The Order of Omega
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The Order of Omega is an honor society recognizing particularly meritorious men and women in the undergraduate Greek system. As an honors society, it functions as an adjunct to traditional fraternal organizations, rather than a social or professional group in se.
[edit] History
The Order of Omega was established in Fall 1959 at the University of Miami. It sought to differentiate itself from the long-standing Greek honors society of Phi Beta Kappa by emphasizing community service and inter-greek communication over academic and nominal honors. At that time, the group adopted as its mark the Greek letter omega, in gold on an ivory field. The organization was unique to the University of Miami until, in 1967, a second charter was granted to begin a chapter at University of Southern Mississippi. The group remained exclusive to men until 1977.
In more recent years, the Order has emerged as a moot arena in which the Greek system can air progressive changes to its member organizations as a whole; the 'dry' movement eschewing alcohol use among many groups drew a great deal of support from discussion in the early 1980s about how to improve the general reputation of the Greek system. At present, the Order maintains approximately three hundred chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
[edit] Standards and operation
As an honors society, the Order explicitly restricts its members to academically and socially outstanding undergraduates. It requires upperclassman status (3rd or 4th year at most universities) full-time attendance as a student, and a GPA higher than the all-Greek average at the campus in question as minimum standards. The executive board of the individual chapter is empowered to make further decisions as to the merit of an applicant and initiate them into the Order, based on six criteria surveying character, service to the Greek system, and service to the university community as a whole. In any case, no more than 3% of all eligible Greeks, or fifteen persons, may be admitted in an academic year.
Much of most chapters' typical operation consists of charitable fundraisers, and the selection of persons to receive scholarships endowed by alumni. Persons are only eligible to be initiated into the Order as undergraduates in accredited colleges and universities, but are considered members for life, and some continue to support their chapters financially.
