Policies and Procedures for Establishing a National Honor Society

Definition of Honor Society

An honor society is an association of primarily collegiate chapters whose purposes are to recognize and encourage high scholarship and/or leadership achievement in some broad or specialized field of study.

Functions of Honor Societies - An honor society:

·  Confers distinction for high achievement in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies, in student leadership, and in the various fields of research.

·  Fosters the spirit of liberal culture.

·  Stimulates and encourages mental development.

·  Stands for freedom of mind and spirit and for democracy of learning.

·  Provides spiritual and intellectual leadership.

·  Preserves valuable traditions and customs.

·  Associates outstanding leaders in mutual understanding for the advancement of society in the art of democratic living.

·  Stimulates worthy attitudes for the improvement of the general welfare of the institution.

·  Imposes upon members high citizenship responsibilities and emphasizes deeper study and discussion of the American tradition--its characteristics, ideals, and possibilities.

Standards for Honor Societies

Classification of honor societies

·  General Honor Societies - receive into membership, from one or all schools and colleges of an institution, individuals who have achieved high scholarship and who fulfill such additional requirements of distinction in some broad field of study, research, and culture or in general leadership as the society has established.

·  Specialized Honor Societies - receive into membership persons who have demonstrated achievement within a given department of a school, college, or larger unit of a university or within a department of a two-year college.

Election policies and procedures for honor societies

·  General Honor Societies, which base eligibility primarily on scholarship, shall elect students from the top 20% of the class (a minimum requirement) and (other than freshman honor societies and two-year honor societies) not earlier than the 5th semester.

·  General Honor Societies, which base eligibility primarily on leadership, shall elect students from the top 35% of the class (a minimum requirement) and (other than freshman honor societies and two-year societies) not earlier than the 5th semester. Two-year societies elect students who have completed at least 12 hrs in courses leading to an associate degree.

·  Specialized Honor Societies other than two-year honor societies shall elect students from the top 35% of the class (a minimum requirement) not earlier than the third semester. Two-year societies elect students who have completed at least 12 hrs in courses leading to an associate degree.

·  Election to membership shall be irrespective of membership in or affiliation with other organizations and associations. The process of election may vary in a number of ways that share responsibility among members and faculty for nomination and election.

·  Membership shall be conferred solely on the basis of character and specified eligibility. In risk management terms, this may mean inclusion of a statement that rules out discrimination. Character as a criterion for membership may be included in the constitution/bylaws, policy handbook, or in the induction ceremony.

·  No solicitation or propaganda, such as rushing and social pressure, shall be used to ensure acceptance or invitation to membership.

Eligibility criteria for ACHS membership – Each society shall
·  Have ten chapters in at least two regions of the country.
·  Hold a national convention (or other equivalent which assures democratic participation) at least every three years.
·  Establish, maintain, or reactivate chapters in colleges and universities that grant the associate, baccalaureate, or higher degrees and that are accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency.
·  Report finances covering the period since the immediately preceding convention.
ACHS Membership Classification

·  Associate nonvoting membership - operated as a national organization for five years. (An organization is considered national at which time it is located in at least two regions of the country.)

·  Active voting membership - operated as a national organization for ten years.

Requirements for ACHS Membership - Each society shall

·  Pay an admission fee--$500.00

·  Submit an annual report to the Executive Director of ACHS.

·  Pay annual dues--a sliding scale based on annual members ($290-$1623.00—2008-09).

·  File current copy of constitution/bylaws and report annually any amendments.

Programs and Activities of Honor Societies - Societies fulfill the functions of honor societies through the following programs and activities:

·  Awards - students, advisers, alumni

·  Recognition activities - initiation, honors function, graduation cords,

·  Scholarships, fellowships, grants

·  Program initiatives or themes

·  Seminars, workshops, conferences

·  Publications - newsletters, journals, manuals, books

Proliferation – The Association of College Honor Societies was formed to establish standards and useful functions and to prevent undesirable duplication and competition among honor societies. Therefore, the officers of ACHS have the responsibility to reason with groups that are proposing to form competing organizations and to encourage consolidation of established groups. The position of ACHS is that proliferation of honor societies diminishes the effectiveness of efforts to encourage academic excellence on university campuses by using scarce human and material resources to duplicate the mission of honor societies in a field or specialization. Proliferation is not in the best interest of the academy; strength in organizations is developed through diversity and numbers of members. Small groups do not make a significant impact because they cannot gain the visibility and credibility of a large group. Thus, an organization in its formative stages should be able to show cause for its very existence.

