Yearly Calendar for SPS Chapters

There is no standard program for a SPS chapter because each chapter is unique. This calendar provides a guide for activities and programs your chapter may wish to consider throughout the academic year. Not every chapter will choose to engage in every element. Choose those that work best for you!

BEGINNING OF SEMESTER:

• Membership Drive: Participate in Freshman Orientation Program to acquaint freshmen with SPS. Have a booth to encourage bulk registration for national membership.
• Visit introductory physics classes
• Put up SPS posters and meeting announcements
• Request the SPS outreach kit (SOCK)
• Plan biweekly meetings for the year

SEPTEMBER:

• Kick-off social (Ex. faculty-student picnic or other get-acquainted event)
• Fundraisers: Sell books donated by faculty, used textbooks, bumper stickers, chapter-designed T-shirts, raffle tickets, car wash, etc.
• Plan for big events and outreach: Marsh W. White Award, Future Faces of Physics Award, and Sigma Pi Sigma Undergraduate Research Award proposals, brainstorm outreach events
• Post fall mailing materials
• Collect dues and fill out group membership forms for discount

OCTOBER:

• Talk by outside lecturer at meeting

• Bad physics movie night

• Attend SPS Zone Meeting or plan to attend regional meeting

• Arrange to attend a national research meeting

• Hold a fundraiser for PhysCon

• Halloween-themed physics event

• Check out SPS outreach demos or create your own to upload on the website

• Ask your AZC* and ZC* about the next zone meeting

* AZC/ZC are your associate zone councilor and zone councilor that represent your zone at the SPS National level.

NOVEMBER:

• Submit chapter proposal for Marsh W. White Award & Future Face of Physics Award
• Submit student proposals for SPS Chapter Research Award
• Host an outside speaker/lecturer at monthly meeting
• Tour of physics/astronomy research laboratory (industrial, government, or academic)
• Submit chapter proposal for Sigma Pi Sigma Chapter Project Award
• Thanksgiving potluck

DECEMBER:

• Business meeting: Nomination of chapter member as candidate for associate zone councilor
• Program planning for spring social event (set date, budget, etc.)
• Host a year-end party
• Identify a spring tour at a nearby lab or facility

JANUARY:

• Submit student applications for SPS summer internships
• Plan chapter road trip
• Prepare a member
• outreach event
• Hold fundraising event for spring events

FEBRUARY:

• Arrange a talk by faculty member at monthly meeting
• Host a bad physics movie night
• Submit SPS Scholarship applications
• Apply for SPS and ΣπΣ service awards

MARCH:

• Talk by outside lecturer at monthly meeting
• Tour of physics research laboratory (industrial, government, or academic)
• Sponsor physics department open house
• Business meeting: Cast chapter vote in SPS elections
• Attend SPS zone meeting
• Submit SPS Scholarship and Outstanding Undergraduate Research applications, and Outstanding Chapter Advisor nominations
• Submit research and scholarly reports for publication in JURP

APRIL:

• Sigma Pi Sigma reception, talk, and induction banquet
• Talk by outside lecturer at monthly meeting
• Business meeting: Election of chapter officers for next academic year, preliminary planning for chapter program for next academic year
• Submit new officers to SPS National database
• Business meeting: Nomination of chapter officers for next academic year
• Find a creative way to thank and celebrate your SPS advisor

MAY:

• Large social event: faculty-student picnic and soccer game
• Submit Chapter Report before everyone leaves for the summer and apply for Blake Lilly Prize
• Plan a fall meeting date to start off the new year
• Celebrate graduating seniors
• Develop goals for next year
• Email the new AZC and ZC to introduce your SPS chapter and officers