COLUMBIA CHI 
SPJ CHAPTER

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Article I: Official Name

The official name of our organization is the Columbia College Chicago Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The name may also be abbreviated to or used as Columbia Chi SPJ, @columbiachispj and columbiachispj.com

Article II: Purpose

1. A free press enhances our freedom and our liberty as a nation. The cornerstone of our organization is to support the freedom of the press to the best of our ability. It is a journalist’s duty to keep the people of the United States accurately and timely informed. Our purpose within the journalistic community therefore is: 

1. To promote the flow of information; 

2. To encourage an environment in which journalism can be practiced freely and fully; 

3. To stimulate high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism; 

4. To foster excellence and encourage diversity among journalists; 

5. To inspire successive generations of talented individuals to become dedicated journalists; 

6. To maintain constant watch in protection of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America.

b. Within the Columbia College Chicago community, the chapter will

support and fulfill the following purpose through: 

1. Active engagement of the college's journalistic community and the Chicago journalistic community at large. 

2. Events and activities which promote SPJ values and nurture professional and personal growth within the journalistic field.

Article III: University Guidelines

1. Learning outcomes

   1. Columbia students enrolled in programs within the School of Communications will gain a  better understanding of the journalistic field and become active members within the larger professional community. 

2. All official chapter activities, events and related undertakings will be conducted in compliance of Student Organization Council guidelines. 

Article IV: Membership

1. Membership in this organization is open to all Columbia College Chicago students enrolled in a program with the School of Communications and local professionals with a commitment to communication in journalism or related fields.

2. Official membership will be recognized following the completion of the official membership form and the payment of the required dues to the national SPJ organization ($36 annually) and Columbia College Chicago SPJ chapter ($10 annually).

3. Financial aid will be made available to any students who would be barred from membership due to the cost of national SPJ fees. 

4. Members in good standing will have access to all chapter resources, activities and events. They will have the right to vote and run for office during annual elections.

5. A major breach of the Columbia Chi SPJ chapter constitution or the National SPJ Code of Ethics and conduct will result in revocation of chapter membership by the board.

6. Members will be considered in good standing under the following conditions:

   1. Completion of all membership/ enrollment requirements

   2. Maintaining a GPA of at least 2.5

   3. Attendance of at least 2 monthly meetings  

7. Members of SPJ will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, veteran status, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or status due to the receipt of public assistance.

8. Members of the Columbia College Chicago SPJ chapter agree to comply with Columbia College policies governing organizational use of alcohol and other drugs.

Article V : Elections

1. Executive Board elections will be held annually before the end of the academic school year (spring  ) and called for by the chapter’s acting executive board.

2. Continuing students enrolled in programs within the School of Communications may self-nominate themselves to run for office. 

3. Elections will be carried out through anonymous digital ballots through google forms. 

4. Elected officers will officially begin their term and be free to begin organizing and planning for the following year at the end of that year’s spring semester.

Article VI: Officers

1. In order to be eligible to serve in as an officer within the chapter’s executive board, the candidate must:

   1. Be considered a member in good standing in accordance with the guidelines outlined in Article IV, section f 

   2. Elected to the position by a chapter majority. 

2.  *Officers and their duties shall be as follows :

   1. The President shall be the presiding officer and shall administer all business of the society as provided for by the SPJ national bylaws.

   2. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the president in the president’s absence and shall assist in coordinating all functions of the organization. 

   3. The secretary shall serve as corresponding and recording secretary, keeping minutes of all meetings. 

   4. The treasurer shall be the coordinator of the chapter’s funds, in cooperation with Columbia Student Organization Council, the chapter president and adviser. 

   5. The SOC representatives will act as the liaison between the SOC and the chapter. The representative will attend leadership retreats and Haunted House in the Fall. Additionally, they will attend the Block Party, Blood Ball, and Manifest in the Spring. The SOC rep or the alternate will attend the monthly meeting the first Wednesday of each month. If the SOC rep does not attend a meeting, they will be given a written warning for the first missed meeting. With each following missed meeting, the SOC representative and the chapter must accept any repercussions, including probation, loss of privileges, suspension, educational sanctions, or restitution. This position may be held by members of the executive board or other members within the chapter.

3. A mayor breach breach of the Columbia Chi SPJ chapter constitution or the National SPJ Code of Ethics or a failure to effectively complete outlined officer duties will result in removal from office.

   1. A call for removal may be appealed through the chapter advisor who will act as a mediator and moderate a discussion between the people in question. 

   2. The final decision on whether or not to remove an officer will be left up to a secret ballot.

   3. A special election will be held to replace an officer who has been removed from office. 

4. If an officer steps down from their position, a special election will be held to replace them. 

*Detailed job descriptions will be shared with officer candidates prior to student officer elections each spring.

Article VIII: Meetings

1.   Regular meetings shall be held at least once a month.

2. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the membership, which must include at least two officers.

3.   The meetings will be presided over by the president. In the event of the president’s absence, the vice president will preside. In the event of the president’s and the vice president’s absences, the secretary will preside.

4. Executive meetings will be held at least once a month separate of general meetings.

   1. Officers are required to attend all executive meetings

   2. Other executive board members will be notified of any absences two days in advance if needed, with exceptions for strenuous circumstances. 

   3. Failure to attend three or more consecutive meetings will result in scrutiny of the office’s position by the board and replacement by the chapter at large if considered necessary.   

Article IX: Chapter Advisor 

1. The chapter Adviser must be a professional member in good standing of the national Society. They shall be recognized as the representative of the national Society and shall oversee all activities of the chapter membership and make recommendations as they believe necessary, but will have no vote. The adviser shall be charged with the duties of attending meetings regularly and of providing, whenever possible, a permanent place of safekeeping for the books, documents and records of the chapter and its officers.

2. The chapter Adviser shall be chosen annually by the Executive Board of the chapter and may serve an unlimited number of terms.

Article X: Finances

1. The treasurer shall be responsible for making sure all members pay national dues. 

2. If the chapter ceases to exist, all chapter money will be distributed evenly between the Student Press Law Center and the SPJ Legal Defense Fund.

Article XI – Amendments

1. Constitutional amendments must be submitted at a regular or special meeting of the chapter and a typed copy submitted to the secretary. These then shall be voted on at the subsequent meeting. In adopting the amendment, a quorum of the membership is necessary.

2. These bylaws may be altered or amended by a majority vote of the members of the organization either in person or at a scheduled meeting; provided that: Notice of the proposed change, and the meeting at which it is to be considered, has been given to all executive board and general members at least twenty (20) days prior.

Article XII – Ratification

1. This constitution shall become valid upon approval by two-thirds of the local membership. This constitution shall supersede any previous bylaws. The bylaws will be reviewed each academic year.