FAQ

college woman raising hand in class to ask a question

  1. How many incoming transfer students does a university need before a Tau Sigma chapter would be beneficial?

Answer:   We hope to one day be able to serve colleges and universities with smaller transfer populations. However, at this time, Tau Sigma chapters have had the most success at schools with incoming transfer populations of approximately 400 or more.

  1. How much does it cost the university to establish a Tau Sigma chapter?

Answer:   There are no costs to the university. National will conduct an online membership invitation and local dues are used to support the chapter’s activities.

  1. Should our university send out letters of invitation after every term?

Answer:   It is best to send out invitations after every term. It is most beneficial for students to become members as soon as they are eligible. That enables them to connect with the chapter more quickly. Also, the response rate is not strong when invitations are sent well beyond when the student is first eligible.   Unless the chapter has a sizable number of new members, we recommend that they hold only one induction ceremony each year, typically in the spring.  Any members who joined in the fall term are eligible to participate immediately. However, they wouldn't be inducted until the spring.

  1. What are the membership criteria?

Answer:   The membership criteria are: 1) the student must have transferred in with at least one year's worth of academic credits (this is to distinguish the transfer student from other students who might have taken one or two classes during the summer to get ahead or caught up), 2) the student must have completed, at your institution, the number of hours representing one full term (typically 12 semester hours), and 3) the student achieved EITHER a 3.5 OR were in the top 20% of ALL incoming transfers during the term in which they transfer or when they complete courses equivalent to a full term (typically 12 semester hours).

  1. What if a member's GPA falls below 3.5?   Does this person lose their membership?

Answer:   No.   While we hope that the members will continue to strive for academic excellence, the member has a lifetime membership that is based only on their first term GPA or standing among the incoming transfers.

  1. If a student fails to respond to the initial invitation for membership, can he/she join at a later date?

Answer:   Unfortunately, no.   With as many chapters and members as we deal with each year, we are currently not equipped to handle membership additions throughout the year for each chapter.

  1. What are the dues for Tau Sigma members?

Answer:   Lifetime membership dues typically range from $50 to $65, depending upon the local dues amount.  National dues are set at $40 with the remaining portion going to support your local chapter.

  1. If National handles the membership mailing, will you use the students' mailing address and/or email address for any purpose other than to contact them regarding their membership?

Answer:   ABSOLUTELY NOT.   We will not use their mailing address and/or email for ANY purpose beyond contacting them about their membership.   In addition, we will not sell, lend, or give this information to ANY other party for ANY other use.