Justice Center Faculty | Faculty Office Hours | Justice Club | Alpha Phi Sigma
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Membership
Qualifications | Benefits
of Membership
History of Alpha Phi Sigma | Organization
To be eligible for membership in Alpha Phi Sigma:
- You must complete at least one-third of the credit hours required for graduation from your institution, of which at least five courses must be in the field of criminal justice or its equivalent. See the Justice B.A. Program information for information about degree requirements at University of Alaska Anchorage.
- You must rank in the top 35 percent of your class.
- You must obtain a recommendation from a local chapter advisor or faculty member. The chapter advisor for the Omega Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma is Sharon Chamard <afsec@uaa.alaska.edu>. See also a complete listing of fulltime Justice Center faculty.
- You must maintain a 3.2 cumulative GPA for all university courses and a 3.2 cumulative GPA for all criminal justice courses (for undergraduates); graduate students must maintain a 3.4 GPA in all graduate courses.
- You must complete the application for membership and pay the $40.00 membership fee with a cashier's check or money order made payable to the Alpha Phi Sigma National Office. Applications may be obtained from the Justice Center in SSB 306 on the main UAA campus. Return completed applications to Sharon Chamard.
If you have any questions about membership in Alpha Phi Sigma, contact Sharon Chamard <afsec@uaa.alaska.edu>, the chapter advisor. You may make an advising appointment by calling the Justice Center at (907) 786-1810.
- Alpha Phi Sigma membership signifies a recognition of academic achievement, and is a worthy addition to your resume.
- Alpha Phi Sigma offers leadership and group organizational experience to students elected to the four elected officer positions (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer) in the local chapter. National officers, who may be nominated by any active member, are elected annually at the National Convention.
- Active members receive the bi-annual national newsletter, The Docket which reports on areas of concern to the criminal justice sciences and the society.
- The V.A. Leonard Scholarship Fund awards a $500 cash scholarship annually. Applicants for the scholarship must apply through the National Office.
- Alpha Phi Sigma is guaranteed four positions annually for internships at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLECT) in Glynco, Georgia, ideal for students interested in careers in federal law enforcement.
- Alpha Phi Sigma's national convention is held annually in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and presents a wide range of programs and activities.
- Alpha Phi Sigma sponsors an Annual Call for Papers competition in which students present papers pertaining to the criminal justice field. Cash prizes for the best undergraduate and graduate papers are awarded at the national convention.
- Local chapters of Alpha Phi Sigma also compete for the outstanding national chapter service award which is presented each year at the national convention.
- Further information about Alpha Phi Sigma is available at the National Headquarters website (Nova Southeastern University).
Alpha Phi Sigma was founded
in January 1942 at Washington State University by Dr. V.A. Leonard and
seven majors in the Police Science program Dr. Leonard had established
at Washington State the previous year. The first Constitution and By-Laws
were drafted under Glenn Hill, the society's first president.
For several years Alpha Phi Sigma experienced
only limited growth, but on March 24, 1975, through unanimous vote of
its executive board, the Academy of Criminal
Justice Sciences (ACJS) granted Alpha Phi Sigma affiliate status.
Alpha Phi Sigma at the time had only fourteen chapters, but since has
grown rapidly and now has over 140 chapters throughout the United States.
Since 1978, Alpha Phi Sigma has held its
national convention in conjunction with the annual ACJS meeting. The
Academy's continued support of Alpha Phi Sigma serves to enhance Alpha
Phi Sigma's purpose -- the recognition of scholarly achievement in the
field of the criminal justice. Alpha Phi Sigma was admitted to the Association
of College Honor Societies as an associate member in 1981.
Alpha Phi Sigma's national
office is located on the campus of a member chapter. Four national student
officers (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer) are elected
by the membership annually at the national convention. Over the years
the national office of Alpha Phi Sigma has been located at Washington
State University, Midwestern State University, Eastern Kentucky University,
Texas Woman's University, Fairmont State University, the University
of Dayton, Marshall University, Tarlenton State University, Florida
International University, and Nova Southeastern University.
Local chapters are established at universities
throughout the United States. To gain admission as a chapter, a university
must have a minimum of ten student members and a designated faculty
advisor. Eligible students who are enrolled at a university without
a local chapter can gain admission to Alpha Phi Sigma upon the completion
of an application form accompanied by the recommendation of a criminal
justice faculty member.
