Panhellenic Council Standing Rules

COLLEGE PANHELLENIC COUNCIL STANDING RULES

OHIO UNIVERSITY

Article I. Standing Rules Definition

The Standing Rules of the College Panhellenic Council are additional rules that pertain to the administration of the Council. The Ohio University College Panhellenic Council reserves the right to hold chapters accountable for all established Standing Rules.

Standing Rules of the Ohio University Panhellenic Association Updated September 29th, 2023

Article II. Meeting Times

Section 1. Executive Board Meetings

The Executive Board of the College Panhellenic Council will determine a weekly time to meet as a collaborative board for at least one hour at the start of each academic semester.

Section 2. Panhellenic Council (General Body) Meetings

The Panhellenic Council will determine a biweekly time to meet as a community for at least one hour at the start of each academic semester.

Section 3. Special Meetings/Circumstances

  1. The Executive Board and Panhellenic Council can decide to have paper meetings throughout the semester.
  2. Meetings can be held virtually or in-person.
  3. The Executive Board can deem urgent status to a special meeting. In this case, one member from each chapter is required to be in attendance.
Article III. Dues Specific Information

Section 1. Dues

  1. NPC College Panhellenic dues shall be paid yearly as invoiced by the NPC office.
  2. The Ohio University Panhellenic Council membership dues shall be an assessment per member and new member.
    1. The amount of such dues for the next academic year shall be determined by the CPC Executive Board no later than March of that year. Member sororities shall submit payment for invoices within 30 days of receiving invoices.The date may be extended by the College Panhellenic Council as needed.
    2. The dues of the College Panhellenic Council member sorority shall be $30 per member ($20 Panhellenic Dues, $10 Greek Community Dues) per semester.
    3. For further details about Panhellenic due allocation and spending, please reference the Panhellenic Budget.
    4. A chapter will only be charged for a new member for one semester. Once initiated, the members will follow initiated member fees.
  3. Failure of Payment: Any chapter failing to make full payment of membership dues to the College Panhellenic Council by the due date, unless otherwise agreed to a payment plan, will pay an additional $25 for the first day missed, with an additional $10 per day for each day missed.
  4. Fees and Assessments. CPC shall have the authority to determine fees and assessments as deemed necessary.

Section 2. Use of Board Funds

  1. Board funds shall be used solely for the benefit of the Panhellenic community.
  2. Board funds shall not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages.
  3. Board funds shall not be used to solely benefit Executive Board members.

Section 3. Delinquent Accounts

A.   All chapters in poor financial standing with the College Panhellenic Council will lose voice and vote in meetings until the chapter is considered in good financial standing with the College Panhellenic Council.

Article IV. Programming

Section 1. Philanthropy/Community Service Events

Each chapter is required to host or participate in philanthropic and community service efforts each semester.

Section 2. Social Planning Form

  1. Chapters must follow all social planning guidelines and regulations as provided by the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life.
  2. All socials and date parties must begin no earlier than one hour after the end time of a CPC or SFL Event.

Section 3. Risk Management Programming

The Executive Vice President in conjunction with the Vice President of Programming will plan one risk management event per semester.

Section 4. General Fines

If an event is mandatory, as stated by a Panhellenic Council Executive Board member, and a chapter does not meet the specified requirements, the chapter will be subjected to a fine of $50 per chapter member under quota for the event. These events can include but are not limited to: General Body

Meetings, Sisterhood of the Traveling Dresses, and any other mandatory event, as stated by an Executive Board member. Chapters will be given notice of these mandatory events at least one month in advance.

Section 5. Sister Chapters

  1. The Sister Chapter program strives to promote a culture of collaboration as opposed to competition. As an Ohio University women’s-only sorority, it is expected to host a minimum of one event per semester with their pairing and to document the event via a Bobcat Connect form.
  2. Sister chapter pairings will be announced by the CPC President by the end of the previous semester.
  3. If a chapter fails to collaborate with their sister chapter, the chapters will be subject to an informal discussion with the Executive Vice President.
Article V. Social Policy

Section 1. Sorority/Fraternity Authorization

No sorority shall hold or attend a structured function with any organization not recognized by IFC, MGC or NPHC at Ohio University or by Ohio University.

Section 2. Ohio University Policies

Every social function must be held in accordance with Ohio University’s student organization policies, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life social policies, and each Chapter's respective internal risk management policy.

Section 3. Registered Events

All social events need to be registered. Please refer to Article VIII. Alcohol Responsibility of the Standing Rules for more information.

Section 4. Violation of Social Policy

Penalties will be decided on a case-by-case basis through the Panhellenic Judicial Process and/or the Office of Sorority and Fraternity life.

Article VI. Social Media Policy

Section 1. Representation

Individual chapter members will not violate the College Panhellenic Council bylaws or standing rules through social media. The Vice President of Public Relations and the Executive Board has the right to monitor and uphold the social media requirements for chapters and their members.

Section 2. Fostering Panhellenic Relations

Individual chapter members are expected to be Panhellenic in spirit, including in social media. All posts must follow the guidelines as stated in the Code of Ethics. If a social media issue arises that involves more than one chapter, the Panhellenic Judicial process will be used as the means for resolution.

Section 3. Violation of Social Media Policy

If a chapter or chapter member is found to be in violation of the social media policy, a member of the CPC Executive Board will reach out and request the post be removed immediately. If the post is not voluntarily removed within 24 hours, the chapter will receive an infraction and the member who posts the offense will be required to attend.

