The name of the National Communication Association's Community College Honor Society shall be Sigma Chi Eta.

Section 1. The purposes of Sigma Chi Eta shall be: (a) to recognize, foster, and reward outstanding scholastic achievement in communication studies; (b) to stimulate interest in the field of communication; (c) to provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of communication; (d) to establish and maintain closer relationships and mutual understanding between speech communication studies faculty and students; and (f) to explore options for community college students who will transfer to a four-year college or university or enter the world of work.[i]

Section 2. Sigma Chi Eta is the honor society of the National Communication Association. Sigma Chi Eta exists to further the mission of the Association and is subject to the Association's policies and procedures.

Section 3. Sigma Chi Eta chapters may sanction recognition of outstanding community college scholarship with awards or prizes; recognize outstanding faculty contributions in community college teaching or chapter advising; establish programs of faculty-student mentorships; and conduct other activities consistent with the stated purposes of Sigma Chi Eta.

Section 1. Sigma Chi Eta will be administered by the National Communication Association, which is a not-for-profit organization, and housed in the national office of the National Communication Association. Administrative and financial records will be housed in the National Communication Association's national office. Sigma Chi Eta's financial records will be included as part of the yearly audit of the National Communication Association.

Section 2. The Executive Director of the National Communication Association is responsible to the National Communication Association for the management of Sigma Chi Eta.

Section 3. The Executive Director of the National Communication Association will appoint the National Director of Sigma Chi Eta, who will serve at the pleasure of the Executive Director.

Section 4. The Executive Director of the National Communication Association can appoint any staff support that is needed to carry out the programs and mission of the honor society.

Section 1. Sigma Chi Eta chapters shall be eligible for Institutional membership in the National Communication Association. As such, they will receive the rights and privileges as defined in the Association's Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 2. Chapters may be established and apply for recognition at any community college:

- has an academic division, or department, or program, or concentration in the field of communication studies;

- which offers a minimum of twelve (12) academic semester hours (15 quarter hours) in communication and communication-related courses (the definition of what constitutes a communication or communication-related course will be left up to the discretion of the individual institution. Schools may wish to count such offerings as speech, communication, forensics/debate, media or theatre in the definition); and

Section 3. Each new chapter shall submit a charter fee of $50 and the first year chapter dues of $25 at the time of application for recognition. Thereafter the chapter will pay yearly chapter dues of $25 no later than December 1 of each year.[ii] Chapters will be rendered inactive when dues have not been paid for two years, after which time a new charter application must be submitted.

Section 4. Fees for initial charter application and for yearly chapter dues will be established in accordance with the National Communication Association Constitution and Bylaws. Upon making a change in fees, a notice will be submitted to the local Sigma Chi Eta chapters.

Section 1. Eligibility for Membership. To be eligible for admission applicants must have completed 20 semester credit-hours at the institution they are now attending, or the equivalent number of hours at a transfer institution, or through life-long learning credit; have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for all courses taken; have a GPA for all communication studies courses taken of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale); completed the equivalent of 3 communication courses or 9 semester credit-hours (12 quarter credit-hours) in communication studies[iii]; and currently be enrolled as a student in good standing, as determined by the local institution's policies. In addition, all persons considered for membership shall exhibit high standards of personal and professional character and shall support the purposes of the honor society.[iv] Individual schools may raise but may not lower these requirements.

Section 2. Election to Membership. A method of election to membership shall be devised by each chapter, but must include (a) strict adherence to Eligibility for Membership (Article V, Section 1).

Section 3. No rushing and social pressure shall be used to ensure acceptance of invitation to membership or for initiation into membership.

Section 4. Each chapter shall collect and transmit to the National Communication Association an initiation fee of $20 for each member eligible for membership in the local chapter and will submit in one payment the total fees for all the students nominated for membership.

Section 5. Each chapter shall transmit to the National Communication Association the names of any student who has paid an initiation fee.

Section 6. Students who are members of Sigma Pi Eta and transfer to another school that has a Sigma Pi Eta chapter will automatically become members of that school’s chapter. However, students that transfer to a four-year college or university do not transfer their membership to that school’s communication honor society.

