Honor society: Difference between revisions

{{other uses}}

[[File:1909 Tyee - Honor Societies.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|"Honor Societies", illustration from the 1909 ''Tyee'' ([[yearbook]] of the [[University of Washington]])]]

In the [[United States]], an '''honor society''' is an organization that recognizes individuals who excel in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. These societies acknowledge excellence among peers in diverse fields and circumstances. The [[Order of the Arrow]], for example, is the National Honor Society of the [[Boy Scouts of America]]. While the term commonly refers to scholastic honor societies, which primarily acknowledge students who excel academically or as leaders among their peers, it also applies to other types of societies.

While changes sparked from within these societies were prevalent between the massive influx of students after [[World War II]] and before and after the adoption of Title IX, additionally, the demand for recognition of racially diverse scholars spurred the 2005 founding of the [[Bouchet Graduate Honor Society]] by [[Yale University]] and [[Howard University]]. Rather than adopting the traditional tapping to identify top students from a given academic class based on merit, a distinct aspect of this society's nomination process is its focus on self-nominations.{{efn|This follows the model of "recognition societies", which ''[[Baird's Manual]]'' tracked as a separate category of fraternal society but is now grouped within the larger set of honor societies.}} A [[Ph.D.]] or Ph.D. track is required, among other qualifications.<ref name="Yale">{{cite web |title=Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society |url=https://gsas.yale.edu/edward-alexander-bouchet-graduate-honor-society |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Yale GSAS}}</ref><ref name="Howard University">{{cite web |title=Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society |url=https://gs.howard.edu/edward-bouchet-graduate-honor-society/ |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Howard University}}</ref><ref name="Cornell">{{cite web |title=Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Scholars |url=https://gradschool.cornell.edu/diversity-inclusion/bouchet-honor-society/bouchet-graduate-honor-society-scholars/ |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Cornell University}}</ref><ref name="UCLA">{{cite web |title=About the Program: BGHS |url=https://grad.ucla.edu/life-at-ucla/diversity/bouchet-graduate-honor-society/about-bouchet/ |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=University of California, Los Angeles}}</ref> Modern honor societies are increasingly focused on creating supportive environments that promote the academic and personal development of all scholars, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups.<ref name="Mortar Board Diversity">{{cite web |title=Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) |url=https://mortarboard.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-deib/ |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society}}</ref><ref name="Tau Beta Pi Diversity">{{cite web |title=Tau Beta Kappa Conversation on Race & Equity |url=https://tbp.org/other/DEI.cfm |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Tau Beta Pi}}</ref> This evolution reflects a broader movement within academic institutions towards a more equitable and comprehensive recognition of student excellence.<ref name="ACHS Diversity">{{cite web |title=Diversity |url=https://www.achshonor.org/diversity |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Association of College Honor Societies}}</ref><ref name="Alpha Lambda Delta Diversity">{{cite web |title=Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging |url=https://www.nationalald.org/deib |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Alpha Lambda Delta}}</ref><ref name="Psi Chi Diversity">{{cite web |title=Diversity |url=https://www.psichi.org/page/Diversity |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Psi Chi}}</ref>

== Regalia ==

[[Academic regalia in the United States|Academic robes and regalia]] identifying by color the degree, school, and other distinctions, are controlled under rules of a voluntary Intercollegiate Code. In addition, various colored devices such as [[Academic stole|stoles]], [[Academic scarf|scarves]], [[Honor cords|cords]], [[Square academic cap#Tassel|tassels]], and medallions are used to indicate membership in a student's honor society. Of these, cords and [[Square academic cap|mortarboard]] tassels are most often used to indicate membership. Most institutions allow honor cords, tassels, and/or medallions for honor society members. Stoles are less common, but they are available for a few honor societies. Virtually all, if not all honor societies have chosen such colors and may sell these items of accessory regalia as a service or fundraiser.

=== General and leadership societies ===

General collegiate societies are open to all academic disciplines, although they may have other affinity requirements. Leadership societies recognize leadership, with a multi-disciplinary scholarship component.

