Membership ~ Afiliación
In general, students must meet the following criteria to be initiated into Sigma Delta Pi:
- Complete or be currently enrolled in third semester of college
- Complete or be currently enrolled in a literature or culture course
- Maintain status as a Spanish major or minor
- Maintain a GPA of 3.0 in all Spanish courses
Membership Dues
Prior to the initiation ceremony, students must pay a $40 fee to cover chapter dues and a one-time fee for membership in the national organization. Every subsequent year, members are expected to pay $10 at the beginning of the fall semester.
For more detailed information about membership requirements, please consult this selection from the Epsilon Theta Chapter bylaws.
Article III. Membership
Section 1.
The Society shall receive into its membership, irrespective of membership in or affiliation with other organizations, only those who attain its standards of high academic achievement in the study of the Spanish language, the literature and culture of Hispanic nations, and other college-level subjects. Membership may also be granted to those persons who give evidence of professional merit, proficiency, or special distinction in the fields of Hispanic study and culture or who have made significant contributions to these fields of endeavor. Membership shall be conferred in strict accordance with the standards established by the Association of College Honor Societies. The bases of selection shall be: (1) the scholastic or professional record of the candidate; (2) the distinction the candidate has achieved in the field of Hispanic studies; (3) the candidate's demonstrated support of the goals and ideals of the Society; (4) the character of the candidate. Reception into membership shall be without formal pledge or secret order training. No person will be restricted due to age, race, creed, color, handicap, sex, sexual orientation, developmental disability, national origin, ancestry, marital status, arrest record, or conviction record.
Section 2.
There shall be three classes of membership: active, alumnus, and honorary.
Section 3. Active Membership.
Active membership shall be limited to college students who have demonstrated high scholarship in general and excellence in the academic study of Spanish. Specifically, they must meet the following requirements:
1. Each must have completed three years of study of college-level Spanish (eighteen semester credit hours) or the equivalent thereof, including at least three semester hours of a course in Hispanic literature or Hispanic culture and civilization at the junior (third- year) level. A student may be admitted to active membership while still enrolled in the second junior-level course if all other requirements have been met and if the instructor of the course certifies that the student's work is of "B" or "A" quality.
2. The candidate for active membership must have a minimal grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale in all Spanish courses taken.
3. The candidate must rank in the upper 35% of his/her class - sophomore, junior, or senior - and must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college work.
4. Graduate students who have been unconditionally admitted to a degree-granting program may be elected to membership upon completion of two graduate courses in Spanish with an average which, if continued, will make them eligible for a graduate degree.
5. Sigma Delta Pi does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, or disability.
6. Only Spanish majors and minors are eligible for membership.
Section 4. Alumnus Membership.
This category shall be composed solely of active members who have been graduated or for other reasons have left college. If alumnus members re-enroll either as undergraduate or as graduate students they shall revert to active membership. Alumnus members are welcome at all chapter meetings, but they shall not have the right to vote on matters brought before the chapter nor can they hold office in the chapter.
Section 5. Honorary Membership.
Persons who are obviously interested in, and supportive of, things Hispanic may be elected to this category of membership. Members of the college Spanish teaching staff and other faculty members or college administrative officials notably devoted to the goals and ideals of Sigma Delta Pi and who have supported the work of the chapter are generally initiated as honorary members. Outstanding high-school or community-college teachers of Spanish may be granted honorary membership. This class is not open to students, graduate or undergraduate. For honorary and all other types of members, the national initiation fee must be paid and the membership certificate and insignia presented during the initiation ceremony.
Section 6. Election to Membership.
Once a chapter is installed and has held its first initiation ceremony, the responsibility for the election of candidates to all categories of membership is assumed by the local chapter. Advisers and chapter officers must exercise extreme care in selecting candidates for membership, and they must make sure that candidates meet fully all requirements. Doubtful cases shall be referred to a regional or national officer.
Section 7. Initiation Ceremony.
A neophyte must be initiated personally, not by proxy, and shall be admitted only if he/she arrives in time for the beginning of the ceremony. The initiation ceremony shall be private but not secret. Other than members and initiates, special guests such as spouses and parents of neophytes, administrative officers of the college or university, departmental faculty, and prospective members may be invited to witness the ceremony with the approval of the Adviser and chapter officers.
Section 8. Insignia and Membership Certificates.
The insignia shall be the same for all kinds of membership, but the certificates shall indicate the type of membership: "activo(a) or honorario(a)".
Section 9. Privileges.
Only active members shall vote or hold office in a chapter.
Section 10. Terminology.
The members of the Society shall exercise care in the use of terminology to distinguish between Sigma Delta Pi as an honor Society and such organizations as language clubs, social fraternities, professional fraternities, and recognition societies.
Section 11. Revocation of Membership.
Membership may be revoked for stated and just cause following a formal investigation conducted by the institution and the Society, a formal vote of the faculty/administration of the institution in question, and subsequent approval (majority vote) by the National Executive Council. Such member will be required to return his/her membership pin and certificate to the National Executive Director. Sufficient cause for revocation of membership may result from violation of these by-laws, violation of the honor code of the institution in question, violation of any Society rule or practice, or other conduct that the Executive Committee deems detrimental to the mission and interests of the Society. A member suspended or terminated for just cause would not be entitled to return of dues. Any member whose GPA falls below the required 3.0 during a semester shall be suspended. Failure to attain GPA requirements again within one semester will result in termination of membership. Failure to pay membership dues by the end of the semester in which they are due will also result in the revocation of membership.