In order to promote Greek unity, to provide for effective governance, and to ensure better cooperation and communication between and among Bucknell University and its Fraternity and Sorority Chapters, the Alumni Greek Council, duly convened at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania does this Sixth Day of May, 1989 hereby adopt and establish this Constitution.

This organization shall be officially known and designated as The Alumni Greek Council (AGC) of Bucknell University.

The Alumni Greek Council (AGC) sets as its supreme goal the perpetuation of a fraternity/sorority system at Bucknell University in which each and every undergraduate fraternity and sorority chapter achieves and maintains the highest standards of intellectual, moral, and social deportment in all areas of operations and development.  While the Council recognizes the individual variations from chapter to chapter regarding basic fraternal goals, governance and philosophy, we also recognize the common goals and joint needs which we all share.  It is the perpetuation of these high standards and goals which necessitates the existence and support of our mutual endeavor.

We take as a given the premise that with the support and guidance of alumni members, an individual fraternity or sorority chapter can enjoy a higher quality existence than could be realized in the absence of this support.  Further, we believe that with increased cooperation and communication between alumni and undergraduate arms of the fraternity chapters, and between these bodies and the University Administration, a higher standard of excellence can be reached by each of our chapters.

With these goals in mind, the Council sets as policy the vigorous striving toward the attainment of the following specific purposes:

The Alumni Greek Council shall serve as an advisory body only.  It may pass Resolutions and make Position Statements for dissemination to the various members of the University Community (specifically and primarily to the Bucknell Interfraternity Council and/or Panhellenic Council, University Administration, and individual chapters) or to other groups or bodies.  It shall have the authority to levy dues upon its members.  It shall have the ability to establish, in concert with the IFC, PHC, and other university bodies, policies and procedures for itself.  The Council shall, whenever possible, have a voice in the determination of policies which impact on the Greek System. The Council shall not officially or unofficially as a body interact with, advise or administer any individual Undergraduate Chapter.

Section I:     A member of the Council shall be defined as the officially recognized representative of an individual fraternity or sorority of the Council.

Section II:    Each officially recognized Alumni Group or House Corporation of every fraternity recognized by the Bucknell University Interfraternity Council, and each officially recognized alumni organization of every sorority recognized by the Bucknell  Panhellenic Council shall have a seat on the Council.

Section III:   Any Alumni Group or House Corporation of any inactive Chapter recognized by the Bucknell University Interfraternity or Panhellenic Councils at any time within the period of three (3) years prior to any current  year shall also have a seat on the Council, provided the Alumni Group remains active, and the Group has formally announced plans to seek to return an active Chapter to the Bucknell University campus within a reasonable time.  Any special cases involving requests for membership on the Council will be considered as they arise.

Section IV:     In the event any duly recognized chapter, either active or inactive, has more than one Alumni Group, that fraternity/sorority shall have only one seat on the Council.  It shall be the responsibility of the individual organization to decide upon its representation to the Council.

Section V:  The Alumni Group President or House Corporation President of each fraternity/sorority with a seat on the Council shall be the official representative to the Council for that fraternity/sorority, unless another representative of a fraternity/sorority is designated in advance by the Alumni Group President of the House Corporation President.

Section VI:     Each Fraternity with a seat on the Council shall be permitted to bring to any meeting up to three (3) members to participate in the deliberations of the Council.  If any fraternity/sorority chooses to bring to a meeting more than one (1) member, each additional member, up to the limit of three (3) may, with the consent of the other members of the Council, have a voice in the meeting.

Section VII:  Each Fraternity with a seat on the Council shall one (1) vote.  Only the official representative to the Council of his/her designated alternate shall be entitled to vote for his/her fraternity/sorority in the deliberations of the Council.

Section VIII:   In  order for any group to have a seat on the Council, and in order for the group to have the right to vote on any issue, the group must be in good financial standing with the Council.  The right to vote shall only be granted to those groups who have paid any dues in full, or made arrangements to pay dues in a timely fashion.  Dues shall be established at a rate of $150.00 per calendar year for member fraternities and $50.00 per calendar year for member sororities.

Section I:  The officers of the Alumni Greek Council shall be a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President, and Fourth Vice President.

Section II:  Election of officers shall be by majority vote of those members present and voting.  Candidates shall be nominated from among the officially designated representatives to the Council.  In order to hold office, the candidate and officers must be affiliated with an alumni/ae group or functioning in an official capacity with a chapter which is in good financial standing with the Council.

Section III:  The term of office shall be two (2) years.

Section IV:   The University Administrator responsible for Greek Life shall serve as the secretary/treasurer/  He/she shall assist the AGC in the dissemination of information, assist in the compilation of reports of meetings, and oversee the finances of the AGC>

Section V:  Executive Board.

The AGC shall have an Executive Board, whose membership shall consist of the Presidents, all four Vice Presidents, the University Administrator directly responsible for Greek Life, past and present AGC Presidents, and past Presidents of the Bucknell Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council from the previous three years, provided these past Presidents express their desire to continue to serve the AGC in this capacity.

Section VI:  At least one member of the Executive Board shall be a representative of a sorority.

Section VII:  Role of the President.

The President shall serve as the official representative of the AGC.  The President shall coordinate and chair all meetings of the AGC Executive Board, and of the AGC as a whole.  He/she shall work closely with the University Administrator responsible for Greek Life to oversee the dissemination of information to members of the AGC and other pertinent constituencies.  The President shall coordinate regular communication of the Executive Board.

