Kappa Omicron Nu () is a college

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 ...

, based in the United States, for students in

human sciences Human science (or human sciences in the plural), also known as humanistic social science and moral science (or moral sciences), studies the philosophical, biological, social, and cultural aspects of human life. Human science aims to expand our u ...

. Kappa Omicron Nu chapters are located at colleges and universities that offer a strong human sciences program. Its mission is to promote empowered leaders through excellence in scholarship, leadership, and research in the human sciences. There is also a strong focus on service, and contribution to the local community. As with most college honor societies, most members join as current college students, who are invited after displaying excellence in scholarship. After joining, members remain members for life. Members join local chapters, which communicate with a national office. KON is a non-profit organization, and is accredited by the

Association of College Honor Societies The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) is a predominantly American, voluntary association that serves a number of functions with respect to national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies. ACHS coordinates member organizations, faci ...

(ACHS).

History

Kappa Omicron Nu was established on February 21, 1990, through consolidation of Omicron Nu and Kappa Omicron Phi. Both groups had been members of the

(ACHS). The notion of consolidation came from a strategic planning session for the Administrative leadership of the two organizations.

Phi Upsilon Omicron Phi Upsilon Omicron (), sometimes called Phi U, is a scholastic honor society that recognizes academic achievement among students in the field of family and consumer science. History The society was founded at University of Minnesota on Februa ...

was also invited to join in the discussion of forming one Honor Society, but demurred. Consolidation was eased by an initial period of three years where the two groups were managed by a single administrative office. Other suggested names for the consolidated groups were Omicron Society and Sigma Rho Lambda.Consolidation Plan - Home Economics Forum Volume 3, Number 2
/ref> By the time of the merger, the two groups shared the same publication: ''Home Economics FORUM'', now the ''ΚΟΝ Forum''. Omicron Nu, Kappa Omicron Phi, and Phi Upsilon Omicron were all honor societies for specialization in home economics. When Omicron Nu and Kappa Omicron Phi consolidated into Kappa Omicron Nu they too began with a focus on home economics. As the home economics profession evolved, in 1994 the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) changed the name of the profession from "home economics" to "family and consumer sciences" to better reflect the changing needs in the United States and the current scope of topics related to this field. After this change Kappa Omicron Nu changed its specialization from "home economics" to "human sciences."

Omicron Nu

Omicron Nu was founded at Michigan Agricultural College (now

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...

) on April 23, 1912. The founders were six faculty members and eleven student members. *Faculty: Agnes Hunt (Cade), Lillian Peppard, Louise Freyhofer, Grace Stevens, Hazel Berg (Layer),

Maude Gilchrist Maude Gilchrist (December 29, 1861 – February 28, 1952) was an American botanist and college professor. She was dean of women at MacMurray College, Illinois Women's College from 1897 to 1901, the first dean of home economics at Michigan State U ...

*Students: Vera Coffeen, Verna Allen, Fernell Allen, Alida Dearborn, Josephine Hart, Bessie G. Howe, Lillian M. Mullenbach, Helen Louise Norton, Lutie E. Robinson, Helen M. Sheldon, and Philena E. Smith. At the time of the discussion of the merger in 1989, Omicron Nu had 65,000 members, 50 active chapters, five Alumni Chapters and a National Alumni Chapter. Omicron Nu was a founding member of the Professional Panhellenic Association, a predecessor to the PFA. Omicron Nu joined the

(ACHS) in 1951 and was readmitted in 1968.

Kappa Omicron Phi

Kappa Omicron Phi was founded at Northwest Missouri State College (now

Northwest Missouri State University Northwest Missouri State University is a public university in Maryville, Missouri. It has an enrollment of about 8,505 students. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, its campus is based on the design for Forest Park at the 1904 St. Louis Worl ...

) on December 11, 1922. ACHS Member Directory 2010/2011
The name, Kappa Omicron Phi, was suggested by Mabel Cook, a student in the dietetics class of Hettie Margaret Anthony. Miss Anthony, who was the head of the school's Home Economics department, was a leader in Kappa Omicron Phi for the first 14 years of its existence. At the time of the discussion of the merger in 1989, Omicron Nu had 26,000 members, 79 active chapters, eight Alumni Chapters and an Alumni Chapter-Large.

