UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL CONSTITUTION
[Revised 5/25/2009]
We, the members of the Interfraternity Council at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, by the authority of the President of the University of Arkansas and subscribing to the regulations and policies of the University, do establish government in order to serve the best interests of the University and to seek a close cooperation and spirit of goodwill among fraternities for their individual and mutual benefit.
ARTICLE I--TITLE
Section I This organization shall be known as the Interfraternity Council of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, which may be abbreviated as IF
ARTICLE II--PURPOSE
Section I The purpose of this organization shall be to:
Create and maintain cooperation and coordinate interfraternal affairs among member and associate member fraternities.
Foster the development of scholarship and leadership among member and associate member fraternities and their active members, pledges, and alumni.
Promote a positive relationship between the community and member and associate member fraternities.
Act as a medium between member and associate member fraternities and:
Other RSO’s.
The student body.
The faculty and administration.
Institute policies and rules that will maintain the purpose and policies of IF
ARTICLE III--CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
Section I There shall be two classes of membership within IFC:
Full membership.
Associate membership.
ARTICLE IV--FULL MEMBERSHIP
Section I Membership in IFC is required of all NIC fraternities. It may be withdrawn upon proof of good cause by a 2/3 vote of the Council in accordance with these articles.
Section II Requirements to Become a Full Member
To become a full member a fraternity must:
Be fully chartered at the University by its National Interfraternity Conference (NIC) or by its parent national organization.
Be a registered student organization (RSO) at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and be in good standing with this University.
Have been an associate member of IFC and met all the appropriate obligations during that time.
Receive a 2/3 vote of IFC in a regular session by written ballot to affirm membership.
A full member shall:
Have all privileges and rights under this Constitution, except as limited by the Judicial Board or of the administration within this University.
Receive coverage on par with any other member in all IFC publications that list or describe any member and associate member fraternities.
Have the option to participate in all IFC sponsored events.
Vote at meetings of the IF
Have its members, as they are eligible, hold elective and appointive offices within the IF
A full member shall:
Pay all dues and fees owed to IF
Abide by this Constitution and all regulations adopted by IF
Cooperate in any proceedings of the Judicial Board with which it May be involved and abide by all Judicial Board rulings affecting it.
Cooperate with all administrative actions of the Executive Board.
Maintain an updated list of all of its officers, advisors, and house corporation board members in the Greek Life Office with the Executive Board.
Maintain an updated list of all its members with the Greek LifeOffice.
Keep on file an updated list of all pledges/new members with the Greek Life Office and keep current with any change in that status.
Maintain an updated file of grade release cards in the Greek Life Office.
Meet the minimum standards of operation for the chapter, new members not included.
Abide by all University regulations and policies.
Encourage among its members a spirit of cooperation with the University community and the City.
Encourage scholarship and leadership among its members.
Be expected to be in attendance any time the IFC body and Executive Board have convened.
Meet all deadlines as set forth by the IFC and the Greek Life Office.
ARTICLE V--ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Section I IFC Associate Membership is required of each fraternity or colony until such time that all the requirements for full membership are met. Membership may also be withdrawn upon proof of good cause by a 2/3 vote of the Council in accordance with these articles.
Section II Requirements to Become an Associate Member
To become an associate member a fraternity must:
Be sponsored as a colony or interest group by a National Interfraternity Conference (NIC).
If unsupported by NIC, must be established for the purpose of becoming a colony of this group or for purposes that are commensurate with and in no way contrary to the purposes of IF
Be recognized by the University as a registered student organization.
Be in good standing with the University.
Submit for review to the Greek Life Office and IFC:
Its name.
The names of its members and their student classification.
The names of its alumni advisors and patrons.
A copy of its local constitution and bylaws.
A statement of its purpose.
After favorable recommendation from the Greek Life Office, receive a 2/3 vote of the Council in a regular session by written ballot to affirm associate membership.
Meet expansion and full membership requirements.
Section IIIPrivileges of an Associate Member
An associate member may:
Participate in all IFC sponsored programs.
Speak at any meeting of the IFC
Have no voting privileges, except in the case of Officer Elections.
