Committee
D. R. Carver
L. E. Foote
L. D. Newsom, Chairman

Approved - March 21, 1962
Cecil Branton, President
Ralph F. Boulware, Secretary

As amended - April 13, 1970
Robert V. Nauman, President
Edward N. Lambremont, Secretary

As amended - March 1, 1998
Dominique G. Homberger, President
Maud M. Walsh, Vice-President

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF
THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY CHAPTER OF
SIGMA XI, THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SOCIETY

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 1

Sec. 1. The Chapter at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College shall be known as the Louisiana State University Chapter of Sigma Xi.

Sec. 2. The objectives and activities of the Chapter shall be those stated in the current National Constitution and By-Laws.

Sec. 3. The fields of scientific research activity recognized by this Chapter shall be those recognized by the current National Constitution and By-Laws, which are in general the pure and applied sciences, including the physical sciences, the earth sciences, the medical sciences, the biological sciences, the social sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

ARTICLE 2

Membership

Sec. 1. The membership of this Chapter shall consist of (a) Members, (b) Associate Members, and (c) Emeritus Members.

Sec. 2. Eligibility: Members. Any individual who has shown noteworthy achievement or demonstrated ability as an original investigator in some branch of pure or applied science.

Sec. 3. Eligibility: Associate Members. Any individual who has, through initial research achievement in a field of pure or applied science, shown aptitude for research which is expected to lead eventually to the fulfillment of the requirements for full membership.

Sec. 4. Eligibility. Emeritus Members. Any active Member or Associate Member of the Chapter who has paid annual dues for the immediately preceding 10 years and who has reached the age of 65, or who, at any age, has paid annual dues for the immediately preceding 30 years, may upon retirement request emeritus status. Such Members or Associate Members shall have all the duties and privileges of Members or Associate Members.

ARTICLE 3

Nomination and Election of Members and Associate Members

Sec. 1. Nominations for election of Members or Associate Members, or promotion of Associate Members to Members, in this Chapter shall be in writing on forms furnished by the Chapter Secretary. Nominations shall be accompanied by a full statement of the qualifications of the nominee for membership, the nature and character of his or her work, and such other information as may assist the Chapter in judging the nominee fitness for membership. Each nomination shall be signed by at least two Members, as nominator and seconder. Other Members may join in the nomination.

Sec. 2. (a) Such written nominations shall be sent to the Chapter Secretary who shall transmit them to the Chapter President. The Chapter President shall be Chair exofficio of the Chapter Admissions Committee.

(b) The Chapter Admissions Committee shall in addition consist of the Chapter Past President, Secretary and two other members from different fields of scientific research. Interim vacancies on the Admissions Committee shall be filled by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee..

(c) The Admissions Committee shall pass on all nominations duly submitted and shall present to the Chapter for election only those nominations that have not been approved unanimously by the Committee, but that have been approved by at least two-thirds of the Committee.

(d) Members shall be notified prior to a business meeting of the names of all nominees to be proposed for election at that meeting. Members only will vote, and absentee ballots will be accepted. Three-fourths of all cast votes must be affirmative for election.

(e) There will be only one initiation ceremony per year for new and promoted Members, and new Associate Members.

ARTICLE 4

The Executive Committee may recommend amendments to this Constitution and submit them to the membership for approval by mail ballot. Approval by the membership is decided by a simple majority of the returned votes.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1

Officers of the Chapter and Their Election

Sec. 1. The elected officers of the Chapter shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The term of office for the Treasurer and Secretary shall be two years, with the terms of the two offices beginning in alternate years. At the end of the two-year term, the Secretary or Treasurer will assume the office of Vice-President for one year, and the office of President for the following year.

Sec. 2. (a) Should the Presidency become vacant before the end of the prescribed period, the Vice-President shall become President for the remainder of the unexpired term. The Election Committee shall nominate a candidate and call for nominations for the office of Vice-President and election shall be held by mail ballot. The winning candidate is decided by a simple majority of the returned ballots. If these two offices become vacant simultaneously, it shall be the duty of the remaining officers to call a business meeting of the Chapter to select officers for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(b) All other vacancies shall be filled by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee.

Sec. 3. The duties of the Chapter’s officers shall be those which usually pertain to the respective offices and those prescribed by these By-Laws.

Sec. 4. Nominations for the offices of Chapter Secretary and Chapter Treasurer, respectively, shall be made by the Chapter Election Committee and shall be requested from the Chapter members. In addition, nominations shall be solicited from the Chapter members.

Sec. 5. Elections of the Chapter Secretary and Chapter Treasurer, respectively, shall be held by mail ballot. The winning candidate is decided by a simple majority of the returned ballots.

ARTICLE 2

Committees

Sec. 1. Executive Committee. The elected officers of the Chapter, together with the immediate Past President, shall constitute an Executive Committee. This Committee shall transact such business as may be referred to it by the Chapter membership. The President shall bear the responsibility of making final decisions in consultation with the other members of the Executive Committee.