!Society

!Symbols

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΧ}}'''

|General

|-

|[[Alpha Kappa Mu]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΚΜ}}'''

|General

|-

|[[Alpha Lambda Delta]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΛΔ}}'''

|-

|[[Alpha Sigma Lambda]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΣΛ}}'''

|-

|[[Alpha Sigma Nu]]

|General, scholarship and service at

[[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] institutions of higher education

|-

|[[Bouchet Graduate Honor Society]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΧΑΣ}}'''

|General, [[Student athlete|student athletes]]

|-

|[[Delta Alpha Pi (honor society)|Delta Alpha Pi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΔΑΠ}}'''

|General, students with disabilities

|-

|[[Delta Epsilon Sigma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΔΕΣ}}'''

|General at traditionally [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] colleges

|-

|[[Delta Epsilon Tau]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΔΕΤ}}'''

|-

|[[Epsilon Tau Pi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΕΤΠ}}'''

|General, [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scouts]]

|-

|[[Golden Key International Honour Society]]

|

|General

|-

|

|Interfraternity leadership, Juniors

|-

|[[Lambda Sigma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΛΣ}}'''

|Scholarship, leadership, and service

|-

|[[Mortar Board]]

|

|General, Seniors

|-

|[[National Residence Hall Honorary]]

|

|[[Dormitory|Residence hall]] leadership and service

|-

|[[National Society of Collegiate Scholars]]

|

|Leadership, scholarship, and service

|-

|[[Omicron Delta Kappa]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΟΔΚ}}'''

|Leadership and scholarship, [[Upperclassman|upperclassmen]] and graduate students

|-

|[[Order of Omega]]

|

|General, fraternities and sororities

|-

|[[Phi Eta Sigma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΦΗΣ}}'''

|General, freshman

|-

|[[Phi Kappa Phi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΦΚΦ}}'''

|General

|-

|[[Phi Sigma Pi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΦΣΠ}}'''

|General

|-

|[[Phi Tau Phi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΦΤΦ}}'''

|General

|-

|[[SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society]]

|

|-

|[[Scabbard and Blade]]

|

|-

|[[Sigma Alpha Lambda]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΣΑΛ}}'''

|Leadership and scholarship

|-

|[[Tau Sigma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΤΣ}}'''

|General, [[College transfer|transfer students]]

|-

|

|Interfraternity leadership, Juniors

|}

<!--Editors: to add color swatches, see the Talk page for instructions.-->

{| class="wikitable sortable"

!Society

!Symbols

!Colors

|-

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΕ}}'''

|[[Agricultural engineering|Agricultural]] [[Food engineering|food]], and [[biological engineering]]

|

|-

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΗΜΒ}}'''

|[[Biomedical engineering]]

|

|-

|[[Nuclear engineering]]

|

|-

|[[Alpha Pi Mu]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΠΜ}}'''

|[[Industrial engineering]]

|-

|[[Alpha Sigma Mu]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΣΜ}}'''

|[[Metallurgy]] and [[materials engineering]]

|-

|[[Beta Beta Beta]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΒΒΒ}}'''

|[[Biology]]

|-

|[[Beta Kappa Chi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΒΚΧ}}'''

|[[natural sciences|Natural Scinece]] and [[Mathematics]]

|-

|[[Beta Phi Mu]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΒΦΜ}}'''

|

|-

|'''{{lang|grc|ΧΒΦ}}'''

|[[Science]] and [[Mathematics]]

|-

|[[Chi Epsilon]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΧΕ}}'''

|[[Civil engineering]]

|-

|[[Chi Epsilon Pi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΧΕΠ}}'''

|[[Meteorology]]

|-

|[[Delta Tau Alpha]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΔΤΑ}}'''

|[[Agriculture]]<ref>{{cite web |title=National Delta Tau Alpha |url=http://bigcat.fhsu.edu/agriculture/natdta/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140219170818/http://bigcat.fhsu.edu/agriculture/natdta/ |archive-date=2014-02-19 |access-date=2014-02-19}}</ref>

|-

|[[Epsilon Pi Tau]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΕΠΤ}}'''

|[[Technology]]

|-

|[[Eta Kappa Nu]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΗΚΝ}}'''

|[[Electrical engineering]] and [[computer engineering]]

|-

|[[Gamma Sigma Delta]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΓΣΔ}}'''

