Article 1 Name

The name of this organization shall be Alpha Zeta Partners.

Article 2 Objectives

Section 1: Purpose

The purpose of the fraternity of Alpha Zeta is to bind together a group of men and women interested in the continued advancement of agriculture and natural resources, and to foster and develop high standards of scholarship, character, leadership and a spirit of fellowship among its members. Alpha Zeta Partners furthers extends this purpose by focusing on the component of leadership development.

Section 2: Goals

1. Develop leadership/citizenship skills and knowledge for outstanding food, agricultural and environmental science students.
2. Develop a network of learners, professionals, and industry leaders through communications and experience.

Section 3: Mission

The mission of Alpha Zeta Partners is to developing premier leaders for the future of Agriculture and Natural Resources through leadership, scholarship, fellowship and experience.

Section 4: Values

The values of Alpha Zeta Partners are as follows: Leadership, Commitment, Diversity of member and experience, Personal growth, Service, Professional Development, Scholarship, Integrity, Friendship, and involvement.

Article 3 Membership

Alpha Zeta Partners shall be composed of all regularly initiated students, alumni, associate members and honorary members.

Section 1: Regularly Initiated Student Members

Regularly initiated students are defined by Article 4, Membership Qualifications. They shall be initiated in the Spring Quarter of every school year and new membership is only open to first or second year students.

Section 2: Alumni Members

Alumni members shall consist of dues paid alumni of Alpha Zeta.

Section 3: Associate Members

Associate members are those members that serve as our faculty advisors. New associate members must also go through the initiation process in the Spring Quarter prior to the year they will be advising the club.

Section 4: Honorary Members

Honorary members may be chosen at the discretion of the active student membership. Honorary members are members who have provided a significant service to the organization who do not hold membership in the Alpha Zeta Organization.

Article 4 Membership Qualifications

Section 1: Selection Process: Criteria for Alpha Zeta Partners

1. Open to first or second year students, with at least two remaining years of school, in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
2. At least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. GPA will be a consideration not just a minimum requirement.
3. Leadership potential/accomplishments in department, college, university or community organizations.
4. Be of good character.
5. Community Service - home community or university community
6. Diversity-including, but not limited to, a variety of backgrounds, life experiences, ethnicities, styles, gender, perspectives, personalities, sexual orientation, values, beliefs, race, physical abilities.

There will be an application with a series of small essays for each potential student to fill out. From these applications, selections for interviews will be held and then final selections of new members will be made.

Section 2: Statement of Non-Discrimination

Alpha Zeta Partners does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

Section 3: Membership Eligibility Requirements

An active member missing more than three meetings in a row or four per year without extenuating circumstances (class schedule conflicts, illness, family emergencies, tests, or religious holidays) will be dropped from the program. If conflicts arise, members should contact the scribe prior to the meeting. For the Leadership Program Component refer to the By-laws Section 2: Appeals Board.

Article 5 Offices of Alpha Zeta Partners

Section 1: Offices

The offices shall consist of Chancellor, Censor, Scribe, Treasurer, Chronicler, CFAES Student Council Representative, and two Appeals Board Representatives.

Section 2: Duties of the Officers

1. Chancellor - The Chancellor is the chief executive officer of the chapter. It is his/her duty to preside at all meetings. The Chancellor shall also appoint committees when deemed necessary. It is also the duty of the chancellor to uphold all articles of the constitution.
2. Censor - The Censor presides over the chapter in the absence of the Chancellor. The Censor provides critical input and praises the actions of the chapter members and is often responsible for new member education. The Censor is also the head of all committees.
3. Scribe - The Scribe has the duty of keeping the minutes of all meetings and attending to all correspondence of the organization, and submitting reports to the National Office. The scribe is also to keep attendance of all meetings.
4. Treasurer - The Treasurer receives all funds of the chapter and disburses funds as instructed by the chapter.
5. Chronicler - The Chronicler is the historian, recorder, and reporter for the chapter. The Chronicler keeps a complete account of all achievements, addresses, and locations of all members of the chapter.
6. CFAES Student Council Representative - This person shall represent the organization at all CFAES Student Council meetings. Our representative shall serve as the liaison between the organization and the college. In addition, the Council representative shall provide a full report of all council activities at each organizational meeting.
7. Appeals Board Representatives - review appeals received according to the process described in the By-Laws Section 2: Appeals Board.

Section 3: Fraternity Advisors

1. Fraternity Advisors shall consist of at least one Faculty member of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, who shall become an associate member of Alpha Zeta, and one Alpha Zeta alumni.
2. Fraternity Advisors must demonstrate a concern for students, be willing to give time to the organization, and show an interest in leadership.
3. It shall be the responsibility of the active members of Alpha Zeta Partners to recruit replacements for retiring advisors. Prospective advisors must be approached and questioned about serving as a fraternity advisor by an active member.
4. Prospective Fraternity Advisors must be voted on by a majority of active members during Winter Quarter and will be initiated in as associate members during the spring initiation along with the new active members.

Section 4: Leadership Program Advisors

1. There shall be at least one faculty advisor from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, who has a leadership development focus, to facilitate the leadership seminar component of the organization.
2. This advisor shall work directly with the planning committee of each of the four seminars to develop and plan the seminar.

Article 6 Election of Officers

Section 1: Term of Office

Officers shall be elected for 1-year terms. Elections will be held at the beginning of Spring Quarter. New officers will begin Spring Quarter.

Section 2: Order of Elections

The order of electing officers shall be Chancellor, Censor, Scribe, Treasurer, Chroniclers (one from each class), CFAES Student Council Representative, and Appeals Board Representatives (one from each class).

Section 3: Nominations

Self- nomination and nominations from the floor by any active member will be accepted. A candidate cannot be nominated unless he/she is present for the elections.

Section 4: Voting

Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of all those active members present. Only one vote per active member is permitted. A member must be present to vote. A quorum of two-thirds of the membership must be present for officer elections.

Article 7 Constitution Amendments

Section 1:

This constitution may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the active members present at any regular meeting of the organization.

Section 2:

Proposed amendments must be presented in writing or print and action thereon can be taken no sooner than the following regular meeting.

Article 8 By-laws

Section 1:

The By-laws shall be laws of current application enacted by the organization based on and subordinate to the Constitution.

Section 2:

The By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those present at any regular meeting.

Revised November 2004.