Constitution

Article I: Name and Purpose
Article II: The Advisory Council
Article III: Officers
Article IV: Chapters
Article V: Membership
Article VI: Amendments and Additions

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section I. Name.

The name of the organization shall be Sigma Kappa Delta, the English Honor Society for Two-Year Colleges (the “Society”).

Section II. English Honor Societies.

The Society shall be under the sponsorship and supervision of English Honor Societies.

Section III. Object and Purposes.

The purposes of the Society shall be educational, literary, and charitable. The Society shall strive to

1. confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in two-year institutions of higher education;
2. provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and to promote interest in literature and English language in the surrounding communities;
3. foster the discipline of English in all its aspects, including creative and critical writing;
4. promote community among its members; and
5. exhibit high standards of academic excellence.

Section IV. Official Motto.

The official motto of the Society shall use the initials of Sigma Kappa Delta and its ideals: Sincerity, Knowledge, Design.

Section V. Official Symbols.

1. Colors. The official colors shall be green and gold.
2. Flower. The official plant shall be English Ivy.
3. Seal. The official seal shall be an emblem with a black background on which is placed a diagonal banner with the letters SKD.

Article II: The Advisory Council

Section I. Purpose and Composition.

The oversight of the Society shall be vested in the Advisory Council (the “Council”). The Council shall consist of the Officers (Article III) of the Society.

Section II. Qualifications for a Council Membership.

Each Officer shall be at the time of election an advisor to an active chapter of the Society.

Section III. Removal of Council Members.

Any Council Member may be removed for cause by two- thirds vote of the other Council members, provided that the President or the Vice-President/President-Elect shall have notified such Council Member in writing at least thirty days prior to the hearing preceding such vote, specifying cause(s), or charge(s), or both.

Section IV. Council Meetings.

1. Regular Meetings. The Council shall meet at least once a year at a time and place selected by the President of the Society in consultation with the Council.
2. Special Meetings. A special meeting may be called at the President’s discretion. A special meeting must be called by the President upon written request of a majority of the current members of the Council. No later than two weeks after reviewing such a request, the President shall notify the Council of the date of the special meeting, which shall be held within a month of the notification date. At the direction of the President, the Executive Director shall forward notice of the special meeting to each Council member no later than one week prior to such called meetings, specifying the subject(s) to be considered.
3. Quorum and Majority Vote. A simple majority of the current members of the Council constitute a quorum. Even in the absence of a quorum, motions may be made; but any such motions(s) shall then be submitted to a vote of record and, if passed by a majority of the members of the Council, shall be considered binding.

Except as otherwise provided for in the Constitution and Bylaws, all actions of the Council shall be determined by majority vote. A majority vote is defined as a simple majority of the current members of the Council.

Article III: Officers

Section I. Number and Titles.

The officers are President, Vice-President/President- Elect, National Regent, Historian/Secretary, and Editor of Publications. The Executive Director of English Honor Societies shall serve as an ex officio member of the Council.

Section II. Election of Officers.

President, Vice-President/President- Elect, National Regent, and Historian/Secretary shall be elected by the membership at the annual national convention. Each chapter in attendance shall have one vote. A slate of officers shall be presented by the Nominating Advisory Committee. Officers shall be Sigma Kappa Delta sponsors at the time of their election. The Editor of Publications shall be appointed by the President. The Executive Director of English Honor Societies shall be appointed by the Sigma Tau Delta Board of Directors upon consultation with the Council.

Section III. Term of Office.

The President, Vice-President/President-Elect, Secretary-Elect, and Editor of Publications shall serve three-year, renewable terms. The Executive Director’s contract may be renewed at the discretion of the Sigma Tau Delta Board in consultation with the Council.

Officers shall assume office as of July 1^st following their election.

Section IV. Vacancy.

1. President. In the event that the President is, for any reason, unable to serve, the Vice-President shall serve as President until the next Council meeting, regular or special.
2. Vice-President/President-Elect, Historian/Secretary, and National Regent. In the event that the Vice- President/President-Elect, Historian/Secretary, or National Regent is, for any reason, unable to serve, the office shall remain vacant until the next Council meeting, regular or special.
3. Executive Director. In the event that the contract with the Executive Director is breached or is otherwise unfulfilled, the President of the Sigma Tau Delta Board of Directors and President of the Advisory Council shall call upon the Sigma Tau Delta Board, within one month, to determine the method of selecting a successor.
4. Editor of Publications. In the event that the Editor of Publications is, for any reason, unable to serve, the President shall appoint a successor.

Section V. Powers and Duties.

1. Duties of Individual Officers. Each officer shall have the following duties:
   • The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee and of the Council, and at business sessions of Sigma Kappa Delta Conventions. The President shall appoint committees deemed desirable or necessary. Such Committees shall serve as deemed appropriate, and such committees shall report to the Council.
   • The Vice President/President Elect shall preside in the absence of the President, shall assume duties at the request of the President, and shall assume the office of President upon the completion of the current President’s term of office.
   • The Historian/Secretary shall have the primary responsibility for keeping minutes of the Council meetings and for maintaining the archives and the continuing history of the Society and shall bring to the attention of the Council and membership relevant information of historical and current importance.
   • The National Regent shall serve as the chief liaison between the Council and chapters and encourage the participation of active chapters, as well as to act to revive inactive chapters and recruit new chapters to the Society.
   • The Editor of Publications is responsible for publishing the Hedera helix and Society newsletters.
   • The Executive Director consults with the President and shall serve as the chief liaison between the Advisory Council and the Sigma Tau Delta Board of Directors. The Executive Director is an ex officio member of the Council.