Eligibility

Undergraduate members are required to: *Have declared a major in one of the human sciences *Have completed 45 semester hours or equivalent *Rank in the top 25% of their class in the unit Graduate members are required to: * Have declared a major in one of the human sciences * Have completed 12 semester hours or equivalent * Have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Some professionals are offered membership, usually because of active volunteerism or involvement with the organization, however the vast majority of members join as college students. Membership is available to professionals and majors in any of the following or related specialty areas, including: consumer resource management, design, exercise science, family and consumer sciences education, financial planning, food science and human nutrition, health sciences, human environment and housing, individual and family development, institution/hotel/restaurant management, interior design, kinesiology, leadership, marital and family therapy, merchandising management, textiles/apparel and clothing.

Chapter listing

Designation of ChaptersKappa Omicron Nu Constitution
/ref>

A chapter, which was formed by the predecessor society Kappa Omicron Phi, shall have the prefix "Kappa" before its Greek-letter chapter name. A chapter, which was formed by the predecessor society Omicron Nu, shall have the prefix "Omicron" before its Greek-letter name. The first collegiate chapter chartered by Kappa Omicron Nu shall be designated Nu Alpha, and the remainder of the chapters shall follow according to the Greek alphabet with the prefix "Nu."

Chartered as Kappa Omicron Phi

*Kappa Alpha -

*Kappa Iota - Texas A&M University-Kingsville *Kappa Pi - University of New Mexico *Kappa Chi - Immaculata University *Kappa Alpha Alpha - Marywood University *Kappa Alpha Gamma - Seton Hill University *Kappa Alpha Theta -

Eastern Illinois University Eastern Illinois University is a public university in Charleston, Illinois. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a co ...

*Kappa Alpha Tau - Bradley University *Kappa Alpha Phi -

Sam Houston State University Sam Houston State University (SHSU or Sam) is a public university in Huntsville, Texas. It was founded in 1879 and is the third-oldest public college or university in Texas. It is one of the first normal schools west of the Mississippi River and ...

*Kappa Beta Alpha -

Samford University Samford University is a private Christian university in Homewood, Alabama. In 1841, the university was founded as Howard College by Baptists. Samford University describes itself as the 87th oldest institution of higher learning in the United Sta ...

*Kappa Beta Beta - University of North Alabama *Kappa Beta Epsilon -

Prairie View A&M University Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU or PV) is a public historically black land-grant university in Prairie View, Texas. Founded in 1876, it is one of Texas's two land-grant universities and the second oldest public institution of higher learnin ...

*Kappa Beta Eta - Virginia State University *Kappa Beta Theta - Lamar University *Kappa Beta Kappa - Western Illinois University *Kappa Beta Mu - Tennessee Technological University *Kappa Beta Xi - Carson-Newman University *Kappa Beta Sigma - Tennessee State University *Kappa Beta Phi -

Mississippi State University Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university adjacent to Starkville, Mississippi. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Unive ...

*Kappa Gamma Alpha -

Alcorn State University Alcorn State University (Alcorn State, ASU or Alcorn) is a public historically black land-grant university adjacent to Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871 and was the first black land grant college established in the United States. O ...

*Kappa Gamma Delta - Delta State University *Kappa Gamma Epsilon - North Carolina Central University *Kappa Gamma Eta - University of Mississippi *Kappa Gamma Theta - Baylor University *Kappa Gamma Rho - Alabama A & M University *Kappa Gamma Sigma - South Carolina State University *Kappa Gamma Upsilon -

Appalachian State University Appalachian State University (; Appalachian, App State, App, or ASU) is a public university in Boone, North Carolina. It was founded as a teachers college in 1899 by brothers B. B. and D. D. Dougherty and the latter's wife, Lillie Shull Dough ...

*Kappa Gamma Phi - Northwestern State University of LA *Kappa Delta Gamma - University of Akron *Kappa Delta Zeta -

St. Catherine University St. Catherine University (St. Kate's) is a private Catholic university in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was established as one of the first institutions of higher learning specifically for women in the Midwest and was known as the College of St. C ...

*Kappa Delta Mu -

North Carolina A & T University North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (also known as North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina A&T, N.C. A&T, or simply A&T) is a public, historically black land-grant research university in Greensboro, North Car ...

*Kappa Delta Xi - Morgan State University *Kappa Delta Omicron - Meredith College *Kappa Delta Pi -

Nicholls State University Nicholls State University is a public university in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Founded in 1948, Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System. Originally named Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the university is named for Francis T. Nicholl ...

*Kappa Delta Rho - Olivet Nazarene University *Kappa Delta Upsilon - University of Maryland-Eastern Shore *Kappa Delta Psi - University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Chartered as Omicron Nu

*Omicron Gamma - Iowa State University *Omicron Kappa - Washington State University *Omicron Mu - Cornell University *Omicron Pi -

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...

