“Anytime students are talking with their families about what they're learning, that really pleases me.”
Humanities Assistant Professor Margaret Wiley
Alpha Chi
Colby-Sawyer College
New Hampshire Alpha Chapter
Alpha Chi is a national honor society that promotes academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students. Its name derives from the initials of the Greek words ALETHEIA (truth) and CAPAKTHP (character).
Alpha Chi Pledge
I pledge myself to uphold the purposes of Alpha Chi, striving to make its ideals my ideals in scholarship and in service.
Alpha Chi National Honor Society Web Site
The New Hampshire Alpha Chapter was established on the Colby-Sawyer College campus in the spring of 1980 to promote academic excellence and exemplary character among our students and to honor those achieving such distinction. In the fall of 2009, 28 students were inducted into Alpha Chi and since its inception 457 students have been inducted from Colby-Sawyer College. We also instituted a campus honor society, Alpha Chi Associates, to recognize sophomores who have demonstrated the ideals of Alpha Chi. Thirty-six students became Associates in 2009-10.
Induction Ceremony 2009
Alpha Chi Associates
Alpha Chi Associates serve in the campus honor society during their sophomore year only. In order to continue a relationship with the New Hampshire Alpha Chapter, students must be eligible for and receive membership in Alpha Chi based on the criteria listed below.
Selection Criteria
Alpha Chi
Students must rank in the top 10 percent of the junior and senior class and demonstrate ideals of truth and character. Senior members include those selected in the junior year. A candidate must have completed at least half of the credits for graduation and must have been enrolled as a full-time student at Colby-Sawyer College for at least one academic year prior to election.
Alpha Chi Associates
To be eligible for induction in the fall term of the sophomore year, students must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours of which at least 12 must be earned at the college. Students may not have taken more than 60 credit hours at any other institution. At least one-half of the courses offered at the time of consideration for induction must be Colby-Sawyer courses. Students must also have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on all Colby-Sawyer work.
Activities
Over the last several years, some campus projects have included working with school districts as college mentors, promoting study abroad programs, and working on the AIDS quilt project.
Charter Constitution and Bylaws
ALPHA CHI
ARTICLE I - Name
The New Hampshire Alpha Chapter of Alpha Chi (No. 196) was established at Colby-Sawyer College in 1980. The chapter uses the national organization constitution with additions to Article XIV, Local Chapter Organization.
ARTICLE II - Purpose
The purpose of this chapter will be the stimulation and recognition of scholarship and those elements of character that make scholarship.
ARTICLE III - Officers
Section A. Officers will be elected each fall and will consist of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and student delegate to the national convention. Chapter members each year may combine positions but at least two officers must be selected by the organization.
Section B. Because of the connectedness of the sophomore Alpha Chi Associates with the Alpha Chi chapter, the Alpha Chi officers will meet with the sophomore officers to form the executive board for the purpose of planning activities.
Section C. Each year students will select at least one and up to three associate sponsors of the organization from the faculty at the college.
ARTICLE IV - Yearly Activities
Section A. The members of the organization will select an Alpha Chi award winner each spring. The recipient will be a graduating senior who, in the eyes of the members, best exemplifies the ideals of the Society and who has worked to promote the chapter on campus.
Section B. The chapter will sponsor at least one scholarly activity for the campus community each year. The members of the organization will determine other activities
ARTICLE V - Executive Board of New Hampshire Alpha
Section A. Members of the executive board include the officers of the chapter, the Alpha Chi Associates officers, the official sponsor(s), and the associate sponsor(s).
Section B. The president of the chapter will serve as president of the executive board and the secretary of the chapter will serve as secretary to the executive board.
Section C. The duties of the executive board are to carry out the work of the chapter during the intervals between meetings of the membership.
ARTICLE VI - Meetings
Section A. Each academic year there will be at least two regular meetings held with the Alpha Chi membership.
Section B. The first meeting will be held in the fall semester no later than two weeks preceding mid-term
- The first part of the meeting will be the election of the Alpha Chi Associates officers.
- The second part of the meeting will be a business meeting that shall include the election of the associate sponsor(s).
Section C. The second regular meeting will be held in April and will contain an event of a social nature.
ARTICLE VII - Finances
Section A. Funds may be raised by the membership in accord with college policy.
Section B. Expenditure of chapter funds must have the approval of the official sponsor, the president of the chapter, and the executive board.
ARTICLE VIII - Elections
Section A. The election of the Alpha Chi Associates officers will be at the fall meeting.
Section B. Elections of the officers and associate sponsor(s) will be by secret ballot.
Section C. A majority vote of the members present will be required for election to office.
ARTICLE IX - Committees
Committees will be appointed jointly from the Alpha Chi and Alpha Chi Associates members.
ARTICLE X - Quorum
A quorum for the purpose of conducting business will consist of those members present at a duly called meeting; that is, a meeting announced by the secretary of Alpha Chi to the entire membership one week prior to the meeting itself.
ARTICLE XI - Parliamentary Authority
In the absence of any law, Alpha Chi constitutional provision, or bylaw to the contrary, the practices describe in Robert's Rules of Order will apply at all meetings involving the transaction of business.
ARTICLE XII - Amendments to Bylaws
Section A. Any proposed change in the bylaws must be distributed, in writing, to all active members and the sponsors of this chapter one week in advance of the meeting at which the proposal is to be presented.
Section B. A two-thirds majority of those present must vote in favor of a bylaw change before it becomes effective.
ARTICLE XIII - Precedence of the Constitution
No bylaw may be passed which conflicts with the national constitution of Alpha Chi.
ALPHA CHI ASSOCIATES
ARTICLE I - Name
To recognize sophomore students, Colby-Sawyer established a campus honor society called Alpha Chi Associates.
ARTICLE II - Purpose
The purpose of the Alpha Chi Associates is to stimulate and recognize scholarship and those elements of character that make scholarship. Members work with the chapter Alpha Chi members to achieve this goal.
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section A. Sophomores with a 3.50 or above cumulative grade point average and who demonstrate the ideals of truth and character are invited to membership in the Alpha Chi Associates.
Section B. Membership in the Alpha Chi Associates is active only for the student's sophomore year.
Section C. Membership is the Alpha Chi Associates does not guarantee membership is Alpha Chi during the student's junior and/or senior years.
Section D. Prospective candidates for the annual induction will be considered on the basis of their record at the end of the spring term just prior to the fall term induction. Induction is held annually as part of Family Weekend.
Section E. This society is not affiliated with the national organization of Alpha Chi.
ARTICLE IV - Officers
Section A. Only members designated as active may hold office in the Alpha Chi Associates.
Section B. The Alpha Chi Associates will elect two officers for the academic year.
Section C. The duties of the officers are to serve on the executive board of the Alpha Chi chapter and to promote activities of interest to the Associates membership.
Section D. The Associates officers will be elected in the fall of each year to serve for that academic year.
ARTICLE V - Filling Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy, the remaining Associates officer will appoint an active member to fill the vacancy.
For more information contact Colby-Sawyer College chapter sponsors:
Jean Eckrich
603-526-3448 or
Randy Hanson
603-526-3657