Article IV: Chapters

Section I. Establishment and Maintenance of Chapters.

1. Locations. A chapter may be established at a two-year college that grants associate degrees and meet the academic quality, improvement and accountability expectations established by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or by the institutional and programmatic accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Colleges with multiple campuses may have a chapter at more than one campus; however, a charter/chapter must remain on the original campus at which it was issued. Two-year vocational/technical, and career institutions offering only general or specialized programs for career opportunities shall not be eligible.
2. Chartering a Chapter.
   • Petition for Charter. A group petitioning for chapter charter shall be sponsored by a qualified faculty or staff member (Section IV, this Article) and shall have the endorsement and approval of the administration of the institution. A petition bearing the signatures of five persons qualified for active membership shall be sent to the Executive Director of the Society.
   • Charter Fee. A petition for charter to establish a chapter of the Society must be accompanied by the charter fee established by the Council. (For initiation and local fees, see Article VI, Section IV).

Section II. Life of a Chapter.

A chapter shall be chartered as long as the sponsoring institution meets requirements above (Section IA, this Article).

Section III. Chapter Reports.

A chapter shall send the Executive Director the appropriate information whenever

1. new members are initiated, and/or
2. the annual report is requested by the Council.

Section IV. Chapter Advisor.

The advisor of a chapter of the Society shall be full-time faculty or staff member at the accredited institution housing that chapter. The chapter advisor shall be considered an active member of this chapter.

Section V. Chapter Officers.

The chapter shall have at least three elected officers representing the functions of President, Vice-President/President Elect, Treasurer, and Editor. The elected officers shall be the members of the chapter Executive Committee.

Article V: Membership

Section I. Minimum Academic Qualifications for Chapter Membership.

A candidate for membership shall be enrolled in a two-year college with a Sigma Kappa Delta chapter and shall have completed a minimum of one college course in English language or literature. The candidate shall have no grade lower than a B in English, shall have a minimum grade point average of a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in general scholarship, and shall have completed at least one semester or two quarters of college course work for a cumulative total of twelve hours. In addition, all persons considered for membership shall exhibit high standards of personal and professional character and shall support the purposes of the honor society. The chapter advisor shall be responsible for verifying through the Registrar’s Office the scholastic eligibility of candidates for membership.

Section II. Election to Membership.

A method of election to membership shall be devised by each chapter but must include (a) strict adherence to eligibility for membership – Section I above – and (b) a process of election which engenders joint responsibility of both faculty and students. Local chapters have the option of increasing the national requirements; special cases shall be referred to the Executive Director who will interpret the constitution and policies of the Society. No solicitation of propaganda, such as rushing or social pressure, shall ensure invitation to or acceptance of membership.

Section III. Categories of Chapter Membership.

There shall be two categories of chapter membership: student and faculty. Within the chapter, each chapter shall be responsible for assigning its members to the appropriate categories. Active membership shall be limited to

1. currently enrolled students, who have the requisite academic background (Section I, this article); and
2. chapter advisor(s), who shall be a full-time faculty or staff member of the sponsoring institution.

Section IV. Certificate of Membership.

The Executive Director shall, upon receipt of fees and a completed membership form, issue to newly inducted members a certificate attesting to membership in the Society and other materials as directed by the Council.

Section V. Privileges of Membership.

A member shall be eligible

1. to vote at all chapter meetings of the Society,
2. for election to chapter offices,
3. to attend scholarly presentations and colloquia of the sponsoring academic department,
4. to represent the local chapter at state, regional, and national conventions,
5. to apply for awards and honors,
6. to receive other benefits, such as publications, of the Society.

Section VI. Non-Discrimination.

Membership in the Society is open to qualified candidates including persons with disability, without regard to age, color, gender, national origin, race, religion, and/or sexual orientation.

Membership in the Society shall be irrespective of membership or affiliation with other organizations and associations.

Section VII. Relationship to Sigma Tau Delta.

Membership in the Society shall not serve as automatic eligibility for membership in Sigma Tau Delta International Honor Society.

Section VIII. Chapter Fees.

1. Induction Fee. The one-time induction fee entitles each chapter member to receive all privileges of membership. The fee must be paid prior to induction and confers life membership in the Society. The amount of the fee shall be determined by the Council.
2. Local Fees. Each chapter may establish and adjust its own local fees. Any local fee shall be paid prior to induction and thereafter as the chapter decides.

Section IX. Rituals.

Rituals are provided in the official Chapter Handbook. Local chapters shall choose among the alternatives to assure that ceremonies remain true to the spirit and objectives of the Society.

Article VI: Amendments and Additions

Section I. Amendment.

This Constitution may be amended at any meeting of the Advisory Council or by mail (electronic or otherwise) by a majority affirmative vote of the Advisory Council and with the approval of the Sigma Tau Delta Board of Directors.

Section II. Petition.

Local chapters may petition the Advisory Council with recommended amendments to the Constitution.

Revised September 2004.
Revised September 2010.
Revised October 2025.