Chapter Operations

The heart of Phi Theta Kappa is the local chapter. Since no two chapters are exactly alike, chapters must meet international minimum standards, but are given a great deal of freedom in conducting their everyday affairs according to campus guidelines.

Chapter Advisors
At each campus where there is a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the college administration selects a faculty or staff member to serve as advisor of the local chapter. Chapters are encouraged to have co-advisors (if possible) to help share in the experiences of advising a chapter. The "contact" advisor is the advisor designated by the college to conduct the main correspondence with Headquarters (e.g., the Chapter Annual Report and reporting new inductees to Headquarters). Chapter advisors are considered the authority of the chapter from the perspective of the campus administration and Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters. While students provide leadership as chapter officers, advisors provide the continuity to our Society.

Advisors are responsible for reporting new inductees to Headquarters, filing the Chapter Annual Report, and ordering recognition items for the entire chapter (stoles, tassels, etc.) While students may help with these tasks if the advisor desires, these are advisor tasks which should not be tackled by students without the advisor's supervision. Learn more about advisor duties.

Advisor Veto Power
All local chapter bylaws must be in compliance with the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Policies, and must be submitted to the Membership Services Department at Headquarters for approval. The chapter's bylaws must also be approved by the local college administration. Use the sample chapter bylaws to easily update or create your chapter bylaws.

The following policy statement is designed to address situations involving the question of who has the final authority in deciding issues that will affect the future of the chapter. This statement will give college administrators, chapter members and chapter advisors a better understanding of the proper channels to follow when a decision is not mutually agreed upon by the chapter advisor and voting members.

Because the charter of a chapter is granted to an institution, that institution's top administrator - the college president or campus CEO - has the final authority on deciding an issue upon which the advisor and members cannot agree, as long as that decision is in compliance with the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Policies.

Example: If a chapter votes in favor of an issue that the advisor feels is not in the best interest of the chapter, the advisor, as an agent of the college, may veto the vote. If the chapter's voting members want to challenge that veto, they may present the issue to the college administrator charged with overseeing the local Phi Theta Kappa chapter. This individual is usually the Dean of Students or Vice President of Academic Affairs. If this administrator rules in favor of the advisor, the members may appeal this decision to the college president or campus CEO. Likewise, if the administrator rules in favor of the members, the advisor may appeal this decision to the college president or campus CEO.

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