Sigma Tau Delta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Members | 7000 |
| Website | www.english.org |
Sigma Tau Delta is an international honor society for collegiate students of English. It presently has over 600 active chapters and inducts over 7000 new members annually. Requirements for induction into the society include being an English major or minor, completing two English courses beyond freshmen composition I and II, and maintaining a 3.0 grade point average.
Sigma Tau Delta's purpose, as a society, is to promote literature, writing, and advance the study of the written word. Members gather annually in the spring at the international convention to share experiences and ideas within the English discipline; submit works to the society's creative and critical journals; and participate in the official side of the society. The society offers a number of scholarships and awards, as well as publication opportunities in its journals, The Rectangle and The Sigma Tau Delta Review. The central office of Sigma Tau Delta is located at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.
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[edit] Organization
The society is divided into six regions: Eastern, Far Western, High Plains, Midwestern, Southern, and Southwestern. Each region has three elected regional officers: a regent, a faculty member at a university within the region; a student representative, who is a non-voting member of the board; and an associate student representative.
The regents are voting members of the International Board, which also includes the society president, immediate past president, vice-president/president-elect, historian, treasurer, and student advisors. The student advisors are appointed for two years by the board based on nominations and have full voting rights.
Non-voting members of the board include the executive director, publications' director, director of communications and chapter development, and webmaster.
[edit] Membership
Membership is available to students currently enrolled in four-year colleges and universities with participating chapters. There are two categories of membership: active and associate. Active membership is available, in general, to students with a minimum B average in English. Associate membership is available to students who have the requisite academic background, but who are not majoring or minoring in English.
[edit] History
Sigma Tau Delta was founded on December 12, 1922, as an English Club formed by Judson Q. Owen at Dakota Wesleyan University and was officially recognized by its Greek initials on May 1, 1924.
Previous international conventions have been held in Cincinnati, Ohio (2003), Daytona Beach, Florida (2004), Kansas City, Missouri (2005), Portland, Oregon (2006). The 2007 convention will be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
[edit] Symbols
- The official colors of the society are red and black.
- The official flower is the red rose.
- The society's motto is "Sincerety, Truth, Design."
- The crest of Sigma Tau Delta is a crossed torch and pen with the Greek letters Sigma, Tau, and Delta surrounding the two and a golden star below them. The motto "Sincerity, Truth, Design" and the founding year (1924) are embossed on the circle that surrounds the crossed torch and pen. (see above)