Section 4. Providing Content

Chapters are expected to submit photos and advertisements for upcoming events to the Vice President of Public Relations in order to receive representation on Panhellenic social media platforms.

Article VII. Joint Relations Between Governing Councils and College Panhellenic Council

Section 1. Theft

In order to improve cooperation between the Greek community and the college authorities, theft of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to: banners, trophies, block letters, clothing, furniture, etc. CPC is not responsible for the investigation or punishment when it comes to accusations of theft. Any accusations of theft must be reported to the Ohio University Police Department or Athens Police Department.

Section 2. Homecoming and Greek Week

  1. All chapters are expected to be in good relation with the other organization(s) they are paired with.
  2. All teams are expected to uphold the values of the College Panhellenic Council, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity life, and their member chapter.
Article VIII. Alcohol Responsibility

Section 1. The College Panhellenic Council values the health and safety of each member. We have adopted the standards, expectations, and requirements of the Office of Sorority Fraternity Life. The Panhellenic Council and the Panhellenic Executive Board are the voice of the Panhellenic community. They work in partnership with the Office of Sorority Fraternity Life to revise and offer suggestions to ensure the standards and expectations are relevant and reasonable. The standards and expectations will change to align with the community’s needs.

Section 2. New Member Events

Panhellenic chapters are required to adhere to a sober period for the following new member events: Big/Little Reveal, Initiation, and New Member Ceremonies. Sober period will begin 24 hours prior to the event and lasts through 24 hours after the conclusion of the event. Any violations will result in judicial action.

Article IX. Administration of Membership Recruitment

Section 1. Primary Recruitment

The College Panhellenic Council will host Primary Recruitment in the Fall semester each academic year. Dates will be pre-determined during the spring semester of the previous academic year.

Section 2. Statement of Automatic Reset of Total:

  1. Total is the allowable chapter size determined by the College Panhellenic. Total includes new and initiated members. If a chapter has met total, they are no longer eligible to invite new members to join the chapter. If a chapter is below total, they can invite new members to join the chapter.
  2. The purpose of total is to provide opportunities to grow the Panhellenic community, seek parity among chapters and allow the maximum number of women to experience sorority membership.
  3. Semesterly total setting will be determined as instructed by our NPC Total Method Setting Team and as stated in the NPC Manual of Information.

Section 3. Continuous Opening Bidding

Continuous open bidding shall be in effect during the academic year for all eligible women students, except during the Primary Fall Recruitment period.

Section 4. Primary Recruitment Event Locations

All membership selection events held during the Primary Fall Recruitment period shall be held in the chapter room, house, lodge, suite or campus facilities.

Section 5. New Member Enrollment

  1. Every regularly enrolled new member, initiate, or affiliate of a chapter, shall be counted in the Chapter Total.
  2. A roster of the initiated and affiliated members of all chapters must be on file with the Sorority and Fraternity Life professional staff and with the CPC Advisor.
  3. Any deactivation, termination or other change in membership shall be updated on Bobcat Connect no later than 48 hours after it has occurred except during Recruitment, then it will be within 24 hours. Chapters must complete the Change of Status form on the Office or Sorority and Fraternity Life’s Bobcat Connect Page.
  4. In the case of Primary Fall Recruitment, all new members will be added to rosters by the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life professional staff.
  5. All Continuous Open Bidding (COB) events must be registered with the Vice President of Recruitment and the CPC Advisor prior to COB events and follow the Recruitment Contract procedures.
  6. COB Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement must be turned in to the CPC Advisor within 24 hours of bid acceptance.

Section 6. Chapter Recruitment Information

For the purpose of the Primary Fall Recruitment period, chapters must submit materials including but not limited to: membership fees, photos, testimonials, chapter colors, founding dates, symbols, philanthropies, etc. These must be submitted to the College Panhellenic Council by the deadline determined by the end of the spring semester.

Article X. New Member Process

Section 1. Eligibility

  1. A woman must be a regularly matriculated, full-time student at Ohio University Athens campus to be eligible for recruitment and membership.
  2. All potential new members are encouraged to possess and maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA (high school and/or college) in order to apply for formal and informal recruitment.
  3. All potential new members interested in joining an organization are required to complete the PNM Grade Verification process & LaunchPoint Training through the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life and College Panhellenic Council.

a.   Potential new members must complete the entire LaunchPoint education module series and assessments prior to accepting a bid to join an organization.

  1. A College Panhellenic Council member sorority may not issue an invitation of membership or formally pledge a woman during the summer semester and/or winter break.
  2. After a woman has accepted a bid from any member organization and has then depledged, she is not eligible to accept a bid from any other NPC fraternity and sorority until the next Primary Recruitment period from the date she signed her Bid Card.
Article XI. Special Circumstances

Should campus operations be conducted under special circumstances, the College Panhellenic Council and its chapters will follow all University procedures. Chapter operations such as, but not limited to new member education, recruitment, and chapter meetings, will follow policies set by Ohio University.

Article XII. Code of Ethics

The College Panhellenic Council has adopted a code of ethics for the conduct of members in the Council.

Article XIII. Recruitment Rules

The College Panhellenic Council has adopted recruitment rules that have been amended by a majority vote of the College Panhellenic Council at a regular meeting of the Council or at a special meeting called for such purpose, provided at least 24 hours’ notice has been given; however, such notice may be waived, and attendance at such meeting shall constitute waiver of said notice.