Honors, Awards, and Recognitions 2023-2024 Edition

Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) - A National Honor Society For First-Generation College Students.

Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) is a National Honor Society for First-Generation College Students. Tri-Alpha promotes academic excellence and creates a supportive environment for first-generation students across all academic disciplines. Bryant University is home to the first chapter Tri-Alpha in the State of Rhode Island. For undergraduate students to be eligible for membership, they must be a current full-time degree candidate at Bryant University, completed at least two full-time terms of study, a minimum 30 credit hours, and achieved a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.2 in all coursework. Students must come from a family where neither parent nor any legal guardians have earned a bachelor’s degree. For graduate students to be eligible for membership, they must be a current degree candidate at Bryant University (part time or full time), must have completed one semester at the university, completed at least 9 credits, achieved a graduate program cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, and come from a family where neither parent nor any legal guardians have earned a bachelor’s degree.

Alpha Kappa Delta - International Sociology Honor Society

Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society, promotes scholarly excellence in the study of sociology, the research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to improvement of the human condition. To be eligible for membership, students must have at least junior-year standing, an overall GPA and a sociology GPA of at least 3.0, be in the top 35 percent of their class, and have completed a minimum of four courses in sociology. Membership is not limited to sociology majors. 

Beta Gamma Sigma - International Honor Society

Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest national recognition a student can receive in an undergraduate or master’s program in business or management accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Members must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 (cumulative GPA of 3.75 for graduate students), rank in the upper 10 percent of the second-semester junior class, upper 10 percent of the senior class, or top 20 percent of the graduating master’s class. 

Chi Alpha Sigma - Student-Athlete honor Society

Bryant is one of only 60 institutions nationally to be recognized with a Chi Alpha Sigma chapter. Chi Alpha Sigma is the nation’s only student-athlete honor society. To be selected for induction, student-athletes must be juniors or seniors, hold at least a 3.4 overall GPA, earn a letter in their sports, and clearly exhibit strong personal character through a commitment to community service.

Delta Alpha Pi - International Honor Society for students with disabilities

Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society recognizes students with disabilities for their academic accomplishments. Bryant is home to Delta Alpha Pi's Zeta Kappa Chapter. Undergraduate students with disabilities who have completed a minimum of 24 credits and earned a cumulative GPA of 3.1 or higher are eligible for membership; graduate students are eligible if they have completed 18 credits with a minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA. Eligible students must also demonstrate an interest in disability issues and work with faculty and/or staff in either Access Services, Health Services, or Counseling Services.

Kappa Mu Epsilon - Mathematics Specialized Honor Society

Kappa Mu Epsilon is a specialized honor society in mathematics. Founded in 1931 to promote the interest of mathematics among undergraduate students, its chapters are located in colleges and universities of recognized standing which offer a strong mathematics major. Members are selected from students of mathematics and other closely related fields who have maintained standards of scholarship, have professional merit, and have attained academic distinction. To be eligible for membership, students must have completed at least three college semesters and rank in the upper 35 percent of their class. In addition, they must have completed at least three courses in mathematics, including at least one semester of calculus, and attained an average of B or better in all mathematics courses.

Lambda Pi Eta - Communication Honor Society

Lambda Pi Eta is the official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association. The Bryant chapter is named Theta Delta. To be eligible for membership, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0, achieved a grade point average of at least 3.25 in the major of communication, and must represent the top 30 percent of their graduating class. Lambda Pi Eta is an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies. 

Mu Kappa Tau - National Marketing Honor Society

Mu Kappa Tau is committed to the pursuit and recognition of academic excellence in marketing. It recognizes academic achievement, encourages high ethical standards, and advances the marketing profession. Since 1966, marketing faculty across the nation have nominated talented marketing students to the society. To qualify for membership, students must be junior or senior marketing majors, or business concentrators with a marketing minor, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. It is recognized by the Association of Collegiate Honor Societies.

Mu Sigma Rho - National Statistics Honor Society

Mu Sigma Rho, the national honor society for statistics, promotes and encourages scholarly activity in statistics, and recognizes outstanding achievement of students. To be eligible for induction, students must be juniors or seniors, have completed eight semester hours of statistics courses (at least five semester hours must be at the junior level or higher), have a 3.25 GPA in all statistics courses, and be in the top third of the class in all coursework.

Omicron Delta Epsilon - National Economics Honor Society

Omicron Delta Epsilon, the National Economics Honor Society, recognizes students who have chosen economics for their major field of concentration, have attained a cumulative average of 3.0 or higher in a minimum of four economics courses, and have received the recommendation of the economics department.

