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.
