange of ideas between members

◘       Shall coordinate and promote the positive aspects of fraternity life

 

Article 3 – Membership

1.        Members of IFC shall be social male fraternities recognized by the University;

2.       The voting members of IFC shall include two representatives from each fraternity.  One should be an officer in his fraternity.  The second shall serve as a chapter representative and will be appointed by the president of the said chapter.   Both members are expected to attend all meetings.  The fraternities are expected to keep the same representatives throughout the semester;

3.       IFC has the authority to remove any member of the Council through a vote of 2/3 of the Council.  A member may be impeached for failing to attend regular meetings or for lack of active participation of his duties;

4.      The Director of Student Life and/or his/her appointee  shall be ex-officio members of the council.  They are non-voting members;

5.       Each fraternity shall have one vote and must be present.  No absentee voting will be allowed;

6.      A fraternity may participate in Recruitment only if they are in good standing with IFC.

 

Article 4- Officers

◘       The officers of IFC shall consist of a President, Vice President of Recruitment/Public Relations, Vice President of Community Service, Secretary and Treasurer and shall be named the IFC Executive Committee; 

◘       Selections for all officers except President (selection of President outlined below) are to be held during the second week of February.  Each officer shall be elected by a majority vote of the delegates of IFC by secret ballot, with the outgoing President breaking all ties.  Nominations will be held the week before the election date; 

◘       Terms will last one year; 

◘       No fraternity president may simultaneously hold an office within IFC;

◘       No fraternity shall hold more than two officers during one term; 

 

Section A – President

  1. The office of President shall be selected by a committee each spring. Each fraternity may submit names to be considered for the position to the Assistant Director of Student Activities by the date stipulated.  Each candidate will be interviewed by the Assistant Director and his/her designees and the current executive committee (composed of all current IFC officers not seeking the presidency).  The group will then select the new President by majority vote; 
  2. The President shall call meetings, preside over meetings, serve as a an ex-officio member of all committees, and shall be generally responsible for the executive decisions of the Council; 
  3. The President shall have no vote except in the case of a tie;
  4. The President is also responsible for organizing meetings of the chapter advisors and presidents when needed;
  5. The President shall be the official representative on the Greek Council and shall meet with the Greek Council monthly;
  6. The President shall act as liaison officer between IFC and the Administration and Faculty and will report all information from such meetings to the IFC;
  7. The President shall have the power to create any additional officer for IFC at his discretion.  He must present officer responsibilities to IFC and it must gain the approval of a majority of voting IFC representatives;
  8. The President shall assist other officers when needed.

 

Section B – Vice President of Community Service (VP of CS)

  1. The VP of CS shall act in the capacity of the President in his absence;
  2. The VP of CS shall coordinate at least one community service project a semester for  IFC;
  3. Shall appoint and see to the proper execution of all committees;
  4. The VP of CS shall work with the Director of Student Life or his/her appointed designate to develop and produce grade reports for all chapters
  5. The VP of CS shall be familiar with Robert’s Rules of Orders;
  6. The VP of CS shall assist other officers when needed.

 

Section C – Vice President of Recruitment/Public Relations (VP of R/PR)

  1. The VP of R/PR shall coordinate all recruitment activities for IFC and shall assist the Director of Student Life or his/her appointed designate with the execution of all recruitment programs;
  2. The VP of R/PR shall organize and present a schedule for recruitment prior to the end of the semester to be ratified by IFC;
  3. The VP of R/PR shall present in writing all rules and regulations concerning the recruitment process to IFC and it shall be binding upon majority approval of IFC;
  4. The VP of R/PR shall coordinate and issue all press releases and publicity to highlight the positive aspects of fraternal life and IFC;
  5. The VP of R/PR shall assist other officers when needed.

 

Section D – Secretary

  1. The Secretary shall record all minutes of all IFC meetings and shall distribute these minutes to all IFC members before the next meeting;
  2. The Secretary shall be in charge of the IFC website;
  3. The Secretary shall be responsible with maintaining all needed paperwork with the University;
  4. The Secretary shall assist other officers when needed.

 

Section E – Treasurer

  1. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection, safe-keeping, and expenditures of all funds of IFC and maintain accurate and balanced financial record;
  2. The Treasurer will report every meeting to members of IFC about the financial status of the group;
  3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for preparing a detailed budget for each upcoming semester and shall submit the budget to IFC for approval by a majority vote;
  4. The Treasurer shall calculate dues and inform each fraternity of its financial obligations by the second IFC meeting of each term;
  5. The Treasurer will plan all fundraisers for the Council;
  6. The Treasurer shall assist other officers when needed.

 

Section F – Delegates

  1. When a vacancy occurs it shall be the responsibility of the fraternity concerned to select a replacement within two weeks and notify the IFC of his name, address, email address, and phone number.

