This page exists to address some common questions that students have about Sigma Xi.
Contents:
Sigma Xi bases recognition on research and expectations about an individual's career in research. This makes recognition by Sigma Xi different from recognition by honorary societies that base their recognition on undergraduate course selections and undergraduate grades. Postings of criteria for membership on the Sigma Xi web site [1] are repeated below along with addtional chapter criteria. The society's definition of terms follows this list of criteria.
Procedures for nomination are directed by the international organization. Only full and active members who are affiliated with the Hamilton College Chapter can nominate, second and vote on potential new members [2, 3]. The Hamilton College Chapter uses its own nomination form instead of the forms at the society's web site.
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Notes: Nomination at a chapter election meeting is forbidden by organizational Bylaws [3]. Faculty colleagues who were inducted by other chapters as full members are encouraged to affiliate with the Hamilton College chapter, so that they may nominate and recognize students. Faculty colleagues who were inducted by other chapters as associate members can make their interest in being promoted to full membership known to a full and active member of the Hamilton College Chapter.
Greek symbols for Sigma Xi appear in the Hamilton College
Commencement program after the names of those Hamilton College
students who have been nominated for Associate Membership, but this
citation does not validate the election. It is an unofficial courtesy
denoting a recognition in process. Membership is not official
until July 1 and after dues and documents have been processed at
Sigma Xi
headquarters.
Criteria are based on requirements of the
international organization and supplemented by local criteria in
chapter by-laws.
According to the Sigma Xi Constitution [1, 2] any individual who has shown noteworthy achievement as an original investigator in a field of pure or applied science is eligible for election or promotion to full membership in the Society by a chapter or by the Committee on Qualifications and Membership. Full membership is conferred upon those who have demonstrated noteworthy achievement as an original investigtor in a field of pure or applied science or engineering. [1, 3] The society's Committee on Qualifications and Membershp generally requires at least two first-authored, refereed papers, or patents, one of which can be a Ph.D. thesis. Life experience is also considered in some instances. [4]
Society Criteria for Associate Membership
This nomination process is governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society and supplemented by Chapter Bylaws. Consider the following as you prepare this nomination form:
The Hamilton College Chapter adds the following conditions to guidelines provided in Society Constitution and Bylaws. [Article III Section 6 Hamilton College Chapter Bylaws]
Noteworthy Achievement in research specified for election or promotion to full membership ... must be evidenced by publication, patents, written reports or a thesis or dissertation, which must be available to the Committee on Qualifications and Membership if requested. If the work is "classified," it shall be assessed for the Committee by a "cleared" Member. Membership in the Society is neither linked to the possession of any degree nor contingent upon belonging to some other organization.
Paper includes refereed journal articles, patents, or internal reports. An earned doctoral degree may be substituted for one paper.
Research Aptitude specified for election to associate membership ... must be evidenced by independent investigation ordinarily resulting in a written report, which must be available to the Committee on Qualifications and Membership if requested.
