FCS National Veterans Fraternity
Our Motto is Scholarship, Service, and Solidarity.
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FCS Membership Information There are several types of membership opportunities available. Including: Minimum eligibility requirements U.S. Military Veteran's requirements Minimum Eligibility Requirements
* Minimum GPA of 2.0
Note: You do NOT have to be a veteran to become a member. Our membership must, however, maintain a majority percentage of veterans. Membership will NOT be based on discrimination based upon race, handicap, age, gender, color, creed, religion, political persuasion, or national origin. The following has been excerpted from the combined National Constitution & Bylaws. A complete copy can be obtained from the National website. Additionally, anyone interested in establishing a student organization must first meet their institution’s requirements. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. ARTICLE XIV
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS
Various memberships are bestowed upon the individuals in the various Affiliate Chapters. All rights and privileges of these memberships extend to the Affiliate Chapter only, and not to the National Fraternity as a whole. There are numerous types of membership titles and each has its own letter designation, it own privileges, fee schedules, and responsibilities.
This membership is reserved for the twelve members that formed the original Fraternity and laid all the groundwork for following members. Referred to as “Corporate Plank Holders.” Ribbon color is Red/White/Blue with White stars in the Blue border.
A member who has signed the Charter for an Affiliate Chapter, and paid the fees and dues required, when the Affiliate Chapter was issued. Also called a “Chapter Plank Holder” in the Affiliate Chapter. Ribbon color is Red/White/Blue.
A member who has served at least one (1) semester as an Active Member and has a degree. This individual may apply for acceptance as an Alumni of the Affiliate Chapter. The Chapter must vote in the affirmative by a simple majority vote plus one of the members present at a regular called meeting of the chapter. The applicant must state if they desire an Active or Inactive status. Once accepted, another vote must be taken by the Alumni’s original Affiliate Chapter to change the status. This vote would require a similar majority plus one vote at a regular stated meeting. Ribbon color is Green.
An Alumni who is active in the Affiliate Chapter, pays dues, and has a vote in the Affiliate Chapter business. They may hold any position elected to in their Affiliate Chapter, Regional Alumni Board, or the National Board of Directors.
An Alumni who is not active in the local chapter, pays no dues, and has no vote, and can hold no office.
An Active member who qualifies as a United States Military Veteran, as described herein. Unless a Charter Member, shall have served a minimum of one (1) semester as a Pledge. Shall assume the responsibility of Sponsor for new Pledges. Shall have all the privileges and honors due Military Veterans in this Fraternity. Shall pay dues as set forth by the National Board of Directors, and can hold any office elected to in the Affiliate Chapter, or National Board of Directors. Has a vote in Affiliate Chapter. Ribbon color is Gold.
An Active member who does not meet the qualifications of United States Military Veteran as described herein. Unless a Charter member, shall have served a minimum of one (1) semester as a Pledge. Shall assume the responsibility of Sponsor for new Pledges. Shall pay dues as set forth by the National Board of Directors, and can hold any office elected to in the Affiliate Chapter, or National Board of Directors. Has a vote in Affiliate Chapter. Ribbon color is Red. 14.7 RESERVE IN TRAINING (RT).
An Active member who does not meet the qualifications of United States Military Veteran, as described herein, but who has served two (2) years as a member of a collegiate level ROTC program and has signed a letter of obligation, committing themselves to United States Military service. Unless a Charter member, shall have served a minimum of one (1) semester as a Pledge. Shall assume the responsibility of Sponsor for new Pledges. Shall pay dues as set forth by the National Board of Directors, and can hold any office elected to in the Affiliate Chapter, or National Board of Directors. For percentage purposes only, counts as a veteran in the official count in the Affiliate Chapter to help meet the minimum Veteran membership numbers. Has a vote in Affiliate Chapter. Ribbon color is Blue.
Active Veteran, Active Associate, or Reserve in Training who has the responsibility of overseeing a new Pledge. The Sponsor is responsible to notify their Pledge about upcoming events and meetings. The Sponsor shall respond to any request for assistance from the Pledge that the Sponsor can reasonably do. For instance, if the Pledge needs help with a specific educational department, and the Sponsor knows someone in that department, the Sponsor would take the Pledge, not send, to the department and introduce the Pledge to the individual who could help the Pledge.