 

Section G – Vacancies

  1. Vacancies that occur in any of the offices shall be immediately filled by a majority vote of the IFC unless it is the office of the President in which the guidelines explained in Section A will be enacted.

 

Article 5 – Impeachment

Any officer may be brought up on charges of negligence of duty or other serious charges by any member;

Motions to investigate the impeachment of an officer must be approved by 2/3 majority of voting members;

All impeachment proceedings will be handled by the Director of Student Activities or his/her designate the remainder of the IFC Executive Board;

All impeachment proceedings must be completed within two weeks of the motion passing IFC and a full report must be presented to IFC within that time period.

 

Article 6 – Advisor

An IFC advisor shall be appointed by the Director of Student Activities.  The advisor will be expected to attend all executive council meetings and scheduled meetings of the IFC.

 

Article 7 – Standing Committees

Standing committees will be appointed by the VP of CS and shall exist as long as needed.  All committees will present status reports as needed to IFC.

 

Article 8 – Meetings

Section A – Time of Meetings

Meetings of the IFC shall take place every first full week and third week of each month and the times shall be decided by the president, unless otherwise decided on by the majority of IFC.

 

Section B – Deliberative Procedures

The IFC shall function under Robert’s Rules of Order.  Quorum shall consist of fifty percent plus one of the IFC members.

 

Section C – Attendance

◘       Attendance by at least two members of each fraternity is required as outlined by Article 3.  Notice of meetings must be given to representatives at least forty-eight hours prior to any meetings of the IFC.  Notice must be posted in public and delivered by mail/email to the each chapter.  Absences deemed the result of insufficient notice will be excused.

◘       Excused absences may be granted once a semester to each chapter.  Such absences must be presented in writing to the President of IFC before the meeting.

 

Article 9 – Amendments

Section A – Amendment Approval

This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a 2/3 vote of all voting representatives.  Amendments may be introduced by any member.  Amendments must be presented and tabled immediately.  At the next regularly scheduled meeting, the amendment will be brought off the the table for discussion and vote. 

 

Section B – By-Laws

By-Laws to the Constitution may be introduced by any member.  By-laws require a majority vote for ratification.

 

Article 10 – Ratification

◘       This Constitution must be ratified by an unanimous vote of all member fraternities. 

 

By – Laws

Article 1 – Finances

  1. Membership fees for IFC shall be $20 per term per group;
  2. Fees shall be considered past due after the end of the second meeting of each term;
  3. Fines shall be levied on past dues fees with the majority approval of the executive council;
  4. Members with bills at or over $25 will lose all voting privileges until said bill is paid in full.

 

Article 2 – Recruitment

Section A – Prior to Recruitment

1.          With approval of the Housing & Residence Life Office, fraternities may participate in move in days. Fraternity members may wear letters during these days.

2.         Based on University guidelines, publicity will be allowed during all orientation programs.

3.         Fraternity members who are not Pacesetters may not participate in any orientation activity or program unless specifically invited by the Orientation Planning Committee.

4.        No fraternity may sponsor a recruitment event on campus during the time period between August Orientation and Greek Forum.

5.         The IFC President & Advisor must approve any letter written to  freshmen or their parents.

 

Section B – During Recruitment

1.    All recruitment schedules must be turned into the Student Life Office by the

1st   day of classes each semester and approved by the IFC executive committee

2.         All recruitment events must be dry.

3.         No females are allowed to participate in Greek Forum events or programs.

4.   Potential members may not be contacted from Midnight to 7a.m. during the           

       recruitment week.

6.        All potential members must attend all fraternity presentations during Greek 

Forum unless specific permission is given by Director of Student Activities or his/her designate

7.         During Greek Forum, fraternities will be given 15 minutes to give presentations with 5 minutes allotted to allow potential members to move from one chapter to the next.

8.        No chapter may make any verbal or written invitation of membership to potential members until Bid Day during Formal Recruitment Week after all bid cards have been signed.

9.         A fraternity may not make any derogatory reference, hint, insinuate or make any open statement to directly criticize another chapter or fraternity member. Such actions are uncalled for and are a direct violation of the recruitment rules.

 

Section C:  Bid Day

1.          All bids must be turned in by 10a.m. on Bid Day to Director of Student Activities or his/her designate;

2.         Bids may be picked up from Noon until 5p.m. All bid acceptance cards must be signed and returned no later than 5p.m. All new members must sign a hazing recognition form and sign up for a Greek 101 class at that time.

3.         All Bid Day events must adhere to local, state, and federal laws.

          *Failure to comply to any of the rules and regulations will result in  

     a $50 fine (excluding social events).

 

    Section D: Enforcement and Processes

1.          A committee composed of IFC Executive Council and a representative of each chapter will determine the judgment of any violation(s) of any recruitment rule reported during formal recruitment.