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College of Veterinary Medicine

The Society of Phi Zeta

Phi Zeta Omicron Chapter Logo

The Honor Society of Veterinary Medicine - Omicron Chapter

Our Chapter, established in 1962, participates in the overall mission of the Phi Zeta Society to recognize and promote high-level scholarship and research. We are one of many chapters across the country.

PVM Research Day

Every year, our chapter hosts a research day where faculty, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and students present their clinical and basic research findings. This event also includes lectures on topics important to animal and human health. We also award prizes for outstanding research achievements.

Learn more about PVM Research Day and past presentation abstracts.

Omicron Chapter Officers

  • Wendy Beauvais, President, Comparative Pathobiology, Epidemiology and Public Health
  • Kari Ekenstedt, Vice President, Basic Medical Sciences, Anatomy and Genetics
  • Shankar Thangamani, Secretary, Comparative Pathobiology, Microbiology 
  • Luis Dos Santos, Treasurer, Veterinary Clinical Services, Cardiology
  • Rebecca Wilkes, Past President, Comparative Pathobiology, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Phi Zeta Omicron Chapter By-Laws

(Adopted May21, 1962)
(Amended May 24, 1965)
(Amended Oct.28, 1982)
(Amended Oct. 12,1994)
(Amended Sept. 19, 2000)
(Amended Oct. 23, 2023)

ARTICLE I

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Omicron Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta.

Section 2. The object of this Society, as stated in the Constitution, shall be to recognize and promote scholarship and research in matters pertaining to the welfare and disease of animals.

ARTICLE II

Membership

Section 1. The membership of the Omicron Chapter ofthe Society of Phi Zeta shall consist of Active Members and Honorary Members, as provided for in the constitution of the Society.

Section 2. The following are eligible for election as activemembers:

(a) Any veterinarian who has been amember ofthe faculty or scientific staff of the College of Veterinary Medicine, PurdueUniversity, for at least oneyear and has been in possession of their degree for at least two years and who has displayed ability of a high order in dealing with one or more phases of the science of veterinary medicine.

(b) Any veterinarian who has been enrolled as a graduate student for at least one year in Purdue University and has been in possession of their degree for at least two years and who has displayed ability of a high order in dealing with one or more phases of the science of veterinary medicine.

(c) Any undergraduate student in the College of Veterinary Medicine of Purdue University who has completed two and one-half years of their course instruction and who meets the following requirements:

  1. The studentshall have an acceptable personality, be of good moral character, and possess high ideals respecting professional service and conduct.
  2. In the third year, the student must rank scholastically in the highest 10 percent of their class as represented by the grades earned since matriculating as a veterinary student. If the class numbers less than twenty, a maximum of two members may be selected from among the four members having the highest general average.
  3. In the fourth year, the student must rank scholastically in the highest 25 percent of their class.

Section 3. Those eligible to election as honorary members are:

(a) Alumni of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University who have beenin possession of the veterinary degree for at least five years and who have rendered distinguished service to their profession.

(b) Veterinarians, and others not in possession of their veterinary degree, who have rendered distinguished service in the advancement of the sciences relating to the animal industry and particularly of animal diseases.

Section 4. Active members of other chapters of the Society or any inactive members, coming to Purdue University, may become active members of the Omicron Chapter by presenting satisfactory credentials and paying the chapter dues.

Section 5. The right to vote on affairs of this chapter shall be a right of the active members.

ARTICLE III

Election of New Members

(b) Section 1. (a) Faculty and graduate students eligible for Phi Zeta nominations will be made known to the Phi Zeta Executive Committee by each department head. A list of eligible veterinary students shall be provided to the Executive Committee by the administration of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue.

(c) The Executive Committee shall prepare a list of names of persons eligible and those nominated by their respective department heads for active and, if desired, for honorary membership, and submit them in writing to the active members ofthe chapter for review.

(d) Any members may also propose names for membership totheExecutiveCommittee at anytime up to the date of its meeting to elect new members.

Section 2. (a) Election of new members shall take place at a regular meeting of the Society held during the first half of the Spring term of each academic year.

(b) The full list of proposed new members shall be elected by unanimous vote of the members present. In case of failure to elect thus, then the candidates shall be voted on separately by ballot and a two­ thirds vote cast in the affirmative shall constitute election.

(c) Those elected to membership shall be promptly notified of the fact by the Secretary who shall as certain whether or not membership in the Society is acceptable to them.

ARTICLE IV

Initiation

The time and ceremony ofinitiation of new members shall be during the Purdue University Phi Zeta Research Day each year.

ARTICLE V

Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Chapter shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, which compose the Executive Committee. Vacancies in elective offices shall be filled by election by the Chapter.

Section 2. The terms of all elected officers shall be two to three years, with all terms beginning on July1st.

Section 3. The officers shall be elected at the meeting in the Spring term. Election shall be by plurality vote of the members present.

Section 4. Special duties of officers other than as specified elsewhere in these By-Laws shall be:

(a) The President shall act as chairman of the Executive Committee, set the time of all regular meetings of the Chapter, and call all special meetings.

(b) The Secretary shall keep the records of the Executive Committee.

(c) The Executive Committee shall be responsible for recommending the levying of taxes, for considering and making recommendations for the general welfare of the Chapter, and for ordering all disbursements of funds.

Section 5. The fiscal year shall extend from July 1st to June 30th inclusive. At the end of the year, the retiring officers shall pass to their successors all records, money, or other property of the Chapter. The books of the Treasurer may be audited prior to July 1st by a committee of two active members appointed by the President.

ARTICLE VI

Meetings

Section 1. (a) There shall beat least two regular meetings during each year-one each Spring and Fall term. Special meetings shall be called at anytime upon request to the President by five active members, at least one of whom shall be a faculty member. No meeting shall be held at anytime unless a notice of such meeting shall have been given five days previously to each member.

(b) Ten active members shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2. The President or their appointee, with approval of the Chapter, shall be the delegate to the annual convention of the Society.

ARTICLE VII

Dues and Expenses

Section 1. Each candidate upon accepting election to activemembership shall pay chapter membership dues as decided at the first regular chapter meeting of each year. Chapter dues shall be paid annually, by the end of the fiscal year (June 30).

Section 2. Annual dues for chapter members shall be decided by the majority vote at the first regular chapter meeting of each year. Annual dues for members newly elected to the Society shall be paid first in the fiscal year following that of their election.

Section 3. All unusual expenses levied on the Chapter shall be met by assessment of equal amounts upon all active members.

Section 4. Chapter members failing to pay their dues for 5 consecutive years shall be dropped from membership if after being notified inwriting by the Secretary, the obligation is not met in 30 days following the end of the fiscal year in year 5.

ARTICLE VIII

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they arenot inconsistent with the Constitution ofthe Society or these By-Laws of this Chapter.

ARTICLE IX

Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended by a three-fourths vote of those voting, notice having been given in writing by the Secretary at least ten days prior to the vote.