• Requirements for Maintaining Active Chapter Status
• Establishing a New Chapter
• Reactivating a Chapter

New chapters of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International (CSI) may be established in nationally accredited counselor education training programs (CACREP). The following information includes both steps and policies for forming and maintaining an active CSI chapter. Only active chapters are eligible to participate in CSI elections, initiate new members, and earn annual rebates.

In order to establish a chapter, there must be at least two members of the regular full-time (e.g., core, tenure-track, or equivalent) counseling program faculty (this does not include temporary, visiting, etc. faculty appointments) who are doctoral counselor education graduates (CACREP preferably) and who are active CSI members or eligible and willing to be members and serve as CFAs as needed. Such faculty applying for membership must have earned their highest degree from a counselor education program and hold as their primary identity that of professional counselor.

A campus based residency is one of the defining characteristics of a campus-based chapter. The campus residency involves opportunities for CSI members and faculty to meet individually, in small groups, and for initiations, as well as presentations and ceremonies for educational, social, and professional purposes. CSI functions are expected to be a part of the co-curricular activities of the counselor education program, some of which (like initiations) will be associated with the residency experiences.

Chapter rebates are an ongoing engagement and chapter assistance program of the Society to chapters that earn a rebate and as funding is available. Active chapters that meet all requirements to earn rebates are provided this benefit automatically as those chapters are identified by CSI Headquarters Staff in the spring. Chapters that do not meet the requirements to remain active, that have not met the requirements to earn rebates, that are not in good standing, or which otherwise have current organizational, legal or disciplinary matters in review by the CSI Executive Council may have rebates withheld, all or in part, depending on the outcome of such a review. Rebates currently are $10 per active annual member. Following the end of CSI's fiscal year on April 30th, CSI reviews every active chapter to identify those chapters that have met the criteria to remain active (i.e., the Requirements for Maintaining Active Chapter Status detailed below) and earn a chapter rebate. Rebate checks are mailed to the Primary Chapter Faculty Advisor (CFA) at their university mailing address in August of each year.  Rebate checks must be cashed within the fiscal year in which they are issued. No uncashed rebate checks will be reissued or replaced once the fiscal year is over. Chapters requesting replacement of rebate checks during the fiscal year during which the rebate was issued may be assessed a processing fee to cover costs for staff and bookkeeper time and potential bank charges. The amount of any rebate check cashed outside of the fiscal year in which the check was issued will be deducted from any future chapter rebate. See CSI Approved Policies.

 

Requirements for Maintaining Active Chapter Status

Active chapters serve members best when they plan, implement, and assess their efforts to recognize and promote excellence. As a consequence, to maintain active chapter status and remain eligible to earn annual rebates and to initiate new members, a chapter must:

1. Submit a Spring Annual Report by April 30th (present officers) at least once every two years.*
2. Submit a Fall Annual Plan by September 30th (incoming officers) at least once every two years.*
3. Recruit and initiate new members yearly consistent with CSI's procedures for CFA-approval of new members and submission of initiation dates at least three weeks prior to an initiation.
   
4. Have a representative attend an annual CSI Delegate Business Meeting on CSI Day at least once every three years.
5. Comply with CSI policies as determined by the Executive Council (e.g., only authorized uses of the CSI registered logo; active CSI membership of CFAs; required number of approved CFAs serving who are active CSI members).
6. Send CSI Headquarters contact information of officers including the Chapter Faculty Advisor(s) annually and when there are changes.

To endorse and subsequently initiate new members, the chapter also must have the required number of CFAs approved (Primary and Back-Up/Co-CFA) and on record for the chapter. A CFA must be an active (current) CSI member, and remain an active member, as required by Article 9 of the CSI Bylaws.

It is a chapter's responsibility to comply with CSI policies and requirements to maintain active chapter status, but CSI Headquarters may be contacted for help determining current active chapter status. CSI is open to alternative methods of serving our members (their students and graduates) but we are resolved that every member must have readily available access to their CFA and regular activities of their chapters including opportunity for being part of an initiation ceremony and then mentoring, participation in chapter service projects, nomination for offices, awards, grants, fellowships, etc. Chapters may be deactivated for failure to do so. The required Annual Plans and Annual Reports help CSI to determine compliance.

When a chapter fails to maintain active chapter status, the chapter may be categorized as inactive. The chapter status indicated within a chapter's online profile will indicate one of the following categories based on the last inactivated date:

• Pending (inactive less than one year)
• Inactive (inactive 1-5 years)
• Removed (inactive more than 5 years)

* It is highly recommended that active chapters submit Annual Reports and Annual Plans each year so that new officers may develop leadership skills through meeting CSI requirements. Chapter reports are reviewed annually and continued active chapter status requires that CSI guidelines and policies are consistently followed in chapter activities.

 

Establishing a New Chapter

New chapters of CSI may only be established in nationally accredited counselor education programs (CACREP). It is CSI's policy to correspond directly with the proposed CFAs (vs. students or administrative staff) who are authorized to speak on behalf of the counselor education program and who will be responsible for oversight of the chapter.

To apply to charter a new CSI chapter, the proposed CFAs should:

1. Review the Guidelines for Chartering Chapters (pdf).
2. Complete the New Chapter Application.
3. Submit the $175 New Chapter Application Fee. Payment may be made online using a credit card, or an invoice may be requested to pay the fee by a university/chapter purchase order or check.

