The object of the Panhellenic Association shall be to develop and maintain sorority life and inter-sorority relations at a high level of accomplishment, and in so doing to:

A. Consider the goals and ideals of member groups as continually applicable to campus and personal life.

B. Promote superior scholarship as basic to intellectual achievement.

C. Cooperate with member sororities and the University administration in the concern for the maintenance of high social and moral standards.

D. Act in accordance with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Unanimous Agreements and Policies.

E. Act in accordance with all rules established by the Panhellenic Association which do not violate sovereignty, rights, and privileges of member sororities.

Article III. Membership

There are two levels of membership: Regular and Associate.

A. The Regular membership of the Panhellenic Association shall be composed of all chapter members in good standing of NPC or National Pan-Hellenic Conference, Inc. (NPHC) sororities at Tulane University.

B. The Associate membership of the Panhellenic Association shall be composed of all members in good standing of NPC or NPHC colonies or pledged chapters.

Article IV. Executive Officers

A. The officers of the Panhellenic Association shall be President, Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President, VP of Finance, VP of Recruitment, and Assistant VP Recruitment.

B. The officers shall be representatives from sororities holding regular membership in the Tulane Panhellenic Council. Representatives holding associate membership in the Tulane Panhellenic Council shall not hold office.

C. The officers shall serve for a term of one year. The term of office shall begin in mid-February, after an officer transition retreat that includes both incoming and outgoing officers has taken place. Any officer failing to perform her duties as outlined shall resign and a successor be designated as provided in Article VI, Section 3.

Article V. Meetings

A meeting of the Tulane Panhellenic Association may be called by the President when necessary, and shall be called by her upon written request of any member or associate member sorority at Tulane University.

Article VI. The Panhellenic Council

The administrative body of the Tulane University Panhellenic Association shall be the Tulane University Panhellenic Council. It shall be the duty of the Panhellenic Council to administer all business related to the overall welfare of the Panhellenic Association and compile rules governing the said Association and Council, including rushing and pledging rules, which do not violate the sovereignty, rights, and privileges of member sororities.

A. Membership. The Panhellenic Council shall be composed of one representative and one alternate representative from each National Panhellenic Conference and National Pan-Hellenic Council sorority chapter at Tulane University, and from such National Panhellenic Conference and National Pan-Hellenic Council sorority colonies at Tulane University as the Panhellenic Council may approve for membership in the Panhellenic Council.

B. Terms of Office. Representatives and alternate representatives to the Panhellenic Council shall be selected by their respective sorority chapters to serve for a term of one year commencing no later than six weeks before the end of the college year. Whenever possible, the alternate representative of one year shall be the representative for the succeeding year.

C. Representative Vacancies. When a representative vacancy occurs, it shall be the responsibility of the sorority concerned to select a replacement within two weeks and to notify the Panhellenic Council Administrative VP of the new representative’s name, address, and telephone number. When a meeting of the Panhellenic Council occurs while a representative vacancy exists, the alternate representative of the sorority concerned shall fulfill the duties of the representative in all cases save that of Panhellenic President. The Executive Vice President shall fulfill the duties of Panhellenic President.

D. Officers. The officers of the Panhellenic Association shall serve as the officers of its Panhellenic Council. These officers shall serve as the Executive Board of the Panhellenic Council and shall have such powers and duties as are prescribed in the By-Laws of the Tulane Panhellenic Association.

E. All Panhellenic Council representatives, officers, and committee members shall be in good standing in their member groups, be active participants in the collegiate chapter, and shall be enrolled in the institution where the chapter is located.

F. Meetings.

1. Regular meetings of the Panhellenic Council shall be held at a time and place established at the beginning of each semester.

2. Special meetings of the Panhellenic Council may be called by the President when necessary, and shall be called by her upon the written request of any member or associate member representative to the Panhellenic Council.

3. Two-thirds of the member sororities shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

G. Voting.

1. The voting body of the Tulane University Panhellenic Association shall be the Panhellenic Council.

2. The voting members of the Panhellenic Council shall be the representatives of each sorority holding regular membership. If a representative is absent, the vote of her sorority shall be cast by the alternate representative. If both the representative and alternate are absent, the vote may be cast by a member of the sorority, providing her credentials have been presented to the Tulane Panhellenic Council President prior to the meeting.

