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Constitution of the State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh Inter-Sorority Association

Article I. Name and Purpose

Section 1. Name

  1. The name of this organization shall be the SUNY Plattsburgh Inter-Sorority Association.
  2. From here on in the Plattsburgh State University Inter-Sorority Association shall be know as "ISA".

Section 2. Purpose

  1. The purpose of the ISA shall be to develop and maintain sorority life and interfraternal relations at a high level of accomplishment and in so doing to:
    1. Consider the goals and ideals of member groups as continually applicable to campus and personal life.
    2. Promote superior scholarship as basic to intellectual achievement
    3. Cooperate with its member sororities and all fraternal organizations, in good standing with Plattsburgh State, in concern for and maintenance of high social and moral standards.
    4. Recognize that the relationship between the member groups and the University is a valuable one and the ISA is committed to strengthening and supporting that relationship.

Article II. Membership

Section 1. General Membership

  1. The general membership of the ISA shall be composed of all chapter members in good standing with Plattsburgh State and where applicable, with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).
    1. Organizations in good standing with Plattsburgh State include:
      1. National Panhellenic Conference
        1. Alpha Epsilon Phi
        2. Alpha Phi
        3. Delta Phi Epsilon
        4. Sigma Delta Tau
      2. National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations
        1. Omega Phi Beta
        2. Sigma Lambda Upsilon
      3. Local Sororities
        1. Theta Alpha Lambda
  2. Active members are those matriculated Plattsburgh State female students who hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3 and have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours with no outstanding balances to the ISA.
    1. Members who were initiated after the Spring 2006 semester must hold a minimum GPA of 2.3 to remain active.
  3. Inactive members are those Plattsburgh State students who fall under the category of one of the following:
    1. Student Teaching
    2. Study Abroad
    3. Academic Inactive
      1. Article II, Section 1.B.a

Section 2. Suspension Clause

  1. Should at any time, a national or local sorority be placed on suspension by Plattsburgh State Inter-Sorority Association Judicial Board, the organization will lose all executive council positions and voting rights in the ISA. The denial of these rights will remain in effect until the college and council again recognizes the organization.
  2. The suspended organization must send representatives to all meetings of the ISA.

Article III. Structure of the ISA

Section 1. Functioning Structure

  1. The functioning structure of the ISA shall be composed of three components.
    1. The Executive Council shall be composed of the following:
      1. President
      2. Vice President for Standards
      3. Vice President for Operations
      4. Vice President for Education
      5. Vice President for Service
      6. Vice President for Recruitment
      7. Vice President forPublic Relations
    2. Two delegates from each organization of the ISA
      1. One senior delegate serving two consecutive semesters beginning in the Spring and continuing through the Fall
      2. One junior delegate serving one semester
    3. The general membership as stated in Article II, Section 1, Subsection A.

Article IV. The Executive Council

Section 1. Process for the formation of the Executive Council

  1. Interest forms shall be distributed to those members interested in holding an Executive position on the ISA Executive Council the first week in October.
  2. Interviews by the current Executive Council will then be conducted during the 3rd week in October.
  3. Current Executive Council members will then produce a slate of suggested officers.
  4. The slate of suggested officers must then be presented to the delegates of each chapter at the following ISA meeting. The slate will be presented by the ISA delegate to their individual chapters for a vote to be held one week later.
  5. A majority vote of the active voting delegates shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 2. Term of Office

