LCHS Mu Alpha Theta
Constitution
Article 1. Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of this organization is to promote scholarship in, and enjoyment and understanding of, mathematics among high school (or two-year college) students.
Article 2. Name
Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be Loudoun County High School Mu Alpha Theta (LCHSMAT).
Article 3. Sponsor
Section 1. The organization shall at all times have a designated sponsor who is a current staff member in the Loudoun County High School Mathematics Department.
Section 2. The national Secretary-Treasurer must be kept informed of the current sponsor's name and email address.
Article 4. Membership
Section 1. Members are classified as Full or Associate members (for high schools).
Section 2. Full members are high school students in grades 9 through 12, at the school where their permanent record resides, who have completed four semesters of college preparatory mathematics and have completed or are enrolled in a fifth semester of mathematics, provided that this work has been done with distinction. On the 4-point grading scale, this shall mean at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and 3.5 grade point average in math courses. Two-year college students who were members of Mu Alpha Theta in high school are eligible for membership in their college's chapter. Students are also eligible if they have had at least one mathematics course at or above the College Algebra/Precalculus level, and a 3.0 GPA overall in all two-year college mathematics courses at or above the College Algebra/Precalculus level.
Section 3. Associate members are high school students in grades 9 through 12, at the school where their permanent record resides, who have completed two semesters of algebra or their equivalent with distinction and who have completed, or are enrolled in, a semester of geometry or second-year algebra. They are entitled to attend and be heard at meetings of the chapter, but are not entitled to vote on questions of national policy. Associate members planning to attend the National Convention or compete in national competitions must be registered with the National Office.
Section 4. Members shall demonstrate ability to work with others 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 5. Candidates for membership shall be currently enrolled in High School (or their Two-Year College). However this requirement shall be waived for students who were members in good standing of a Mu Alpha Theta chapter in another school.
Section 6. Selection of members shall be made by the Executive Council (See Article 7) composed of the sponsor and the officers of the chapter.
Section 7. Members will be provided with service/tutoring opportunities and are expected to participate in these activities throughout the school year. In order to remain a member in good standing, a minimum of 10documented service hours. These hours may be served through tutoring or volunteering with a Mu Alpha Theta fundraiser or activity.
Section 8.A member in good standing may miss no more than 2 unexcused meetings per school year. In order for a meeting absence to be unexcused, a member must notify the membership chair or sponsor at least 24 hours in advance.
Section 9. Members must maintain a 3.5 GPA in math courses (on a 4.0 scale) in order to remain a member in good standing. If a member fails to maintain this minimum GPA, they will be dismissed from LCHSMAT and may re-apply when the minimum GPA has been reestablished.
Article 5. Meetings
Section 1. The chapter shall meet regularly at a specified time that is agreeable to both the Executive Committee and the school administration. All members are expected to attend all meetings.
Section 2. Meetings are open to all interested persons who have been accepted into the organization.
Section 3. At regular meetings, the program shall consist of a mathematical presentation (e.g., talk, film, etc.), mathematical enrichment and recreational topics, and/or 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 6. Officers
Section 1. The chapter Executive Council shall consist of seven members in good standing with Full Membership status.
Section 2. All members of the Executive Council must have been a full member for at least one year.
Section 3. Election of officers shall take place during the final regular Spring meeting (except in the Charter year, when elections shall take place at the first official meeting).
Section 4. The term of office is one school year.
Article 7. Duties of Officers
Section 1. The Executive Council 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 2.The responsibilities of the Executive Council will include informing members of upcoming meetings (2 days in advance) taking attendance at meetings, planning topics of meetings, creation and maintenance of Facebook group/website, attendance at monthly Executive Council meetings and other meetings deemed necessary by the sponsor or Executive Council.
Section 3. The sponsor will be responsible for collection of dues and other fundraising money.
Section 4. The members of the Executive Council will chair or co-chair at least one of the following committees:
- Tutoring Committee: This chair will be responsible for organizing and maintaining a peer tutoring program.
- Pi Day Committee: This chair will be responsible for the planning and execution of school-wide activities during the week of Pi Day (March 14)
- T-shirt Committee: This chair will be responsible for the design and distribution of an annual Mu Alpha Theta t-shirt.
- Fundraising Committee: This chair will be responsible for the organization and execution of fundraisers throughout the school year.
- Meeting Planning Committee: This chair will be responsible for planning the events (speakers, activities, lessons, etc.) at each monthly meeting.
- Communication Committee: This chair will be responsible for all forms of communication to the Mu Alpha Membership including, but not limited to, maintaining the Facebook page, sending out email reminders, submitting morning announcements, flyers posted around the school, and articles for the school website or newspaper advertising Mu Alpha Theta Events.
g.Membership Committee: This chair will be responsible for advertising the membership application periods, assisting the sponsor with sorting applications and distributing acceptance/rejection letters, taking attendance at monthly meetings, any other activities deemed necessary.
Article 8. Emblems
Section 1. Each member of this chapter shall be entitled to wear the Mu Alpha Theta insignia (buttons, pins, charms, shoulder patches, medallions, or t-shirts) available from the National Office.
Article 9. Constitution
Section 1. Concurrence of two-thirds of the full members shall be required to accept this constitution.
Section 2. Any amendment to this constitution must be presented by a Full member in the form of a motion 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 Full members.
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.