Requirements and Procedures
for Establishing a New Chapter
Sigma Chi Eta began in
2000 as the official two-year honor society of the National Communication
Association. Sigma Chi Eta has strict academic requirements that must be met
for both institutional and individual student membership. The academic
requirements for both the school and individual student reflect the honor of
being a member of the society.
Requirements for the Academic
Institution
A chapter of Sigma Chi
Eta may be established at any two-year college or university:
·
that grants an associate’s degree or
higher;
·
is accredited by the appropriate
regional association;
·
has a department, division, program,
or concentration in communication or communication studies;
·
that offers at least 15 credit hours
in communication and communication-related courses;
·
appoints or selects a faculty
advisor for the chapter prior to the school’s induction into Sigma Chi Eta.
NCA allows for the
individual school to define “communication or communication studies courses”
in order to fulfill the requirements listed above. In addition, the
individual school determines whether its institution has a “department,
division, or program” in communication based on the curriculum.
Procedures to Establish a
Chapter
The following is a
detailed, step-by-step explanation of the process to establish a Sigma Chi
Eta chapter at your college or university.
1. Determine if your school meets
the requirements to establish a chapter. There are no requirements for a
certain number of students who must be interested in forming a chapter at a
particular school. However, a new chapter is obligated to elect officers
(traditionally: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and
Secretary/Recorder) before or soon after it is chartered. The chapter may
modify this leadership structure if they desire.
2. A
faculty advisor must be selected or appointed to sponsor the new chapter
before a charter can be granted.
3. Complete
the SIGMA CHI ETA CHAPTER APPLICATION and ADVISOR HONOR PLEDGE.
The “required procedures of your campus regarding formation of an honor
society” refers to the rules that many schools have in place for honor
societies, such as registering the new honor society with the administration
or student union at the school. We do not need any documentation that you
have fulfilled any campus rules for honor societies. The only
“documentation” that needs to be attached to the application is proof (from
your catalog) that your school offers the required credit hours of
communication studies and that your school has a department, division,
program, or concentration in communication.
4. Mail
the completed application, advisor honor pledge, a check for $100 and
appropriate documentation to the following address:
Sigma Chi Eta
National Communication Association
1765 N Street, NW
Washington, D.C., 20036
The $100 fee, which is broken down into $75
for chartering fees and $25 for yearly chapter dues, is for the chapter as
an entity – not for each individual student! Please make check
payable to the National Communication Association.
5. Upon receiving the $100 fee and
your application, NCA will process your application and an e-mail will be
sent to you confirming that your school has been approved for charter. Your
final charter letter will include your new chapter’s official Greek name.
Your chapter will also receive an official framed charter for you to hang in
your department.
Please allow a minimum of 4-6 weeks for
delivery of charter materials.
