Alpha Chi

Alpha Chi (AC)
North Carolina Mu Chapter

Alpha Chi At-a-Glance: Alpha Chi is a general honor society that admits students from all academic disciplines. Membership is limited to the top 10 percent of an institution's juniors and seniors. Invitation to membership comes only through an institutional chapter. A college seeking a chapter must grant baccalaureate degrees and be regionally accredited. Some 300 chapters, located in almost every state and in Puerto Rico, induct more than 11,000 members annually. Alpha Chi is distinctive in that it involves members in all aspects of its operation: chapter officer leadership, student representation on the National Council, local chapter event planning, and presenting scholarly programs at regional and national conventions.

Description and Goals: Alpha Chi celebrates as its birthday an auspicious date, February 22, 1922. On that day representatives from five Texas institutions of higher learning met on the campus of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, for the purpose of organizing a scholarship society that would encompass all of the "Class A" colleges and universities in the state. The local chapters of the new organization, which was to be called the Scholarship Societies of Texas, were to be modeled after the honor society begun by President Charles M. Bishop at Southwestern in 1915.

Representatives from thirteen schools approved a constitution for the new organization a year later at the University of Texas at Austin. Six others mailed affirmative votes to the conference. The two principal founders of the state organization, Prof. John C. Granbery of Southwestern and Dean Harry Y. Benedict of the University of Texas, were chosen as president and secretary-treasurer, respectively. In annual elections Granbery was succeeded by several of the other founding sponsors, but Benedict continued to hold the secretary-treasurer's job.

Interest in the Scholarship Societies of Texas spread to other states. At the 1926 meeting, applications were accepted from colleges in Arkansas and Louisiana, and the 1927 meeting at Fort Worth changed the name of the society to the Scholarship Societies of the South. Dean Alfred H. Nolle of Southwest Texas State College was chosen as president of the expanded group, and in 1928 he succeeded Benedict as secretary-treasurer. He held the post continuously through 1969, rendering distinguished leadership to the society under its various names for nearly five decades.

By 1934 the Scholarship Societies of the South comprised 31 chapters in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, but they had eyes on expansion. At the annual meeting, held that year at Texas Woman's College in Denton, the Scholarship Societies of the South voted to become a national organization under the name Alpha Chi. A new constitution was adopted to facilitate that growth. However, with the exception of a school in Oklahoma, no real expansion was experienced until 1950, when Hastings College in Nebraska and Springfield International College in Massachusetts joined Alpha Chi.

In 1955, now with 36 active chapters, Alpha Chi created two regions to carry out its activities. It was not until 1958 that other states were added when South Carolina's Lander College and Utah's Westminster College joined the society. In the 1960's, however, the organization expanded rapidly, especially in the South and Midwest. By the end of 1971, Alpha Chi had installed chapter number 120 and restructured itself under a new constitution. Growth continued strong through the next 25 years, so that by 1999 chapter number 354 was approved, with more than 300 still being active, organized into seven regions. At this time more than 300,000 members have been inducted into Alpha Chi since its beginning.

Harry Benedict, by then president of the University of Texas, became the first president of the newly renamed society in 1934, serving until his death in 1937. Prof. Paul J. Schwab of Trinity University served as president from 1949 until his death in 1966. Dr. Edwin W. Gaston, dean of Stephen F. Austin State University, himself a member of Alpha Chi while a student, became president in 1967. It was under his leadership, coupled with that of the vice president, Dr. Jesse G. Carnes of Trinity University, and the secretary-treasurer, Dr. Joseph E. Pryor, dean of Harding University, that the major growth of Alpha Chi took place. Dr. Pryor served in his office from 1970 to 1983, when a constitutional change created the office of executive director and he took that role. Upon his retirement at the end of 1993, he was succeeded by Dr. Dennis M. Organ, also of Harding University, who had been editor of the society's publications since 1976. Serving as president since Dr. Gaston have been Dr. Robert W. Sledge of McMurry University, Dr. James Divelbiss of Westmar College, Dr. Gayle White of Southern Arkansas University, Dr. Sledge (second tenure), Dr. Patricia A. Williams of Sam Houston State University, and Dr. Clark R. Youngblood of Grand Canyon University.

Alpha Chi's name is derived from the initial letters of the Greek words ALETHEIA, meaning TRUTH, and XAPAKTHP, meaning CHARACTER. In 1935 Alpha Chi adopted its official shield and key, colors, and song. The shield and key bear a lamp of learning and the initials AX in raised letters. The colors are emerald green and sapphire blue, signifying victory and truth. The motto of the organization is taken from the Gospel of John: "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32 KJV). Lyrics for the official song, "Hail to Alpha Chi," were written by a Southwest Texas State University student, J. M. Brandstetter, in 1935. Since Alpha Chi is not a secret organization, there are no hidden symbols and programs are open to the public.

For even more information about Alpha Chi, purchase Dr. Robert Sledge's book entitled Scholarship and Character: Seventy-five Years of Alpha Chi.

FAQs About Membership in Alpha Chi:

Can I apply for membership with the national office?
No. Invitations to membership are issued only by the faculty of colleges and universities that have an Alpha Chi chapter.

Who is eligible for membership in Alpha Chi?
At colleges and universities that have a chapter of Alpha Chi, membership is limited to the top 10 percent of juniors and seniors.

Does Alpha Chi induct graduate students?
No, only undergraduate juniors and seniors. However, members who later become graduate students at a university with an Alpha Chi chapter may remain active in the chapter.

How do I know whether my school has an Alpha Chi chapter?
Check our institutional membership directory (link).

What if my school doesn't have a chapter?
Then the only way you can become a member of Alpha Chi is to help establish a new chapter on your campus. If you e-mail the national office, we can tell you more about this process. However, the key will be enlisting faculty and administrative support, since the application for a chapter must come through the institution itself.

What if my school is listed but no one seems to know anything about Alpha Chi?
Perhaps the chapter has become inactive. In this case, contact the national office for assistance in reviving the chapter. Sometimes this can be accomplished if students on campus demonstrate sufficient interest to the administration and faculty.

What if my school has a chapter but I don't know what the local membership requirements are?
Contact your school's faculty sponsor in charge of maintaining the chapter. That person should be able to answer your questions. If you're unable to find the name of your local chapter sponsor, call the national office for help.

What if I think I should be invited but I haven't been?
Again, you need to check with the chapter sponsor. You could have been accidentally overlooked, or you may not be aware of some requirement you are missing.

Scholarships: Alpha Chi awards $47,000 a year in twenty-one scholarships and fellowships to individual members. In all cases except the Pryor Alumni Fellowship, applications must be submitted through the chapter sponsor. Competition deadlines are always in February.

Many of Alpha Chi's seven regions also offer scholarships and fellowships. Contact the appropriate secretary-treasurer for more information on regional scholarships. Several local chapters also offer scholarships to their members. Contact your chapter sponsor for information.

Major Activities: Fund raising for scholarships and for attending conventions.

Membership Costs: Lifetime membership cost is $50.00.

Advisor:

Advisor's Phone Number: (910) 630-7076