College-Wide Honor Societies
Alpha Sigma Lambda
Alpha Sigma Lambda was founded in 1946 at Northwestern University to honor those dedicated adult students who achieve and maintain high scholastic standards. The society's more than 300 chartered chapters partner with colleges and universities to celebrate the scholarship and leadership of adult part-time and full-time students in higher education.
To be eligible for membership, a student must be a matriculated, undergraduate at SUNY Cortland who is at least 24 years of age and has at least 24 credit hours completed at Cortland with a minimum 3.2 grade point average. Inductees are selected from the top 20 percent of this group.
SUNY Cortland's Lambda Omicron chapter holds its annual induction ceremony in spring.
Phi Beta Delta
Phi Beta Delta recognizes a commitment to international education, achievement in academic and campus activity related to SUNY Cortland's international mission, and participation in the effort to promote a deeper and wider engagement of the College with the world. The SUNY Cortland chapter, Zeta Xi, was chartered in 2006.
To be eligible for membership, a student must have demonstrated scholarly achievement in the international arena and meet a minimum grade point average, among other criteria. Membership is open to students, faculty, professional, college and administrative staff. Every year Phi Beta Delta selects a student recipient for the Phi Beta Delta Excellence in Internationalization Award.
The Zeta Xi chapter holds its annual induction ceremony in November.
Phi Eta Sigma
Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Phi Eta Sigma is the nation's oldest and largest honor society for first-year college and university students in all disciplines. Phi Eta Sigma chapters are chartered on 365 campuses across the U.S.
To be eligible for membership, a student must have a minimum 3.5 grade point average at the end of any first-year, full-time curricular period and rank in the top 20 percent of his or her class.
The SUNY Cortland chapter holds an annual induction ceremony in April.
Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, there are chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. The SUNY Cortland chapter celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009-2010.
To be eligible for membership, a student must be of sound character and rank in the top percent of his or her class. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also may be eligible for membership. Every year several Scholars of the Year are selected from student member applicants. These applicants also are eligible for national Phi Kappa Phi fellowships to support post-graduate education.
The SUNY Cortland chapter holds its annual induction ceremony in the spring.
Tau Sigma
Tau Sigma is an academic honor society specifically designed to recognize and promote academic excellence and involvement of transfer students in institutions of higher learning. Since its inception in 1999 at Auburn University, Tau Sigma has grown to more than 100 chapters nationwide.
To be eligible for membership, a student must be a full-time student, have completed at least one full year of coursework at a prior institution, have completed at least one full semester at SUNY Cortland and have achieved a minimum 3.5 grade point average in his or her first semester after transferring or be in the top 20 percent of the transfer class.
The SUNY Cortland chapter holds its annual induction ceremony in March.