Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society Sigma Rho Chapter Chabot College Hayward, CA 94545

Transcription

1 Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society Sigma Rho Chapter Chabot College Hayward, CA Sigma Rho Chapter Member Handbook

2 Table of Contents Introduction... 2 Prospective Members... 3 Why Join AGS?... 3 The Membership Criteria... 3 The Membership Process... 4 How to Begin Membership*... 4 Continuing Members... 5 Soon-to-be Graduates... 5 Important Dates... 5 Service Points... 6 Ways to Earn Points... 6 Leadership Points... 7 Submitting Points... 8 About AGS Activities... 9 Community Service Opportunities... 9 Fundraising... 9 Conferences Scholarships Graduation AGS Jewelry Being a Chapter in Good Standing The Club Advisor(s) Other FAQ S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 1

3 Introduction Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society Thank you for your interest in Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society at Chabot College. The AGS Honor Society was founded in 1925 as the honor society of the California Community Colleges. Active members of AGS do more than just get good grades. Because of AGS s promotion of service to the campus and local community, AGS members are often some of the most active and involved students on campus. AGS is dedicated to promoting scholarship, character and civic responsibility. AGS members are often involved in various club activities from campus activities, social outings, fundraisers and a vast range of community service projects, individually and as a group. Sigma Rho members have logged in hundreds of hours helping with organizations such as: FESCO Family Shelter Voter Registration Harvest Food Bank MedShare Coastal Clean-up Special Olympics Habitat For Humanity Relay for Life The Hayward Animal Shelter SF Symphony Literacy Plus The Kids Breakfast Club Second Chance Rottweiler Rescue For fifty years at Chabot College, membership in AGS demonstrates that you can balance philanthropy, leadership development and academic excellence. This tradition continues with you. We hope to see you at the next club meeting! About the Sigma Rho Handbook This handbook was created by the club advisor to answer most of the frequently asked questions that students ask about the club or the bylaws. The information within this book has been obtained through various means (such as the bylaws, State Advisory Board meetings, and various experiences) and is to be used as supplementary information to accompany the Sigma Rho Chapter bylaws. It is expected that AGS members will have read this handbook and the bylaws in order to have a more comprehensive understanding of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society. This handbook will be revised as needed. The version of this handbook that is linked to the website ( is the most current version. S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 2

4 Prospective Members Why Join AGS? As an active member of the honor society, you will serve your community, acquire like-minded friends and have a lot of fun in the process. Additionally, upon fulfilling the membership eligibility criteria, members will also: Be able to note their impressive membership on resumes, job applications and university admission applications Be able to develop leadership skills and abilities by serving as a club officer or committee chair person Be competitive for AGS Sigma Rho scholarships Be eligible for Sigma Rho Scholarships Be eligible for special AGS scholarships that are available at select Universities Have a AGS notation on your transcript marking your membership Have opportunities to attend local and statewide AGS Conferences Be able to purchase official AGS pins, jewelry, shirts and other logo merchandise Have special recognition at Commencement The Membership Criteria There are some requirements for membership in AGS. Although some criteria must be met in the beginning of the semester, you must have met all of the requirements by the end of the semester in order to complete an active semester of membership. In brief, the criteria of eligibility are To currently be a student in good standing at Chabot College To have a minimum of 5 units (per semester) To have completed at least 12 units at Chabot College within 3 semesters o Or have recently graduated high school with a 3.5 GPA or better To have a Chabot GPA of above a 3.0 To pay membership dues To earn a minimum of 20 Service Points per semester S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 3

