Order of Omega
The National Order of Omega Home Page

ORDER OF OMEGA

Iota Psi Chapter
Sam Houston State University

The National Order of Omega is an honorary organization for members of Greek letter social fraternities and sororities. It was founded at the University of Miami in 1959 as an incentive group for fraternities recognizing leaders in the various mens' social groups on that campus. Order of Omega operated locally until 1967 when a second chapter was chartered at the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1977 Order of Omega became co-educational. In 1983 a National Board of Directors and Executive Officers were established. Today there are over 300 chapters of Order of Omega on college campuses.

To qualify for membership in Order of Omega an individual must be of junior standing, have been an active member of his/her organization for at least one year, and have a minimun of 2.5 GPA. There are eight criteria used in selection of new members: (1) character, (2) scholarship, (3) fraterity/ sorority activies and offices, (4) IFC/Panhellenic/Greek Council activities and offices, (5) campus activities and involvement, (6) community service, (7) a recommendation from a member of the faculty, staff, or administration, and (8) an overall evaluation by each active member based on information submitted by the applicant.

Voting for new members.The applicant's name and organization, as well as any reference to his/her fraternity or sorority is blanked out before any member votes, concealing the identity of the applicant. While some activities and involvement can place a particular individual in a specific organization, blanking these out would be unfair to the person involved. Members rank each candidate in each of the eight categories mentioned above on a 1-8 scale, with 8 begin "excellent" (the only area which is not ranked is scholarship: the individual's GPA is multiplied by 2, thereby placing more importance to higher grades).

The Iota Psi Chapter of Order of Omega was installed at Sam Houston State University on April 25, 1989. Fourteen undergraduate members and twelve honorary members were inducted at the first ceremony at 7:00 p.m. in Austin Hall. Following the ceremony there was election of officers: President: Bob Wallace (Sigma Chi), Vice President: Jana Alpha (Alpha Chi Omega), and Secretary: Joanie Lewis (Kappa Delta).

As of May, 1998, 260 undergraduates have been initiated as members of Sam Houston's Order of Omega Chapter. Here is a complete membership list, including honorary members, arranged chronologically.

New members are taken each semester. The maximum number of new members each year depends on the number of active Greeks in the various sororities and fraternities on campus in the Fall semester. Normally the number taken is between 27 and 30 undergraduate members each year. Applications for this the spring semester will be available in the Activities Office in Lowman Student Center at the beginning of the semester.

Current officers for Fall, 1999, are:

May 1996 Graduates

For more information about Order of Omega at Sam Houston, contact Dr. Bill Fleming (Faculty Advisor), Evans Complex, Office 204, phone: 294-1432; or the Student Activities Office, Lowman Student Center; phone: 294-3861.

(updated 5/1/98)

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