Delta Alpha PI
International Honor Society
Page Index
- Introduction
- Delta Alpha Pi
- Preamble
- Article I: Name of Society
- Article II: Purpose of Society
- Article III:Qualifications for Membership
- Article IV: Dues and Fees
- Article V: Officers of Society
- Article VI: Duties of Officers
- Article VII: Elections
- Article VIII: Vacancy in Office
- Article IX: Removal of Officers
- Article X: Advisors
- Article XI: Meetings
- Article XII: Quorum
- Article XIII: Formation of Chapters
- Article XIV: Amendments
Introduction
Sonoma State University is proud to be the 32nd chapter of Delta Alpha Pi - International Honor Society. Membership is open to students with disabilities registered with DSS who meet certain criteria.
For a summary of Delta Alpha Pi at SSU, please download the DAP Brochure.
For additional information and/or answers to any questions, please contact the Delta Alpha Pi Advisor, Brent Boyer, or call DSS at (707) 664-2677.
Delta Alpha Pi
Delta
D for Disability, but also the triangle, symbol of strength. Members of Delta Alpha Pi demonstrate strength as leaders on campus to help break down the barriers of negativism. Also, they serve as mentors and role models for other students with disabilities.
Alpha
A for Achievement. Alpha is the beginning and academic achievement much come first. But also for advocacy because students must advocate for themselves before they can advocate for others. Members of Delta Alpha Pi enhance advocacy skills for themselves and for the rights of all individuals with disabilities to be included fully in society.
Pi
P for Pride, pride in academic achievement and in other accomplishments, not just as students with disabilities but as members of the university community. Pi is a mathematical symbol that we all learned to use in elementary arithmetic classes. So Pi is an appropriate symbol for education. Members of Delta Alpha Pi participate in activities designed to educate the community and society regarding the need to apply the principles of universal design in learning.
Preamble
Because of the negative stereotyping associated with disability, students with disabilities have been reluctant to identify themselves publicly. Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society presents an opportunity to change that perception by recognizing students with disabilities for their academic accomplishments.
ARTICLE I: Name of Society
Section 1: The name of the Honor Society shall be Delta Alpha Pi.
Section 2: The Greek letters AAI1 shall be used to designate the Society.
Section 3: The Alpha Chapter of Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society was founded at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania in 2004.
ARTICLE II: Purpose of Society
Section 1: The purpose of this Society shall be to recognize the academic accomplishments of college and university students with disabilities, to facilitate development of leadership and advocacy skills, and to provide opportunities for members to serve as mentors and role models.
Section 2: The further purpose of this Society shall be to provide educational programming related to disability issues for the campus and community.
ARTICLE III: Qualifications for Membership
Section 1: Membership shall be open to current undergraduate students who have presented with a documented disability and work with faculty / staff / administrators in the Office of Disability Services (or similarly named office or program), who have completed a minimum of 24 credits, who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.10 (on a 4.00 scale), and who have demonstrated an active interest in disability issues.
Section 2: Membership shall be open to current graduate students who have presented with a documented disability and work with one of the faculty / staff / administrators in the Office of Disability Services (or similarly named office or program), who have completed a minimum of 18 credits, who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 (on a 4.00 scale), and who have demonstrated an active interest in disability issues.
Section 3: All who meet the approved criteria are invited to become members of this Honor Society without regard to gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, type of disability, or sexual orientation.
ARTICLE IV: Dues and Fees
Section 1: Chapter dues shall be proposed by the Executive Council and voted by the membership.
Section 2: The Delta Alpha Pi Chapter account will be managed by the chapter Treasurer.
Section 3: All financial management and accounting will conform to Student Activity Association (or similar governing body for student organizations) rules and regulations.
ARTICLE V: Officers of Society
Section 1: The elected officers of this Society shall be as follows: President, Vice-President/President-Elect, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Section 2: Officers shall be elected from the general membership. Any active member who shall be able to fulfill the designated period of office shall be eligible for nomination for one of the offices.