5 The Membership Process How to Begin Membership* 1) Complete an Enrollment Form Forms are available at club meetings, can be printed from the AGS website and are available near the advisor s office door. Please note there is a due-date to turn in enrollment forms, but it s preferred that it s turned in with enough time to satisfy the Service Point requirement (i.e. by the 9 th week of classes). 2) Pay membership dues Currently, dues are $10/semester. We ask that you submit your dues when you turn in your Enrollment Form. Please see the current club Treasurer. You will receive a receipt for your payment. 3) Meet the GPA requirement 3.0 GPA minimum if you are a returning Chabot College student 3.5 GPA minimum if you graduated from High School the previous semester Please submit your transcripts to the advisor (unofficial transcripts are acceptable) within two weeks of submitting your Enrollment Form. Your name and W# must be visible on the original print-out. 4) Earn a minimum of 20 Service Points New members are required to participate in a club activity committee. It s a great way to start earning service points and meeting fellow club members You will find more information about points in this handbook (page 6-8) Please note that the cut off time for earning and submitting points for the semester is the last day of classes. Any points earned following the last day of classes can count for the following semester s points. *Any Associated Student on campus can participate in club activities; however, to be a recognized student of the statewide AGS organization, GPA requirements, Service Points and Dues requirements must be met. Earning the Membership Notation At the end of the semester, if you ve fulfilled all of the membership criteria during that semester, you will have earned a notation on your Chabot transcript indicating your membership for that respective semester. The notation will occur when your grades for that semester are posted, or shortly thereafter. This notation will remain on your transcript permanently. For each semester you fulfill the membership criteria for the club, you will earn the membership notation on your transcript. S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 4

6 Continuing Members Every semester that you wish to be active in AGS, you will need to fill out another enrollment form and pay your membership dues, as well as earn the minimum number of Service Points. There is no minimum or maximum number of semesters you can participate with the organization. Soon-to-be Graduates When you ve fulfilled a minimum of two semesters of AGS membership, you can apply to have Permanent Membership in AGS. This is essentially your official retirement from the club. Once you apply for PM status, you waive your eligibility for AGS scholarships, your ability to earn points, vote or to hold an office in the club and your eligibility to attend AGS conferences. Most members choose to apply for PM status at the end of their last semester at a California Community College. PM members may participate in select club activities. The deadline to apply for PM is around three weeks before classes end. Important AGS Dates There are some dates that have a tendency to sneak up on us. By giving you the tentative timeline, you can better plan your time and, in some cases, finances. The only necessary cost is membership dues. The other expenditures are purely optional. Enrollment Forms Due Membership Dues Paid GPA verification submitted by Permanent Membership Form submitted by Service Points Earned & submitted Order AGS Jewelry Pay for optional October Regional Conference Pay for optional April Spring Conference Order Graduation Sashes, Stoles and Cords By Thanksgiving/Approx 14 th week By Thanksgiving/ Approx 14 th week By Thanksgiving/ Approx 14 th week By Thanksgiving/ Approx 14 th week By the last week of classes Will vary. See the advisor Usually due early September Usually due beginning of March Late March or early April S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 5

7 Service Points In order to fulfill the AGS membership, 20 service points must be earned per semester, as stated in the AGS Bylaws. Members are awarded one point per hour of service. This is the way service is recorded for AGS eligibility. These points may not be issued if the work done is for pay, class credit, course units or other forms or credit/payment/compensation. However, there are plenty of opportunities to earn service points! Ways to Earn Points Generally members earn 1 point per hour of service to the community & the club. There are other activities, such as club socials where points are not awarded by-the-hour. Additionally, if items are needed for an event, a member can earn a point for donating requested items. Below are some common examples of points earned. Club activities o Attending Club Meetings 1 point/meeting o Announcing AGS in classes 1 point/class o Making & hanging AGS posters on campus 1 point/hour o Tabling at Club Rush Day or Gladiator Day 1 point/hour o Attending the AGS regional 1-day conference 10 points (depending on time) o Attending the AGS state 3-day conference 25 points (10 pts for Sat-only) o Carpool driver to AGS conference (1-2pts) TBD o Attending a social event 1 point (not per hour) o Hosting-a-conference preparations & tasks TBD Community Service o Donating your time (planning, staffing, etc) 1 point/hour o Donating cans to a canned food drive 1 point/5 cans Fundraising Projects o Service to the fundraiser (planning, staffing, etc) 1 point/hour o Donate items for the fundraiser Donate a bag of candy to club rush 1 point Donating $10 to the fundraiser 1 point Miscellaneous o Bring a new member to a meeting 1 point/new member o Be an active member in ASCC or another CC club 2 points o Read AGS Bylaws & Handbook (new members only) 1 point (one time only) o Vote in the ASCC Elections (verification needed) 1 point o Pay the ASCC student body fee (verification needed) 1 point o Join the Chabot Alumni Association (verification needed) 1 point Spirit o Purchasing a Sigma Rho AGS t-shirt 1 point o Wearing AGS logo merchandise TBD Leadership (see chart below) S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 6

