Instructions For Applying For
A Charter in Sigma Delta Pi
An institution of higher education that meets the
following minimal requirements is invited to apply for a charter in Sigma
Delta Pi:
-
The institution must be in good standing, unconditionally approved by a
regional accrediting association;
-
Must offer at least twenty-four hours, or the equivalent, of Spanish courses.
-
Must nominate three or more students for active charter membership who
meet the following basic requirements:
- They must have completed at least three years, or the equivalent, of
college Spanish, including at least three semester hours of a third-year
course in Hispanic literature or Hispanic culture and civilization.
Those students enrolled in these courses are eligible for membership if
the instructor will certify that their work is a B quality or better;
- Their grades in all Spanish courses must average at least 3.0 on a 4.0
scale;
- They must rank in the upper 35% of their class (sophomore, junior, senior);
- They must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of
college work;
- They must show genuine interest in things Hispanic and be of good moral
character.
If the above conditions are met, the faculty member interested
in establishing a chapter at his/her school should complete the official Charter
Petition form. The application must be accompanied by the following:
- Official statements of approval and support from the departmental chairman
and the academic dean or president of the institution;
- The name of a faculty member who is willing to serve as sponsor of the
chapter and the names of any faculty members who are proposed for honorary
membership. Customarily, members of the teaching staff are admitted
as honorary members, a distinction which may also be extended to outstanding
teachers of Spanish in neighboring community colleges and schools;
- A list of students who are proposed for charter membership together with
their registrar-certified, current academic transcripts;
-
An agreement to support the Society loyally, to conform to its regulations,
and maintain its standards;
- The $75 charter fee (check or money order made out to "Sigma Delta
Pi"; major credit cards also accepted);*
- A hard or e-copy (web address) of the institution's current catalog.
The petition for a chapter should be forwarded, properly completed
and with all accompanying documentation, to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer,
Dr. Mark P. Del Mastro. After careful
review of the application and supporting materials, the Executive Secretary-Treasurer
will send his recommendation to Dr. Germán
D. Carrillo, National President, who in turn will send essential information
to the Executive Council for approval, a process that normally takes two weeks.
If the petition is approved, a name will be given to the new chapter and the sponsor
notified. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer will subsequently send the new
chapter a start-up packet containing the ceremony ritual and additional information
necessary for the installation of the chapter. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer
in conjunction with the proposed chapter adviser may ask a chapter adviser or
regional Vice-President from a nearby institution to officiate at the installation
ceremony. This step will be necessary if there is no Sigma Delta Pi member available
in the college community to assist with the ceremony.
Once the new chapter has been authorized, the sponsor must
forward to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer, well in advance of the installation
date, the initiation fee for each candidate, including the honorary members, using
the official order form (the order form and accompanying
payment SHOULD NOT be sent until the National President formally approves the
charter petition). The membership fee is waived for a sponsor who is not already
a member of Sigma Delta Pi. The fee provides lifetime membership, a gold pin and
a membership certificate. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer will forward
these items as soon as the consolidated payment is received. For further
questions, please contact Professor Del Mastro via e-mail at delmastrom@citadel.edu.
*If a chapter changes the planned date of the installation ceremony after the
National Office has already printed the charter, then an additional fee equal
to the first charter payment ($75) must be paid by the chapter to cover expenses
for another canvas.