3. A two-thirds majority of the voting members of the Panhellenic Council shall be required to establish rushing rules, to determine the quota, to establish total chapter size, to set the date for pledging, to add a chapter, and to establish or amend the Panhellenic Association Constitution and By-laws. A majority vote shall be required to carry all other questions.

4. Voice. Any Panhellenic Association member or associate member may attend the meetings of the Panhellenic Council and shall have voice, but no vote.

Article VII. Panhellenic Council Advisor

A. The Panhellenic Advisor shall be chosen by the Tulane University administration with the approval of the Panhellenic Council.

B. She/He shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Tulane University Panhellenic Council.

Article VIII. Judicial Board

A. Jurisdiction

1. The Panhellenic Judicial Board will be responsible for hearing cases involving regular and associate member sororities of the Tulane Panhellenic Association.

2. There is no minimum number of sorority members who must be involved in an incident before disciplinary action may be taken by the Judicial Board.

3. There may be instances when a violation will be reviewed by the Judicial Board but will not provide sufficient grounds for action to be taken against the entire chapter.

B. Membership

1. The Standards Chairperson from each regular member sorority chapter at Tulane University shall serve as a representative on the Judicial Board. When a representative’s chapter is the alleged wrongdoer, that representative shall step down from the Judicial Board and shall not attend the hearing.

2. The Panhellenic Executive Vice President shall serve as Chairperson of the Judicial Board. The Chair will preside over all questions of order and procedure. In this capacity, she will schedule meetings and will rule on all hearings, provide appropriate evidential material, ensure that all involved have been notified of the hearing, read the charges, and summarize the relevant information for the record as the first step of the hearing process. The Chair shall be responsible for writing referral and sanction recommendation letters, and for representing the board at appeals. When the Panhellenic Executive Vice President’s chapter is the alleged wrongdoer, she shall step down from the Judicial Board and shall not attend the hearing. The Panhellenic President shall assume her duties.

3. The Panhellenic Administrative VP shall attend hearings to take minutes. The VP Admin. shall not participate in the hearing in any other manner.

4. The Panhellenic Advisor shall serve as adviser to the board. The Advisor is an ex-officio member and shall not participate in voting. The Advisor will witness the entire hearing process and ensure due process.

C. Voting

1. Two-thirds of the Judicial Board shall constitute a quorum. There must be a quorum to convene a hearing and to call for a vote.

2. In the case of a vote, majority shall rule.

3. The Chair of the Judicial Board shall vote in the case of a tie.

Article IX. Standing Committees

Such standing committees and special officers as may be necessary to carry out the work of the Tulane University Panhellenic Council shall be appointed by its Executive Board to serve during the tenure in office of the Board which appoints them.

Article X. Agreements, Rules, and Policies

A. All members of the Tulane University Panhellenic Association shall act in accordance with the fundamental Panhellenic rules and policies established by National Panhellenic Conference in the Unanimous Agreements, or rules and policies established by the National Pan-Hellenic Council according to the individual chapter’s affiliation.

B. All Tulane University Panhellenic Association rules and policies shall be in harmony with those currently established by the National Panhellenic Conference and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Article XI. Violations

A. Violations of any regulations of this Constitution or its related By-Laws, of Rushing rules, of rules concerning matters other than Rushing, of the National Panhellenic Conference Unanimous Agreements (The Panhellenic Compact, Standards of Ethical Conduct, College Panhellenic Agreements, Agreements on Questionnaire and Constitutions, and Jurisdiction of a College Panhellenic Council), and the Constitution of National Pan-Hellenic Council shall be the occasion for penalties established by the Tulane University Panhellenic Association in conformity with those recommended by the National Panhellenic Conference.

B. Any dispute growing out of the violation of Panhellenic Association rules and regulations shall be adjusted through arbitration principles of the National Panhellenic Conference.

Article XII. Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the voting members of the Tulane University Panhellenic Council, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given in writing at the preceding regular meeting.

BY-LAWS

Article I. Finance

A. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Tulane University Panhellenic Association shall be from July 1 to June 30 inclusive.

B. Contracts. The signature of the President and the VP Finance shall be required to bind the Tulane University Association.

