The purpose of this case study was to understand how attending an undergraduate academic conference contributes to a student's sense of belonging, not only within their institution but also in the larger academic community. This research was informed by the literature on club participation in conferences and faculty/student connections. Through…

Academic disciplines are vulnerable in the 21st century to the forces Barnett called supercomplexity, and we argue that academic societies such as the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education are especially well positioned to prepare 21st century scholars to respond to contemporary changes in the disciplines and in institutions of…

This case study discusses the postindustrial paradigm of leadership and its influence on the field of leadership and also the higher education leadership literature. Furthermore, this case study examines the structure of one university honor society to discuss how the structure allows for the development of multiple leaders within the…

The purpose of this historical case study dissertation is to discover the story of Dr. Katharine Rea in her role as dean of women and later faculty member in the higher education and student personnel program at the University of Mississippi. As the dean of women in the 1960s Rea was responsible for the well-being and quality of the educational…

The political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha, has chapters in nearly 700 institutions across the United States. The organization sponsors many programs that can contribute a great deal to students of political science; however, many students are unaware of these opportunities. This article encourages chapter advisors to make use of these…

Spring is a time for gardening, blossoms, and baseball. At American college and universities, it is also a time for commencement ceremonies. Students are recognized for their scholastic achievements as faculty and staff close out another academic school year. Family and friends applaud the graduates and celebrate their success. Students show their…

Discusses why Phi Beta Kappa remains a remote influence at historically Black institutions and on Black students at predominantly White college campuses. (EV)

Profiles several African American men who were black electees to the Phi Beta Kappa honorary society in the 19th century (no women were elected during this period), including George Washington Henderson, a former slave, who was the first African American elected. A sidebar describes the first African American woman elected to Phi Beta Kappa in…

Explores why, although Golden Key has gained a large membership, many other honor societies question its mission. Its founder has been ousted amid charges of lax standards and improper encounters with students. (EV)

Single-sex honor societies changed membership requirements to admit members of both sexes in response to Title IX of the 1972 Education amendments. A 1982 study examining the effect of this transition on the sex make-up of members, officers, and faculty advisers revealed that women students were competing equally with men students for leadership…

Characteristics of adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) among traditional-age college students were investigated. Personality characteristics were examined based on birth order, gender of alcoholic parent, and honor society membership. Differences between ACOAs and non-ACOAs are discussed. (Author)

This biography traces the career of Frank E. Thompson, a professor of education at the University of Colorado, and highlights his crucial role in developing Kappa Delta Pi as a national society when he served as its second national president from 1917-1919. (Author/SJL)

Includes the following articles: "Extending the Conversation: Continuity and Change with Debate and Forensics Organization Entering the 21st Century"; "'Speak a New World!' Cross Examination Debate Association"; "Parliamentary Debate as Public Debate"; "Good People Speaking Well: Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa…

Positions taken in Phi Beta Kappa orations between 1782 and 1837 were examined to determine whether partisan stands were taken on controversial issues. The orations that were located suggest that the speakers' social and political choices did not correlate with specific systems of ideas. The Enlightenment offered intellectual arguments as ways to…

Presents a research description of a national sample of members of Mortar Board, an honor society for college seniors selected for outstanding scholarship, leadership, and service. It was found that members were characterized by early leadership development, broad college experiences, and well-defined future plans. (Author)