Sec. 2. Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee shall be appointed by the Chapter's President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The duties of the Admissions Committee are specified in Article 3 of the Constitution.

Sec. 3. Program Committee. The Program Committee shall consist of the Chapter Vice-President and two members appointed by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The Program Committee shall prepare the program for the scientific meetings of the Chapter and be responsible for making the preparations for the Annual Banquet and Initiation Ceremony.

Sec. 4. Election Committee. The Election Committee shall be appointed by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The Committee shall nominate candidates and shall call for nominations from the membership for the Chapter elected offices of Secretary and Treasurer according to Article 1, Section 4 of the By-Laws.

Sec. 5. Committee for Membership Development. The Committee for Membership Development shall be appointed by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The Committee shall review and update the Chapter active membership list, contact inactive members and entice them to become active members, and seek to increase membership from the non-academic community of the Greater Baton Rouge area. The Committee shall also support the Chapter Treasurer in raising funds for the Chapter.

Sec. 6. Committee on the Ellinor H. Behre Prize in Science Writing. The Committee on the LSU Chapter of Sigma Xi Prize in Science Writing shall be appointed by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The Committee shall consist of a Chair and at least four members representing a broad range of scientific and other disciplines. At least one member should have a demonstrated expertise in the rhetoric of science and technology and need not be a scientist. The Committee shall review and up-date the application form and the rules and regulations pertaining to the Prize; shall publicize the availability of the Prize; and shall select one Prize winner.

Sec. 7. Committee on Grants-in-Aid. The Committee on Grants-in-Aid shall be appointed by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The Committee shall consist of a Chair and four members, each representing a different field of research. The Committee shall review and update the application form and the rules and regulations pertaining to the Grants-in-Aid; shall publicize the availability of the LSU Chapter Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid; and shall select the award recipients.

Sec. 8. Committee on Chapter Archives and History. The Committee on Chapter Archives and History shall be appointed by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The Committee shall receive, collect, and catalog written and photographic documents that are generated and received by the Chapter officers and members and that pertain to the Chapter business. The Committee shall also be responsible for the proper transfer of the catalogued documents to LSU for archiving. Furthermore, the Committee shall continuously update the ChapterÕs history that was first compiled in 1998 by Dr. Everett Besch.

Sec. 9. Committee on Undergraduate Research. The Committee on Undergraduate Research shall be appointed by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The Committee shall coordinate an LSU-wide Undergraduate Research Forum with those academic units at LSU that organize undergraduate research poster exhibits as part of their own academic program or as part of extramurally funded research programs. The Committee shall also publicize the prizes for the three best poster presentations provided by the LSU Chapter of Sigma Xi and select the prize winners.

Sec. 10. Committee on Publicity. The Committee on Publicity shall be appointed by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The Committee shall be responsible for maintaining the Chapter web page. The Committee shall also ensure adequate and proper publicity in the institutional, local and national media.

Sec. 11. Academic Unit Coordinators. Academic Unit Coordinators shall be appointed by the Chapter President in consultation with the Executive Committee. The coordinators shall nominate qualified students and colleagues from their academic unit for membership.

ARTICLE 3

Meetings

There shall be at least seven general meetings during each calendar year. These general meetings shall be called at such times as the Chapter President and Executive Committee may determine. Special meetings may be called by the President at any time during the calendar year.

ARTICLE 4

Fees and Dues

Sec. 1. Annual national membership dues for member and associate members will be as decided by the biannual Assembly of Delegates.

Sec. 2. Chapter membership dues will be reviewed by the Executive Committee. Changes in Chapter membership dues must be presented by mail ballot to the membership. Approval is decided by a simple majority of the returned ballots.

ARTICLE 5

Quorum

Fifteen Chapter members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a general meeting.

ARTICLE 6

Amendment of By-Laws

The Executive Committee may recommend amendments to these By-Laws and submit them to the membership for approval by mail ballot. Approval by the membership is decided by a simple majority of the returned votes.

ARTICLE 7

Chapter Graduate Research Grants-in-Aid

Each year the Chapter will award Grants-in-Aid to graduate students to assist them in the research necessary for the completion of their degrees. Each year the Executive Committee will determine the number and amount of the awards to be granted that year. The Grant-in-Aid Committee will set guidelines for eligibility and select the awardees.

ARTICLE 8

The Ellinor H. Behre Prize in Science Writing

This Prize was established in Spring 1998 to honor the memory of Dr. Ellinor H. Behre (1886-1982), Professor of Zoology (1920-1957) and first Secretary of the Sigma Xi Club at LSU, which was established on February 15, 1928. Professor Behre was the moving force behind the founding of the Club. Each year the Executive Committee will determine the amount of the award to be granted that year. The Committee on the Ellinor H. Behre Prize in Science Writing will set guidelines for eligibility and select the awardee.