|[[Agriculture]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Gamma Sigma Delta – The Honor Society of Agriculture |url=http://www.gammasigmadelta.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224112352/http://www.gammasigmadelta.org/ |archive-date=2014-02-24 |access-date=2014-02-19 |website=www.gammasigmadelta.org}}</ref>

|-

|[[Gamma Sigma Epsilon]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΓΣΕ}}'''

|[[Chemistry]]

|

|-

|'''{{lang|grc|ΙΣΠ}}'''

|[[Chemistry]] and related fields, women

|-

|[[Omega Chi Epsilon]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΩΧΕ}}'''

|[[Chemical engineering]]

|-

|-

|[[Phi Alpha Epsilon]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΦΑΕ}}'''

|[[Architectural engineering]]

|-

|[[Phi Lambda Upsilon]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΦΛΥ}}'''

|[[Chemistry]]

|-

|[[Phi Sigma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΦΣ}}'''

|[[biology|Biological sciences]]

|-

|[[Phi Tau Sigma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΦΤΣ}}'''

|Food Science and Technology

|-

|[[Pi Alpha Xi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΠΑΞ}}'''

|[[Horticulture]]

|-

|[[Pi Epsilon]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΠΕ}}'''

|[[Environmental science]]

|-

|[[Pi Epsilon Tau]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΠΕΤ}}'''

|[[Petroleum engineering]] and related fields<ref>{{Cite web |title=About PET |url=http://www.petut.com/about-pet.html |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Pi Epsilon Tau at UT |language=en}}</ref>

|-

|[[Pi Tau Sigma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΠΤΣ}}'''

|[[Mechanical engineering]]

|-

|[[Rho Beta Epsilon]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΡΒΕ}}'''

|[[Robotics]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rho Beta Epsilon – The Robotics Engineering Honor Society |url=https://rhobetaepsilon.com/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |language=en-US}}</ref>

|-

|[[Sigma Gamma Epsilon]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΣΓΕ}}'''

|[[Geology]] and [[earth science]]

|-

|[[Sigma Gamma Tau]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΣΓΤ}}'''

|[[Aerospace engineering]]

|-

|[[Sigma Lambda Alpha (honor society)|Sigma Lambda Alpha]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΣΛΑ}}'''

|[[Landscape architecture]]

|-

|[[Sigma Lambda Chi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΣΛΧ}}'''

|[[Construction management]] technology

|-

|[[Sigma Pi Sigma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΣΠΣ}}'''

|[[Physics]] and [[Astronomy]]

|-

|[[Sigma Xi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΣΞ}}'''

|[[Scientific method|Research in Science and Engineering]]

|-

|[[Sigma Zeta]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΣΖ}}'''

|[[Natural science|Natural sciences]], [[Mathematics]], and [[Computer science]]

|-

|[[Tau Alpha Pi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΤΑΠ}}'''

|[[Engineering technology]]

|-

|[[Tau Beta Pi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΤΒΠ}}'''

|Engineering

|-

|[[Tau Sigma Delta]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΤΣΔ}}'''

|[[Architecture]]

|-

|[[Upsilon Pi Epsilon]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΥΠΕ}}'''

|-

|[[Xi Sigma Pi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΞΣΠ}}'''

|[[Forestry]]

|}

<!--Editors: to add color swatches, see the Talk page for instructions.-->

Some universities have their own independent, open honor societies, which are not affiliated with any national or international organization. Such organizations typically recognize students who have succeeded academically irrespective of their field of study.

!Society

!Emphasis

!Institution

!References

|-

|[[Aquinas Honor Society]]

|[[University of St. Thomas (Houston)|University of St. Thomas]]

|

|

|-

|

|[[Rutgers University]]

|

|-

|[[Cannon and Castle]]

|Miitary

|[[Yale University]]

|

|-

|

|Leadership

|[[University of Florida]]

|

|-

|[[Friar Society]]

|

|<ref>[http://www.friarsociety.org/ Friar Society website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327054201/http://www.friarsociety.org/|date=2009-03-27}} Friar Society Website</ref>

|-

|[[Iron Arrow Honor Society]]

|[[University of Miami]]