  1. All terms off office on the Executive Council will be one full year. (Spring to Fall).

Section 3. Responsibilities of the Executive Council

  1. Presidential Responsibilities
    1. Have overall responsibility for the operation of the ISA.
    2. Call and preside at all meetings of the ISA Executive Council.
    3. Call and preside at all regular and special meetings of the ISA.
    4. Complete reports as required to the National Panhellenic Conference Area Advisor.
    5. Serve as member ex-officio of all ISA committees.
    6. Maintain a complete and up-to-date President's file which will include:
      1. a copy of the current ISA constitution, bylaws and standing rules;
      2. Current NPC Manual and related information;
      3. Current correspondence from NPC;
      4. All other pertinent materials.
    7. Represent the ISA to the Committee on Fraternal Affairs, the Campus/Community Coalition, University Administration and the Campus Community.
    8. Perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.
  2. Vice-President for Standards
    1. Perform the duties of the President in her absence, inability to serve, or at her call.
    2. Serve as chairwomen of the Inter-Sorority Judicial Board.
    3. Oversee all committees of the ISA.
    4. Oversee the Member Accreditation Program.
    5. Shall convene a meditation body when disputes arise between member groups of the ISA.
    6. Perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.
  3. Vice-President for Operation
    1. Be responsible for the general supervision of the finances of the ISA.
    2. Be responsible for setting a date for all dues to be paid.
    3. Be responsible for the preparation of each semester's budget and following its approval by the ISA.
    4. Receive all payments due to the ISA, collect all dues, and issue receipts.
    5. Be responsible for the prompt payment of all bills of the ISA.
    6. Maintain up-to-date financial records; give an annual report at the close of her term of office.
    7. Sign ISA contracts when authorized to do so.
    8. Responsible for organizing fundraising events.
    9. Maintain correspondence between ISA and the university.
    10. Keep a current roll of the members of the ISA.
    11. Keep full minutes of all Executive Council meetings of the ISA and distribute minutes to all members of the Executive Council and Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
    12. Keep full minutes of all meetings of the ISA and distribute minutes to all members of the Executive Council, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and all ISA member organizations within 48 hours of the given general meeting.
    13. Maintain a complete and up-to-date file that will include the minutes of the meetings of the ISA from its date or organization; copies of all contracts made by the ISA and all current correspondence.
    14. Shall excuse absences with legitimate reasons.
    15. Shall be responsible for sign-ins at all mandatory events and providing the ISA member organizations with a list of names of those who did not attend.
    16. Perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.
  4. Vice-President for Education
    1. Plan and oversee at least two scholarship based programs per semester.
    2. Monitor chapter GPA's and provide educational programming.
    3. Coordinate an awards/incentives program.
    4. Work with the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life to coordinate a Scholastic Achievements Award ceremony each semester.
    5. Shall be responsible for overseeing the ISA Risk management policy.
    6. Shall present all Risk Management violations to the Executive Council for further action.
    7. Present weekly presentations and ways to avoid risk (i.e. statistics, risk management rules).
    8. Perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.
  5. Vice President for Service
    1. Shall be responsible for coordinating ISA community service events.
    2. Shall be responsible in informing ISA member organizations of upcoming community service events that are not ISA mandatory.
    3. Shall be responsible in keeping record of hours completed.
    4. Coordinate A Week to GIVE
    5. Coordinate Up 'Til Dawn
    6. Perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.
  6. Vice-President for Recruitment
    1. Organize at least two all-sorority events per semester.
    2. Book all rooms for recruitment events
    3. Maintain continuous publicity about recruitment.
    4. Meet with Recruitment Directors of each ISA sorority member organizations once a semester to discuss fraternal recruitment.
    5. Coordinate an annual educational program about recruitment for all ISA member organizations.
    6. Perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.
  7. Vice-President for Public Relations
    1. Shall be responsible for all publicity for the ISA.
    2. Shall work to promote the positive image of the ISA through media usage (i.e. television, radio).
    3. Shall write and submit press releases to Cardinal Points, Press Republican, etc. upon request.
    4. Shall send out correspondence to faculty, staff, sororities, and college officials at intervals during the semester (i.e. Welcome back, faculty appreciation day, holidays, etc).
    5. Perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.

Article V. Non Executive Positions

Section 1. Senior (Primary) Delegate

  1. Delegate to the ISA shall be selected by their respective sorority chapters to serve for one year.
  2. Delegate will be the counting vote for their respected ISA sorority member organization.
  3. The delegate from each chapter shall be responsible for notifying her chapter members of all regular and special meetings to the ISA.
  4. The delegate from each chapter shall be responsible for notifying her chapter members of any mandatory or non-mandatory events accounted at the ISA meetings.
  5. The delegate will be responsible for getting the ISA meeting's agenda signed by her organization's president each week. Late submissions will not be accepted.
    1. Failure to have the signed agenda returned at the next ISA meeting will result in a warning for the first missed agenda and a penalty fee of $5.00 for each agenda thereafter not signed and returned.

Section 2. Junior (secondary) Delegate

  1. Delegate to the ISA shall be selected by their respective sorority chapters to serve for two semesters.
  2. ISA requires that the Junior Delegate shall be the delegate for the succeeding semester, where as she will then become the senior delegate.

Section 3. Delegate Vacancy

  1. When a delegate vacancy occurs, it shall be the responsibility of the sorority concerned to select a replacement within one week and to notify the ISA Vice President of Operations with her complete contact information.

