National Honor
Society Bylaws

Bylaws of Honor Society
Unalaska City School District
May, 2001
This chapter is governed by the general guidelines as stated in the Constitution of the National Honor Society.
ARTICLE I - NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1- The name of this chapter shall be the Unalaska Chapter of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools and the National Junior Honor Society, which appears on the charter granted by the National Council of the National Honor Society duly signed by the national secretary.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1- Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be members of one of the grades, seventh through twelfth. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum scholarship average of B, or 85% or its equivalent. This scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed and shall be the required minimum scholastic level of achievement for admission to candidacy.
Section 2- All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such a standard may be admitted to candidacy for election to membership. Their eligibility shall then be considered on service, leadership and character.
a. Service is generally considered to be those actions undertaken by the student which are done with or on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation to the individual performing the service.
· volunteers, provides dependable, and well organized assistance
· willing to sacrifice to offer assistance
· works well with others
· is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities
· cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school
· does committee and staff work without complaint
· participates in some activity outside of school
· shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students
b. Leadership
· demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
· exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideas
· contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
· is able to delegate responsibilities
· has a positive attitude
· inspires positive behavior in others
· demonstrates academic initiative
· successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility
· conducts business effectively and efficiently
· demonstrates reliability and dependability
· is a leader in the classroom, at work, and in other school or community activities
· is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted
· is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude
c. Character is probably the most difficult criterion to define. A person of character
demonstrates respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and citizenship
· takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
· consistently exemplifies desirable qualities (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise,stability)
· upholds principles of morality and ethics
· cooperates by complying with school regulations
· demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
· regularly shows courtesy, concern and respect for others
· observes instructions and rules, is punctual, and faithful both inside and outside the classroom
· has powers of concentration, self-discipline, and sustained attention as shown by perseverance and application to studies
· manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written work and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others
· actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment
Section 3- Any member of the faculty may propose to the council the names of students eligible for membership in the chapter.
ARTICLE III- SELECTION OF MEMBERS
Section 1
a. Any student who meets the GPA requirement of 3.0 will be given a student activity survey to complete. That student is responsible for returning the survey along with two teacher rubrics by the due date.
b. Other teachers may decide to complete rubrics at this time also.
c. The Faculty Council will meet to approve or disapprove the candidate for induction into the honor society based on the information received from the student and staff.
d. The Faculty Adviser will then send rejection letters to those students who have been disapproved and invitations to the parents of the students who have been approved.
ARTICLE IV - DISMISSAL
Section 1- GPA
· A member will receive a written warning from the Faculty Adviser if his of her GPA falls below the standard which was the basis for selection.
· That student will have one grading period to bring the GPA back up to standard.
· If this does not happen the student's name will be referred to the Faculty Council for a hearing. (See Section 4 for hearing procedures.)
Section 2- Inactivity
a. Non-attendance at the regular meetings of the honor society
· Two unexcused absences from meetings each semester results in a warning in writing and three unexcused absences results in a referral to the Faculty Council for possible discipline and dismissal.
· The student must provide reason for absence to the adviser on the first day he or she returns to school.
o The adviser will determine if an absence from meetings is excused.
b. Nonparticipation in the chapter service project
· If a student fails to participate in the annual chapter service project, the Faculty Adviser will refer that student to the Faculty Council for possible discipline or dismissal.
The Faculty Council will determine if a hearing is warranted.
c. Failure to complete an Individual Service Project (ISP)
· If an ISP has not been completed during the first semester of the school year, the Faculty Adviser will contact the student for a meeting to discuss a project.
· The member will have one month from that meeting to complete the ISP.
· If the student fails to complete the ISP by the scheduled completion date, the Faculty Adviser will
refer that student to the Faculty Council for possible discipline or dismissal.
· The Faculty Council will determine if a hearing is warranted.
Section 3-Teacher Referral
· If, at any time, two or more teachers make written referrals for school attendance problems, tardies, character or leadership issues, a written warning will be sent by the Faculty Adviser to the student.
· On the receipt of the next written referral for a similar incidence the student will be referred to the Faculty Council for possible discipline or dismissal.
· The Faculty Council will determine if a hearing is warranted.
Section 4-Hearing
· The Faculty Council will schedule the hearing and the Faculty Adviser will notify the student and the student's parents of the time and date by certified letter.
· It is the student's choice to attend this meeting. The student will be given a chance to present argument for remaining in honor society during the scheduled hearing.
· The Faculty Council will vote at the conclusion of the hearing whether or not to dismiss the student from honor society. A member once dismissed is never again eligible for membership in honor society.
· When a member is dismissed, a notification in writing will be made and the member must return the emblem and membership card to the adviser or principal. Notice of this dismissal must be indicated on the annual report submitted to the national secretary at the end of the school year.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS