The Local Chapter
Individual membership in TriBeta is through a chapter on the campus of a four-year accredited college or university. There are now more than 648 chapters offering their members activities and experiences that enrich and extend but do not duplicate the primary requirements for the biology major. The national constitution provides a framework for chapter activities, but each chapter is free to function in accordance with its own needs and school philosophy. Chapter programs typically include guest speakers, reports of research by members and department faculty, field trips, maintenance of collections, community service and social gatherings. Most chapters have a lounge or office on campus. A faculty advisor provides continuity and experience to the student members.
The Local Club
A TriBeta Club may be formed at any Junior or Community College. The club functions as any chapter does by having its own programs and activities, but is affiliated with a nearby chapter. The club may or may not have joint meetings with the sponsoring chapter depending on its own needs.
Chapter Activities
Every Chapter should undertake the following programs:
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Initiate new members at least once a year, registering them with the National Office to make their membership official.
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Report to the National Office at least once a year. What is in the report is up to your chapter. Be sure the names of officers and new advisor are reported.
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Undertake some program to promote TriBeta's aims as stated in the National Constitution, Article II.
Suggestions for programs and activities appear in the information booklet and in BIOS.
Inactive Chapters
If a chapter does not register new members for three consecutive years, a warning letter will be sent to the chapter advisor, department chairperson, and dean. A District Director may visit the chapter to discuss problems and try to help reactivate the chapter.
If a chapter does not activate within five years, the charter may be recalled. If a charter is recalled, the university must re-apply and pay the application fee to re-establish a charter.
If a chapter has been inactivew for a number of years and the charter has NOT been recalled, the chapter advisor, student officers, or interested students should contact the National Office for instructions concerning reactivation of the chapter.
BIOS Chapter News
Please email chapter news to the BIOS editor. You will receive back on email a copy of the edited text for your corrections. There is no deadline. The chapter news will be included in the next issue of BIOS. If you have pictures, you should ask the BIOS editor how and where to send them.
The BIOS editor is Lori Kelman, her email is Lori.Kelman@montgomerycollege.edu. For any BIOS related questions, please feel free to contact her.
Please complete the form below to submit chapter elected officers to be published in BIOS. If there is not an officer in one of the positions, please input "No Secretary" or "No Historian" on the form.