C. Checks. All checks issued on behalf of the Tulane University Panhellenic Association shall be signed by two of the following three officers: President, VP Finance, and Advisor.

D. Money Market Account. The withdrawal of funds from the Tulane University Panhellenic Association money market account shall be authorized by the VP Finance and the Panhellenic Advisor.

E. Payments. All payments due to the Tulane University Panhellenic Association shall be made to the VP Finance, who shall record them. Checks for payment shall be made payable to Tulane University Panhellenic Association.

F. Membership Dues.

1. Starting with the Spring 1997 semester, the dues of each Panhellenic Association member or associate member sorority shall be six dollars and fifty cents ($6.50), except for NPHC-affiliated members or associate members, whose dues shall be three dollars and twenty-five cents ($3.25).

2. Membership Lists and Dues are handled as follows:

a. Membership lists will be distributed at the second Panhellenic Council meeting of the semester.

b. Membership lists are due at the fourth Panhellenic Council meeting of the semester. Sororities which turn in membership lists after the fourth Panhellenic Council meeting will be assessed $10 a day (including Saturdays and Sundays) until lists are turned in.

c. Written bills for membership dues will be distributed at the fifth Panhellenic Council meeting of the semester.

d. Membership dues are due at the sixth Panhellenic Council meeting of the semester. Sororities which turn in membership dues after the sixth Panhellenic Council meeting will be assessed $10 a day (including Saturdays and Sundays) until dues are turned in.

e. The VP Finance reserves the right to review and check the membership lists for seven days before distributing a bill. Therefore, failure to turn the membership lists in at the fourth Panhellenic Council meeting will result in a written bill not being distributed to that sorority at the fifth Panhellenic Council meeting. Membership dues will still be due at the sixth Panhellenic meeting.

3. Incoming sorority New Members shall be assessed a one time New Member fee which shall be based on the balance of the Panhellenic Council budget at the time of the completion of formal Recruitment. New Members will also be responsible for paying regular membership dues as outlined above. At the time of printing, the Tulane University Panhellenic Association New Member fee has been set at $17.00 per person.

Article II. Selection of Officers

A. The officers of the Tulane University Panhellenic Council shall be chosen by the process of election with the following stipulations:

1. Each chapter may be represented in one executive position per term.

2. Each chapter can choose one member as their nominee to serve on the Panhellenic Executive Board who meets the following criteria:

a. The President and the VP Recruitment should have served on the Panhellenic Council for at least one year.

b. It is recommended that the Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President, VP Finance, and Assistant VP Recruitment should have served.

3. The election process will be as follows:

a. A slating committee will be chosen by the Panhellenic Executive Board and will include one member from each chapter.

b. Each chapter nominee will submit a intent to run form to the slating committee that includes the position(s) of her preference.

c. The slating committee will interview the candidates and then recommend a slate for the offices.

d. The slate will be distributed to the Panhellenic Council representatives who will then have the chance to bring it back to their chapters.

e. The following week, an election will take place whereby one vote per chapter, majority vote, will determine the new member/positions on the Executive Board.

f. Nominations for candidates may be taken off the floor to contest each position on the slate as long as the candidates have participated in the interview process.

g. The positions will be elected in the following order: President, Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President, VP of Finance, VP Recruitment, and Assistant VP Recruitment.

B. An executive officer of the Tulane Panhellenic Council should not at the same time hold an executive office in her sorority.

Article III. Officer Duties

A. The President shall:

1. Have overall responsibility for the operation of the Panhellenic Council.

2. Call and preside at any special meetings of the Panhellenic Council.

3. Preside at all regular meetings of the Panhellenic Council and call and preside at any special meetings.

4. Call and preside at all meetings of the Panhellenic Council Executive Board.

5. Call and preside at all sorority Presidents’ meetings.

6. Plan and organize the annual sorority Presidents’ training workshop.

7. Plan and organize the Panhellenic Executive Officers transition workshop.

8. Approve all contracts involving the Tulane University Panhellenic Council.

9. Serve as an ex-officio member of all Panhellenic Council committees.

10. Report as required to the National Panhellenic Conference Area Advisor.

11. Compile an annual report at the close of her term in office.

12. Maintain an up-to-date President’s file, which will include a copy of the current Tulane University Panhellenic Association Constitution, By-Laws and standing rules; the current Panhellenic Council budget; the current National Panhellenic Conference Manual of Information and related materials; copies of the College Panhellenic reports to the Area Advisor; current correspondence and materials received for the National Panhellenic Conference; copies of the President’s annual report over the past three years; and other pertinent material.

