Academic - Intercollegiate Academic - LAS Academic - Pre-Professional Special Interest Graduate and Professional

Description

Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, recognizes the academic excellence of undergraduate, graduate, and Juris Doctorate students. Alpha Phi Sigma (APS) is the only honor society for students of the criminal justice sciences recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. The Honor Society is open to those with a declared major, minor or equivalent in a Criminal Justice or related field leading to a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or Doctoral degree. Membership Alpha Phi Sigma signifies your dedication to academic excellence, leadership, service and unity, and allows you to join the ranks of thousands of other Alpha Phi Sigma members and alumni across the world who make a positive difference each day in their professions and communities. The mission of Alpha Phi Sigma is to promote analytical thinking, rigorous scholarship, and lifelong learning; to keep abreast of the advances in scientific research; to elevate the ethical standards of the criminal justice professions; and to sustain in the public mind the benefits and necessity of education and professional training.

Affiliations

This organization has no affiliations.

Constitution / Tier

File ALPHAPHISIGMA_PiEpsilonLambdaConstitution1.docx
Tier Student Organization - Registered

Membership Information

Student Members 7
ISU Members 1
Non-ISU Members 0
Allowed Members 1. Baccalaureate students shall be enrolled at the time of application at Iowa State University, have declared a major, minor or equivalent in the criminal justice or related field, have completed three full time semesters or its equivalent, have a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, with a minimum GPA of 3.2 in courses in criminal justice related fields and rank in the top 35% of their class. A minimum of four courses of the above course work shall be in the criminal justice field. 2. Masters students shall be enrolled at the time of application in a Masters program in the Criminal Justice field at Iowa State University, have completed four courses, and have a minimum GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale. Up to three undergraduate courses in Criminal Justice may be used to satisfy the four-course requirement. These courses must equate to a 3.4 GPA or higher, and the cumulative undergraduate degree program GPA is a 3.2 or higher. In addition, all Masters level coursework must equate to a 3.4 GPA or higher at the institution in which the student is enrolled. 3. Doctoral Students shall be enrolled at the time of application in a Ph.D. program in the Criminal Justice/ related field at Iowa State University, have completed four courses, have a minimum GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. Up to three Masters courses in Criminal Justice may be used to satisfy the four-course requirement. These courses must equate to a 3.6 GPA or higher, and the cumulative Master’s degree program GPA is a 3.4 or higher. In addition, any Ph.D. level coursework must equate to a 3.6 GPA or higher at the institution in which the student is enrolled. 4. Students enrolled in law school, must have completed their first academic semester with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 5. Transfer Members. Any Alpha Phi Sigma member who transfers to another college or university shall be accepted into the local chapter at Iowa State University and shall pay the local chapter fee, if any. After one term, the member shall be subject to all rules, regulations, and requirements of the Pi Epsilon Lambda chapter. Headquarters will not issue a new certificate of membership unless specifically requested by the chapter advisor and paid for by the member. B. Faculty Members Faculty and administration involvement is recognized and encouraged. Candidates for membership must be full-time faculty or administrators in a criminal justice related field unless the college primarily uses Adjunct faculty. They must have completed a minimum of one-year full-time teaching/administrative duties at Iowa State University where they are inducted and elected by majority vote during a regular meeting. Membership applications shall be approved and signed by the chapter advisor, submitted to and accepted by Headquarters. C. Honorary Members. Honorary membership recognizes community people who have made distinctive scholarly and research contributions to the criminal justice field or who have provided outstanding support for the Pi Epsilon Lambda chapter. Honorary Members may not be students. The Chapter Advisor shall approve nominations. Honorary Members must be elected by a 2/3 vote of the chapter. The Pi Epsilon Lambda chapter may elect Honorary Members during a regular meeting. Membership applications shall be approved and signed by the chapter advisor, submitted to, and accepted by Headquarters. D. Professional Members. Includes College/University graduates not previously initiated into Alpha Phi Sigma. 1. Eligibility: Professionals shall have made a distinctive contribution to the profession; shall have earned one or more degrees in criminal justice or related field from a regionally accredited institution; working in the profession as a criminal justice practitioner for a minimum of two (2) years; shall have a minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale as undergraduate student or minimum cumulative 3.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale as graduate student. Academic transcript and personal resume must accompany the application. Membership application packet must be submitted to Headquarters and approved by the Executive Director. 2. Professional members have the option of being part of the Alumni Association, Alumni Circle, active, or golden. E. Alumni Members. Pi Epsilon Lambda Collegiate members in good standing at the time of graduation from Iowa State University are alumni members. F. Alumni Association Members. Alumni Association Members are Alpha Phi Sigma alumni members that have applied for membership in the Alumni Association. There are two categories of Alumni, active and golden. 