Pledges are also called “Calves” in the plural, “Calf” in the singular. They are individuals who have petitioned the Affiliate Chapter for acceptance as an active member and have been assigned a Sponsor. They serve a semester in this capacity, attending every function of the chapter. The Pledge MUST attend every function during their Pledge semester unless they have a legitimate excuse for absence. The order of responsibility of ANY member of this Fraternity lies in the following order: family, job, school, fraternity. The Pledge cannot, however, miss a function and later provide the excuse for absence except in extreme situations. The proper procedure is to first notify the Pledge’s Sponsor. This must be done in actual one-on-one contact; the Pledge may not “leave a message.” If the Pledge cannot contact the Sponsor, the Pledge shall follow the chain of command until they have informed a proper active member about their upcoming absence. After one (1) semester as a Pledge, the Calf shall petition the Affiliate Chapter for acceptance as an Active member. It must be a unanimous vote of the Active members present at a regular called meeting. If the Pledge is not accepted at this vote, the Pledge may serve another semester as a Pledge. If not voted into active membership at the end of the second semester, the individual cannot be accepted into the Fraternity. Pledges shall pay dues as set forth by the National Board of Directors, and cannot hold any office.
A veteran or non-veteran staff, student, or faculty of an institution where there is not a Chartered Affiliate Chapter. They may petition an institution in their region that does have a Chartered Affiliate Chapter for membership. Must go through the regular pledge process and if accepted, shall served a minimum of one (1) semester as a Pledge. Shall pay dues as set forth by the National Board of Directors, and cannot hold any office. Does not have a vote in the Affiliate Chapter. Expected to open a chapter at home institution at earliest possible time.
An immediate family member of an Active member, within the first degree (husband, wife, brother, sister, son, daughter, father, mother). Not to include uncles, aunts, cousins, or in-laws. Family member connection must already be an Active member before the Affiliate may petition as a Pledge. Must go through pledge process. Shall pay dues as set forth by the National Board of Directors, and cannot hold any office. Does not have a vote in the Affiliate Chapter. After four paying semesters, individual may petition for Inactive Alumni status. They cannot, however, become Active Alumni unless they are either students, staff, or faculty of the Affiliate Chapter’s institution.
Honorary membership is exactly that. Honorary memberships are offered to individuals who have done something extraordinary for the Affiliate Chapter, the Fraternity, or for Veterans in general. National Honorary’s names should be submitted to the National Board Secretary. The National Board of Directors may offer as many Honorary memberships as it deems appropriate. If an Affiliate Chapter wants to honor someone with an Affiliate Honorary membership, the Affiliate Chapter shall submit the name with appropriate information to the National Board Secretary. A majority vote of the National Board of Directors will approve the submission and an Honorary membership will be offered. The Affiliate Chapter shall tender no more than one (1) individual per year for such recognition, except in extreme circumstances.
Any Alumnus of an institution with an Active Chapter who was an Alumni before the formation of the Active Chapter will be allowed to join as an Active Alumni, if the chapter accepts them. They must pay dues of an Active Alumni for at least one (1) semester. They do not have to serve a Pledge semester. They may, afterwards, change status to Inactive Alumni. They will be subject to restrictions and privileges of the status as prescribed in the Constitution. 14.14 REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP.
An individual’s membership can be lost, due to actions that embarrass the fraternity, or for just cause. The Board of Directors of the Affiliate Chapter shall revoke the status of any of its members for just cause. The National Board of Directors may take action on its own, that an individual member should be removed from the roster or placed “Not in Good Standing.” The member may appeal the decision of the Affiliate Chapter to the National Board of Directors. While “Not in Good Standing,” the individual is no longer entitled to any of the benefits or privileges of membership. ARTICLE XVI UNITED STATES MILITARY VETERAN
To qualify as a United States Military Veteran for the purposes of this Fraternity, the member must meet all of the following qualifications. ARTICLE XVII
No chapter, group, body, affiliated group, or individual member of Phi Chi Sigma, National Veterans’ Fraternity, Inc., shall engage in or condone any form of hazing, including but not limited to physical abuse or harassment or any person by assigning unnecessary, disagreeable, or difficult work, by banter, ridicule, or criticism, or by abusive or humiliating acts. We hope that you will become a part of our fraternity. |  |
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