PI ALPHA XI
THE HONOR SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURE
ARTICLE I
Section I.
The full, legal name of this organization shall be Pi Alpha Xi, The Honor Society
for Horticulture, abbreviated as P.A.X.
P.A.X. was founded in 1923 as an honor society for floriculture. Over time, it
expanded to include landscape horticulture and ornamental horticulture.
The meaning of the Honor Society for Horticulture is to be interpreted as a
professional Honor Society for those engaged in horticulture. Chapters may
choose to continue the tradition of honoring only those students with an interest
in Floriculture, Landscape Horticulture and Ornamental Horticulture.
Section II.
The purposes of this Honor Society are to recognize high scholarship, to foster
good relationships among its members, to promote or to facilitate the exchange
of ideas among members of the professions, and to establish cordial relations
among students, educators, and industry members.
ARTICLE II
Chapters
Section I.
Any university or college offering four years of baccalaureate instruction in
horticulture is eligible to establish a chapter.
Section II.
A petition for the establishment of a new chapter shall be presented to the Board
of Directors through the office of the National Secretary-Treasurer. Upon consent
of the Board of Directors, the petition shall be referred to all active chapters, by
referendum at the National Convention or by mail or electronic correspondence.
Upon affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active chapters, the President shall
issue a proclamation of acceptance.
Section III.
Such petitioning group shall stand the expense of installation and shall at the
time of installation deposit with the National Secretary-Treasurer the regular
initiation fee for each of the members. The chapter shall be exempt from further
payment of dues for the remainder of the school year, except for members
initiated after the installation of a new chapter.
Section IV.
An active chapter of Pi Alpha Xi may be declared inactive by the National
President or by the Board of Directors upon the request of the chapter concerned
or recognized staff advisor of the chapter, or after lapse of dues payment for a
period of more than three years. Such an inactive chapter may become active
again with the approval of the National President or the Board of Directors upon
payment of chapter dues for the current year and one year in arrears. Inactive
chapters may not initiate members, propose honorary members, or have a vote
at a National Convention. Nothing, however, shall prevent duly initiated Pi Alpha
Xi members at an institution with an inactive chapter, or any member duly
initiated by that chapter, from holding a national office or committee appointment,
or otherwise exerting membership rights in Pi Alpha Xi.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section I.
The membership of Pi Alpha Xi shall be open to all persons engaged in
horticulture provided they meet the eligibility requirements and shall consist of
four categories: Active, Associate, Alumni, and Honorary.
(a) Active Membership:
Active membership shall be restricted to the institution at which there is a
chapter of Pi Alpha Xi and shall consist of the following three groups:
1. Regularly enrolled students studying horticulture and having attained at
least junior standing are eligible for membership. The student must have
an overall grade point average of 3.00/4.00 (or equivalent).
2. Graduate students studying horticulture and in good academic standing
after at least one academic term are eligible for membership. The student
should show promise of continued activity and interest in the field.
3. Members of the faculty of horticulture.
Individual chapters may choose to elect a higher minimum grade point average.
(b) Associate Membership:
Faculty members from disciplines other than horticulture at an institution
where there is a chapter of Pi Alpha Xi, who are contributing to the
advancement of horticulture, are eligible for membership.
(c) Alumni Membership:
Any active member who is in good standing upon withdrawal, graduation,
resignation, or retirement from his/her institution shall automatically
become an alumnus/alumna.
(d) Honorary Membership:
In the initiation of commercial persons to honorary membership, every
effort should be made to limit this group to individuals of high educational
attainments as well as commercial prominence. Honorary membership
shall consist of Chapter Honorary and National Honorary memberships
and shall meet one of the following three criteria:
1. Persons who have rendered marked service in the advancement
of horticulture.
2. Persons engaged in teaching, extension or research work of
benefit to horticulture at an institution where there is no active
chapter of Pi Alpha Xi.
3. Persons holding a college degree who have attained a
distinguished position in the field.
Honorary members shall have no vote in any regular meeting and shall
not be eligible to hold office.
For the full constitution please refer to pax-constitution