1. Active – Alumni shall apply for membership and contribute an annual fee to the Alumni Association. 2. Golden– Alumni shall apply for membership and contribute a one-time fee to Headquarters. a. Faculty members teaching in the field of Criminal Justice and are a chapter advisor for a minimum of five years, may apply for Golden Alumni Membership. b. Professional members have the option of being part of the Alumni association, alumni circle, active, or golden. Section 3. Additional Qualifications. Membership in the Society is open to qualified candidates including persons with disability, without regard to age, color, gender, national origin, race, religion, and/or sexual orientation. Section 4. Privileges of Membership. Active, Alumni Members, and Golden Members shall have the right to vote, hold appropriate office, be elected or appointed to committees of the Pi Epsilon Lambda chapter provided other uniform criteria are met, and shall have such other privileges as the Executive Advisory Board shall determine. Honorary members and Professional members shall have all the privileges of active members except the right to vote, hold office or serve on committees, unless allowed at the chapter level. a. Faculty members (Other than the Chapter Advisor), Honorary members, Professional members, and Alumni members shall have all the privileges of active members except the right to vote, and hold office.
Allowed Officers All officers must be full-time students at Iowa State University and must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA as stated above (3.2- UG; 3.4-Grad; 3.6-PhD) and be in good standing with Pi Epsilon Lambda. Meaning, that the member has been active in Pi Epsilon Lambda meetings and activities and has actively participated toward the promoting of the goals of Pi Epsilon Lambda.
Membership Qualifications 1. Baccalaureate students shall be enrolled at the time of application at Iowa State University, have declared a major, minor or equivalent in the criminal justice or related field, have completed three full time semesters or its equivalent, have a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, with a minimum GPA of 3.2 in courses in criminal justice related fields and rank in the top 35% of their class. A minimum of four courses of the above course work shall be in the criminal justice field. 2. Masters students shall be enrolled at the time of application in a Masters program in the Criminal Justice field at Iowa State University, have completed four courses, and have a minimum GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale. Up to three undergraduate courses in Criminal Justice may be used to satisfy the four-course requirement. These courses must equate to a 3.4 GPA or higher, and the cumulative undergraduate degree program GPA is a 3.2 or higher. In addition, all Masters level coursework must equate to a 3.4 GPA or higher at the institution in which the student is enrolled. 3. Doctoral Students shall be enrolled at the time of application in a Ph.D. program in the Criminal Justice/ related field at Iowa State University, have completed four courses, have a minimum GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. Up to three Masters courses in Criminal Justice may be used to satisfy the four-course requirement. These courses must equate to a 3.6 GPA or higher, and the cumulative Master’s degree program GPA is a 3.4 or higher. In addition, any Ph.D. level coursework must equate to a 3.6 GPA or higher at the institution in which the student is enrolled. 4. Students enrolled in law school, must have completed their first academic semester with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 5. Transfer Members. Any Alpha Phi Sigma member who transfers to another college or university shall be accepted into the local chapter at Iowa State University and shall pay the local chapter fee, if any. After one term, the member shall be subject to all rules, regulations, and requirements of the Pi Epsilon Lambda chapter. Headquarters will not issue a new certificate of membership unless specifically requested by the chapter advisor and paid for by the member. B. Faculty Members Faculty and administration involvement is recognized and encouraged. Candidates for membership must be full-time faculty or administrators in a criminal justice related field unless the college primarily uses Adjunct faculty. They must have completed a minimum of one-year full-time teaching/administrative duties at Iowa State University where they are inducted and elected by majority vote during a regular meeting. Membership applications shall be approved and signed by the chapter advisor, submitted to and accepted by Headquarters. C. Honorary Members. Honorary membership recognizes community people who have made distinctive scholarly and research contributions to the criminal justice field or who have provided outstanding support for the Pi Epsilon Lambda chapter. Honorary Members may not be students. The Chapter Advisor shall approve nominations. Honorary Members must be elected by a 2/3 vote of the chapter. The Pi Epsilon Lambda chapter may elect Honorary Members during a regular meeting. Membership applications shall be approved and signed by the chapter advisor, submitted to, and accepted by Headquarters. D. Professional Members. Includes College/University graduates not previously initiated into Alpha Phi Sigma. 1. Eligibility: Professionals shall have made a distinctive contribution to the profession; shall have earned one or more degrees in criminal justice or related field from a regionally accredited institution; working in the profession as a criminal justice practitioner for a minimum of two (2) years; shall have a minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale as undergraduate student or minimum cumulative 3.