Weighing the costs and benefits: A guide to Honor Societies
Editor’s note: This guide is meant to provide a quick overview and offer easy comparison information of the journalism and mass communication honor societies described in greater detail last week.
By Lindsey Wotanis
Marywood University
Kappa Tau Alpha
Key Facts:
- Founded 1910
- “Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.”
- 96 chapters nationwide
Key Benefits:
- National recognition for academic excellence
- Academic and service awards for outstanding seniors
Costs:
- To start a chapter: No charter fee
- Individual initiation fee: $30 for lifetime membership
- Honor cords: $8 plus shipping
GPA Requirements:
- Must have at least a 3.00 GPA (on 4.0 system) in junior/senior level journalism/mass communication courses.
Lambda Pi Eta
https://www.natcom.org/student-organizations/lambda-pi-eta
Key Facts:
- Founded 1985
- “Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) is the National Communication Association (NCA) official honor society at four-year colleges and universities. Membership in Lambda Pi Eta signifies distinguished achievement in the discipline of Communication.”
- 500 chapters nationwide
Key Benefits:
- Annual national convention in November
- “Chapters are communities of students and faculty that organize a wide variety of philanthropic, academic, and social programs.”
Costs:
- To start a chapter: $100 application fee with $35 annual renewal fee
- Individual initiation fee: $30 for lifetime membership
- Honor stole: $25
GPA Requirements:
- Must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA and 3.25 in all Communication Studies courses with 60 credits completed
National Broadcasting Society/Alpha Epsilon Rho (AERho)
Key Facts:
- Founded 1943
- “NBS-AERho enhances the development of college students preparing for careers in electronic media industries.”
- 60 chapters nationwide
Key Benefits:
- Annual national undergraduate competition (minimum $25 per entry for student members)
- Chapter awards
- Annual national conference
Costs:
- To start a chapter: $100 charter application fee
- Member dues: Students: $50/year or optional chapter block registration set-up
- Honor cords: $50
GPA Requirements:
- 3.25 GPA cumulative and in all electronic media courses and have completed at least three semesters. Individual chapters may set higher requirements.
Society for Collegiate Journalists
Key Facts:
- Founded 1919
- “The nation’s oldest organization designed solely to serve college media leaders.”
- 100 chapters nationwide
Key Benefits:
- Annual national contest and major awards with no entry fees
- Biennium conference linked with College Media Association Fall Convention on even years
- Financial support for chapter programming efforts
Costs:
- To start a chapter: $30 charter fee
- Individual initiation fee: $30 for lifetime membership
- Honor cords: $15
GPA Requirements:
- None, though individual chapters may set requirements
Society for Professional Journalists
Key Facts:
- Founded 1909
- “For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.”
- 250 chapters nationwide
Key Benefits:
- Annual Mark of Excellence Awards for student journalists ($10 per entry for SPJ members)
- National and regional conferences
- Career services and support
Costs:
- To start a chapter: $25 charter application fee
- Annual member dues: $37.50 for students
- Honor cords: $15
GPA Requirements:
- None, though individual chapters may set requirements