Section 3: Terms of office for President, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be for one academic year, with the option of re-election for Treasurer, and Secretary. The term for the Vice-President/President-Elect shall be one academic year followed by one academic year as President.
Section 4: The Executive Council shall consist of the President, Vice- President/President Elect, Treasurer, and Secretary along with the Faculty / Staff / Administrative Advisor(s).
ARTICLE VI: Duties of Officers
Section 1: The President shall preside over meetings of the Society and of the Executive Council. The President shall also serve as chair of the Nominating / Elections Committee.
Section 2: The Vice-President / President-Elect shall preside in the absence of the President and fill any vacancy in the Office of President.
Section 3: The Treasurer shall administer the financial affairs of the Society and present the status of finances at Society meetings for approval and inclusion in the minutes of the Society.
Section 4: The Secretary shall keep minutes of the Society's meetings and present the same for approval of the Society. The secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings of Executive Council
and shall be responsible for the correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, of the Society.
ARTICLE VII: Elections
Section 1: The current President shall appoint a Nominating / Elections Committee of two-to-four active members of the Society. The committee members shall notify all Society members via mail or e-mail that nominations are open for the positions of Vice-President / President-Elect, Treasurer, and Secretary and will be received for a period of two weeks.
Section 2: The Nominating / Elections Committee shall present the slate of candidates at the first fall meeting of the organization. Members shall vote by secret ballot. The Nominating / Elections Committee shall count the ballots and announce the duly elected officers for the academic year.
Section 3: Elections shall occur during the first fall meeting of the Society. The newly elected officers will be inducted into their offices during a ceremony following the organizational meeting.
ARTICLE VIII: Vacancy in Office
Section 1: Should the President be unable to complete term of office, the Vice-President / President-Elect shall complete the term followed by a full term as President.
Section 2: If a vacancy occurs in any other office, the President shall convene the Nominating / Elections Committee to announce and accept nominations for that office. The President shall call a general meeting of the Society to elect an officer from among the nominees for the vacant position. The new officer shall be inducted following the meeting.
ARTICLE IX: Removal of Officers
Section 1: An officer may be removed from the office only for cause by two-thirds vote of members of the Executive Council present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting where charges are studied by Council.
Section 2: Cause for removal from office shall consist of such matters as misuse of office or persistent failure to perform duties of office.
ARTICLE X: Advisors
Section 1: Advisor or co-advisors shall be selected by the Executive Council from among the faculty /staff / administration working with college / university students who have disabilities, generally from the Office of Disability Services (or similarly named office or program).
Section 2: The duties of the advisor(s) shall include acting as an exofficio member of the Executive Council and serving in an advisory capacity for the Council and the Society. The advisor(s) shall be available for consultation and at least one advisor shall be present at each general meeting of the Society.
Section 3: The advisor(s) must be approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs, as applicable on each campus.
ARTICLE XI: Meetings
Section 1: General meetings of the local chapter shall be held at least twice each semester and shall include meeting for the purpose of initiating new members or inducting officers.
Section 2: Special meetings may be called by the President or her / his designee by contacting the membership by phone, e-mail or mail at least one week prior to the special meeting.
Section 3: Meetings of the Society shall follow Robert's Rules of Order. Newly Revised.
ARTICLE XII: Quorum
Section 1: A quorum shall consist of one more than one-half of the current membership of the local chapter.
Section 2: Two of the four elected officials must be in attendance in order to transact business.
ARTICLE XIII: Formation of Chapters
Section 1: Interested sponsor from a four-year institution of higher education who seeks to form a Chapter of Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society should send a letter of interest to one of the Delta Alpha Pi founders.
Section 2: A minimum of ten eligible students is required for the formation of a chapter.
ARTICLE XIV: Amendments
Section 1: Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any active member of the Society and must be presented to the Executive Council for approval before they may be submitted to the Society for vote.
Section 2: Following approval by the Executive Council the proposed amendment shall be distributed to the membership via mail or e-mail at least two weeks prior to the regular or special meeting during which a vote on the amendment shall be taken.
Section 3: Adoption of an amendment shall require approval by two-thirds of the members voting in person or by proxy.
