Association of College Honor Societies

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The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) is a voluntary association that serves a number of functions with respect to national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies. ACHS coordinates member organizations, and facilitates communications between them.

ACHS was formed in 1925 to create a network of affiliated societies. The intention of the founding societies was to establish and maintain standards, while limiting redundancy and competition among members. ACHS standards include criteria for membership, governance and chapter operation.[1] Four organizations were represented at a preliminary meeting held on October 2, 1925. They were Alpha Omega Alpha, the Order of the Coif, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi. The six founding organizations on December 30, 1925, were Alpha Omega Alpha, the Order of the Coif, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi and Tau Beta Pi.[2] Four of the oldest independent honor societies, including three of the original six founding members of the ACHS, have formed a new coordinating organization called the Honor Society Caucus.[3][4]

Not all legitimate honor societies apply for membership in ACHS. The honor society standards set by the Association of College Honor Societies are mentioned by the U.S. government's Office of Personnel Management as a measure for "Superior Academic Achievement" for entry into government employment at GS-7 Level: "Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed... by the Association of College Honor Societies. Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the following list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies." A GPA of 3.0 or above would qualify an individual for attaining "Superior Academic Achievement" as well, which effectively recognizes the achievement of non-members the same.[5]

List of member organizations[edit]

64 organizations are affiliated with the ACHS:[6]