Section IV Duties of an Associate Member
An associate member shall:
Pay all dues and fees owed to IF
Abide by this Constitution and all regulations adopted by IF
Cooperate in any proceedings of the Judicial Board with which it may be involved and abide by all Judicial Board rulings affecting it.
Cooperate with all administrative actions of the Executive Board.
Maintain an updated list of all of its officers, advisors, and house corporation board members in the Greek Life Office with the Executive Board.
Maintain an updated list of all its members with the Greek Life Office.
Keep on file an updated list of all pledges/new members with the Greek Life Office and keep current with any change in that status.
Maintain an updated file of grade release cards in the Greek Life Office.
Meet the minimum standards of operation for the chapter, pledges not included.
Abide by all University regulations and policies.
Encourage among its members a spirit of cooperation with the University community and the City.
Encourage scholarship and leadership among its members.
Be expected to be in attendance any time the IFC body and Executive Board have convened.
Meet all deadlines as set forth by the IFC and the Greek Life Office.
ARTICLE VI--STANDING
Section IGood Standing
A full member fraternity that satisfies Article IV, Section IV and an associate member fraternity that satisfies Article V, Section IV is in good standing with IF
A full member may lose its good standing with IFC if it is found guilty of violating any part of Article IV, Section IV. An associate member may lose its good standing with IFC if it is found guilty of violating any part of Article V, Section IV.
Section III Consequences of Loss of Good Standing
In accordance with the IFC Constitution, a full member or associate member fraternity can be expelled from IFC or can lose some or all of its privileges or sanctioned as follows as granted by this Constitution if it fails to act in good standing with the University of with IF
Section IV Possible Sanctions for Loss of Good Standing
Probation: This may include, but not be limited to, the following: prohibition from holding social functions, recruitment functions, and any or all IFC related events.
Temporary removal: The fraternity in question may be temporarily removed from the general body of IFC upon recommendation of the head of Greek Life or upon a majority vote of the general body of IF
Permanent Removal: The fraternity in question may be removed permanently from IFC if repeated violations of this Constitution of local, state, or federal laws occur.
ARTICLE VII--ORGANIZATION
Section I The officers of IFC shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Co-Vice-Presidents of Recruitment, Co-Public Relations Chairmen, Risk Management Chairman, and Community Service Chairman.
Section IIThe above named officers and chairmen will make up the Executive Board which shall oversee all functions of IFC with the coordination and cooperation with the head of the Greek Life Office.
The Executive Committee will have, but not be limited to, the following powers:
The right to interpret and apply the Constitution.
The right to stay the execution of any motion that has properly passed the general IFC until the next meeting upon proof of good cause that this decision is in the best interest of the Greek system.
The option to remove officers within the Executive Committee upon show of good cause and a majority vote of the Committee, with the questionable party(s) not being allowed a vote, and approval by the head of Greek Life.
Section III The general body of IFC has the power to overrule executive action with a 3/4 vote of the Council.
ARTICLE VIII--ELECTIONS
Section I Elections shall be held during the month of November. The IFC may move up this date in the case of an emergency or by proof of good cause.
Section II Applications will be distributed three weeks prior to the election.
Section III Applications are due one week prior to elections.
Section IV Election of officers will be by a simple majority vote of the council, with each represented full member fraternity receiving voting privileges. If a majority vote cannot be reached the acting President of IFC will cast the deciding vote unless a clear conflict of interest exists. In that case, the head of Greek Life will cast the deciding vote.
Section V IFC Executive Officers shall serve a term of one calendar year.
Section VIA vacancy in an office, except the President, shall be filled by a special election. In the case of the President stepping down or being removed, the acting Vice-President shall assume the office of President and all of its responsibilities. In this case a new Vice-President must be elected.
Section VII The President and either of the Co-Recruitment Chairman may not be affiliated with the same fraternity.
SectionVIII In order for a fraternity to be eligible to vote they must be in good standing with the University and have a ZERO balance with IF
ARTICLE IX--QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICERS
Section I All officers of IFC shall be active members in good standing with their respective fraternities. You must be an active collegiate member of your fraternity and not an alum.