13. Act as the Panhellenic Council’s liaison to the University, Student Affairs, the Interfraternity Council, and the local community.

14. Serve on committees outside the Panhellenic Council as deemed important by the Panhellenic Council.

15. Serve on the Recruitment Executive Board during Recruitment, acting as a liaison to the University, community, and media; handling the arrangements for Potential New Members with special needs; and performing duties as assigned by the VP Recruitment.

16. Perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.

17. Educate the Panhellenic Association on issues specific to the National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities.

18. Organize activities specific to the National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities.

B. The Executive Vice President shall:

1. Perform the duties of the President due to her absence, inability to serve, or at her call.

2. Serve as Chair of the Judicial Board.

3. Serve as advisor to the Junior Panhellenic Council.

4. Call and preside over all sorority New Member Educators’ meetings.

5. Oversee all Panhellenic Council ad-hoc committees as an ex-officio member.

6. Coordinate and implement the Alcohol Enforcement Policy.

7. Serve on the Recruitment Executive Board during Recruitment, handling judicial matters and performing duties as assigned by the VP Recruitment.

8. Write an annual report pertaining to her position to be submitted to the Panhellenic President near the end of her term in office.

9. Maintain an up-to-date Executive Vice President’s file of all information pertaining to her office.

10. Perform all other duties as assigned by the Panhellenic Council President.

C. The Administrative Vice President shall:

1. Oversee the public relations and programming efforts for the Panhellenic Council.

2. Keep an up-to-date roll of the members of Panhellenic Council and call it at all Council meetings.

3. Keep current statistics concerning the number of initiated members and New Members of each Panhellenic Association member and associate member sorority.

4. Keep an up-to-date listing of the officers of each Panhellenic Association member and associate member sorority.

5. Keep full minutes of all meetings of the Panhellenic Association, the Panhellenic Council, sorority Presidents meetings, Recruitment Chair meetings, judicial hearings, and all other Panhellenic-sponsored meetings.

6. Keep a record of all action taken by the Executive Board.

7. Oversee the Greek Week Committee as an ex-officio member.

8. Organize and preside over the Panhellenic Council workshop for all incoming officers and representatives.

9. Compile points toward the Newcomb Cup for each member and associate member sorority.

10. Act as a liaison to all service organizations.

11. Act as a liaison to campus recreation pertaining to sorority intramural activities.

12. Serve as a member of the Recruitment Executive Board during Recruitment, performing duties as assigned by the VP Recruitment.

13. Assist the Assistant VP Recruitment with the planning and preparation of all Recruitment publications.

14. Write an annual report pertaining to her position to be submitted to the Panhellenic President near the end of her term in office.

15. Maintain an up-to-date Administrative Vice President’s file of all information pertaining to her office.

16. Write an annual report pertaining to her office to be submitted to the Panhellenic President near the end of her term.

17. Maintain a complete and up-to-date file, which will include the minutes of all the meetings of the Panhellenic Association and its Panhellenic Council from the date of its organization, minutes from other Panhellenic-sponsored meetings, copies of correspondence, and any other relevant information.

18. Be responsible for the official correspondence of the Panhellenic Council, unless otherwise provided for.

19. Assist the Assistant VP Recruitment with computer registration of potential new members.

20. Serve on the Recruitment Executive Board during Recruitment, organizing and filing all computer printouts.

21. Oversee the Scholarship committee as an ex-officio member.

22. Be responsible for the maintenance and decoration of the Greek showcase box located in the hall of the University Center.

23. Perform all other duties as assigned by the Panhellenic Council President.

D. The VP Finance shall:

1. Be responsible for the general supervision of the finances of the Tulane University Panhellenic Association.

2. Collect and deposit dues each semester from each Panhellenic Association member and associate member sorority.

3. Be responsible for the preparation of the annual budget, and following its approval by the Panhellenic Council, provide a copy to each Panhellenic representative.

