Honorary Organizations

Alpha Lambda Delta

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society for the recognition of high academic achievements in the freshman year. To be eligible for Alpha Lambda Delta, the student must have a cumulative average of not less than 3.5 and carry a full class load through the Jan Term of the freshman year.

Alpha Psi Omega

Alpha Psi Omega is a national honorary fraternity in Theatre Art. Candidates for admission must be active members of the Palmetto Players and demonstrate outstanding and continual contributions to the Theatre Program at Converse.

Alpha Sigma Lambda

The Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society was established in 1946 to recognize the special achievements of nontraditional adult students who accomplish academic excellence while managing the demands of family, work, and community. Membership in the Chi Delta Chapter of Converse University is by invitation to first-degree seeking Converse II students with a minimum of 24 graded semester hours earned at Converse University and a 3.2 GPA or above.

Delta Omicron

Delta Omicron is a professional music fraternity whose purpose is to encourage the highest possible scholastic attainment, excellence of individual performance, and appreciation of good music, to create and foster fellowship through music, to develop character and leadership, and to give material aid to worthy music students. Membership is open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students of outstanding scholarship and musicianship.

The Gamma Sigma Society

The Gamma Sigma Society is the honorary scholarship society of Converse University. The purpose of the Society is to encourage scholarship among the students of Converse University and to honor by election to membership in the Society those seniors, not to exceed ten percent of the graduating class, who have demonstrated superior scholastic attainment throughout their entire college course. To be eligible for election, students must be candidates for a bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts and sciences. Criteria for selection to Gamma Sigma are based on the Phi Beta Kappa standards.

Kappa Delta Pi

International Honor Society in Education fosters excellence in education and promotes fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. Using a variety of programs, services and resources, Kappa Delta Pi supports and advances educators throughout the phases and levels of their teaching careers. Their mission is to prepare all learners for future challenges. To be eligible, students in education program must be in their Junior year and have a 3.0 GPA.

Mortar Board Gavel Chapter

Mortar Board is a national honor society of college seniors whose purpose, in part, is “to support the ideals of the university, to advance a spirit of scholarship, to recognize and encourage leadership, and to provide the opportunity for a meaningful exchange of ideas as individuals and as a group.” Qualifications for membership in Mortar Board include outstanding leadership, scholarship, and service. All juniors with a cumulative scholastic average of 3.0 or above are considered for membership. Selection and tapping of new members occurs in the spring of their junior year.

Phi Sigma Iota

Phi Sigma Iota is a national foreign language honor society. Its primary objectives are the recognition of above average ability and attainments in languages and literature, the stimulation of advanced work and individual research in this field, and the promotion of a friendship and understanding between our nation and the nations using these languages.

Students eligible for membership must meet the following requirements: Junior or Senior standing (Sophomore in exceptional circumstances); a curriculum with an emphasis in foreign language; at least a “B” average in their entire college work as well in all courses in language; and completion of at least one course in foreign language at the third- year level of beyond. Membership is by faculty recommendation and invitation.

Pi Gamma Mu

The purpose of Pi Gamma Mu is to improve scholarship in the social sciences and to provide an equal opportunity for an exchange of ideas between individuals involved in the various fields of social science. Only students with at least twenty semester hours of social sciences with an average grade therein of not less than “B” are considered for membership.

Pi Kappa Lambda

“Strive always for the beautiful” is the motto of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Membership is by invitation to those faculty members, graduate students, seniors, and juniors in the field of music who show outstanding leadership and scholarship. Graduating seniors in The Petrie School of Music whose averages in all subjects rank among the upper one-fifth of the class and juniors whose averages in all subjects rank among the upper one-tenth of the class are eligible for election.

Student Marshals

Student Marshals are chosen from the rising junior class each year on the basis of academic excellence. They are among the most honored students on campus. They officially represent the University in the formal ceremonies of the academic year, including Formal Opening Convocation, Founder’s Day, Baccalaureate and Commencement, where they add order and dignity to the proceedings.