Association of College Honor Societies

The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) is a voluntary association of national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies.

Association of College Honor Societies
ACHS
FoundedDecember 30, 1925; 98 years ago (1925-12-30)
TypeTrade Association
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisHonor societies
ScopeNorth America
Members65 societies active
Headquarters30 North Gould Street #29147
Sheridan, Wyoming
United States
Websitewww.achshonor.org

History

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The Association of College Honor Societies was formed in 1925 to create a network of affiliated societies and promote standards for scholarship and leadership on campus. The founding societies intended to establish and maintain desirable standards for groups wishing to call themselves honor societies. These standards included criteria for membership, governance, and chapter operation.[1] Representatives of Alpha Omega Alpha, the Order of the Coif, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi attended its preliminary meeting held on October 2, 1925. When ACHS was officially established on December 30, 1925, its founding members were Alpha Omega Alpha, the Order of the Coif, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, and Tau Beta Pi.[2]

Since then, more than 65 honors societies have joined ACHS, turning it into an international organization.[3] However, not all legitimate honor societies apply for membership in ACHS. ACHS coordinates member organizations and facilitates communications between them. It also provides both scholarships to members of its member organizations.[4]

The honor society standards set by the Association of College Honor Societies are mentioned by the U.S. government's Office of Personnel Management 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."[5]

List of member organizations

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As of 2024, 65 organizations are affiliated with the ACHS.[6]

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

Notes

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  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

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While the Association of College Honor Societies, with sixty-nine members as of 2022, remains the largest trade association of honor societies, some former members have resigned from ACHS membership to operate independently. Of these, several have emerged into successor groups that remain part of the ACHS or have gone dormant.

Recently, 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.[20][21]

Honor Society Caucus

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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[9]
Phi Kappa Phi ΦΚΦ All Fields March 15, 1897 December 30, 1925 (ACHS founder) 20062007
Sigma Xi ΣΞ Scientific Research November 1886[10] December 30, 1925 (ACHS founder) 1933

Other former, merged, or dormant members

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Society Greek letters Discipline Founded Joined ACHS Left ACHS Status
Alpha Delta Mu ΑΔΜ Social Work Fall 1976[22] 1983 (Assoc), 1986 (Full) February 9, 2007 Independent
Alpha Omega Alpha ΑΩΑ Medical August 25, 1902[10] December 30, 1925 19771998 Independent
Chi Epsilon ΧΕ Civil Engineering May 22, 1922[10][n1 1] 1953 2023 Independent
Delta Phi Delta ΔΦΔ Art January 10, 1909[10][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[23] Independent
Iota Sigma Pi ΙΣΠ Women in the sciences, especially chemistry 1900[10] or 1902[24] 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[25] 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[26] 2001 Independent
Sigma Tau ΣΤ Engineering February 24, 1904[10][n1 4] March 3, 1930 19631974 Merged into Tau Beta Pi
Tau Alpha Pi ΤΑΠ Engineering Technology 1953 2000 2023

Notes

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  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

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References

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  1. ^ "Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education". cas.edu. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. ^ Anchora of Delta Gamma January 1929
  3. ^ "History". www.achshonor.org. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  4. ^ "ACHS Partners and Scholarships". www.achshonor.org. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  5. ^ "General Schedule Qualifications". Office of Personnel Management. U.S. Government. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  6. ^ Certified Societies (Member Directory), accessed 1 May 2024.
  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. ^ a b c d e Maurice L. Moore. "Historical Information".
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "About Alpha Pi Mu". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  12. ^ a b The Biologist. Phi Sigma Society. 1950. p. 135.
  13. ^ Sample Induction Ceremony for Honors Membership in Lambda Pi Eta
  14. ^ Oswego - Phi Beta Delta
  15. ^ "Fifty years of leadership". www.pharmacist.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Pi Theta Membership Handbook" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Tau Sigma Delta Mss.0345 Records of the Grand Chapter Recorder
  19. ^ Upsilon Pi Epsilon Initiation Ceremony
  20. ^ "Honors Societies - Honors College - Purdue University". honors.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  21. ^ "Honor Society Caucus | Honor Society". www.phikappaphi.org. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "ACHS Home".
  24. ^ Iota Sigma Pi -About
  25. ^ National conference on college fraternities and societies 1947
  26. ^ University of Texas - Cactus Yearbook 1968 p 302
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