Alpha Gamma Sigma () (AGS), founded in 1926 by Dr. William T. Boyce at Fullerton College, is the

honor society In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the National Honor Society of the Boy Sc ...

of the California Community Colleges system. It was conceived as "an

intellectual An intellectual is a person who engages in critical thinking, research, and reflection about the reality of society, and who proposes solutions for the normative problems of society. Coming from the world of culture, either as a creator or a ...

stimulus, comparable to that of

Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal a ...

in the higher colleges" for what were then called

junior colleges A junior college (sometimes referred to colloquially as a juco, JuCo or JC) is a post-secondary educational institution offering vocational training designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations and workers in su ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. AGS supports its members in defining and reaching their

goals A goal is an objective that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve. Goal may also refer to: Sport * Goal (sports), a method of scoring in many sports, or the physical structure or area where scoring occurs ** Goals, the goal frame in ...

by encouraging achievement and

community service Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community without any form of compensation. Community service can be distinct from volunteering, since it is not always performed ...

, building social and professional

network Network, networking and networked may refer to: Science and technology * Network theory, the study of graphs as a representation of relations between discrete objects * Network science, an academic field that studies complex networks Mathematics ...

s, and providing the information and focus needed for success.

Motto

*Α -

Alpha Alpha (uppercase , lowercase ; grc, ἄλφα, ''álpha'', or ell, άλφα, álfa) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of one. Alpha is derived from the Phoenician letter aleph , whic ...

: ''Arête'', good character or virtue or "excellence" *Γ -

Gamma Gamma (uppercase , lowercase ; ''gámma'') is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 3. In Ancient Greek, the letter gamma represented a voiced velar stop . In Modern Greek, this letter re ...

: ''Gnosis'', knowledge *Σ -

Sigma Sigma (; uppercase Σ, lowercase σ, lowercase in word-final position ς; grc-gre, σίγμα) is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 200. In general mathematics, uppercase Σ is used as ...

: ''Sophrosyne'', good judgment or "wisdom" Hence the AGS motto: "Add to good character, knowledge and judgment."

Campus AGS Chapters

Colleges that have chartered Alpha Gamma Sigma chapters can be seen on th
Chapter Membership page of the AGS Website.
All chapters must remit part of their local dues to AGS Inc. for the support of scholarships and some administrative expenses. To remain in good standing, chapters must also submit annually to AGS, Inc. a list of those students who have achieved "Permanent Member" status. Each chapter sets requirements for participation that include meeting attendance, educational enrichment activities, and school or community service. Most community colleges with chapters award transcript recognition to students who have met those requirements.

Membership Eligibility

Students enrolled in a California community college with an active AGS chapter are eligible for membership if they have: *completed, within the past two years, of 12 graded

units Unit may refer to: Arts and entertainment * UNIT, a fictional military organization in the science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' * Unit of action, a discrete piece of action (or beat) in a theatrical presentation Music * Unit (album), ...

, in a maximum of 3 semesters or 5 quarters, at any recognized institution of higher education and *earned a

grade point average Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements for varying levels of achievements in a course. Grades can be assigned as letters (usually A through F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), as a percentage, or as a numbe ...

of 3.0 or better from the previous semester and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better, or have Life Membership (3.5 GPA or better) in the

California Scholarship Federation The California Scholarship Federation (CSF), started in 1921 by Charles F. Seymour, seeks to recognize students living in the state of California who possess high standards in academics. Members of the California Scholarship Federation are eligi ...

(the state's high school honor society).

Permanent Membership

Students may earn Permanent Membership if they have: * completed 60 semester or 90 quarter units in degree-applicable courses, at least half of which were completed at a community college, with at least 54 semester or 81 quarter units graded rather than Pass/NoPass, and * maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and been an active member for at least one term or maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and been an active member for at least two terms, and * applied for this status through their local chapter's process.

Scholarships

Alpha Gamma Sigma, Inc. annually awards scholarships in two categories: service and academic excellence. There are multiple awards in each category each year unless a number is specified below. Service Awards
* The Ed Walsh Outstanding Service Award for "outstanding service to . . . chapters, campuses, and communities." * The Walsh applicant who receives the highest rating earns the Randy Taylor Award. * The two Walsh applicants who receive the next highest ratings earn the Charles Bell Service Award Academic Awards
* The Kathleen D. Loly Scholarship Award recognizes Alpha Gamma Sigma's most outstanding scholars. * The two Loly applicants who receive the highest ratings earn the Virginia Coffey Award. * The Robert Mantovani Award recognizes those Loly applicants who have "provided outstanding service and leadership to their chapters, campuses, and communities." * The Tom Jackson Award recognizes the top Mantovani Award winner.

AGS State Advisory Board

The State Advisory Board is composed of the advisors of all chapters in good standing as well as any retired former advisors who accept the Board's invitation to continue serving. Each active chapter has one vote on SAB matters.

AGS Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of Alpha Gamma Sigma, Inc. consists of current for former members of the SAB elected by that body, plus two student members, one from each region, elected by the General Assembly of Delegates at the Spring Convention. AGS, Inc. is a non-profit corporation. * Campuses in the California Community Colleges System

References

External links

Alpha Gamma Sigma State Organization
{{authority control Two-year college honor societies California Community Colleges Student organizations established in 1926 1926 establishments in California