Phi Eta Sigma National Freshman Honor Society
Purpose and Eligibility
Benefits
- Certificate and Honor Society “key” (charm/pin).
- Recognition for students (and their parents) who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their freshman year at Georgian Court (i.e., for students only at four-year institutions with chapter of FHS).
- Honor students are more employable:
- Résumé builder: Employers appreciate the hard work necessary to attain admittance in an honor society). Include it on your résumé, for life!
- Requirement for entrance at GS-7 level for federal jobs: According to the U.S. Civil Service Commission, membership in a national honor society is required for hire at this level of job and above.
- Initially higher pay level for U.S. federal payroll jobs: from pay scales reported to Phi Eta Sigma National Office.
- Opportunity for students to do charitable works such as tutoring, demonstrating Georgian Court’s commitment to Mercy core values.
- Opportunity for Student Leadership:
- Society elects officers annually.
- Annual national Leadership Conference is FREE to two students and advisor every year.
- Students are eligible to apply for National Phi Eta Sigma cash scholarships.
Student Eligibility
Students must have:
- Completed their freshman year as a full-time student at Georgian Court University.
- Completed at least two semesters at Georgian Court, and maintained continued enrollment at Georgian Court
Maintained a:- 3.5 or above in the first semester as a freshman at in any matriculating major (or undeclared), or
- 3.5 average or above in the first two semesters as a freshman at Georgian Court.
Notes:
- Transfers not eligible (Unless student transfers in their second semester as a freshman with less than 30 credits–this then counts as their first semester at GCU, see above).
- Students are not required to maintain a 3.5 GPA, but it is hoped they would be encouraged to continue to display excellence in their academic career.
Requirements
- One-time membership dues
- Fill out membership cards to enroll (one for national, one local)
- Attend induction ceremony, if possible
- Students will receive a letter of invitation in the mail AFTER the end of their freshman year.
Apply for Membership
APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP:
To be inducted the GCU faculty advisor for this honor society (Dr. Anne Tabor-Morris, atabor-morris@georgian.edu) will send and email with full instructions on information needed and the one-time required fee. Phi Eta Sigma is recognized nationally. Note that this is often the first honor society students are inducted to and most majors also have an honor society. Multiple college honor societies are often seen on resumes and serve as an indication of hard work over different periods of time during a student’s academic career by potential employers.
APPLYING FOR NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP:
The National office is now allowing any inducted student to apply for its scholarships (ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, decided by that national committee based on their evaluation of submissions). The application process is open from April 1 to May 1 online. The GCU faculty advisor for the honor society (Dr. Anne Tabor-Morris, atabor-morris@georgian.edu) needs to be informed by the student that they will be applying because of required approval of the application after it is submitted. Some activity and service to the honor society is expected (for example, serving as an officer of the GCU honor society, assisting in planning of the induction and charity fundraisers.) Student can apply any year in college after being inducted.
For more information on this organization, please visit the National Phi Eta Sigma website.