|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-11-20 |title=Miami magazine - Arrow Heads |url=http://www6.miami.edu/miami-magazine/fall00/arrowheads.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120021357/http://www6.miami.edu/miami-magazine/fall00/arrowheads.html |archive-date=2009-11-20 |access-date=2023-02-03}}</ref>

|-

|[[Matteo Ricci Society]]

|[[Fordham University]]

|<ref>{{cite web |last=Fordham |title=The Matteo Ricci Society |url=http://www.fordham.edu/academics/colleges__graduate_s/undergraduate_colleg/fordham_college_at_l/special_programs/matteo_ricci_society_22320.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420164511/http://www.fordham.edu/academics/colleges__graduate_s/undergraduate_colleg/fordham_college_at_l/special_programs/matteo_ricci_society_22320.asp |archive-date=2008-04-20 |access-date=2008-01-16 |website=www.fordham.edu}}</ref>

|-

|

|Seniors

|

|-

|

|

|[[Clarkson University]]

|<ref>{{Cite web |title=University Recognition Day and Phalanx |url=https://www.clarkson.edu/student-life/annual-university-events/celebration-recognition-excellence-weekend/university-recognition-day-and-phalanx |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=Clarkson University}}</ref>

|-

|[[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]]

|<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About – Phalanx |url=http://phalanx.union.rpi.edu/about |access-date=2024-05-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>

|-

|

|Seniors

|[[University of Missouri]]

|

|-

|[[Quill and Dagger]]

|[[Cornell University]]

|

|-

|[[Raven Society]]

|

|

|

|-

|[[Society of Innocents]]

|Seniors

|[[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]]

|<ref>[http://involved.unl.edu/Alphabetical%20list%20organizations%202012.pdf U of Nebraska student organization list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122258/http://involved.unl.edu/Alphabetical%20list%20organizations%202012.pdf|date=2014-05-17}}, accessed 15 May 2014.</ref>

|-

|[[Skull and Bones (honor society)|Skull and Bones]]

|[[Pennsylvania State University]]

|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skull and Bones Senior Honor Society |url=http://www.skullandbones.org/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Skull and Bones Senior HAT Society |language=en}}</ref>

|-

|[[Skull and Dagger (honor society)|Skull and Dagger]]

|Seniors

|<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Home |url=https://skullanddagger.org/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Skull & Dagger Society |language=en-US}}</ref>

|-

|

|Seniors

|[[Cornell University]]

|

|

|-

|Engineering

|[[Ohio State University]]

|

|-

|

|[[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]]

|<ref name=":0" />

|}

!Society

!Symbols

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΒΚ}}'''

|Private Certificate, Vocational and Trade Schools

|-

|[[Alpha Beta Gamma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΑΒΓ}}'''

|[[Business]] at [[two-year college]]s

|-

|[[Alpha Gamma Sigma (honor society)|Alpha Gamma Sigma]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΔΨΩ}}'''

|[[Theatre]] at [[two-year college]]s

|-

|[[Epsilon Phi Delta]]

|

|[[Spanish language|Spanish]] at [[two-year college]]s

|-

|[[Mu Alpha Theta]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΜΑΘ}}'''

|[[Mathematics]] at two-year colleges

|-

|[[National Technical Honor Society]]

|

|Workforce [[vocational education]] institutions

|-

|[[Phi Rho Pi]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΦΘΚ}}'''

|General, community and junior colleges

|-

|[[Psi Beta]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΨΒ}}'''

|[[Psychology]] at [[two-year college]]s

|-

|[[Sigma Kappa Delta]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΣΚΔ}}'''

|[[English studies|English]] at [[Community college|community]] and [[junior college]]s

|}

== Secondary school honor societies ==<!--Editors: to add color swatches, see the Talk page for instructions.-->

!Society

!Symbols

|

|General

|-

|[[Computer Science Honor Society]]

|

|General

|-

|[[Delta Epsilon Phi]]

|

|[[Theatre]]

|-

|[[Mu Alpha Theta]]

|'''{{lang|grc|ΜΑΘ}}'''

|[[Mathematics]]

|-

|[[National Art Honor Society]]

|

|[[Visual arts]]

|

|-

|

|General

|-

|[[National English Honor Society]]

|

|[[English language|English]]

|-

|[[National Honor Society]]

|

|General

|-

|[[National Honor Society for Dance Arts]]

|

|General