Section II All officers must be enrolled full time at the University of Arkansas.
Section IIIThe student must maintain a 50 cumulative GPA to run for office and maintain a 25 GPA while in office. At any time if the officer falls below this point a special election shall be held to replace that officer, with the special election exception provided in Article VIII, Section IV. The GPA of all officers shall be verified by the head of Greek Life and reported to the general body of IF
Section IV IFC officers shall not be allowed to hold any of the following positions within their respective fraternities: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Social Chairman, Recruitment Chairman, or New Member-Educator. Upon any officer receiving such a position in his fraternity, he will be asked to step down and the guidelines provided in Article VIII, Section IV, shall be followed. Any requests for an exception must be brought before the current IFC Executive Board.
Section VIFC officers shall not be allowed to hold an office in any other major registered student organizations.
ARTICLE X--DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Schedule and preside over all meetings of IF
Set agenda for IFC and all Executive Committee meetings.
Call special meetings as necessary as provided by the Constitution.
Assume general responsibilities for the functioning of IFC, and all corresponding committees.
Represent IFC at all University meetings and events.
Cast the final vote in case of a tie.
Perform any other duties assigned to this office.
Serve at least two office hours weekly.
Assist the President in all necessary duties.
Compile all IFC awards and applications.
Coordinate roundtable discussions with all the fraternities.
Work with the fraternities on all scholarship issues.
Uphold parliamentary procedure when the IFC is in session.
Serve at least two office hours weekly.
Keep a complete record of the proceedings of each meeting and provide the Council and all representatives therein with a typed copy of the minutes within 2 days of the said meeting.
Keep an accurate list of all officers and delegates along with phone numbers, addresses, and e-mail addresses.
Assist the Greek Life Office with database entry.
Prepare and be responsible for any correspondence as directed by the President of IFC or the head of the Greek Life Office.
In charge of IFC correspondence.
In charge of communication with each chapter.
In charge of the revision and upkeep of this Constitution in congruence with the times.
Serve at least two office hours weekly.
Handle all financial matters of IFC including, but not to be limited to, the following:
Preparation of annual budget.
Preparation of recruitment budget.
Fundraisers.
Assist with recruitment booklet ads.
Serve at least two office hours weekly.
Section V Co-Vice-Presidents of Recruitment
Coordinate all recruitment activities throughout the year.
Keep record of new members and men who de-pledge.
Look at alternatives to formal recruitment.
Compile recruitment and new member statistics.
Assist with all recruitment publications.
Meet with the recruitment chairman from each house.
Work with the Office Admission to provide information to incoming students.
Serve at least two office hours weekly.
Work closely with all parts of campus administration to help foster a positive image of the Greek community.
Write and send out semi-annual newsletters informing the campus and the community of the positive attributes and events happening in the Greek community.
Send out hometown press releases.
Publicize all community service events.
Increase campus awareness of the role and responsibility of IF
Serve at least two office hours weekly.
Coordinate mandatory Social Chair meetings once per semester.
Coordinate educational programs focusing on risk management issues such as hazing, drinking, and sexual assault.
Work with the University on all fire, health, and safety issues.
Facilitate communication with UAP
Serve at least two office hours weekly.
Know about all on-campus functions throughout the semesters.
Coordinate mandatory Risk Management Chair meetings once per semester.
Work with the Vice-President of Judicial on IFC judicial matters which better serve and educate our council.
Attend at least one social function for each fraternity to work out possible Risk Management Issues.
Section VIII IFC Representatives/Delegates
Each fraternity is required to appoint an IFC representative that will serve from the time the new IFC Executive Board is seated to the same time the following year.
Keep the fraternity’s roster and new member cards up-to-date.
Ensure that his fraternity submits all rosters and fulfills financial obligations.
Present all IFC business to his chapter.
Work for a better understanding in his chapter of the Interfraternity Council.
Have a working knowledge of the IFC Constitution.
All IFC Executive Board officers shall serve on the IFC but shall have no vote.