8 Leadership Points Members can earn points for holding a leadership role in the club. Aside from the five to eight core officers, members may take on leadership roles as Committee Members or Chairs. As mentioned in the Bylaws, leadership points are as follows: Committee Chair This person has volunteered to lead a project (fundraising, community service, etc) and be the main lead, or point-person for the project. This person is awarded 3 points for the title of committee chair, with the expectation there will be additional time required for meetings, organization, execution, etc for all the details & responsibilities of the project, including working closely with club officers. The Chair can earn per-hour points for staffing the event in addition to the 3 points for chairing the committee. 3pts Co-Chair Sometimes a committee may decide to have two chairs (especially for large events). In this case, there would be two chairs, sharing the responsibilities and the title. (see Committee Chair description) The Co-Chairs can earn perhour points for staffing the event in addition to the 2 points for co-chairing the committee. 2 pts each Committee Member This club member has volunteered to help a Committee Chair execute the tasks necessary for the project at hand. This may include attending a planning meeting with the Chair(s) and fulfilling other tasks. Committee Member can earn per-hour points for staffing the event in addition to the point for being on the committee. 1pt S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 7

9 Point Distribution Rules Sigma Rho adopted a Point Distribution Rule to our Bylaws as is a common practice in AGS chapters. A common Point Distribution rule implements point minimums or maximums for certain categories of service. Our chapter has minimums and maximums to encourage diversity of service and to ensure support club growth and presence. Please note that minimums/maximums apply only toward the 20 point requirement. All points earned will be recorded and counted. o o o Minimum of 10 points for club activities and meetings Minimum of 5 points for participation in club fundraising Maximum of 3 points for canned food/monetary/item donations Example A: A member attends the full 3-day spring convention (up to 25 points) but even though the student fulfilled their 20 point membership criteria (from a club activity), he should have a minimum of 5 points to help with club fundraising. Example B: A member s only participation has been to donate 100 cans of food for the food drive that totals 20 points. But she should still earn club activity and fundraising points. Submitting Points Members will document their service to the club and community and submit their Points Verification Forms to the Points Secretary or Vice President of the club who will take official record of member points. Please use the On-going Service Log for service you do regularly in the semester. The Points Secretary or Vice President may collect these forms at Club Meetings or choose to collect them on designated dates. Please make sure you find out the process from him or her. Point Submission Forms can be printed from the AGS website. Please note the last day to earn service points for the semester is the last day of classes, when the PS or VP will respectively turn in the final points tally in to the advisor. Service points earned after the last day of classes (such as volunteerism with the Alumni Association at Commencement or summer session activities) may be applied for the following semester s point-count. Integrity AGS is an organization with members who carry a tradition of good character, knowledge and judgment. On the Points Submission Forms, there is an opportunity to document verification of your service to the community. Although no one is formally monitoring or validating the information on Points Submission Forms, if falsification of service is revealed, disciplinary action and expulsion from the club will result. We hope each member continues to uphold the AGS traditions of honesty and integrity. S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 8

