The Constitution of
Mu Alpha Theta
San Antonio, Texas
Article 1. Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of this organization is to promote scholarship in, and enjoyment and understanding of, mathematics among Ronald Reagan High School students and the community.
Article 2. Name
Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be “The Ronald Reagan High School Chapter of Mu Alpha Theta”.
Article 3. Sponsor
Section 1. The organization shall at all times have at least one designated sponsor.
Section 2. The national secretary-treasurer must be kept informed of the current sponsor's name, email address, and the school’s address.
Article 4. Membership
Section 1. Mu Alpha Theta students are classified as Members or Associates. Associates are students in grades 9 through 12, who have completed two semesters of algebra or equivalent with distinction and who have completed, or are enrolled in, a semester of geometry or second-year algebra. Associates are not members of Mu Alpha Theta but are likely candidates for membership. They are entitled to attend and be heard at meetings of the chapter but are not entitled to vote on questions of national policy. Associates planning to attend the national convention must be registered with the National Office. Once a student has started their fifth semester of math, they will be moved up to Member status, if qualified, or will be deleted as an Associate. These students may continue to participate in Math Club activities. A student may remain an Associate for only one year and then, if eligible, must be inducted as a Member of Mu Alpha Theta.
Section 2. Members are students in grades 9 through 12, who have completed four semesters of college preparatory mathematics, including algebra I and geometry, and in addition are currently enrolled in a fifth semester of mathematics, provided that this work has been done with distinction. On the 100-point grading scale, this shall mean at least a 87.0 un-weighted average for mathematics courses and that the student’s current mathematics course is a GT/Pre-AP or AP course. Students are also eligible if they have had at least one mathematics course at or above the Pre-Calculus Pre-AP level, and a 87.0 un-weighted average overall in all two-year college mathematics courses at or above the Pre-Calculus Pre-AP level.
Section 3. Mu Alpha Theta students shall demonstrate ability to work with others and to conduct independent research, and shall possess qualities of industry, initiative, and reliability. No student will be denied membership on account of race, religion, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual preference and/or physical disability.
Section 4. Candidates for membership shall have spent at least one semester in Ronald Reagan High School. However, this requirement shall be waived for students who were members in good standing of a Mu Alpha Theta chapter in another school (Members on Probation will not be considered).
Section 5. Selection of members shall be made by the Admissions Committee (See Article 7), composed of the sponsor and the officers of the chapter.
Section 6. The application fee shall be $35 for new Members, $25 for returning Members, and $25 for Associates.
Article 5. Maintaining Membership
Section 1. In order to maintain an active membership, members must have had attained at least 3 academic tests and attended 3 Mu Alpha Theta approved events by the end of every semester (Both Members and Associate Members). Mu Alpha Theta approved events are any hosted by Mu Alpha Theta i.e. guest speaker presentations, math celebrations, and math field trips. Events not hosted by Mu Alpha Theta will count as approved events only by the decision of the sponsor(s) and officer board. Academic test count will be reset after each deadline. Academic tests and attendance to events will carry over to the new semester or the following school year only when the academic tests or event credits are obtained after the semester deadline.
Section 2. Students are expected to maintain a 87.0 un-weighted grade average in all mathematics courses they are enrolled in (Including at least one advanced math course). Failing to meet this requirement will result in GPA Probation. Members on GPA Probation who fail to raise their grade average by the next semester will be removed from the society. Members on GPA probation who attain an average that satisfies the grade requirements will be removed from probation at the end of their current semester.
Section 3. Members must also attend and remain the entire duration of each monthly meeting. If attendance is not possible due to other conflicts, a written explanation of non-attendance with a signature (other than a parent signature) must be given to the chapter sponsor(s) within one week of the meeting time, or it will be recorded as an “unexcused” absence. The officer board and sponsor(s) make the final decision regarding whether the member is excused from the meeting. A member who has accumulated a second unexcused absence from a meeting shall receive written notification of probationary status. To clear the probation, members must attend all general meetings for the remainder of the current semester. A third unexcused absence during the remaining school year will result in the member’s dismissal from the society.
Section 4. A member on probation shall be a member who has not satisfied all the requirements of the society. Following the receipt of the probation letter, with the exception of unexcused absences, a member will be put on probation until the next semester deadline. A member will be given a grace period to meet all of his/her requirements for the semester that was not satisfied. If a member meets the grace period requirements and meets the requirements for the next semester, then he/she will be taken off probation and the good-standing status shall be reinstated. However, if a member fails to meet all requirements for membership in the society during the grace period or the probationary period, he/she may be dismissed from the society. Seniors who are on any type of probation will automatically be removed from the society and will not graduate with Mu Alpha Theta emblems if they fail to meet the necessary requirements by the end of Spring semester deadline (varies).
Section 5. Members may also be removed for violations of Mu Alpha Theta, school, district, state, or federal laws/policies and code of conduct (At the discretion of Sponsors). Members may be reinstated at the discretion of the sponsor(s) if the reason for their dismissal has been satisfactorily resolved.
Section 6. Renewing members or prospective members must submit the application before the specified deadline. This application includes all specified forms and fees specified by the application. These requisites must be met in a timely and orderly manner.
Article 6. Dismissal
Section 1. Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the Ronald Reagan chapter of Mu Alpha Theta. A member of Mu Alpha Theta is expected to maintain an active role in involvement and leadership to his/her school and the organization.