Society Greek letters Discipline Founded[7] Joined ACHS[8] Processional colors[9]
Alpha Beta Gamma ΑΒΓ Business and Professional Studies 1970 1996 Red and Gold Medallion on Red and Black Ribbon, Stole: Sapphire Blue with Emblem in Gold. Advisors different.
Alpha Chi ΑΧ All Academic Fields February 22, 1922 February 1955 Honor Gold or Blue and Green
Alpha Epsilon ΑΕ Agricultural, Food, and Biological Engineering May 14, 1959 1968 (Assoc), 1970 (Full) Black and Gold
Alpha Epsilon Delta ΑΕΔ Premedical April 28, 1926 April 22, 1945[10] Red and Violet
Alpha Epsilon Lambda ΑΕL Graduate and Professional 1990 1990 Silver and Crimson
Alpha Epsilon Rho ΑΕΡ Electronic Media April 30, 1943[11][n 1] 2009 Green and Gold
Alpha Eta Mu Beta ΑΗΜΒ Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering March 15, 1979 2013 Red and Gold
Alpha Iota Delta ΑΙΔ Decision, Information and Operations Sciences 1971 2009 Green and Gold
Alpha Kappa Delta ΑΚΔ Sociology November 21, 1920 1967 Teal
Alpha Kappa Mu ΑΚΜ General Scholarship November 26, 1937 1952 Royal Blue and White
Alpha Lambda Delta ΑΛΔ First-year Success/Freshmen May 31, 1924 1939 Red, Gold, and White
Alpha Phi Sigma ΑΦΣ Criminal Justice January 1942 1981 Blue and Gold
Alpha Pi Mu ΑΠΜ Industrial Engineering January 5, 1949 February 1952 (Assoc),
February 1959 (Full)[12]
White Satin with Gold Logo
Alpha Sigma Lambda ΑΣΛ Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning 1946 2011 Burgundy and Gold
Alpha Sigma Mu ΑΣΜ Materials Science and Engineering January 1932 1965 Silver and Gold
Alpha Sigma Nu ΑΣΝ General Scholarship - Jesuit Institutions of Higher Education June 4, 1915[n 2] 1975 Gold Medallion on Maroon Ribbon
Beta Gamma Sigma ΒΓΣ Business and Management February 19, 1913 February 27, 1937 (Readmitted 1990) Gold Cord, Yale Blue Tassel, Gold Wrap and Yale Blue Cord, Gold Tassel, Yale Blue Wrap
Beta Kappa Chi ΒΚΧ Natural Sciences and Mathematics January 31, 1923 1961 Royal Blue
Beta Phi Mu ΒΦΜ Library & Information Studies and Information Technology August 1948 1969 Purple and White
Chi Sigma Iota ΧΣΙ Counseling January 1, 1985 2001 Blue and White
Delta Epsilon Sigma ΔΕΣ General Scholarship in Colleges and Universities with a Catholic Tradition April 13, 1939 1967 Gold and Maroon
Delta Mu Delta ΔΜΔ Business Administration November 18, 1913 1963 Purple and Gold
Epsilon Pi Phi ΕΠΦ Emergency Management 2006 2017 Green, Gold and Blue
Epsilon Pi Tau ΕΠΤ Professions in Technology March 13, 1929 2005 Blue, Gold, and White
Gamma Theta Upsilon ΓΘΥ Geography May 15, 1931 1976 Brown, Light Blue, and Gold
Kappa Mu Epsilon ΚΜΕ Mathematics April 18, 1931 1968 Pink and Silver
Kappa Omicron Nu ΚΟΝ Human Sciences February 21, 1990[n 3] February 25, 1951[13] Burgundy and Cream, Medallion: Gold/Burgundy w/ Burgundy Ribbon
Kappa Tau Alpha ΚΤΑ Journalism and Mass Communication March 10, 1910 February 25, 1951[13] Blue and Gold
Lambda Pi Eta ΛΠΗ Communication 1985 February 1996[14] Red, White, and Gold
Lambda Sigma ΛΣ Student Leadership, Scholarship and Service November 7, 1922[n 4] 1981 Blue and Gold
Mortar Board Scholarship, Leadership and Service February 15, 1918 February 27, 1937 Gold and Silver tassel with Mortar Board Fob
Stole: Gold Satin, Medallion
Cast medallion on white grosgrain ribbon
Mu Kappa Tau ΜΚΤ Marketing 1966 1996 Navy
National Society of Collegiate Scholars Scholarship, Leadership & Service April 30, 1994 2004 Burgundy and Gold
Omega Chi Epsilon ΩΧΕ Chemical Engineering Spring 1931 1967 Maroon and White
Omega Rho ΩΡ Operations Research & Management Science April 1, 1976 1983 (Assoc), 1986 (Full) Blue and Red
Omicron Delta Epsilon ΟΔΕ Economics January 1, 1963[11] 1965 (Readmitted 1981) Blue and Gold
Phi Alpha ΦΑ Social Work 1962 January 2019 Royal Blue and Light Gold
Phi Alpha Theta ΦΑΘ History March 17, 1921 April 22, 1945[10] (Left 2011–2012, readmitted 2017) Madonna Red and Madonna Blue
Phi Beta Delta ΦΒΔ International Education February 27, 1986[15] 2013 Gold and Red
Phi Eta Sigma ΦΗΣ Freshman Scholarship March 22, 1923 February 27, 1937
(Left 2011, readmitted 2018)
Gold and Black
Phi Lambda Sigma ΦΛΣ Pharmacy Leadership March 1965[16] 2018 Green and Gold
Phi Sigma ΦΣ Biological Sciences, All Pure and Applied Fields March 17, 1915 1950 Gold, Green, and White
Phi Sigma Iota ΦΣΙ Foreign Language, Literature & Cultures October 1922 1950 Purple and White
Phi Sigma Tau ΦΣΤ Philosophy October 21, 1955[11] 1958 White and Purple
Phi Upsilon Omicron ΦΥΟ Family and Consumer Sciences February 10, 1909 1979 Yellow, White, and Purple
Pi Delta Phi ΠΔΦ French 1906 1967 Blue, White, and Red
Pi Gamma Mu ΠΓΜ Social Sciences December 1, 1924 1953 Royal Blue and White
Pi Kappa Lambda ΠΚΛ Music May 17, 1918 February 24, 1940[10] Gold and White
Pi Sigma Alpha ΠΣΑ Political Science October 1, 1920 1949 Red, White, and Black
Pi Tau Sigma ΠΤΣ Mechanical Engineering March 16, 1915 March 1, 1947 Murray and Azure
Pi Theta Epsilon ΠΘΕ Occupational Therapy 1959 February 1996[17] Navy and Gold
Psi Beta ΨΒ Psychology at Two-Year Colleges November 5, 1981 1994 Royal Blue and Gold
Psi Chi ΨΧ Psychology September 4, 1929 1965 Navy and Platinum with Navy and Platinum Tassels
Rho Chi ΡΧ Pharmacy May 19, 1922 March 1, 1947 Royal Purple and White
Sigma Beta Delta ΣΒΔ Business, Management, and Administration January 16, 1994 1994 Hunter Green and Gold
Sigma Delta Pi ΣΔΠ Spanish November 14, 1919 1966 Red and Yellow Gold
Sigma Lambda Alpha ΣΛΑ Landscape Architecture September 24, 1977[18] 1983 (Assoc), 1986 (Full) Gold and Green
Sigma Lambda Chi ΣΛΧ Construction Management Technology April 30, 1949 1991 Green and Gold, stole: Silver with Logo, medallion: Green & Gold on Green & White Ribbon
Sigma Pi Sigma ΣΠΣ Physics and Astronomy December 11, 1921 1945 (after April 22)[10] Forest Green and Ivory
Sigma Tau Delta ΣΤΔ English Language and Literature December 12, 1922[11] 1972 Cardinal and Black (1924)
Sigma Theta Tau ΣΘΤ Nursing October 4, 1922 1959 Orchid and Fuchsia
Tau Beta Pi ΤΒΠ Engineering June 15, 1885 December 30, 1925 Orange and White, stole: White with Orange Bent (trestle symbol)
Tau Sigma Delta ΤΣΔ Architecture and Allied Arts May 1913 February 28, 1948[19] White and Gold
Theta Alpha Kappa ΘΑΚ Religious Studies / Theology Fall 1976 1985 (Assoc), 1986 (Full) Scarlet
Upsilon Pi Epsilon ΥΠΕ Computing and Information Disciplines January 10, 1967[20] 1997 Maroon and White, stole: White with Gold ΥΠΕ Logo
Xi Sigma Pi ΞΣΠ Forestry November 24, 1908 1966 (Left 1998–1999, readmitted 2017) Green and Grey

