OSA Bylaws

Ohio Scholars’ Association Bylaws

Section 1: Board of Directors

The founding Board of Directors will consist of five members selected from community volunteers. Founding Board members will serve staggered terms of one, two, and three years. Officers will include a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.
1. Board officers are determined by Board vote. Position selection requires a simple majority.
New Board members will be selected through a nomination and voting process.
1. Each chapter may nominate one individual to serve on the Board.
2. Each nominee must provide a brief, written rationale explaining why he/she would be a good fit for the Board and include a short resume.
3. The Adviser Board and the Student Board will vote to select Board members from the nominee pool.
Board members are selected for a three-year term. Board members may renew membership for one additional three year term.
1. Any Board member planning to non-renew for a second term should notify the board three months before the end of the current term.
2. Former Board members may reapply to serve on the Board of Directors after a minimum of one year absence.
The Board of Directors must meet at least once each calendar year to review operations and make any necessary changes. The presidents of both the Adviser Board and the Student Board shall attend as ex-officio, non-voting members. In the event that one of these is unable to attend, he/she shall appoint an alternate representative from the respective board.
1. A simple majority of members shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors for decision-making purposes.

Section 2: Adviser Board

The founding Adviser Board will consist of the advisers of the founding affiliates.
One adviser will serve as president, determined by Board vote. Position selection requires a simple majority. The president will attend the annual meeting of the Board of Directors as an ex-officio, non-voting member or will appoint an alternate representative.

Section 3: Student Board

The founding Student Board will consist of interested students who are members of the charter affiliates.
One student will serve as president, determined by Board vote. Position selection requires a simple majority. The president will attend the annual meeting of the Board of Directors as an ex-officio, non-voting member or will appoint an alternate representative.

Section 4: Affiliates

Each affiliate shall pay a one-time incorporation fee determined by the Board of Directors. For those other than the founding affiliates, the fee is $75.
Each affiliate shall pay an annual affiliation fee recommended by the Board of Directors. For those other than the founding affiliates, the fee is $50.
Affiliates may charge individual student dues if they wish, not to exceed $15 per student per year.
Individual affiliates shall create their own bylaws and are encouraged to add provisions specific to their affiliate. For example, an affiliate may choose to raise the minimum standard for the academic requirement to 3.5 or to specify involvement in particular service projects.
Each affiliate shall choose its own officers and determine how they are elected and their duties.
Each affiliate shall have regular meetings determined by its members, presided over by the president or another officer.
The individual members of each affiliate shall perform at least 25 hours of community service during each calendar year, either as individuals, in small groups, or as part of an affiliate project.

Section 5: Affiliate Adviser

The affiliate adviser shall regularly review each member for compliance with OSA standards and obligations.
The affiliate adviser shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, fourth or sixth member of the Faculty Board.
The affiliate adviser shall be a member of the faculty, appointed annually by the principal, and may serve consecutive terms. If a member of the faculty is not available to serve as adviser, the principal may appoint another person.

Section 6: Faculty Advisory Board

The Faculty Advisory Board shall consist of three or five (5) voting faculty members appointed annually by the adviser in conjunction with the school administration. The chapter adviser shall be an ex-officio, non-voting fourth or sixth member of the Faculty Advisory Board. No principal or assistant principal shall be a voting member of the Faculty Advisory Board.
The term of the Faculty Advisory Board shall be one year. Members may be appointed to unlimited consecutive terms. However, an effort should be made to vary the composition of the Faculty Advisory Board from year to year.

Section 7: Individual Membership

The traits required for membership are as follows:

Academic Excellence

In order to qualify for membership with OSA, a student must first achieve a minimum high school (grades 9-12) cumulative average of at least a B+ or 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale (weighted or unweighted as determined by each individual chapter), or the equivalent standard of excellence. Students must also exemplify high levels of leadership and involvement within the classroom.

Community Involvement

The student demonstrates a positive attitude toward serving others. This is exemplified by active involvement in both school and community activities that benefit people other than the student himself/herself.

Integrity

The student demonstrates high ethical standards in all areas of life. This includes, but is not limited to, the following characteristics:

Solid character
Dependability
Reliability
Honesty (both academically and personally)
Respect for others
Cooperation
Responsibility

Student Involvement

In addition to academic leadership, the student also holds other positions of responsibility. In these positions, the student is faithful, conscientious, hard-working, and self-motivated.

To be eligible for membership, the candidate must be a member of the junior or senior classes. Freshmen and sophomores (ninth and 10th graders) are not eligible, although students may be selected at the end of their sophomore year to be members in their junior year if a chapter so chooses. Candidates must have been in attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester.
The selection of each member to the affiliate shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Advisory Board. Current OSA members may communicate with the Faculty Advisory Board regarding candidates through their advisers. Prior to notification of any candidates, the adviser shall review with the principal the results of the Faculty Advisory Board deliberations. Neither the principal nor the adviser shall review the judgment of the Faculty Advisory Board regarding selection of individual members.

Section 8: Discipline and Dismissal

Members who fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection shall be promptly warned in writing by the affiliate adviser and given a reasonable amount of time to correct the deficiency. In the case of a flagrant violation of school rules or law, a member does not have to be warned. The Faculty Advisory Board shall determine when an individual has exceeded a reasonable number of warnings, and this shall be consistent for all students.
In all cases of pending dismissal, a member shall have the right to a hearing before the Faculty Advisory Board. This hearing is required and is considered due process for all members. For purposes of dismissal, a majority vote of the Faculty Advisory Board is required.
A member who has been dismissed may appeal the decision of the Faculty Advisory Board to the principal. This appeal will follow the same rules for disciplinary appeals in the respective school district. The Board of Directors shall hear no appeals in dismissal cases.

Section 9: Amendments

Amendments to these Bylaws may be made at a meeting or via consent in lieu of meeting of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, the Adviser Board, and the Student Board.

Adopted August 31, 2015.

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