Section 2. Any member whose probationary status is not lifted may be dismissed from the Ronald Reagan Chapter of Mu Alpha Theta.
Section 3. Violation of criminal law will result in dismissal of a member (see the NEISD Student Handbook).
Section 4. Level II or III offenses of the NEISD School Code of Conduct may result in dismissal.
Section 5. A member shall be dismissed if he/she is referred for disciplinary action to an alternative campus setting within the school year (i.e. sent to AHS).
Section 6. In the case of pending dismissal:
The member will receive written notification of the reason for possible dismissal from the Sponsors/Officer Board. The member may then request a hearing with the Sponsors/Executive Board (President/Vice President/Second Vice President) prior to dismissal. The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense. The Sponsors/Executive Board will then vote on whether or not to dismiss. The dismissed member will sign a letter of dismissal. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the board. The member may appeal the Sponsors/Executive Board decision to the Principal. When a student is dismissed or resigns, he/she is no longer a member and may never again be considered for membership in Mu Alpha Theta.
Article 7. Meetings
Section 1. The chapter shall meet once a month at a specified time that is agreeable to both the Admissions Committee and the school administration.
Section 2. Meetings are open to all interested persons.
Section 3. At regular meetings, the program shall consist of a mathematical presentation (e.g., talk, film, etc.), mathematical enrichment and recreational topics, as well as conducting any necessary chapter business.
Section 4. In all matters of conduct not specifically addressed in this constitution, the chapter shall be guided by Robert's Rules of Order.
Article 8.Officers
Section 1. The chapter officers shall be the following: President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Officer, and any other positions necessary for that year.
Section 2. Selection of officers shall take place during 4th 9-week quarter.
Section 3. The term of office is one school year.
Section 4. Selection Committee of Members and Associates who are not running for presidential positions may assist sponsor(s) to select President, 1st Vice-President, and 2nd Vice-President. Additionally, the President, 1st Vice-President, and 2nd Vice-President may assist sponsor(s) in selecting the remainder of the officer board.
Section 5. Prospective officers must be an active member who have put in exceptional effort to accomplish beyond the minimum requirement to maintain membership. In addition, they must not be on any type of probation at the time of selection. Prospective officers may be required to obtain a recommendation letter from their STEM teacher before running for an officer position. They must also not have any official warnings/write-ups from teachers or administration.
Article 9. Duties of Officers
Section 1. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the chapter. He or she shall preside at all business sessions, and it shall be the duty of the president to direct the activities of the organization. The President holds the responsibility of calling meetings and organizing as well as representing the chapter. Furthermore, the President is responsible for setting up, holding, presiding over, and judging dismissal hearings, in conjunction with sponsors, for members who requested hearings.
Section 2. The Vice-Presidents shall perform the duties of the President at times when the President is absent, and shall also serve as Program Chairman. Vice Presidents should perform specific duties delegated by the president and receive reports from all committee chairpersons. Additionally, the First Vice President is responsible for maintaining up-to-date logs of all member points or tests. The First Vice President may enlist any non-executive positions to assist in the completion of this task. Furthermore, the Second Vice President is responsible for maintaining and updating the Chapter Website.
Section 3. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings. He or she shall, with the approval of the sponsor, certify the names of new members, forwarding these (together with initiation fees) to the National Office within one month of initiation. The Secretary will take minutes at all meetings and keep a notebook or electronic file of all meeting minutes. In addition, the Secretary is in charge of making PowerPoints and completing other necessary tasks for each general meeting.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall handle all money belonging to the Chapter and shall maintain an accurate record of financial transactions, which includes dues from each member and after the induction of new members. Additionally, the Treasurer is responsible for setting up and executing fundraising efforts for the Chapter (at the discretion of the President).
Section 5. The Publicity Officer shall notify members of meetings and events, take pictures of Mu Alpha Theta members at events, and keep a scrapbook of pictures or a video slideshow and articles of activities conducted by Mu Alpha Theta.
Section 6. The Committee Chair oversees all aspects of Major Fair during the first semester. During the Second semester the Committee Chair will oversee and plan events, such as parties. The Committee will assist the Committee Chair.”
Section 7. The officers shall serve with the sponsors as the Admissions Committee and Executive Committee, having authority to transact all routine business and to select new members of the chapter.
Section 8. The Sponsor(s) and President of the Chapter will have the authority to issue demerits to officers who have shirked their duties. Once an officer receives two demerits, they will face appropriate disciplinary action that includes, but is not limited to, dismissal from the board.
Article 10. Emblems
Section 1. Each Member of this chapter shall be entitled to wear the Mu Alpha Theta insignia (buttons, pins, charms, patches, medallions, or t-shirts) available from the National Office. (Price lists and descriptions of items can be found online at the National Mu Alpha Theta website.)
Article 11. Constitution
Section 1. Concurrence of two-thirds of the Members who attend the Constitutional Convention shall be required to accept this constitution.
Section 2. Any amendment to this constitution must be presented during a business meeting. It must then be placed on the table until the following meeting, at which time it will become effective, provided it is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Members in attendance.
Section 3. The local chapter constitution must not violate any stipulation of the national constitution.
Section 4. By-laws may be adopted to amplify the constitution and to take care of details.