ARTICLE XI--REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Section I Members of the Executive Council of IFC may be removed upon proof of good cause by the head of Greek Life and a majority vote of those Executive Officers not up for removal from office.
Section II The entire Executive Council may be removed upon a vote of No Confidence from the general body. This vote must consist of 2/3 of those fraternities with full membership. Upon removal of the entire Executive Council, new elections must immediately follow, while meeting election guidelines set forth in this Constitution.
Section III Executive officers must also be immediately removed id they fail to meet all obligations and requirements of officers.
Section IV Officers may also be removed based on the following guidelines:
Continuous gross or willful neglect of the duties of office.
Failure or refusal to disclose necessary information on matters of organization.
Unauthorized expenditures, signing unauthorized checks, or misuse of IFC funds.
Misrepresentation of the Council and/or its full member or associate member fraternities.
ARTICLE XII--MEETINGS
Section I Meetings shall be held weekly with a time to be decided at the beginning of each school year by the Executive Council in coordination with the Greek Life Office.
Section II Special meetings may be called by the President at his discretion or at the request of one-forth of the member fraternities.
Section III In order for a vote to take place quorum must be present. A quorum shall consist of fifty percent plus one of the number of voting fraternities composing this council.
ARTICLE XIII--VOTING
Section I Votes may be cast in person or by written proxy only at meetings. This privilege may be revoked pursuant to the provisions of this Constitution.
Section II Votes of abstention shall not be considered.
Section III Meetings shall be governed by the principles in Robert’s Rule of Order.
ARTICLE XIV--REPRESENTATION
Section I All full member and associate member fraternities shall have one (1) delegate participating in IFC meetings in addition to the Chapter President.
Section II Each full member fraternity in attendance shall be allowed to cast up to two equally considered votes on its behalf in any voting situation, one by the President and one by the official IFC Delegate.
Section III Requirements to be an IFC representative are as follows:
The student must be an active member of the chapter throughout the semester.
Must be in good standing with the University and his respective chapter.
Must be enrolled full time at the University of Arkansas.
Section IV The President of each fraternity will attend all meetings of IF Two absences are allowed per President per semester, the third resulting in a loss of voting rights for aforementioned official for the remainder of the same semester. Upon the second instance that a President sends a proxy, it is considered an absence. Under extenuating circumstances the IFC Executive Board may approve a permanent proxy for any President who is unable to attend IFC meetings, with the same absence policy applying.
Section V The IFC Delegate of each fraternity will attend all meetings of IF Two absences are allowed per delegate per semester, the third resulting in a loss of voting rights for aforementioned official for the remainder of the semester. Upon the second instance that a delegate sends a proxy, it is considered one absence.
Section VI Excessive absenteeism can result in social sanctions being placed on the fraternity in question.
ARTICLE XV--POWERS OF THE INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL
Section I The IFC shall have the authority to administer its rulings on its full member and associate member fraternities provided that these rulings do not contradict university, city, county, state, or federal regulations, or the national or international policies of its full and associate member fraternities.
Section II The IFC shall have the power to represent the fraternities at the University of Arkansas who are full members or associate members of its body as a whole, provided that such representations are fair and positive for these fraternities.
Section III The IFC shall have the power to exact sanctions upon persons and/or fraternities for infractions dealing with the IFC Constitution or any ruling passed by the Interfraternity Council.
ARTICLE XV--FINANCE
Section I Dues of each IFC full and associate member fraternity shall be an assessment for each member. The assessment shall be seven dollars per active member and new member/pledge unless stipulated differently by IFC or Greek Life.
Section II Dues are to be paid at the beginning of each semester and assessed according to the active members and new members/pledges at the beginning of each semester.
Section III There shall be a fourteen-day grace period to allow payment in full. If payment is late the fraternity responsible shall be penalized as follows:
First Offense: A 10% late fee will be assessed, imposed on the next semester’s due.
Second Offense: Loss of good standing and the outstanding balance shall be subject to further compound late fees.
Third Offense: Failure to pay before formal recruitment: Disqualified from participating in formal recruitment.
