Know the Indicators What We Do of Credibility The Association sets standards for Not every honor society is what it appears to be. organizational excellence and scholastic In order for you to be a smart consumer, here’s a eligibility, ensures that member societies are list of what a credible honor society should have. structured to advance the interests of their individual members, and serves as a resource to protect consumers from disreputable How to Judge Honor Society Credibility Credible honor societies will have: organizations. • Minimum scholastic criteria of at least a 3.2 GPA and/or rank in the upper 20% of the class • Membership participation in governance (national boards elected by membership, full financial disclosure, 501(c)3 non-profit status) • Formal charter on your college campus • Website with national officers and headquarters staff, contact information, bylaws, and transparent eligibility requirements and membership benefits The nation’s only Red Flags To Watch For If an honor society is not certified by ACHS, certifying agency look for these red flags before accepting an for college and university invitation for membership: • Organization’s address is a post office box Association of College Honor Societies honor societies • Website does not provide bylaws 1749 Hamilton Road, Suite 106 • Website does not have stringent, detailed Okemos, MI 48864 eligibility requirements • Organization does not have a chief executive www.achsnatl.org officer contact information [email protected] ACHS’ Mission Statement • Website offers an application without an 517.351.8335 The mission of ACHS is to build a visibly invitation from a campus adviser cohesive community of national and • There is no active chapter on your campus international honor societies that promotes • The organization is not a 501(c)3 nonprofit the values of higher education; fosters excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, For more tips on judging and research; and adheres to the standards of honor society credibility, visit @ACHSnatl honor society excellence. www.achsnatl.org/standards_alert.asp Certified Honor Societies Have an Benefits to Joining a Certified College Honor Society Established Commitment to Excellence Membership in a true honor society does Enrich Your Education Help You Make Career Choices not come easy. An invitation to membership Honor societies help to keep members Genuine honor societies provide members should reflect exceptional academic current in their fields through publications, with deeper insight into disciplines than can’t achievement and/or outstanding campus online communities, and through local, state, be gained through classroom experience leadership and service. and national meetings. This service begins alone. Students who participate in honor during the college years and often extends societies can explore and hone their interests Certain honor societies induct first-year into the alumni programs that many of our for future study and development through students while others elect only upper-class or societies offer for a lifetime of networking activities that may illuminate new career graduate students; some include all academic and learning. Many honor societies also offer possibilities. fields while others focus on specialized areas access to exclusive scholarships, internships, such as English or engineering. But all ACHS- and leadership and service opportunities. Advance Your Career certified societies bestow honor, recognition, Whether you go to graduate school or use and lifetime distinction. Recognize Your Achievement your knowledge in industry, government, or a Though achievement is its own reward, profession, a college honor society can open Despite the Greek names, college honor earning your honor society key or pin doors. People in your field recognize your societies are not social clubs. Honor society demonstrates that you have accomplished membership as a mark of excellence that members are among your school’s most something that makes you special and puts identifies you as exceptional. An invitation promising young prospective professionals, you at the top of your chosen field. Having to membership in a certified honor society eager to advance scholarship, ethics, and an ACHS-certified honor society listed on confers more than recognition of your professionalism in their academic disciplines. your resume provides a tangible sign of your success; it is a widely recognized hallmark of academic and leadership success. excellence. ACHS Certified Societies List as of October 2018 - For current members, see www.achsnatl.org/members Alpha Beta Gamma Alpha Sigma Lambda Epsilon Pi Tau Omega Rho Pi Kappa Lambda Sigma Lambda Chi Alpha Chi Alpha Sigma Mu Gamma Theta Upsilon Omicron Delta Epsilon Pi Omega Pi Sigma Pi Sigma Alpha Epsilon Alpha Sigma Nu Kappa Mu Epsilon Phi Alpha Theta Pi Sigma Alpha Sigma Tau Delta Alpha Epsilon Delta Beta Gamma Sigma Kappa Omicron Nu Phi Beta Delta Pi Tau Sigma Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Epsilon Rho Beta Kappa Chi Kappa Tau Alpha Phi Eta Sigma Pi Theta Epsilon Tau Alpha Pi Alpha Eta Mu Beta Beta Phi Mu Lambda Pi Eta Phi Lambda Sigma Psi Beta Tau Beta Pi Alpha Iota Delta Chi Epsilon Lambda Sigma Phi Sigma Psi Chi Tau Sigma Delta Alpha Kappa Delta Chi Sigma Iota Mortar Board Phi Sigma Iota Rho Chi Theta Alpha Kappa Alpha Kappa Mu Delta Epsilon Sigma Mu Kappa Tau Phi Sigma Tau Scabbard & Blade Upsilon Pi Epsilon Alpha Lambda Delta Delta Mu Delta National Society of Phi Upsilon Omicron Sigma Beta Delta Xi Sigma Pi Alpha Phi Sigma Delta Tau Alpha Collegiate Scholars Pi Delta Phi Sigma Delta Pi Alpha Pi Mu Epsilon Pi Phi Omega Chi Epsilon Pi Gamma Mu Sigma Lambda Alpha.