4. Be responsible for the prompt payment of all bills of the Tulane University Panhellenic Association.

5. Write an annual report pertaining to her office to be submitted to the Panhellenic President near the end of her term.

6. Maintain a complete and up-to-date file, which will include copies of all contracts made by the Panhellenic Council, copies of budgets over the past three years, and any other relevant information.

7. Maintain up-to-date financial records.

8. Sign Panhellenic Council contracts when authorized to do so.

9. Collect and deposit all Recruitment registration moneys.

10. Serve on the Recruitment Executive Board during Recruitment, handling all financial transactions.

11. Perform all other duties pertaining to this office.

E. The VP Recruitment shall:

1. Have overall responsibility for the operation of Recruitment at Tulane University.

2. Call and preside over all meetings of the sorority Rush Chairs.

3. Serve as Chair of the Recruitment Executive Board.

4. Chair the selection committee for all Recruitment Counselor positions.

5. Create, distribute, and compile results from post-Recruitment evaluations targeting Recruitment Chairs, Recruitment Counselors, Potential New Members, Resident Advisors, and any other important groups.

6. Compile Recruitment results and distribute to the Office of Student Affairs, Director of Greek Affairs, Panhellenic Council officers, and chapter officers, immediately after the end of formal Recruitment.

7. Complete final report form to the National Panhellenic Conference.

8. Be responsible for the wrap-up of Recruitment, including the clean-up of Recruitment materials.

9. Write an annual report pertaining to her office to be submitted to the Panhellenic President near the end of her term.

10. Maintain a complete and up-to-date file, which includes a copy of the current Tulane University Panhellenic regarding Recruitment, copies of the final Recruitment reports to NPC, the Panhellenic Council, and the chapter Recruitment Chairs, copies of the annual Recruitmemt reports from the past three years, current correspondence and materials received from the National Panhellenic Conference Area Advisor, copies of Recruitment judicial hearing reports, and all other pertinent materials.

11. Perform all other duties pertaining to this office.

F. The Assistant VP Recruitment shall:

1. Serve as the head Recruitment Counselor.

2. Serve on the Recruitment Executive Board.

3. Be responsible for the planning, creation, and distribution of all Recruitment publications (Summer and Fall mailings and Recruitment booklet).

4. Be responsible for Recruitment registration, including copying and distributing registration forms and the computer entry of registrations.

5. Be responsible for all work done on the computer during Recruitment.

6. Participate in selection of Recruitment Counselors.

7. Perform all other duties as assigned by the VP Recruitment.

8. Write an annual report pertaining to her office to be submitted to the VP Recruitment near the end of her term.

Article IV. The Executive Board

The Executive Board shall:

A. Appoint all standing and special committees and the chairs and, in making these appointments, recognize representation from all member or associate member sororities.

B. Administer routine business between meetings of the Panhellenic Council when advisable, and other business as has been approved for action by the Panhellenic Council.

C. Determine mandatory functions for the Panhellenic Council.

D. Report all action taken by the Executive Board at the next regular meeting of the Panhellenic Council through the Secretary, and record the action in the minutes of that meeting.

Article V. Representative Duties

A. To serve as the chapter liaison to the Panhellenic Council:

1. Attend weekly Panhellenic Council meetings.

2. Keep the chapter members informed of all Panhellenic Council deliberations and decisions.

3. Represent the chapter in voting on all Panhellenic Council deliberations.

4. Take important deliberations back to the chapter for feedback from chapter.

5. Keep written documentation on important Panhellenic Council decisions for reference for future representatives and chapter officers.

B. To serve on at least one Panhellenic Council committee or to serve as liaison to another campus organization:

1. Attend committee/campus organization meetings.

2. Participate in committee/campus organization planning and activities.

C. To serve as a chapter liaison to Tulane University, the Panhellenic Advisor, President, Administrative VP, and VP Finance:

1. Report any and all changes in chapter membership and officers to the VP Admin.

2. Submit chapter dues to the VP Finance each semester.

3. Check chapter mailbox in the University Center daily for correspondence and forward the mail to the appropriate chapter personnel.

