Scholarship Policy
Our Founders charged us to "strive for high standards of achievement" and Sigma Kappa is committed to provide an atmosphere in which each member can achieve academic self-respect and self-responsibility.
Sigma Kappa recognizes that education is the primary goal of the collegiate experience and strives to provide a chapter life that supports this aim. Sigma Kappa further views scholarship as a means for developing a greater love of life and of the human spirit. Each Sigma Kappa chapter has an active scholarship program that provides challenging standards of excellence, motivation, and assistance so that each member can develop to her fullest academic potential and plan for a successful career.
Scholastic Standards
Sigma Kappa believes that each member needs to be sufficiently established academically so that she can participate, lead, serve, and enjoy her membership to the fullest. Therefore, each collegiate chapter sets minimum scholastic standards for initiation, for initiated members to maintain, and for officer and big sister eligibility. The standard of performance set by the National Policy Handbook of Sigma Kappa for a collegiate chapter is the maintenance of an average equal to or above the all-women’s average or a 2.8 gpa on its campus. This reflects Sigma Kappa’s belief that individual excellence develops chapter excellence. Sigma Kappa chapters are expected to provide leadership in academics as well as in other areas of campus life.
To join Sigma Kappa, a woman shall have a 2.8 grade point average (based on a 4.0 system) from high school and a 2.5 grade point average from college to be eligible to pledge. All exceptions require approval of the advisory board chairman and collegiate province officer. (NPH, II. 4.)
To be initiated into Sigma Kappa, a new member must meet the following requirements, as outlined in NPH, V.3.f. 1-2.
When Initiation occurs after a grading period (semester, quarter, etc.), maintain at least a 2.25 or higher grade point average as established by the particular college/university, college Panhellenic or collegiate chapter.
When Initiation occurs before a grading period ends, meet scholastic standards as set by the collegiate chapter in collaboration with the advisory board and collegiate province officer.
Collegiate chapters and initiated members must adhere to the following academic requirements, as outlined in NPH, VI. Academic Requirements
VI. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
A. Collegiate Chapter Scholarship Policy
A chapter must maintain at least a 2.8 grade point average or be above the all sorority women’s average (based on a 4.0 scale).
Procedure
1. When a chapter falls below this standard for two consecutive terms the director of scholarship and collegiate province officer will work with the chapter to develop an immediate action plan to meet the requirements.
2. When a chapter fails to meet the standard for three consecutive terms, or four of six terms, the chapter is considered to be “not in good academic standing.”
3. Chapters which are “not in good academic standing” are subject to sanctions which may include, but are not limited to, any or all of the following:
a. Participation in a national scholarship workshop facilitated by a national officer with all travel and related expenses provided by the chapter.
b. The filing of bi-weekly reports on chapter and new member academic activities with the director of scholarship, collegiate province officer, advisory board chairman, and national headquarters.
c. Mandatory presentation of scholastic programs at informal meetings.
d. Ineligibility for certain national awards.
B. Collegiate Member Scholarship Policy
A member must maintain a 2.25 cumulative grade point average (based on a 4.0 scale).
Procedure
1. When a member falls below a 2.25 cumulative grade point average, she is considered to be “not in good academic standing” by the advisory board and the collegiate province officer for that term or until the standard is met. Credit obtained during the summer session is figured into cumulative grade point average.
2. When new members are not initiated because they do not meet the minimum requirements on that campus, they will also be considered “not in good academic standing.”
3. The terms of “not in good academic standing” are as follows:
a. Limited social events – two (2) per term (Social events include fraternity parties, date parties, and formals).
b. Participate in the National Scholarship Program for members “not in good academic standing” as outlined in the Handbook for the Vice President of Scholarship.
c.As an initiated member, not eligible to serve as a Big Sister or Heart Sister.