*Omicron Tau -

Penn State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a public state-related land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, Penn State became ...

*Omicron Theta -

Kansas State University Kansas State University (KSU, Kansas State, or K-State) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. It was opened as the state's land-grant college in 1863 and was the first public instit ...

*Omicron Alpha Beta - University of Maine *Omicron Alpha Gamma - University of Montevallo *Omicron Alpha Delta - University of Utah *Omicron Alpha Iota -

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

*Omicron Alpha Kappa -

University of North Carolina-Greensboro The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG or UNC Greensboro) is a public research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina system. UNCG, like all members of the UNC system, is a stand-al ...

*Omicron Alpha Nu -

Auburn University Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a public land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama. With more than 24,600 undergraduate students and a total enrollment of more than 30,000 with 1,330 faculty members, Auburn is the second largest uni ...

*Omicron Alpha Rho - New York University *Omicron Alpha Rho-Hunter -

Hunter College Hunter College is a public university in New York City. It is one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York and offers studies in more than one hundred undergraduate and postgraduate fields across five schools. It also admi ...

*Omicron Alpha Upsilon - University of Delaware *Omicron Alpha Psi -

CSU-Long Beach California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a public research university in Long Beach, California. The 322-acre campus is the second largest of the 23-school California State University system (CSU) and one of the largest universitie ...

*Omicron Alpha Omega - University of Missouri *Omicron Beta Alpha - Rutgers University *Omicron Beta Beta - Louisiana Tech University *Omicron Beta Gamma - Northern Illinois University *Omicron Beta Epsilon -

CSU-Northridge California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is a public university in the Northridge, Los Angeles, Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. With a total enrollment of 38,551 students (as of Fall 2021), it h ...

*Omicron Beta Theta - Montclair State University

Chartered as Kappa Omicron Nu

*National Alumni - Any *National Chapter - Any *Nu Alpha - Berea College *Nu Delta -

Harding University Harding University is a private university with its main campus in Searcy, Arkansas. It is the largest private university in Arkansas. Established in 1924, the institution offers undergraduate, graduate, and pre-professional programs. The uni ...

*Nu Zeta - Seattle Pacific University *Nu Kappa - Penn State University-Altoona *Nu Mu - Washington State University Vancouver *Nu Nu - Southern Utah University *Nu Omicron -

California University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Western University, California (commonly known as PennWest California) is a public university campus in California, Pennsylvania and one of three campuses of Pennsylvania Western University, part of the Pennsylvania State System o ...

*Nu Pi -

CSU-Fullerton California State University, Fullerton (CSUF or Cal State Fullerton) is a public university in Fullerton, California. With a total enrollment of more than 41,000, it has the largest student body of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) ...

*Nu Upsilon -

CSU-San Marcos California State University San Marcos (CSUSM or Cal State San Marcos) is a public university in San Marcos, California. It was founded in 1989 as the 21st campus in the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system. CSUSM offers 43 ba ...

*Nu Phi - University of New Haven *Nu Chi - University of the Incarnate Word *Nu Omega - Life University *Nu Alpha Gamma - Georgia Gwinnett College *Nu Alpha Delta -

CSU-Sacramento California State University, Sacramento (CSUS, Sacramento State, or informally Sac State) is a public university in Sacramento, California. Founded in 1947 as Sacramento State College, it is the eleventh oldest school in the 23-campus Californ ...

*Nu Alpha Epsilon - Georgian Court University *Nu Alpha Zeta - Elon University *Nu Alpha Eta -

Stevenson University Stevenson University is a private university in Baltimore County, Maryland with two campuses, one in Stevenson and one in Owings Mills. The university enrolls approximately 3,615 undergraduate and graduate students. Formerly known as Villa Julie ...

*Nu Alpha Theta - New Mexico State University *Nu Alpha Iota -

Missouri Baptist University Missouri Baptist University (MBU) is a private Southern Baptist university in Creve Coeur, Missouri. It is one of three universities of the Missouri Baptist Convention. The main campus is located on a 68-acre site near Creve Coeur and Town and ...

*Nu Alpha Kappa - Molloy College *Nu Alpha Lambda -

Blue Mountain College Blue Mountain College (BMC) is a private Baptist college in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. Founded as a women's college in 1873, the college's board of trustees voted unanimously for the college to go fully coeducational in 2005. History By ...

References

External links

*
ACHS Kappa Omicron Nu entry

Kappa Omicron Nu chapter list at ACHS
{{Authority control Association of College Honor Societies Honor societies Student organizations established in 1990 1990 establishments in Michigan