D. To act as a knowledgeable source of information on the organization of the collegiate Panhellenic Council and the National Panhellenic Conference.

1. Be responsible for information in the NPC Manual of Information (‘Green Book’).

2. Be responsible for the well being of the green book.

E. To represent all Greek women in an appropriate manner.

F. Attendance Policy. Each representative is responsible for attending Panhellenic Council meetings on time. If attendance is not possible, a proxy from that representative’s sorority must attend in order for the absence to be excused. Two tardies equals one unexcused absence.

Article VI. Standing Committees

A. The standing committees of the Panhellenic Council shall be: Recruitment, Scholarship, and Greek Week.

B. The standing committees shall serve for a term of one year, and may be appointed to serve for a further term of office.

C. Immediately following the selection of officers for the ensuing year, the Administrative Vice President shall call a meeting of the Executive Board to care for the appointment of committee chairs and members.

D. Recruitment Committee

1. Membership. The Executive Board of the Recruitment Committee shall consist of the Panhellenic Council Executive Board members, with the Recruitment Chair serving as Executive Board Chair. The Recruitment Committee shall consist of the Recruitment Counselors, selected by the Recruitment Executive Board, with the Assistant Recruitment Chair serving as Committee Chair.

2. Duties. The Recruitment Executive Board and Committee shall be responsible for all Panhellenic Council matters related to membership selection, including, but not limited to, ordering Recruitment materials, organizing the Recruitment slide show, publishing the Recruitment booklet(s), and reviewing and developing membership selection rules and submitting them for discussion and approval of the Panhellenic Council.

E. Scholarship Committee

1. Membership. The Scholarship Committee shall be composed of a Chair and members of Tulane University Panhellenic Association sororities.

2. Duties. The Scholarship Committee shall be responsible for planning and supervising all projects and services of the Tulane University Panhellenic Council related to scholarship.

F. Greek Week Committee

1. Membership. The Greek Week Committee shall be composed of two co-chairs, one selected by the Panhellenic Council Executive Board and one selected by the Interfraternity Council Executive Board, eight sub-committee chairs selected by the co-chairs, the Panhellenic Council Administrative Vice President and a representative from the Interfraternity Council Executive Board, and subcommittee members.

2. Duties. The committee shall be responsible for the planning and implementation of all programming for Greek Week.

Article VII. Judicial Board

A. Procedure

1. In the event of an alleged Recruitment infraction, the procedures outlined by the National Panhellenic Conference shall be followed.

2. For any other alleged infraction the following procedure shall be followed:

a. An official complaint in writing must be received by The Department of Student Programs. Official referrals to the Panhellenic Council Judicial Board must be made by The Department of Student Programs.

b. Should a hearing be deemed necessary, parties involved will be notified in writing at least 48 hours prior to a hearing.

c. If a hearing is deemed necessary, it will take place as soon as the Judicial Board can convene.

d. Upon receipt of the official hearing notification letter, the President of the accused sorority should schedule an appointment to meet with the Panhellenic Advisor to review the hearing procedure and due process.

B. Hearing Process

1. All meetings will be closed to the public.

2. Attendance by the chapter President or official representative of the accused chapter is strongly recommended. If a representative from the accused chapter is absent from the scheduled hearing, the case may be heard in their absence.

3. Rights of parties during hearings:

a. The chapter President of the charged sorority has the right to be present and hear and question all witnesses and to examine all evidence, including all written documentation presented to the Judicial Board.

b. The parties have the right to call witnesses on their behalf.

c. The charged party has the right to have an adviser present during the hearings. The adviser may not present evidence or make motions. Her role is simply to advise the sorority, but not actively participate in the hearing process.

d. The complainant shall have the same rights as the charged (i.e. the right to call witnesses, the right to have an adviser present etc.).

C. Sanctions

1. Sanctions for Recruitment violations shall be in line with those recommended by the National Panhellenic Conference.

2. For infractions of rules other than Recruitmant, the penalties are as follows:

a. A letter of apology to the complainant.

b. A letter of reprimand stating a probationary period during which any further infraction will be dealt with on more severe terms.

c. The hosting of relevant educational programs.

d. Constructive penalties of some activity designed for campus or community betterment, clerical assistance in the Panhellenic Council office or some other Panhellenic Council area.

e. Reasonable fines.

f. Deprivation of social privileges in varying degrees, which means deprivation of chapter entertainment, but shall not forbid formal or informal entertainment incident to rushing or of the observance of a national sorority celebration.

