Spring Regional Conventions

Region I / II Convention -- 6-8 March 2008 -- Seguin, TX, Texas Lutheran University

Region III Convention -- 13-15 March 2008 -- Asheville, NC, Renaissance Asheville Hotel

Region IV Convention -- 27-29 March 2008 -- Springfield, MO, Evangel University (report on Convention)

Region V Convention -- 28-29 March 2008 -- Anderson, IN, Anderson University

Region VI Convention -- 14-15 March 2008 -- Wilmington, DE, Hotel du Pont

Region VII Convention -- 7-8 March 2008 -- Portland, OR, Cascade College

National Council Meeting -- 3-6 April 2008 -- Indianapolis, IN, Hyatt Regency Indianapolis

Looking ahead to the National Convention in 2009: April 2-4, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis

 

2007 National Convention Wrap-up

More than 400 delegates from about 100 chapters of Alpha Chi gathered in San Antonio March 15-17 for the honor society's biennial national convention and the meeting theme of "Celebrating Honor." Some 200 student delegates appeared on the program, presenting papers, projects, and performances in their academic fields or leading workshop sessions on chapter life or academic integrity.

Academic Integrity
In the third year of Alpha Chi's national emphasis on academic integrity, the convention featured related presentations by two guest speakers. The society's 2007 Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Tommy Hewett, an Oklahoma pathologist, spoke at the opening banquet on the importance of personal integrity, and Dr. Don McCabe, a widely published researcher on academic cheating, addressed a plenary session audience on his findings from 15 years of research of college students and faculty. The academic integrity focus also was seen in two mornings of workshop sessions where delegates worked on case problems on this subject and visited a showcase of Alpha Chi chapters that have sponsored academic integrity programming on their campuses.

Awards
Convention highlights included the announcement of numerous awards:

Students on the program competed for $200 convention presentation prizes in 21 fields, with the winners announced at the closing business session.

The President's Cup for the outstanding chapter for 2005-07 went to the Arkansas Iota chapter at Lyon College, Batesville, Ark.

Winners in the Pryor Alumni Fellowship (1), Sledge/Benedict Fellowship (12), and Gaston/Nolle Scholarship (12) competitions were announced. Their stipends for 2007-08 will amount to $57,000.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizing the contributions of outstanding faculty was presented to ten chapter sponsors. These individuals received an Alpha Chi desk clock engraved to commemorate the award.

The Executive Director's Award, also for faculty sponsors, was given for the first time. A cash prize of $500 went to each of the two recipients, Prof. Marilyn Jones of Friends University, Wichita, Kan., and Dr. Stephen Rowe of Concord University, Concord, W.V.

Others honorees were 36 chapters recognized as Star Chapters for 2005-06 and 12 sponsors receiving pins for 10, 15, 20, or 25 years of service.

Elections
Four at-large faculty seats on the National Council were filled in an election involving nine candidates. Two incumbents re-elected to four-year terms were Dr. Michael Flachmann of California State University, Bakersfield, and Dr. Ann Kneavel of Goldey-Beacom College, Dover, Del. Two chosen for the first time were Dr. David Basena of Bowie State University, Bowie, Md., and Dr. Lori Mills of Milligan College, Tenn.

Graduate Student Membership
Delegates also voted to amend the Alpha Chi Constitution to create a membership category for graduate students, the first such extension of student membership since the society began in 1922. Beginning immediately, a chapter will be allowed to invite students in the upper 10 percent of the institution's graduate programs, with eligibility limited to those who have earned at least 15 graduate hours.

Representatives of the National Council emphasized the intention to maintain a focus on the undergraduate membership while acknowledging the advantage to Alpha Chi of inducting graduate students, as more than half of Alpha Chi institutions offer graduate degrees.

2007 Convention Program (in PDF)

 

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