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale as graduate student. Academic transcript and personal resume must accompany the application. Membership application packet must be submitted to Headquarters and approved by the Executive Director. 2. Professional members have the option of being part of the Alumni Association, Alumni Circle, active, or golden. E. Alumni Members. Pi Epsilon Lambda Collegiate members in good standing at the time of graduation from Iowa State University are alumni members. F. Alumni Association Members. Alumni Association Members are Alpha Phi Sigma alumni members that have applied for membership in the Alumni Association. There are two categories of Alumni, active and golden. 1. Active – Alumni shall apply for membership and contribute an annual fee to the Alumni Association. 2. Golden– Alumni shall apply for membership and contribute a one-time fee to Headquarters. a. Faculty members teaching in the field of Criminal Justice and are a chapter advisor for a minimum of five years, may apply for Golden Alumni Membership. b. Professional members have the option of being part of the Alumni association, alumni circle, active, or golden. Section 3. Additional Qualifications. Membership in the Society is open to qualified candidates including persons with disability, without regard to age, color, gender, national origin, race, religion, and/or sexual orientation. Section 4. Privileges of Membership. Active, Alumni Members, and Golden Members shall have the right to vote, hold appropriate office, be elected or appointed to committees of the Pi Epsilon Lambda chapter provided other uniform criteria are met, and shall have such other privileges as the Executive Advisory Board shall determine. Honorary members and Professional members shall have all the privileges of active members except the right to vote, hold office or serve on committees, unless allowed at the chapter level. a. Faculty members (Other than the Chapter Advisor), Honorary members, Professional members, and Alumni members shall have all the privileges of active members except the right to vote, and hold office.
Membership Restrictions Undergraduate members - have declared a major, minor or equivalent in the criminal justice or related field, have completed three full time semesters or its equivalent, have a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, with a minimum GPA of 3.2 in courses in criminal justice related fields and rank in the top 35% of their class. A minimum of four courses of the above course work shall be in the criminal justice field. Masters members - Must have a minimum GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale. Up to three undergraduate courses in Criminal Justice may be used to satisfy the four-course requirement. These courses must equate to a 3.4 GPA or higher, and the cumulative undergraduate degree program GPA is a 3.2 or higher. In addition, all Masters level coursework must equate to a 3.4 GPA or higher at the institution in which the student is enrolled. PhD Members - Must have completed four courses, have a minimum GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. Up to three Masters courses in Criminal Justice may be used to satisfy the four-course requirement. These courses must equate to a 3.6 GPA or higher, and the cumulative Master’s degree program GPA is a 3.4 or higher. In addition, any Ph.D. level coursework must equate to a 3.6 GPA or higher at the institution in which the student is enrolled.
Elections/Selection Section 4. Elections. a. General elections will be held to replace officers whose terms are due to expire. b. Special elections shall be held when an office is vacated before a term has expired. c. Nomination of candidates: A candidate for office must be nominated by a voting member during the first meeting in September, in the case of general elections or during the meeting immediately prior to special elections. d. Time of Elections: General elections shall be held during the first meeting in September and special elections shall be held as necessary. e. Form of Vote: All elections shall be by secret ballot.
Meetings Section 1: Quorum. To conduct business, a simple majority of the total voting membership must be present at the meeting. A simple majority of the total voting membership must be present for all elections. Section 2: Voting Percentages. Motions dealing with amendments and the removal of officers will require a simple majority vote of the total voting membership. All other motions will require a simple majority vote of the quorum to pass. Section 3: Parliamentary Authority. The bylaws of Pi Epsilon Lambda shall be the supreme authority in parliamentary procedure at all meetings. Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the procedure used to conduct meetings except where it conflicts with these bylaws. Section 4: Frequency of Meetings. Pi Epsilon Lambda shall meet monthly during the semester. The Advisor, President or a 2/3 majority of the total voting membership may call emergency meetings. Written and/or verbal notice of Pi Epsilon Lambda meetings shall be given to all members at least 7 days prior to such meetings. Written and/or verbal notice of special or emergency meetings shall be given to all members at least 3 days in advance.

Description of Regular Meetings/Activities

Along with regular meetings, the organizations plans to have several guest speakers from diverse CJ background (academic and professional). We also plan to hold fund raisers and have our members attend regional and national conferences and competitions.

Description of Special Events

We are going to have a banquet / induction ceremony for new members and recognize outstanding members and celebrate the accomplishments of the organization each year.
Host the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Chili Cook Off
Host the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Pancake Breakfast during LAS week.