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International Robotics Honor Society Constitution

This revised version of the International Robotics Honor Society Constitution was approved for all chapters on July 7, 2025, by the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation (RECF).

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1 - Name

  1. The name of this organization is the International Robotics Honor Society (IRHS).

Section 2 - Purpose

  1. The primary goal of the IRHS is to encourage and highlight student participation in robotics at the school, district, and national levels and encourage more students to strive toward academic excellence in STEM fields.
  2. This is achieved through character development, participation in service opportunities, and involvement in robotics programs at the local level.

Section 3 - Governance

  1. The International Robotics Honor Society (IRHS) is trademarked by the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation (RECF), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
  2. The IRHS is overseen by the National Advisor, who is appointed by the RECF.
  3. The International Council serves as an advisory committee to the RECF and the National Advisor regarding policies and procedures.
    • The International Council will not have decision or policy-making power.
    • The International Council will consist of between three and five members appointed by the IRHS National Advisor.
    • Each member is appointed for a term of no more than three years, and may serve up to two consecutive terms.

ARTICLE II: LOCAL CHAPTER REQUIREMENTS

Section 1 - Accreditation

  1. Chapters may only be formed at secondary public schools that offer one or more competitive student robotics programs.
  2. Any accredited secondary public school is eligible to apply for a charter for a local chapter.
  3. Nonpublic secondary schools that are accredited or approved by their state or national department of education or by accrediting agencies (such as the National Association of Secondary Principals, College Entrance Examination Board, Council of International Schools, or Ministry of Education) are eligible to apply for a local chapter.
  4. Each chapter will be required to provide accrediting documentation.
  5. Each school must apply for its own chapter and no school may establish more than one chapter.

Section 2 - Annual Dues

  1. Each chapter must pay an annual affiliation fee in order to be a member in good standing.
  2. More information on the annual dues may be found at www.recf.org/irhs/.

Section 3 - Affiliation

  1. Each approved local chapter will receive a certificate of acceptance from the IRHS National Advisor.
  2. Each approved local chapter must operate under the policies outlined in this Constitution. Failure to do so may result in the loss of the charter.

Section 4 - Code of Conduct

  1. Each chapter must adhere to the behavior and ethical standards of the RECF Code of Conduct.
  2. These expectations apply to, but are not limited to Student Chapter Members, mentors, parents, and all adults associated with a chapter.
  3. Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in loss of the chapter charter.

ARTICLE III: LOCAL CHAPTER LEADERSHIP

Section 1 - The Chapter Advisor

  1. The Chapter Advisor must be approved by their chapter’s school administrator.
  2. The Chapter Advisor cannot be a student member of any chapter, and must be at least 18 years old.
  3. The Chapter Advisor must be a member of the Faculty Council.
  4. The Chapter Advisor should be familiar with the robotics programs that the chapter participates in, and should regularly attend team meetings or practices and competitions.
  5. The Chapter Advisor is responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter and acts as liaison between faculty, administration, students, their community, and the IRHS.
  6. The Chapter Advisor maintains files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions with the IRHS.
  7. The Chapter Advisor is responsible for submitting the annual report to the IRHS National Advisor in a timely manner.
  8. The Chapter Advisor should be well acquainted with all current and potential student chapter members, and therefore be able to recommend students for membership.
  9. The Chapter Advisor regularly reviews each member for compliance with IRHS standards and obligations.
  10. The Chapter Advisor helps the Student Chapter Officers understand and carry out their duties.

Section 2 - The School Administrator

  1. The school administrator is typically a principal, assistant principal, dean, superintendent, Minister of Education, Headmaster, Headmistress, or school director (i.e. the highest level of leader or educator at the chapter’s secondary school).
  2. The school administrator cannot be a student member of any chapter , and must be at least 18 years old.
  3. The school administrator reserves the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter.
  4. The Chapter Advisor and other Faculty Council members must be approved by the school administrator.

Section 3 - The Faculty Council

  1. The Faculty Council consists of three voting faculty members who are appointed annually by the school administrator.
  2. The Chapter Advisor must be a member of the Faculty Council.
  3. The school administrator may choose to be included on the Faculty Council.
  4. The term for each member of the Faculty Council is one year. Members may be appointed to consecutive terms.
  5. The Faculty Council must meet at least once per school year to review the procedures of the chapter, select members, and to consider non-selection, dismissal, other disciplinary actions, and warning cases.
  6. The Faculty Council will develop and carry out procedures for selection, discipline, and dismissal of members, and will ensure compliance with this constitution and all IRHS policies.

Section 4 - The Executive Committee

  1. The Executive Committee consists of the Student Chapter Officers and the Chapter Advisor.
  2. The Executive Committee supervises the affairs of the chapter between its business meetings, makes recommendations to the chapter, and determines and performs other duties as specified in the chapter bylaws
  3. The Executive Committee is responsible for ensuring that chapter activities and procedures follow school policies and regulations.

ARTICLE IV: STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Student Chapter Member Eligibility

  1. Student applicants must have attended the school where the chapter resides for a minimum of the equivalent of one semester, except in the case of transfers.
  2. Student applicants must complete one season of an approved competitive robotics program at the secondary level before they can apply for membership in the IRHS.
  3. Student applicants must be current, active participants in at least one of their schools' competitive robotics programs that is recognized by the IRHS. The full list of approved competitive robotics programs can be found at www.recf.org/irhs/.
  4. Student applicants are considered for selection during their final three years of high school or secondary schooling (typically grades 10, 11, and 12 in the U.S.).
  5. The minimum standard for academic excellence is a cumulative scholastic average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (i.e., an 85% or the equivalent standard).
  6. Supplemental standards that have been adopted by the chapter’s Faculty Council may also be considered in eligibility criteria.