3. Notification of Penalty. The Panhellenic Council shall report in writing, within one week of the date it was imposed, any penalty to the NPC Area Advisor and to the NPC Delegate and the National President of the sorority against which it is imposed.

4. Disclosure of Case. For each judicial hearing in which action was taken by the Judicial Board, the Executive Vice President will give a brief overview of the case and sanctions levied, including the sorority names, but excluding individual’s names, at the sorority Presidents’ meeting immediately following the hearing.

D. Post-Hearing (Non-Recruitment Infractions)

Following a judicial hearing, a letter will then go from the Judicial Board to the accused sorority. All sanctions will take place immediately upon receipt of the decision letter.

E. Appeals (Non-Recruitment Infractions)

1. A letter requesting an appeal must be submitted to the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students within five working days of receiving the sanction letter.

2. An appeal may request that the sanctions be reduced or eliminated or that the case be referred back to the Judicial Board for further review. In the initial letter requesting an appeal, the accused sorority must specify in writing the rationale for the appeal. If the requesting chapter fails to provide the necessary information to the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students within the specified time period, the appeal may not be granted and the previous decision will be final. The grounds for an appeal can be requested as a result of the following conditions:

a. When a sanction is grossly disproportionate to the offense.

b. When the specified procedural error or errors in the interpretation of Panhellenic Association or University regulations are so substantial as to deny the accused chapter a fair hearing.

c. When new and significant evidence appears which could not have been discovered by a properly diligent accused chapter before or during the original hearing.

d. When the evidence appears to suggest that the finding of a violation was arbitrary and capricious. An arbitrary and capricious finding would be one unsupported by any evidence.

3. Appeal Board Membership

a. The Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students shall serve as the Chairperson of the Appeal Board.

b. The Associate Dean of Students shall be a permanent member.

c. One student chosen by the Panhellenic Council Executive Board (student will serve a one year term).

4. Appeal Procedure:

a. The Appeal Board shall review written information that was presented at the original hearing and subsequent written statements by all parties involved regarding the rationale for the appeal. If additional information is needed to make a final decision, the Appeal Board may decide to meet with witnesses who gave testimony at the Judicial Board hearing.

b. Following the review for the appeal, the accused chapter will be sent a letter informing them of the Appeal Board’s decision within five working days.

Article VIII. Administration of Membership Selection

A. An early spring Recruitment shall be held.

The National Panhellenic Conference Quota-Total system shall be followed.

C. The preferential bidding system shall be used.

D. Except during the formal recruitment period, Continuous Open Bidding (COB) shall be in effect during the college year (Fall through Spring) for all eligible women students. The President or Recruitment Chair of each member or associate member sorority shall notify the Panhellenic Advisor of bids before being extended by the sorority, and not do so until the designated time when COB is to begin.

E. The guidelines for Snap Bidding are as follows:

1. Snap Bidding is an option available to chapters which did not fill formal Recruitment Quota spaces in bid matching, by hand or by computer. Snap Bidding is not intended to fill spaces in the chapter Total.

2. Snap Bidding is limited to any woman who participated in the designated formal Recruitment. A woman who lists an intentional single preference on her preference card is ineligible for Snap Bidding.

3. Snap Bidding should be under the direction of the Panhellenic Council Recruitment Committee, working with the chapters who have Quota vacancies.

4. A signed Preference Card shall be filed with the Panhellenic Council office before a woman who has accepted a Snap Bid may be pledged.

5. Chapters which did not fill Quota will be informed of those women who did not receive a bid through formal bid matching and will have the opportunity to offer bids to those women. Bids will be offered when the Recruitment Counselors contact the women to inform them that they did not receive a bid through formal bid matching.

6. Snap Bidding shall end with the distribution of all bids, at which time COB shall begin. The COB process shall be reaffirmed as offering opportunity for chapters to pledge to Quota or reach Total at any time following the distribution of bids, or at any time during the school year, excluding final exam periods.