Omicron Delta Kappa - National Leadership Honor Society

Omicron Delta Kappa is a nationally recognized leadership and honor society. To be eligible for membership, students must be juniors or seniors recognized for excellence in academics (top 35 percent of the class), athletics, community service, mass media, or the performing arts. All members are nominated by current members of the society.

Phi Alpha Theta - National History Honor Society

Phi Alpha Theta is a professional society that promotes the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. The society seeks to bring students, teachers, and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways. To be eligible for membership, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.1 in at least 12 semester hours in history and an overall GPA of 3.0  as well as being in the top 35 percent of their class. Membership is not limited to history majors.

Phi Sigma Iota - International Foreign Language Honor Society

The Phi Sigma Iota Honor Society recognizes outstanding accomplishment in the study or teaching of any of the academic fields related to foreign language, literature, or culture. Phi Sigma Iota is the highest academic honor in the field of foreign languages. To be eligible for membership, students must be pursuing a major, minor, or concentration in one of the languages offered at Bryant (Chinese, French, Italian, or Spanish), have completed at least one course at the 300 level (305 or above) and 45 semester hours, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in their language courses, and rank in the top 35 percent of their class.

Pi Sigma Alpha - National Political Science Honor Society

Founded in 1920, Pi Sigma Alpha is the national honor society for college students of political science. To be eligible for membership, students must have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of political science courses with a minimum GPA of 3.3 and an overall minimum GPA of 3.3. Membership is not limited to politics and law majors.

Psi Chi - International Honor Society in Psychology

Psi Chi is the international honor society in psychology that recognizes academic excellence in psychology. To be eligible for membership, students must have an overall GPA that is in the top 35 percent of their class, an overall GPA of at least 3.0, and a cumulative GPA that is at least 3.0 in their psychology courses. Membership is limited to psychology majors who are at least juniors and have taken a minimum of nine hours of psychology.

Sigma Iota Rho - Honor Society for International studies

The purpose of Sigma Iota Rho shall be to promote and reward scholarship and service among students and practitioners of international studies, international affairs, and global studies and to foster integrity and creative performance in the conduct of world affairs.  To be eligible for membership in the Sigma Iota Rho Society, a student must complete course work in international studies including courses in relevant subject areas of anthropology, economics, foreign language, geography, history, political science, and other related disciplines.  Membership is limited to students who have attained junior standing with an International Relations major or minor. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher in all courses and an average of at least a 3.4 in international relations courses.

Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society

Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, confers distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. To be eligible for induction in Bryant's Alpha Tau Rho Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, students must have completed a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements for first-year English. Candidates must have a minimum of a B or equivalent average in English and in general scholarship, must rank at least in the highest 35 percent of their class, and must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college coursework. Founded in 1924, Sigma Tau Delta is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. 

President’s List/Dean's List

Traditional, full-time students who have a GPA of 3.4 or better for at least 12 semester hours of work will be named to the Dean’s List. Those who achieve a term GPA of 4.0 are designated as President’s List recipients.  Dean’s List and President’s List for traditional, full-time students is calculated each term after final grades have been submitted and the standards of progress have been processed. These designations appear on the student’s official transcript.

Nontraditional, part-time students who have a GPA of 3.4 or better in the fall and spring terms combined will be named to the Dean’s List at the end of the academic year. Those who achieve a 4.0 in the academic year are designated as President’s List recipients. Dean’s List and President’s List for nontraditional, part-time students are calculated at the end of the spring term each academic year after final grades have been submitted and the standards of progress have been processed. (Note: Special terms are included in the 4.0 calculation while at Bryant.) These designations appear on the student’s official transcript.

Bryant University hosts an award celebration on Family and Friends Weekend in the fall for the previous academic year’s Dean’s List and President’s List recipients. Recipients and their guests are invited to a reception where students are recognized for their academic achievement and presented with an award certificate. Invitations to the ceremony are based on academic records as of September 1. Any grade changes that result in a student being named to the Dean’s List or President’s List after the September 1 cutoff date will still show on the official transcript.

Note: Students who receive and “I” or “NA” grade for a term are not eligible for Dean’s or President’s List.

Graduation Honors

Special recognition is accorded those who show distinction in academic achievement. Honors may be awarded on the basis of cumulative averages, as follows: Cum Laude (with honors - GPA of 3.45), Magna Cum Laude (with high honors - GPA of 3.65), and Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors - GPA of 3.85-4.0). Students must have completed 60 semester hours of coursework at Bryant University to be eligible for honors.

Commencement Ceremony

Commencement ceremonies honor certified graduates and candidates for degrees who have been scheduled to complete coursework by the end of the academic year (July 31). Diplomas are issued after grade reports are completed and candidates are fully certified. Graduation honors noted on the Commencement program are based on cumulative records as of the end of the fall term. Honors recorded on the diploma are based on finalized cumulative averages.