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Founded as Beta Epsilon Phi on December 1, 1941.
  2. ^ Merged with Gamma Pi Epsilon March 30, 1973.
  3. ^ (Kappa Omicron Nu founded in 1990 through consolidation of Omicron Nu (founded April 1912) and Kappa Omicron Phi (founded December 11, 1922))
    (Omicron Nu admitted to ACHS 1951, readmitted 1968, Kappa Omicron Phi admitted 1972)
  4. ^ November 7, 1922 as Cwens, March 6, 1976 as Lambda Sigma

Former members[edit]

Some former members have resigned ACHS membership to operate independently. Of these, several have either joined Honor Society Caucus, merged into successor groups, or have gone dormant.

Honor Society Caucus[edit]

Society Greek letters Discipline Founded Joined ACHS Left ACHS
Omicron Delta Kappa ΟΔΚ Leadership & Scholarship December 3, 1914 March 3, 1930 2005
Phi Beta Kappa ΦΒΚ Liberal Arts December 5, 1776 December 30, 1925 (ACHS founder) December 15, 1937 Resigned[10]
Phi Kappa Phi ΦΚΦ All Fields March 15, 1897 December 30, 1925 (ACHS founder) 20062007
Sigma Xi ΣΞ Scientific Research November 1886[11] December 30, 1925 (ACHS founder) 1933

Other former, merged or dormant members of the ACHS[edit]

