Sigma Zeta

Sigma Zeta () is a national honor society founded in 1925 to recognize undergraduate excellence in the natural sciences, computer science, and mathematics. The society's purpose is to encourage and foster the attainment of knowledge in the natural and computer sciences and mathematics.

History

Sigma Zeta was founded in the fall of 1925 at the now defunct Shurtleff College as a local organization to provide recognition for Shurtleff science and mathematics students. Soon after that other local campuses took an interest in the group, and following the approval of the petition by McKendree College to start a chapter in June 1926 Sigma Zeta began its growth into a national collegiate honor society. In a letter that appeared in the correspondence section of the American Chemical Society ''Journal of Chemical Education'' Sigma Zeta was offered as an alternative for small colleges to the existing Sigma Xi honor society which often passed over small colleges for membership as they focused on larger Universities.

Sigma Zeta's annual convention has been held every year since 1926 except for 1943, 1944, and 1945 where it was canceled due to World War II, and in 2020 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The first three gatherings were held at the Shurtleff College campus which is now the site of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.

Activities

The annual convention is Sigma Zeta's primary meeting where student members present papers and individual and chapter awards are presented. Individual chapters often undertake activities including the hosting of speakers and service projects to benefit their local communities. These activities can include programs for younger students at local schools helping to promote science education at early ages. Sigma Zeta's interdisciplinary nature has been described as a benefit for smaller colleges and universities because, "It brings together students from all areas of science and mathematics, including computer science, so they can all work together on projects."

Qualifications for Membership

Chapters select students for membership that have met the following eligibility criteria:
* Major studies in at least one of the Natural Sciences, Computer Science, or Mathematics
* Completion of 25 semester hours of coursework with 15 hours in the Natural Sciences, Computer Science, or Mathematics
* A Grade Point Average of 3.0 out of 4.0 both in Science and Mathematics as well as cumulatively among all classes taken

Chapters

Chapters in existence are listed in the order they joined Sigma Zeta.

* Beta, McKendree University, 1926
* Gamma, Medical College of Virginia, 1927
* Epsilon, Otterbein College, 1929
* Lambda, Mansfield University, 1936
* Mu, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 1937
* Xi, Ball State University, 1938
* Pi, Millikin University, 1943
* Rho, University of Indianapolis, 1943
* Sigma, Our Lady of the Lake University, 1944
* Tau, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, 1947
* Upsilon, Anderson University, 1948
* Phi, Eureka College, 1948
* Chi, Missouri Valley College, 1951
* Psi, Central Missouri State University, 1956
* Alpha Beta, Campbellsville University, 1963
* Alpha Gamma, Malone College, 1969
* Alpha Delta, Kansas Newman College, 1969
* Alpha Epsilon, Indiana Wesleyan University, 1969
* Alpha Zeta, Indiana State University, 1969
* Alpha Eta, Olivet College, 1969
* Alpha Theta, Asbury College, 1970
* Alpha Kappa, University of Southern Indiana, 1970
* Alpha Lambda, Suffolk University, 1970
* Alpha Mu, Immaculata College, 1971
* Alpha Nu, Oglethorpe University, 1971
* Alpha Xi, University of Virginia's College at Wise, 1971
* Alpha Pi, Trevecca Nazarene College, 1972
* Alpha Rho, Stonehill College, 1972
* Alpha Sigma, Dakota Wesleyan University, 1972
* Alpha Upsilon, Union University, 1975
* Alpha Phi, Marist College, 1975
* Alpha Chi, Eastern College, 1976
* Alpha Psi, Hillsdale College, 1976
* Alpha Omega, St. Mary of the Woods College, 1976
* Beta Alpha, Lyndon State College, 1977
* Beta Beta, George Fox University, 1978
* Beta Gamma, Columbia College, 1978
* Beta Epsilon, Arcadia University, 1979
* Beta Zeta, Cabrini College, 1981
* Beta Iota, Bethel University, 1983
* Beta Theta, Belhaven College, 1983
* Beta Eta, Evangel College, 1985
* Beta Kappa Kentucky Wesleyan College, 1991
* Beta Lambda, Messiah College, 1993
* Beta Mu, Coastal Carolina University, 1994
* Beta Delta, Gwynedd Mercy College, 1996
* Somerset Associate Chapter, Somerset Community College, 1997*
* Beta Nu, Houghton College, 1997
* Beta XI (1999) - Pikeville College, 1999
* Beta Omicron, Madonna University, 2001
* Beta Pi, University of Arkansas at Monticello, 2004
* Beta Rho, Castleton State College, 2005
* Alpena Associate Chapter, Alpena Community College, 2005*
* Beta Sigma, Baker University, 2007
* Beta Tau, Gardner-Webb University, 2008
* Beta Upsilon, Marygrove College, 2009
* Beta Phi, College of the Ozarks, 2009
* Beta Chi, Walsh University, 2011
* Beta Psi, Martin University, 2011
* Beta Omega, Virginia Wesleyan College, 2011
* Gamma Alpha, Chestnut Hill College, 2011
* Gamma Beta, Concord University, 2011
* Gamma Gamma, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, 2012
* Gamma Delta, The Master's College, 2012
* Gamma Epsilon, Franklin Pierce University, 2012
* Gamma Zeta, St. Thomas Aquinas College, 2012
* Gamma Eta, Marian University (Indiana), 2012
* Gamma Theta, Georgian Court University, 2013
* Gamma Iota, Neumann University, 2013
* Gamma Kappa, Southwest Baptist University, 2014
* College of the Canyons Associate Chapter, College of the Canyons, 2014*
* Gamma Lambda (2015) Missouri Baptist University, St. Louis, MO 63141
* Gamma Mu (2015) Baptist College of Health Sciences, Memphis, TN 38104
* Gamma Nu (2015) Chowan University