New Chapter Applications will be reviewed within 30 days once ALL application materials are received including verification of active CSI Membership for proposed CFAs.

The following materials are needed to successfully complete and submit the New Chapter Application:

• Chapter Administrative Support Letter (.doc) (The letter should be printed on university letterhead or sent from the appropriate administrator's email address.)

• Chapter Chartering Agreement (.pdf)

• Chapter Faculty Advisor Agreement (.pdf) (The Primary CFA and Back-Up/Co-CFA may complete and sign the same Agreement.) (A Microsoft Word version is also available.)
  

• CFA and Back-up CFA Vitae (Attach vitae to the New Chapter Application.)

• CSI International Bylaws (.pdf) (Note: Chapter Bylaws may not conflict with CSI International Bylaws.)

• Chapter Bylaws (If the sample chapter bylaws will be used without requesting changes, indicate such on the New Chapter Application. CSI will insert the name of the chapter and institution and then publish the chapter bylaws on the chapter webpage. If an addendum to the sample chapter bylaws is desired, indicate such on the New Chapter Application and complete the Chapter Bylaws Review Rubric. If approved, CSI HQ will edit the chapter bylaws with the name of the chapter and institution and approved addendum, and then publish the chapter bylaws on the chapter webpage.)

• Chapter Bylaws Review Rubric (Submit only if changes to the sample chapter bylaws are requested.)

• Written Invitation to CSI Membership (.doc) (The content within the Sample Written Invitation to CSI Membership must be included.)
  

• Proposal for Activating Chapters (Proposal is a separate document from the New Chapter Application.)

• Membership Processing Checklist for Chapters

At a mutually agreeable time, CSI Headquarters will arrange a meeting (face-to-face or teleconference) with both CFAs to review CSI policies, highlight CSI policies and resources important to establishing a new chapter, and provide an opportunity to clarify questions, etc. To ensure the successful establishment of a new chapter, both CFAs must attend this meeting before a chapter will be approved to be chartered.

Reactivating a Chapter

Chapters that do not meet the Requirements for Maintaining Active Chapter Status will be declared inactive and unable to vote in CSI elections, initiate new members, or receive chapter rebates until reactivation criteria have been met. To reactivate a chapter, there must be at least two full time counseling program faculty who are doctoral counselor education graduates (CACREP preferably), active CSI members or eligible to be members, and willing to serve as the Primary CFA and Back-Up CFA as needed. CFAs must be approved by CSI.

Reactivating chapters must be located in nationally accredited counselor education programs (CACREP). It is CSI's policy to correspond directly with the proposed CFAs who are able to speak on behalf of the counselor education program and who will be responsible for oversight of the chapter.

To apply to reactivate a CSI chapter, the proposed CFAs should:

1. Review the requirements for maintaining active chapter status (above).
2. Complete the Chapter Reactivation Form.
3. Submit the $100 Reactivating Chapter Fee. Payment may be made via online using a credit card, or an invoice may be requested to pay the fee by a university/chapter purchase order or check.

Chapter Reactivations will be reviewed within 30 days once ALL application materials are received including verification of active CSI Membership for proposed CFAs. 

The following materials are needed to successfully complete and submit the Chapter Reactivation Form:

• Chapter Administrative Support Letter (.doc) (The letter should be printed on university letterhead or sent from the appropriate administrator's email address.)

• Chapter Faculty Advisor Agreement (.pdf) (The Primary CFA and Back-Up/Co-CFA may complete and sign the same Agreement.) (A Microsoft Word version is also available here.)

• CFA and Back-up CFA Vitae (Attach vitae to the Reactivating Chapter Application.)

• CSI International Bylaws (.pdf) (Note: Chapter Bylaws may not conflict with CSI International Bylaws.)

• Chapter Bylaws (If the sample chapter bylaws will be used without requesting changes, indicate such on the Reactivating Chapter Application. CSI will insert the name of the chapter and institution and then publish the chapter bylaws on the chapter webpage. If an addendum to the sample chapter bylaws is desired, indicate such on the New Chapter Application and complete the Chapter Bylaws Review Rubric. If approved, CSI HQ will edit the chapter bylaws with the name of the chapter and institution and approved addendum, and then publish the chapter bylaws on the chapter webpage.)

• Chapter Bylaws Review Rubric (Submit only if changes to the sample chapter bylaws are requested.)

• Written Invitation to CSI Membership (.doc) (The content within the Sample Written Invitation to CSI Membership must be included.)
  

• Proposal for Activating Chapters (Proposal is a separate document from the Reactivating Chapter Application.)

• Membership Processing Checklist for Chapters

At a mutually agreeable time, CSI Headquarters will arrange a meeting (face-to-face or teleconference) with both CFAs to review CSI policies, highlight CSI policies and resources important to reactivating a chapter, and provide an opportunity to clarify questions, etc. To ensure the successful reactivation of a chapter, both CFAs must attend this meeting before a chapter will be approved to be reactivated.

 

For more information and assistance chartering or reactivating a chapter, contact office@csi-net.org. Download the Chapter Leadership Manual to read about suggestions for developing and maintaining active chapters, and be sure to review CSI Approved Policies to ensure compliance.