10 AGS Activities The sky is (almost!) the limit when it comes to AGS student activities. Activities may include Community Service projects, socials, and fundraisers, as well as be a collaborative effort with other student clubs or other AGS chapters. Also, AGS has made a long standing tradition of helping with Commencement & Transfer Ceremonies, Faculty & Staff Appreciation events and the Alumni Association over the years. Community Service Opportunities Especially when you first join the club, you may be overwhelmed with details and may not know where to begin looking for community service activities. Or perhaps you ve been involved in community projects for years and are looking for new opportunities. The Sigma Rho Business Director has taken on the role of finding and sharing community service opportunities to share with the club at meetings or by posting them on our AGS Activities Bulletin Board (building 300). Service opportunities may be completed individually or as a group of interested members. (If you do events as a group- remember to take pictures for our album, website or bulletin board!) If you have ideas for a community service project (or fundraiser or social activities) don t be shy! You can present your ideas to the club during the meeting or talk to the respective Director about helping you present your idea. Fundraising Club fundraising is necessary for several reasons. There are operational costs for running the club (making copies, bringing a door prize to the conference, the costs involved for keeping the chapter in Good Standing, etc) as well as expenditures or financial goals the chapter may choose (to defray some cost for the spring convention, to build a chapter scholarship or to donate to a charity). There are a variety of fundraisers that can be done. It s up to the Chapter to decide how much fundraising to do. In the past, the ASCC has had a matching program where they will match raised funds, up to $250 in the academic year. Our ICC Representative will have updated information about that. Off Campus Activities and Responsibilities All AGS activities are voluntary and optional*. Members of AGS tend to be very active on campus and in the community, therefore, a number of AGS inspired activities occur off campus. Although some members may coordinate carpools for these activities, it is ultimately the responsibility of each member and participant to provide their own means of transportation to the activities that are held off campus. Members will be asked to complete a Liability Waiver for off-campus activities. Additionally, all costs involved and incurred by each member are solely the responsibility of each respective participant, and participants should always be prepared for such. Alpha Gamma Sigma and Chabot College bear zero liability for anything that may happen off campus. S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 9

11 Conferences There are two AGS conferences each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Attendance is optional (but encouraged for club officers). They are a worthwhile experience. The workshop topics range from leadership in AGS, to transferring to a university, how to interview well for jobs, building resumes, to personal enrichment (stress management, etc) and more. It s a great time to meet AGS members from all across California and network. Also, this is something you can put on your resume. You will see a lot of AGS spirit. Aside from being able to buy (and sell) AGS logo merchandise, chapters compete for the following events: newsletters, name tags, roll call, and website (this has varied over the years). Sometimes chapters choose to wear AGS shirts or the same colors to show unity. At the spring convention scholarship recipients are announced (nominees must attend the convention). Additionally, elections occur for Board of Trustees Student Trustee where each chapter gets one vote. AGS Conferences are organized by chapters, just like our club. The state organization asks each chapter to donate a door prize to be given away during the conference. They usually specify a price range and ask that it s gender neutral and does not contain college-logos. Club members can arrange to donate items for service points or our chapter can use raised funds to sponsor our door prize contribution. Previous experience has lead to the fact that each student who is interested in attending must expect to pay the full cost of registration, housing and transportation by the registration deadlines. If the club decides to fundraise to defray some of the cost of the conference, it will be up to the currently active members of the club to vote on and plan those details. Semester Event Location Duration Costs Fall Regional Conference Northern California 1 day-saturday $25-35 pp (Usually October) (usually near Merced) Spring Spring Convention (Usually April) Alternates between Northern and Southern California (usually San Jose and Ontario) Friday night to Sunday morning (There is a Saturday-only option) Registration $130 (one day)-$375 pp (single per room) Transportation (will vary depending on the location) AGS Officers are highly encouraged to attend the Fall Regional Conference that takes place in October. Each chapter of AGS must meet the criteria to be in good standing. Scholarship Nominees from our chapter are required to attend the Spring State Convention. Whether members attend the conferences or not, the advisor must be present at least one conference to keep the chapter in good standing. Additionally, an advisor must be present at each convention when members attend. S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 10