Organizational Development

Investigation – A careful national needs assessment should precede any decisions regarding development of an organization because not-for-profit organizations, and associations in general, are struggling in this day and age. Discriminating candidates are making membership recruitment and retention difficult, and the high cost of postage and services puts great restrictions on the ability of organizations to provide any benefits of membership. Students, faculty, and professionals (alumni) must envision a long-term commitment to an organization to assure its success, and they must be willing to support the organization with human and material resources. Not only must faculty members support the concept of the organization but they must be willing to accept advising roles that carry little credibility and respect in academia. Although this is an inappropriate situation, it is fact. It is the position of ACHS that it is ethically improper to begin an organization that does not deliver on its promise to recognize and encourage scholarship and to award concrete benefits.

Experimental Stage – Students and faculty interested in forming an honor society should experiment with a local honor society for a period of 3-5 years to develop and test the structure and functions of the organization.

The Next 5 Years – If the evaluation is positive after several sets of students have provided leadership, if there is enthusiastic support by faculty and alumni, and if other campuses have expressed commitment, the local group should

·  Write the constitution/bylaws with the help of a registered parliamentarian (use ACHS standards to assure credibility as an honor society). A registered parliamentarian is very helpful with development of the structure and functions of the organization.

·  File, with the help of a specialized attorney, incorporation papers and apply for an employer identification number (EIN). Apply for 501(c)(3) federal tax exemption and for group exemption for chapters. Specialized attorneys, although costly, will be beneficial for the long-term legal soundness of the organization. The organization should be incorporated in a state that has laws that give liberal liability protection to volunteer officers and leaders. Some states also give exemption for state taxes.

·  Develop an integrated computer membership and accounting system.

·  Develop a strategic plan for long-term growth and development of member benefits and programs.

·  Develop a Web site with the following components: National Officers and Headquarters Staff; National Office mailing, telephone, fax, and e-mail addresses; Criteria for membership; Benefits of membership; Membership fee; constitution/bylaws; and Chapter charter policies and procedures. these elements must be accessible by the general public (missing items raise questions of credibility).

Chapter Governance – Develop a structure that includes a faculty adviser, and assistant faculty adviser, a student executive committee (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer), and bylaws that do not conflict with the national constitution/bylaws.

National Governance – Develop a membership organization structure that includes the following:

·  Assembly of Delegates – policy-making body of the organization that meets at the triennial conclave – approves constitution/bylaws and amendments, approves financial reports and budgets, and elects officers (if all active members do not fulfill this function).

·  Board of Directors – governs the organization between conclaves – makes policies that implement the constitution/bylaws but do not conflict with Assembly policies.

·  National Committees – assist Board of Directors with doing its job by preparing policy alternatives and implications for Board deliberation.

·  Executive Director – chief executive officer who implements policies and programs of the Assembly and the Board of Directors; maintains relations with chapters, members, and external groups; supervises and manages the national office of the society; serves as custodian of all monies, property, records, and archives of the Society and holds, invests, and disburses the same according to policies established by the Board of Directors; and coordinates and expedites the work of the Assembly, Board of Directors, and national committees.

Procedures for Affiliation – If the society, after 5 years as a national organization, has at least ten chapters in two regions, apply for associate non-voting membership status in ACHS. The petitioning society shall:

·  Compare its constitution/bylaws with the ACHS standards and eligibility criteria.

·  Discuss above comparison with the Executive Director. Make changes necessary to meet all of the standards and criteria.

·  Optional, but advisable: Participate as an observer at an ACHS Annual Council Meeting.

·  File petition (and accompanying materials) with the ACHS Executive Director.

Dorothy I. Mitstifer, Executive Director, Association Of College Honor Societies

4990 Northwind Drive, Suite 140, East Lansing, MI 48823-5031

Telephone: (517) 351-8335; Facsimile: (517) 351-8336; E-mail:

Policies and Procedures – page 3