Section 7. Privileges of Membership. A member shall be eligible to vote at all chapter meetings of the Society, be eligible for election to chapter offices, be eligible to attend scholarly presentations and colloquia of the sponsoring academic department, and be allowed to include the citation of membership on employment and collegiate applications. Individuals shall not be considered members of the National Communication Association by virtue of their membership in Sigma Chi Eta.

Section 8. Honorary Members. Local chapters of Sigma Chi Eta may, by majority vote, confer Honorary Member status upon communication faculty members or individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the goals of the Society or make outstanding contributions to the academic goals of the chapter.

Section 9. Non-Discrimination. Selection for membership shall be made without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, physical disabilities, physical qualities, or age.

Section 10. Honor Cords. All members of Sigma Chi Eta shall be awarded the privilege of wearing honor cords at their college graduation, if such a custom is followed on the individual campus. [vi]

Section 1. Any local chapter may, at its own choosing, formulate by-laws. These local by-laws may incorporate into them any policies, which do not alter the national constitution of Sigma Chi Eta.

Section 2. Each chapter shall determine the method for setting a quorum for the conducting of chapter business.

Section 3. Dues for local chapter membership may be determined, collected, and retained by each chapter.

(a) The President, or alternative officer, shall announce all meetings, preside in the conducting of business, and actively promote the purposes of Sigma Chi Eta in the university community.

(b) The Vice President, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for special programs and projects, and serve in the absence of the President.

(c) The Scholarship Officer, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for encouraging academic excellence and stimulating intellectual inquiry among the members through activities such as inviting guest speakers, informing members of opportunities for research and involvement in professional associations, determining the eligibility of and recruiting new members, and presenting awards for outstanding contributions.

(d) The Treasurer, or alternative officer, shall be responsible for collecting annual chapter dues, collecting and transmitting initiation fees and information, establishing a yearly budget, disbursing funds for appropriate organizational expenses, and accounting for all funds.

(e) The Secretary-Reporter, or alternative officer, shall keep a complete set of minutes of the business of the chapter, deposit the minutes with the faculty advisor at the expiration of the term in office, assure adequate media coverage of the activities of Sigma Chi Eta, and keep a record of chapter activities.

Section 2. Terms of Office. Officers shall be elected for terms of one academic year. All officers shall be elected from and by the members at the last regular meeting of the academic year and shall assume the duties of their respective offices at the first regular meeting of the next academic year or at the end of the current semester during which they were elected.

Section 3. If a person is elected to office but cannot complete the term she/he is to be replaced by an election of the current membership.

Section 2. The national office of Sigma Chi Eta will make available to members honor cords, which can be worn during graduation ceremonies. In addition, the national office may make available paraphernalia (T-shirts, sweatshirts, pins, etc.) to members.

Section 1. All changes to this constitution will be presented to the local chapters for reaction. The final discretion for operation of the organization lies with the National Communication Association.

1. Chapters may decide to operate purely as an honor society, selecting and granting honor recognition. And/or the group may operate as a communication club, which sponsors various communication activities for the general membership with honor members accorded special recognition because they have succeeded academically according to the requirements in this constitution. If the latter form is followed, only those members who have been accorded honor recognition must pay the national dues.

2. The chartering fee for a new chapter is $75, with a yearly renewal fee of $25. These fees may be changed at the discretion of the national office. The fees may be raised and paid by any means the local chapter/school prescribes (e.g., department/program funds, institutional funds, student contributions, fund-raisers).

3. The definition of what courses may count as communication studies offerings is left to the discretion of the individual program or institution.

4. Individual chapters, programs, and institutions may determine what constitutes personal and professional character.

5. Individual lifetime student membership shall be a one-time payment of $10. Each chapter, program, or institution may decide on how this money should be raised.

6. Honor cords may be purchased from the National Communication Association.

CONSTITUTION FOR SIGMA CHI ETA

Community College Speech Community Honor Society