Honor Society

Founded in 1922 by six nursing students, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) has more than 100,000 active members and 600 chapters at institutions of higher education and healthcare partners from Armenia, Australia, and Botswana to Thailand, the United States, and Wales. Sigma members include clinical nurses and administrators, academic nurse educators and researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and others working to fulfill the organization’s vision of connected, empowered nurse leaders transforming global healthcare.

Beta Phi Membership Criteria:

Registered Nurse Students must:

• Have completed 12 credit hours at Athens State
• Have completed ½ of the BSN curriculum
• Achieve academic excellence (Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale)
• Meet the expectation of academic integrity

Induction into Sigma Theta Tau Beta-Phi At-Large Chapter will occur each spring.

Alpha Sigma Lambda is a national honor society that recognizes academically outstanding adult students in higher education who come together to celebrate scholarship and leadership.  Student members are adult students engaged in balancing multiple responsibilities such as home, family, career, community, and education who have completed 24 hours at Athens State, are in the top 20% of their class, and have at least a 3.2 grade point average.

Visit https://alsiglam.org/ for more information about the national organization.

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The purpose of the Alpha Iota Sigma Honor Society is to promote the benefits of interdisciplinary work;

• provide a forum to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among students, faculty, and community members;
• investigate and encourage methods of interdisciplinary learning;
• enhance understanding and application of interdisciplinary knowledge among the general public;
• create a sense of community among interdisciplinary students and graduates of interdisciplinary programs.

Theta Alpha Kappa, the National Honor Society for Religion and Theology, is dedicated to recognizing academic excellence in baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate students and in scholars in the fields of Religious Studies and Theology. Induction requires nomination by a local chapter and, to be eligible, students must have a 3.5 GPA in Religious Studies and/or Theology and a 3.0 GPA overall.  Residency, class ranking, and unit requirements must also be met. 

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Sigma Tau Delta is the international English honor society. The Athens State Kappa Zeta Chapter, founded in 1954, welcomes English majors, minors, and students seeking teacher licensure and certification in English who have appropriate academic accomplishments.

Eligibility:

• Candidates for undergraduate membership must have completed a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English. The candidate must have a minimum of a B or equivalent average in English and in general scholarship, must rank* at least in the highest thirty-five percent of his/her class, and must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college course work. Candidates for undergraduate membership need not be currently majoring or minoring in the discipline of English, but may have completed sufficient English coursework at transfer institutions, or been members of Sigma Kappa Delta.
• The cost is $45 for a lifetime membership, payable to Athens State University Sigma Tau Delta. Scholarships from Athens State Sigma Tau Delta are available for students who demonstrate financial need.

Member Benefits

Academic Recognition

• Members receive a personalized Sigma Tau Delta membership certificate and the official Society pin to signify high achievement in English language, writing, and literature.
• Members may wear Sigma Tau Delta regalia at graduation and other important ceremonies to celebrate their accomplishments.

Scholarships

• Members are eligible to apply for a variety of Sigma Tau Delta scholarships valued at up to $5,000 each.
• Members are eligible to apply for a merit-based $1,000 scholarship to attend The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) Summer Institute or Capital Semester. This scholarship is available to one Sigma Tau Delta member per year through a partnership with TFAS and the Association of College Honor Societies. 

Writing Awards and Opportunities

• Members may submit papers for publication in The Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle and The Sigma Tau Delta Review. Works selected for publication are also eligible for overall awards and monetary prizes. 
• Members may submit articles to Sigma Tau Delta’s online publications, The Sigma Tau Delta Newsletter and WORDY by Nature, the official Sigma Tau Delta blog.
• Members may submit articles to Sigma Tau Delta’s regional publications, where available.

Internships

• Members may apply for Sigma Tau Delta co-sponsored internships with a major publisher and an online book store that funds worldwide literacy initiatives.
• Members are eligible for a $500 merit-based scholarship to attend the Washington Internship (WII) internship program through a partnership with WII and the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). 
• Members are eligible to apply for a $1,000 housing scholarship to attend The Washington Center (TWC) internship program through a partnership with TWC and the Association of College Honor Societies. TWC has designated three scholarships per year for Sigma Tau Delta members (both undergraduates and recent college graduates).

Annual Convention

• Members may submit papers for presentation at the annual Sigma Tau Delta international convention. Works selected for presentation are also eligible for overall awards and monetary prizes.
• Members who attend the annual convention have opportunities to hear students from throughout the U.S. and abroad present their creative and critical writing, to attend sessions on student leadership and chapter activities, and to listen to presentations by noted authors. Featured speakers at recent conventions include Neil Gaiman (2009), Azar Nafisi (2010), Poet Laureate Kay Ryan (2011), Natasha Trethewey (2012), Ursula Le Guin (2013), Alison Bechdel (2014), Gary Soto (2015), Charles Baxter (2016), Jeff VanderMeer (2017), and Mary Norris (2018).

