51ÁÔÆæ

person writing on white board

Honor Societies in the World Languages & Cultures department:

Pi Delta Phi (for French students)

Pi Delta Phi (for French students)

Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society, was founded as a departmental honor society at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1906 and became a national society in 1925. At present, it numbers more than 300 chapters nationwide, as well as chapters in Paris and Aix-en-Provence. The Society was admitted to membership in the Association of Honor Societies in 1967.

Mu Gamma is the name of the Pi Delta Phi chapter at 51ÁÔÆæ. Since the founding of the chapter in 1996, over forty outstanding students of French have become members.

The purpose of the society is…

  • to recognize outstanding scholarship in the French language and its literatures;
  • to increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world
  • to stimulate and encourage French and francophone cultural activities.

As a member of Pi Delta Phi, you…

  • become part of a vibrant community united by appreciation of francophone cultures
  • enhance your academic achievements by belonging to a national honor society
  • enhance your professional portfolio by highlighting your excellence in French
  • become eligible to apply for Pi Delta Phi sponsored scholarships.

Membership…

Membership is open to any student who has taken at least one French course numbered 350 or higher and who has a minimum 3.0 GPA in French coursework and overall coursework. Students do not have to be a full French major or minor to qualify for membership.

There is a one-time membership fee of $35, and the Pi Delta Phi national office will provide you with a certificate and a pin. Your name will be added to the national Pi Delta Phi roster, and you may also purchase ($15) a cord to wear at commencement.

Application…

Application deadlines are usually October 15 and March 15. For more information or an application form, contact russelnc@uwm.edu 

Vive le français! et à bientôt! 

Sigma Delta Pi (for Spanish students)

What is Sigma Delta Pi?

, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of South Carolina, a member of the and partners with the and the . Founded at the University of California, Berkley in 1919.

What Are the Advantages of Membership?

There are many benefits for being a member in Sigma Delta Pi. Besides looking great on a resume, members are entitled to apply for study abroad scholarships for programs in both Spain and Latin America. Also, the 51ÁÔÆæ chapter sponsors cultural activities that will increase members’ awareness of Hispanic culture, making them very competitive in an increasingly global society. Some benefits are listed below. Read the .

  • Association with the only honor society devoted exclusively to students of Spanish in four-year colleges and universities, the largest foreign-language honor society in existence (over 170,000 members) and one of the elite as attested by its membership in the Association of College Honor Societies, the nation’s only certifying agency for college and university honor societies.
  • Exclusive access to Sigma Delta Pi’s growing scholarship program comprising annual undergraduate awards for summer study in Spain, Mexico and Ecuador (locations subject to change) and research grants for graduate students.
  • Active and ambitious student members may apply as a chapter for Chapter Project Grants to help finance their group’s activities that complement the mission of Sigma Delta Pi.
  • Members are eligible to apply for $500 merit-based scholarships from the Washington Internship Institute (WII) for the ACHS/WII Internship Program.
  • Bolstered credentials for any professional field, including business. For example, see the Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions at the website of the United States Office of Personnel Management.
  • Distinctive student honors such as the Gabriela Mistral Award, available to one outstanding member per chapter annually, and the Mario Vargas Llosa Award, a joint Sigma Delta Pi-AATSP Recognition granted yearly to one outstanding, undergraduate student major or minor of Spanish.
  • Leadership opportunities through election to chapter offices and the direction of various chapter projects (see handbook for ideas) that may result in such national distinctions as the Honor Chapter Award, the Premio Ignacio y Sophie Galbis and the Premio Frida Kahlo.
  • An enhanced résumé afforded by serving as an active chapter officer: organizational leadership and initiative are attractive qualities to prospective employers.
  • Supportive network of regional and national officers to provide guidance for chapter activities and Society-related issues.
  • Available awards for outstanding faculty of Hispanic Studies or members of one’s local community who have made exceptional efforts in furthering Sigma Delta Pi’s mission.
  • Closer association with students of similar interests and out-of-class interaction with members of faculty.
  • Opportunities to participate in Sigma Delta Pi’s annual informative sessions, held in conjunction with the AATSP and the Kentucky Foreign Language Conference, and the triennial convention, held during the meeting of the AATSP.

For scholarship information, go to …

How do I become a member?

  • To be considered for admission, applicants must have taken, at minimum, Spanish 350 or Spanish 341.
  • Students should have a 3.0 GPA in all Spanish courses taken at 51ÁÔÆæ.
  • Students must have a 3.2 cumulative GPA in all college work.

What are the dues?

Along with a completed application form, students must also pay a one-time fee of $39, which will cover initiation costs.

For more information contact: cferr@uwm.edu

Delta Phi Alpha (for German students)

What is Delta Phi Alpha?

logo for Delta Phi Alpha; falcon with crest with Greek letters on it

Delta Phi Alpha is the German National Honor Society. Founded in 1929, it currently has 277 chapters across the United States. Delta Phi Alpha’s purpose is to promote the study of German language, literature, and culture by recognizing outstanding work by students in this field and incentivizing further study through scholarships.

Lambda Tau is the name of the Delta Phi Alpha chapter at 51ÁÔÆæ. Since its founding in 2005, many 51ÁÔÆæ German students have become members.

Membership in the honor society is lifelong and all members of Delta Phi Alpha are eligible for scholarships to study abroad, teach German, or pursue a graduate degree in German.

For general as well as scholarship information, visit .

Eligibility

You do not need to be a German major or even minor to join Delta Phi Alpha. Instead, all new members must satisfy the following requirements:

  • A minimum of two years of college or university German or their equivalent
  • A minimum average of B+ (3.3GPA) or its equivalent in German courses
  • A minimum cumulative average of B- (2.7GPA) or its equivalent
  • Indication of continued interest in the study of German language and literature

How to Apply

To become a lifetime member, you must pay a one-time membership fee of $25. You will receive a certificate of membership (an Ukunde) and a pin. For an additional fee of $10, you may also purchase an honor cord to wear at commencement.

The application deadline is usually March 1.

The initiation ceremony takes place and May.

Application forms are available in Curtin Hall 896 and can be returned to the Delta Phi Alpha faculty advisor.

For more information, contact faculty advisor Jonathan Wipplinger, wippling@uwm.edu.

Honors College

Students invited to join the 51ÁÔÆæ Honors College have exclusive access to Honors classes and upon completion of the Honors requirements can graduate with Honors distinctions. Honors courses are typically smaller than average and taught in a seminar style. Freshmen are invited to join based on their admissions application materials demonstrating high achievement in high school. Current students and transfer students can contact the Honors College to inquire about eligibility to apply.


Dean’s Honor List

Students with a major in the College of Letters & Science majors who earn a GPA of 3.750 or above in any semester where 12 or more graded credits are earned will be placed on the Dean’s Honors List for that semester.


Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest honor society. Membership is by invitation only. Just ten percent of U.S. universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and within the UW System, only Milwaukee and Madison have chapters.

Membership criteria include the completion of a broad range of liberal arts coursework spanning the arts, sciences, humanities, social sciences, and languages; and academic achievement with a minimum GPA in these classes of 3.850 for juniors or 3.750 for seniors.


Phi Kappa Phi

Phi Kappa Phi is also recognized as one of the nation’s premier academic honor societies. Membership is by invitation only and is based on class rank — top 7.5% for juniors or top 10% for seniors. All majors are eligible.


Graduation Honors

Undergraduate students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded 51ÁÔÆæ credits earned prior to the final semester will receive all-university commencement honors and will be awarded the traditional gold cord at the commencement honors convocation.