Section IV In the case of extenuating circumstances, the Treasurer is available for reconsideration of aforementioned penalties if consulted in advance.
Section V If a full member or an associate member remits payment within seven days of the billing date, it shall be credited with a 5% early return reward.
ARTICLE XVII--PLEDGING, REPLEDGING AND DEPLEDGING
Section I To be eligible for pledging a man must be enrolled full time at the University of Arkansas and meet all other requirements established by the Greek Life Office and Greek Standards.
Section II At the time of pledging a fraternity, the student wishing to pledge shall be required to sign a bid/grade release card indicating that he has become a new member and the date of new member term. The President or Recruitment Chairman of the respective fraternity shall be required to co-sign the bid card to indicate its validity and return it to the Greek Life Office by the established deadline.
Section III When a fraternity or a new member therein wishes to terminate that relationship the fraternity must file a depledge card with the Greek Affairs Office within one week after depledging.
Section IV A new member that breaks relations with any respective fraternity is eligible to pledge another fraternity, the following semester, only after having completed 12 credit hours with at least a 25 GPA during the semester of depledging. However, he may repledge the same fraternity if both parties can reach an agreement regardless of the recruitment cut-off date. In all cases he, must discharge all financial obligations to any fraternity that he has previously pledged before he shall be allowed to pledge in any other fraternity.
Section V A recruit whose bid/grade release card is not on file with the Greek Life Office is forbidden to participate in new member/pledge or member activity of the fraternity, or otherwise be considered affiliated with that fraternity (deferred or “ghost” pledging).
ARTICLE XVIII--HAZING
Section I IFC adopts the Fraternity Executives Association Statement of Position on Hazing and Pre-Initiation Activities and the Arkansas Anti-Hazing Legislation.
Section II Any fraternity that is accused of hazing, in any form, shall immediately be placed on probationary status with IFC until the accusation is cleared up by a formal written statement from both parties. If the accusation is found to be true, by any type of judicial body, on or off the University, that fraternity shall be temporarily removed from IFC and shall lose all IFC related privileges for no less than one semester, and not be allowed to participate in formal rush for at least one year.
ARTICLE XIX--RECRUITMENT
Section I All rules and regulations pertaining to summer and fall formal recruitment will be voted upon in the early spring prior to the end of the academic year.
Section II Amendments to the recruitment rules require a 2/3 vote of the Council.
ARTICLE XX--LITTLE SISTERS
Section I Fraternities shall no longer be allowed to recruit or have Little Sisters.
ARTICLE XXI--EXPANSION
Section I IFC reserves the privileges of contacting national fraternities for colonization at the University of Arkansas.
Section II The national fraternity wishing to colonize must follow the University of Arkansas’ Regulations for the Establishment and Operation of National Fraternity and Sorority groups.
Section III Any fraternity wishing to colonize at the University of Arkansas must receive a majority vote of approval from the general body of IF that vote is not achieved and that fraternity colonizes or registers as a student organization it will not be admitted into IFC until it has been chartered from its national organization.
ARTICLE XXII Fraternal Ethics
Section I In order to uphold further value of each of the chapters that make up the University of Arkansas Interfraternity Council, be it resolved, that language that is degrading to women or other socioeconomic groups during an IFC sponsored event be deemed unsatisfactory and punishable by the IFC Judicial Board and/or Office of Greek Life.
Section II Specifically, no fraternity shall at any time, publicly use degrading language referring to women such as, individual sororities, individual sorority members, or non-Greek women during any recruitment event. This includes but is not limited to, speeches and any recruitment materials used such as brochures, video, pictures, or clothing, i.e. T-Shirts.
Section III Possible punishments include, but are not limited to:
Reduction of number of parties during Formal Rush.
Reduction of number of eligible social events.
Sponsorship of education workshop/speaker.
Section IV Until such time that the Judicial Board is fully functional, the IF Executive members will assume its role. At that time, this section shall be stricken from the constitution.
ARTICLE XXIII--AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Section I This Constitution may be amended by 2/3 vote of the general body of IFC, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing during a meeting at least two weeks prior to voting.