Section VIII:  Role of the Vice Presidents.

The Vice Presidents shall be responsible for assisting in the dissemination of information to individual chapters and their AGC representatives.  Each Vice President shall assume responsibility for specific fraternity and/or sorority chapters, and shall be in regular communication with the AGC representative of each assigned chapter.  The Vice Presidents shall share information, ideas and concerns received from chapters with the Executive Board, and share with individual chapters any information shared through the Executive Board.  The Vice Presidents shall assist in the creation of agendas, and in the coordination and planning of AGC meetings.

Section IX:  In the absence of the President, his/her responsibilities shall be assumed by the First Vice President until such time as the President assumes his/her position.  The succession of authority shall by President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President, and Fourth Vice President.

Section X:  In the event of a permanent vacancy in the office of President, the Executive Board shall appoint an interim from among the four Vice Presidents.  In the event of a permanent vacancy in other positions on the Executive Board, the Executive Board shall appoint an interim from among the AGC membership.  Any vacant office shall be filled at the next scheduled meeting of the Council.  The officer elected to fill a vacancy shall serve out the remaining term of the office.

Section I:  The Council shall meet as often as necessary and desired in any given semester, but no less than three (3) times in any academic year.

Section II:  The Council shall meet at a time and place agreed to by a majority of the members and announced in writing at least one month in advance of the scheduled meeting date.  The Executive Board, along with the University Administrator directly responsible for Greek Life, will be responsible for coordination of meetings.

Section III:  Members of the undergraduate Bucknell Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils, faculty advisers, and other faculty members, and University Administrators may attend all meetings with a voice and no vote.  Other desired or relevant individuals may attend a meeting, with a voice if agreed to by a majority of members voting and present.  Such participants in a meeting shall have no vote.

Section IV:  Meeting Structure.  The AGC will utilize a variety of meeting formats, based on the agenda and needs of any particular meeting.  A new standard format is hereby adapted, however, in order to implement the committee framework most effectively.

Section V:  Rationale

This new structure allows for more effective and productive meeting times for the AGC.  It provides for continuity from meeting to meeting with the creation of an ongoing committee structure, allows for special needs to be addressed by task forces or d-hoc committees, and formalizes our business meetings to create more efficient, result-oriented gatherings.  By passion resolutions and taking appropriate actions on pertinent issues, the AGC will gain respect and influence we now seek, but do not have.  This format also provides for greater accessibility for more people in productive involvement in the resolution of issues.

The Alumni Greek Council shall establish committees to more effectively promote action and communication.  These committees will meet whenever necessary to conduct the business assigned to them, and will be encouraged to submit resolutions and actions plans to the AGC for approval.  The AGC President shall have the authority to establish standing committees, ad-hoc committees and task forces.  He/she shall also appoint membership to committees as deemed expedient and appropriate.  All Chapters with membership in the AGC will be assigned to committees.  Undergraduate representatives of the AGC Chapters will also be invited to serve on committees, with the input of the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Council Presidents.  All committees should include a mix of men and women, alumni and undergraduates whenever feasible and possible.  Committees will be established as follows:

Section I:  Standing Committees

The AGC President shall establish Standing Committees.  Standing Committees will continue for an unspecified amount of time, and will be chaired by one of the four AGC Vice Presidents.  Each AGC Chapter will be assigned membership to at least one standing committee, and undergraduate chapter representatives will also be invited to join standing committees.  Standing Committees may be formed or disbanded at the directive of the AGC President, of AGC action.  Among the Standing Committees to be formed are the following:

1.   Constitution , Membership and Rules:  The Constitution, Membership and Rules Committee will review the AGC Constitution from time to time in order to suggest revisions, updates, and corrections.  This Committee will also work to encourage participation from all Fraternities and Sororities, and suggest enforcement of any rules or guidelines as established by AGC resolution.

2.   Chapter House/Suite Maintenance:  The Chapter House/Suite Maintenance Committee will review issues relating to the upkeep, improvement, purchase and safety of Chapter Residential areas.

3.   Recruitment:  The Recruitment Committee will review issues pertinent to membership recruitment for all Chapters.

4.   Risk Management:  The Risk Management Committee will address issues relating to security and safety within our Chapters.

5.   Legal:  The Legal Committee will investigate issues of a legal nature and suggest actions or remedies as appropriate,

6.   Fraternity Education:  The Fraternity Education Committee will address issues relating to the process of assimilating new members into Chapters, offering suggestions and advice to ensure effective education or pledges/associate members and initiates, and to address any issues relating to hazing.

Section II:  Ad-Hoc Committees

Ad-Hoc Committees will be created by the AGC President for a more limited period of time.  The AGC President shall appoint members to ad-hoc committees as deemed appropriate.  Ad-Hoc Committees will focus on a very specific issue or topic and report back to the AGC with suggested actions and/or resolutions.

Section III:  Task Forces

The AGC President shall establish task forces when necessary and appropriate.  Task Forces will meet to address very specific goals, and will differ from committees in the scope of their efforts.  A Task Force will be established to perform extensive study and investigation into a significant issue, offering detailed actions and plans to the AGC at prescribed times.

The Council may adopt By-Laws at any regularly scheduled meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of members voting and present.  To be considered at a meeting, the proposed by-law must be circulated to the members at least one month in advance of the meeting.

Amendments to this Constitution may be adopted at any regularly scheduled meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of members present and voting.  To be considered at a meeting, the proposed amendment must be circulated with a written explanation of the proposed amendment at least one month prior to the meeting.