Student Leadership and Community Service

• Members may compete for officer positions and take part in community service projects at many campus chapters.
• Members may compete for student leadership positions at the regional and Society levels. Student leaders serve on the Sigma Tau Delta Student Leadership Committee and represent student needs and concerns to the Sigma Tau Delta Board of Directors.

Career Advancement

• Members may use their honor society affiliation as a tangible sign of academic success to help advance their professional career.
• Members meet one of the U.S. Civil Service Commission requirements for entrance at the GS-7 level in numerous professional and technical occupations in the Federal service, thus beginning employment at a higher level and higher salary. Visit USAJobs to search for positions listed with the United States Office of Personnel Management.

Lifetime Affiliation and Fellowship

• Members have many opportunities to network with other Sigma Tau Deltans through local chapter activities, regional events, the annual Sigma Tau Delta international convention, and online sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and WORDY by Nature, the official Sigma Tau Delta blog.
• Members who wish to stay connected with the Society after graduation are eligible to join Sigma Tau Delta's Alumni Epsilon Chapter. 

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Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, strives to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. Membership is open to Psychology and Behavioral Science majors or minors who have completed two semesters (with a minimum of 12 hours overall) at Athens State University, completed 9 hours of Psychology at Athens State University, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Psychology or higher, and are in the top 35% of their class (3.37 GPA).

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Phi Gamma Mu is the international society in the social sciences. The society’s mission is to encourage and recognize superior scholarship in social science disciplines and to foster cooperation and social service among its members.

The mission of the Athens State University Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Association is to support the people, programs, and priorities of the Phi Theta Kappa Society. Through alumni support, the integrity of the Society’s programs and service will be protected and new programs and services can be developed and offered in the future.

Students may join this organization as transfer students who are Phi Theta Kappa members (prior membership and induction is required). Phi Theta Kappa alumni members lead, mentor, and promote Phi Theta Kappa in leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and service initiatives aimed at assisting community college transfer students in achieving academic and professional goals.

Goals

• To provide aid to transfer students’ social and educational adjustment to the rigors of Athens State University life
• To provide assistance to the Office of Recruitment and Transfer/Advising Center
• To build awareness of the quality of the transfer students
• To work to ensure the continued academic excellence of Phi Theta Kappa members

Objectives

• Stay abreast of Phi Theta Kappa programs and people through publications
• Provide recognition to outstanding two-year college members and advisors
• Assist two-year college chapters by providing speakers for programs
• Provide support for two-year chapter members to attend regional and international events and meetings
• Encourage businesses to provide funds and supplies to support two-year chapters
• Work in collaborative activities with the two-year chapters to support the college and the North Alabama community
• Support the Society’s two-year programs and people by contributing to Phi Theta Kappa’s scholarship and special funds
• Serve as mentors to two-year chapter members preparing to transfer to Athens State University or enter the workforce
• Encourage the establishment of Phi Theta Kappa designated scholarships at Athens State University
• Provide programs and materials designed to ease members transfer from the two-year college to Athens State
• Provide other assistance when appropriate

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Phi Alpha Theta is a national history honor society. The Athens State Alpha Beta Lambda chapter was established at Athens State College in 1984.

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Kappa Delta Pi is an international education honor society. Membership in the Rho Gamma Chapter at Athens State is based on academic accomplishments (GPA), potential for academic leadership, and exemplification of worthy educational ideals. Candidates must maintain at least a 3.5 overall and 3.0 institutional GPA and have completed 20 hours at Athens State University.

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Kappa Pi International Art Honor Society promotes artistic excellence at the collegiate level and beyond by maintaining high academic excellence.  Kappa Pi recognizes deserving artists and those interested in and supportive of the arts at Athens State University. ​

Membership in Kappa Pi is open to visual arts majors. The application can be obtained from Dr. Mary Beth Johns.

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Kappa Mu Epsilon (KME) is a specialized honor society in mathematics. In 1935, the Alabama Alpha Chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon was formed. It is among the oldest continuing and active chapters in the United States. Each academic year, mathematics majors who have maintained standards of scholarship, have professional merit, and have attained mathematical academic distinction are invited to join Athens State’s historical Alpha chapter.

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Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society established to recognize and reward superior scholastic achievements of students majoring in business administration.

The Greek letters in the Society’s name stand for Dia Matheseos Dynamis, signifying Delta Mu Delta’s motto: Through Knowledge, Power – the power to manage creatively for social and economic good.

Becoming a member of Delta Mu Delta is an honor indicative of earnest, intelligent purpose, and rewarding achievement. This should be the goal of every student pursuing a degree in business administration.

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Beta Beta Beta, or more simply, TriBeta, is a national biology honors society that supports and promotes scientific research, especially among undergraduates. The Athens State Chapter, Mu Kappa Beta, is involved in student research, attending scientific conferences, and educational outreach.

The national website can be found here: https://tribeta.org.

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Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society, seeks to acknowledge and promote excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology, the research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to an improvement in the human condition. Members must be Sociology majors or minors, rank in the top 35% of their class, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in sociology courses taken, and have completed at least four sociology courses.

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