12 Scholarships AGS members have a few extra pools of scholarships to apply for. Their hard work with their studies, the community and the club can certainly pay off. Do your research in the Fall semester so you know what to look out for in the Spring semester. Have those essays drafted so you can be ready when the applications come out! AGS (Statewide) scholarships The advisors of the chapters in good standing may send forward up to 3 of their members for AGS scholarships. These awards may range from $ (the amounts change annually) and are awarded for Academics (2) and Community Service (1). Please note State Convention attendance is mandatory (and non-refundable) for all nominees. AGS University Partnerships Since AGS is a recognized and respected organization, some universities offer special scholarships for eligible AGS students who are applying to their college. A list of University partners are listed on the state organization s website. Sigma Rho Chapter scholarships The club may fundraise for scholarships for club members. This requires a fair, organized method of selection and distribution to be set in place by the club (with the advisement of the club advisors and the Office of Student Life). Contact club officers or advisor for more information. Student Senate of Chabot College (SSCC)/ASCC scholarships Every year the Student Government office (SSCC/ASCC) offers scholarships to students who are active on campus and in the community. Applications are usually posted in February and due in March. Membership network Sometimes fellow students have a wealth of information to share. Students have been known to share information about scholarships for students with certain majors, career goals, etc. S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 11

13 Graduation/Commencement For students who wish to walk at the Transfer or Graduation Ceremonies, graduation stoles are available. They are approximately $22. Order forms and payments are due to the advisor sometime in April. Information about Honors Cords is forthcoming. AGS Jewelry As an eligible member, you have the option to purchase AGS Jewelry and pins from the state organization. Orders have to go through the advisor. Pictures of the jewelry and prices can be seen on the statewide organization s website. Being a Chapter in Good Standing To be a chapter in good standing, our chapter has to meet a few criteria: 1. Pay dues to the organization (there is a standard amount plus a cost per member) by the respective deadlines along with the appropriate forms 2. The advisor must attend the FAM (Fall Advisory Meeting) and at least one Conference. 3. (An advisor must be present at each convention which members attend. The advisor may need to attend a convention even if his/her chapter has no students going-- if the attendance is necessary to remain in good standing) The Club Advisor(s) In brief, the club is run by students with the guidance of the club advisor(s). Aside from attending the necessary meetings to keep the chapter in good standing, Advisors are here as a resource for building leadership and making sure club business follows campus and AGS rules & procedures. S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 12

14 Other FAQ How do I include my AGS participation on my resume? There are numerous ways you can list your involvement on your resume. AGS would likely count as leadership experience (if you hold an officer position), community involvement or extra-curricular activities. If you choose to apply for Permanent Member status before you graduate, you can list your PM status under achievements or recognitions. The advisor keeps a record of each member s attendance, participation etc and will be able to verify your involvement should an employer or college need verification. How do I include my AGS participation on my transcript? With the Advisor s verification, Admissions and Records makes a note/comment on your transcript for the semesters you are an eligible member. The advisor verifies students GPAs at the beginning of the semester as well as when your grades are available at the end of a semester. It is the student s responsibility to provide this information to the advisor in a timely fashion, so the verification can be sent to Admissions and Records before deadline. I have an idea for an activity, how do I bring it up to the club? There are several ways! You can bring it up during the Open Forum session at the club meeting, or you can discuss your idea with a club officer, or you can present your idea during the discussion portion of the meeting (if you requested to be put on the meeting agenda). I want to be a member but I cannot attend the meetings. Can I still participate? Yes. As long as you are in contact with the club communiqué (such as the website, list serve, forum etc) you will be in the loop about club activities and opportunities. The only exception to this is for members who hold an officer position. Officers must attend the club meetings. Remote members will need to be in direct communication with the respective club officers who collect Enrollment Forms, Membership Dues and Points Submission Forms. Can the club advisor write a letter of recommendation for me? It s a good idea to ask a letter of recommendation from someone who may know you very well. If you ve worked with the club advisor(s) enough for them to sincerely vouch for your work, then it would probably be reasonable for you to ask, so long as it s in a timely manner. But it s a good idea to have a list of teachers, staff and supervisors in mind who are familiar with your work style. Their sincere words can capture those qualities that make you so remarkable. As a courtesy, remember to give your requests to your instructors with plenty of notice (at least a few weeks) before their due dates. S i g m a R h o H a n d b o o k ( l c ) P a g e 13