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The following policies and guidelines are created to provide guidance to Alumni Chapters and allow uniformity within the Alumni Chapter program.

Codes:
Alumni Chapter (AC)
Collegiate Chapter (CC)
Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc. (BGS)

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• Mission, Objectives & Goals
• The Mission of the International Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma is to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business, to foster personal and professional excellence, to advance the values of the Society, and to serve its lifelong members.
• The purposes of a Beta Gamma Sigma Alumni Chapter are to provide opportunities for building connections among BGS members through educational events, social opportunities, and service to the local business community; to expand BGS presence and motivate students to remain active members upon leaving their university; and to enhance BGS membership through these activities.
• The general mission and objectives of BGS apply to both the CCs and ACs.

• Membership
• All members of BGS (student, faculty, and honoree) are eligible for membership in the AC.
• Only members of BGS are eligible for membership in the AC. However, each AC may set its own policy regarding allowing non-members to attend AC events and activities.
• ACs have agreed to allow reciprocity of membership to current chapter members who transfer to another geographic area served by an AC.
• ACs may award Honorary Membership in BGS through the Chapter Honoree program (using criteria set by BGS). Unless special waiver is given, the AC may only name two Chapter Honorees per year.
• ACs have the right to communicate with any BGS member who has paid dues to the AC or indicated an interest in being contacted by the AC.
• BGS may communicate on behalf of the AC with all BGS members in an AC area through major mailings or broadcast emails.
• Once annually, the Central Office will send a broadcast email to all local members promoting the AC and asking for interested members.
• At least twice annually, both BGS and the AC should provide to the other updated information on each paid membership and those indicating interest.

• Official Status
• ACs must abide by requirements necessary to maintain the 501(c)(3) status of BGS as a non-profit, charitable organization.
• ACs are subsidiaries of BGS.
• The official name of the AC is set by BGS (in coordination with the initial chapter officers) and ACs must use the official name in all print and electronic materials.
• ACs are required to maintain the overall purposes of the AC efforts by promoting the educational component of BGS in chapter programming.
• The governing documents of BGS are the official policies of the Society. AC governing documents must abide by these same policies. If a conflict arises, the governing documents of BGS prevail.
• A copy of the AC’s current governing documents must be on file with the Central Office.
• The Central Office shall be copied on all official AC correspondence.
• ACs are required to file an annual chapter activity and financial report with the Central Office within 90 days following the close of the fiscal year.
• The AC must provide to the Central Office the name and email address of the official chapter contact, typically the AC President. This information will be posted on the BGS website.

• Alumni Chapter Officers.
• The proposed slate of officers for an AC must be provided to the Central Office of BGS at least 30 days prior to chapter elections. BGS has the authority to approve/disapprove each officer on the slate. The President of the AC will be notified of approval/disapproval within two weeks of receipt of the slate.
• Officers of the ACs of BGS agree to abide by the following.

• As an officer of the AC, the BGS member agrees to abide by the mission and objectives of BGS and the AC.
• The BGS member will not be involved in activities that would provide a conflict of interest with BGS or the AC.
• The BGS member will not accept any items providing personal financial gain as an officer of the AC.
• The BGS member will encourage and support as chapter programs only those that will reflect positively on BGS and the AC and enhance the BGS brand
• When promoting programs of the AC, the BGS member agrees to only promote programs which have first been approved by the AC.
• The BGS member will always represent BGS and the AC in a positive manner.

• Financial
• ACs are encouraged to establish a local checking account for the safeguarding of chapter funds.
• BGS will obtain from the IRS and provide to the AC a Federal Employer Identification (FEI) number for use in establishing the AC checking account (US chapters only)
• ACs must provide to the Central Office: name and address of bank where account is established, contact person and phone number for the bank, account number, names of chapter signatories on account.
• ACs will include an assigned BGS staff member from the Central Office as a co-signer on the chapter account (to assist during unplanned transition of officer issues). Chapters should obtain a signature card from the bank and forward to the Central Office for processing.
• ACs are encouraged to require two signatures on all chapter checks to ensure safeguarding of chapter funds.

• Chapter Dues/Event Fees
• Alumni Chapters (AC) agreed to the following basic dues structure for chapters that charge annual dues:
• Annual (regular)     30 USD
• New inductee                       10 USD
• Reciprocity of membership for current year
• ACs may also elect to not charge membership dues and charge on an event-by-event basis.  In this case, the chapter is encouraged to adopt an event fee model to ease the financial burden on the chapter.
  
  
• Website
• The domain name for the AC is provided by BGS.
• The AC must use the official name and official version of the key logo as provided by BGS on all printed and electronic materials.

• Chapter LinkedIn Groups
• Chapters are encouraged to create chapter LinkedIn groups to communicate with their chapter members.
• Chapters are encouraged to include an assigned BGS staff member from the Central Office as a manager of the LinkedIn group (to assist during any possible chapter officer transition issues).

• Broadcast Emails Sent from Central Office
• ACs must request at least two weeks in advance for BGS to send broadcast emails to members announcing events, offering chapter membership/renewal, etc.
• Messages can include links to documents (pdf, word, etc), but cannot include attachments
• BGS includes a standard opt-out statement on each broadcast email. Chapters cannot add either an opt-in or opt-out message on broadcasts sent from the Central Office or the chapter.
• Steps for executing a broadcast email message:

• Chapter board member (must be president, VP, secretary, or treasurer) drafts email announcement in Word document, checking to be sure it includes all pertinent details (who, what, when, where, why, how, RSVP)
• Final draft is sent to Central Office Manager of Alumni Operations for review at least two weeks before the event date
• Central Office coordinates the broadcast email and sends to all members with a current zip code that matches the area

• Grant Program
• Beta Gamma Sigma will provide two $500 grants per year ($1,000 annually) to chapters that meet the following specified criteria.
• The chapter does not charge annual dues.
• Chapter created and distributed an annual membership appeal for the current year.
• The chapter held at least one qualifying chapter event (educational in nature) during the previous 6-month period, and provided the Central Office a brief description of this event.
• The chapter submitted a completed Chapter Annual & Financial Report with Chapter Directory within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year.
• Chapter submitted grant application form certifying that the chapter met the criteria to participate.

• Scholarship Program
• The BGS Scholarship Program will award a scholarship to each eligible Alumni Chapter to be used during the current academic year.
•  The chapter will select one recipient using the procedures established locally and the forms provided by the Central Office. 
• A recipient of the scholarship must use the scholarship for senior or master's level study in a business degree program at a college or university with AACSB International accreditation during the following academic year.
• The Beta Gamma Sigma Scholarship Application Form is to be fully completed by the student applicant/recipient and must include a written signature that is not typed. 
• In the case of a nominee who will be invited to join Beta Gamma Sigma during this semester, the scholarship award will be contingent upon acceptance of the membership invitation.