F. All membership selection events shall be held in the chapter house. In the event a chapter does not have a house, a location will be chosen by the Panhellenic Advisor.

G. Chapter Total shall be 90.

H. Every regularly enrolled new member, initiate, or affiliate member in a chapter shall be counted in the Chapter Total.

1. A list of new members, initiated, and affiliated members shall be filed with the Secretary and the Panhellenic Advisor each semester.

2. Any de-pledging, termination of, or other change in membership shall be reported to the Administrative VP and the Panhellenic Advisor no later than twenty-four hours after it has occurred.

Article IX. Requirements for Pledging and Initiation

A. A potential new member must be a full-time female student within her respective college of Tulane University to be eligible to participate in Recruitment.

B. A freshman potential new member must earn a least twelve credit hours and a GPA of 2.0 or higher during the fall semester to be eligible to participate in Recruitment. Upper-class women potential new members need not have 2.0 or higher from the fall semester, but must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. A transfer student potential new member must present a copy of her full transcripts from her previous institution(s) to the Recruitment Executive Board. All incomplete grades must be taken care of prior to the commencement of Recruitment in order to participate.

C. A Tulane University Panhellenic Association member or associate member sorority may not issue an invitation to membership, or formally pledge any woman during the summer vacation period or during the final exam periods.

D. A new member may be initiated whenever she has met the requirements of the sorority to which she is pledged.

E. All new member development activities must end by the Saturday most nearly five weeks prior to the first date of final exams for the undergraduate colleges.

Article X. Hazing

Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off sorority premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities include, but are not limited to, creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; wearing publicly apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and jokes; morally degrading and humiliating games and activities; late night sessions which interfere with scholastic activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with the regulations and policies of the educational system.

All forms of hazing, pledge day, and/or pre-initiation activities which would reflect unfavorably on the sorority system and its members shall be prohibited.

Article XI. Extension

A. Recognition of National Panhellenic Conference chapters:

1. When all National Panhellenic Conference chapters at Tulane University are close to or over chapter Total, the Panhellenic Council shall consider raising Total or adding another chapter.

2. Such a chapter shall be organized through colonization by an National Panhellenic Conference sorority or through organization of a local sorority which may petition a National Panhellenic Conference sorority for a charter.

3. Consideration shall be given to National Panhellenic Conference sororities that have previously had chapters on the campus, and to those National Panhellenic Conference sororities that have filed letters expressing an interest in the campus.

B. Recognition of National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters:

1. The petitioning group must receive approval from the inter/national office and local alumnae chapter to begin application procedures at the University.

2. The group must submit a letter of interest, a petition of interested students, and the name of the chapter adviser, along with a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the inter/national and local organization, a policy statement on hazing, and a policy statement on non-discrimination to the Tulane University Panhellenic Council.

3. The group should then arrange for and make a formal presentation at a meeting of the Tulane University Panhellenic Council.

4. The Panhellenic Council will vote. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Panhellenic Council is required to establish a new chapter.

Article XII. Rules Of Order

The Tulane University Panhellenic Association and its Panhellenic Council shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised, except in matters specifically provided for in the Constitution, By-Laws, and Standing Rules.

Article XIII. Amendment

These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the voting members of the Panhellenic Council, provided notice of the proposed amendment(s) has been given in writing at the preceding regular meeting.

Additional Information

How to Propose Changes (including Recruitment issues)

Any rules and regulations changes, or programming propositions, need to be made through a vote of the Panhellenic Council. To do so, a sorority must submit a typed proposal, including the date and the proposing sorority’s name, and make copies for each representative, Executive Board member, and the Panhellenic Advisor. Prior to the start of the meeting, the representative from the proposing sorority should inform the Panhellenic Council President of her intent to present a proposal. All new proposals shall be presented by the sorority’s representative during New Business.

Any representative who feels uncomfortable voting on a proposal when it is first proposed, may make a motion that the proposal be tabled. A majority vote of the Panhellenic Council will table the proposal and allow the representatives to take the proposal back to their chapters for consultation. It is strongly urged that this occur because when a representative casts a vote, she is doing so on behalf of her chapter.

New Orleans ·

What's Happening in Student Affairs?


	Contact Information: Email: hdoshay@tulane.edu

Index | Webmail