Article VI. Meetings and Functions

Section 1. Frequency of meetings

  1. The ISA Executive Board will meet weekly (date and time to be determined within the first two weeks of the beginning of each semester).
  2. A member of the Executive Council may call a special meetings of the ISA at any time, provided that they have prior approval of the President.
  3. General Meetings will be held once a week unless otherwise noted (date and Time to be determined within the first two weeks of the beginning of each semester).
    1. Senior and junior delegates from each member organization must be present at each general meeting. If an alternate is sent as the representative, the Vice-President of Operations must be notified by that concerned organization prior to the general weekly meeting, no later than 5pm on the day of the meeting.

Section 2. Functions

  1. Executive Board Members
    1. Attendance at all meetings is mandatory. In order to be excused, the member must turn in a written excuse to the Vice-President of Operations at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to do so will result in a warning for the first meeting missed. A fine of $10.00 will be assessed for the second meeting missed and upon the absence from a third meeting, dismissal from the executive position will occur.
  2. Delegate Members & Chapter Members
    1. Attendance at all ISA mandatory events and general meetings is required. In order to be excused, the member must turn in a written excuse to the Vice-President of Operations at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to do so will results in a warning for the first meeting or event missed and a letter to the organization. A fine of $10.00 will be assessed each time after that the member organization is not adequately represented at ISA mandatory events and meetings.
      1. ISA Executive board will notify each member organization of the required number of members that needs to be present at each mandatory event at the general ISA meeting held before the scheduled event.

Section 3. Voting

  1. The voting member of the ISA shall be the senior delegate of each sorority holding regular membership. If the senior delegate is absent, the alternate shall cast the vote for her sorority. In the event that both delegate and alternate are absent, a member of the sorority may cast the vote, providing her credentials have been presented in writing to the President prior to the meeting.
  2. A majority vote of the active voting delegates shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
  3. If a member organization does not vote, their vote will automatically be counted as a "no" against the action.
  4. In the event of a tie, the deciding vote is the choice of the ISA Executive Board.

Article VII. Membership Dues

Section 1. Amount

  1. Each sorority member shall pay the set amount for dues
    1. Spring Semester Dues shall be set at $15.00
    2. Fall Semester Dues shall be set at $30.00
  2. Dues will be paid each Spring and Fall semester.
  3. Dues must be paid by the date sent by the Vice President for Operations. If dues are not paid on time, interest of 5% will be added for each day the dues are late.

Article VIII. Unanimous Agreement, Policies and Violations

Section 1. Unanimous Agreement

  1. All members of the ISA shall act in the spirit of the fundamental guidelines established by National Panhellenic Conference in the Unanimous Agreements which include:
    1. The Panhellenic Compact;
    2. Standards of Ethical Conduct;
    3. College Panhellenic Agreements;
    4. Agreement on Questionnaires and Constitutions;
    5. Jurisdiction of a College Panhellenic Council.

Section 2. Policies

  1. Any dispute growing out of the violation of the ISA rules and regulations hall be adjusted through the Inter-Sorority Association Judicial Board.

Article IX. Hazing

Section 1. Guidelines

  1. Hazing in every form is prohibited. Hazing is considered to be interference with personal liberty of others and includes any act of domination by some students over others that may lead to injury, emotional disturbance, physical discomfort or humiliation.
  2. Hazing which involves the forced consumption of any substance for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with any member organization is specifically prohibited.
  3. All new members must meet with the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life within the first week of new member education. No new member may be initiated before attending this meeting.
  4. It is understood that Plattsburgh State prohibits hazing in accordance with items listed in Section 16: Hazing, of the Student Conduct Manual, under College Regulations, and also in accordance with the New York State Law.

Article X. Violations

  1. Violation of any regulations of this Constitution or its related Bylaws shall be the occasion for penalties established by the ISA involving the ISA Judicial Board.

Article XI. Amendments

  1. This constitution may be amended by three-fourths vote of the voting delegate members of the ISA, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given in writing at the preceding regular ISA meeting

Contact Information

For more information about Fraternity/Sorority Life at SUNY Plattsburgh, please contact:

Allison Swick-Duttine
 Director of Fraternity/Sorority Life & Organization Development
Angell College Center 204
Phone: (518) 564-4825
E-mail: allison.swick@plattsburgh.edu

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