Section 2 - Student Chapter Member Application Process

  1. Each local chapter will create their own application process and data collection system, which must be approved and monitored by the Faculty Council.
  2. A description of the selection procedure must be shared in an official school publication that is widely available to all students and parents of the school.
  3. Chapter Advisors will be required to provide the IRHS National Advisor with the following information for each selected chapter member:
    1. Student’s first and last name
    2. Anticipated graduation year
    3. Primary robotics program
    4. Additional robotics programs (if applicable)

Section 3 - Selection of Student Chapter Members

  1. All selection criteria must be consistent with the rules and regulations of the IRHS.
  2. The selection of Student Chapter Members is made by a majority vote of the Faculty Council, or by an alternate process approved by the school administrator.
  3. The IRHS National Advisor and the RECF will not participate in or review selection of individual members for local chapters.
  4. Applicants are considered Student Chapter Members once they have been approved by their chapter’s Faculty Council.

Section 4 - Student Chapter Member Transfers

  1. Student Chapter Members who transfer to another school may apply for membership in the new school’s chapter.
  2. Transfer members must meet the new chapter’s standards within one semester to retain membership.

Section 5 - Dismissal of Student Chapter Members

  1. The procedure for dismissal of Student Chapter Members is determined by the Faculty Council, and enforced within the rules and regulations of the chapter’s school.
  2. A written description of the dismissal procedure must be included in the bylaws of each chapter.
  3. Student Chapter Members who are dismissed by their Faculty Council due to poor behavior are no longer eligible for membership in the IRHS.

Section 6 - Student Chapter Officers

  1. Students must be accepted as Student Chapter Members to be eligible for a Student Chapter Officer position.
  2. Each chapter must elect a President, a Vice President, and a Secretary.
  3. Each chapter may choose to elect a Treasurer, Historian, and/or additional officer position that has been approved by the Faculty Council.
  4. Student Chapter Officers are elected through a process determined by the Faculty Council and the school administrator, and this process must be described in the chapter bylaws.

ARTICLE V: CHAPTER BYLAWS

Section 1 - Bylaws Requirements

  1. Each chapter is required to develop a set of bylaws.
  2. Bylaws are the constitutional directive of the program and should clearly define the:
    • Purpose of the chapter, including ethos or mission statement
    • Criteria for membership
    • Process for selection of members
    • Roles of the Chapter Advisor and Student Chapter Officers
    • Official meeting types and frequency
    • Service Learning Project procedures and expectations
    • Discipline and dismissal plan of action
    • Instructions for adopting amendments
  3. Bylaws do not need the approval of the IRHS National Advisor or RECF, but must be consistent with this Constitution.

Section 2 - Publication

  1. An official copy of the chapter bylaws must be published in an official school publication that is widely available to all students and parents of the school.
  2. The Chapter Advisor must submit an official copy of the chapter bylaws to the IRHS National Advisor annually.

ARTICLE VI: CHAPTER MEETINGS

Section 1 - Meeting Governance 

  1. The Chapter President or other designated student leader should lead all chapter meetings.
  2. The Chapter Advisor must be in attendance at all official meetings where chapter business takes place.
  3. The Faculty Council must be invited to attend all official meetings where chapter business takes place.
  4. Chapters shall conduct meetings using a standard rule of order, or an alternate method that is approved by the Chapter Advisor.

Section 2 - Regular Meetings

  1. Each chapter should have regular meetings during the school year, on days designated by the Executive Committee and in accordance with school policies and regulations.
  2. The general meeting schedule (i.e., weekly, monthly, or bimonthly) must be designated in the chapter bylaws.

ARTICLE VII: SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

Section 1: Chapter Service Learning Project Requirements

  1. Each chapter must choose and take part in at least one STEM or robotics-related Service Learning Project each year.
  2. All Service Learning Project activities and timelines must be approved by the chapter’s Executive Committee and Faculty Council.
  3. All Service Learning Projects should be publicized within the chapter’s school.
  4. Each Service Learning Project must meet the following criteria:
    • Fulfill a need within the school or community
    • Have the support of the administration and the faculty
    • Be appropriate and educationally defensible
    • Be well planned, documented, organized, and executed
    • Promote STEM or include robotics-related activities
    • Meet the purpose of the IRHS

Section 2: Student Participation

  1. Each Student Chapter Member must participate in an individual component of at least one approved Service Learning Project each year in order to remain in good standing.
  2. Chapters may set additional criteria for Student Chapter Member participation in Service Learning Project(s) that meets or exceeds the standards of the IRHS.

ARTICLE VIII: IRHS OFFICIAL INSIGNIA

Section 1 - Official Logo of the IRHS

  1. The logo of the IRHS will serve as the official insignia of the organization.
  2. Use of the IRHS logo must follow the branding guidelines set forth by the RECF.
  3. All insignia must be procured from the IRHS or its approved affiliates.
  4. All insignia are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and may not be copied by anyone without written permission of the IRHS National Advisor.

Section 2 - Use of the IRHS logo

  1. Each Student Chapter Member in good standing with their chapter is entitled to wear this insignia.
  2. Any member who resigns or is dismissed shall return all IRHS insignia to the Chapter Advisor.

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by the IRHS National Advisor or RECF and will be posted on the official IRHS website.

ARTICLE IV: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Additional resources for the IRHS can be found at www.recf.org/irhs/ and in the RECF Library.