Society Greek letters Discipline Founded Joined ACHS Left ACHS Status
Alpha Delta Mu ΑΔΜ Social Work Fall 1976[21] 1983 (Assoc), 1986 (Full) February 9, 2007 Independent
Alpha Omega Alpha ΑΩΑ Medical August 25, 1902[11] December 30, 1925 19771998 Independent
Chi Epsilon ΧΕ Civil Engineering May 22, 1922[11][n1 1] 1953 2023 Independent
Delta Phi Delta ΔΦΔ Art January 10, 1909[11][n1 2] 1961 19771988 Independent
Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha ΔΣΡ-ΤΚΑ Forensics August 18, 1963[n1 3] February 27, 1937-ΤΚΑ; February 1955-ΔΣΡ November 2013 Independent
Delta Tau Alpha ΔΤΑ Agriculture March 19, 1960 1992 2023
Eta Kappa Nu ΗΚΝ Electrical and Computer Engineering October 28, 1904 March 1, 1947 2008 Independent
Golden Key General November 29, 1977 2005 December 31, 2013[22] Independent
Iota Sigma Pi ΙΣΠ Women in the sciences, especially chemistry 1900[11] or 1902[23] February 1955 19571963 Independent
Kappa Delta Pi ΚΔΠ Education March 8, 1911 1974 2008 Independent
Lambda Iota Tau ΛΙΤ Literature of all Languages December 3, 1953 1965 2015 Merged with Sigma Tau Delta
National Collegiate Players/Pi Epsilon Delta ΠΕΔ Theatre Honors June 8, 1919 1963 19771988 Independent
Omicron Nu ΟΝ Human Sciences April 23, 1912 February 25, 1951, readmitted 1968 1990 Merged into Kappa Omicron Nu
Order of the Coif Law 1902 December 30, 1925 19471957[24] Independent
Pi Alpha Alpha ΠΑΑ Public Affairs and Administration 1974 1983 (Assoc), 1984 (Full) 2017 Independent
Pi Omega Pi ΠΩΠ Business Education Teachers June 13, 1923 1965 2023
Scabbard and Blade, National Society of Reserve Officer Training Corps Fall 1904 2010 2022 Independent
Sigma Gamma Tau ΣΓΤ Aerospace Engineering February 28, 1953 February 27, 1965[25] 2001 Independent
Sigma Tau ΣΤ Engineering February 24, 1904[11][n1 4] March 3, 1930 19631974 Merged into Tau Beta Pi
Tau Alpha Pi ΤΑΠ Engineering Technology 1953 2000 2023

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Founded by two groups of civil engineering students at the University of Illinois in 1922.
  2. ^ Founded as Pallet Club at U of Kansas on January 10, 1909. On May 28, 1912, plans for a national organization were completed, Delta Phi Delta adapted as name
  3. ^ 1963 is the year of the merger of Delta Sigma Rho, founded April 13, 1906 and Tau Kappa Alpha, founded May 13, 1908.
  4. ^ Merged with Tau Beta Pi in 1974.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education". cas.edu. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. ^ Anchora of Delta Gamma January 1929
  3. ^ "Honors Societies - Honors College - Purdue University". honors.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  4. ^ "Honor Society Caucus | Honor Society". www.phikappaphi.org. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  5. ^ "General Schedule Qualifications". Office of Personnel Management. U.S. Government. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  6. ^ Certified Societies (Member Directory), accessed 25 May 2022.
  7. ^ From individual organizations of https://www.achshonor.org/certified-societies-member-directory-#/
  8. ^ William Raimond Baird (1957). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company.
  9. ^ ACHS honor cord registry web, archived from the original on 2020-05-11
  10. ^ a b c d e Maurice L. Moore. "Historical Information".
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j William Raimond Baird (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. Baird's Manual Foundation, Incorporated.
  12. ^ "About Alpha Pi Mu". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  13. ^ a b The Biologist. Phi Sigma Society. 1950. p. 135.
  14. ^ Sample Induction Ceremony for Honors Membership in Lambda Pi Eta
  15. ^ Oswego - Phi Beta Delta
  16. ^ "Fifty years of leadership". www.pharmacist.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Pi Theta Membership Handbook" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  18. ^ Michael Richard Hodges and Miriam Easton Rutz, "An Historical Summary of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture", Landscape Journal, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Spring 1997), pp. 108–114.
  19. ^ Tau Sigma Delta Mss.0345 Records of the Grand Chapter Recorder
  20. ^ Upsilon Pi Epsilon Initiation Ceremony
  21. ^ "Alpha Delta Mu Social Work National Honor Society – North Carolina A&T State University". Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  22. ^ "ACHS Home".
  23. ^ Iota Sigma Pi -About
  24. ^ National conference on college fraternities and societies 1947
  25. ^ University of Texas - Cactus Yearbook 1968 p 302

External links[edit]