CONSTITUTION
and

BYLAWS

of the
 

North Carolina Mu Chapter
 

of

 

Alpha Epsilon

The Honor Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

 

Revised 1997 amendments

 

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

In order that those in the profession of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, who as

a result of academic attainment or by achievement in practice have exhibited qualities of

leadership and character that bring credit and honor to their profession, may establish closer

bonds for mutual benefit, the constitution of this Biological and Agricultural Engineering Honor

Society is hereby established.

 

BYLAWS

 

Article I ORGANIZATION

 

Section I Chapter Designation

 

This chapter shall be designated the North Carolina Mu Chapter. "North Carolina" shall

designate its geographic location, and "Mu" shall designate this chapter as being the eleventh

organized.

 

Article II ELECTION OF MEMBERS AND DEFINITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP STATUS

 

Section 1. Membership (active)

 

a.         Active membership of the Mu Chapter shall consist of members of Alpha Epsilon

currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs leading towards

a degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State

University. Active membership may be by chapters initiation, transfers from other

chapters or alumni members who desire to continue the responsibilities of active

membership and have been formally accepted by the Chapter.

b.         The active members shall be elected from those students who have satisfied the

requirements as follows:

i)            Juniors who have a cumulative scholastic rank in the upper quarter of the

junior class of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) may

be elected to membership after the end of the first month of their junior

year provided their cumulative grade point average is at least 3.00 out of

a possible 4.00 and they have completed or are currently enrolled in BAE

202, BAE 235 and MAE 206 or CE 213 or CE 214.

ii)            Seniors who have a cumulative scholastic rank in the upper third of the

senior class of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences may be

elected to membership after the first month of their senior year provided

their cumulative grade point average is at least 2.75 out of a possible 4.00.

iii)            As used herein, the term junior shall mean any enrolled student who has

completed 60 or more but less than 90 semester hours of earned credit

toward a Bachelor of Science degree within the Department of Biological

and Agricultural Engineering. The term senior shall mean any student who

has completed 90 or more semester hours of earned credit toward a

Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

iv)            Eligibility of undergraduate students on the basis of both scholastic rank

and completed work shall be based only on courses for which credit has

been given toward the Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and

Agricultural Engineering.

            v)           A list of eligible undergraduate and graduate students shall be obtained

           from CALS by the Faculty Advisor or the current president of the Mu

           chapter.

           vi)           Graduate students shall be eligible for election provided: 1) they met the

           eligibility requirements as an undergraduate in a school where a chapter

           of the Society had not been established; or, 2) they completed at least

           seven (7) semester hours of graduate course work with a cumulative grade

           point average equivalent to 3.25 out of a possible 4.00 at a school where

           a chapter of the Society had not been established; or, 3) The Graduate

           School certifies that they have established credit or at least seven (7)

           semester hours on their current degree seeking program with a cumulative

           grade point average equivalent to at least 3.25 out of a possible 4.00.

          vii)           The student, in addition to having the desired scholastic rank, possess high

                       integrity and honesty, character, have ability to make use of the

                       knowledge, information and ideas he may require, have a capacity for hard

                       work, have demonstrated his ability to work in harmony with other people,

                       and have demonstrated his deep interest in the furtherance of his chosen

                       profession by his active participation in its activities.

 

Section 2. Membership (honorary)

 

Biological and Agricultural engineers who, by virtue of their professional

accomplishments, have attained a degree of eminence in the profession, shall be eligible for

honorary membership. Not more than two honorary members may be elected to membership in

any one year. Honorary members have full rights and privileges of active members, except that

of voting on new members.

 

Section 3. Membership (alumni)

 

Alumni members are those who 1) have been active members of the chapter, 2) attained

at least a baccalaureate degree and 3) have left North Carolina State University at Raleigh as a

student. Alumni members have full rights and privileges of active members, except that of

voting on new members.

 

Section 4. Transfer Students (non‑members of Alpha Epsilon)

 

Undergraduate and graduate students who have transferred from other colleges and

universities, or other departments within the University and who meet all the other requirements

for election to membership shall be eligible for election after completing one full year in

residence in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

 

Section 5. Transfer of Alumni Members From Other Chapters

 

Any alumni member of another Alpha Epsilon chapter shall be accepted as an active

member of the Mu chapter by the receipt by the secretary of a request by the member for active

membership.

 

Section 6. Election

 

The election of active and honorary members shall be by secret ballot of the active

members and shall be held within one month after the submission by a membership committee

of a list of eligible students. At least a three‑fourths vote of those active members present at the

membership election shall be required to elect a member. In no case, however, shall a member

be elected without an affirmative vote of one‑half of the active membership of the society.

Elections of active and honorary members may be held twice during the same academic year, the

first being early in the Fall Semester and the second being early in the Spring Semester.

 

Section 7. Special Cases

 

Questions of membership not covered by preceding sections shall be resolved by a

majority vote of the membership.

 

Article III GOVERNMENT

 

Section 1.Any active member of the society shall be eligible for any office.

 

Section 2.The faculty advisor shall be a member of the Biological and Agricultural faculty

and shall act in an advisory capacity.

 

Section 3.The president shall have general supervision of all activities and shall preside at

all meetings and shall be empowered to appoint committees.

 

Section 4.The vice‑president shall, in the absence of the president, assume his duties. The

vice‑president shall succeed to the president in case of the resignation or

disability of the president.

 

Section 5.The secretary shall handle and keep a record of all transactions, business and

correspondence; keep minutes of the meetings; maintain an active file of all

members' addresses; inform all members of activities of the organization.

 

Section 6.The treasurer shall collect all dues, assessments and all other money forthcoming

to the chapter and act as a custodian thereof. The treasurer shall pay all bills

authorized by the organization.

 

Article IV MEETINGS

 

Regular meetings shall be held at least twice during the school year. The frequency of meetings

shall be determined by the officers.

 

Article V FEES AND DUES

 

Section 1.The initiation fee shall include all costs incidental to initiation. The fee shall be

paid prior to initiation.

 

Section 2.Special assessments may be made by a majority vote of active members.

 

Article VI MOTTO, RITUAL, AND INSIGNIA

 

Section 1.The motto of the society shall never be published but shall be handed down with

other elements of secrecy through the ritual.

 

Section 2.The insignia of the society shall be as stated in the Bylaws of the National

Constitution, Article V, Sections I and II.

 

Article VII AWARDS

 

Section 1. The chapter shall annually present the Alpha Epsilon Award for Academic Excellence

(formerly called the Agrineer Award) to the sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in

Biological and Agricultural Engineering with the highest cumulative GPA.

 

Section 2. As used herein, the term sophomore shall mean any enrolled student who has

completed at least 30 total credit hours must have been completed at NCSU, and at least 30 must

be taken from the following list or transferred equivalent: CH 101, CH 107, CH 121, CH 127,

E 115, ENG I 11, MA 14 1, MA 24 1, PY 205.

 

Section 3. The award shall consist of certificate of recognition (awarded at the annual Spring

Awards Banquet). In addition, the recipient's name shall be permanently inscribed on a plaque.

 

Article VIII AMENDMENTS

 

The Bylaws may be amended by a two‑thirds vote of the active members provided that

the amendment(s) shall have been distributed in writing to all the membership.