New Freshman Honor Society for UMass Boston
University Communications
University Reporter
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Arts on the Point Moving Ahead |
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By Pat Davidson 
Good news has just reached UMass Boston. Our request for a chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta, a national Freshman Honor Society, has been granted. The installation ceremony for our new chapter, including the initiation of charter members, is planned for November 6 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Ryan Lounge. The University community, parents, and friends are invited to this special celebration.
Alpha Lambda Delta, founded at the University of Illinois in 1924, has four major goals: to encourage superior academic achievement, to promote intelligent living, to promote a continued high standard of learning, and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society.
To be eligible for Alpha Lambda Delta, students must have at least a 3.5 grade point average for their first semester of study or a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher for their first year of study at the University. Students must have studied full time (12 credits or more per semester) during that first semester or first year and have a total of fewer than 30 credits.
The society offers various awards and fellowships, plus leadership opportunities and activities. Having a chapter on this campus will help students build a strong and lasting foundation for success at UMass Boston. This is one of our major retention efforts for first year students, along with the First Year Experience courses (part of the revised General Education curriculum) and the expanded Early Warning System (part of the University Advising program).
The first steps in the process of forming this chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta began just a year ago when Glenda Earwood-Smith, executive director of Alpha Lambda Delta, was invited by Adrian Haugabrook, assistant dean of students, to meet with key people on this campus. At this meeting, it was decided that Haugabrook and Patricia Davidson, vice provost for academic support services, would serve as sponsors and advisors and that we should first form a local chapter, Lambda Delta. There were just over 100 eligible students who were invited to one of four informational sessions.
On April 3, 2000, we held an organizational meeting to approve the constitution and by-laws and to elect officers. The officers are Imane Elghiti, president; Hwajoung Lee, vice president; Rabiya B. Mahomed, secretary; and David R. Howard, treasurer. On May 3, 2000, at a ceremony attended by top campus officials, faculty, staff, parents, and friends, we inducted 57 charter members into Lambda Delta. These students are a very diverse and interesting group, including 17 international students. Some of the charter members have already expanded their academic involvement by serving as tutors and mentors this summer for the GEAR-UP program, which is a partnership between the University and participating middle and high schools aimed at increasing the number of students who will successfully pursue post-secondary education.
Several students have already joined our four-year Honors Program, and we anticipate that many of these students will join our Golden Key National Honor Society as juniors and seniors. Those who wish to become members of Alpha Lambda Delta will be initiated along with the members of Lambda Delta to form our official group of charter members. On November 6, we also plan to initiate a small number of honorary members from the administration and faculty. We will pay special tribute to Chancellor Sherry H. Penney, who was a former president of her Alpha Lambda Delta chapter at Albion College.