Eligibility

Sigma Pi Sigma chapters are restricted to colleges and universities of recognized standing that offer a strong physics major. The chapters receive into membership undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, and a few others in closely related fields. Students elected to membership must attain high standards of general scholarship and outstanding achievement in physics.

Certain high numerical standards for admittance are established by chapter bylaws and the national constitution. Undergraduate candidates must be in the upper one-third of their class in general scholarship to meet the minimum standard that chapters may use. A higher minimum average is often established for physics and astronomy courses. Undergraduate candidates must have completed at least three semesters of full-time college work and at least three semester courses in physics and astronomy that can be credited toward a physics and astronomy major. Graduate students and faculty members may be elected at any time. Students who are not physics majors can be elected, provided that they meet the standards and have demonstrated an interest in physics and astronomy.

A chapter can elect to active membership qualified students and faculty members in nearby colleges that do not have a Sigma Pi Sigma chapter. Physicists in industry and government laboratories, as well as secondary school physics teachers, can be elected on the basis of their professional record.

Inducting New Members

Chapter leaders are able to invite new members each year through MyHonorSociety , our online induction system. Within the system, you can send invitations, track historical members, order supplies, and message your members.

For more details, please download our Induction Instructions or watch this step-by-step video.

Hosting an Induction Ceremony

You can find a virtual induction ceremony script and a PowerPoint template for a virtual ceremony below.

We can set up a Zoom meeting for your induction ceremony upon request using this form .

We have enlisted the help of honorary Sigma Pi Sigma members, the President of Sigma Pi Sigma, and the Director of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma to provide personalized messages for your department upon request using this form .

Virtual inductions are a great opportunity to connect with alumni. Chapter advisers can fill out this form to request alumni contact information.

Purchasing Insignia and Regalia

Sigma Pi Sigma merchandise is available on our induction portal at My Honor Society . This is the only store where you can buy authorized Sigma Pi Sigma merchandise.
To place an order:

• Login to My Honor Society with the email address we have on file.
• On the left navigation bar under the Sigma Pi Sigma logo, click on “Order Membership Items.”
• Under the “Item” column, click on the drop-down menu to select the item you would like to purchase.

In keeping with the high standards of Sigma Pi Sigma as a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, we ask that regalia are only purchased for current or soon-to-be-inducted members of Sigma Pi Sigma, or as gifts for those members.

Dues

Induction into Sigma Pi Sigma is a lifetime membership, with one-time dues of $54 paid at the time of induction. This fee includes a one-year membership in the Society of Physics Students (SPS) or a one-year extension of membership for current SPS members.

Dues includes the cost of the official lapel pin, a certificate of membership, and a membership card. There are no annual dues.

Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS)

Sigma Pi Sigma is a certified member of the Association of College Honor Societies. ACHS is an organization of honor societies promoting best practices in recognizing and promoting excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and research, and seek to continually maintain the highest standards by providing annual reports and undergoing regular re-certification. Sigma Pi Sigma has been a member since 1945. Membership can be confirmed at the ACHS website .

Federal Benefits

The US Civil Service Commission has stated that membership in a recognized national honor society (like Sigma Pi Sigma) meets one of the requirements for entrance at the GS-7 level in numerous professional and technical occupations in the Federal service. OPM guidelines.